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Webinar rewind: Election administration in a pandemic

More than 100 democracy reformers and state and local policy makers tuned in Monday for a wide-ranging discussion about preparations for conducting this year's election during a pandemic — and what role various electoral reforms might have in boosting turnout.

The hour-long webinar was hosted by the National Association of Nonpartisan Reformers in partnership with the Unite America Institute. Click the image above to watch.


Participants in the panel discussion and Q&A session were CEO Amber McReynolds of the National Vote at Home Institute, FairVote President Rob Ritchie, Kansas Democratic Party Chairwoman Vicki Hiatt and Amelia Powers Gardner, the GOP chief elections official in Provo, Utah. Their discussion was moderated by The Fulcrum's editor-in-chief, David Hawkings.

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Trump Doubles Down on Maduro’s Arrest
File:Nicolás Maduro, president of Venezuela (2016) cropped.jpg ...

Trump Doubles Down on Maduro’s Arrest

In a dramatic escalation of U.S. pressure on Venezuela, President Donald Trump has doubled the reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—from $25 million to a staggering $50 million. The move, announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi, positions Maduro among the most-wanted fugitives in the world and intensifies Washington’s campaign to hold him accountable for alleged narco-terrorism.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, Maduro will not escape justice and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said Thursday. Bondi described Maduro as “one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world,” citing his alleged ties to criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa cartel, and Cartel de los Soles.

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Protest against gerrymandering
Demonstrators protest against gerrymandering at a rally in front of the Supreme Court while the justices debated Rucho v. Common Cause.
Evelyn Hockstein/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

When the Map Becomes the Battlefield: Gerrymandering and the Challenge of Democratic Reform

Founded as an independent national news outlet, The Fulcrum explores and advances solutions to the challenges facing our democratic republic—by amplifying diverse, civic-minded voices. We've long championed a new political paradigm rooted in civil discourse, civic integrity, and personal accountability while warning that hyper-partisan rhetoric and entrenched party lines threaten the very foundation of reasoned governance.

But in 2025, the threat has evolved. The content arriving in our newsroom, as well as the voices from the field, reflect not just frustration with gridlock, but growing alarm over the systematic dismantling of democratic institutions. From reform leaders to civic organizations to everyday citizens, we’re hearing the same refrain: The machinery of democracy is not merely stalled, but systematically being dismantled.

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Congress Bill Spotlight: Making Trump Assassination Attempt a National Holiday

A congressional resolution urges the House to designate July 13, the day that President Trump was shot in an assassination attempt, as an annual federal holiday.

Getty Images, Anna Moneymaker

Congress Bill Spotlight: Making Trump Assassination Attempt a National Holiday

The Fulcrum introduces Congress Bill Spotlight, a 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.

No longer would July 13 only be known as National Beans ‘n’ Franks Day or National Barbershop Music Appreciation Day.

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