Democracy Happy Hour - June 18, 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.

Introducing the ResistTrump Campaign

With Nevin Kamath

• Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/IW0RCs-h-YUfAASiJlEh0ltuQPnman8IPoH-ye_143pmBxli4NIHzOWMVQ69A2vPUlQCdaG6LihVjpIg.TA6Lqr9kB373USDb

• Gallery View Recording:  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/d6Gp9yEcNqsjKC9Wy62_DT6dLYIRHh7u7byZh8b8TtK3Kkv89yWBKaduuLqaUu7UvJZ94-T91awyrgg.8AQXMRU3B3ntgrRX

• Chat file (will download directly to your computer):  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/aVA3eOffJDGmJMoVjHquudmzDGD2G-WMDg0BCGtXppS_JAdticF3R4LBSHwNiQkQ6ZnmtD7maIYfEwo2.N2oRQQNeTUtO1cgG

• Closed Caption file (will download directly to your computer):  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/8886uIkpuD3vY2ztzyx0mJ0hOTdg5C7pngaGGhqrNSv-7bLvCqXT15_Os5_oXAP4X9r45VnoaJ5Znx1E.uuMFWF5ESnF9gvGj

Meeting resources

• Visit #ResistTrump - https://www.resisttrump.us
• View the ResistTrump Orientation Presentation - https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSYr9T2p6ARdRT36d7rf4OjxHKtVfqDdaA5WoXvJINTGiHxQZL7EfM42h6sG1hf7PP9wdaGnhlcIY-n/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000
• Register to attend the “How to be a Leader in the Trump Resistance Webinar Series” - https://www.mobilize.us/resisttrump/event/795606/
• Join the ResistTrump Campaign Discord server - https://discord.gg/SptxgBrBGe
• Apply for a volunteer role with the ResistTrump Campaign - https://ideali.st/78RHjf
• V-Dem - https://www.v-dem.net
• U.S. could lose democracy status, says global watchdog - https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-democracy-report-1.7486317
• Maria Stephan - https://horizonsproject.us/team/maria-j-stephan/
• Protect Democracy - https://protectdemocracy.org

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 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!
• Jul 9 – Hit Refresh on the U.S. Constitution: A Revolutionary Roadmap for Fulfilling on the Promise of Democracy with author Paul Zeitz
• Jul 16 - Save Democracy in America: End Big Money with Voter Dollars with Dan McMillan
• Jul 23 - Canceled - NO Democracy Happy Hour this week
• Jul 30 - DIY-ing America: Civic Engagement & Innovation with June Klees, Waging Dialogue

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/
  • Planning Meetings - https://www.mobilize.us/john-lewis-actions/event/792911/
  • https://goodtroubleliveson.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

June 2025

June 11

• Trump aides want Texas to redraw its congressional maps to boost the GOP. What would that mean? - https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/11/texas-congress-midcycle-redistricting-trump-republicans/
• Trump's DOJ makes its most sweeping demand for election data yet - https://www.npr.org/2025/06/11/nx-s1-5426097/trump-justice-department-voter-data-colorado
• U.S. Image Declines in Many Nations Amid Low Confidence in Trump -https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/06/11/us-image-declines-in-many-nations-amid-low-confidence-in-trump
• WA GOP wants proof of citizenship for all voters - https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/wa-gop-takes-a-run-at-ending-vote-by-mail
• Wisconsin campaign finance watchdog accuses Musk, super PACs of election bribery - https://www.courthousenews.com/wisconsin-campaign-finance-watchdog-accuses-musk-super-pacs-of-election-bribery/

June 12

• Assembly panel advances bill to protect voting rights in New Jersey - https://newjerseymonitor.com/2025/06/12/assembly-panel-advances-bill-to-protect-voting-rights-in-new-jersey/
• Controversial Oklahoma law affecting ballot initiatives draws legal challenges - https://oklahomavoice.com/2025/06/12/controversial-oklahoma-law-affecting-ballot-initiatives-draws-legal-challenges/
• Democratic senator forcibly removed from DHS news conference as tensions flare - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/06/12/alex-pandilla-noem-press-conference-removed
• How Voting Groups Are Preparing for All Eyes on Virginia - https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/06/virginia-2025-elections-voting-groups/
• Nevada GOP governor vetoes voter ID bill that he pushed for in a deal with Democrats - https://apnews.com/article/nevada-new-voter-id-law-cdb217073dcf2e974dcd300a0bd37eff
• Trump administration tells immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela they have to leave - https://apnews.com/article/immigration-humanitarian-parole-china-haiti-nicaragua-venezuela-562e081b310228605add5f5ed2506da2
• Trump can keep California National Guard deployed for now, appeals court says - https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/06/12/newsom-trump-court-ruling-military-la

