Democracy Happy Hour – December 8, 2021

Democracy Happy Hour, December 8, 2021 - Meeting Recordings, Chat & Closed Caption Files:

• Speaker View Recording:  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/gZTht5fGv9sFt5kW8jcjdmuiPvBI4OV65D_hxYx2er8mXjQgHZx_EB2ONPBbA191X8Bmb-gWydaG7PzJ.167JtZZorEVMVnEF

• Gallery View Recording:  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/mKm9U6alhjHZEVa0e6WtzgHaltUxdNoz50dc3RfjgKuam1uMSyIm7mcWIWdGOboKQ0QEzoH73V_Saxfr.-MHUFNEXtq5Hdjge

• Chat (Link will download a text file to your computer):  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/tHP38vvgA21Pz04y3vyES9hu37NREj12d0clA6h9tQL6FZyO_WZulkjICejC9zNk-lJvjtWL7Fz-LdYM.GWT4-M4wxhvLwhsS

• Closed Caption (Link will download a text file to your computer):  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/9ZGLlTBUSxNycska8VhanLco_1s3JyltsxiVReCY9iMpzP86AYi8g1irV78je4XQ4d5Y-NI8or-_Ncqe.r3MemWP99GjD5R4W

Actions, Events & Misc. Links:

DONATION Links:

• Fix Democracy First or Fix Democracy First Education Fund - https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/donate
• YO VOTE! - https://www.yo-vote.org/donate

Upcoming Democracy Happy Hour topics:

• Dec 15th – How Do We Win the Fight for Democracy?
• Dec 22nd – CANCELED for the Holidays
• Dec 29th – CANCELED for the Holidays
• Jan 5th – The January 6th Insurrection One Year Later

TAKE ACTION for Freedom to Vote Act & John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act:‍

• Declaration for American DemocracyTake Action Page - https://dfadcoalition.org/takeaction/‍
• Letters to the Editor Campaign - Use this LTE Tool: dfadcoalition.org/takeaction/#lte‍
• Senate Call-In & Email Blitz - Keep calling & recruit others to call!
• Call Your Senator (Patch Through #): 1.888.453.3211
• Sen Cantwell 206-220-6400; 202-224-3441 - Maria_Cantwell@cantwell.senate.gov‍
• Senator Murray (206) 553-5545; (202) 224-2621- senator@murray.senate.gov‍
• Senate Majority Leader Schumer (202) 224-6542 or use

Contact Form: https://www.schumer.senate.gov/contact/email-chuck

White House Call-In - 1.888.724.8746 (Tues-Thurs, 8am–12pm PT) or use Contact Form: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

Democracy White House Summit: Twitter Town Hall - Thursday, Dec. 9th @ 8-9 am PT

Hashtag: #FTVtownhall

Follow and share messages with this hashtag on Twitter!

Volunteer Phonebanks

Common Cause - https://www.mobilize.us/commoncause/event/376178/

Represent Us - https://vol.represent.us/a/events-calendar

Share on Social Media – Post on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok

Use these Hashtags: #RecessCanWait  #FreedomToVoteAct #JohnLewisVotingRightsAct  #RestoretheVRA

View Messaging & Social Media Graphics: HERE

Recruit Others to TAKE ACTION! - Talk to your Friends, Family, Neighbors, etc. and urge them to also take action

‍

The January 6th Insurrection One Year Later Links:

Voting Battles of 2022 Take Shape as G.O.P. Crafts New Election Bills - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/04/us/politics/gop-voting-rights-democrats.html

State Legislatures Are Still the Key to Trump’s Election-Coup Efforts - https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/12/legislatures-are-still-key-to-trumps-election-coup-efforts.html

Republicans Aim to Seize More Power Over How Elections Are Run - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/24/us/politics/republicans-election-laws.html

Trump allies work to place supporters in key election posts across the country, spurring fears about future vote challenges - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-allies-election-oversight/2021/11/28/3933b3ce-4227-11ec-9ea7-3eb2406a2e24_story.html

Trump allies are angling for election jobs up and down the ballot. That could have consequences in 2024 - https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/06/politics/trump-allies-local-elections/index.html

After attacks on the 2020 election, secretary of state races take on new urgency - https://www.npr.org/2021/11/04/1052211190/after-attacks-on-the-2020-election-secretary-of-state-races-take-on-new-urgency

Georgia GOP starts push for takeover of local election board - https://apnews.com/article/elections-georgia-local-elections-voting-rights-election-2020-d7d7dfffd60f3ce0a93f4c522c4d3370

There's a GOP push in Wisconsin to take over the state's election system - https://www.npr.org/2021/11/30/1058956195/republican-wisconsin-take-over-elections-ron-johnson

‘Not-so-secret weapon’: Critics warn Trump, GOP planning 2024 Electoral College heist - https://www.rollcall.com/2021/12/01/not-so-secret-weapon-critics-warn-trump-gop-planning-2024-electoral-college-heist/

Pro-Trump news site targets election workers, inspiring wave of menace - https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-election-threats-gatewaypundit/

