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. Register here.

Nonpartisan Peer-to Peer Campaigning

With Lester Levine.

• Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/naj128PzGYrnLIJ0s24SWBuGtLAFihjkcZaEMsHu7oswBpkXm96lKIl77P8TeJnVjd8m9vBdi2DJM9iw.hLCWaQqayCBju0qG
• Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/qXnWwGYuj905vCZYViv1v5cLdI5edMg_k9qrdpCx-EQ3dc1lhp6vpTa9dvjTK70gQ9qqbWR_x14OAa-z.1hQJtiwd40iU_1mE
• Chat file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/gqGSLT43V1wQ8fK-DXP2uSI8hmJtRJqTBQtLf3H-fV9FLgpXaqrHYu2epHYwxs54JCfgaYQtgODyZpdy.3z0ohWWAwhREgWwP
• Closed Caption file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/hki-c_2gL8RPJK1uc14UGWwHEGMKugKpIjs3vtbp2E4WTTWCJJrdm-glHpo4y0_35yTjnEBEwJ4vchzY.hgE0EHMyIp0BrU7J

Meeting resources

Meeting links

Contact Lester directly at lester.levine@gmail.com.

FDF Links

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

Join Fix Democracy First Boards

• Fix Democracy First Education Fund (501c3) Board Application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXiaGJJ0bVqV5eqW2irfLHWrU0n8iwVIsDwDjtrTP36mEj5g/viewform
• Fix Democracy First (501c4) Board Application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdtDKKTBsOo7X_nk-7POVUTpJ-K1vfP-U_zHQrW1Ke7JNfvug/viewform

Democracy Happy Hour Upcoming Topics/Schedule

• Apr 15 -  Rhizome: Building Youth Collective Power with Jacob Banobi, Co-Founder/CEO
• Apr 22 -  Leaving MAGA with Rich Logis, Founder
• Apr 29 - Final DHH with Cindy - Open Discussion

Actions and events

Actions

• Impeach Trump. Again.  https://www.impeachtrumpagain.org/. Sign the Petition: https://www.impeachtrumpagain.org/#action
• Sign & Share our WA Citizen Resolution to UNDO Citizens United - https://bit.ly/WA-Undo-Citizens-United

Events

• Fix Democracy First’s Spring 2026 Online Auction starts Saturday, April 11th and runs through April 26: https://fdfef.winningbidder.com/Event
• May Day – https://maydaystrong.org/ - On May 1, 2026, workers, students, and families rally, march, and take action across the country to demand a nation that puts workers over billionaires, with many refusing business as usual through No School. No Work. No Shopping.
  • National Call – April 9th at 4 pm PT/7 pm ET – Register to join the call at https://www.mobilize.us/mayday/event/929187/

Democracy in the News

Resources

• The Anti-Corruption Tracker: Mapping the Erosion of Oversight and Accountability - https://www.justsecurity.org/117267/anti-corruption-tracker/
• Follow the Money. Find Your Candidate's Conflict of Interest. - https://integrityindex.us/
• How You Can Protect Democracy - 29 concrete actions you can take right now to protect democracy - https://protectdemocracy.org/how-to-protect-democracy
• Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions - https://www.justsecurity.org/107087/tracker-litigation-legal-challenges-trump-administration/
• State of Emergency - Democracy, Civil Rights & Progress Under Attack  - https://stateofblackamerica.org/sites/default/files/2025-07/NUL-SOBA-Executive%20Summary-2025-web%20%281%29%20%281%29.pdf
• The People's Hub For Grassroots Democracy Organizing  - https://www.usgrassroots.org/
• The SAVE Act: Overview and Facts - https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-save-act-overview-and-facts/
• Timeline of the Trump Administration’s Efforts to Undermine Elections - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/timeline-trump-administrations-efforts-undermine-elections
• Timeline: Tracking the Trump Justice Department’s Anti-Voting Shift - https://www.democracydocket.com/timeline-tracking-the-trump-justice-departments-anti-voting-shift/
• Tracking the Lawsuits Against Trump’s Agenda - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/us/trump-administration-lawsuits.html
• Transparent Election Initiative (Montana Plan) State-by-State Impact - https://transparentelection.org/states
• Trump’s Take, cash and gifts received by Trump - https://www.americanprogress.org/feature/trumps-take/
• V-Dem Institute Democracy Report 2026 - https://www.v-dem.net/publications/democracy-reports/

