Democracy Happy Hour - August 27, 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. Register here.

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The Path Forward for a Healthy Democracy Ecosystem

With founder Kristina Becvar, Bridge Alliance Education Fund

• Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/MK45V-d7wC1KzW4n9aIjHgU4bgSr0vLjimmwSqNgPTg_FqBH78tMUGQHKEzwUTsDY3lrMcG8SNmqI0oS.VNxuisKY_Qx27bxZ

• Gallery View Recording:  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/wpWpg_FG6WoQ3uceLinj6f7nyd4wlpQnyORXoBsOfaTxYlTwrFxYg61gWLhN3RRSa5fT0pJwc98qrj5T.auQ7b4s7UdhDYwLF

• Chat file (will download directly to your computer):  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/NheKvIhdBpi482uN0cYBQybiCZ50-w3q2AutRTvMycvWRrSNX-viIzJgnqVz-ssEW3CL5Ne64EdpPZyI.dw0p6Ya1DWZMFwko

• Closed Caption file (will download directly to your computer):  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/qpjfQqIR7cyHDYnLvhx50S21UiXZ-ngN0_QQRuKsa9_1uMYgWyFS8sR2bBnBG0cutfYosKlOXKqHFKXj.RqjVo6DVVffEMRBn  

Meeting resources

For more information and to stay updated, please visit https://www.bridgealliance.us

• The Path Forward for a Healthy Democracy Ecosystem report - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/c2p404gw27076iu38daid/Path-Forward-Report.pdf
• A Path Forward for the Pro-Democracy Community - https://thefulcrum.us/democracy/democracy-movement
• A Reckoning for the Pro-Democracy Community - https://ssir.org/articles/entry/pro-democracy-community-reckoning
• Citizen Connect - https://citizenconnect.us/
• The Fulcrum - https://thefulcrum.us/
• Imagining The Path Forward for The Healthy Democracy Ecosystem - https://thefulcrum.us/democracy/democracy-movement-collaboration
• Path Forward: Defining the Democracy Reform Movement – A Conversation Series - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPdJV1qM5QRzEQ8zSDSmCzrYOsDgxf3ft
• The Healthy Democracy Project: Equipping Local Leaders to Improve Civic Health and Transform Systems of Governance - https://www.bridgealliance.us/healthy-democracy-project

FDF Links

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

Fix Democracy First is looking for new board members! If interested, please apply to one or both of our boards. If you have any questions, please respond to this email.

• 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

• Sept 3 – Canceled - NO Democracy Happy Hour this week
• Sept 10 –Polemic for Democracy with author Zane Gustafson
• Sept 17 – National Popular Vote with Dr. John R. Koza, Chair
• Sept 24– Impeach Trump. Again. Campaign with John Bonifaz, Co-Founder & President of Free Speech for People
• Oct 1 –  with Jim Rough,  & Zachary Weaver, The Wise Democracy Project: A rebirth of “We the People” Center for Wise DemocracyDemocracy in a Box
• Oct 8 – NO Democracy Happy Hour this week (Cindy has jury duty.)
• Oct 15 – with Tom Moore, Senior Fellow for Democracy Policy, Center for American ProgressThe New Strategy That Will Undo Citizens United

Actions and events

Actions

• 5 Calls - https://5calls.org/
• How You Can Protect Democracy - 29 concrete actions you can take right now to protect democracy - https://protectdemocracy.org/how-to-protect-democracy
• Impeach Trump. Again. - https://www.impeachtrumpagain.org/. Sign the Petition: https://www.impeachtrumpagain.org/#action . Join a local Indivisible group - https://indivisible.org/groups
• Join Braver Angels - https://braverangels.org/get-involved/#become-member
• Paths to Understanding - The Potluck Project – https://pathstounderstanding.org/get-involved/potluck
• Protect Public Media Funding - https://protectmypublicmedia.org/
• Share Your Democracy Story, Declaration for American Democracy  -  https://dfadcoalition.org/story
• Tell your Senators to oppose the SAVE Act - https://www.lwv.org/take-action/tell-your-members-congress-oppose-save-act
• The Freedom Writers Collaborative - https://freedomwriterscollaborative.org/
• The People's Hub for Grassroots Democracy Organizing - https://www.usgrassroots.org
• #UnifyUSA Freedom Charter - https://www.unify-usa.org/freedom_charter