This Republican Election Official Has a Dire Warning - https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kbbyg/this-republican-election-official-has-a-dire-warni

Colorado Secretary of State warns of 'slow motion' Jan. 6 happening now - https://www.reuters.com/world/us/colorado-secretary-state-warns-slow-motion-jan-6-happening-now-2021-12-01/

How the GOP Will Try To Subvert Our Elections - https://www.democracydocket.com/news/how-the-gop-will-try-to-subvert-our-elections/

INVESTIGATIONS INTO THREATS TO DEMOCRACY - https://www.americanoversight.org/areas_of_investigation/threats-to-democracy

INVESTIGATIONS INTO VOTING RIGHTS - https://www.americanoversight.org/areas_of_investigation/voting-rights-investigations

Report Recommends Election Officials Take Steps to Combat Misinformation - https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2021/12/report-recommends-election-officials-take-steps-combat-misinformation

How Can Governments Restore Public Trust in Elections? - https://www.governing.com/now/how-can-government-restore-public-trust-in-elections

The Election Sabotage Scheme and How Congress Can Stop It - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/election-sabotage-scheme-and-how-congress-can-stop-it

Democracy in the News Links:

House Jan. 6 committee votes to hold former Trump DOJ official in criminal contempt - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clark-january-6-contempt/2021/12/01/dbb142de-52ca-11ec-9267-17ae3bde2f26_story.html

Jan. 6 committee says it will move to hold former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows in criminal contempt - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/meadows-january-6-contempt/2021/12/08/91b12794-5838-11ec-929e-95502bf8cdd5_story.html

Top Pence aide cooperating with January 6 committee - https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/06/politics/marc-short-pence-aide-january-6-committee/index.html

'Absolute liars': Ex-D.C. Guard official says generals lied to Congress about Jan. 6 - https://www.politico.com/news/2021/12/06/jan-6-generals-lied-ex-dc-guard-official-523777

'In vivid color': Liz Cheney says weeks of Jan. 6 hearings are coming - https://news.yahoo.com/in-vivid-color-liz-cheney-says-weeks-of-jan-6-hearings-are-coming-180614071.html

Pro-Trump lawyers ordered to pay $175,000 for 'frivolous' election lawsuit - https://www.reuters.com/world/us/pro-trump-lawyers-ordered-pay-175000-frivolous-election-lawsuit-2021-12-02/

Wisconsin mayors targeted amid GOP-ordered election probe - https://www.wjfw.com/storydetails/20211201153129/wisconsin_mayors_targeted_amid_gopordered_election_probe

Tennessee lawmaker calls for investigation, audit of 2020 election for President - https://fox17.com/news/local/tennessee-lawmaker-calls-for-investigation-audit-of-2020-election-for-president-donald-trump-joe-biden-politics-republican-democrat

Texas’ controversial voting law goes into effect - https://www.kut.org/texas/2021-12-02/texas-controversial-voting-law-goes-into-effect

Department of Justice files ‘statement of interest’ in Florida voting law case - https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/department-of-justice-files-statement-of-interest-in-florida-voting-law-case/

Republican Voter Suppression Efforts Could Alienate Young Republican Voters - https://www.teenvogue.com/story/republican-voter-suppression-young-people

‘Time is running out’: can Congress pass a voting rights bill after months of failure? -https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/06/voting-rights-biden-democrats-voting-rights-legislation

Voting rights advocates frustrated by ‘same-old, same-old’ meeting with White House - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/03/voting-rights-advocates-frustrated-meeting-white-house

Arizona Students Launch Hunger Strike to Pass Voting Rights Bill - https://readsludge.com/2021/12/07/arizona-students-launch-hunger-strike-to-pass-voting-rights-bill/

200+ Groups Call on Senate to Delay Recess to Pass Voting Rights - https://civilrights.org/2021/12/02/200-groups-call-on-senate-to-delay-recess-to-pass-voting-rights/

Chuck Schumer’s Daunting Quest to “Restore the Senate” - https://newrepublic.com/article/164582/schumer-restore-senate-voting-rights

Senate Dems launch last-ditch effort to change the rules of the chamber - https://www.politico.com/news/2021/12/08/biden-filibuster-voting-rights-senate-523917

The Summit for Democracy - https://www.state.gov/summit-for-democracy/

FACT SHEET: The Biden-⁠Harris Administration is Taking Action to Restore and Strengthen American Democracy - https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/08/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administration-is-taking-action-to-restore-and-strengthen-american-democracy/

US voting rights in spotlight ahead of Biden’s ‘Democracy Summit’ - https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/7/spotlight-on-us-voting-rights-ahead-of-biden-democracy-summit

U.S. should be attending, not hosting, a democracy summit - https://thefulcrum.us/big-picture/Leadership/summit-for-democracy

Vote Your Voice Expands: SPLC pledges $100 million to support voter engagement and pro-democracy groups in Deep South through 2032 - https://www.splcenter.org/news/2021/12/06/vote-your-voice-expands-splc-pledges-100-million-support-voter-engagement-and-pro-democracy

