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.

Pinion Vote

With Scott Pierce

Meeting resources

• Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/Dxe8ilXGyzHywGuP_8cRGi6D1zhnCRYyAZv8GE_exhjo8cbwCjC2EUig4h9Ay3CzLjcnXunIykwK_SOF.VjTQL-APfkRupyHF
• Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/zePdJ2e-aQTaIIkbicXSrBL6lThdha8p7rFii_v7k9091yTXFna7kLV3e0tB4ntBNHkUIPl6L65f93v-.V9XnS6j4P4bESW6u
• Chat file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/sIB5Ri-obUOb4ziPBz83oEHfqKHwBWhpdes9CwH5u8diUTp0toCzzoOQhhPI8h7X_HUbq2vKZo_LXkpq.egbHUHecJqUC8evW
• Closed Caption file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/ScXNq5hxZ3HqLJKyYq6XOmZxcLa1GNtkA8-c08_b8yP92QmnjHn4hWcpW7Bw5kMEuKCqTluvbcKnyCgk.pKqFLs_6QHhPrOG0

Meeting links

• For more information please visit: https://www.pinionvote.com/
• Ideas & Feedback - Rebecca@pinionvote.com
• Customer Outreach - Matthew@pinionvote.com
• PLEASE SIGN & SHARE Fix Democracy First's WA Citizen Resolution to UNDO Citizens United - https://bit.ly/WA-Undo-Citizens-United

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 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

• NO KINGS Day on March 28th
• NO Kings Alliance: The Rapid Response Arm of the Movement - https://www.nokings.org/alliance

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/

December 2025

December 22

• Hundreds of Big Post-Election Donors Have Benefited From Trump’s Return to Office - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/12/22/us/politics/trump-donors-fundraising-benefits.html

January

January 09

• Urging the Supreme Court to Uphold Mail-In Ballot Laws for Voters - https://campaignlegal.org/update/urging-supreme-court-uphold-mail-ballot-laws-voters

January 14

• Candidates have legal standing to challenge election laws, the Supreme Court rules - https://www.npr.org/2026/01/14/nx-s1-5677318/supreme-court-bost-decision-candidate-standing
• Federal Judges Uphold California’s New Congressional Maps - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/us/politics/federal-court-california-redistricting-decision.html
• Initial Review Finds No Widespread Illegal Voting by Migrants, Puncturing a Trump Claim - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/us/politics/noncitizen-voters-save-tool.html
• Trump ballroom donors poised to benefit from AI plan they helped shape - https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/01/trump-ballroom-donors-poised-to-benefit-from-ai-plan-they-helped-shape

January 15

• Alarm as Trump DOJ pushes for voter information on millions of Americans - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/15/justice-department-voter-information
• California GOP appeals their redistricting loss to Supreme Court in last-ditch bid to block voter-approved map - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/gop-appeals-their-california-redistricting-loss-to-supreme-court/
• Did a Supreme Court Loss Embolden Trump on the Insurrection Act? - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/us/politics/supreme-court-trump-insurrection-act.html
• Donald Trump Gripes About 2026 Midterms, Saying, 'When You Think of It, We Shouldn't Even Have an Election' - https://people.com/donald-trump-gripes-about-2026-midterms-saying-when-you-think-of-it-we-shouldn-t-even-have-an-election-11886220
• Sharing the Facts About the Insurrection Act - https://statesunited.org/resources/facts-about-insurrection-act/
• The Corruption Chronicles - One year of Donald Trump profiteering from public office and selling access and influence - https://issueone.org/articles/the-corruption-chronicles-2/
• Trump Administration Lawsuit Seeking California Voter Data Is Dismissed - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/us/california-voter-roll-lawsuit-trump.html
• Trump Cabinet secretaries conspired to violate Constitution, judge says - https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/01/15/protesters-trump-administration-free-speech-violations
• Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota after protests - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/15/trump-insurrection-act-minnesota-00730664
• Under Trump, a Shift Toward ‘Absolute Immunity’ for ICE - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/us/politics/trump-ice-immunity.html
• White House says Trump was ‘joking’ as he repeatedly talks about canceling midterm elections - https://apnews.com/video/white-house-says-trump-was-joking-as-he-repeatedly-talks-about-canceling-midterm-elections-65084edd0c9a48599c5d4a7764e2ad81
• Why the redistricting fight is likely to stretch beyond the 2026 midterms - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/redistricting-fight-likely-stretch-2026-midterms-rcna253075

