The American Leader looks at the world through a problem-solving lens because we think that solving systemic problems in a community, be it local or national, enables that community to thrive. When our communities thrive, our democracy – and our democratic culture – thrives.
Leader Spotlight
DJ Yearwood: Advocate for Youth Representation
2026-02-18T10:49:06-05:00DJ Yearwood, a 19-year-old from Missouri, successfully campaigned for a fivefold increase in the state's investment in tobacco prevention and cessation. He followed that up with a campaign to lower the voting age in Missouri for local elections as a more effective way to engage teens in civic life and turn them into lifelong voters.
Progress Updates
As Trump continues to perform for the cameras, the federal courts have been diligently handing down defeats of the president's agenda, often beyond the media spotlight. Their work is reinforcing the foundations that our country is built on.
After a year in which they were overwhelmed by the Trump regime's flood-the-zone strategy, the news media and the public are recognizing that protecting the integrity of the midterm elections is the critical battle to be fought this year.
Viewpoint
References to our "broken democracy" betray a narrow view of the American experiment and all it has accomplished in 250 years. Such comments also feed the destructive narrative that supports the Right’s authoritarian power grab.
Applause for new voters is the best part of my time as a poll watcher. Whenever the call goes out – “First time voter” – the election workers in the room break out in smiles and cheers and clapping while the (usually) young person who just cast their vote smiles back bashfully.
Setting Priorities
“You do the math. You solve one problem, then you solve the next one and then the next and if you solve enough problems you get to come home.”
– Mark Watney, the astronaut played by actor Matt Damon in the film, The Martian, when asked how he survived while stranded on Mars for a year
We have many critical problems today that need solving, but not every problem can be our top priority all at the same time. Our challenge is to establish a common set of priorities so that they don’t compete with each other for attention and resources. If we are successful, we won’t get to go home like Mark Watney, but we will make our home more politically, socially, and ecologically sustainable.
History and Analysis
Our Focus
The American Leader is a news and reference resource aimed at surfacing and keeping front-and-center the knowledge and aspiration needed to address the nation’s systemic problems – because solving those problems is how we protect our democracy. Often hidden beneath the surface of the 24/7 stream of headlines and attention seekers is a deep bench of American leaders who are attempting bold or innovative ideas to solve the systemic problems that shape our lives. Like noise-cancelling headphones, we eliminate the distortions, distractions, and obfuscations of the news cycle, so that you can learn from these leaders, get inspired, and do something that makes life a little better for your community.
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