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Op-eds of the week: Manchin, rebuilding trust, change through music and dance
Our weekly op-ed highlight reel
To change Manchin's mind, we must appeal to his heart
Dave Anderson
What might it take to change Sen. Joe Manchin's mind on the For the People Act? Dave Anderson, former professor, and Lee McIntyre author of "Post-Truth" and "How to Talk to a Science Denier," share their opinions.
Vermont learns the right lesson from the 2020 general election
Vermont officials realized that giving more people more ways to vote is a good idea. They have not instituted a permanent vote-by-mail system for general elections, argues Josh Silver, executive director and co-founder of RepresentUs.
Beyond rationalization: Joe Manchin exposes his own machinations
Joe Manchin is usually known as a pragmatic senator. But in his obstinate defense of the filibuster and his refusal to vote for the For the People Act, Manchin has revealed his real hand on the issue — and it is embarrassingly weak, shares Michael Golden, author of "Unlock Congress" and a senior fellow at the Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy. He is also a member of The Fulcrum's editorial advisory board.
Rebuilding trust, one conversation at a time
We need to restore civility to our political dialogue and rebuild trust in each other. America Talks can help get us there, says David Meyers, executive editor of The Fulcrum.
Music and dance continue to drive change
The Kennedy Center represents the cultural diversity of our country, and the language of the music and the dance presented over the course of the program illustrates how it often has been a catalyst for change, writes David Nevins, co-publisher of The Fulcrum and co-founder and board chairman of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund.
Meanwhile, here are our latest news stories:
5 stories to read about the bipartisan infrastructure deal
Maine takes bipartisan step toward open primaries
West Virginia voting rights advocates turn up heat on Manchin
Vermont sets bipartisan example for expanding vote by mail
Maine takes bipartisan step forward
News
Maine takes bipartisan step toward open primaries
Sara Swann
Maine has taken a big step toward making its primaries more politically inclusive.
State lawmakers voted in overwhelming bipartisan fashion on Wednesday to allow voters not registered with a major party to cast a ballot in a primary election. While the bill requires another vote in both chambers before it goes to Democratic Gov. Janet Mills' desk, the previous votes indicate passage is very likely.
While many state legislatures remain divided on election reform issues, Maine and nearby Vermont presented rare examples of bipartisan collaboration this week.
Debate
Beyond rationalization: Joe Manchin exposes his own machinations
Joe Manchin is usually known as a pragmatic senator. But in his obstinate defense of the filibuster and his refusal to vote for the For the People Act, Manchin has revealed his real hand on the issue — and it is embarrassingly weak, writes Michael Golden, author of "Unlock Congress" and a senior fellow at the Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy.
Video: Kristin Hansen of AllSides named an everyday hero
Kristin Hansen helps create constructive dialogue across classrooms with different backgrounds. She has been profiled in "Everyday Heroes."
Community
Grassroots' Return on Investment: Turning Advocacy into $ for Your Network
Join the Congressional Management Foundation for a program that presents research on how advocacy departments can add value not just to an organization's legislative agenda, but to the financial bottom line of the group and its network.