Democracy Happy Hour – February 9, 2022

Democracy Happy Hour, February 9, 2022 - Meeting Recordings, Chat & Closed Caption Files:

• Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/XaFt0FoFYufM1GCJFVc_2KJMfvd2-o9GzvLx9oEoDmGdmcwIJqdRWz6uB26Oz7fmuF1S2Ai0oMiTy2GB.1rrsjDMEzAZZ6CaY
• Gallery View Recording:  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/4mMZIvQVAKm5cIX3e17x3n17Tu7ioOfjivxadGl139Xxn9UcwzRLAb4Bk-57TPiYnNL8PQqGMzwMFYr_.UoS3NEOY8186pWow
• Chat (Link will download a text file to your computer):  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/m4SIj5SG8_V6ud3_bRQLSRoqE6APfNKJx6mjuZzWt94BtHdlPMMEDWMh0ABTtuhS5j3hoDX53zGghiY3.OxMxiidiG178gTOi

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:

• Feb 16th - The Advance of Authoritarianism in the U.S.
• Feb 23rd – Voter Fraud vs. Election Fraud

FDF – Current Democracy Legislation - https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/legislation

WON (Women in Office Now) – Training Modules to help run for office will start March 8th - https://www.facebook.com/events/663647144827117

Sign the petition to close the Citizens United Loophole. - https://actionnetwork.org/forms/tell-congress-get-foreign-money-out-of-us-elections-close-the-citizens-united-loophole?source=direct_link&referrer=group-fixdemocracyfirst

TAKE ACTION :

• Voter Protection Volunteer Phonebanks with Common Cause - https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/376178/  
• RepresentUs Pro-Democracy Podcasts & Actions - https://represent.us/podcast/

The Electoral Count Act: What is it and possible reforms Links:

Electoral Count Act - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_Count_Act

3 U.S. Code § 15 - Counting electoral votes in Congress - https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/3/15

What the Electoral Count Act is -- and why some argue reforming it can protect future elections - https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/07/politics/what-is-electoral-count-act-overhaul/index.html

The 1887 Law Putting American Democracy at Risk - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/07/us/politics/electoral-count-act-reform.html

The importance of the Electoral Count Act - https://www.turnto23.com/what-is-the-electoral-count-act

Updating the Electoral Count Act - https://protectdemocracy.org/project/updating-the-electoral-count-act/

The Electoral Count Act of 1887 is showing its age – here’s how to help Congress certify a presidential election with more certainty - https://theconversation.com/the-electoral-count-act-of-1887-is-showing-its-age-heres-how-to-help-congress-certify-a-presidential-election-with-more-certainty-175222

Bipartisan Poll Finds Strong Support for Updating the Electoral Count Act - https://campaignlegal.org/update/bipartisan-poll-finds-strong-support-updating-electoral-count-act

The Electoral Count Act of 1887: Proposals for Reform - https://cha.house.gov/sites/democrats.cha.house.gov/files/documents/Electoral%20Count%20Act%20Staff%20Report_.pdf

How a rogue governor could steal the next presidential election for Trump - https://www.businessinsider.com/how-a-rogue-governor-could-steal-the-next-presidential-election-for-trump-2022-1

Durbin, King and Klobuchar Release Draft Electoral Count Act Reform - https://www.democracydocket.com/alerts/durbin-king-and-klobuchar-release-draft-electoral-count-act-reform/

To amend title 3, United States Code, to revise the rules for Presidential elections and counting electoral votes, and for other purposes. - https://www.king.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/mcg22051.pdf.pdf

Overhaul of Electoral Count Act ‘Absolutely’ Will Pass, Manchin Says - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/06/us/politics/electoral-count-act-overhaul.html

Trump interference exacerbates GOP split on election reforms - https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/02/trump-intervention-republican-split-election-reforms-00004898

Trump, hurdles loom for Senate election reform talks - https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/592939-trump-hurdles-loom-for-senate-election-reform-talks?rl=1

Democracy in the News Links:

G.O.P. Declares Jan. 6 Attack ‘Legitimate Political Discourse’ - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/04/us/politics/republicans-jan-6-cheney-censure.html

As GOP censures Cheney and Kinzinger, Pence says: ‘President Trump is wrong’ - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/04/trump-pence-wrong-election

McConnell Denounces R.N.C. Censure of Jan. 6 Panel Members - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/us/politics/republicans-censure-mcconnell.html

Trump sets off yet another GOP civil war, risking party's midterm strategy - https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/09/politics/trump-mcconnell-mccarthy-republicans-2022-midterms/index.html

