Democracy Happy Hour – Feb 22, 2023

Democracy Happy Hour, February 22, 2023 - Meeting Recordings & Chat File:

• Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/zsVZ9IOitV-Jqvc8rgaUN7zLxtDHUUyj9cdcSsofQzuyqEYddBpyudUh6gxVqNf-mF7yDApBopL-PFQC.R375U8jN9E28Lhqs

• Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/X6cuER2HdnrBe14y2Ers88wvstpGpLHBn-7JBY4ZEguT1ZXYgJm7syUseBnV3vLSm4_-9lWDs8L60bOr.oZgE3k8ehRmYgKEF

Fix Democracy First Links:

• Fix Democracy First – Legislation Page - https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/legislation
  
• Website & past event recordings: fixdemocracyfirst.org
• Donate @ fixdemocracyfirst.org/donate

Democracy Happy Hour Upcoming Topics/Schedule:

• Mar 1st - Conspiracy Theories & Their Impact on Democracy
• Mar 8th –  14.3 Campaign: Prohibiting Insurrectionists from Holding Office w/ Alexandra Flores-Quilty & Chris Vines from Free Speech for People
  
• Mar 15 – Democracy by Lottery: Letting Everyday People Decide w/ Nick Coccoma
• Mar 22nd –  How Civics Can Save Democracy

ACTIONS & EVENTS:

• TRUMP IS DISQUALIFIED FROM THE BALLOT - 14.3 Campaign - https://freespeechforpeople.org/trump-is-disqualified-from-the-ballot/

• People Powered Elections Washington - https://www.peoplepoweredelections.org/

• People Powered Elections Washington: Email Sign Up - https://secure.everyaction.com/Kvt4e-0DY0yyLf_1C7y-og2

• Civic learning week - March 6-10, 2023 - https://civiclearningweek.org/

• Citizen Connect - https://citizenconnect.us/

Alaska for Better Elections: Impact of New Reforms Links:

• Alaskans for Better Elections - https://alaskansforbetterelections.com/
• Jason Grenn - https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Member/Detail/30?code=GRN
• ALASKA BETTER ELECTIONS IMPLEMENTATION - https://www.elections.alaska.gov/RCV.php
• ALASKA’S RANKED CHOICE VOTING WINNERS EARN STRONG MANDATES AND REFLECT THE STATE’S POLITICAL DIVERSITY - https://fairvote.org/alaskas-ranked-choice-voting-winners-earn-strong-mandates-and-reflect-the-states-political-diversity/
• Alaska to use final-four primary, ranked-choice general election for Congress. Will others follow? - https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/03/31/alaska-voting-reform-could-pave-way-other-states-follow/7206233001/?gnt-cfr=1
• Election overhaul in Alaska aimed at reducing partisanship - https://apnews.com/article/elections-alaska-voting-legislature-election-2020-900d52ccb7d2bbff8de23b3ae92af12f
• ALASKA ELECTIONS 2022 - https://www.sightline.org/alaska-elections-2022/
• Alaska Ballot Measure 2, Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting and Campaign Finance Laws Initiative (2020) - https://ballotpedia.org/Alaska_Ballot_Measure_2,_Top-Four_Ranked-Choice_Voting_and_Campaign_Finance_Laws_Initiative_(2020)
• More Places Should Do What Alaska Did to Its Elections - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/15/opinion/alaska-elections-ranked-choice.html
• Alaskans for Honest Elections – Group trying to get rid of RCV in Alaska - https://www.alaskansforhonestelections.com/

Democracy in the News Links:

Partial Report of Investigation Into Election Interference Is Released - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/02/16/us/trump-georgia-investigation

Order Entering Portions of Special Purpose Grand Jury’s Final Report Into Court Record - https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2022-ex-000024-ex-parte-order-of-the-judge-5.pdf

Jury in Georgia Trump Inquiry Recommended Multiple Indictments, Forewoman Says - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/21/us/trump-georgia-grand-jury-indictments.html

Grand Jury in Georgia Trump Inquiry Sees Perjury by Witnesses, but No Vote Fraud - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/16/us/politics/trump-georgia-grand-jury-report.html

The Georgia phone call that could bring down Donald Trump: ‘I need 11,000 votes. Give me a break’ - https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-georgia-election-case-investigation-b2283483.html

Backgrounder: Fulton County Special Grand Jury Investigation Into 2020 Presidential Interference - https://statesuniteddemocracy.org/resources/backgrounder-fulton-sgj/

Takeaways from the partial release of a Georgia grand jury report on Trump and 2020 election - https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/16/politics/takeaways-trump-georgia-grand-jury-report

Proud Boys move to subpoena Trump in seditious conspiracy trial - https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/02/16/proudboys-trial-trump-subpoena/

Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows subpoenaed by special counsel in Jan. 6 investigation - https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/15/politics/mark-meadows-subpoena/index.html

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump Subpoenaed in Jan. 6 Investigation - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/22/us/politics/jared-kushner-ivanka-trump-jan-6.html