January 16

• Trump Administration Begins Criminal Inquiry Into Minnesota Leaders - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/us/politics/tim-walz-jacob-frey-investigation-trump.html
• Trump Administration Has Sued More than 20 States for Refusing to Turn Over Voter Files - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/trump-administration-has-sued-more-20-states-refusing-turn-over-voter
• Trump bought $1M in Netflix, Warner Bros. bonds after merger announcement - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/01/16/trump-bought-1m-netflix-warner-bros-bonds-after-merger-announcement

January 18

• Army puts 1,500 soldiers on standby for possible Minnesota deployment, AP sources say - https://apnews.com/article/army-deployment-minnesota-immigration-insurrection-act-31a28c23045bfdb31b27f68507a68ca8
• Trump plans to charge $1 billion for permanent seat on ‘Board of Peace’ - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/18/trump-peace-board

January 19

• Who Will Win the House? Three Maps Tell a Tale of the 2026 Midterms. - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/01/19/us/politics/midterm-elections-house-maps.html

January 20

• California judge’s dismantling of DOJ’s voter roll lawsuit could resonate nationwide - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/california-judges-dismantling-of-dojs-voter-roll-lawsuit-could-resonate-nationwide/
• Maryland commission proposes redrawn congressional map, despite Democratic divisions - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/maryland-commission-proposes-redrawn-congressional-map-democratic-divi-rcna254981
• Nine Solutions for Political Corruption - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/nine-solutions-political-corruption
• One year ago, Donald Trump took an oath to serve the American people. Instead, he has focused on using the presidency to enrich himself. - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/01/20/opinion/editorials/trump-wealth-crypto-graft.html

January 21

• Federal officials launch ICE operation in Maine and begin arrests - https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/01/21/ice-immigration-operation-maine
• How Does the Citizens United Decision Still Affect Us in 2026? - https://campaignlegal.org/update/how-does-citizens-united-decision-still-affect-us-2026
• Immigration officers assert sweeping power to enter homes without a judge’s warrant, memo says - https://apnews.com/article/ice-arrests-warrants-minneapolis-trump-00d0ab0338e82341fd91b160758aeb2d
• Judge Rules for Democrats in Push to Redraw N.Y.C. House District - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/21/nyregion/redistricting-congress-new-york.html
• State Voting Laws Roundup: 2025 in Review - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/state-voting-laws-roundup-2025-review
• Supreme Court doubtful of Trump claim he can fire Fed governors by fiat - https://www.npr.org/2026/01/21/nx-s1-5683968/supreme-court-federal-reserve-lisa-cook

January 23

• Trump administration urges Supreme Court to find California’s redistricting map unconstitutional - https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/01/trump-administration-urges-supreme-court-to-find-californias-redistricting-map-unconstitutional/

January 24

• Man Killed by Federal Agents in Minneapolis Was Holding a Phone, Not a Gun - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/24/us/minneapolis-shooting-ice

January 25

• Democrats vow to oppose homeland security funds after Minnesota shooting as shutdown risk grows - https://apnews.com/article/senate-democrats-homeland-security-funding-government-shutdown-f727fa0f3865990f191d4d5770e04752
• Once Again, Federal Officials Exclude Minnesota From Investigation of a Fatal Shooting - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/us/federal-exclude-minnesota-shooting-investigations.html

January 26

• Bovino Set to Leave Minnesota as Trump Shakes Up Crackdown Leadership - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/26/us/minneapolis-shooting-ice
• Federal judge dismisses Justice Department lawsuit seeking Oregon’s voter rolls - https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-lawsuit-oregon-voter-rolls-f0a3477a5fa061cc71e9ee6ce652ff7a
• Republicans appeal decision that threw out NYC's only GOP-controlled House district - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/01/26/new-york-redistricting-lawsuit-house-congress-republicans/2674a62c-fb0e-11f0-954b-b80c7ed67fc7_story.html

January 27

• Judge blocks Virginia Democrats’ ‘10-1’ redistricting plan for 2026 midterms - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/judge-blocks-virginia-democrats-10-1-redistricting-plan-for-2026-midterms/
• Judge rules Virginia Democrats violated law with redistricting amendment - https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/01/27/virginia-redistricting-court-ruling
• Trump Suggests He Will ‘De-Escalate’ in Minneapolis, Without Offering Details - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/us/politics/trump-minneapolis-crackdown.html
• U.S. judge orders ICE chief to appear in court, threatens contempt ruling - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/27/ice-federal-judge-contempt

January 28

• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faces rising calls for her firing or impeachment - https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-shootings-kristi-noem-ice-congress-add9ac7b90f5677621009e8a603c0141
• Trump Administration Live Updates: F.B.I. Search in Georgia Tied to Criminal Inquiry Over 2020 Election - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/28/us/trump-news

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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