WA Supreme Court decides not to get involved in redistricting - https://crosscut.com/politics/2021/12/wa-supreme-court-decides-not-get-involved-redistricting

Washington State Redistricting Plan - https://www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts/SupremeCourt/?fa=supremecourt.redistricting

Critics call for reform of WA redistricting process after commission failure - https://crosscut.com/politics/2021/11/critics-call-reform-wa-redistricting-process-after-commission-failure

Justice Dept. Files Voting Rights Suit Against Texas Over New Map - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/06/us/politics/texas-voting-rights-redistricting.html

Redistricting Makes California a Top House Battlefield for 2022 - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/07/us/politics/california-redistricting-midterms.html

Federal lawsuit accuses discrimination in congressional redistricting - https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2021/12/06/federal-lawsuit-accuses-discrimination-in-congressional-redistricting/

Third Lawsuit Filed Against Idaho's Redistricting Commission - https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/idaho/articles/2021-12-01/third-lawsuit-filed-against-idahos-redistricting-commission

Courts may play outsize role in redistricting fights - https://www.rollcall.com/2021/12/07/courts-may-play-outsize-role-in-redistricting-fights/

How the Suburbs Have Changed Gerrymandering - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/02/us/politics/suburbs-gerrymandering-republicans.html

State redistricting commissions get mixed reviews - https://www.rollcall.com/2021/12/02/state-redistricting-commissions-get-mixed-reviews/

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION HELPS CANDIDATES, TOO - https://www.sightline.org/2021/12/01/proportional-representation-helps-candidates-too/

Analysis: Trump's U.S. Supreme Court appointees poised to deliver on abortion - https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-us-supreme-court-appointees-poised-deliver-abortion-2021-12-02/

“WILL THIS INSTITUTION SURVIVE THE STENCH?”: GUTTING ABORTION RIGHTS COULD DAMAGE THE SUPREME COURT’S OWN LEGITIMACY - https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/12/gutting-abortion-rights-could-damage-scotus-legitimacy

Critical Moment for Roe, and the Supreme Court’s Legitimacy - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/04/us/politics/mississippi-supreme-court-abortion-roe-v-wade.html

21 states poised to ban or severely restrict abortion if 'Roe v. Wade' is overturned - https://www.npr.org/2021/12/02/1061015753/abortion-roe-v-wade-trigger-laws-mississippi-jacksons-womens-health-organization

The religious right wants states’ tax dollars, and the Supreme Court is likely to agree - https://www.vox.com/22807738/supreme-court-carson-makin-maine-school-vouchers-religious-liberty-free-exercise-right-tax

Biden's Supreme Court commission steers clear of controversial issues in draft report - https://www.npr.org/2021/12/06/1061959400/bidens-supreme-court-commission-releases-draft-report

Biden Supreme Court commission's draft report details 'profound' disagreement over adding seats to bench - https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/06/politics/supreme-court-commission/index.html

More Democratic senators are willing to weigh changes to Supreme Court - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/senators-overhaul-supreme-court/2021/12/02/efee5458-5374-11ec-8927-c396fa861a71_story.html

State Court Expansion Is Becoming More Common—Especially When Republicans Are In Charge - https://ballsandstrikes.org/court-reform/state-court-expansion-survey/

State Supreme Courts Don’t Match America’s Diversity - https://www.democracydocket.com/news/state-supreme-courts-dont-match-americas-diversity/

Conservatives prepare new push for constitutional convention - https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/584835-conservatives-prepare-new-push-for-constitutional-convention?rl=1

U.S. House approves bipartisan judicial financial disclosure bill - https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-house-approves-bipartisan-judicial-financial-disclosure-bill-2021-12-01/

How dark money fuels attacks on abortion rights worldwide - https://www.salon.com/2021/12/04/how-dark-money-fuels-on-abortion-rights-worldwide_partner/

Group’s IRS filing reveals nexus of right-wing dark money and “critical race theory” media hysteria - https://www.mediamatters.org/critical-race-theory/groups-irs-filing-reveals-nexus-right-wing-dark-money-and-critical-race-theory

Conservatives Have a New Bogeyman: Critical Energy Theory - https://newrepublic.com/article/164641/conservatives-new-bogeyman-critical-energy-theory

34N22? NNH? Super PACs with cryptic names raise transparency concerns - https://abcnews.go.com/US/34n22-nnh-super-pacs-cryptic-names-raise-transparency/story?id=81543344

21 Things We Learned About Money in Politics in 2021 - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/21-things-we-learned-about-money-politics-2021

Nearly $1M pours in from each side in Seattle Councilmember Sawant’s recall - https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/nearly-1m-pours-in-from-each-side-in-seattle-councilmember-sawants-recall/

NYC Public Campaign Financing Program Leveled the Playing Field: Report - https://readsludge.com/2021/12/02/nyc-public-campaign-financing-program-leveled-the-playing-field-report/

New York City poised to give voting rights to noncitizens - https://apnews.com/article/immigration-new-york-new-york-city-voting-state-elections-cb6067185112b9f3aca9f3f1ae14f11b