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.

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Rhizome: Building Youth Collective Power

With Jacob Banobi, Co-Founder & Co-CEO.

Meeting resources

• Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/xsr2lqOPkAP5pFjQcI4kKku1AYsEXqDWm_xfvJnVs0ov51Q33Jm3T6EFRwbU2xYqGyzTViefB-Njw2wF.-V63Ow2vIm8A8yB7
• Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/qk8pgv-xebpAhYYWpIa6TBwKwsCa1QgZBePvGc6iZHnYwatLcwNlsFFzCQdEfXkQGGqaklDte95yFZd0.YbG9c3X2aCYjdH6z
• Chat file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/B-18bJ5uWcrMb7YvLVTwCxNS-hEjZ3n0LDlRE4wai8XoL7QyiwC6pknSDdoQWFC5nCss_kdWb_Y8kr86.vWm_o2FtPlXfZH3E
• Closed Caption file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/mG0pVxB9mfHgTxyy_cqLqRPOKTsFCgIxVD1JQyWZGG-j4cHv1qbjUpr_I4dGHH9BvfiYU3pwPVmZjTAU.BuzTse_Vv2PEwyo0

Meeting links

You can reach out to Jacob directly at banobij@werhize.org and for more information, please visit: https://www.werhize.org

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 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
• Introducing the Transparent Election Initiative with Move to Amend (Roundtable Discussion)  – May 13th at 4 pm PT/7 pm ET- Register here: https://www.movetoamend.org/tei_roundtable
• 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 Civics Center is on a mission to make voter registration part of every high school in America. - https://www.thecivicscenter.org
• 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 25

• Army Raises Enlistment Age Limit to 42 and Eases Marijuana Rules - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/us/army-recruiting-age-marijuana.html

April

April 04

• U.S. And Iran Fail to Agree on Peace Deal After 21 Hours of Talks, Vance Says - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/11/world/iran-war-trump-talks-pakistan

April 06

• Tech firms triple lobbying expenditures while raking in millions from ICE contracts - https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/04/palantir-axon-parsons-triple-lobbying-expenditures-while-raking-in-millions-from-ice-contracts

April 08

• California Supreme Court orders GOP sheriff to pause election probe and preserve seized ballots - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/california-supreme-court-orders-gop-sheriff-to-pause-election-probe-and-preserve-seized-ballots
• Illinois House passes youth voter registration bill and limits new immigration detention centers near homes - https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/08/illinois-house-passes-youth-voter-registration-bill-and-limits-new-immigration-detention-centers-near-homes/
• Intuit and H&R Block set lobbying records the year Direct File died - https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/04/intuit-and-hr-block-set-lobbying-records-the-year-direct-file-died

April 09

• A federal judge dismisses another DOJ lawsuit seeking voter data, this time in Massachusetts - https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2026/04/09/a-federal-judge-dismisses-another-doj-lawsuit-seeking-voter-data-this-time-in-massachusetts/
• A GOP-aligned group is using Klan imagery to target Black voters - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/04/09/virginia-redistricting-obama-civil-rights/
• Arkansas will ask for new hearing after federal panel rejects state’s ink-on-paper requirement for voter registration - https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/apr/09/arkansas-will-ask-for-new-hearing-after-federal/
• Effort to protect voting rights in Louisiana law falters - https://lailluminator.com/2026/04/09/louisiana-voting-rights-bill-falters/
• Millions continue to pour into Virginia’s redistricting referendum ahead of election day - https://www.29news.com/2026/04/09/millions-continue-pour-into-virginias-redistricting-referendum-ahead-election-day/
• Pentagon violated court order to restore press access, judge rules - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/04/09/judge-pentagon-press-access
• Supreme Court remade by Trump ushers in historic defeats for civil rights - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/04/09/supreme-court-conservative-trump-rulings
• The Federal Database That Could Upend the Midterm Elections - https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/04/save-database-errors-faulty-state-voter-rolls-lists-trump-administration-doj-ice-2026-midterm-elections/
• U.S. Government Moves Toward Automatic Registration for Military Draft -  https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/09/us/us-military-draft-automatic-registration-war.html

April 10

• Feds subpoena Texas counties for voters’ records - https://www.texastribune.org/2026/04/10/dhs-texas-county-voting-records/
• Maine Supreme Court maintains status quo on ranked choice voting - https://fairvote.org/maine-supreme-court-maintains-status-quo-on-ranked-choice-voting/
• The Next Phase of the Immigration Crackdown Is Quieter — and More Destabilizing - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/10/magazine/self-deportation-ice.html

April 11

• Louisiana House passes bill requiring voter registration checks against national database - https://www.fox8live.com/2026/04/11/louisiana-house-passes-bill-requiring-voter-registration-checks-against-national-database
• Senate rejects resolution to block Trump from striking Iran - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/11/world/iran-war-trump-talks-pakistan
• The Postal Service Is in Trouble. Here’s How It Could Affect Your Mail. - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/11/us/politics/postal-service-finances-mail.html

April 12

• GOP lawmakers override governor veto to pass voter suppression SAVE Kansas Act - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/gop-lawmakers-override-governor-veto-to-pass-voter-suppression-save-kansas-act/
• Hawai'i Might Just Slay Citizens United — And You Can Help - https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/04/hawaii-might-just-slay-citizens-united-and-you-can-help/
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ousted after 'painful' election result, ending 16 years in power - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/hungarian-prime-minister-viktor-orban-ousted-after-painful-election-result-ending-16-years-in-power

April 13

• Election loss for Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán has ripple effects for Trump, US conservatives - https://apnews.com/article/orban-hungary-election-trump-republicans-6be613a3ac64c5efdb94b31be4bf18e6
• Fifteen bucks a signature: the crisis of money in US politics is growing - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/apr/13/california-billionaire-tax-campaign-funding
• Judge Dismisses Trump’s Suit Against The Wall Street Journal - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/business/media/trump-wall-street-journal-lawsuit-dismissed-epstein.html
• New disclosures reveal how DOGE actually worked - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/04/13/doge-musk-trump-deposition-videos-chatgpt
• President Erupts at Pope and Draws a Backlash - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/13/us/trump-news
• Trump’s Erratic Behavior and Extreme Comments Revive Mental Health Debate - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/us/politics/trump-mental-fitness-25th-amendment.html
• Trump family deal spree could open door for future presidents to profit from office - https://apnews.com/article/trump-organization-crypto-conflict-eric-deals-863d8850f536df291391e949ba1bc00e

April 14

• DOJ moves to undo Jan. 6 rioters’ convictions for seditious conspiracy - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/04/14/january-6-convictions-seditious-conspiracy/
• DeSantis: Congressional redistricting special session may be delayed - https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/04/14/desantis-congressional-redistricting-special-session-may-be-delayed/
• Trump's voting restrictions bill may fail, but parts live on in 23 states - https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trumps-voting-restrictions-bill-may-fail-parts-live-23-states-2026-04-14/
• US edges closer to popular vote deciding winner of presidential elections - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/14/majority-vote-for-president-us-constitution

April 15

• Iran War Live Updates: Pakistani Mediators Arrive in Iran to Keep Peace Talks Alive - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/15/world/iran-war-trump-us-israel
• Michigan House passes controversial voter ID bill along party lines - https://michiganadvance.com/2026/04/15/michigan-house-passes-controversial-voter-id-bill-along-party-lines/
• U.S. sends thousands more troops to Mideast as Trump seeks to squeeze Iran - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/04/15/us-troops-iran-blockade

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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