Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories

Podcast: Democracy reform: Ranked-choice voting

Podcast: Democracy reform: Ranked-choice voting

Ranked-choice voting (RCV) is a promising way to boost electoral turnout, reduce polarization, and cut the public cost of running elections. This relatively new reform is now being used in 55 states, cities and counties.

In August, Alaska implemented ranked-choice voting for the first time since a 2020 referendum revamped its elections. This episode's guest, Rob Richie, President and CEO of FairVote, makes the case for how it works and why RCV is a viable way to improve electoral politics. Right now, he says, we are in this "incredibly intense winner-take-all environment" in most states.


https://open.spotify.com


Read More

Hope, Champagne, and the Courage To Celebrate in Turbulent Times
Getty Images, wilatlak villette

Hope, Champagne, and the Courage To Celebrate in Turbulent Times

“There is hope, a way forward, however unpredictable. We can dance around the petulant games of powerful men. But, as ever, we are at the mercy of the seasons.” - Widow Clicquot

“Widow Clicquot,” adapted from a book by Tilar J. Mazzeo, is the story of Barbe Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, widowed in 1805 at the age of 27, who inherited her husband’s debt-ridden vineyards. Against all odds, particularly as women had virtually no economic “value” or power in the early 19th century, she, and her vineyards, eventually prospered. It was she who created the Veuve Clicquot champagne dynasty.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump Was Told He’s in Epstein Files

A billboard in Times Square calls for the release of the Epstein files on July 23, 2025 in New York City.

(Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images)

Trump Was Told He’s in Epstein Files

In May 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly informed President Donald Trump that his name appeared multiple times in the government’s files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex trafficking. The revelation, confirmed by sources cited in The Wall Street Journal and CNN, has reignited public scrutiny over the administration’s handling of the Epstein case and its broader implications for democratic transparency.

The new reports contradict an account given earlier this month by the president, who responded "no, no" when asked by a reporter whether Bondi had told him that his name appeared in the files.

Keep ReadingShow less
U.S.-Japan Trade Deal Reshapes Auto Tariffs and Alliance Strategy

The U.S.-Japan trade agreement reduces auto tariffs, unlocks $550B in investment, and expands market access — but its impact on inflation, manufacturing, and geopolitical stability remains uncertain.

Getty Images, halbergman

U.S.-Japan Trade Deal Reshapes Auto Tariffs and Alliance Strategy

Overview of the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement

Tariff Reduction to 15%. The U.S. will impose a 15% tariff on Japanese imports, down from the previously threatened 25%. Before the Trump administration, Japanese passenger vehicles faced a 2.5% tariff, while trucks were subject to a 25% rate under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act.

$550 Billion Japanese Investment. Japan has committed to investing $550 billion in the U.S. economy, targeting sectors including semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, automotive manufacturing, and AI innovation.

Keep ReadingShow less
Defining The Democracy Movement: Ben Bain
- YouTube

Defining The Democracy Movement: Ben Bain

The Fulcrum presents The Path Forward: Defining the Democracy Reform Movement. Scott Warren's interview series engages diverse thought leaders to elevate the conversation about building a thriving and healthy democratic republic that fulfills its potential as a national social and political game-changer. This initiative is the start of focused collaborations and dialogue led by The Bridge Alliance and The Fulcrum teams to help the movement find a path forward.

The latest interview in this series features Ben Bain, Director of State Capacity at the Niskanen Institute and Volunteer Coordinator in Washington, DC, for More Perfect Union, a bridging organization—where we originally met.

Keep ReadingShow less