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5 stories to read about the bipartisan infrastructure deal

Senators in a meeting

Senators held bipartisan discussions this week on an infrastructure deal.

Samuel Corum/Getty Images

A bipartisan group of senators announced Thursday they had reached an agreement on a potential infrastructure package, but it is still a long way from crossing the finish line.

After days of hand-wringing over the future of the For the People Act, this was a welcome end to the week.

Here are five stories to catch you up on the latest developments:


10 Senators Say They Agree On Infrastructure 'Framework' — But There Are Few Details (WKAR)

Here's what we know about the bipartisan infrastructure deal (CNN)

Democrats wary of emerging bipartisan infrastructure deal (The Hill)

Bipartisan Group of Senators Say They Reached Agreement on Infrastructure Plan (The New York Times)

Ten Senate Democrats and Republicans say they reached five-year, nearly $1 trillion infrastructure deal (The Washington Post)

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Congress Bill Spotlight: BAD DOGE Act

U.S. President Donald Trump listens as White House Senior Advisor, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, speaks next to a Tesla Cyber Truck and a Model S on the South Lawn of the White House on March 11, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Getty Images, Andrew Harnik

Congress Bill Spotlight: BAD DOGE Act

The Fulcrum introduces Congress Bill Spotlight, a weekly 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.

Though it’s been cutting left and right, could DOGE itself be cut next?

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Racing Against Memory Loss: The Urgent Need to Address Dementia Disparities
brown brain decor in selective-focus photography

Racing Against Memory Loss: The Urgent Need to Address Dementia Disparities

Newly appointed Secretary for Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has his work cut out regarding brain health among elderly Americans. A study published in Nature Journal earlier this year estimates that the number of new dementia cases in people 65 years and older in the U.S. will double over the next four decades, from about 514,000 in 2020 to about 1 million in 2060. The total number of people currently living with Alzheimer’s dementia is close to 7 million.

The same study also highlights that Black Americans are twice as likely to develop dementia later in life, compared to White Americans, and Latinos are one and a half more likely. These results underscore the urgent need for policies promoting healthy aging and addressing health inequities' root causes, which includes access to affordable and nutritious foods. Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda features chronic diseases and improved lifestyles. Whether everyone will benefit equally or not, depends on his political will to address systemic inequalities.

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Did We Learn or Not? Why There Can Be No Going Back on COVID Lessons
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Did We Learn or Not? Why There Can Be No Going Back on COVID Lessons

Five years ago this month, COVID-19 changed the world. The first pandemic in a century altered how Americans saw themselves, each other, work, healthcare, relationships, government, mortality, and media. It tangled everyone across the globe in webs of fear, conflict, grief, disbelief, estrangement, and gratitude.

It prompted a parallel pandemic of disinformation that has only deepened in the years since and crescendoed in the last few months. It is foolish to ignore the impact of these past five years on every person in this country and the world, particularly with current policies and practices that ignore this distinct past.

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Holding Trump Accountable: He’s NOT the Emperor
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Photo by Megan Watson on Unsplash

Holding Trump Accountable: He’s NOT the Emperor

Publishers' Notes:: Our challenge as a publication, dedicated to keeping our readers informed so we can repair our democracy and make it live and work in our everyday lives, is not to be overly reactive or partisan. At the same time, we must not ignore the dangers of the administration's degrading, hostile, and accusatory language and actions when they occur. We invite you to read this column outlining our editorial position covering the Trump administration by clickingHERE.

Not every column represents the editorial focus of the Fulcrum. However, consistent with our mission, the column below represents a commitment to sharing many perspectives to widen our readers' viewpoints.

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