Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Follow Us:
Top Stories

Video: We the people

WE THE PEOPLE | NIMO PATEL | EMPTY HANDS MUSIC

It was a year ago in September 2021 that The Fulcrum introduced our Pop Culture section.

At that time we said:


In our increasingly complex world of trauma and travail, where we must care about the health of our democracy and strive relentlessly to strengthen our representative republic, we call upon the products and services of our artists and athletes to remind us of our heritages and traditions, our cooperative and competitive selves.

This past year we honored and celebrated culture as a bridge to the latest news and analysis of politics, policy, and the birth of a new civic and political voice to build greater social cohesion, civic engagement, and problem-solving.

We hope you have taken the journey with us as we shared stories, music, poetry and dance to inspire our better angels as part of our continuing coverage of the problems and solutions of our times.

We believe more than ever that art has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people.

Today we present a powerful example in “WeThe People,” produced by Empty Hands Music. Their mission is to spread seeds of goodness in the world through selfless service, music and love.

Founded by Nimo Patel, who went from his Ivy League education to Wall Street to fame and fortune as a rap star on MTV. However, at some point along Patel’s journey he realized that he was walking a path of suffering and that the only path to light was through selfless service to others and his own internal purification. For the past 10 years Patel has been serving and working with the underprivileged communities in India.

Enjoy the healing power of “We The People.”


Read More

Election Officials Warn of Rising Threats As Security Funding Declines Ahead of Midterms

Reps. Laurel Lee (R-Fla) and Terri Sewell (D-Ala) at Wednesday’s House Administration Elections Subcommittee hearing titled, “Examining Best Practices for Strengthening Election Security.”

(Kaitlin Bender-Thomas/MedillNews Service)

Election Officials Warn of Rising Threats As Security Funding Declines Ahead of Midterms

WASHINGTON –Election officials warned lawmakers on Wednesday that threats against election workers and voting systems are escalating even as federal funding for election security remains far below 2020 levels, posing risks ahead of the 2026 midterms.

In 2020, Congress allocated $425 million for election security grants, compared to $15 million in 2025 and $45 million this year. The Trump administration has also proposed a $707 million cut to the CyberSecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s fiscal 2027 budget and ended the agency’s election security support for state and local governments.

Keep ReadingShow less
The Founding Fathers would’ve gotten rid of Trump long ago

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a news briefing at the White House on Feb. 20, 2026, in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Supreme Court earlier ruled against Trump's use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs, a central portion of the administration’s core economic policy.

(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/TNS)

The Founding Fathers would’ve gotten rid of Trump long ago

In 1788, Virginia convened a convention to debate ratification of the new U.S. Constitution, promulgated in Philadelphia the year before.

The pardon power proved to be a sticking point for some delegates. George Mason, the primary author of Virginia’s own constitution, was among those worried that the unchecked ability to unilaterally pardon criminality could lead to abuses of power. What if the president “may frequently pardon crimes which were advised by himself”?

Keep ReadingShow less
Preventing a Decade-Long Republican Lock
In the House of Representatives
gray stone columns worm's-eye view photo
Photo by Jesse Collins on Unsplash

Preventing a Decade-Long Republican Lock In the House of Representatives

Political developments in the United States highlighted a trend of democratic slippage…. Today, the state and fate of democracy in the world is perhaps more uncertain than it has been in our lifetimes.”

Kevin Casas-Zamora, 2025, International IDEA

Keep ReadingShow less
A Transcontinental Railroad Means a Stronger U.S. Economy
black and brown chess piece on white tray

A Transcontinental Railroad Means a Stronger U.S. Economy

Upheaval in international trade over the last few years and the resulting squeeze on Americans’ pocketbooks have highlighted the benefits that Americans receive from having partners and supply chains that are proven and reliable—and the costs that come when that dependability is threatened.

American infrastructure and transportation are critical factors in the equation. The proposed combination of Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) railroads is being positioned as part of the answer to American economic resiliency for years to come. Especially significant as North American trade continues to advance American prosperity.

Keep ReadingShow less