Democracy Happy Hour – August 11, 2021

Below are the links to the recordings, chat, articles shared, upcoming actions/events, etc. from our August 11, 2021 Democracy Happy Hour. We covered democracy in the news and The Rise of Authoritarianism.

I was asked to share the video of my recent testimony before the WA State Redistricting Commision on July 31st for CD 7 & 9. Here's the link to the recording. My testimony begins around 13:45 in: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2021071015

Also, here's info on the event Keitha mentioned with the LWV of Thurston County on August 26th @ 5:30-7 pm - Summer Meet & Greet w/ Mary Ziegert - https://www.lwvthurston.org/summer_time_meet_greet

Upcoming topics:‍

• 08/18/21 – Modernization and Democracy
• 08/25/21 – Social Media's Impact on Democracy

Meeting Recording

• Speaker View Recording:  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/UZV7dXdFa9tf7E4eZ98ZAg4K_ntbpRkbeYJ1rammxnHvKLJstLbxS9GnFkw3aKrc_ll4RcI40lHONtI.ncTnTFQAJN8BKlOy

• Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/hkKFMLrkcTXwO3m-tqBv09vpp-p38iau_CA4_P-4qt7KglG-rXVXuChVfjO-13Sv2escnrVUUuARHH8k.cmpWhOANaJJLWLEx

• Chat (Link will download a text file to your computer):  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/cvsTyrqqlLxJUN0c4_Sw_OnAqGeD5z0o9oDY1jKasZDa4s_f8pX3E1rmhf1YL-athoiZXXmJumwO3Wg.RWxoTNKMoGKhMXme

Actions, Events & Misc. Links:

‍#ForThePeopleAct ACTIONS:'

• Call your Senator to support For the People Act & John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act@ 1.888.453.3211
• Call the White House @ 202-456-1111 and tell @POTUS that the Senate must pass the #ForThePeopleAct & we need @POTUS to use every lever of power and influence at his disposal to get it done.
• ‍Declaration for American Democracy Take Action page - https://dfadcoalition.org/takeaction/

S1 PHONE BANKING & TEXTING:

• Common Cause - ongoing phonebanks to key states -https://www.mobilize.us/commoncause/event/376178/
• RepresentUs National Phonebank on August 12th @ 2:30-5 pm PT - https://vol.represent.us/a/pb_081221
• Fair Fight Hot Call Summer - https://www.stopjimcrow2.com/
• Common Power - Advocacy page - https://commonpower.org/advocacy‍

‍Letter To the Editor DRIVE - Use this LTE tool to submit a letter to their local newspapers. - https://dfadcoalition.org/lte/

o   Sign Petition - https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-the-petition-to-the-us-senate-eliminate-the-filibuster-in-order-to-protect-our-freedom-to-vote?source=direct_link&referrer=group-fixdemocracyfirst

March On For Voting Rights – August 28th - Main Page - https://marchonforvotingrights.org/?source=fixdemocracyfirst&referrer=group-fixdemocracyfirst

o   March On For Voting Rights - WA State Virtual March - August 28th @ 12 pm PT - Register @ https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4VueHrT5RNaIlq3qGBNrgw

“Democracy Vouchers: How bringing money into politics can drive money out of politics” with author Tom Latkowski - September 9th @ 6 pm

o   Register @ https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pH0LBbJmSGW4cdcZsRkdow

o   Donate $35 or more & receive a FREE copy of “Democracy Vouchers” - https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/donate/book-fundraiser

WA Redistricting Links:

o   Redistricting Justice for WA - https://www.redistrictingjusticewa.org/

o   WA State Redistricting Commission - https://www.redistricting.wa.gov

‍

Democracy in the News Links:

What’s in the new infrastructure bill — and why it’s a big deal - https://www.vox.com/22598883/infrastructure-deal-bipartisan-bill-biden-manchin

Senate Democrats adopt sweeping $3.5 trillion budget that opens the door to health, education and tax reforms - https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/08/11/senate-democrats-budget-reconciliation/

Key Democrats say the price tag on the $3.5 trillion budget blueprint is too high. - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/11/us/politics/key-democrats-say-the-price-tag-on-the-3-5-trillion-budget-blueprint-is-too-high.html

Schumer sets September voting rights fight after GOP blocks quick debate - https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/567290-schumer-sets-september-voting-rights-fight-after-gop-blocks-quick-debate?rl=1

