Democracy Happy Hour – December 13, 2023

Democracy Happy Hour, Dec 13, 2023 - Meeting Recordings:

Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/ibyT5KDoAcV36sbCt4crhQDlRL-i_eKoQ85DZrZykwqBRm1wZk6cmYxfA2CiXRi6GacHjlw2CVfY6Yoc.qbiQk13A95RwXVXl

Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/KsAP6G-rN7rwpkJdjoixYvlwBA1csjq2-OnSyxc3H1FKAAQ3U9cjuzzx_xIqkA2OApCEzxtKZ04cpiMc.Xv64EtnUA_EO21f5

Chat file (will download directly to your computer):  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/O0KgiKLPmz9UIDNMoEqqh1enOjxUJyXkB3e_08eOnNzOj-ssGVWudbPqgoOKqpBDT0JjhvaYb6u_nJ42.dUJoSXQlMDc1QWVn

FDF Links:

Fix Democracy First - https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/

Fix Democracy First - Donate @ https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/donate

Democracy Happy Hour Upcoming Topics/Schedule:

Dec 20, 27 & Jan 3 - CANCELED - No Democracy Happy Hours - Happy Holidays!

Jan 10 – SPECIAL EVENT! Remembering January 6 on the 3rd Anniversary with Alan Jenkins, Harvard Law Professor & Author of 1/6: The Graphic Novel, plus other special guests! - https://www.mobilize.us/fixdemocracyfirst/event/594845/

Jan 17 – Legislative Updates & Open Discussion

Jan 24 –  CANCELED - No Democracy Happy Hour – Instead join us for a special program for Democracy Lobby Week with the League of Women Voters of WA - Elections: Achieving Better Representation in the 21st Century @ 6-8 pm – Register to sign up @ https://lwvwa.org/event-5475122

ACTIONS & EVENTS:

LWVWA & FDF Events:

Speak Up School - Jan 6, 2024 - https://lwvwa.org/event-5476547

ACT via Zoom – Mondays @ 10 am – Jan 8 – Mar 11, 2024 -  https://lwvwa.org/event-5491947

Democracy Lobby Week - Jan 22-26, 2024 - https://lwvwa.org/event-5475122

FairVote WA Events:

RCV Lobby Day with FairVote Washington – Jan 17, 2024 - https://www.mobilize.us/fairvotewa/event/589773/

Ask Me Anything (About Lobby Day) - https://www.mobilize.us/fairvotewa/event/594287/  

WA State Legislative Page Programs and Page School - https://leg.wa.gov/PageSchool/Pages/default.aspx

Universal Voting Links:

100% Democracy - https://100percentdemocracy.org/

100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting - https://thenewpress.com/books/100-democracy

WA State Universal Voting Bills: Establishing universal civic duty voting

SB 5209 - https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5209&Chamber=Senate&Year=2023

HB 1220 - https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1220&Year=2023

Is the US Ready for Universal Voting? - https://www.ncsl.org/state-legislatures-news/details/is-the-us-ready-for-universal-voting

WHAT IF EVERYONE HAD TO VOTE? - https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/the-fix-what-if-everyone-had-to-vote/

It’s Time for Universal Voting - https://prospect.org/politics/its-time-for-universal-voting/

Making a Case for Universal Civic Duty Voting - https://www.sir.advancedleadership.harvard.edu/articles/making-a-case-for-universal-civic-duty-voting

Universal Voting - https://www.brennancenter.org/events/universal-voting

Pros and cons of compulsory voting - https://theweek.com/law/pros-and-cons-of-compulsory-voting

Democracy in the News Links

Trump appeals Jan. 6 immunity ruling, launching process that may delay trial - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/12/07/trump-appeal-trial-immunity/

Special counsel Jack Smith asks the Supreme Court to rule quickly on whether Trump can be prosecuted - https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-prosecution-immunity-f3e7206bdf169c9faa15a19084541824

Supreme Court accepts Jan. 6 case that could affect or delay Trump trial - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/12/13/jan-6-obstruction-supreme-court-trump-rioters

Special counsel to disclose Trump’s phone data at election interference trial - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/11/donald-trump-2020-election-trial-tweets-phone-data

Appeals Court Upholds, but Narrows, Gag Order on Trump in Election Case - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/08/us/politics/trump-gag-order-election-case.html

How the 2016 election could factor into the case accusing Trump of trying to overturn the 2020 race - https://apnews.com/article/trump-jan-6-justice-department-3015ad1eeb2571ba3de432470c24b9f8

Supreme Court will hear a case that could undo Capitol riot charge against hundreds, including Trump - https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/supreme-court-will-hear-a-case-that-could-undo-capitol-riot-charge-against-hundreds-including-trump

Georgia prosecutors predict jail sentences in Trump 2020 election case - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/07/georgia-fani-willis-donald-trump-election-trial-prison-sentence

Georgia prosecutors put Mike Pence on their witness list in 2020 election subversion case against Trump - https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/06/politics/mike-pence-georgia-witness-list/index.html

‘Test case’ for America: Colorado’s top court poised to weigh Trump’s eligibility to run again - https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/06/colorado-supreme-court-trump-insurrection-00130271

Efforts to Keep Trump Off 2024 Ballot Move Through State Courts - https://statecourtreport.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/efforts-keep-trump-2024-ballot-move-through-state-courts

Why are the 14th Amendment lawsuits seeking to bar Trump failing? - https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/14th-amendment-lawsuits-seeking-bar-trump-failing/story?id=105391248

House Approves Biden Impeachment Inquiry as G.O.P. Hunts for an Offense - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/12/07/trump-appeal-trial-immunity/

Small segment of voters will wield outsize power in 2024 presidential race - https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/12/08/electoral-college-votes-swing-states-decline