Events

• Stand Up for Democracy! Fix Democracy First Awards Dinner & Celebration - Seattle – Oct 25^th@ 5 pm – Get your tickets here: https://fixdemocracyfirst.salsalabs.org/awards-dinner-2025

Democracy in the News

Resources

• 2024-2025 SCOTUS Term - https://www.oyez.org/cases/2024
• All of the Trump Administration’s Major Moves in the First 100 Days - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/us/trump-agenda-2025.html
• The Anti-Corruption Tracker: Mapping the Erosion of Oversight and Accountability - https://www.justsecurity.org/117267/anti-corruption-tracker/
• 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/
• How You Can Protect Democracy - 29 concrete actions you can take right now to protect democracy - https://protectdemocracy.org/how-to-protect-democracy
• North Dakota Legislative Redistricting Challenge (Turtle Mountain Band) –
  https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/north-dakota-legislative-redistricting-challenge
• 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/
• 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

August 2025

August 19

• We follow the money in politics, and the trail just keeps getting longer - https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/5457720-election-costs-rise-billions/

August 20

• Obama applauds Newsom’s California redistricting plan as ‘responsible’ as Texas GOP pushes new maps - https://apnews.com/article/obama-newsom-redistricting-texas-democrats-house-midterms-26ef7d0ccb44e57a5ddc36ff99f7de9c
• Texas House Approves Redistricting Map, Just as Trump Wanted - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/us/politics/texas-republicans-redistricting-maps.html

August 21

• California Lawmakers Pass Redistricting Plan. Now It Heads to Voters - https://www.kqed.org/news/12053140/california-lawmakers-pass-redistricting-plan-now-it-heads-to-voters
• Divided Court Eliminates Trump’s Half-Billion-Dollar Fine in Fraud Case - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/nyregion/trump-fraud-james.html
• Florida election law dealt blow as judge rules noncitizen petition ban unconstitutional - https://floridapolitics.com/archives/752759-florida-election-law-dealt-blow-as-judge-rules-noncitizen-petition-ban-unconstitutional/
• Judge Orders That ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Detention Center Be Shut Down for Now - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/us/alligator-alcatraz-florida-ruling.html
• Missouri appears likely to redraw congressional map during Trump's redistricting push - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/missouri-appears-likely-to-redraw-congressional-map-during-trumps-redistricting-push/
• Newsom Signs California Redistricting Plan to Counter Texas Republicans - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/us/politics/california-newsom-redistricting-texas.html
• Oregon Secretary of State Read rejects Trump Justice Department demands for voter data - https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/08/21/oregon-secretary-of-state-read-rejects-trump-justice-department-demands-for-voter-data/
• State lawmakers enacted 72 bills on ballot measures and direct democracy in 2025, the highest total since at least 2017 - https://news.ballotpedia.org/2025/08/21/state-lawmakers-enacted-72-bills-on-ballot-measures-and-direct-democracy-in-2025-the-highest-total-since-at-least-2017/
• Supreme Court allows Trump administration to terminate $783 million in NIH grants linked to DEI initiatives - https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/08/supreme-court-allows-trump-administration-to-terminate-783-million-in-nih-grants-linked-to-dei-initiatives/
• Trump admin asks Nevada for voters’ driver's license, partial Social Security numbers - https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/trump-admin-asks-nevada-for-voters-driver-license-partial-social-security-numbers
• Trump administration is reviewing all 55 million foreigners with US visas for any violations - https://apnews.com/article/trump-visas-deportations-068ad6cd5724e7248577f17592327ca4
• Trump, GOP portray cities as chaotic dystopias in need of occupation - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/08/21/trump-cities-crime-washington-dc-los-angeles

