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Protestors holding signs that read "protect trans kids."

Trump's Orders Threaten Transgender Americans’ Rights

Trump Declares War on Democratic Cities

Trump Declares War on Democratic Cities

Books in a school library.

The Censors Have Names. Use Them.

The U.S. Pentagon.

Congress Bill Spotlight: Department of War Restoration Act

A Trump 2020 flag outside of a home.

Trump’s 2.0 Actions Have Harmed Rural America Who Voted for Him

Podcast: "RECESSION": A Rhetorical Journey with President Bush

Podcast: "RECESSION": A Rhetorical Journey with President Bushplay icon
The Weekly Podcast: "RECESSION": A Rhetorical Journey with President Bush, 2008
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The Fulcrum
By The FulcrumAug 11, 2022
The Fulcrum
The Fulcrum staff.
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When is it time to call a recession -- a recession? Sometimes it's not just about the hard data ... For a president, it could be a rhetorical and messaging challenge, as well. It is for President Joe Biden in 2022, and it was for President George W. Bush in 2008.

President Bush began 2008 in his State of the Union address by describing "a period of uncertainty." As the year went on, "period of uncertainty" became "slowdown", "downturn", "rough patch", "tough times", even "danger." When did he finally use the "R word" -- recession?

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The Violence We Refuse to See
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The Violence We Refuse to See

Fear of AI Makes for Bad Policy
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Fear of AI Makes for Bad Policy

This Mayoral Debate Was Anything but Decisive
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This Mayoral Debate Was Anything but Decisive

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Ingrassia Exit Highlights Rare GOP Pushback to Trump’s Personnel Picks

President Donald Trump speaks at a White House press briefing on Jan. 30, 2025.

Credit: Jonah Elkowitz/Medill News Service

Ingrassia Exit Highlights Rare GOP Pushback to Trump’s Personnel Picks

WASHINGTON — Paul Ingrassia withdrew his nomination to lead the Office of Special Counsel on Tuesday night after facing Republican pushback over past controversial statements.

While Ingrassia joins a growing list of President Donald Trump’s nominees who have withdrawn from consideration, many who have aired controversial beliefs or lack requisite qualifications have still been appointed or are still in the nomination process.

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In Laredo, families grapple with air pollution as efforts to reduce toxic emissions stall

Nidia Nevares walks with her son, Juan Jose "JJ" Nevares, at Father Charles M. McNaboe Park on Sept. 20, 2025. The park is near both their home and the Midwest Sterilization Co. plant, which uses a known carcinogen. Photo by Sean Jimenez/South Texas Project

Photo by Sean Jimenez/South Texas Project

In Laredo, families grapple with air pollution as efforts to reduce toxic emissions stall

LAREDO, Texas – The Nevares family home is a lively space, with kittens milling about and happiness in the air. It’s a feeling the family had to fight for, following a devastating leukemia diagnosis for their youngest son seven years ago.

Not far from them lives Xavier Ortiz, a hardworking man who wants to provide for his family but is hindered by an aggressive cancer.

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A doctor and patient holding hands.

Trust in America’s doctors has hit historic lows. This story explores how decades of missed opportunities, rising costs, and systemic inertia eroded the doctor-patient bond — and what it will take to restore confidence in modern medicine.

Getty Images, thianchai sitthikongsak

The Collapse of Patient Trust: How U.S. Healthcare Lost Its Way

Just as the political health of a nation requires trust in elected officials, the physical and mental health of Americans depends on the trust embedded in the doctor-patient relationship.

For most of the past century, that bond was ironclad. Now, that relationship is fraying.

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A child looking at a smartphone.

With autism rates doubling every decade, scientists are reexamining environmental and behavioral factors. Could the explosion of social media use since the 1990s be influencing neurodevelopment? A closer look at the data, the risks, and what research must uncover next.

Getty Images, Arindam Ghosh

The Increase in Autism and Social Media – Coincidence or Causal?

Autism has been in the headlines recently because of controversy over Robert F. Kennedy, Jr's statements. But forgetting about Kennedy, autism is headline-worthy because of the huge increase in its incidence over the past two decades and its potential impact on not just the individual children but the health and strength of our country.

In the 1990s, a new definition of autism—ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)—was universally adopted. Initially, the prevalence rate was pretty stable. In the year 2,000, with this broader definition and better diagnosis, the CDC estimated that one in 150 eight-year-olds in the U.S. had an autism spectrum disorder. (The reports always study eight-year-olds, so this data was for children born in 1992.)

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