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.

The New Strategy That Will Undo Citizens United

With Tom Moore, Senior Fellow for Democracy Policy, Center for American Progress

• Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/yBcTf5Z9VXHwQQyicp-jnyH222P8hNl07gmnMLe-5ANStDWXsjGQKWGuVpfIOr1UBG6_xU1HouQdQSrB.vxWwS3Ntinz5fmtJ
• Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/O1bKtIu3CaamGlRI9CFDKnAVjvxmsQNMMvNBRDUFa6tw3e_iD9QGytoV9DM43evDIzhDp-KgHu6WyJHY._ieMAX_WH3PrJFt9
• Chat file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/FwSHxJK6QXl4gFiEL65I5F5T2hjouXEtqai7AkVL-JQFi9Bszn-7wj89-vKtiA_XK4mhzANvnG0GkGgT.zdJQG81YdReA6ls3
• Closed Caption file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/SejHNYh2A793XR2_KpNERvQLGiNagYryH_Zg-tkTbDrcmVpVd9hPR3ST1BvkeYfqNvVKcKg22Wm4XUAx.geKJDG6jcTmpQG-B

Meeting resources

• The Corporate Power Reset That Makes Citizens United Irrelevant - https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-corporate-power-reset-that-makes-citizens-united-irrelevant/
• Introducing CAP’s Plan to Beat Citizens United - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-ZlQ-iOgXI
• Corporate Power Reset: https://www.americanprogress.org/events/undoing-citizens-united-and-reining-in-super-pacs/
• Undoing Citizens United with The Montana Plan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18QxU7m5NxE&t=2s
  
• The Montana Plan - https://transparentelection.org/
• Undoing Citizens United and Reining In Super PACs - https://www.americanprogress.org/article/undoing-citizens-united-and-reining-in-super-pacs/
• Center for American Progress - https://www.americanprogress.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

Stand Up for Democracy! Fix Democracy First Awards Dinner & Celebration

• Seattle – Oct 25^th@ 5 pm – Get your tickets here: https://fixdemocracyfirst.salsalabs.org/awards-dinner-2025
• Enter to win TWO FREE Tickets to Awards Dinner 2025 here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/fix-democracy-first-raffle-for-free-tickets-to-awards-dinner--2025

Democracy Happy Hour Upcoming Topics/Schedule

• Oct 22 – Patriotic Millionaires with Chair, Morris Pearl
• Oct 29 – Media Literacy Week Panel Discussion with moderator, Di Zhang
• Nov 5 – Film & Discussion - Majority Rules 101: Introduction to Electoral Reform
• Nov 12 – Why Democracy is Either Expanding or Shrinking: Examples of the Ongoing Changes to Sustain our Republic with Rob Richie, Expand Democracy President & Founder & Eveline Dowling, Senior Fellow and Research Analyst
• Nov 19 – Film & Discussion: Majority Rules 101
• Nov 26 – NO Democracy Happy Hour – Happy Thanksgiving!

Actions and events

Actions

• Decline to Sign Initiative Measure IL26-126 – This would require all voters to have an enhanced drivers’ license or provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person. Voters who fail to do so would see their registration canceled. - https://lwvwa.org/IL26-126
• Impeach Trump. Again. https://www.impeachtrumpagain.org/.  Sign the Petition: https://www.impeachtrumpagain.org/#action
• Petition of America First Legal Foundation for Rulemaking - Submit Commits by October 20, 2025 – The America First Legal Foundation is asking the Election Assistance Commission to amend EAC Regulations and the National Mail Voter Registration Form to require documentary proof of United States citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. Please submit comments against.
  • Petition info: https://www.regulations.gov/document/EAC-2025-0236-0001
  • Comment here: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/EAC-2025-0236-0001
• Petition, Stand Up for Justice!  https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stand-up-for-justice/

