Democracy Happy Hour - April 02, 2025

Fix Democracy First hosts a weekly Democracy Happy Hour on Wednesdays @ 5-6:30pm PT. Grab a drink and join us and learn about the latest democracy efforts, challenges, solutions, as well upcoming events and actions.

This is a recurring event. You only have to register once.

Rural Reconnect: Healing America by Rebuilding Rural Local News

With Miles Sisk, miles@ruralreconnect.org

• Speaker View Recording:https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/EjWUQa8YZsqooQ_0e8v76EHKE-qVkuxDgIbSK6YPxvRJafJzzYGKuGUu3d3vIkblGGwxZ8DwslnlGclk.S2VjonfKpNtM741R

• Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/StKkseB0_oPcEmchx4U_YxyO4hV4OqsLMJLE-NBNgc8HV4Bk3TpDD_uWYOkOhuvKB5nQi-zmUv0vXUha.foP_KgXQuPFo-mXg

• Chat file (will download directly to your computer):  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/B_TKjKrMb1z444HO0jqJFJZnMWkiczIEOaM0QuST2S3semg3A7G9tSCt74DKvoamLsak0Ytfr6_ic_j8.CXjfEs0RZfAePs-v

• Closed Caption file (will download directly to your computer):  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/oT3q3bEUFyK6NYFRy8gypiYFqhkZtBNNLj4JQLp5Qb6BVpk8L8up0MFVoVFCYBLjgdxTC1vG3PuP5j6F.LXqOXWX2fQ0_o7oz

Meeting resources

• ruralreconnect.org

FDF Links

• Fix Democracy First - https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/
• Donate to Fix Democracy First here: https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/donate

Democracy Happy Hour Upcoming Topics/Schedule

• Apr 09 - Leaving MAGA with Rich Logis
• Apr 16 - More Like Us: How to Reduce Political Divides at Scale with James Coan
• Apr 23 - Election Methods Used for Proportional Representation with Chris Mason
• Apr 30 - Stories Change Power: The Nine Rights Framework with Piper Hendricks
• May 7 - Healthy Democracy Ecosystem Map with Carolyn Lukensmeyer

Actions and events

Actions

• 5 Calls - https://5calls.org/
• 50 50 1 - https://www.fiftyfifty.one
• Declaration for American Democracy – Share Your Democracy Story -  https://dfadcoalition.org/story
• Email Congress: Stop the SAVE Act! - https://win.newmode.net/declarationforamericandemocracycoalition/stopthesaveact
• How You Can Protect Democracy - 29 concrete actions you can take right now to protect democracy - https://protectdemocracy.org/how-to-protect-democracy
• Join a local Indivisible group - https://indivisible.org/groups
• Join Braver Angels - https://braverangels.org/get-involved/#become-member
• Make Calls to Stop the SAVE Act - https://act.represent.us/sign/save-act-phonebank
• Paths to Understanding - The Potluck Project – https://pathstounderstanding.org/get-involved/potluck
• The People's Hub For Grassroots Democracy Organizing  - https://www.usgrassroots.org/
• Urge Congress: Protect Public Media Funding - https://protectmypublicmedia.org/

Events

• Hands Off – National Day of Action – April 5^th - https://handsoff2025.com/
• We’re Worth Fighting & Other Events with Election Response Center - https://www.mobilize.us/electionresponsecenter/?utm_source=fixdemocracyfirst

Democracy in the News

Resources

• All of the Trump Administration’s Major Moves in the First xx Days - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/us/trump-agenda-2025.html
• Democracy 2025 – Democracy 2025 is the strategic hub to protect people and their rights should the Trump-Vance administration seek to unlawfully strip away freedoms and prosperity. -  https://www.democracy2025.org/
• Live Updates: Trump Unveils Sweeping Tariffs on All Imports - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/04/02/business/trump-tariffs-liberation-day
• The President’s Executive Order on Elections, Explained - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/presidents-executive-order-elections-explained
• Trump Administration Highlights - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/03/18/us/trump-president-news
• What has Trump done today? - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2025/trump-administration-actions

March 2025

March 24

• Civics Education Is About More Than Elections — It’s the Foundation of Democracy - https://www.the74million.org/article/civics-education-is-about-more-than-elections-its-the-foundation-of-democracy

March 26

• Reps. Khanna, Lee, Colleagues Unveil Bill to Abolish Super PACs - https://khanna.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-khanna-lee-colleagues-unveil-bill-abolish-super-pacs
• Utah Gov. Cox signs away the state’s popular universal vote-by-mail election system, requiring opting in - https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2025/03/26/utah-gov-cox-signs-bill-end/

March 27

• Dueling gerrymandering cases in Washington state land before Ninth Circuit - https://www.courthousenews.com/dueling-gerrymandering-cases-in-washington-state-land-before-ninth-circuit/
• Georgia Republicans backtrack on some election rules after sharp criticism - https://apnews.com/article/georgia-election-laws-voter-challenges-hand-count-82bf752af3b5ddcedf9f095c20c6d757
• Internal White House document details layoff plans across U.S. agencies - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/27/federal-worker-layoffs-government-agencies
• Shaheen Renews Push to Overturn Citizens United Ruling, Rid American Elections of Dark Money and Excessive Corporate Campaign Spending - https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/shaheen-renews-push-to-overturn-citizens-united-ruling-rid-american-elections-of-dark-money-and-excessive-corporate-campaign-spending
• Trump executive order seeks to 'restore' American history through Smithsonian overhaul - https://www.npr.org/2025/03/27/nx-s1-5342914/smithsonian-president-trump-executive-order
• Wisconsin Supreme Court race breaks records and draws controversy as billionaires weigh in - https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/03/wisconsin-supreme-court-race-breaks-records-and-draws-controversy-as-billionaires-weigh-in

