Democracy Happy Hour - June 04, 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.

Ranked-Choice Voting: How the Votes are Counted and Why It Leads to More Democratic Outcomes  

With Damien Burke, OpaVote

• Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/1qy127QmOxK75ZR63MO-OjSU6PBAYk-grDwd5Qdtv2lnyqnE106o6RB6LLvtEro6en49fGeOv6dx9Ts_.nmWw__-McF6hnYjv

• Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/B4HXrqlLLdlNB0Pzk1q7uMsCGkjEdBq4z5pejazRXdw1u2FWOxesG5_IlL-wGD_A9tOXlxvPVaHkzf0V.5d7U04D2GSDdaBwD

• Chat file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/hJJ-ni334OlQW4msXWqeut9x9d01NZuRmqoyU088ZZzefTg2Azo7W5pmpajgemYCV4j6eFAnOKybarlJ.3qj2KdFPSLESm-TU

• Closed Caption file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/9-IOKrSO5Lbz8m1tIr4tKNVQCwPbDA-3Vl9NlR2uO24AQw6orsihz7lnC5YIxT-H8Hzx8WmPIZUXqV3j.8Uj9EhHBNpFdTw2K

Meeting resources

• Reach out to Damien and the team at OpaVote: team@opavote.com
• OpaVote - https://opavote.com
• OpaVote’s detailed documentation on Instant Runoff Voting: https://opavote.com/methods/instant-runoff-voting
• OpaVote’s detailed documentation on Single Transferable Vote: https://opavote.com/methods/single-transferable-vote
• A series of videos from CGP Grey on the same subject with more detail and better graphics: https://www.cgpgrey.com/politics-in-the-animal-kingdom/

FDF Links

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

Democracy Happy Hour Upcoming Topics/Schedule

• Jun 11 - Hit Refresh on the U.S. Constitution: A Revolutionary Roadmap for Fulfilling on the Promise of Democracy with the author Paul Zeitz
• Jun 18 – Introducing the Resist Trump Campaign with Nevin Kamath
• Jun 25 – A History of Public Financing of Elections in Seattle with Rory O'Sullivan
• Jul 2 – NO Democracy Happy Hour this week – Happy July 4^th!

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
• 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
• Stop the SAVE Act (emails) -  https://win.newmode.net/declarationforamericandemocracycoalition/stopthesaveact
• 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 Organzing - https://www.usgrassroots.org

Events

• 50501 - https://www.fiftyfifty.one – Next National Day of Action
• America 250 - https://america250.org
• John Lewis Day of Action: Good Trouble Lives On – July 17^th – https://www.mobilize.us/john-lewis-actions/
• No Kings National Day of Action – June 14^th - https://www.nokings.org/
• We’re Worth Fighting & Other Events with Election Response Center - https://www.mobilize.us/electionresponsecenter/?utm_source=fixdemocracyfirst
• Yes on Prop 1 - Seattle Democracy Voucher Program Levy Renewal – Aug 5^th primary
  • Campaign website - https://yesonprop1seattle.org/
  • Endorsement Form - https://forms.gle/tArHMaFedtXcPqPw7
  • Donation page - https://secure.anedot.com/prop1seattle/donate

Democracy in the News

Resources

• All of the Trump Administration’s Major Moves in the First xx Days - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/us/trump-agenda-2025.html
• 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
• The People's Hub For Grassroots Democracy Organizing  - https://www.usgrassroots.org/
• Tracking the Lawsuits Against Trump’s Agenda - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/us/trump-administration-lawsuits.html
• Trump Administration Highlights - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/03/18/us/trump-president-news
• What has Trump done today? - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2025/trump-administration-actions

April 2025

April 14

• Oklahoma GOP sues to stop open primaries; State Question 836 at center of debate - https://www.news9.com/story/67fd134130d5045107639581/oklahoma-primary-elections-lawsuit-sq836

May 2025

May 13

• What’s in Trump and Republicans’ giant tax and immigration bill? - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/05/13/republican-trump-tax-immigration-plan

May 14

• Missouri lawmakers approve referendum to repeal abortion-rights amendment - https://apnews.com/article/abortion-rights-ban-missouri-sick-leave-c4f7beb07e7b3de64f3e2460bcb539c0

