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.

Patriotic Millionaires

With Morris Pearl, chair  

• Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/H9I6Owv5qozYEs5gFADHSJlvZW7NCxDpDHw0xTRxLr9cgWnf95ycmeND8CMf85pa6s1zUrQoH3dNPpuO.Li9RvZamASV_6eBH
• Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/lvcEFic8p_Ts5oUpsTbnM3hb1PpE1et1Qpa6gQguh7J69QpsuV31lQWobCl1mdPZybS8kLf67iLjixXT.CraoNdQumKtaY5jO
• Chat file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/NdzydGLc_XX-xek9n7Juq0c_8tunOd0gOaOWbmNpGRhbdlPjpSBwKqRvoLYDDd7WS72Oc5oZNgmHrV2P.9b4xuWL0ry3B2Ckc
• Closed Caption file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/DH4F1gACPT9BQHfESSJ-A9RNUSNOixY6FJLk-t9d3Cz5a343_KKtfseBaEchy78Q886jqxWXuCKkCnZB.GQ87hh8_RJYwNiqW

Meeting resources

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 29 – Media Literacy Week Panel Discussion with moderator, Di Zhang
• Nov 5 – The Medium is the Mirror: The Reformation Over Truth Reshaping Our Politics, Relationships and Sacred Beliefs with author Tim Love
• 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 – Respect Missouri Voters with Benjamin Singer, Co-Founder & Campaign Director
• Nov 26 – NO Democracy Happy Hour – Happy Thanksgiving!
• Dec 03 –  Majority Rules 101: Introduction to Electoral Reform, Film & Discussion

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, Stand Up for Justice!  https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stand-up-for-justice/

Events

• Oct 25: Stand Up for Democracy! Fix Democracy First Awards Dinner & Celebration - Seattle @ 5 pm – Get your tickets here: https://fixdemocracyfirst.salsalabs.org/awards-dinner-2025
• Oct 26: Timothy Snyder at 7:30 pm, Benaroya Hall in Seattle - https://lectures.org/event/timothy-snyder/

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 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

October 2025

October 09

• Trump’s Orders Targeting Anti-Fascism Aim to Criminalize Opposition - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/trumps-orders-targeting-antifascism-aim-criminalize-opposition

October 10

• Supporters are way ahead in fundraising for Newsom’s Prop. 50, but the race remains close - https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/10/proposition-50-spending/
• The Anti-Corruption Tracker: Mapping the Erosion of Oversight and Accountability - https://www.justsecurity.org/117267/anti-corruption-tracker/

October 15

• Could a Supreme Court Ruling on Election Maps Affect the Midterms? Timing Matters. - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/us/politics/voting-rights-midterms.html
• Court appears ready to curtail major provision of the Voting Rights Act - https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/10/court-appears-ready-to-curtail-major-provision-of-the-voting-rights-act/
• Journalists turn in access badges, exit Pentagon rather than agree to new reporting rules - https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-press-access-hegseth-trump-restrictions-5d9c2a63e4e03b91fc1546bb09ffbf12
• Missouri SOS approve language for redistricting petition, throws out collected signatures - https://krcgtv.com/news/local/missouri-sos-approve-language-for-redistricting-vote-throws-out-collected-signatures
• San Francisco opposes ‘authoritarian crackdown’ as Trump threatens to send troops - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/15/san-francisco-trump-national-guard-troops
• The Supreme Court Case That Could Hand the House to Republicans - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/upshot/supreme-court-voting-rights-gerrymander.html

October 16

• John Bolton Indicted Over Handling of Classified Information - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/us/politics/john-bolton-indictment-trump.html
• Judges admonish Trump administration, hand it legal setbacks in Chicago cases - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/16/illinois-chicago-national-guard-troops-trump/
• North Carolina Elections Chief Demands Voters’ Full Social Security Numbers From DMV - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/north-carolina-elections-chief-demands-voters-full-social-security-numbers-from-dmv/
• NY’s highest court upholds Even Year Election Law that Onondaga County fought - https://www.syracuse.com/news/2025/10/nys-highest-court-upholds-even-year-election-law-that-onondaga-county-fought.html
• States are redistricting to help one party but sometimes the move can backfire - https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-gerrymandering-dummymandering-885d3af597621322b10d889fb9a81f96
• Supreme Court backs Fontes on election rulebook creation process, handing defeat to Republicans - https://azmirror.com/briefs/supreme-court-backs-fontes-on-election-rulebook-creation-process-handing-defeat-to-republicans/