Dems renew push on elections bill that GOP vows to block - https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-elections-senate-elections-bills-d417ab8e6db2726eb79a8f2ce28baeca

Not patriots, not political prisoners — U.S. judges slam Capitol riot defendants at sentencing - https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/capitol-riot-political-prisoners/2021/08/04/9b6adb84-f54d-11eb-9068-bf463c8c74de_story.html

Puyallup man pleads guilty to assaulting officers in Jan. 6 attack at U.S. Capitol - https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/crime/article253320548.html

Capitol riot: Off-duty Seattle police officers fired over assault - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58088868

Washington Supreme Court to hear case about Seattle officers who attended D.C. rally before U.S. Capitol attack - https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/washington-supreme-court-to-hear-case-about-seattle-officers-who-attended-d-c-rally-before-u-s-capitol-attack/

Senate Judiciary interviewing former DOJ officials about Trump post-election efforts - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/senate-judiciary-interviewing-former-doj-officials-trump-post-election-efforts-n1276303

An acting attorney general under Trump testified for 7 hours on the then-president's efforts to overturn the election, Sen. Dick Durbin says - https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-rosen-testified-7-hours-trump-overturn-election-efforts-durbin-2021-8

Committee investigating Capitol insurrection has a lot of power, but can it force Trump to testify? - https://thefulcrum.us/insurrection-committee

The Arizona “audit” finally seems to be wrapping up. Prepare for a blizzard of disinformation. - https://www.vox.com/22609910/maricopa-county-2020-election-audit-final-report-preview

Trump allies’ lingering election ‘audits’ spark public skepticism, concerns in Congress - https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2021/08/10/trump-allies-lingering-election-audits-spark-public-skepticism-concerns-in-congress/

Abbott Sets Up New Voting Showdown With Absentee Texas Democrats - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/05/us/politics/greg-abbott-texas-voting-rights.html

Texas Supreme Court halts ruling that protected Democrats from arrest in voting rights standoff - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/09/texas-democrats-arrest-judge-voting-restrictions/

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan signs 52 arrest warrants for absent Democrats in bid to end chamber’s weekslong stalemate - https://www.texastribune.org/2021/08/10/texas-house-arrest-warrants-democrats-quorum/

Georgia Republicans didn’t waste any time in using their new voter suppression law - https://www.vox.com/22607616/georgia-republicans-fulton-county-atlanta-voter-suppression-sb202-jim-crow

Republicans Threaten Voter Registration Volunteers With Crimes - https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2021/08/11/republicans-threaten-voter-registration-volunteers-with-crimes

56 years after the Voting Rights Act of 1965, lawmakers struggle to find common ground - https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/06/politics/voting-rights-act-anniversary/index.html

Dems document U.S. history of discrimination in shaping John Lewis voting rights bill - https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/dems-document-u-s-history-of-discrimination-in-shaping-john-lewis-voting-rights-bill/

REPORT ON Voting in America: Ensuring Free and Fair Access to the Ballot - https://cha.house.gov/sites/democrats.cha.house.gov/files/2021_Voting%20in%20America_v5_web.pdf

Fixing the Senate Filibuster - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/fixing-senate-filibuster

CLC Report Grades Changes To Voting Laws During States’ 2021 Legislative Sessions - https://campaignlegal.org/update/clc-report-grades-changes-voting-laws-during-states-2021-legislative-sessions

NAACP launches national campaign in latest strategy to combat widespread voter suppression efforts - https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/09/us/naacp-voter-campaign/index.html

Large Racial Turnout Gap Persisted in 2020 Election - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/large-racial-turnout-gap-persisted-2020-election

Sen. Ossoff Introduces Bill Establishing First-Ever Statutory Federal Right to Vote - https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-introduces-bill-establishing-first-ever-statutory-federal-right-to-vote/

Klobuchar, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Prevent Election Subversion, Protect Election Administrators - https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=31A846A9-D599-483B-8C51-CA8B6DDEA042

A Session Like No Other: An Overview of 2021’s Unprecedented Wave of State Preemption Bills - https://www.supportdemocracy.org/the-latest/a-session-like-no-other-an-overview-of-2021s-unprecedented-wave-of-state-preemption-bills

'Dark Money' Is Funding The 2020 Election Challenge — And Could Challenge 2024 - https://www.npr.org/2021/08/05/1024741930/jane-mayer-dark-money-challenge-to-the-election-results

Washington’s hottest club is Joe Manchin’s houseboat - https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/joe-manchin-boat/2021/08/05/a3575508-f5e7-11eb-a49b-d96f2dac0942_story.html

