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Charlie Kirk’s Death Sparks Martyrdom Narrative Amid Rising Political Violence

Charlie Kirk’s Death Sparks Martyrdom Narrative Amid Rising Political Violence

Supreme Court

MAGA Supreme Court Justices Show Their True Colors by Joining Trump’s Attack on the Federal Judiciary

Donald Trump and the Rise of Political Violence

Donald Trump and the Rise of Political Violence

Examining Florida’s Controversial New Immigration Bills: SB 2-C and SB 4-C

Examining Florida’s Controversial New Immigration Bills: SB 2-C and SB 4-C

Linda McMahon Confirmed as Trump's Secretary of Education

Linda McMahon Confirmed as Trump's Secretary of Education

Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of Education, testifies during her Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee confirmation hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on February 13, 2025 in Washington, DC.

(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Hugo Balta
By Hugo BaltaMar 04, 2025
Hugo Balta
Hugo Balta is a journalist, educator, and communicator. Hugo is the executive editor of the Fulcrum and a board member of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund, the parent organization of The Fulcrum. He is the publisher of the Latino News Network, a trainer with the Solutions Journalism Network, and an adjunct professor teaching journalism courses.
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On Monday, the Republican-controlled Senate confirmed Linda McMahon as the new U.S. Secretary of Education in a 51-45 vote along party lines.

McMahon, a former professional wrestling executive and head of the U.S. Small Business Administration during President Donald Trump's first term, takes on the role amid the administration’s stated goal of dismantling the department. While the White House has already implemented staff and program cuts, formally eliminating the department would require congressional approval, as it was established by an act of Congress in 1979.

At her confirmation hearing, McMahon sought to distance herself from Trump’s harsh rhetoric, stating that the goal is to make the Education Department "operate more efficiently" rather than defund programs.

In a statement announcing her nomination, Trump expressed confidence in McMahon’s leadership, stating that she will "empower the next generation of American students and workers and make America number one in education."

The Department of Education, one of the smallest federal agencies, primarily oversees funding for K-12 schools, including Title I for low-income students and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for students with disabilities.

A recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll found that 63% of respondents oppose closing the department, while 37% support the idea.

At 76, McMahon is an unconventional choice for the position. A billionaire and former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, she has limited experience in education leadership beyond serving a year on Connecticut’s state board of education and as a longtime trustee at Sacred Heart University.

Supporters view her as a capable executive poised to reform what they see as an ineffective agency, while critics argue she lacks the necessary qualifications and warn that her budget cuts could negatively impact students nationwide.

Hugo Balta is the executive editor of the Fulcrum and a board member of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund, the parent organization of The Fulcrum. He is the publisher of the Latino News Network.

SUGGESTION: Project 2025: Department of Education

Students raising their hands in a classroomThe New York Times reports that Elon Musk’s cost-cutting initiative announced $900 million of cuts at the Education Department, apparently aimed at hobbling the Institute of Education Sciences—the department’s research arm. dolgachov/Getty Images

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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.

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America has a long, if erratic, history of expanding its democratic franchise. Over the last two centuries, “representation” grew to embrace former slaves, women, and eighteen-year-olds, while barriers to voting like literacy tests and outright intimidation declined. Except, that is, for one key group, Independents and Third-party voters- half the electorate- who still struggle to gain ballot access and exercise their authentic democratic voice.

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