October 17

• Ballot proposals advance, aiming to get ‘dark money’ out of politics - https://news.jrn.msu.edu/2025/10/ballot-proposals-advance-aiming-to-get-dark-money-out-of-politics/
• Bolton Pleads Not Guilty to Charges of Mishandling Classified Documents - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/us/politics/bolton-pleads-not-guilty.html
• Democrats eye Maryland and Illinois as Republicans press forward with redistricting push - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/democrats-maryland-illinois-republicans-press-forward-redistricting-rcna237296
• George Santos released from prison after Trump commutes sentence - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/17/trump-clemency-george-santos
• ICE amps up its surveillance powers, targeting immigrants and antifa - https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/10/17/ice-surveillance-immigrants-antifa
• Landmark report on proportional representation, news at the Supreme Court, and RCV elections - https://fairvote.org/landmark-report-on-proportional-representation-news-at-the-supreme-court-and-rcv-elections/
• Supreme Court announces it will hear several major cases in December - https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/10/supreme-court-announces-it-will-hear-several-major-cases-in-december/
• Trump administration asks Supreme Court to let it deploy troops in Illinois - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/17/supreme-court-trump-illinois-/
• Trump Pushes Indiana Lawmakers to Redraw State Maps - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/us/politics/trump-indiana-senate-state-maps.html
• White House Says Supreme Court Ruling Could Give Them Up to 20 More Seats - https://www.newsweek.com/white-house-supreme-court-more-seats-10894478

October 18

• ‘No More Trump!’: Protesters Denouncing the President Unite Across the Country - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/us/protests-trump-no-kings.html
• These voters want to overturn Missouri's new gerrymandered congressional map - https://www.npr.org/2025/10/18/nx-s1-5558173/redistricting-gerrymandering-missouri-ballot-texas

October 20

• Comey lawyers move to dismiss case, first battle in the prosecution - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/10/20/comey-prosecution-trump-vindictive/
• Supreme Court urged to leave ruling in place preventing Trump from deploying National Guard in Illinois - https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/10/supreme-court-urged-to-leave-ruling-in-place-preventing-trump-from-deploying-national-guard-in-illinois/
• Trump can deploy National Guard troops to Portland, appeals court says - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/20/portland-national-guard-troops-court-trump
• White House hits roadblock in effort to get top colleges to agree to deal - https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/10/20/trump-administration-college-compact/

October 21

• Ohio congressional redistricting moves into phase two - https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/ohio/ohio-congressional-redistricting-moves-phase-two/530-8fc3f9aa-94be-43d3-8a4c-b36e96a008bd
• Shutdown With No Clear End Poses New Economic Threat - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/business/economy/government-shutdown-economic-effects.html
• Small businesses and states ask court to uphold orders striking down Trump’s tariffs - https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/10/small-businesses-and-states-urge-court-to-strike-down-trumps-tariffs/

October 22

• Indiana Republicans don’t have votes to back Trump’s redistricting, Senate leader spox says - https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/22/indiana-redistricting-trump-senate-00618155
• North Carolina adopts new Trump-backed US House districts aimed at gaining a Republican seat - https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-congress-redistricting-trump-5dccfdf94253efb56c59bbb3d3e3a6d8
• Pentagon announces a new right-wing press corps after mass walkout - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/10/22/pentagon-press-corps-right-wing-media
• Trump Administration Live Updates: White House Changes Course and Will Demolish Entire East Wing - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10/22/us/trump-news
• Trump has spent 700 percent more on deadly weapons for ICE this year - but agency still claims they can’t afford bodycams - https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/ice-weapons-spending-increase-trump-b2849388.html
• Trump says he has final say on paying himself $230m for past investigations -  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/22/donald-trump-damages-federal-investigations

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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