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Get on democracy’s Love Train

Love Train feat. Jason Mraz, Chad Smith, Yo-Yo Ma | Turnaround Arts | Playing For Change (Click on Picture for Video)

It has been more than two months since The (New) Fulcrum was launched. At that time, we told you we would use the power of the arts to remind us of our shared heritages and traditions, which contribute to the health of our democracy.

Since then, we’ve presented music, poetry, theater and even comedy content as a bridge to the latest news and analysis of politics and policy that we publish daily. Our goal is to be a new civic and political voice to build greater social cohesion, civic engagement and problem-solving.


We thank you for your overwhelming support of this effort.

During this holiday season, a time of hope and celebration, what better way to bring in the new year than with a performance by Turnaround Arts, a national program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. They work in schools across the nation to use the power of the arts to improve our schools and connect communities.

The ability of Turnaround Arts to transform elementary and middle schools through arts education is clear. The initial three-year evaluation of the Turnaround Arts pilot schools, released in 2015 found, “significant improvement in academic achievement, reduction in disciplinary referrals and increases in attendance, among other findings. In addition, the study found that Turnaround Arts schools outperformed comparable schools in their city or state that received federal funds for school improvement (“SIG schools”).

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The arts can indeed play a powerful role in turning our divided nation around. Please celebrate with us with this performance of “Love Train” featuring Jason Mraz, Chad Smith, Yo-Yo Ma, Jackson Browne and many more.

Get on board the Love Train with us as we strive to realize the dream of our nation's motto: “e pluribus unum.” Out of many, we are one.

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Ben Folds Upcoming Tour: Offers His Fans a Time to Reflect

Ben Folds performs on stage with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra at Perth Concert Hall on January 28, 2021 in Perth, Australia.

Getty Images, Matt Jelonek

Ben Folds Upcoming Tour: Offers His Fans a Time to Reflect

In February, Ben Folds resigned as artistic adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra, shortly after President Donald Trump took charge of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. “Given developments at the Kennedy Center, effective today I am resigning as artistic advisor to the NSO,” Folds wrote on Instagram on February 12. “Not for me.”

While Folds is not overtly political, he has used his music as a platform to encourage dialogue and understanding within his audience. He has the opportunity to do so in his recently announced 2025 concert tour, which includes the “Paper Airplane Request Tour,” where members of the audience can request songs by sending paper airplanes to the stage.

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With the weather getting colder across the northern hemisphere and some holiday time with family and friends coming up, you might want to kick back with a movie. We’ve got you. Here are some movies that will give you hope, leave you smiling and maybe inspire you to get out and rebuild social trust in your community in 2025.

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Tom McGrath/TCMcGPhotography

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While it may seem like our country is more politically divided than ever, political division has been a recurring theme throughout American history.

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Do Charli XCX’s and Kid Rock’s endorsements make a difference? 19% of young people admit they might.

Longoria is an associate professor of political science at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

British pop star Charli XCX sent many young people’s group text chats and social media feeds wild when she endorsed Kamala Harris by playing off a term she coined in a song, and posted on X, that “kamala IS brat.”

While this endorsement, which happened in July 2024, likely means very little to most adults who don’t follow the singer’s music, it is considered high praise among young people. Harris’ campaign astutely embraced Charli XCX’s support – temporarily changing the background of its X profile to the same shade of lime green that Charlie XCX favors.

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