Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories

​​Five-week report card on Trump 2.0

Donald Trump

Donald Trump

Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

According to Forbes, New York Magazine, Time, and Inside Higher Education, Donald Trump sent letters to high schools and colleges attended, plus SAT College Board personnel, threatening them with legal action if they released his academic records. One certainly might wonder why a 78-year-old man elected to the highest office in the U.S. would spend time focusing on this issue, which is relatively meaningless compared to one’s strength of character, integrity, honesty, and work ethic.

The grading that really matters is the grades the American public gives Mr. Trump during his first 100 days of office or 180 days -- according to the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 playbook -- as the time designed for Trump to implement their proposals. Trump’s actions will be graded by the world for eternity.


America’s 335 million citizens, especially the ~51 percent of voters who voted for someone else to become USA’s 47th president, deserve a five-week report card on Trump’s 2.0 endeavors. Recall Trump said at the 2024 Republican National Convention he was running for president “for all of America, not half of America because there is no victory in winning half of America.”

Twenty-nine issues have come front and center before the public since Jan. 20. Let’s see what the majority of citizens think of Trump’s 2.0 presidency to date:

  • A Feb. 19 Quinnipiac poll revealed the majority of Americans feel Trump has failed on seven issues: immigration, economy, foreign policy, trade, federal workforce, Russia-Ukraine war, and Israel-Hamas conflict.
  • According to a new Pew Research Center survey, 56 percent of U.S. adults disapprove of Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship (February 21).
  • Since January 20, Trump has signed 64 executive orders and issued 27 proclamations while more than 70 lawsuits have been filed against Trump for his – most constitutional law professors have said- anti-democratic and anti-constitutional actions. Hence, a February 14 Pew Research Center survey found that “65 percent of U.S. adults say it would be `too risky’ to give Trump more power to deal directly with many of the nation’s problems.”
  • According to Data for Progress, a super majority of voters oppose Trump’s proposal to take ownership of Greenland, Canada, Panama Canal, and Gaza.
  • A YouGov poll revealed that the vast majority of Americans oppose Trump ending humanitarian aid to foreign countries (USAID), abolishing the Department of Education, and disbanding OSHA (ibid).
  • Only 24 percent of Americans approve of Donald Trump withholding congressionally appropriated funds (ibid).
  • President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance said judges should not have the power to review or block executive actions; 3 out of 5 Americans disagree (ibid).
  • Of the 16 federal bodies (e.g., NASA, FBI, CIA, FEMA, USAID, DOGE-Department of Government Efficiency, etc.), the one that is the least favorable by Americans is DOGE, created by Mr. Trump (ibid).
  • In separate Quinnipiac and Pew Research Center polls, 54-55 percent of voters think Elon Musk has too much power in making decisions affecting America (Politico, Feb. 19).
  • Only 12 percent of Americans think Trump should seek out billionaires’ policy advice (AP/NORC poll).
  • Two-thirds of consumers think Trump isn’t focused enough on the prices of products, which he said would be lowered on January 20 (CBS News).
  • A majority to a supermajority of Americans oppose Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on goods imported from Mexico, Canada, and Europe (ibid), identified by the conservative Wall Street Journal editorial board as “the dumbest trade war in history” (February 1-2).
  • Trump shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), whereby farmers purchase $2 billion in agricultural products annually, and research is conducted at institutions like Iowa State University, Virginia Tech, and hundreds of other major universities (KCCI Des Moines).
  • Due to Trump’s actions, the National Federation of Independent Business’s uncertainty index for small businesses recently reached its third highest level, coinciding with Stanford’s index of policy uncertainty for big businesses (Wall Street Journal, Feb. 12).
  • Trump’s program to deport immigrants illegally residing in America receives 59 percent approval (CBS News); Trump hits a home run with this issue.

To date, Trump has failed to serve the majority of Americans on 28 of 29 issues that are of importance. Evidence is replete Trump has not fulfilled his promise of being a president “for all of America.”