March

March 26

• Prop 4 repeal fails to make 2026 ballot after Utah voters pull their signatures - https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2026/03/26/prop-4-support-repeal-utahs-anti/

March 27

• A 14-year-old running for governor is the first teen to get on Vermont’s general election ballot - https://apnews.com/article/vermont-teen-runs-governor-first-46d712d6c640b4d938a63ebafbcc06e8
• Georgia’s Fulton County and the Trump administration square off in court over seized 2020 ballots - https://apnews.com/article/fulton-county-georgia-fbi-ballots-2020-election-03b2f18972437d14e42f15e7aa542392
• NC law removing voters for undeliverable mail does not violate voting rights, federal court rules - https://ncnewsline.com/2026/03/27/nc-law-removing-voters-for-undeliverable-mail-does-not-violate-voting-rights-federal-court-rules/
• The Justice Department plans to share sensitive voter data with Homeland Security - https://www.npr.org/2026/03/27/nx-s1-5764266/voter-data-trump-doj-dhs

March 28

• Third No Kings protest draws 8 million worldwide to push back on Trump administration - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/28/no-kings-protests-trump

March 29

• 5 Takeaways From the ‘No Kings’ Rallies as the Midterms Heat Up - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/29/us/politics/no-kings-rallies-takeaways.html
• There Are Now Over 50,000 American Troops in the Mideast - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/29/us/politics/us-marines-middle-east-iran-war.html

March 31

• Judge halts construction on Trump’s ballroom, says Congress must decide - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/03/31/judge-trump-white-house-ballroom
• Justices Reject Colorado Law Banning ‘Conversion Therapy’ for L.G.B.T.Q. Minors - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/31/us/politics/supreme-court-colorado-conversion-therapy.html
• Trump issues second executive order on elections, giving U.S. Postal Service unprecedented control over mail voting - https://www.votebeat.org/national/2026/03/31/donald-trump-2026-midterm-election-executive-order-absentee-mail-ballots-postal-service-citizenship-list/
• Trump signs a new executive order on voting. Experts say he lacks the authority - https://www.npr.org/2026/03/31/nx-s1-5508948/trump-voter-list-mail-ballots-executive-order
• Trump signs order directing creation of a national voter list, a move already facing lawsuit threats - https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mail-voting-elections-47cc334b1fb7742244a9c4f176b355cd
• Trump Signs Order Seeking Federal Control of Mail Voting as He Promotes False Claims - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/31/us/politics/trump-mail-in-ballots-voting-executive-order.html
• Wisconsin judicial panel dismisses Democratic attempt to redraw congressional maps - https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-redistricting-congress-court-trump-50f984ff3fb20b798a6fd00eef9f90f8

April

April 01

• Democrats sue Trump administration over mail-in-voting order - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/01/democrats-sue-trump-administration-mail-in-voting-00855093
• DeSantis signs bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote — voting rights group sue - https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/04/01/desantis-signs-bill-requiring-proof-of-citizenship-to-register-to-vote-voting-rights-group-sue/
• Exclusive: Trump's DOJ says he's not required to turn over official records - https://www.axios.com/2026/04/01/trump-doj-presidential-records-act-national-archives
• Five Takeaways From the Birthright Citizenship Argument - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/us/politics/scotus-birthright-citizenship-takeaways.html
• Supreme Court Updates: Key Justices Appear Skeptical of Limiting Birthright Citizenship - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/01/us/supreme-court-birthright-citizenship