Events

• NO KINGS National Day of Action, Saturday, October 18th - https://www.nokings.org/?SQF_SOURCE=fixdemocracyfirst
• Stand Up for Democracy! Fix Democracy First Awards Dinner & Celebration - Seattle – Oct 25^th@ 5 pm – Get your tickets here: https://fixdemocracyfirst.salsalabs.org/awards-dinner-2025

Democracy in the News

Resources

• 2025-2026 SCOTUS Term - https://www.oyez.org/cases/2025
• The Anti-Corruption Tracker: Mapping the Erosion of Oversight and Accountability - https://www.justsecurity.org/117267/anti-corruption-tracker/
• 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
• 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: 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

October 2025

October 01

• Lawmakers Across the Country This Year Blocked Ethics Reforms Meant to Increase Public Trust - https://www.propublica.org/article/ethics-reform-legislation-blocked-statehouses

October 02

• Citizens United and the Decline of US Democracy: Assessing the Decision’s Impact 15 Years Later - https://rooseveltinstitute.org/publications/citizens-united-15-years-later/
• Trump asks 9 colleges to commit to his political agenda and get favorable access to federal money - https://apnews.com/article/trump-political-agenda-colleges-federal-money-756407729a3b16c7bb51564d5056084c

October 03

• California's Proposition 50 faces potential legal battles if voters approve redistricting measure - https://www.10news.com/americavotes/californias-proposition-50-faces-potential-legal-battles-if-voters-approve-redistricting-measure
• Colleges weigh whether to sign on to Trump plan or forgo federal benefits - https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/10/03/trump-administration-college-funding-compact
• Texas redistricting lawsuit continues as experts testify on minority representation - https://cbs4local.com/newsletter-daily/texas-redistricting-lawsuit-continues-as-experts-testify-on-minority-representation

October 04

• Texas Gerrymander Was Drawn ‘Focusing on Race,’ Expert Tells Court - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/texas-gerrymander-was-drawn-focusing-on-race-expert-tells-court/
• The Federal Election Commission is down to 2 members. So its work is at a standstill - https://www.npr.org/2025/10/04/nx-s1-5559763/fec-no-quorum-campaign-finance
• Trump Seizes On Shutdown to Punish Political Foes - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/04/us/politics/trump-shutdown-punish-foes.html

October 05

• Poll: 82% of Americans Want Redistricting Done by Independent Commission, Not Politicians -  https://thefulcrum.us/governance-legislation/americans-want-redistricting-done-independent-commission-not-politicians
• Pritzker Says Federal Agents Are Trying to Make Chicago a ‘War Zone’ - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/05/us/politics/pritzker-chicago-immigration.html
• Supreme Court term begins with cases on voting rights, tariffs and conversion therapy - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/supreme-court-term-begins-with-cases-on-voting-rights-tariffs-and-conversion-therapy

October 06

• Legislature passes new map in Utah, creating 2 more competitive seats - https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/06/utah-new-map-redistricting-00595076
• More states are moving to redraw US House districts after Trump urged it for partisan gain - https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-gerrymandering-congress-trump-0af8561b1670032fae3e1d2aec7905f0
• National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/national-republican-senatorial-committee-v-federal-election-commission
• Supreme Court Returns to Face Trump Tests of Presidential Power - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/us/politics/supreme-court-presidential-power.html
• Trump’s use of Guard may have lasting impact on cities and troops - https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/10/06/national-guard-deployment-chicago-portland-trump
• Voting underway in California on new maps that could swing House control - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/voting-underway-in-california-on-new-maps-that-could-swing-house-control
• Wisconsin must verify citizenship of registered voters and new applicants, judge rules - https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/10/06/wisconsin-must-verify-citizenship-of-registered-voters-and-new-applicants-judge-rules/

