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White House with "stop" barrier in front

If Trump wins, should Democrats turn over the keys to the White House?

Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs on stage

Luke Combs, politics and healing our nation's divide

Mark Esper sitting next to Donald Trump

What would really happen if Trump wins?

Ducks

The 12 worst House districts: Experts label gerrymandering's dirty dozen

Video: America's civic education gap: What can business do?

Video: America's civic education gap: What can business do?
Our Staff
By Our StaffFeb 07, 2023
Our Staff
The Fulcrum staff.
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Many Americans do not have a basic understanding of how the government works, the Bill of Rights, and the responsibilities of being a citizen. This limited education about our democratic system can lead to distrust in government, polarization, and an openness of some Americans to authoritarianism which is destructive to our country’s social cohesion and economy. Business has a vested interest in supporting civics education.

Businesses can play a role in promoting civics education by supporting greater investment in civics education in middle and high school, and in engaging lawmakers. Today for comparison, we invest 5 cents per child, vs. nearly $54 for STEM.

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Elephant and donkey playing tug-of-war over a cliff
Democracy

Whatever happens Nov. 5, democracy will remain in deep trouble

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Donald Trump speaking

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally Oct. 27 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Peter W. Stevenson /The Washington Post via Getty Images

Donald Trump's violent legacy

Monti is a professor of sociology at Saint Louis University.

Donald Trump presents himself as the greatest defender of American democracy since Abraham Lincoln. His monumental conceit might be dismissed out of hand, except for this: There is some merit to his boast. Surely not in the edifying way he intends but still deserving more serious attention than many Americans would be inclined to give it.

At the heart of the violent legacies left by Lincoln and Trump is the problem of order: imagining the kind of people Americans should become and harnessing the energy of a restive population whose own views on that question could not be ignored.

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People wading in a river, in front of a destroyed house

Workers walk through the Rocky Broad River in Chimney Rock, N.C., near a home destoryed by Hurricane Helene.

Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Project 2025 would have 'catastrophic' impact on hurricane warnings

Raj Ghanekar is a student at Northwestern University and a reporter for the school’s Medill News Service.

Residents in the southeastern United States are still recovering from devastating damage brought on by back-to-back hurricanes. As federal, state and local officials continue working to deliver aid, experts say the country would be less prepared for future hurricanes if proposals included the conservative plan known as Project 2025 were to be put in place.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration houses the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center, which are vital to predicting these cyclones. But the 920-page proposal published by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, argues NOAA “should be dismantled” and includes steps to undermine its authority and position leading the country’s planning for severe weather events, such as providing official emergency warnings.

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Halloween decorations with a sign that reads "Vote like your life depends on it"

Elections and Halloween can combine to create a scary atmosphere.

Noam Galai/Getty Images

Halloween, fear and democracy: Finding empathy amid the scary season

Nevins is co-publisher of The Fulcrum and co-founder and board chairman of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund. Becvar is co-publisher of The Fulcrum and executive director of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund.

Halloween, a holiday celebrated around the globe, traces its roots back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The event marked the end of the Celtic year and symbolized a time when the boundaries between the living and the dead blurred, allowing spirits to roam among the living.

While Halloween is often associated with fear, darkness and death, it also represents an opportunity to confront our fears in a communal way. We dress up, share stories of ghosts and let ourselves feel scared for fun. Ironically, this holiday centered on facing fears falls less than a week before the elections, a time when many are most politically afraid. This Election Day, a majority of Americans are feeling fear about the outcome of the presidential election, which falls five days after Halloween, with some fearing what happens if Kamala Harris gets elected and some fearing what might happen if Donald Trump wins.

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CNN's John King and the Magic Wall

CNN and other media outlets need to explain the process, not just predict the winner on election night.

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This election night, the media can better explain how results work

Johnson is the executive director of the Election Reformers Network. Penniman is the founder and CEO of Issue One and author of “Nation on the Take: How Big Money Corrupts Our Democracy and What We Can Do About It.”

Watching election night on cable or network news is a great national tradition. Memorable moments arise as the networks announce their projections in key states. Anchors and commentators demonstrate extraordinary understanding of the unique politics of hundreds of cities and counties across the country. As the results of the most consequential election on the planet unfold, there’s a powerful sense of shared witness.

But our polarized politics has revealed a serious flaw in election night coverage. As disinformation abounds, it is increasingly important for voters to know how the actual, legally certain election results are determined. And right now, voters are not seeing enough of that information on their screens on election night.

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