April 02

• Missouri attorney general claims voters don’t have the power to overturn gerrymandered map - https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2026-04-02/missouri-attorney-general-claims-voters-dont-have-the-power-to-overturn-gerrymandered-map
• Montana State Supreme Court dismisses challenge to 'dark money' initiative - https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2026-04-02/state-supreme-court-dismisses-challenge-to-dark-money-initiative
• Pam Bondi Fired as Attorney General - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/02/us/trump-news
• Planning Commission Approves Trump’s Ballroom, but Legal Roadblocks Remain - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/02/us/politics/trump-ballroom-commission-vote.html
• Trump weighs more Cabinet changes after Bondi ouster - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/02/trump-weighs-more-cabinet-changes-after-bondi-ouster-00856921
• Trump’s new role for USPS in mail balloting is unconstitutional, three lawsuits say - https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/02/politics/mail-ballots-trump-usps-lawsuits

April 03

• As the Senate Weighs the Trump-Backed SAVE Act, These States Are Advancing Their Own Voting Restrictions - https://time.com/article/2026/04/03/voting-restrictions-citizenship-proof-state-laws-ballot-measures-trump-save-act/
• How Democrats Are Embracing Dark Money - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/03/us/politics/dark-money-nonprofits-explainer.html
• State officials’ message to Trump: Hands off Nevada’s mail ballots - https://nevadacurrent.com/2026/04/03/state-officials-message-to-trump-hands-off-nevadas-mail-ballots/
• Trump proposes "historic" defense spending budget, eyes 10% cut to other federal programs - https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-budget-proposes-10-cut-discretionary-spending-increased-defense-spending-2026-04-03/
• Trump’s anti-voting order may backfire, damaging DOJ’s voter roll campaign - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trumps-anti-voting-order-may-backfire-damaging-dojs-voter-roll-campaign/
• Washington AG Brown sues to block executive order that undermines voting rights - https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-brown-sues-block-executive-order-undermines-voting-rights
• Wealthy Donors Are Hiding Political Money in Secretive Nonprofits - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/03/us/politics/liberal-billionaires-dark-money.html
• White House Seeks $1.5 Trillion for Defense in New Budget Request - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/03/us/politics/white-house-defense-budget.html

April 05

• 2 Republican election officials say Trump’s mail-in voting order will be overturned - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/05/republican-election-officials-trump-voting-executive-order-00859298
• Trump’s SAVE America Act would end voter registration drives nationwide - https://www.kotatv.com/2026/04/05/trumps-save-america-act-would-end-voter-registration-drives-nationwide/

April 06

• Student IDs no longer permitted for NH voter identification - https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2026-04-06/nh-newhampshire-voting-student-identification-school-id
• Supreme Court allows Steve Bannon to move forward on dismissal of criminal charges against him - https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/04/court-allows-steve-bannon-to-move-forward-on-dismissal-of-criminal-charges-against-him/
• US lower court judges are challenging Trump’s ‘war on the rule of law’, experts say - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/06/trump-lower-court-judges-challenges

April 07

• Republicans Keep Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Seat, but Democrats Narrow the Gap - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/07/us/election-wisconsin-georgia-special
• Trump pulls back on Iran threats after warning a 'civilization will die tonight' if deal isn't reached - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/trump-warns-a-whole-civilization-will-die-tonight-if-a-deal-with-iran-isnt-reached
• U.S., Iran and Israel Agree to Cease-Fire - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/07/world/iran-war-trump-news
• Virginia redistricting ‘Yes’ campaign says they’re ahead as they step up efforts to drive voter turnout - https://www.wric.com/news/politics/capitol-connection/redistricting-yes-campaign-voter-turnout/
• With Threat to Wipe Out Iran’s Civilization, Trump’s Rhetoric Goes Beyond Bluster - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/us/politics/trump-iran-civilization-threat.html

April 08

• Stung by Voters, Republican Legislators Move to Curb Citizen Initiatives - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/08/us/politics/republicans-citizen-initiatives.html
• Why You Won’t Know Who Is Funding the Midterms - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/08/us/politics/midterms-elections-funding-pac.html

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/

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