Fox Stars Privately Expressed Disbelief About Election Fraud Claims. ‘Crazy Stuff.’ - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/16/business/media/fox-dominion-lawsuit.html

Off the air, Fox News stars blasted the election fraud claims they peddled - https://www.npr.org/2023/02/16/1157558299/fox-news-stars-false-claims-trump-election-2020

House Speaker McCarthy gives Tucker Carlson exclusive access to Jan. 6 riot footage - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/02/21/tucker-carlson-kevin-mccarthy-jan-6-insurrection/

Donald Trump Changes Tune on Mail-in Voting, Ballot Collection - https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-changes-tune-on-mail-in-voting-ballot-collection-fa7193be?st=pkhcdnvoy6le9l1

Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for a 'national divorce' between liberal and conservative states  - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/marjorie-taylor-greene-calls-national-divorce-liberal-conservative-sta-rcna71464

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Civil War - https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/02/marjorie-taylor-greene-secession-civil-war/673142/

Arizona’s top prosecutor concealed records debunking election fraud claims - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/02/22/arizona-election-fraud-claims-mark-brnovich/

Every Arizona voter would be purged every decade under GOP proposal - https://www.azmirror.com/2023/02/15/every-arizona-voter-would-be-purged-every-decade-under-gop-proposal/

The bipartisan odd couple banding together to fight election deniers in Arizona - https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/21/election-deniers-arizona-adrian-fontes-00083505

Governor DeSantis Signs Election Crimes Law Expanding Statewide Prosecutor’s Power to Target People with Past Convictions; Civil and Voting Rights Groups Respond - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/governor-desantis-signs-election-crimes-law-expanding-statewide

Orlando group behind restoring felon voting rights nominated for Nobel Peace Prize - https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-florida-rights-restoration-nobel-peace-nomination-20230217-de7q626baza27i4qstsjidoqom-story.html

In Mississippi’s Capital, Old Racial Divides Take New Forms - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/20/us/jackson-mississippi-policing-plan.html

Revealed: Mississippi bill would carve out separate judicial district for 80% of white residents in majority-Black city - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2023/feb/15/mississippi-jackson-judicial-district-unelected-judges-prosecutors

Lawmakers in 32 states have introduced bills to restrict voting so far this legislative session - https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/22/politics/restrict-voting-bills-introduced-us/index.html

Five election deniers who are controlling state voting systems - https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/02/21/five-election-deniers-who-are-controlling-state-voting-systems/

Two Starkly Different Judges Advance in Wisconsin Supreme Court Election - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/21/us/politics/wisconsin-supreme-court-election.html

Supreme Court hears a case that could transform the internet - https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/02/20/google-v-gonzalez-section-230/

Supreme Court considers if Google is liable for recommending ISIS videos - https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/02/21/gonzalez-v-google-section-230-supreme-court/

Section 230 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_230

“Not, like, the nine greatest experts on the internet”: Justices seem leery of broad ruling on Section 230 - https://www.scotusblog.com/2023/02/not-like-the-nine-greatest-experts-on-the-internet-justices-seem-leery-of-broad-ruling-on-section-230/

Supreme Court Affirmative Action Cases Could Bring End to Race-Conscious Admissions - https://www.teenvogue.com/story/supreme-court-affirmative-action-cases-what-to-know

Supreme Court ruling creates turmoil over gun laws in lower courts - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/supreme-court-ruling-creates-turmoil-over-gun-laws-in-lower-courts

Virtual Event VIDEO: Redboxing 101: How Campaigns & Super PACs Openly Undermine Democracy - https://campaignlegal.org/update/virtual-event-video-redboxing-101-how-campaigns-super-pacs-openly-undermine-democracy

BANK LOBBYISTS HIRED BY CONGRESS TO OVERSEE BANKING REGULATIONS - https://theintercept.com/2023/02/15/congress-bank-lobbying/

Senate Democrat calls for halt to refunds of illegal campaign contributions - https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3868109-senate-democrat-calls-for-halt-to-refunds-of-illegal-campaign-contributions/

WHITEHOUSE, CICILLINE REINTRODUCE DISCLOSE ACT TO END CORRUPTING INFLUENCE OF DARK MONEY IN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY - https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-cicilline-reintroduce-disclose-act-to-end-corrupting-influence-of-dark-money-in-american-democracy

Ranked choice voting opponents begin gathering signatures for ballot initiative - https://www.adn.com/politics/2023/02/18/ranked-choice-voting-opponents-begin-gathering-signatures-for-ballot-initiative/

‘Gender trolling’ is curbing women’s rights – and making money for digital platforms - https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/feb/17/gender-trolling-women-rights-money-digital-platforms-social-media-hate-politics

Beyond Passing the Torch: Recommendations on Leveraging Age Diversity to Build a Stronger Democracy Now - https://generationcitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LeveragingAgeDiversity_02082023v1.pdf