Our progress updates bring you the news filtered through a results-focused lens. We ask: Has the event, action, or utterance made any progress toward resolving any of the problems that we focus on here? Does it support a community’s ability to thrive and reflect the democratic culture we aspire to? Our reports demonstrate progress towards a solution – and sometimes, unfortunately, a regression from possible resolution.
Can the Army of Anti-Democracy Republicans Be Stopped?
A record number of opponents of fair elections are being recruited to run for office, administer elections, and mount election challenges. At this point, the quest to prevent Republican victory at the polls has ceased being a partisan mission and become instead a constitutional imperative.
Telehealth Coverage Extended
In a win for the millions of patients who took advantage of telehealth services authorized for coverage during the pandemic, Congress extended and expanded those services for another five months and will evaluate them for more permanent coverage.
Ten Years After Passage, Affordable Care Act Proves Resilient
The ACA survived a decade of attacks and active efforts to undermine its ability to give more people more affordable access to healthcare. Fortunately so for the millions who lost their jobs during the pandemic.
A Glimmer of Hope for Ending Debt Limit Showdowns
The next vote on paying the nation’s bills will be after the ’22 election, creating an opening for a campaign about the country’s soaring national debt – and discussion about how to depoliticize the borrowing cap that funds it.
Mainers Again Flex Their Independence to Protect Their Vote
A ballot initiative to ban foreign money from influencing state elections and support an amendment to the US Constitution to regulate campaign spending reflects Maine’s continuing role as a laboratory for voting reforms aimed at strengthening the power and voice of local citizens.
Medicare Model Helps States Control Costs – Within Limits
Following innovation of a Medicare-style pricing model for the Montana state employee health system, other states have achieved varying degrees of success.
Projections for Building Back Better Expose a Clear Fiscal Choice
While fueling progress on climate change, access to healthcare, and income inequality, the Biden plan would add to record debt. If it passes, how will voters make responsible budgeting an issue next year?
Nashville Handicapped in Fighting Climate Change
Despite important progress on emissions reduction and climate adaptation, Tennessee’s biggest city lacks support from key players and has yet to go all-in to meet its climate change goals.
Desire to Respond to Climate Change Takes Lake Oswego Only So Far
Despite strong civic engagement, the city of Lake Oswego will need to overcome limited municipal resources, state bureaucracy, and the absence of federal leadership to more effectively adapt to climate change
Is Now the Time to Expand Medicare?
President Biden’s proposal to add three new benefits ignores concerns over looming Medicare insolvency and our historically high national debt.
Pushing for Real Policy Debate
When we interviewed Maya MacGuineas earlier this year, she made her case for real policy debate by putting serious ideas on the table and challenging others to do the same. We couldn't include them all in our profile of her, so we decided to excerpt some of her comments here.
Election Security, Voter Suppression & Voter ID: Behind the Debate
The voter ID debate pits election security concerns against worries about suppressing voter access. It is a false choice and a distraction from more dangerous threats to election integrity.