Voting experts warn of ‘serious threats’ for 2024 from election equipment software breaches - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/voting-experts-warn-of-serious-threats-for-2024-from-election-equipment-software-breaches

Voter advocates, conservative activists brace for 2024 election showdowns - https://www.reuters.com/world/us/voter-advocates-conservative-activists-brace-2024-election-showdowns-2023-12-07/

Young People Are Fighting Back Against Voter ID Restrictions - https://www.forbes.com/sites/civicnation/2023/12/07/young-people-are-fighting-back-against-voter-id-restrictions/?sh=4a1dcc8e12b2

New legislation would allow incarcerated citizens to vote in elections - https://www.wrtv.com/new-legislation-would-allow-incarcerated-citizens-to-vote-in-elections

Colorado will expand automatic voter registration to tribes for the first time - https://www.ksut.org/news/2023-12-07/colorado-will-expand-automatic-voter-registration-to-tribes-for-the-first-time

Georgia redraws congressional map to expand Black voter power, but legal battle still looms - https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/georgia-redraws-congressional-map-expand-black-voter-power/story?id=105223482

Idaho Supreme Court considers challenge to student ID and voter registration laws - https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-supreme-court-considers-challenge-to-student-id-and-voter-registration-laws/article_12bda4ca-9883-11ee-8079-974129df2b03.html

In Louisiana redistricting case, U.S. government intervenes. See why. - https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/courts/doj-intervenes-in-louisiana-legislative-redistricting-case/article_9e8aa758-e898-5c44-b24f-16c739cfcfee.html

Republican Attorneys General Attack Voting Rights Act in Latest Amicus Brief - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/republican-attorneys-general-attack-voting-rights-act-in-latest-amicus-brief/

Voting rights groups push for answers from Mississippi election officials about ballot shortages - https://www.djournal.com/mbj/voting-rights-groups-push-for-answers-from-mississippi-election-officials-about-ballot-shortages/article_88f1ebd4-95c1-11ee-8742-5b52111805fe.html

Lawsuits filed to block Nevada redistricting ballot initiatives - https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/lawsuits-filed-to-block-nevada-redistricting-ballot-initiatives-2962331/

Top Court Clears Path for Democrats to Redraw House Map in New York - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/nyregion/new-york-redistricting-democrats.html

TN Supreme Court rules to block case on ‘unconstitutional’ senate redistricting - https://www.wsmv.com/2023/12/08/tn-supreme-court-rules-block-case-unconstitutional-senate-redistricting/

Supreme Court allows Texas county to use a map judges deemed a racial gerrymander - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-allows-texas-county-use-map-judges-deemed-racial-gerryma-rcna129385

WA GOP fights secretary of state’s effort to track election misinformation - https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/wa-gop-fights-secretary-of-states-effort-to-track-election-misinformation

Attacked by conservatives, UW misinformation researcher gears up for 2024 - https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/attacked-by-conservatives-uw-misinformation-researcher-gears-up-for-2024

Republican bill would abolish Wisconsin Elections Commission - https://www.wpr.org/republican-bill-would-abolish-wisconsin-elections-commission

GOP lawmakers introduce legislation proposing a constitutional amendment to ban ranked-choice voting - https://www.wkow.com/news/gop-lawmakers-introduce-legislation-proposing-a-constitutional-amendment-to-ban-ranked-choice-voting/article_a53b4328-93c6-11ee-8f6c-9fdc5d4803aa.html

Disability advocates breathe a sigh of relief at Supreme Court’s Acheson decision - https://19thnews.org/2023/12/supreme-court-acheson-laufer-decision-disability-advocates-react/

Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to ‘conversion therapy’ ban - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/12/11/supreme-court-conversion-therapy-washington

Supreme Court will decide access to key abortion drug mifepristone - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/12/13/abortion-drug-supreme-court-mifepristone-fda

Women Are Driving the Pressure For Supreme Court Reform - https://ballsandstrikes.org/ethics-accountability/supreme-court-reform-polling-women/

Not just the Supreme Court: Ethics troubles plague state high courts, too - https://publicintegrity.org/politics/high-courts-high-stakes/not-just-the-supreme-court-ethics-troubles-plague-state-high-courts-too/

U.S. political ad market projected to reach record $16 billion in 2024 - https://www.axios.com/2023/12/08/us-political-ad-market-2024-spending

Top firms rake in millions lobbying for foreign nations on US defense budget - https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2023/12/top-firms-rake-in-millions-lobbying-for-foreign-nations-on-us-defense-budget

Leaked document offers glimpse into how Amazon amasses influence - https://www.seattletimes.com/business/leaked-document-offers-glimpse-into-how-amazon-amasses-influence

ALEC Policy Summit Features Push to Legally Force a Constitutional Convention - https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2023/12/08/alec-policy-summit-features-push-to-legally-force-a-constitutional-convention/

Reversal of content policies at Alphabet, Meta and X threaten democracy, warn experts - https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/dec/07/2024-elections-social-media-content-safety-policies-moderation

Safeguards for Using Artificial Intelligence in Election Administration - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/safeguards-using-artificial-intelligence-election-administration

Local News Has Been Destroyed. Here’s How We Can Revive It. - https://www.thenation.com/article/society/local-news-revival-plan/

#CANCELSUPERPACS Contest Winners - https://cancelsuperpacs.com/winners

GOOD NEWS Websites:

Politics & Government Good News - https://www.goodgoodgood.co/impact/democracy

Good News Network - https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/

Sunny Skyz - https://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news

ABC Good News - https://abcnews.go.com/alerts/good-news

Daily Good - https://www.dailygood.org/

The Happy News - https://thehappynewspaper.com/