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.

Living on the Edge: How Human Nature Is Being Hacked — and How We Can Respect Each Other Again

With Rev. Terry Kyllo, Paths to Understanding

Meeting resources

• Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/TpJF59L8qYzvrcrREaT5Lhb0cVNmSXZj2C1IorKR-Vw-b57xh-bMwyGPaDXw48ODZgBAkeDXKlJhjWTh.RZyL26h2Amqj0yzH
• Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/SvOJ52S8nV-NdVUhFlqG91J_pc4lHf5jb2iEyfIMJ6rtmIJni7TJ00aIx7e9MCu5o05qrnWKvISt8W_t.DHCAdR-H4Q-Avifg
• Chat file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/5DI5lTsbdWfKz7eJiQknZ-3aIWyz6Kr2olak8E2j7w_eGzvLiCLBj8160E6rND-qIbKy6ilME804IPE5.RyZ8gvYaacAFpIzK
• Closed Caption file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/ggJC1FkzBLEzJVylcVjo2sYMEXcgA-rMDghDBO5cMFpwTaO40jaGiMDQ_wzn_96i4e-1KwWUw0Y2Zs3A.iuh8qYsUl6-bF3Vu

Meeting links

You can reach out to Terry directly at terry@pathstounderstanding.org

For more information please visit:

• https://pathstounderstanding.org
• https://pathstounderstanding.org/get-involved/potluck/
• https://pathstounderstanding.org/living-on-the-edge-resources/ (password: living on the edge)

Resource for Christian Leaders - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EI_oBji_TE-dfz7XVEblnTky6dk1NveVVzJ-ypZlY_k/edit?usp=sharing

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

• Feb 11 - The Choice - Proportional RCV in Portland & Beyond: Film & Discussion
• Feb 18 - The 7-Minute Citizen: Your Power, Your Rights, Your Democracy with author Wes Chaput
• Feb 25 - Leaving MAGA with Rich Logis
• Mar 4 - Polemic for Democracy: A Framework for Pragmatic Action with author Zane Gustafson
• Mar 11 - Civic Learning Week: Expanding Civic Education with Hands-On Experience with Morgan Kim, Generation Citizen & Margit McGuire, Civic Learning Council

Actions and events

Actions

• Impeach Trump. Again. https://www.impeachtrumpagain.org/.  Sign the Petition: https://www.impeachtrumpagain.org/#action

Events

• NO KINGS Day on March 28th, https://www.nokings.org

Training

• Eyes on ICE: Document and Record – Feb 5th @ 5 pm PT/8 pm ET - https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/892452/

Democracy in the News

Resources

• The Anti-Corruption Tracker: Mapping the Erosion of Oversight and Accountability - https://www.justsecurity.org/117267/anti-corruption-tracker/
• 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/
• 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
• Trump’s Take, cash and gifts received by Trump - https://www.americanprogress.org/feature/trumps-take/

January

January 27

• Virginia Judge Blocks Democrats’ Efforts to Redraw Congressional Maps - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/us/virginia-court-ruling-redistricting.html

January 28

• Democrats appeal roadblock to Virginia redistricting plan - https://courthousenews.com/democrats-appeal-roadblock-to-virginia-redistricting-plan/
• FBI raids Atlanta-area elections office amid Trump’s push to relitigate 2020 election - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/28/fbi-raid-georgia-elections-trump-2020-00753249
• How Mormon women fought a Republican-led redistricting initiative in Utah – and won - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/28/mormons-utah-redistricting-election

January 29

• A shadow network in Minneapolis defies ICE and protects immigrants - https://apnews.com/article/protests-activists-minnesota-immigration-enforcement-ice-f86ce49f26230a1e5ad1592dcac0a5a9
• Election officials push back against Trump administration after Fulton County raid and voter roll demands https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/election-officials-push-back-trump-administration-fulton-county-raid-rcna256538
• FBI raid in Georgia highlights Trump’s 2020 election obsession and hints at possible future actions - https://apnews.com/article/trump-2020-election-false-claims-fraud-georgia-55786848ca20c02cbcf749ede2db8852
• Few see unlimited campaign spending as a form of free speech - https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/few-see-unlimited-campaign-spending-form-free-speech
• House Republicans unveil election reform bill dubbed Make Elections Great Again Act - https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5712698-house-republicans-election-reform-bill/
• How Trump’s 2020 Election Claims Have Been Debunked Again and Again - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/us/politics/trump-2020-election-claims-fact-check.html
• Mayor Wilson directs Seattle police to document immigration activity - https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/mayor-wilson-instruct-seattle-police-to-document-immigration-activity
• Minneapolis Mayor Urges Other Cities to Stand Firm Against Immigration Crackdown - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/29/us/minnesota-ice-shooting-minneapolis
• New GOP anti-voting bill may be the most dangerous attack on voting rights ever - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/new-gop-anti-voting-bill-may-be-the-most-dangerous-attack-on-voting-rights-ever/
• The powerful tools in ICE’s arsenal to track suspects — and protesters - https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2026/ice-surveillance-immigrants-protesters
• Trump sues IRS and Treasury for $10 billion over leaked tax records - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/01/29/trump-sues-irs-tax-return-10-billion/

