Reform in 2023
As the year draws to a close, The Fulcrum is looking ahead to what may happen next year in the world of political reform and anti-polarization efforts. We invited leaders in those movements to share their hopes and plans for 2023.
It’s time for the civil rights community to embrace independent voters
Jeremy Gruber is senior vice president of Open Primaries and previously spent three years at the ACLU. He believes the next step in election reform brings those two worlds – improving primary elections and advancing civil rights – together.
What’s perhaps most peculiar about the silence of the civil rights community with regards to independent voters is how many independent voters are people of color. Forty percent of Asian Americans, 37 percent of Latinos and 30 percent of African Americans are independent. You wouldn’t know it from the work of any of the organizations entrusted with protecting these key voting groups. Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Unidos US, the NAACP and others fight every day against efforts that make it harder for minorities to vote; unless, of course, they happen to be independents.
Why we think you should make dialogue your New Year's resolution
Christy Vines of the Ideos Institute and Debilyn Molineaux of The Fulcrum want everyone to become more engaged with one another in 2023.
The world is changing. Our nation is evolving. The changing nature of life itself doesn’t require permission, understanding or approval. It simply is. What we have control to change is our perception and our response. One way to feel empowered is to observe, decide, and then act.
Video: What’s up with Elon Musk?
What happens when "free speech absolutism" runs up against the realities of running the nation's de facto digital public square? In addition to discussing the evolution of Twitter and Tesla chief Elon Musk, participants in the final Braver Angels roundtable of 2023 talk about President Joe Biden’s performance over her first two years in office and what Americans can expect from the organization in 2023.
For this episode, Ciaran O'Connor brings together fellow Braver Angels leaders John Wood Jr., Monica Guzman, April Kornfield and Gabbi Timmis for a freewheeling roundtable discussion.
Also in the news
New year expected to bring more changes to state voting laws (ABC News)
Minnesota felon voting rights not decided by Supreme Court as 2022 ends (Fox 9)
Report finds no evidence of fraud in New Hampshire's elections (The Center Square)
Pennsylvania was the center of the political world, again. Here’s what happened and what’s next in 2023. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Kari Lake Doubles Down on Election Claims Despite Lawsuit Loss (U.S. News and World Report)
Upcoming events
Democracy Happy Hour - Fix Democracy First - Jan. 4
National Day of Dialogue - Ideos - Jan. 5
Faith or Fear Workshop - Civic Genius - Jan. 5
Chaos or Calm: Building Confidence in the 2024 Election - Business for America - Jan. 9
Restoring Faith in American Leadership - Institute for Global Leadership - Jan. 9
Christian Nationalism - The Great Reset - Jan. 10
The End of American Democracy? - Interactivity Foundation - Jan. 11
