The Fulcrum (U.S.)

Welcome to the only news organization dedicated solely to addressing the issues that hinder American democracy. We operate as a nonprofit and remain nonpartisan. Our unique stories, national news coverage, and opinion platform focus specifically on critical topics such as money in politics, redistricting, voting rights, election accessibility, government ethics, civic involvement, and the distribution of power. Our mission is to promote a less polarized democratic system, create more competitive elections, ensure politicians are less influenced by wealthy donors, encourage officials to rely on solid evidence when making policies, and foster a more effective, ethical, and respectful Congress. We began our journey in December 2018 with an email newsletter called The Firewall. Although that name has changed, we invite you to sign up here for regular updates if you enjoy the content on our site.

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Who Really Pays for Congress? Local Donors All but Disappear in 2024

2 days ago | thefulcrum.us | Shawn Griffiths

WASHINGTON, D.C. - There is an old saying: All politics is local. However, many voters may get the impression this is becoming less and less a reality -- particularly in US House and Senate elections where candidates are elected to represent specific districts or states, but campaign to a national audience. This is because local influence in the most contested races is dying out -- a statement not contrived from opinion, but fact.
Democracy in Action: April Retrospective

5 days ago | thefulcrum.us | Hugo Balta

Welcome to Democracy in Action, where you will find insights and a discussion with the Fulcrum's collaborators about some of the most talked-about topics. Consistent with the Fulcrum's mission, this program strives to share many perspectives to widen our readers' viewpoints.
The American Pope

6 days ago | thefulcrum.us | Hugo Balta

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost made history on Thursday by being elected as the pope, marking the first time an American has been chosen for this role within the Roman Catholic Church. At 69 years old, he has taken on the papal name Leo XIV. Originally from Chicago, Prevost has dedicated much of his ministry to Peru. His election occurred on the second day of the cardinals' conclave in Vatican City, after four ballots were cast.
Nurturing the Next Generation of Journalists

1 week ago | thefulcrum.us | Hugo Balta

“Student journalists are uniquely positioned to take on the challenges of complicating the narrative about how we see each other, putting forward new solutions to how we can work together and have dialogue across difference,” said Maxine Rich, the Program Manager with Common Ground USA. I had the chance to interview her earlier this year about Common Ground Journalism, a new initiative to support students reporting in contentious times.
Just the Facts: Are FAA Staff Cuts Causing Current Airport Delays?

1 week ago | thefulcrum.us | Kristina Becvar

How many employees were laid off from the FAA due to DOGE budget cuts? In February 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) laid off approximately 400 employees as part of federal workforce reductions initiated by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Policy Changes Could Derail Michigan’s Clean Energy Goals

1 week ago | thefulcrum.us | Alyssa Burr

In recent years, Michigan has been aggressive in its approach to clean energy: It’s invested millions of dollars in renewable energy infrastructure, created training programs for jobs in the electric vehicle industry, and set a goal of moving the state to 100% carbon neutrality by 2050. Gov.
Without Compassion America Will Never Be Great

1 week ago | thefulcrum.us | Kristina Becvar |David Nevins

New York Times Opinion Columnist David Brooks recently published a column with a title pointing to “Trump’s Single Stroke of Genius.” This immediately caught my attention. Brooks is not a great fan of President Trump, to say the least, yet, he conceded that the administration exudes relentless energy, noting “I don’t know which cliché to throw at you, but it is flooding the zone, firing on all cylinders, moving rapidly on all fronts at once.
Nate Gilliam: Love & Frustration

1 week ago | thefulcrum.us | Hugo Balta

Nate Gilliam is the co-founder and director of Milwaukee Freedom Fund and a Public Voices Fellow of Transformative Justice with The OpEd Project. Established in May 2020, the organization is a response "to the Uprisings sparked by the murder of George Floyd, and builds on decades of work to defend and protect Black Lives." I spoke with Nate on a recent episode of the Fulcrum Democracy Forum (FDF). The program engages citizens in evolving government to better meet all people's needs.
Legal Battles Continue for International Students With Pro-Palestinian Views

1 week ago | thefulcrum.us | Atmika Iyer

A Russian international student at Northwestern came to the U.S. to study journalism “to work as a reporter in a country where I would feel safe,” she said. “I couldn't speak up against the government in Russia, I was at huge risk of being imprisoned, and I thought that it was over, but now very scarily similar things are happening in the U.S. as well, and I just have deja vu,” she said. The student is being kept anonymous for fear of retaliation against her legal status for speaking out.
Supreme Court Considers Eroding the Separation of Church and State in Public Schools

1 week ago | thefulcrum.us | Atmika Iyer

WASHINGTON–After the state of Oklahoma contested the right of a Catholic organization to get state funding for a charter school, the Supreme Court is weighing whether the separation of church and state required by the Constitution justifies Oklahoma’s decision to keep charter schools secular. The court heard arguments on Wednesday in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v.