January 30

• Buckley v. Valeo: The Supreme Court Decision at the Root of Our Dysfunctional Democracy - https://campaignlegal.org/update/buckley-v-valeo-supreme-court-decision-root-our-dysfunctional-democracy
• DHS ramps up surveillance in immigration raids, sweeping in citizens - https://apnews.com/article/digital-crackdown-immigration-minneapolis-trump-52662450a15a7be8d9df69036f9b5f12
• How ICE Already Knows Who Minneapolis Protesters Are - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/technology/tech-ice-facial-recognition-palantir.html
• ICE buys warehouses for mass detention network, rattling locals - https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/01/30/ice-warehouse-detention-dhs-immigration
• Judge blocks additional citizenship provisions in latest setback to Trump’s election executive order - https://apnews.com/article/trump-elections-executive-order-citizenship-ruling-305a9cf5f90402369305879ef0f319f0
• Judges across the country rebuke ICE for defying court orders - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/30/ice-immigration-court-orders-00757894
• Justice Department opens civil rights investigation into Alex Pretti shooting - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/30/alext-pretti-justice-department-civil-rights-investigation/
• Redistricting in WA needs a redo - https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/redistricting-in-wa-needs-a-redo
• Supreme Court will hear birthright citizenship case on April 1 - https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/01/supreme-court-will-hear-birthright-citizenship-case-on-april-1/
• The First Amendment turned upside down: Buckley at 50 - https://www.citizensforethics.org/news/analysis/the-first-amendment-turned-upside-down-buckley-at-50/
• The Trump Administration Has Been Sued 600 Times. Track These Cases. - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/us/trump-administration-lawsuits.html
• Trump’s Lawsuit Against I.R.S. Creates ‘Enormous Conflict of Interest’ - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/us/politics/trump-lawsuit-irs-taxes.html

January 31

• Judge rejects bid to end Trump administration’s immigration-enforcement surge in Minnesota - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/31/judge-rejects-bid-to-end-trump-administrations-immigration-enforcement-surge-in-minnesota-00758835
• Sell America Is the New Trade on Wall Street - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/business/sell-america-dollar-financial-markets.html
• There’s something bigger going on': State election chiefs rebuff Trump bid to seize voter rolls - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/31/democrats-election-trump-voter-rolls-00758940
• This year's midterm elections could see unprecedented involvement from the federal government - https://www.npr.org/2026/01/31/nx-s1-5694603/this-years-midterm-elections-could-see-unprecedented-involvement-from-the-federal-government
• Thousands of new ICE watchers hit the streets after two killings - https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/01/31/ice-watchers-minneapolis-renee-good-alex-pretti

February

February 02

• Attorney General Ken Paxton Cannot Shut Down Texas Latino Voting Group, Judge Rules - https://firstamendmentwatch.org/attorney-general-ken-paxton-cannot-shut-down-texas-latino-voting-group-judge-rules/
• How a 50-Year-Old Supreme Court Case Shaped the Politics Industry - https://campaignsandelections.com/industry-news/the-50-year-old-supreme-court-case-that-shaped-politics/
• How the Supreme Court Secretly Made Itself Even More Secretive - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/us/supreme-court-nondisclosure-agreements.html
• Kansas bill eliminates mail-in ballots if court strikes down signature verification law - https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/02/kansas-bill-eliminates-mail-in-ballots-if-court-strikes-down-signature-verification-law/
• Maryland House approves congressional map; expected to stall in Senate - https://www.thebanner.com/politics-power/state-government/maryland-house-redistricting-vote-JOAA2YPSCJE5DLTUQKDLSH3ZW4/
• New SAVE Act Bills Would Still Block Millions of Americans From Voting - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/new-save-act-bills-would-still-block-millions-americans-voting
• Trump Administration Sued Over Ban on Immigration From 75 Countries - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/nyregion/immigration-ban-lawsuit-75-countries.html
• Trump, in an Escalation, Calls for Republicans to ‘Nationalize’ Elections - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/us/politics/trump-nationalize-elections.html
• Trump’s chaotic governing style is hurting the value of the U.S. dollar - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/02/02/trump-economic-policies-dollar-decline/

February 03

• 70,000 Voters Must Fix Their Registrations or Face Hurdle at the Polls - https://www.theassemblync.com/news/politics/elections/north-carolina-voters-registration-repair/
• Homeland Security is targeting Americans with this secretive legal weapon - https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/02/03/homeland-security-administrative-subpoena
• Thune throws cold water on Trump's call to 'nationalize' U.S. elections - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/thune-throws-cold-water-on-trumps-call-to-nationalize-u-s-elections
• Trump Repeats Call to ‘Nationalize’ Elections, as White House Walks It Back - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/us/politics/trump-save-act-elections.html

February 04

• Fulton County goes to court to demand return of ballots seized by FBI - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/02/04/georgia-fulton-county-2020-election-records
• Supreme Court Clears Way for California Voting Map - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/us/politics/supreme-court-california-congressional-map.html
• Trump Administration Live Updates: Border Czar to Pull 700 Agents From Minnesota - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/04/us/trump-news
• Trump’s Call to ‘Nationalize’ Elections Adds to State Officials’ Alarm - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/us/politics/trump-election-states-midterms.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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