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Jimmy Carter: Prophet of Doom for American Democracy

Jimmy Carter: Prophet of Doom for American Democracy

A fictional, fanciful sign depicts the results of voter suppression through the unfair, partisan manipulation of district lines (gerrymandering).

The worst congressional gerrymanders of the 2020s

Behind the “Lie of the Year,” some bitter truths

Behind the “Lie of the Year,” some bitter truths

Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs on stage

Luke Combs, politics and healing our nation's divide

Photo from the movie "Conclave"

Certainty is the enemy of unity and tolerance

Podcast: Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other: Barbara McQuade

Podcast: Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other: Barbara McQuade
The Fulcrum
By The FulcrumMar 24, 2023
The Fulcrum
The Fulcrum staff.
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Barbara McQuade joins this episode of Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other to discuss prominent legal cases such as Dominion Voting's defamation case against Fox News; Moore vs. Harper, the North Carolina case pertaining to voting law that tests the "independent state legislature theory"; the numerous cases against Donald Trump and which ones should concern him the most.

McQuade is a former U.S. Attorney, the co-host of the podcast #SistersInLaw, and legal analyst for NBC News.

Listen.

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Trump's Cabinet Pick: Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Governance & Legislation

Trump's Cabinet Pick: Lori Chavez-DeRemer

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Trump’s Bold Agenda Faces Buzzsaw of Legal and Political Realities

President-elect Donald Trump speaks to the press following a meeting with Senate Republicans at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC on January 8, 2025.

(Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Trump’s Bold Agenda Faces Buzzsaw of Legal and Political Realities


Donald Trump’s second-term agenda outlines an ambitious plan to reshape major aspects of American society. While his vision energizes supporters, it has drawn criticism for potentially upsetting democratic norms and threatening effective governance. Even with a Republican trifecta, narrow Congressional margins and significant legal challenges could stall these efforts before the 2026 midterms.

A cornerstone of Trump’s agenda is the reintroduction of Schedule F, a proposal to strip senior civil servants of job protections, allowing their replacement with political appointees. Advocates see it as a way to dismantle bureaucratic resistance to presidential priorities, often dubbed the “deep state.” Critics, however, warn that it could erode the independence of the federal workforce, turning agencies into partisan tools. Legal challenges to Schedule F would likely arise soon after Trump takes office, with courts scrutinizing its compliance with federal employment laws. Additionally, concerns about executive branch politicization may complicate efforts to garner Congressional support.

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Countering Terrorism: Pushing Back Fear

People commemorate the victims of NYE terror attack on Bourbon Street, New Orleans, USA, January 6, 2025.

(Photo by Patrick O'niell Little Jr/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Countering Terrorism: Pushing Back Fear

The end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025 have brought an onslaught of terror attacks and tumult. While the incidents that occurred over the last several months may not be connected, they do usher in a sense of chaos and fear.

As a country, to meet this moment of terror, we must all look both outwards and inwards.

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Stronger Winds Threaten Further Destruction In Fire-Ravaged Southern California

Firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department stand vigilant as they battle wildfires in Los Angeles while several blazes continue to tear through the region on January 10, 2025.

(Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Stronger Winds Threaten Further Destruction In Fire-Ravaged Southern California

Since the fires ignited in and around Los Angeles, many residents have returned to their neighborhoods, which are still smoldering, despite the ongoing threat of new fires and the prevailing unrest in the nation's second-largest city. For some, this marked their first opportunity to witness the extent of the devastation as the region, home to 13 million people, faces the significant challenge of recovery and rebuilding.

Fire officials are concerned over strengthening winds this week as Investigators are exploring various potential ignition sources for the large fires that have resulted in at least 16 fatalities and the destruction of thousands of homes and businesses.

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Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Government Debt Ceiling - Capitol, Congress and Senate - Budget Package

Getty Images//Stock Photo

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

On January 20, 2025, at the moment he takes the oath of office, President Trump will find himself between a rock and a hard place. The rock is the nature of his job, that he must carry out the laws of the land, including the spending of money on Congressionally approved programs. Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution establishes one of the President’s core responsibilities – “He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”

The hard place is that on January 1, 2025, the 2023 suspension of the debt ceiling law expired. The ceiling is now 31.4 trillion dollars, while the debt is over 36 trillion. Trump 47 will be the first President to be constrained by the debt ceiling on day one. Starting January 1 and continuing from January 20, absent some action by Congress, every dollar spent will add a fraction of a dollar to the national debt, putting the President further and further out of compliance with the debt ceiling law.

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