Kristina Becvar is the Chief Operating Officer of the Bridge Alliance.
"Our republic and its press will rise or fall together."
Joseph Pulitzer's timeless words resonate more profoundly than ever. They serve as a stark reminder of the critical role played by a healthy press in safeguarding our democracy.
Last week, Interactivity Foundation explored the legacy of Joseph Pulitzer, exploring the interconnectedness between a free press and the health of our democracy. Today, media independence is continually called into question, often resulting in the widespread dismissal of news that challenges deeply ingrained, tribal political views. However, we must not lose sight of the media's indispensable role in holding those in power accountable and shaping public discourse. Exposing corruption, fostering an informed citizenry, and demanding accountability from our leaders are the foundations of a thriving democracy.
Unfortunately, toxic narratives propagated by national political media have infiltrated state and local politics, casting a shadow over the healthier and more nuanced debates that are the lifeblood of our democratic process. The saturation of national political narratives in the media tends to overshadow the pressing state and local issues that are relevant to our civic lives. Yet, amidst this challenging environment, there are instances that inspire hope. Our members have brought to light remarkable examples where state and local elected leaders rise above the national rhetoric and instead focus on effective governance.
In the most recent Divided We Fall article, Pennsylvania representative Arvind Venkat shed light on the perpetuation of polarization by national media, driven by pundits and legislators seeking airtime. Venkat emphasizes that the conflicts showcased in the media are not an accurate reflection of the practical, bipartisan work state legislators undertake daily to benefit residents and communities. Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum echoes this reality in the most recent podcast episode from Common Ground Committee. As a successful nonpartisan leader in a deeply conservative state, Mayor Bynum's administration serves as a compelling example of the power of diverse perspectives coming together to tackle major challenges.
As we navigate the news landscape, in the coming weeks, whether it’s the latest Supreme Court decisions or captivating headlines vying for our attention, let us harken back to the words of Joseph Pulitzer. Our republic and its press are intertwined, and their fate rests on our informed consumption of the news. With this in mind, we must approach our consumption of news with utmost intention, actively employing the valuable tips provided to process information responsibly and mitigate the influence of biases in the news.
Together, let us ensure that our democracy thrives by nurturing a healthy press that remains dedicated to transparency, accountability, and the relentless pursuit of truth. Our intentional consumption of the news is a vital key to unlocking a brighter future for all and fortifying the foundation of our republic.
Demonstrators rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court as justices hear oral arguments on whether President Donald Trump can deny citizenship to children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Luz Angela Nuñez with her daughter Aisha Quershi Nuñez at their home in College Point, Queens. Photo: Mia Anzalone for Documented.
Kimberly Alvarez, 25, with her daughter Evangeline and her husband John Alvarez in Medellin, Colombia. Photo courtesy of Kimberly Alvarez.Alvarez arrived in New York City in February 2024 with her husband John Alvarez as asylum seekers from Venezuela. In April 2025, Alvarez found out she was pregnant with her first child, a baby girl. Her first reaction, she said, was fear.“How am I going to keep her alive?” she said. “That’s what I was thinking. ‘How am I going to be able to take care of her?’”At the beginning of Alvarez’s pregnancy, she said she was aware of the immigration enforcement occurring around the country, but vowed not to let it deter her from showing up to her doctor’s appointments.“When you went out, you were always on alert because you didn’t know if [ICE] might be around. I never saw anything suspicious,” Alvarez said. “But of course, you feel scared.”In October, when Alvarez was six months pregnant, her husband was detained by ICE agents at 26 Federal Plaza. When the immediate shock wore off, she obsessively checked the Online Detainee Locator System to find out where her husband went. A day later, she discovered that he was being kept at Delaney Hall detention center in New Jersey. Alvarez quickly set up an account to pay for phone calls, and every two days, she would pay about $10 for a one-hour call, updating her husband about the baby, her appointments and how she was doing.“Crying was the only way for me to release the tension,” said Alvarez, who worried that her lack of sleep and bad diet were impacting her baby. “Crying was the only way for me to release the tension.”—Kimberly AlvarezThat tension built up day by day, week by week following her husband’s arrest. Alvarez had stopped her work as a cleaner in the neighborhood’s synagogues two weeks before her husband’s detention because of her pregnancy. The plan, she said, was to rely solely on his income as a maintenance worker for “the food, the rent, everything.” Left with few choices, Kimberley had to rely on her mother’s income as a cleaner. The older woman had moved to New York from North Carolina to assist with Alvarez’s pregnancy. “I feel like I’m supposed to help my mom, not the other way around,” Alvarez said. “I felt powerless because I couldn’t do anything.”On Dec. 9, Alvarez gave birth to a daughter, Evangeline. While her baby was healthy, Alvarez’s anxieties did not go away. While she returned to cleaning synagogues a few months after Evangeline’s birth to help make ends meet, Alvarez and her daughter rarely left home. Alvarez said she felt paralyzed, getting frequent alerts from a neighborhood WhatsApp group when ICE was spotted nearby. One day, she said, ICE arrested her friend’s husband in Sunset Park, in an area where she would sometimes take Evangeline for walks.“I’m so afraid that I’ll go out and run into one of them and that they’ll take her away from me,” Alvarez said. “That’s my biggest fear, that someone will take her away from me and I won’t know where my daughter is.”In March, her husband decided to voluntarily remove himself from the United States and move back to Colombia, where he is originally from. It was a family decision, but it was not a happy one — hiring immigration lawyers was too expensive, Alvarez said, adding that staying in the U.S. felt too uncertain. 
