Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Follow Us:
Top Stories

5 stories to read on the census data drop and what it means for redistricting

People in line to fill out the 2020 census

Recent census data shows America's population became even more diverse over the last decade.

David L. Ryan/Getty Images

Data released by the Census Bureau on Thursday showed America's population is more diverse than ever. For the first time since 1790, the number of people in the country who identify as white declined.

The detailed look into the nation's population changes over the past decade will be key as states can now begin redrawing election maps for the 2020s. But due to delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic, states face a compressed timeline to complete their redistricting plans.

Concerns about the accuracy of the census count also remain. Communities of color have historically been undercounted, but this cycle could see larger disparities due to Covid-19 and efforts by the Trump administration to change the census questionnaire in ways that might have intimidated respondents.


Here are five stories to catch you up on the latest redistricting developments.

What the new census data shows about race depends on how you look at it (NPR)

State redistricting can start with new census data, but litigation looms (Roll Call)

Latinos' next census task: Get money and power through redistricting (NBC)

Five takeaways from a groundbreaking census report (The Hill)

US became more diverse, metro areas grew in last decade, census data shows (Fox News)


Read More

Trump’s Second Year and the Crossroads Facing Latinos

illustration depicting Latinos at a crossroads

AI generated

Trump’s Second Year and the Crossroads Facing Latinos

As President Donald Trump enters his second year of his second term, the nation’s 62 million Hispanics and Latinos are bracing for a turbulent 2026 shaped by economic uncertainty, shifting political allegiances, and intensified immigration enforcement. New polling and research released throughout late 2025 paint a complex picture of a community that is increasingly anxious about its future and deeply skeptical of the administration’s direction.

Across multiple surveys, Latino voters consistently identify the economy, affordability, and jobs as their top concerns heading into 2026. A sweeping national survey of 3,000 registered Latino voters found that 65% believe President Trump and congressional Republicans are not doing enough to improve the economy, a five‑point increase since April. Half of respondents said they expect Trump’s economic policies to make them personally worse off next year.

Keep ReadingShow less
Can Things Get Even Worse for Mike Johnson?

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) lat the U.S. Capitol on January 7, 2025 in Washington, DC.

(Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images)

Can Things Get Even Worse for Mike Johnson?

Two weeks ago, a column in the Fulcrum warned that Speaker Mike Johnson was entering a political season defined by "ritual human sacrifice," noting that in a Trump‑branded GOP, someone must absorb the blame when governing goes sideways. In this context, the "sacrifice" refers to the erosion of institutional norms, accountability, and the potential jeopardy of individual reputations. Jonah Goldberg wrote that "Mike Johnson might as well be tied to a stake in the lion’s den."

That line feels understated now, as cascading crises over the past several days have closed in even further around Speaker Johnson.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hollywood Gets Congress Wrong—and It’s Costing America Trust in Democracy

Hollywood sign and The Capitol

AI generated picture

Hollywood Gets Congress Wrong—and It’s Costing America Trust in Democracy

The following article is excerpted from "Citizen’s Handbook for Influencing Elected Officials."

Since the 1970s, public trust in American institutions—including Congress—has steadily declined. Approval ratings for the House and Senate usually hover in the teens. Certainly, some misdeeds by our elected leaders have contributed to this decline, and mainstream national media can claim its fair share of “credit” in portraying Congress in a negative light. Yet another major ingredient in the ugly formula poisoning public opinion of Congress is Hollywood. Movies and TV shows routinely portray Congress as craven, corrupt, selfish, and completely indifferent to the public interest. Regrettably, this is a wholly incorrect portrayal of our nation’s legislators.

Keep ReadingShow less
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs: A Defining Force in Milwaukee

Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs

Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs: A Defining Force in Milwaukee

Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs has been a defining force in Milwaukee civic life for nearly two decades, combining deep community roots with a record of public service grounded in equity, cultural investment, and neighborhood empowerment. Born and raised in Milwaukee, she graduated from Riverside University High School before earning her bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Fisk University, where she studied Business Administration and English.

The Fulcrum spoke with Coggs about the work she leads, including eliminating food deserts in her district on an episode of The Fulcrum Democracy Forum.

Keep ReadingShow less