Skip to content
Project 2025
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories
Congress Bill Spotlight: Panama Canal Repurchase Act

Congress Bill Spotlight: Panama Canal Repurchase Act

Project 2025: Changes to the Department of Veterans Affairs

Project 2025: Changes to the Department of Veterans Affairs

Supreme Court Ruling Offers a Glimmer of Hope for the Rule of Law

Supreme Court Ruling Offers a Glimmer of Hope for the Rule of Law

Redistricting

Redistricting

Project 2025: Elon Musk’s attack on the Department of Labor

Project 2025: Elon Musk’s attack on the Department of Labor

Donald Trump

​​Five-week report card on Trump 2.0

What’s Your Take on securing top secret documents?

What’s Your Take on securing top secret documents?
Debilyn Molineaux
By Debilyn MolineauxJan 17, 2023
Debilyn Molineaux

Debilyn Molineaux serves as the catalyst for the American Future project to help everyday Americans discover and believe in a future that will be "worth it" to work together for the sake of our nation.

Debilyn brings a passion to her work that is contagious to all around her. Hailing from a conservative, agricultural community, Debilyn started her career as a small business owner, working with community businesses to promote and grow their own operations through advertising and marketing. After engaging other women business leaders, Debilyn was inspired to become more active in the political process. Her own personal experiences -- as a small business owner, a local candidate for office, and an elected president of a national organization -- have given her enormous insight into the challenges facing citizens who want to get involved and organizations that want to scale their impact.

Debilyn is a serial entrepreneur, co-founding many organizations and transpartisan projects over her 20+ year career in establishing the democracy ecosystem. She has co-founded the Bridge Alliance, Living Room Conversations and the National Week of Conversation. She formerly was co-publisher of The Fulcrum and continues as advisor for Citizen Connect, Listen First Project, AllSides and other organizations, individuals within the democracy ecosystem.

See More Writings by author

From The Fulcrum’s co-publisher, Debilyn Molineaux.

Happy New Year! As we kick off 2023, there is so much going on. I’m nostalgic about the “old times” when winter was slower and there were resting points between campaigns. Or at least, it seemed that way when I wasn’t as plugged into the daily grind of politics.

The media seems to be focused on the classified documents found in two locations connected to President Biden. The comparisons are inevitable, with talking points, charts and of course, blame.

My mind steered in a different direction, and we’d like your take on it. Moving is such a chaotic process – and many hands are required to pack up. I imagined aides and assistants throwing papers in boxes, not knowing the contents. Or being directed to do so.

How might we provide a more secure process for documents marked classified, such that when administrations leave, they don’t accidentally or on purpose, take classified information with them?

This scenario causes me to wonder how many classified documents have left with the former office holder in the past? More than we are comfortable with, I’m sure.

Please feel free to Email your responses to The Fulcrum. Responses received by Thursday, January 19th at Noon ET will be considered for publication this Friday.

Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter

Latest news

Democrats are from Mars, Republicans are from Venus
Bridging & Common Ground

Democrats are from Mars, Republicans are from Venus

Defining the Democracy Reform Movement: Julia Roig
Bridging & Common Ground

Defining the Democracy Reform Movement: Julia Roig

On the Basis of Merit: The Only Fair Way Forward
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

On the Basis of Merit: The Only Fair Way Forward

Voter’s remorse? Not much, but give it time
Ethics & Leadership

Voter’s remorse? Not much, but give it time

Read More

Trump to the Nation: "We're Just Getting Started"

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump is speaking about the early achievements of his presidency and his upcoming legislative agenda.

(Photo by Mandel Ngan-Pool/Getty Images)

Trump to the Nation: "We're Just Getting Started"

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress, emphasizing that his administration is “just getting started” in the wake of a contentious beginning to his second term. Significant themes, including substantial cuts to the federal workforce, shifts in traditional American alliances, and the impact of an escalating trade war on markets, characterized his address.

In his speech, Trump highlighted his actions over the past six weeks, claiming to have signed nearly 100 executive orders and taken over 400 executive actions to restore “common sense, safety, optimism, and wealth” across the country. He articulated that the electorate entrusted him with the leadership role and stressed that he was fulfilling that mandate.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump’s Tariffs: a burden on workers, a boon for the wealthy

An illustration of a deconstructed dollar bill.

Getty Images, rob dobi

Trump’s Tariffs: a burden on workers, a boon for the wealthy

Earlier this year, President Trump imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, claiming they would fix trade imbalances and protect jobs. However, instead of helping American workers, these tariffs act as hidden taxes; they drive up costs and feed inflation. While average Americans bear the brunt of higher prices and lost jobs, the wealthy are insulated from the worst effects.

Many economists assert that tariffs are stealth taxes, that is, the burden is not distributed equally—while corporations may adjust by diversifying suppliers or passing costs along, working households cannot escape higher prices on essential goods like groceries and electronics. Analysts estimate these tariffs could add $1,250 to the annual cost of living for the average American household—a substantial burden for families already struggling with inflation. Additionally, according to the well-regarded Tax Foundation, the tariffs are projected to reduce GDP by 0.5% and result in the loss of approximately 292,000 jobs.

Keep ReadingShow less
Veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases should apply for compensation

An individual applying for a program online.

Getty Images, Inti St Clair

Veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases should apply for compensation

In 1922, the U.S. Navy identified asbestos as the most efficient material for shipbuilding insulation and equipment production due to its heat resistance and durability. The naturally occurring asbestos mineral was also the most abundant and cost-effective material on the market. During the difficult WWII years, asbestos became critical to the U.S. Military, especially for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force: shipping and shipbuilding were essential, and parts of the military aircraft and incendiary bombs also contained asbestos.

Even as demand exceeded supply, in 1942, a presidential order banned the use of asbestos for non-military purposes until 1945. The application of asbestos-based material by the Military continued to increase until the 1970s when its carcinogenic nature came to light, and the use of asbestos started to be regulated but not banned.

Keep ReadingShow less
S.E. Cupp: Where is the Democratic Party’s Ronald Reagan?

President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump arrive for the inauguration ceremony in the U.S. Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2025.

Getty Images/TCA, Melina Mara/POOL/AFP

S.E. Cupp: Where is the Democratic Party’s Ronald Reagan?

With all the attention deservedly on President Trump and what he intends to do with his defiant return to the White House, there’s a more than good chance we’ll spend the next four years consumed once again by all things Trump.

There’s already been a dizzying amount: a giant raft of executive orders; attacks on a constitutional amendment; his threats to invade sovereign nations; a seeming Nazi salute from one of his biggest surrogates; his sweeping Jan. 6 pardons; his beef with a bishop; his TikTok flip-flop; his billion-dollar meme coin controversy; scathing new allegations against one of his Cabinet picks; unilaterally renaming a body of water; a federal crackdown on DEI; promises of immigration raids across major cities. All this in just the first three days of Trump’s second term.

Keep ReadingShow less
© Copyright 2025