There are two additional developments that need to be mentioned. First, support for Trump by farmers, teachers, civil servants, CEOs, adults aged 18-44, and people 65 and over is rapidly declining. Secondly, a February 3-16 Gallup poll revealed Trump has a 45 percent job approval rating, which is 15 percent below the historical average for 10 other presidents elected since 1953.

With five weeks down in Trump 2.0 and 203 weeks to go, as Alexander Pope said in his 1733 poem, “hope springs eternal” ... though it seems unlikely.

Steve Corbin is a professor emeritus of marketing at the University of Northern Iowa.

Read More

Following Jefferson: Promoting Inter-Generational Understanding Through Constitution-Making
Mount Rushmore
Photo by John Bakator on Unsplash

Following Jefferson: Promoting Inter-Generational Understanding Through Constitution-Making

No one can denounce the New York Yankee fan for boasting that her favorite ballclub has won more World Series championships than any other. At 27 titles, the Bronx Bombers claim more than twice their closest competitor.

No one can question admirers of the late, great Chick Corea, or the equally astonishing Alison Krauss, for their virtually unrivaled Grammy victories. At 27 gold statues, only Beyoncé and Quincy Jones have more in the popular categories.

Keep ReadingShow less
A close up of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement badge.

Trump’s mass deportations promise security but deliver economic pain, family separation, and chaos. Here’s why this policy is failing America.

Getty Images, Tennessee Witney

The Cruel Arithmetic of Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

As summer 2025 winds down, the Trump administration’s deportation machine is operating at full throttle—removing over one million people in six months and fulfilling a campaign promise to launch the “largest deportation operation in American history.” For supporters, this is a victory lap for law and order. For the rest of the lot, it’s a costly illusion—one that trades complexity for spectacle and security for chaos.

Let’s dispense with the fantasy first. The administration insists that mass deportations will save billions, reduce crime, and protect American jobs. But like most political magic tricks, the numbers vanish under scrutiny. The Economic Policy Institute warns that this policy could destroy millions of jobs—not just for immigrants but for U.S.-born workers in sectors like construction, elder care, and child care. That’s not just a fiscal cliff—it is fewer teachers, fewer caregivers, and fewer homes built. It is inflation with a human face. In fact, child care alone could shrink by over 15%, leaving working parents stranded and employers scrambling.

Meanwhile, the Peterson Institute projects a drop in GDP and employment, while the Penn Wharton School’s Budget Model estimates that deporting unauthorized workers over a decade would slash Social Security revenue and inflate deficits by nearly $900 billion. That’s not a typo. It’s a fiscal cliff dressed up as border security.

And then there’s food. Deporting farmworkers doesn’t just leave fields fallow—it drives up prices. Analysts predict a 10% spike in food costs, compounding inflation and squeezing families already living paycheck to paycheck. In California, where immigrant renters are disproportionately affected, eviction rates are climbing. The Urban Institute warns that deportations are deepening the housing crisis by gutting the construction workforce. So much for protecting American livelihoods.

But the real cost isn’t measured in dollars. It’s measured in broken families, empty classrooms, and quiet despair. The administration has deployed 10,000 armed service members to the border and ramped up “self-deportation” tactics—policies so harsh they force people to leave voluntarily. The result: Children skipping meals because their parents fear applying for food assistance; Cancer patients deported mid-treatment; and LGBTQ+ youth losing access to mental health care. The Human Rights Watch calls it a “crueler world for immigrants.” That’s putting it mildly.

This isn’t targeted enforcement. It’s a dragnet. Green card holders, long-term residents, and asylum seekers are swept up alongside undocumented workers. Viral videos show ICE raids at schools, hospitals, and churches. Lawsuits are piling up. And the chilling effect is real: immigrant communities are retreating from public life, afraid to report crimes or seek help. That’s not safety. That’s silence. Legal scholars warn that the administration’s tactics—raids at schools, churches, and hospitals—may violate Fourth Amendment protections and due process norms.