Memo circulated among Trump allies advocated using NSA data in attempt to prove stolen election - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/03/trump-nsa-election

In Scrutinizing Trump and His Allies, Jan. 6 Panel Adopts Prosecution Tactics - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/05/us/politics/january-6-committee.html

What does Ivanka Trump know about Jan. 6? Congress is asking - https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-ivanka-trump-joe-biden-donald-trump-congress-f578160e79b0c8fc4f16c21c2afa9e8b

Trump Is Obsessed With Being a Loser - https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/02/trump-obsessed-being-loser-2020-election/621505/

Trump and allies try to redefine racism by casting White men as victims - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/05/trump-redefine-racism

Heritage Foundation, former powerhouse of GOP policy, adjusts in face of new competition from Trump allies - https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2022/02/07/heritage-foundation-trump-republicans

National Archives had to retrieve Trump White House records from Mar-a-Lago - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/07/trump-records-mar-a-lago

Americans united in worry over political divisions, but not much else, poll finds - https://rollcall.com/2022/02/03/civility-downhill-biden-poll/

Alexander Vindman sues Donald Trump Jr., others for alleged witness intimidation over impeachment testimony - https://abcnews.go.com/US/alexander-vindman-sues-donald-trump-jr-alleged-witness/story?id=82623601

Fair election administration faces threats in key states, per new report - https://thefulcrum.us/big-picture/Threats-to-democracy/battleground-election-states

GOP takes mail voting to court in swing states Biden won - https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/05/mail-voting-on-trial-battleground-states-00005794

Republican lawmakers push for audit of 2020 New Hampshire election - https://www.wmur.com/article/republicans-audit-2020-new-hampshire-election/38965755#

Who gets to live free in N.H.? Not the state’s teachers, if a law demanding their loyalty comes to pass. - https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/02/05/metro/granite-state-dystopia/?et_rid=855267188&s_campaign=todaysheadlines:newsletter

Arizona Republican House speaker effectively dooms GOP bill to allow state legislature to reject election results - https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/03/politics/arizona-bill-reject-election-results-effectively-blocked/index.html

Do you vote early? You could lose that right under bill OK'ed by Arizona Senate panel - https://tucson.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/do-you-vote-early-you-could-lose-that-right-under-bill-oked-by-arizona-senate/article_bdf498d8-882e-11ec-96df-1bd4e5f88bb6.html

Arizona Ballot Initiative Aims to Protect Voting Rights - https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/arizona/articles/2022-02-08/arizona-ballot-initiative-aims-to-protect-voting-rights

'It's just a mess': Texas election officials and voting rights advocates face mounting challenges under new restrictive voting law - https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/08/politics/texas-voting-law-issues/index.html

States target ballot drop boxes in fight over voting rights - https://idahocapitalsun.com/2022/02/08/states-target-ballot-drop-boxes-in-fight-over-voting-rights/

Virginia Senate OKs bill to make elections agency 'truly independent' - https://www.fauquier.com/news/virginia-senate-oks-bill-to-make-elections-agency-truly-independent/article_98a60032-885e-11ec-a8b8-13346b621592.html

Wisconsin Democrats seek removal of Elections Commissioner who was 'alternate elector' in 2020 - https://www.wpr.org/wisconsin-democrats-seek-removal-elections-commissioner-who-was-alternate-elector-2020

Lawmakers endorse a bill that would create stiffer penalties for harassing election clerks - https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2022-02-07/lawmakers-endorse-a-bill-that-would-create-stiffer-penalties-for-harassing-election-clerks

Voter access, election bills inch forward in New Mexico - https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-new-mexico-voting-state-elections-legislature-18216bfbb045d4cf83e979cd3e6d89b2

As red states impose new restrictions on voting, blue Washington presses ahead with expansions - https://www.nwnewsnetwork.org/2022-02-02/as-red-states-impose-new-restrictions-on-voting-blue-washington-presses-ahead-with-expansions

Brennan Center Voting Laws Roundup: February 2022 - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-laws-roundup-february-2022

Black Woman’s Bid to Regain Voting Rights Ends With a 6-Year Prison Sentence - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/07/us/pamela-moses-sentence-tennessee.html

WA counties rejected ballots from people of color, men, younger voters at higher rates - https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/wa-counties-rejected-ballots-from-people-of-color-men-younger-voters-at-higher-rates

House Passes Bill to Shore Up Postal Service, Working to Avert Insolvency - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/us/politics/postal-service-overhaul-house.html

Supreme Court Restores Alabama Voting Map That a Court Said Hurt Black Voters - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/07/us/politics/supreme-court-alabama-redistricting-congressional-map.html

