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State races matter, even during a presidential election

Opinion

Massachusetts State House

Massachusetts State House

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Lala Wu is the co-founder and executive director of Sister District, an organization that works to build enduring progressive power in state legislatures. She joined the “Politics Is Everything” podcast to discuss how state races will continue to be important during the presidential election cycle and why the battle for redistricting will take center stage.


State legislatures are where the most impactful laws are enacted, such as abortion policies. They’re also critical because in most states, the legislatures control redistricting. Building progressive power is about winning elections, passing legislation, and then telling the story about legislative successes so that voters want to keep you in power and continue the work.

The Politics Is Everything podcast, produced by the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, focuses on the wide range of challenges facing democracy, including extreme partisanship, civic unrest and political equity.

Remember to check out The Democracy Group Podcast Fellowship, where passionate individuals, especially college and high school students, can learn to launch their podcasts. Apply at democracygroup.org/fellowship. The fellowship is sponsored by the Bridge Alliance, which operates The Fulcrum.


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Deadly Venezuela Quakes Spark Renewed Calls for U.S. to Restore Temporary Protected Status

People and rescuers search for victims amid debris of demolished buildings as rescue efforts continue after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Venezuela and other regions in the Caribbean on June 25, 2026 in La Guaira, Venezuela.

(Photo by Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)

Deadly Venezuela Quakes Spark Renewed Calls for U.S. to Restore Temporary Protected Status

Venezuela is reeling after a series of catastrophic earthquakes that collapsed buildings, triggered landslides, and overwhelmed emergency responders across multiple states. The strongest quake, a 7.3‑magnitude event, sent residents fleeing into the streets as aftershocks rippled through Caracas, Sucre, Miranda, and Bolívar. Entire neighborhoods have reported severe structural damage, blocked roads, and hospitals struggling to treat the injured as rescue teams work to reach communities cut off by debris and power outages.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Venezuela’s National Seismology Foundation confirm the scale of destruction and warn that more aftershocks are likely. International humanitarian organizations, including the Red Cross and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), say the disaster has intensified an already dire humanitarian crisis marked by food shortages, failing infrastructure, and mass migration.

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Collage.
Collage by Alex Bandoni/ProPublica. Source images: Bloomberg/Getty Images, Firearm Transaction Record Form via U.S. Department of Justice and Alec MacGillis/ProPublica.

“No One Is Watching”: How Trump Reversed Biden’s Crackdown on Gun Trafficking

Marianna Mitchem grew up in the Denver suburbs, where she played high school soccer. One day in April 1999, her team faced off against a nearby rival, Columbine High. The next day, two teenagers went on a shooting rampage at Columbine, killing more than a dozen people.

The massacre left an imprint on Mitchem. After graduating from Providence College, she joined the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “Fearing for my friends and watching what was happening — you don’t forget things like that,” she told me. “I wanted to make a difference.”

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Mutual Surveillance?: The History and Consequences of the Treaty on Open Skies

American flag on a military uniform

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Mutual Surveillance?: The History and Consequences of the Treaty on Open Skies

This nonpartisan policy brief, written by an ACE fellow, is republished by The Fulcrum as part of our partnership with the Alliance for Civic Engagement and our NextGen initiative — elevating student voices, strengthening civic education, and helping readers better understand democracy and public policy.

Key Takeaways

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White marble exterior of the United States Capitol, often called the Capitol Building, is the home of the United States Congress and the seat of the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government

This week's congressional agenda includes anti-fraud legislation, ICE funding, FISA Section 702 renewal debates, and major committee hearings.

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Fraud, Funding, and FISA

Fraud

This week in the House is Fraud Week based on the large number of bills likely to receive a vote that in some way are intended to decrease or eliminate many different kinds of fraud. Example bills up for a vote include:

Funding

One bill will likely become law this week if it passes the House:

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