May 21

• Braun signs slew of election-related bills that critics say will harm Indiana voters - https://dailyjournal.net/2025/05/21/braun-signs-slew-of-election-related-bills-that-critics-say-will-harm-indiana-voters/
• Louisiana becomes first state to use DOGE voter maintenance database - https://www.kalb.com/2025/05/21/louisiana-becomes-first-state-use-doge-voter-maintenance-database/

May 22

• Deadlocked Supreme Court Rejects Bid for Religious Charter School in Oklahoma - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/us/politics/supreme-court-religious-charter-school-oklahoma.html
• Judge blocks Trump’s orders to dismantle the Education Department and fire employees - https://apnews.com/article/education-department-shut-down-layoffs-576eef90c30fdaeb660f7f66644bad10
• Senate likely to change House-passed megabill advancing Trump’s agenda - https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-change-house-passed-megabill-advancing-trumps-agenda/story?id=122072381
• The Largest Upward Transfer of Wealth in American History - https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/05/big-beautiful-transfer-of-wealth/682885
• Trump Administration Says It Is Halting Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/us/politics/trump-harvard-international-students.html
• Trump administration seeks to end basic rights and protections for child immigrants in its custody - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/22/trump-children-flores-settlement-agreement

May 23

• Disarray at Department of Veterans Affairs imperils patient care, internal documents reveal - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/23/veterans-affairs-doge-musk
• In Florida and Nationwide, GOP Cracks Down on Direct Democracy - https://www.democracydocket.com/analysis/gop-cracks-down-on-direct-democracy/
• Judge Blocks Trump Effort to Bar International Students at Harvard - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/23/us/harvard-sues-trump-international-students-garber.html
• Judge extends order blocking Trump’s mass federal worker layoffs - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/05/23/federal-workers-trump-administration-layoffs-block-extended
• Montana Sued Over Law That Rejects Absentee Ballots for Minor Date Errors - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/montana-sued-over-law-that-rejects-absentee-ballots-for-minor-date-errors/
• Nevada governor vetoes bill on mail ballot drop boxes, citing security concerns - https://mynews4.com/news/local/nevada-governor-vetoes-bill-on-mail-ballot-drop-boxes-citing-security-concerns
• Push to protect ballot initiatives advances in Arkansas - https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/05/23/protect-ballot-initiatives-advances-arkansas
• The DOJ Accelerates Its Hunt For Voter Fraud — With DOGE’s Help - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/the-doj-accelerates-its-hunt-for-voter-fraud-with-doges-help/

May 25

• As Trumps Monetize Presidency, Profits Outstrip Protests - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/25/us/politics/trump-money-plane-crypto.html

May 27

• Judge approves Treasury DOGE team’s access to sensitive data systems - https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/27/judge-treasury-doge-access-data-payment-systems-00371969
• Some judges reject DOJ claim that Jan. 6 pardons apply to other crimes - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/05/27/jan6-pardons-judges
• Trump administration sues North Carolina over its voter registration records - https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-voter-records-federal-government-lawsuit-a9c470880fb423412977c59772b40151
• Trump Intends to Cancel All Federal Funds Directed at Harvard - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/us/harvard-trump-federal-funds.html

May 28

• Checks on Migrant Children by Homeland Security Agents Stir Fear - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/us/trump-ice-migrant-children-welfare-checks.html
• Elon Musk is leaving the Trump administration after leading effort to slash federal government - https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-big-beautiful-bill-aa2bc70b0ebdb219b5dd3e9f8fae03af
• Louisiana lawmakers reject redistricting plan with more majority Black districts - https://lailluminator.com/2025/05/28/louisiana-lawmakers-reject-redistricting-plan-with-more-majority-black-districts/
• Texas’ mail-in voting rules pushed voters to cast ballots in person — or not vote at all, study finds - https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/28/texas-mail-voting-decline-senate-bill-1-election-law-id-requirement/
• Trump Tariffs Ruled Illegal by Federal Judicial Panel - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/business/trump-tariffs-blocked-federal-court.html