High court’s Alabama ruling sparks alarm over voting rights - https://apnews.com/article/stephen-breyer-voting-rights-us-supreme-court-voting-racial-injustice-d7e8763e2d1a000e142e9a2f7c51a836

SCOTUS Just Blew Up the Voting Rights Act’s Ban on Racial Gerrymandering - https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/02/supreme-court-alabama-racial-gerrymander-roberts-kavanaugh.html

The Supreme Court may completely hollow out the Voting Rights Act by 2024 - https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/08/politics/supreme-court-voting-rights-act-2024-election/index.html

Supreme Court signals few map changes before midterms - https://rollcall.com/2022/02/08/supreme-court-signals-few-map-changes-before-midterms/

Redistricting reformers see strong ties between racial and partisan gerrymandering - https://thefulcrum.us/north-carolina-gerrymandering-lawsuit

‘Taking the Voters Out of the Equation’: How the Parties Are Killing Competition - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/06/us/politics/redistricting-competition-midterms.html

North Carolina Court Says G.O.P. Political Maps Violate State Constitution - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/04/us/north-carolina-redistricting-gerrymander-unconstitutional.html

Florida’s legislative redistricting maps head to state Supreme Court - https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2022/02/03/floridas-legislative-redistricting-maps-head-to-state-supreme-court/

New York Legislature OKs gerrymander that could net Democrats 3 more seats - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/new-york-legislature-oks-gerrymander-net-democrats-3-seats-rcna14526

Michigan Supreme Court dismisses Voting Rights Act challenge of redistricting maps - https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2022/02/03/michigan-supreme-court-dismisses-voting-rights-act-detroit-caucus-challenge-redistricting-maps/6657532001/

State Supreme Court takes control of redrawing Pa.’s congressional map - https://www.tribdem.com/news/state-supreme-court-takes-control-of-redrawing-pa-s-congressional-map/article_c5c1e526-846d-11ec-83dc-f71d8cb62262.html

Courts give Democrats unexpected boost on redistricting - https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/593123-courts-give-democrats-unexpected-boost-on-redistricting?rl=1

State Senate passes changes to redistricting process as House approves final maps with changes - https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/feb/02/state-senate-passes-changes-to-redistricting-proce/

How big a makeover does WA redistricting need? - https://crosscut.com/politics/2022/02/how-big-makeover-does-wa-redistricting-need

What we learned from the first FEC deadline of 2022 - https://popular.info/p/what-we-learned-from-the-first-fec

A Year Later, Most CEOs Are Keeping Their Post-Insurrection Promises - https://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/year-later-most-ceos-are-keeping-their-post-insurrection-promises

Republicans Who Voted to Impeach Trump Out-Raised Primary Rivals - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/02/us/politics/republicans-impeach-trump-primary-fund-raising.html

Erik Prince Helped Raise Money for Conservative Spy Venture - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/us/politics/erik-prince-spy-operation-trump-democrats.html

Why a few dozen zip codes dominate political giving - https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/592517-why-a-few-dozen-zip-codes-dominate-political-giving?rl=1

THE WELL OF THE CONGRESS – Public Citizen Report - https://www.citizen.org/wp-content/uploads/MaxedOut.pdf

How Manchin used politics to protect his family coal company - https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/08/manchin-family-coal-company-00003218

ALEC’s “Critical Energy Theory” Bills Moving in Four States - https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2022/02/08/alecs-critical-energy-theory-bills-moving-in-four-states/

Chuck Schumer says he supports banning lawmakers from trading stocks: 'I would like to see it done' - https://www.businessinsider.com/chuck-schumer-stock-trading-ban-like-to-see-done-2022-2

Mitch McConnell says he'll consider a ban on stock trading by lawmakers: 'We'll take a look at that kind of legislation and see what may be appropriate' - https://www.businessinsider.com/mitch-mcconnell-ban-stock-trading-lawmakers-take-a-look-2022-2

Right-wing conspiracies have a new target: a tool that fights actual voter fraud - https://www.npr.org/2022/02/09/1076529761/right-wing-conspiracies-have-a-new-target-a-tool-that-fights-actual-voter-fraud

Young Americans of all stripes are pessimistic about U.S. politics - https://thefulcrum.us/big-picture/Leveraging-big-ideas/millennial-politics

CivXNow State Policy - https://civxnow.org/our-work/state-policy

What would ranked-choice look like in Washington? The Legislature’s hoping to find out - https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/feb/01/what-would-ranked-choice-look-like-in-washington-t/

Ranked choice got a bad rap in Pierce County. Here’s why WA voters deserve chance to try it -https://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/article258032578.html