Follow the money: Understanding the deep roots of Donald Trump's coup attempt - https://www.salon.com/2021/08/10/follow-the-money-understanding-the-deep-roots-of-donald-trumps-coup-attempt/

The Big Money Behind the Big Lie - https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/09/the-big-money-behind-the-big-lie

Trump’s stolen election racket is working extremely well — even here in Washington state - https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/trumps-stolen-election-racket-is-working-extremely-well-even-here-in-washington-state/

GOP Cash Machine’s Behavior Is ‘Nothing Short of Scandalous’ - https://www.thedailybeast.com/gop-cash-machines-behavior-is-nothing-short-of-scandalous

How to loosen the hold rich people have on our elections - https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/07/opinions/rich-people-influence-on-elections-aftergut-wertheimer/index.html

Racial Justice Advocates Provide Essential Leadership in Pioneering Seattle Democracy Vouchers Victory - https://www.demos.org/research/racial-justice-advocates-provide-essential-leadership-pioneering-seattle-democracy

The Upcoming Census Redistricting Data Release, Explained - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/upcoming-census-redistricting-data-release-explained

Gerrymandering Explained - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/gerrymandering-explained

Census data spurred GOP’s largest partisan edge in decades - https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-census-2020-redistricting-house-elections-04f3d29cbc4441705922dbc40ba61961

Supreme Court decision could set off gerrymandering 'arms race' - https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/566631-supreme-court-decision-could-set-off-gerrymandering-arms-race

Use these tools to uncover partisan gerrymandering - https://thefulcrum.us/redistricting/gerrymandering-tools

PlanScore - Score Electoral District Maps - https://planscore.org/#!2020-ushouse

RepresentUs ANTI-GERRYMANDERING RESOURCE HUB - https://represent.us/gerrymandering-resource-hub/?akid=146436.736736.HVGDxl&rd=1&t=9

Civic Illiteracy Fuels Misinformation - https://www.nationalcivicleague.org/civic-illiteracy-fuels-misinformation/

Comprehensive civics education should lead with equity - https://thefulcrum.us/civic-ed/comprehensive-civics-education

CivicGenius - https://www.ourcivicgenius.org/

The Civics Secures Democracy Act of 2021 - https://sites.google.com/icivics.org/supportcivics/summary

BILL - S.879 - Civics Secures Democracy Act - https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/879/text

The Rise of Authoritarianism Links:

Authoritarianism - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authoritarianism

Authoritarianism definition - https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/authoritarianism

Tyranny definition - https://www.dictionary.com/browse/tyranny

The History Of Authoritarianism And Its Modern-Day Connections - https://www.tpr.org/podcast/the-source/2020-12-13/the-history-of-authoritarianism-and-modern-day-connections

The rise of American authoritarianism - https://www.vox.com/2016/3/1/11127424/trump-authoritarianism

Democracy Challenged: The Rise of Authoritarianism in the United States - https://unewsonline.com/2021/02/democracy-challenged-the-rise-of-authoritarianism-in-the-united-states/

What’s Driving the Rise of Authoritarianism and Populism in Europe and Beyond? - https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/insights/27842/the-rise-of-authoritarianism-and-populism-europe-and-beyond

Why Is Authoritarianism On The Rise Worldwide? - Why Is Authoritarianism On The Rise Worldwide? - https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2021/04/rise-of-global-authoritarianism/

The real reason authoritarian populism is on the rise: it's simple - https://www.macleans.ca/culture/books/the-real-reason-authoritarian-populism-is-on-the-rise-its-simple/

Trump's coup came so close to working — do the American people even care? - https://www.salon.com/2021/08/04/trumps-coup-same-so-close-to-working--do-the-american-people-even-care/

Josh Hawley's Orwellian "Love America Act" and the fascist campaign to rewrite history - https://www.salon.com/2021/08/06/josh-hawleys-orwellian-love-america-act-and-the-fascist-campaign-to-rewrite-history/

Sen. Hawley Introduces Bill to Promote Patriotism, Love for Country, and Push Back on Critical Race Theory in Schools - https://www.hawley.senate.gov/sen-hawley-introduces-bill-promote-patriotism-love-country-and-push-back-critical-race-theory

TWENTY LESSONS ON FIGHTING TYRANNY FROM THE TWENTIETH CENTURY - https://scholars.org/contribution/twenty-lessons-fighting-tyranny-twentieth-century