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Protesters gather at the Wisconsin State Capitol, holding signs.

Trump's Water Policies Put America's Drinking Water at Risk

a house made of brown cardboard in a person's hands.

Homelessness Just Declined in the U.S.–Trump’s Plans Will Take Us Backwards.

I Alone Can (Fix) Destroy It

I Alone Can (Fix) Destroy It

Spectators on a stadium with USA playing.

Democracy Needs Citizens, Not Fans

Five key stories about democracy

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The Fulcrum
By The FulcrumMay 14, 2021
The Fulcrum
The Fulcrum staff.
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It's been a busy week for democracy reformers, with the For the People Act appearing to die in the Senate, Republicans threatening to break ranks, and Rep. Liz Cheney losing her leadership post despite her conservative credentials.

But there was so much more. Here's a sampling of stories you may have missed.

Redistricting review - a summary of this week's map-making news (Ballotpedia)

How Jim Crow-Era Laws Suppressed the African American Vote for Generations (History)

What we know about the high, broad turnout in the 2020 election (The Washington Post)

Nomination of Kristen Clarke, controversial Biden civil-rights pick, hangs in balance (Fox News)

And for a little fun: Ranked Voting in NYC (The New Yorker)


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America at 250: The Next Expansion of the American Promise
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Two college students presenting project to class

As America nears its 250th anniversary, learn why schools, mentoring, and leadership development are critical to preparing the next generation of leaders.

10'000 Hours / Getty Images

America at 250: A Wake-Up Call for Leadership Development

As America approaches its 250th birthday, we've been reflecting on the leadership that built our nation and sustained it through two and a half centuries of challenge and change. From local communities to national institutions, America's progress has always depended on people who were willing to take initiative, serve others, and help navigate moments of uncertainty and opportunity.

As we celebrate these leaders for the impact they had on history, a critical question surfaces: Where—and how—did they learn to lead?

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Toy tank on the background of dollar bills

The true cost of war with Iran goes far beyond the battlefield. Learn how military spending affects gas prices, national debt, infrastructure, healthcare, and American taxpayers.

Sinenkiy / Getty Images

The Cost of the Iran War Isn't Just Measured in Bombs

A farmer in Ames, Iowa, pulls up to a gas station and stares in shock at the numbers on the pump. The price of fuel has jumped sharply since the outbreak of war with Iran. His next thought is simple: every extra dollar spent on diesel is a dollar he cannot spend elsewhere. Before long, those higher costs will show up in the price of food, shipping, and countless other goods Americans buy every day.

Most Americans experience the costs of war not on a battlefield thousands of miles away, but at the gas pump. But higher fuel prices are only the most visible expense. The true cost of war extends far beyond oil markets. It includes billions spent on military operations, the interest on borrowed money, and the opportunities lost when scarce public resources are diverted from schools, housing, infrastructure, and other urgent social needs.

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A drone view of dry land with trees around and a lake near the center.

After the Central Oregon Irrigation District delivered water to landowners near Redmond, Oregon, in July 2025, what’s left pooled in a silty pond where it eventually drained away or evaporated. The district said it has 24 ponds that catch water at the ends of its system.

Brandon Swanson/OPB

An Oregon Law Lets One Wealthy Region Turn the Desert Green. When Drought Hits, Farmers Pay the Price.

Chris Casad awakens each day before dawn on the Central Oregon property he bought nine years ago, the farm where he once grew tons of potatoes before water shortages forced him to fallow fields and take a job feeding someone else’s cattle on someone else’s land.

At 38, he’s got tractors older than he is. His two kids are under 5. His wife, Cate, has two jobs. They’re staring down a pile of debt from their 85 acres and its unending supply of things in the process of breaking.

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Michigan exhibit explores immigration and American identity

According to the Library of Congress, immigration has played a central role in shaping communities across the United States. (Adobe Stock)

(Adobe Stock)

Michigan exhibit explores immigration and American identity

As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, the Holland Museum and Zeeland Historical Society are partnering on an exhibit exploring the people and cultures who helped shape their West Michigan communities.

The “We the People” exhibit features artifacts, personal stories and interactive displays highlighting Indigenous communities, Dutch settlers and more recent immigrant groups.

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