June 13

• Fearing Trump, academics worldwide issue anti-fascist manifesto - https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/06/13/anti-fascist-manifesto-intellectuals-trump
• Federal request for Colorado voter data seems motivated by politics, election officials say - https://coloradosun.com/2025/06/13/voter-data-request-jena-griswold-tina-peters/
• Judge blocks Trump’s election executive order, siding with Democrats who called it overreach - https://apnews.com/article/trump-elections-executive-order-4f863aaa8e0c59640ebc727827ffc887
• Longest-serving legislative leader in US history given 7 1/2 years in federal corruption case - https://apnews.com/article/illinois-corruption-madigan-longest-serving-speaker-07cd2e4be0ec031b8a56b08b3b3670d7
• Nationwide protests against immigration raids escalate, leading to arrests and curfews - https://apnews.com/article/immigration-crackdown-us-protests-049a611d47d0fc7656731e4f4c714e93
• Trump's financial disclosures reveal tens of millions in income from guitars, Bibles and watches with his name on them - https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/trumps-financial-disclosures-reveal-millions-income-guitars-bibles-wat-rcna212981
• Voting rights advocates vocal against more Ohio election law changes - https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2025-06-13/voting-rights-advocates-vocal-against-more-ohio-election-law-changes

June 14

• Military parade rolls through DC as ‘No Kings’ protesters across US decry Trump - https://apnews.com/article/trump-army-parade-troops-tanks-birthday-protests-4cca4da0e89908d39c820240744375a1
• Millions across US turn out for ‘No Kings’ protests against Donald Trump - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/14/no-kings-protests-trump-military-parade
• Over 70K in Seattle denounce Trump at massive ‘No Kings’ rally - https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/at-no-kings-rallies-tens-of-thousands-in-seattle-denounce-trump
• Trump administration considers adding 36 countries to travel ban list - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/06/14/trump-travel-ban-expansion
• Trump curbs immigration enforcement at farms, meatpacking plants, hotels and restaurants - https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-arrests-pause-hotels-restaurants-farms-aa8f503a8d6d797021a70601e6a1d918

June 15

• 3 takeaways from the military parade and No Kings protests on Trump's birthday - https://www.npr.org/2025/06/15/nx-s1-5433765/3-takeaways-from-the-military-parade-and-no-kings-protests-on-trumps-birthday
• Justice Department’s early moves on voting and elections signal a shift from its traditional role - https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-voting-elections-democrats-efa955a7785fdaddbf6d28956d1072ff
• President Trump orders ICE to expand deportations in large Democrat-run cities - https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/15/donald-trump-ice-deportations-efforts/84223328007/

June 16

• American Bar Association sues Trump administration over executive orders targeting law firms - https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/16/american-bar-association-sues-trump-00409204
• Budget Bill Would Gut Federal Courts’ Ability to Enforce Orders - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/budget-bill-would-gut-federal-courts-ability-enforce-orders
• Disability rights advocates raise alarm over bills tightening voting requirements - https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2025/06/16/disability-rights-advocates-raise-alarm-over-bills-tightening-voting-requirements/
• Redistricting trial begins in North Carolina over allegations that GOP-enacted maps erode Black voting power - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/redistricting-trial-begins-in-north-carolina-over-allegations-that-gop-enacted-maps-erode-black-voting-power
• Suspect in shootings of Minnesota lawmakers caught and charged with murder - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/16/minnesota-shooting-suspect-arrest-reports
• ‘This is the looting of America’: Trump and Co’s extraordinary conflicts of interest in his second term - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/16/trump-conflict-of-interest
• Trump accelerates push to reward loyalty in federal workforce - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/06/16/trump-civil-service-loyalty-firings
• Trump’s Cuts to N.I.H. Grants Focused on Minority Groups Are Illegal, Judge Rules - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/us/politics/trump-nih-grants-cut.html
• VA hospitals remove politics and marital status from guidelines protecting patients from discrimination - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/16/va-doctors-refuse-treat-patients

June 17

• Trump administration demands action from 36 countries to avoid travel ban - https://apnews.com/article/travel-ban-trump-vetting-state-department-28d434519562ecb245df4101ccdb1ff2

June 18

• Judge says government can’t limit passport sex markers for many transgender, nonbinary people - https://apnews.com/article/transgender-passports-nonbinary-trump-policy-e5d13b6064c06619c654896fc0305983
• Supreme Court’s Ruling on Transgender Care Shields Over 20 Laws in Similar States - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/18/us/politics/supreme-court-tennessee-transgender-care-minors.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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