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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Using Ranked Choice Voting in Your Group or Organization

With Elise Orlick & David Bangs from FairVote Washington

Meeting resources

• Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/Ss58_-hH34ZdJXSWmfVSYLXFjSWjCGdInHFPz_nv8ZvpGTzid51hlg16b4P3MquRmkNzDBbN8o9nLDx0.z-ZeAS4enK524WCV
• Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/I09BetvI51D9gzF02GIGrIZCsfqJH0z5phd7EdhuPHaydO6bYHoKOgunRDUKbyxGEJNzIVxLAZUyTCCQ.lvQrcJAL3oDzwY5o
• Chat file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/-O2JZdU7RB_HNNN_fQHDQLw5zs92Q76dyDGihgVCtj51hy0j9VZljPq8FW6MLyDBczj0HiHRspeS2VET.d8ARgI0no5v7LQA0
• Closed Caption file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/2yprScg0qQrF9_f8OaWeY6aBVsAQoyNvsQhm2jnjFhbna_koBqTviiouVkw4tgC1XSW72EyfHN6BDNJK.rwhgA68bzlUmSdHC

Using ranked choice voting links

RCV123 - https://www.rcv123.org

• Ballot Set Up - https://www.rcv123.org/election/setup/1
• RCV Calculator & Spreadsheet Upload - https://www.rcv123.org/rcv-spreadsheet-upload
• Google Forms & Classroom - https://www.rcv123.org/google-forms-ranked-choice-spreadsheet-calculator
• Sample ballots - https://www.rcv123.org/ranked-choice-sample-ballots
• FAQs - https://www.rcv123.org/faq
• Pros & Cons of RCV - https://www.rcv123.org/ranked-choice-voting-pros-cons
• Email - info@rcv123.org

FairVote Washington - https://fairvotewa.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

• Jan 14 – VillageCo: Creating a Locally Connected World with Jason Sears
• Jan 21 – Citizens United Anniversary: What Can We Do to Address Money in Elections?
• Jan 28 – Pinion Vote with Scott Pierce
• Feb 4 - 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
• 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

Actions and events

Actions

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

Events

• Democracy Lobby Day 2026 – January 23rd in Olympia. Register to join @ https://bit.ly/DemocracyLobbyDay2026-FDF
• NO Kings Alliance: The Rapid Response Arm of the Movement - https://www.nokings.org/alliance

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/

October

October 24

• Real Solutions Podcast - EP 6: Public Campaign Finance - https://belonging.berkeley.edu/real-solutions

December

December 15

• This Is How We End Citizens United - https://www.levernews.com/this-is-how-we-end-citizens-united

December 17

• DHS fast-tracked $1 billion contract to pro-Trump donor’s company - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/12/17/dhs-contract-trump-donor

December 18

• Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Increase Transparency of Supreme Court Shadow Docket Decisions - https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-increase-transparency-of-supreme-court-shadow-docket-decisions

December 19

• Tech moguls close to Trump see the midterms as a path to long-term power - https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/12/19/tech-super-pacs-midterms-ai/

December 22

• How the Supreme Court Exploded the Racial Turnout Gap - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/how-supreme-court-exploded-racial-turnout-gap

December 23

• Supreme Court blocks National Guard deployment to Chicago in defeat for Trump - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/12/23/supreme-court-chicago-illinois-troops-trump

December 29

• Judge paves way for Legislature to appeal redistricting ruling to Utah Supreme Court - https://ksltv.com/local-news/judge-redistricting-ruling-utah/861758/

December 30

• Rural Mail-In Ballots at Risk as Post Office Finalizes Changes to Postmark Dates - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/rural-mail-in-ballots-at-risk-as-post-office-finalizes-changes-to-postmark-dates/

December 31

• Capitol riot ‘does not happen’ without Trump, Jack Smith told Congress - https://apnews.com/article/trump-jack-smith-jan-6-congress-537fcb8673e385202c354a3e83897194
• Jack Smith told House committee he had ‘proof beyond reasonable doubt’ in cases against Trump - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/31/jack-smith-house-testimony
• The plot to redraw America - How Donald Trump launched a redistricting caper he couldn’t pull off. - https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/31/the-redistricting-fight-that-dominated-american-politics-in-2025-00703193
• Trump ends effort to keep National Guard in Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/12/31/trump-national-guard-chicago-los-angeles-portland
• Trump’s Tangled Web of Deal-Making, Policy and Riches - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/12/31/us/trump-deals-policy-conflicts-web.html
• With major Supreme Court rulings ahead, Chief Justice Roberts says Constitution remains 'firm and unshaken' - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/with-major-supreme-court-rulings-ahead-chief-justice-roberts-says-constitution-remains-firm-and-unshaken

January

January 01

• How the new class of billionaires solidified outsized political influence - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-the-new-class-of-billionaires-solidified-outsized-political-influence

