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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How we can solve America’s BIGGEST Problems Together

With Jim Rough

Meeting resources

• Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/ByowFf_gTMLDUMEh8tmRgjz93CvW3rkJXZ3Kjw6kwyVvg3AcUlk74_qKf69HGarY0aiVM64eBUq_3IRj.GWSit1u-hnqHjptm
• Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/k7Ik9Gl8PqH_L7etYIw0cVRfYjvIAJpN6yLTuMTU4D-Q4YaIZBxMy80AXM5QsrK5T20kswhjYh5uZ3th.DzCpihQ6itpTOj1d
• Chat file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/aarmABExwSPemjbAKAb0ZNHCGGON1l3fjswFEawdLCegoKyCyEUK-5nUmmDDLii5CrpH0Kjg_a9JxMmI.07xBHCb3CyAP6Dic
• Closed Caption file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/pbSKhnfHIzC2I_cNQZKCsISkTCleDlGq-AF9kyXcPk5-sjOaK9-MNlpKIal7WUPcMDRL-90qSj9Ah8FI.sYq49ny1shXt83J0

Meeting links

Reach out to Jim directly at jim@wisedemocracy.org. Find out more information at Wise Democracy - https://www.wisedemocracy.org and The Wise Democracy Project - https://www.wisedemocracy.org/the-wise-democracy-project.html.

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

• 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
• Mar 18 - Digital Democracy Project with Cassie Clayton
• Mar 25 - Leaving MAGA with Rich Logis
• Apr 1 - NO Democracy Happy Hour this week

Actions and events

Actions

• Call Your Senators: Reject the SAVE Act - https://secure.brennancenter.org/content/call-your-senators-reject-save-act
• Email Congress to STOP the SAVE Act - https://win.newmode.net/declarationforamericandemocracycoalition/stopthesaveact
• 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
• Write a Letter to The Editor - Stop the SAVE Act - https://win.newmode.net/declarationforamericandemocracycoalition/opposetheantivotersaveacthr22ands128

Events

• FairVote WA - February Roadmap: Black History & Racial Equity through RCV – Feb 27th @ 6 pm PT/9 pm ET – Register to join at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8iPuLH3rTYO2qvCRx9_wHg
• NO KINGS Day on March 28th, https://www.nokings.org
• The Inquisitor Online Screening Event – Sunday, March 22nd @ 3 pm PT/6 pm ET The film tells the story of Texas Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, the first Black woman from the South elected to Congress. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-inquisitor-online-screening-event-tickets-1983749481099

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
• Trump’s Take, cash and gifts received by Trump - https://www.americanprogress.org/feature/trumps-take/

February

February 17

• Utah GOP says they have enough signatures for pro-gerrymander ballot measure - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/utah-gop-says-they-have-enough-signatures-for-pro-gerrymander-ballot-measure

February 18

• As ICE Buys Up Warehouses, Even Some Trump Voters Say No - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/us/politics/ice-warehouses-trump-voters.html
• Colorado Democrats Push to Rip Up 2028 House Map for an Extra Edge - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/us/politics/colorado-redistricting-house-map-2028.html
• Colorado looks headed to join the congressional redistricting fight - https://www.cpr.org/2026/02/18/colorado-looks-headed-to-join-the-congressional-redistricting-fight/
• New DHS memo outlines plan to detain refugees for further vetting - https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/02/18/trump-immigrants-refugees-minnesota-memo

February 19

• A Republican plan to overhaul voting is back. Here's what's new in the bill - https://www.npr.org/2026/02/19/nx-s1-5719252/trump-voting-save-america-act-explainer
• Judge Condemns ‘Terror Against Noncitizens’ and Orders Hearings for Detainees - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/us/politics/judge-immigrants-notice-lawsuits.html
• Georgia lawmakers fight GOP voter suppression efforts with new state voting rights act - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/georgia-lawmakers-fight-gop-voter-suppression-efforts-with-new-state-voting-rights-act/
• New Trump administration order could lead to the detention of thousands of legal refugees - https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-immigration-crackdown-refugee-lawsuit-87e5e89ee4f68189638f9e77acfb2994
• New York appellate court allows redraw of congressional map to move forward - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/new-york-appellate-court-allows-redraw-of-congressional-map-to-move-forward
• Trump says Republicans will ‘never lose a race’ if Congress restricts voting - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trump-republicans-will-never-lose-save-america-act/
• Virginia judge blocks Democrats’ referendum, a blow to redistricting effort over 4 U.S. House seats - https://apnews.com/article/virginia-redistricting-democrats-map-referendum-d4ece389549224ff188a86b9e3bad201

