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China and Russia Condemn U.S. Strike on Iran—but Stay on the Sidelines

China and Russia Condemn U.S. Strike on Iran—but Stay on the Sidelines

Voter registration

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An occupational therapist sits with a young boy at a table as they work on some of his motor skills.​

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View of Electoral College splits on partisan lines

The Fulcrum
By The FulcrumMay 06, 2019
The Fulcrum
The Fulcrum staff.
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A clear majority of Americans would do away with the Electoral College, the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds, but predictably the idea of relying on the popular vote to decide the presidency is much more popular with Democrats than Republicans.

Overall, 53 percent would ditch the Electoral College and 43 percent would keep it. But an overwhelming 78 percent of Hillary Clinton voters and 79 percent of Democrats would use the popular vote and an equally lopsided 74 percent of both Trump voters and Republicans would keep things as they are. (Remember that she won 3 million more votes in 2016 but he secured the presidency with a 74-electoral-vote margin.)

Among independents, it's a statistical tie given the poll's margin of error: 44 percent support the current system, 49 percent back a switch.

The view of the Electoral College also varied significantly based on where people live. Rural residents, who in general have more power under the current system, favored keeping it by 6 points. But city dwellers, whose power is somewhat diluted by the Electoral College, favored getting rid of it by 23 points.

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Entertainment Can Improve How Democrats and Republicans See Each Other

Since the development of American mass media culture in the mid-20th century, numerous examples of entertainment media have tried to improve attitudes towards those who have traditionally held little power.

Getty Images, skynesher

Entertainment Can Improve How Democrats and Republicans See Each Other

Entertainment has been used for decades to improve attitudes toward other groups, both in the U.S. and abroad. One can think of movies like Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, helping change attitudes toward Black Americans, or TV shows like Rosanne, helping humanize the White working class. Efforts internationally show that media can sometimes improve attitudes toward two groups concurrently.

Substantial research shows that Americans now hold overly negative views of those across the political spectrum. Let's now learn from decades of experience using entertainment to improve attitudes of those in other groups—but also from counter-examples that have reinforced stereotypes and whose techniques should generally be avoided—in order to improve attitudes toward fellow Americans across politics. This entertainment can allow Americans across the political spectrum to have more accurate views of each other while realizing that successful cross-ideological friendships and collaborations are possible.

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National PTSD Awareness Day: A Call to Action for Veterans and Civil Discourse

Each year on June 27, National PTSD Awareness Day shines a light on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), encouraging those affected to seek support. This observance was officially recognized by the U.S. Senate in 2010, following an initiative by Senator Kent Conrad to honor a North Dakota National Guard member who tragically took his own life after serving two tours in Iraq.

PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing traumatic events such as combat, assault, accidents, or natural disasters. Its symptoms—ranging from flashbacks and anxiety to mood swings and avoidance behaviors—can be deeply disruptive. PTSD Awareness Day is part of PTSD Awareness Month, which spans the entire month of June, promoting education, treatment options, and community support for those affected.

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International Students Cope With Growing Mental Health Issues
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International Students Cope With Growing Mental Health Issues

Maeve Zhu, an undergraduate at the University of Washington, said moving to Seattle with hopes of studying computer science quickly became overwhelming.

"The hardest part for adjusting to life in the U.S. as an international undergrad was also my first year living overseas alone without my parents around me," said Maeve Zhu, an undergraduate at UW. "Trying to manage your time, your money, and your energy, all while being so lonely, the first year felt like living in a nightmare."

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