Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories

Partisan accord on modernizing Indiana's campaign finance reporting

Indiana
JosephJacobs/Getty Images

Indiana legislators are finding unusual, if narrow, bipartisan agreement on money-in-politics regulation: allowing all Hoosier candidates to file their fundraising and spending reports online.

It sounds like a minor bookkeeping matter, but campaign finance watchdogs say such electronic filings produce more accurate and timely disclosures by politicians than when they're compelled to use pen and paper.


The Republican-majority General Assembly looks likely to pass legislation before adjourning in a month that would allow local candidates and campaign committees to file electronically, which the legislators themselves have been able to do for a few years. The House has already passed the measure and it won a rare 9-0 endorsement from the Senate Elections Committee on Monday.

It's "a reasonable ask" for counties "to move forward with technology," said the panel's GOP chairman, Greg Walker.

Currently, candidates file papers in person, through the mail or via fax machine — and their handwriting (especially the numbers) is often indecipherable. Another option is to fill in a PDF that is available on the state government's website, but it tends to not save properly and submits a report declaring the candidate did not raise or spend a penny.

The bill was pressed by Jessica Bailey, the new Democratic clerk in Porter County in the state's northwestern corner.

Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter

"It's something that's needed, and it will keep elections and candidate reports more transparent," she told the Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana. "If things are simple and user friendly, people tend to do them on a regular basis."

Read More

Ed Martin’s Plan to Shame Trump's Enemies Threatens the Rule of Law

The Department of Justice logo is displayed.

Getty Images, Andrew Harnik

Ed Martin’s Plan to Shame Trump's Enemies Threatens the Rule of Law

For a long time, scholars, commentators, and officials have debated the efficacy of shame as a form of punishment. Opinion has been divided over the efficacy and appropriateness of using it as a response to a criminal conviction.

But nowhere did anyone ever suggest that shaming someone would be an acceptable reason to prosecute them. Until now.

Keep ReadingShow less
Congress Bill Spotlight: Preventing Presidential Inaugurations on MLK Day, Like Trump’s

Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th President of the United States.

Getty Images, Pool

Congress Bill Spotlight: Preventing Presidential Inaugurations on MLK Day, Like Trump’s

The Fulcrum introduces Congress Bill Spotlight, a weekly report by Jesse Rifkin, focusing on the noteworthy legislation of the thousands introduced in Congress. Rifkin has written about Congress for years, and now he's dissecting the most interesting bills you need to know about, but that often don't get the right news coverage.

President Donald Trump falsely claimed his January 6, 2021 speech preceding the Capitol Building riot “had more people” in attendance than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

Keep ReadingShow less
RCV Momentum, Young Voters, and Faster Runoffs

RCV Momentum, Young Voters, and Faster Runoffs

RCV Momentum, Young Voters, and Faster Runoffs - This Week’s Expand Democracy 5

Welcome to the latest edition of The Expand Democracy 5. From Rob Ritchie, with Eveline Dowling’s help, we explore five ways democracy is evolving—locally, nationally, and globally. Today's stories include:

🌟 Future of RCV is Bright - Energy & trends favor voter choice

Keep ReadingShow less
Just the Facts: Trump Administration Pauses International Student Visas
woman wearing blue denim jacket holding book

Just the Facts: Trump Administration Pauses International Student Visas

The Fulcrum strives to approach news stories with an open mind and skepticism, striving to present our readers with a broad spectrum of viewpoints through diligent research and critical thinking. As best we can, we remove personal bias from our reporting and seek a variety of perspectives in both our news gathering and selection of opinion pieces. However, before our readers can analyze varying viewpoints, they must have the facts.

Has the Trump administration put a hold on issuing student visas for this coming fall?

The Trump administration has paused new student visa interviews as part of an effort to expand social media screening for applicants. The State Department has instructed U.S. embassies and consulates to stop scheduling new student and exchange visitor visa appointments until further guidance is issued. However, previously scheduled interviews will still proceed.

Keep ReadingShow less