October 07

• Constitutional amendment would protect ballot initiatives - https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/constitutional-amendment-would-protect-ballot-initiatives
• Critics Push Back Against Washington Initiative Requiring Citizenship Documents for Voter Eligibility - https://www.dailyfly.com/2025/10/07/critics-push-back-against-washington-initiative-requiring-citizenship-documents-for-voter-eligibility/
• Supreme Court’s conservative majority prepared to rule against conversion therapy ban - https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/07/politics/supreme-court-conversion-therapy-lgbtq-oral-arguments
• Trump keeps talking about the Insurrection Act. What is it? - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/07/trump-insurrection-act-posse-comitatus
• Utah Map ‘Unduly Favors Republicans,’ Claims New Filing Challenging GOP’s Two-Pronged Gerrymander Scheme - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/utah-map-unduly-favors-republicans-claims-new-filing-challenging-gops-two-pronged-gerrymander-scheme/

October 08

• Comey Pleads Not Guilty and Will Seek to Dismiss Charges as Vindictive - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10/08/us/james-comey-arraignment-fbi
• Justices Appear Open to Challenge of Mail-In Ballot Rules by Illinois Politician - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/us/politics/supreme-court-mail-ballots-illinois.html
• Republicans could draw 19 more House seats after an upcoming Supreme Court ruling - https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/08/republicans-scotus-vra-00597212

October 09

• Former GOP election official buys Dominion Voting Systems, says he’ll push for paper ballots - https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/09/politics/dominion-voting-systems-bought-election-ballots
• Money in Politics Roundup — October 2025 - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/money-politics-roundup-october-2025
• NY Attorney General Letitia James Indicted After Trump’s Pressure Campaign - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10/09/us/trump-news#letitia-james-indicted-trump
• Nearly half of FBI agents in major offices reassigned to immigration enforcement - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/09/fbi-agents-reassigned-ice-immigration
• Texas National Guard troops are active in Chicago area, military says - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/09/trump-national-guard-chicago-texas-troops
• Trump's use of National Guard strays from role as 'minutemen,' military experts say - https://www.npr.org/2025/10/09/nx-s1-5561991/national-guard-trump-washington-chicago-memphis-oregon

October 10

• As Trump Targets Portland, a New Report Shows How the City Became a Model for Women’s Representation - https://msmagazine.com/2025/10/10/portland-women-city-council-politics-national-guard-trump/
• M.I.T. Rejects a White House Offer for Special Funding Treatment - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/us/mit-rejects-white-house-compact.html

October 11

• Appeals Court Allows Federalized National Guard, but Retains Block on Chicago Deployment - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/us/national-guard-chicago.html
• Federal Judges, Warning of ‘Judicial Crisis,’ Fault Supreme Court’s Emergency Orders - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/us/politics/judicial-crisis-supreme-court-trump.html

October 13

• Forecasting suggests the Republicans will lose 28 seats and the House in the 2026 midterm elections - https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2025/10/13/forecasting-suggests-the-republicans-will-lose-28-seats-and-the-house-in-the-2026-midterm-elections/
• Government shutdown could be the longest ever, Speaker Johnson warns - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/10/13/government-shutdown-trump-obamacare-republicans-democrats/5d7d47f8-a854-11f0-a2bc-82cf6840599d_story.html
• North Carolina Republicans plan to redraw state’s congressional districts - https://ncnewsline.com/2025/10/13/north-carolina-republicans-plan-to-redraw-states-congressional-districts/

October 14

• Hegseth changes Pentagon press policy: 5 takeaways - https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5555797-media-outlets-decline-pentagon-policy/
• Media including Fox News overwhelmingly reject Pentagon press policy - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/10/14/fox-news-among-broadcasters-refusing-sign-pentagon-press-pledge
• Utah Attorney General backs GOP initiative to repeal redistricting laws - https://www.deseret.com/politics/2025/10/14/utah-republicans-file-petition-for-ballot-initiative-to-repeal-redistricting-laws/

October 15

• Judge orders Trump administration to pause shutdown layoffs - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/15/trump-administration-shutdown-layoffs
• Supreme Court Appears Poised to Weaken Voting Rights Act - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10/15/us/supreme-court-voting-rights
• Trump Considers Overhaul of Refugee System That Would Favor White People - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/us/politics/trump-refugee-white-people.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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