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.

National

English

Online/Digital

Outlet metrics

Domain Authority

Ranking

Global

#284737

United States

#80159

Law and Government/Government

#1530

Traffic sources

Monthly visitors

Articles

World Environment Day: A Celebration of Nature and Action for Change

3 days ago | thefulcrum.us | Hugo Balta

Celebrated annually on June 5th, World Environment Day (WED) is a significant global event dedicated to promoting awareness and action for the protection of the planet's environment. Established by the United Nations in 1974, this day serves as a platform for raising public awareness and inspiring positive change toward sustainable habits at individual, community, and governmental levels.
Michael Rivera: The Importance of Getting Involved

6 days ago | thefulcrum.us | Hugo Balta

Michael Rivera is the Berks County Commissioner. The Republican began serving in January of 2020. "My number one priority is fiscal responsibility," Rivera said in describing the focus of his work as County Commissioner. "Counties generate their money primarily through property taxes. My commitment to the residents of Berks County is to be fiscally responsible with their money."I spoke with Commissioner Rivera on a recent episode of the Fulcrum Democracy Forum (FDF).
Red State Voters Approved Progressive Measures. GOP Lawmakers Are Trying to Undermine Them.

6 days ago | thefulcrum.us | Jeremy Kohler

Across the country, Republican lawmakers have been working to undermine or altogether undo the will of the voters by making it harder to pass amendments and laws through citizen-led initiatives. In Missouri, the 2025 legislative session was dominated by Republican lawmakers trying to reverse that voters had put on the ballot and approved just months before; one made abortion in the state legal again, while the other created an employee sick leave requirement.
Nevada House Speaker Says It's Time to Give the State's Largest Voting Bloc Access to Primaries

1 week ago | thefulcrum.us | Shawn Griffiths

LAS VEGAS, NEV. - Nevada’s largest registered voting bloc – unaffiliated voters – could soon gain access to the state’s taxpayer-funded primaries, if a new bill from Democratic Nevada House Speaker Steve Yeager becomes law. The bill, AB597, was introduced Monday with one week left in the session. It gives registered unaffiliated voters the option to submit an online request for a party's primary ballot no later than 14 days ahead of a primary or during in-person voting.
Ed Martin’s Plan to Shame Trump's Enemies Threatens the Rule of Law

1 week ago | thefulcrum.us | Austin Sarat

For a long time, scholars, commentators, and officials have debated the efficacy of shame as a form of punishment. Opinion has been divided over the efficacy and appropriateness of using it as a response to a criminal conviction. But nowhere did anyone ever suggest that shaming someone would be an acceptable reason to prosecute them. Until now.
Congress Bill Spotlight: Preventing Presidential Inaugurations on MLK Day, Like Trump’s

1 week ago | thefulcrum.us | Jesse Rifkin

The Fulcrum introduces Congress Bill Spotlight, a weekly report by Jesse Rifkin, focusing on the noteworthy legislation of the thousands introduced in Congress. Rifkin has written about Congress for years, and now he's dissecting the most interesting bills you need to know about, but that often don't get the right news coverage.
Five Years After George Floyd’s Death, Activists Say the Promise of Change Remains Unfulfilled

1 week ago | thefulcrum.us | Eden Turner |Alexis Wray |Sabreen N. Dawud

The fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s death is approaching, a time that many remember as a “racial reckoning” that heightened the world’s attention on police brutality and its deadly impact on Black people. Activists, leaders and community members believed five years ago that the country would point to this moment as the one that brought lasting change toward racial equity. Now, the majority of Americans say that moment has passed with its promise unfulfilled.
Charting a New Path for Healthy Political Discourse in SD

1 week ago | thefulcrum.us | Mike Moen

In South Dakota and across the country, groups are working to help tone down the nation's heated political rhetoric. And experts are debating whether the divisive landscape will see a correction. In a forum hosted by the R Street Institute, panelists noted this isn't the only time in U.S. history when populism and an anti-establishment mood were major forces in politics.
Improving Infrastructure To Benefit Both People and Nature

1 week ago | thefulcrum.us | Hugo Balta

The 50is a four-year multimedia project in which the Fulcrum visits different communities across all 50 states to learn what motivated them to vote in the 2024 presidential election and see how the Donald Trump administration is meeting those concerns and hopes. Washington State has historically fluctuated between Republican and Democratic preferences. While it was considered a Republican-leaning swing state until the 1980s, the political landscape shifted significantly in the following decades.
Memorial Day 2025

1 week ago | thefulcrum.us | Hugo Balta

This year is significant for several military anniversaries: it marks the 250th anniversary of the United States Army, Navy, and Marine Corps; the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II; the 75th anniversary of the start of the Korean War; and the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. On Memorial Day, President Donald Trump is expected to visit Arlington National Cemetery.