February 20

• As Trump pushes voting restrictions, states have a rarely used option to push back - https://stateline.org/2026/02/20/as-trump-pushes-voting-restrictions-states-have-a-rarely-used-option-to-push-back/
• Court clears way for Louisiana law requiring Ten Commandments in classrooms to take effect - https://apnews.com/article/ten-commandments-law-louisiana-court-ruling-b7f8f93c4f05426fe73b29225f0a27cf
• DOJ struggles as White House presses on voter fraud - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/20/trump-voting-fraud-justice-department
• Even After Supreme Court Ruling, Trump Insists He Can Do as He Wishes - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/20/us/politics/trump-justices-gorsuch-barrett-roberts.html
• Federal ruling in Florida ballot initiative restriction challenge could have national implications - https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/02/20/federal-ruling-in-florida-ballot-initiative-restriction-challenge-could-have-national-implications/
• Majority of Americans think Trump’s deportation campaign is going too far - https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/02/20/trump-immigration-poll-ice
• Supreme Court’s Tariff Ruling and Trump’s Immediate New Levies Add New Uncertainty in Global Trade - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/20/us/trump-tariffs-supreme-court
• Top Maryland Senate Democrat says the 'window of opportunity is closed' for redistricting - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/top-maryland-senate-democrat-says-window-opportunity-closed-redistrict-rcna259935
• Trump has stocked his administration with people who have backed his false 2020 election claims - https://apnews.com/article/trump-administration-2020-election-conspiracies-doj-d91027ec4152419cd761a6087d8139c6

February 21

• DOJ cases against protesters keep collapsing as officers’ lies are exposed in court - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/21/doj-protesters-federal-agents-cases
• Senate G.O.P. Faces Pressure to Force ‘Talking Filibuster’ for Voter ID Bill - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/21/us/politics/senate-republicans-talking-filibuster.html
• Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s sweeping tariffs, sparking fierce pushback and vow of new levies - https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-tariffs-trump-0485fcda30a7310501123e4931dba3f9
• Trump Says He Will Raise Global Tariff to 15 Percent - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/21/business/trump-tariffs.html

February 22

• Only a fraction of House seats are competitive. Redistricting is driving that lower - https://www.npr.org/2026/02/22/nx-s1-5707254/power-trump-congress-house-representatives-voters-control

February 23

• Ex-ICE instructor testifies that agency slashed officer training, lied to Congress - https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/02/23/former-ice-instructor-says-agency-slashed-training-new-officers
• Federal court rejects GOP bid to block new Utah congressional map, likely netting Dems a seat - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/23/utah-redistricting-court-ruling-2026-midterms-00793377
• In an Intense Election Year, New Post Office Rules Could Trip Up Voter Registration - https://boltsmag.org/usps-postmark-rules-change-voter-registration-deadline-election-year/

February 24

• Colorado group files 6 ballot measures to counter redistricting proposals backed by Democrats - https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/02/24/colorado-group-files-6-ballot-measures-to-counter-redistricting-proposals-backed-by-democrats/
• Supreme Court rules the Postal Service can’t be sued, even when mail is intentionally not delivered - https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-postal-service-missing-mail-7ce97a5b7d56373cdeaa6ecc9a9132f5

February 25

• Money in Politics Roundup — February 2026 - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/money-politics-roundup-february-2026
• Supreme Court rules against private prison firm facing forced-work suit from immigration detainees - https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-private-prison-immigration-detainees-92b01950e11ae13f17d11fddbb196e5e
• Trump administration’s third-country deportation policy unlawful, judge finds - https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/02/25/federal-judge-migrants-deportations-trump-ruling

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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