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How Weak Federal Ethics Laws Enable Presidential Profiteering

How Weak Federal Ethics Laws Enable Presidential Profiteering

The Iran War’s Price Tag: Billions Lost While Americans Go Without

The Iran War’s Price Tag: Billions Lost While Americans Go Without

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Trump’s Racism Carries No Consequences—And That’s Scary

Bravado Isn’t a Strategy: Why the Iran War Has No Endgame

Bravado Isn’t a Strategy: Why the Iran War Has No Endgame

One community at a time: A pledge for hope and unity

Close up of people holding hands
Maki Nakamura/Getty Images
By Kristina Becvar,
Kristina Becvar

In her role as co-publisher of The Fulcrum and Executive Director of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund, she is a driving force behind collaborative efforts to transform our democracy. Recognizing that no single idea or organization can address our complex challenges in isolation, Kristina excels in blending intuitive leadership with data-driven insights. Her extensive background in operations and change management, coupled with her M.S. in data analytics and research methods, equips her with a powerful skill set. Kristina brings a focused approach to the essential work required for a thriving democratic republic.

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David L. Nevins
David L. Nevins
David L. Nevins serves as publisher of The Fulcrum. Additionally, Nevins serves as co-founder and Board Chairman of the Bridge Alliance. Nevins brings business acumen, vision and a tireless this-must-and-can-be-done zeal to the burgeoning movement to bridge divides to transform the political process. As a business leader, Nevins excels at building bridges between people and organizations from the right, left and center for civilized conversation and then action. He co-founded the Bridge Alliance because, as he says, “No matter how well managed and how well funded anyone organization is, significant political reform will not happen without an alliance to further collaborative interactions. Together we can and will raise the collective impact of all.” He is a member of the Aspen Institute Society of Fellows, with a focus on the Aspen Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership, he established and continues to work with The Nevins Democracy Leaders program at Penn State University. Nevins graduated with honors in economics from Penn State in 1969 and received an M.B.A. in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1971.
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May 15, 2024

Becvar and Nevins are co-publishers of The Fulcrum. Becvar is executive director of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund, and Nevins is the the organization’s co-founder and board chairman.

In this time of division, the rise of hatred based on race, religion and ethnicity casts long shadows across our communities. Inspiring movements like the Central Florida Pledge highlight the paths we can take toward unity and acceptance.

Central Florida is renowned for its spirit of inclusivity, welcoming people from diverse backgrounds. The pledge is a community-led initiative that looks to uphold and strengthen this tradition by creating a safe and welcoming environment for everyone who calls Central Florida home.

It is crafting a future filled with hope and unity by asking residents to sign the pledge and become involved in creating a community where respect and shared goals are at the forefront.

It envisions a community where everyone, without exception, feels safe and respected, regardless of faith, race, gender, ethnicity, culture, beliefs or identity. They believe that our diversity is not just a buzzword but a true strength, and they are committed to creating a community where everyone can thrive.

The pledge’s values can be an inspiration to us all.

Inclusion: We believe that everyone belongs in Central Florida, and we are committed to creating a community where everyone feels welcome.
Respect: We believe that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their background.
Education: We believe that education is essential to combating hate and discrimination. We are committed to educating ourselves and others about the dangers of prejudice and bigotry.
Action: We believe that words are not enough. We are committed to taking action to create a more just and equitable community.

How wonderful would it be if citizens from across the country asked residents from their town, city or region to step forward and join this transformative movement by signing a pledge advocating for a community that values understanding and mutual respect.

Check out the video to learn more about how they are doing this in Central Florida. It’s time to build a harmonious future together!

Tired of Toxic Dialogue? Ready to Be Part of Something Bigger? Join Central Florida’s Call to Unity!www.youtube.com


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America at 250: Patriotic Lament From Her Darker Sons

As the United States nears its 250th anniversary, Rev. Dr. F. Willis Johnson explores the nation’s founding contradictions, enduring racial inequalities, and the ongoing struggle to align democratic ideals with reality.

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America at 250: Patriotic Lament From Her Darker Sons

As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, the nation confronts a moment that should stir both celebration and sober reflection. A quarter millennium is no small achievement in the long arc of human governance. Republics have faltered far sooner. Yet anniversaries, especially ones of this magnitude, are not merely commemorations of survival. These observances are invitations to take inventory. Thus, demanding that we ask not only what we have built, but what we have become.

The American story is told in two intertwined registers. One is triumphant: a daring rebellion reshaping political thought, expanding liberty. The other is quieter and often suppressed: a republic professing universal rights while sanctioning human bondage, preaching equality but benefiting only a select few. In our 250th year, we are invited to see these two narratives as inseparable, each shaping and challenging the other.

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Liberty and Justice for Some

Stephanie Toliver examines book bans, transgender rights in Kansas, the impacts of ICE detentions, and the history of conditional equality in America’s schools, libraries, and churches.

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Liberty and Justice for Some

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Oksana Masters of Team United States celebrates after winning gold in the Para Cross Country Skiing Sprint Sitting Final on day four of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium on March 10, 2026 in Val di Fiemme, Italy.

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The Paralympics Challenge Everything We Think We Know About Sports

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The Paralympics, so-called because they are “parallel” to the Olympics, stand alone as the globe’s premier sporting event for elite athletes with disabilities. According to the International Paralympic Committee, 4,400 disabled athletes competed in the 2024 Paris Summer Games in track and field, swimming, and twenty other sports.

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