January 02

• DOJ Demands Minnesota Voting Records in New Attack on Same-Day Registration - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/doj-demands-minnesota-voting-records-in-new-attack-on-same-day-registration/
• Jack Smith says Trump acknowledged to others that he lost 2020 election - https://www.reuters.com/world/us/jack-smith-says-trump-acknowledged-others-that-he-lost-2020-election-2026-01-01/
• Louisiana will use challenged congressional map after Supreme Court declines to expedite ruling - https://lailluminator.com/2026/01/02/louisiana-will-use-challenged-congressional-map-after-supreme-court-declines-to-expedite-ruling/
• Trump Super PAC Raised More Than $100 Million in Recent Months - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/us/politics/trump-super-pac-maga-inc-fundraising.html
• Washington State Republican Chair Jim Walsh hits the cancel button on his mass voter cancellation initiative - https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2026/01/victory-washington-state-republican-chair-jim-walsh-hits-the-cancel-button-on-his-mass-voter-cancellation-initiative.html

January 03

• Maduro Arrives in N.Y.; Trump Says U.S. Will ‘Run’ Venezuela - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/03/world/trump-maduro-venezuela-us-strikes
• Thousands of mail-in ballots could be discounted under new post office policy - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/01/03/elections-mail-ballots-post-office

January 04

• After Maduro, who’s next? Trump spurs speculation about his plans for Greenland, Cuba and Colombia - https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-greenland-cuba-571aac35e259857fd512c46f5af11e4d
• Donald Trump warns of ‘big price to pay’ if Caracas fails to toe line - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/04/us-running-venezuela-now-seems-less-likely-but-second-intervention-possible
• NPR investigation shows how the government tried to erase information about January 6 - https://www.npr.org/2026/01/04/nx-s1-5649713/npr-investigation-shows-how-the-government-tried-to-erase-information-about-january-6
• Trump wants U.S. oil companies in Venezuela. Here's what to know - https://www.npr.org/2026/01/04/nx-s1-5665795/trump-us-oil-companies-venezuela

January 05

• All eyes on secretary of state races – with 2028 White House at stake - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/05/secretary-of-state-races-us-elections
• Maduro, making first court appearance, says U.S. ‘kidnapped’ him - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/05/maduro-court-appearance-trial-new-york
• Missouri Secretary of State approves 33K signature pages for redistricting petition, throws out nearly 17K - https://www.komu.com/news/state/secretary-of-state-approves-33k-signature-pages-for-redistricting-petition-throws-out-nearly-17k/article_0150bbf1-5079-4dea-b399-3d42ed8e63e8.html
• Supreme Court Increasingly Favors the Rich, Economists Say - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/us/politics/supreme-court-study-rich-poor.html
• The Trump administration is building a ‘national voter roll’, former DOJ lawyers warn - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/the-trump-administration-is-building-a-national-voter-roll-former-doj-lawyers-warn/
• Trump push to politicize US military ‘reminiscent of Stalin’, top general warns - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/05/trump-us-military-hegseth-stalin
• Trump says U.S. is "in charge" of Venezuela, Maduro jailed in New York after U.S. military operation - https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/venezuela-us-military-strikes-maduro-trump/

January 06

• A visual archive of Jan. 6, 2021, through the lenses of those who were there. - https://apps.npr.org/jan-6-archive/
• Arizona's Fontes vows to fight DOJ lawsuit over voter data, says he’d rather be jailed than comply - https://azmirror.com/2026/01/06/fontes-vows-to-fight-doj-lawsuit-over-voter-data-says-hed-rather-be-jailed-than-comply/
• Danish prime minister says a US takeover of Greenland would mark the end of NATO - https://apnews.com/article/denmark-greenland-trump-2b12bb104faaaafda2ed270febfb0522
• Fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack brings fresh division to the Capitol - https://apnews.com/article/capitol-riot-anniversary-trump-democrats-1ef8f91dcdf0f209ba7316139df7e9c6
• Five Years On, Trump Keeps Pushing Jan. 6 Conspiracies - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/us/trump-impeachment-election-conspiracies.html
• White House floats military option for Greenland, rattling Denmark and NATO - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/06/white-house-floats-military-option-greenland-rattling-denmark-nato
• White House publishes website that rewrites history of Jan. 6 attack - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/01/06/trump-white-house-jan6-website/
• White House website on Jan 6 - https://www.whitehouse.gov/j6/
• Why Mathematicians Love Ranked Choice Voting - https://thefulcrum.us/electoral-reforms/ranked-choice-voting-study
• With Trump's tariffs on the line, US Supreme Court plans rulings for Friday - https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/with-trumps-tariffs-line-us-supreme-court-plans-rulings-friday-2026-01-06/

January 07

• Buy Greenland? Take It? Why? An Old Pact Already Gives Trump a Free Hand. - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/world/europe/trump-greenland-denmark-us-defense-pact.html
• Gov. Ron DeSantis calls for special session in April to redraw Florida’s congressional districts - https://apnews.com/article/florida-redistricting-census-desantis-b10b743019ba7f25a2f26d3ccdaf9a67
• Trump administration halting $10 billion in social service funding to 5 Democratic states - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-pauses-10-billion-public-assistance-funding-democratic-states/

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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