Economic Indicators
Why Americans’ Views of the Economy Differ From the Data
In November 2025, the American economy presents a puzzle. Unemployment sits at 4.2%, inflation has cooled to around 3% from its painful peaks, and the stock…
Democratic Challenges
Democratic challenges are the pressures that test whether self-government can work well over time. They include threats to institutions and elections, false and misleading information, political violence, and falling trust. The subject involves courts, legislatures, election officials, the press, and voters, and it asks what keeps a democracy healthy.
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October 5last updated
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Referenced by Brookings, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, Pew Research, Snopes, The Hill and USA Today.
The Webby-recognized AI behind our articles »
Latest in Democratic Challenges
Democratic Challenges
Political Scientists Rate the U.S. Closer to ‘Illiberal’ Democracy
A group of political scientists has delivered a stark assessment of American democracy. Bright Line Watch, composed of academics from institutions like the University of Chicago…
Government Accountability and Ethics
The Legal and Political Risks of Prosecuting James Comey
Federal prosecutors have accused former FBI director James Comey of lying to Congress and, in a separate case, threatening President Donald Trump. The allegations put Comey…
Curriculum and Academic Standards
Civics Education vs. Patriotic Education in America
One of the primary reasons for founding America's public education system was to prepare young people for active participation in self-government. Today, some champion "patriotic education"…
Topics in Democratic Challenges
Threats to institutions
Democratic Backsliding Threats, Threats to Democratic Institutions, Electoral Integrity Threats, and Political Violence and Extremism cover pressures on the bodies, elections, and peaceful habits that hold democracy together.
Information and media
Misinformation and Disinformation, Truth Decay and Epistemic Crisis, Media Fragmentation and Polarization, and Foreign Influence Operations cover how false claims, foreign campaigns, and divided news audiences affect public debate.
Trust and participation
Trust in Institutions, Democratic Participation and Renewal, and Representation and Inclusion cover how much people believe in government, how they take part, and who is included.
All Articles on Democratic Challenges
Why States Are Abandoning Traditional Redistricting Rules
The year 2025 marks a sharp break from the century-old norm of once-a-decade redistricting. From Austin to Sacramento, a fierce political battle has erupted…
Examining the Left-Right “Blame Game” for Political Violence
An anonymous reader writes to us: Why don’t you list in sequential order all the violence committed ... since Trump began re-election bid. In…
How Presidential Words Shape America’s Response to National Crises
When disaster strikes America, the president's first words carry extraordinary weight. From Franklin D. Roosevelt's radio addresses during the banking crisis to Donald Trump's…
Addressing Political Violence: Lessons from the 1960s
The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, sent shockwaves through a nation already fractured by political…
How Other Countries Have Reduced Political Violence
The gunshot that killed Charlie Kirk at 12:20 p.m. on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University was more than an individual tragedy. It…
Is Political Violence Rising in America?
The gunshot that killed Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025 sparked renewed concern about the state of American political violence.…
Gun Policy Analysis in the Wake of the Charlie Kirk Shooting
The murder of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, has reignited national debate about gun violence prevention. Kirk, the 31-year-old…
How the US Protects Elections from Foreign Interference
The National Security Council coordinates America's defense against foreign election interference, orchestrating intelligence agencies, cybersecurity experts, and law enforcement to protect the democratic process…
How the National Security Council Fights Foreign Disinformation Campaigns
The National Security Council coordinates America's defense against foreign disinformation operations that target democratic institutions through social media manipulation, fake news campaigns, and sophisticated…
Does Your Vote Matter? The Impact of Voting in American Elections
In a democracy as vast as the United States, casting a single ballot can feel like a small gesture in a sea of millions.…