August 22

• DHS to states: Follow our voting rules or lose out on election security money - https://www.npr.org/2025/08/22/nx-s1-5508345/election-security-grants-trump-voting-policy
• FACT FOCUS: Posts overestimate number of noncitizens living in US by tens of millions - https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-visas-illegal-immigrants-foreigners-7c9c4ee9da74de9cf146c8c4f23dbb47
• Georgia cancels nearly 471,000 voter registrations - https://www.ajc.com/politics/2025/08/georgia-cancels-nearly-471000-voter-registrations/
• Judge blocks Trump from cutting money to Chicago, LA and other cities over ‘sanctuary’ policies - https://apnews.com/article/trump-sanctuary-cities-immigrants-chicago-los-angeles-a39891a127c06a6062d74ac2eac50544
• Majority of Americans Continue to Back Expanded Early Voting, Voting by Mail, Voter ID - https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2025/08/22/majority-of-americans-continue-to-back-expanded-early-voting-voting-by-mail-voter-id/
• Texas Senate passes new Republican-drawn congressional map - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/texas-senate-passes-new-republican-drawn-congressional-map-rcna226278
• Trump is turning the government into an investment firm - https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-money-capital-risk/2025/08/22/trump-is-turning-the-government-into-an-investment-firm-00519364
• Trump says U.S. has gained 10% stake in Intel for $11.1 billion in government funds - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-says-intel-has-agreed-to-give-u-s-a-stake-in-its-company-heres-what-to-know
• Wisconsin judge rejects motions to dismiss charges against Trump aides - https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-trump-2020-election-fake-electors-5d81f9963737eca7df7db3b5693d02c8

August 23

• As NYC Mayoral Race Heats Up, a Jewish School Is Now Requiring Parents to Show Proof of Voter Registration - https://vinnews.com/2025/08/23/judge-blocks-trump-from-cutting-funding-from-34-cities-and-counties-over-sanctuary-policies-2/
• Fresh off Texas Senate’s approval, new congressional map is target of lawsuits - https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/23/texas-congressional-map-lawsuit/
• Pentagon plans military deployment in Chicago as Trump eyes crackdown - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/08/23/trump-chicago-military-national-guard/

August 24

• Gov. Moore says he is looking into redistricting Maryland: ‘All options are on the table’ - https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5468167-maryland-governor-redistricting-options/
• In Washington Crackdown, Making a Federal Case Out of Low-Level Arrests - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/us/politics/trump-dc-crime-takeover-federal-court.html
• Jeffries hints at more Democratic redistricting if GOP presses on - https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/24/jeffries-democratic-redistricting-texas-california-00521839
• National Guard Patrols Begin to Carry Weapons in D.C. - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/us/politics/national-guard-weapons-guns-dc.html
• Trump's redistricting push could bring decades of Republican rule to the US House - https://ca.news.yahoo.com/analysis-trumps-redistricting-push-could-100315117.html
• Trump’s Stunning Power Grab on Elections - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/opinion/trump-voting-mail-in-ballots.html
• Washington election officials speak out as Trump pushes to eliminate mail-in voting - https://komonews.com/news/local/election-officials-speak-out-as-trump-pushes-to-eliminate-mail-in-voting-ballot-election-president-primary-fraud-covernment-community-veteran-elderly-count-midterm-federal-congress

