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Disinformation Wins: Justifying ICE Murders through Transphobia

Disinformation Wins: Justifying ICE Murders through Transphobia

Modernizing Plastic Recycling: The Key to Unleashing American Manufacturing

Modernizing Plastic Recycling: The Key to Unleashing American Manufacturing

Republican scheming backfires in Texas election

Republican scheming backfires in Texas election

A stethoscope on top of the uniform a U.S. military solider.

Trump Has Betrayed the Troops Again

Stickers with the words "I Voted Today."

Virginia On The Path to Join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact

Video: voting rights, the filibuster, and the state of the Senate

Video: voting rights, the filibuster, and the state of the Senateplay icon
Voting Rights, the Filibuster, and the State of the Senate
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The Fulcrum
By The FulcrumFeb 03, 2022
The Fulcrum
The Fulcrum staff.
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From social media to cable news, all the American public sees from our leaders are partisan attacks and hyperbolic rhetoric, but that's not the way it has to be. To prove it, Former Members of Congress (FMC) and the Fulcrum have joined forces to bring you Congress at a Crossroads.

The monthly video series brings together Former Members of both parties to discuss the structural issues in today's Congress, as well as the hottest political issues. They won't always agree, but they will always treat each other with respect and civility. This month, our host, FMC CEO Pete Weichlein sat down with Former Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Norm Coleman (R-MN) to discuss voting rights, the legislative filibuster, and what the state of the Senate is like now given the recent battle over these issues.


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Protestors holding signs, many that say "Stop Bombing Iran."
Ethics & Leadership

Trump’s ‘Just for Fun’ War Talk Shows a Dangerous Trivialization

An illustration of two people on opposite sides of a floor.
Bridging & Common Ground

Can Democracy Survive When Americans See Each Other as “Bad People”?

A President in Sheep’s Clothing and a Democracy in Decline
Ethics & Leadership

A President in Sheep’s Clothing and a Democracy in Decline

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Donald Trump’s Iran war without rhyme or reason

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters during a news conference at Trump National Doral Miami on March 9, 2026, in Doral, Florida. President Trump spoke on his administration's strikes on Iran.

(Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images/TCA)

Donald Trump’s Iran war without rhyme or reason

If you ask President Trump, he’ll tell you we’ve already won the war in Iran.

When asked for an update by Axios on Wednesday, Trump responded with the kind of upbeat nonchalance and flippant boastfulness you’d usually see when asked about the progress on one of his hotels.

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Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivers the Democratic response to U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on February 24, 2026 in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivers the Democratic response to U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on February 24, 2026 in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Getty Images, Mike Kropf

Three Questions Linger After State of the Union Speech

Anyone tuning into the State of the Union expecting responsible governance was sorely disappointed. What they got instead was pure Trumpian spectacle.

All the familiar elements were there: extended applause lines, culture-war provocation, even self-congratulation, praising the U.S. hockey team and folding its victory into a broader narrative of national resurgence. The whole thing was show business, crafted for reaction rather than reflection, for clips rather than consensus.

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When Secrecy Becomes Structural

U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House February 20, 2026 in Washington, DC.

(Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

When Secrecy Becomes Structural

Secrecy is like a shroud of fog. By limiting what people can see and check for themselves, the public gets either a glimpse (or nothing at all), depending on what gatekeepers decide to share. And just as fog comes in layers, so does withholding: one missing document, one delayed detail, one “not available” that becomes routine.

Most adults understand there are things that shouldn’t be shown. Lawyers can’t reveal case details to people who aren’t involved. Police don’t release information during an active investigation. Doctors shouldn’t discuss your medical history at home. The reason is simple: actual harm can follow when sensitive information is revealed too early or to those who shouldn’t be told.

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For Trump, the State of the Union is delusional

U.S. President Donald Trump, with Vice President JD Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson looking on, delivers his State of the Union address during a Joint Session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 24, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy and amid a U.S.


(Getty Images)

For Trump, the State of the Union is delusional

State of the Union speeches haven’t mattered in a while. Even in their heyday, they were only bringing in 60-plus million viewers, and that’s been declining substantially for decades. They rarely result in a post-speech bump for any president, and according to Gallup polling data since 1978, the average change in a president’s approval rating has been less than one percentage point in either direction.

To be sure, this is good news for President Trump. He should hope and pray this State of the Union was lightly watched.

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