May 29

• Alabama may pause redistricting efforts until 2030 to avoid federal oversight - https://alabamareflector.com/2025/05/29/alabama-may-skip-redistricting-efforts-until-2030-to-avoid-federal-oversight/
• Appeals Court Strips Voters’ Ability to File Voting Rights Act Lawsuits in 7 States - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/appeals-court-strips-voters-ability-file-voting-rights-act-lawsuits-7
• Appeals court temporarily reinstates Trump tariffs - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-appeals-court-temporarily-reinstates-trump-tariffs/
• California attorney general appeals judge’s decision in Huntington Beach voter ID lawsuit - https://www.ocregister.com/2025/05/29/california-attorney-general-appeals-judges-decision-in-huntington-beach-voter-id-lawsuit/
• Maryland’s primary elections are unconstitutional, lawsuit alleges - https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/05/29/lawsuit-primary-election-maryland/
• Oklahoma parents fight new curriculum on 2020 election ‘discrepancies’ - https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/05/29/oklahoma-schools-election-denial
• Supreme Court narrows scope of environmental reviews - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/05/29/utah-rail-environmental-review-supreme-court
• Supreme Court walks a tightrope as it confronts Trump’s power moves - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/05/29/trump-john-roberts-supreme-court
• Trump Officials Intensify Attacks on Judges as Court Losses Mount - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/29/us/politics/trump-judges-attacks-tariffs.html

May 30

• North Dakota tribes ask circuit judges for rehearing of voting rights case - https://northdakotamonitor.com/2025/05/30/north-dakota-tribes-ask-circuit-judges-for-rehearing-of-voting-rights-case/
• PBS suing Trump administration over defunding, three days after NPR filed similar case - https://apnews.com/article/trump-pbs-npr-lawsuits-e2b87457c520ea5311da8651d77fccc5
• Supreme Court says Trump for now can revoke immigration parole for 530K migrants - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/05/30/scotus-parole-immigration-trump
• Trump declares war on his own judicial legacy - https://www.axios.com/2025/05/30/trump-judges-supreme-court-leonard-leo?utm

June 2025

June 01

• Discrimination cases unravel as Trump scraps core civil rights tenet - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/06/01/trump-disparate-impact-discrimination-cases-civil-rights/
• Stakes are high for US democracy as conservative supreme court hears raft of cases - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/01/us-supreme-court-democracy

June 02

• DOGE vowed to make government more ‘efficient’ — but it’s doing the opposite - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/06/02/doge-vowed-make-government-more-efficient-its-doing-opposite
• Supreme Court rejects 2 gun rights cases, but assault weapons ban issue may be back soon - https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-assault-weapons-ban-0ce9bfd44c9e6696d7fd8f69af699152
• Supreme Court will consider reviving Republican challenge to Illinois law on mail ballots - https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-mail-ballots-b2e44031402ebbe18ed1291c7a92f46d
• What cases are left on the Supreme Court’s emergency docket? Here’s a look - https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-emergency-appeals-0c81f14f265840a80c8efbf943dc3bc9

June 03

• Mississippi voter ID laws in effect for general elections - https://www.wtva.com/video/mississippis-voter-id-laws-in-effect-for-general-elections/video_cf722793-24bf-5a91-bbf7-d61cefdc4dd2.html
• Musk rails against Trump tax bill, calling it ‘a disgusting abomination’ - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/06/03/elon-musk-slams-trump-plan
• Republican push for proof of citizenship to vote proves a tough sell in the states - https://apnews.com/article/trump-republicans-citizenship-voting-elections-texas-b6b9298092c84266bc7515209e5aea42
• Trump Asks Congress to Claw Back $9 Billion for Foreign Aid, NPR and PBS - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/03/us/trump-npr-pbs-funding-congress.html

June 04

• Major cases involving Trump before the US Supreme Court - https://www.reuters.com/legal/major-cases-involving-trump-before-us-supreme-court-2025-04-22/
• Trump tax bill will add $2.4 trillion to the deficit and leave 10.9 million more uninsured, CBO says - https://apnews.com/article/cbo-deficits-tax-cuts-trumps-big-beautiful-bill-64d7de49aef62ba07b7f6f45c1ca73d1

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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