August 25

• California schools brace for fallout from U.S. Supreme Court decision on religious rights - https://edsource.org/2025/alternatives-public-school-education/739199
• DOJ demands Illinois voter personal information by Sept. 1 - https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/doj-demands-illinois-voter-personal-information-by-sept-1/
• FEMA Employees Warn That Trump Is Gutting Disaster Response - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/climate/fema-employees-letter-trump-katrina.html
• Federal judge: Montgomery (AL) state Senate district violates Voting Rights Act - https://www.alreporter.com/2025/08/25/federal-judge-montgomery-state-senate-district-violates-voting-rights-act/
• GOP redistricting gives Republican edge, but no guarantee in House battle - https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5466684-redistricting-house-california-texas/
• Gorsuch and Kavanaugh warn lower court judges in Trump cases - https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/25/politics/supreme-court-justices-trump-lower-court
• Real Change for Women in Politics Requires Fixing Broken Systems - https://msmagazine.com/2025/08/25/more-women-politics-proportional-representation-ranked-choice-voting/
• ‘Stay out of our city': Chicago officials slam Trump’s threat to target the city - https://apnews.com/article/trump-crime-crackdown-dc-chicago-new-york-d5c658a7350a954ae1ab4bc80c920ac9
• Supreme Court Ruling Has ‘Bleak Implications’ for Researchers - https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/science-research-policy/2025/08/25/scotus-ruling-has-bleak-implications-researchers
• Trump, in a Move With Little Precedent, Says He Is Firing a Fed Governor - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/us/politics/lisa-cook-fired-trump-fed.html
• Trump moves to ban flag burning despite Supreme Court ruling that Constitution allows it - https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-order-flag-burning-4628d588350db4f6baf10ae1d91f49c1
• Trump order calls for broader National Guard role in domestic unrest - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/08/25/trump-national-guard-domestic-unrest
• Trump signs orders aimed at ending cashless bail, flag burning - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/08/25/trump-sign-orders-aimed-ending-cashless-bail-flag-burning
• Trump threatens to sue California over redistricting plan favoring Democrats - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/08/25/trump-california-redistricting-lawsuit
• Utah judge tosses Legislature’s gerrymandered congressional maps, orders new ones be redrawn - https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2025/08/25/utah-judge-orders-new-non/

August 26

• California GOP takes Newsom to court over redistricting, again. Will Trump sue next? - https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/08/republican-redistricting-campaign/
• Court throws out lawsuit by Trump administration against all Maryland federal judges - https://apnews.com/article/trump-lawsuit-maryland-judges-dc9c203cfc4ca37814179d2b220e361f
• FEMA employees put on leave after criticizing Trump administration in open letter - https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/08/26/fema-employees-leave-trump-administration-letter
• Ohio sued over proof-of-citizenship rule for voter registration - https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/08/ohio-sued-over-proof-of-citizenship-rule-for-voter-registration.html
• Pennsylvania must stop throwing out mail ballots over date errors, court rules - https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-election-mail-ballots-voting-envelope-dates-dab83b55ad456f5d049cb751f6584739
• Pritzker on Trump National Guard threat: ‘Do not come to Chicago’ - https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5470357-jb-pritzker-donald-trump-chicago-national-guard-threat/
• Social Security official says DOGE compromised Americans’ data - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/08/26/social-security-data-cloud-whistleblower
• To require full Social Security numbers to register to vote, NC would need to hurdle a federal law - https://ncnewsline.com/2025/08/26/to-require-full-social-security-numbers-to-register-to-vote-nc-would-need-to-hurdle-a-federal-law/
• Trump privately presses top Indiana Republicans to redistrict during White House meeting - https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/26/indiana-redistricting-republicans-white-houe-trump-00527817
• Trump says he wants to seek the death penalty for murder in Washington, D.C. - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/trump-says-wants-seek-death-penalty-washington-dc-murder-cases-rcna227287
• Trump wants a ‘Department of War.’ Here’s why it’s not called that anymore. - https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2025/08/26/trump-war-department-defense-rename
• Trump’s move to take over the Fed adds more uncertainty to the economy - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/08/26/trump-fed-control-lisa-cook-economy
• Voters urged to inform themselves of new registration laws - https://www.nola.com/news/northshore/voters-urged-to-inform-themselves-of-new-registration-laws/article_18508794-539d-4001-88b8-3107e860c0d7.html

August 27

• Ballotpedia report finds state lawmakers have passed more than 560 new election administration laws so far this year - https://news.ballotpedia.org/2025/08/27/ballotpedia-report-finds-state-lawmakers-have-passed-more-than-560-new-election-administration-laws-so-far-this-year/
• D.C. judges and grand jurors push back on Trump policing surge - https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/08/27/trump-crime-surge-court-cases
• Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Allow Freeze on Foreign Aid - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/us/politics/supreme-court-trump-foreign-aid.html
• Trump’s Intel stake sparks cries of ‘socialism’ from his party, but he vows more deals are coming - https://apnews.com/article/trump-socialism-intel-defense-contractors-lutnick-sanders-caddfee37e5fe72f530d1269dc2b009e

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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