USA
Government
![Should Washington, DC Be the 51st State?](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/e527e637-11b0-4572-89cc-866bc9916105/AdobeStock_129505179.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1093%2C0%2C2749%2C2750&w=290)
The US House of Representatives will vote later this month on whether to admit Washington, DC as the 51st state. The mayor of DC talks about the vote.
![Rolling Back Voting Rights to Jim Crow Era](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/e9f0996a-7f44-4676-87c4-c01bf529b6b0/AdobeStock_378178815.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=880%2C0%2C4022%2C4024&w=290)
Voting rights are under assault in America. More than 250 bills that would restrict access to voting are pending in 43 states.
![The Press's Critical Role in a Healthy Democracy](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/88a1bec5-aac5-4515-ac18-376f62452bb5/AdobeStock_31460894.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=968%2C0%2C2953%2C2953&w=290)
In a time of heightened distrust, how can media outlets reclaim the public’s confidence? We hear from a longtime journalist.
![We May Not Unify, but We Can Reach across Differences](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/nullca2ba162-a15c-464a-9189-4923cd5bc168/AIN-feb3-allstate-article-hero4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=686%2C0%2C1688%2C1688&w=290)
The idea of unity is a compassionate, hopeful aspiration for a country ravaged by a global pandemic, racial injustice, economic downturn and mob violence.
![Joe Biden Understands Grief—That's a Valuable Skill Right Now](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/nullb648c6e7-c532-4674-956a-963f2191c149/27470520864_f147df2742_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1555%2C366%2C3714%2C3723&w=290)
Biden believes deeply that actions like the January 6th violence at the Capitol are not who we want to be as a country, says Evan Osnos, author of a Biden biography.
![Ideas for a Nation in Crisis](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/null96f68be5-0201-4563-a058-8f88a0d54d06/USCapitalBldg.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=0%2C0%2C5301%2C5304&w=290)
As the nation reels from the attack on the Capitol, we look for ideas that will move us forward.
![Is Democracy in Crisis?](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/d40c5e23-569a-46d4-bae3-643d5944e0ae/AdobeStock_64908172.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1071%2C0%2C3744%2C3744&w=290)
Which countries are doing the most harm to democracy? And why is the United States struggling to maintain a healthy democratic system?
![Individual Actions Can't Solve Climate Change](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/0d5a4f56-5e01-48b0-b2d6-60ed80ed384a/AdobeStock_56377201.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1133%2C0%2C3456%2C3456&w=290)
Joshua Goldstein, co-author of "A Bright Future," explains why individual actions to help the planet don't add up to real change.
![How Much Will the Green New Deal Cost?](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/5212c05c-92bb-479b-b61b-e04357fd56c5/AdobeStock_15801667.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=695%2C0%2C2819%2C2819&w=290)
![How Safe Are We Online? There's Good News and Bad](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/816791f6-db4d-4e07-b73b-6eb87b4c54ce/35306161970_064c0a4f0a_c_0.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=250%2C0%2C533%2C534&w=290)
![Why Investments in Global Health Still Command Bipartisan Support](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/null0db61eaf-f9c4-44b1-9783-e02a17247223/35358516402_975c3daa3d_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1000%2C188%2C1945%2C1953&w=290)
Chris Coons is the junior US senator from Delaware.
![How Can We Fix Our Broken Food System?](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/99e0239b-b4bc-4c80-b561-1f59472625b0/27861271232_ef9a2f4e0c_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=0%2C0%2C799%2C799&w=290)
![Can Zika Be Contained?](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/08dff6ec-0b17-42ab-9f70-5fb778bd32fc/27880994725_e8bf25d0b1_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=2453%2C0%2C4907%2C4912&w=290)
![Generational Differences in Black Activism](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/22ad67a4-7877-44f4-9844-b87f3a4bd1b6/27964734876_dc0ed45f21_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1759%2C0%2C4021%2C4016&w=290)
![Why Putting Kids on Sex Offender Registries Is Unjust](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/37a56641-3994-44ae-b0dc-a812d53c8c91/27425399703_0b1e5124cc_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1227%2C0%2C4907%2C4912&w=290)
![The Barriers to Education for a Prisoner](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/e59dd7c2-b6f8-4450-a91f-8eea278cfb6d/IMG_9306.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=175%2C0%2C800%2C800&w=290)