March 28

• Colorado Senate gives preliminary approval to Voting Rights Act, which mirrors federal law - https://coloradonewsline.com/briefs/colorado-senate-preliminary-approval-voting-rights-act/
• Trump lawyers ask Supreme Court to allow Alien Enemies Act deportations - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/28/supreme-court-venezuelan-deportations-trump-boasberg
• Trump Moves to End Union Protections Across Broad Swath of Government - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/28/us/politics/trump-unions-executive-order.html
• West Virginia House passes stricter voter photo ID law - https://westvirginiawatch.com/2025/03/28/west-virginia-house-passes-stricter-voter-photo-id-law/

March 29

• Trump increasingly asks the Supreme Court to overrule judges blocking key parts of his agenda - https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-deportations-birthright-citizenship-0787cdf8bd36b964c7974ed032717ed4

March 30

• Elon Musk hands out $1 million payments after Wisconsin Supreme Court declines request to stop him - https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-musk-million-dollar-giveaway-cdea66e0dcbaa53dd183e1d10bee2b35
• New bill proposes repealing vote-by-mail in Oregon, public invited to testify - https://www.koin.com/news/politics/new-bill-proposes-repealing-vote-by-mail-in-oregon-public-invited-to-testify/
• Republicans could make it a lot harder for Native Americans to vote - https://www.salon.com/2025/03/30/could-make-it-a-lot-harder-for-native-americans-to-vote/
• Trump seeks takeover of elections in a bid for more presidential power - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/30/trump-seeks-takeover-elections
• We Are Sleepwalking Into Autocracy - https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-new-yorker-radio-hour/senator-chris-murphy-this-is-how-democracy-dies-everybody-just-gets-scared

March 31

• Can Trump run for a third term? The 22nd Amendment flatly prevents it. - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/31/trump-third-term-22nd-amendment-us-constitution
• Justice Department instructed to dismiss legal challenge to Georgia election law - https://apnews.com/article/georgia-election-law-legal-challenge-232c5d05db604aed31beb9e717f745f9
• Pennsylvania Must Count Undated Mail-In Ballots, Federal Court Rules - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/pennsylvania-must-count-undated-mail-in-ballots-federal-court-rules/
• Thousands of Oregonians slam Republican senator’s attempt to end mail ballots - https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/03/31/thousands-of-oregonians-slam-republican-senators-attempt-to-end-mail-ballots/
• Trump says he’s considering ways to serve a third term as president - https://apnews.com/article/trump-third-term-constitution-22nd-amendment-efba31be02ee96b0ef68b17fe89b7578

April 2025

April 01

• Bill requiring voters to show proof of citizenship clears Texas Senate - https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/01/texas-proof-of-citizenship-voting-senate-bill-16/
• Civil rights groups sue Trump over executive order requiring citizenship proof in registering to vote - https://abcnews.go.com/US/civil-rights-groups-sue-trump-executive-order-requiring/story?id=120377609
• Cory Booker Condemns Trump’s Policies in Longest Senate Speech on Record - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/us/politics/booker-senate-trump.html
• Cory Booker sets a record with marathon Senate speech. Will it rally anti-Trump resistance? - https://apnews.com/article/cory-booker-new-jersey-senator-speech-ab573bb7c3c76fa107cacac7136d3823
• Florida Special Election Results - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/04/01/us/elections/results-florida-special.html
• GOP lawmakers take aim at anti-Trump rulings, nationwide injunctions - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/01/trump-judges-injunctions-congress-impeach
• Massive layoffs, purge of leadership underway at U.S. health agencies - https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/04/01/hhs-senior-leaders-put-on-leave-nih
• Trump administration sued over decision to rescind billions in health funding - https://apnews.com/article/trump-covid-federal-money-lawsuit-e2fcacccfda994500ce92be94d1ada7d
• Senate Democrats introduce bill to counter Trump executive order requiring citizenship proof to vote - https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/watertown/politics/2025/04/01/defending-america-s-future-election-act-senate-democrats
• White House studying cost of Greenland takeover, long in Trump’s sights - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/01/trump-greenland-us-territory-cost

April 02

• Democratic-backed Susan Crawford wins Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, cementing liberal majority - https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-elon-musk-trump-8fe006c7f8fa40b663eccd6751bada98
• Florida may require proof of citizenship to vote under new legislation echoing Trump - https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/state/2025/04/02/got-id-proof-of-citizenship-may-soon-be-needed-to-vote-in-florida/82756919007/
• Musk could be headed for a Washington exit after turbulent times at Trump’s DOGE - https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-tesla-government-cuts-c47211544c5382a6207779ee95c6060b
• 'They are a threat:' Indiana House passes bill banning student IDs at voting booth - https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/02/indiana-general-assembly-student-id-voting/82740548007/
• Trump announces 10 percent tariffs on all imports, additional taxes for some 60 countries - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/04/02/trump-tariffs-liberation-day-trade
• Wisconsin voters approve referendum question, voter ID law now part of state constitution - https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/04/01/wisconsin-voter-id-passes-referendum-election-results/82518321007/

Good News Websites

• ABC Good News - https://abcnews.go.com/alerts/good-news
• Daily Good - https://www.dailygood.org/
• Democracy's Good News - https://www.democracygroup.org/topics/democracys-good-news
• Good News Network - https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/
• Politics & Government Good News - https://www.goodgoodgood.co/impact/democracy
• Sunny Skyz - https://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news
• The Happy News - https://thehappynewspaper.com/

‍

‍