Even the administration’s security claims are shaky. Yes, border crossings are down—by about 60%, thanks to policies like “Remain in Mexico.” But deportation numbers haven’t met the promised scale. The Migration Policy Institute notes that monthly averages hover around 14,500, far below the millions touted. And the root causes of undocumented immigration—like visa overstays, which account for 60% of cases—remain untouched.

Crime reduction? Also murky. FBI data shows declines in some areas, but experts attribute this more to economic trends than immigration enforcement. In fact, fear in immigrant communities may be making things worse. When people won’t talk to the police, crimes go unreported. That’s not justice. That’s dysfunction.

Public opinion is catching up. In February, 59% of Americans supported mass deportations. By July, that number had cratered. Gallup reports a 25-point drop in favor of immigration cuts. The Pew Research Center finds that 75% of Democrats—and a growing number of independents—think the policy goes too far. Even Trump-friendly voices like Joe Rogan are balking, calling raids on “construction workers and gardeners” a betrayal of common sense.

On social media, the backlash is swift. Users on X (formerly Twitter) call the policy “ineffective,” “manipulative,” and “theater.” And they’re not wrong. This isn’t about solving immigration. It’s about staging a show—one where fear plays the villain and facts are the understudy.

The White House insists this is what voters wanted. But a narrow electoral win isn’t a blank check for policies that harm the economy and fray the social fabric. Alternatives exist: Targeted enforcement focused on violent offenders; visa reform to address overstays; and legal pathways to fill labor gaps. These aren’t radical ideas—they’re pragmatic ones. And they don’t require tearing families apart to work.

Trump’s deportation blitz is a mirage. It promises safety but delivers instability. It claims to protect jobs but undermines the very sectors that keep the country running. It speaks the language of law and order but acts with the recklessness of a demolition crew. Alternatives exist—and they work. Cities that focus on community policing and legal pathways report higher public safety and stronger economies. Reform doesn’t require cruelty. It requires courage.

Keep ReadingShow less
Just the Facts: Impact of the Big Beautiful Bill on Health Care

U.S. President Donald Trump takes the stage during a reception for Republican members of the House of Representatives in the East Room of the White House on July 22, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump thanked GOP lawmakers for passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Getty Images, Chip Somodevilla

Just the Facts: Impact of the Big Beautiful Bill on Health Care

The Fulcrum strives to approach news stories with an open mind and skepticism, striving to present our readers with a broad spectrum of viewpoints through diligent research and critical thinking. As best we can, we remove personal bias from our reporting and seek a variety of perspectives in both our news gathering and selection of opinion pieces. However, before our readers can analyze varying viewpoints, they must have the facts.

What are the new Medicaid work requirements, and are they more lenient or more restrictive than what previously existed?

Keep ReadingShow less
U.S. Constitution
Imagining constitutions
Douglas Sacha/Getty Images

A Bold Civic Renaissance for America’s 250th

Every September 17, Americans mark Constitution Day—the anniversary of the signing of our nation’s foundational charter in 1787. The day is often commemorated with classroom lessons and speaking events, but it is more than a ceremonial anniversary. It is an invitation to ask: What does it mean to live under a constitution that was designed as a charge for each generation to study, debate, and uphold its principles? This year, as we look toward the semiquincentennial of our nation in 2026, the question feels especially urgent.

The decade between 1776 and 1787 was defined by a period of bold and intentional nation and national identity building. In that time, the United States declared independence, crafted its first national government, won a war to make their independence a reality, threw out the first government when it failed, and forged a new federal government to lead the nation. We stand at a similar inflection point. The coming decade, from the nation’s semiquincentennial in 2026 to the Constitution’s in 2037, offers a parallel opportunity to reimagine and reinvigorate our American civic culture. Amid the challenges we face today, there’s an opportunity to study, reflect, and prepare to write the next chapters in our American story—it is as much about the past 250 years, as it is about the next 250 years. It will require the same kind of audacious commitment to building for the future that was present at the nation’s outset.

Keep ReadingShow less