Democracy Happy Hour - January 19, 2022

Democracy Happy Hour, January 19, 2022 - Meeting Recordings, Chat & Closed Caption Files:

• Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/CMsXAEEeWRjVdlJMBMYFvhwvwVyjOSKiN5Ln-BZPWX0I8LOWEXi3ZoBR8eMG8ws92wKn2MO5qsmPVvZq.M4EVyzX9aeSlyOL8

• Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/YABQfoV_3ij9Z9KTr0hQt3VjxuB-Z8ZSnjOrgYXaI9KRNyFP4veWi8zS8Wcyn6tdhLAi__d8BH65gA7t.Bhi41K8hUR87GAaU

• Chat (Link will download a text file to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/enhW8pTMdN-3ZH_anQJzjrDu1eMYnkfETXgnRTHm2VN4O1iP3dI5M60tOoF2sj5ckd9MsPNijTC5WGhL.LqWsk85EISEjOGJk

Actions, Events & Misc. Links:

DONATION Links:

o   Fix Democracy First or Fix Democracy First Education Fund - https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/donate

o   YO VOTE! - https://www.yo-vote.org/donate

Upcoming Democracy Happy Hour topics:

o   Jan 26th - History of Voting in the U.S.

o   Feb 2nd - Saving Democracy: Where do we go from here?

o   Feb 9th - Voter Fraud vs. Election Fraud

o   Feb 16th - The Advance of Authoritarianism in the U.S.

Lobby Week 2022 w/ League of Women Voters of WA – January 24-27, 2022 - https://lwvwa.org/event-4596311

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 (NEW Patch Through #): 833-345-2551

• 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

Volunteer Phonebanks

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

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

• Use these Hashtags: #RecessCanWait  #FreedomToVoteAct #JohnLewisVotingRightsAct  #RestoretheVRA
• View Messaging & Social Media Graphics: HERE  

‍

Citizens United: 12 Years Later Links:
Citizens United vs. FEC - History - https://www.history.com/topics/united-states-constitution/citizens-united

Citizens United Explained - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/citizens-united-explained

How Citizens United Threatens Judicial Independence - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/how-citizens-united-threatens-judicial-independence

Citizens Unites – OpenSecrets - https://www.opensecrets.org/search?q=citizens+united

Speechnow.org v. FEC - https://www.fec.gov/legal-resources/court-cases/speechnoworg-v-fec/

Move to Amend - https://www.movetoamend.org/

H.J.Res.48 - Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing that the rights extended by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only. - https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-joint-resolution/48/amendments?r=10&s=1

100+ democracy reform groups push Congress to overturn Citizens United - https://thefulcrum.us/campaign-finance/congress-overturn-citizens-united

H.J.Res.1 - Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections. - https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-joint-resolution/1/cosponsors

Democracy in the News Links:

House sends combined election bill to Senate; Biden visits Capitol Hill on voting rights push - https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-region/politics/2022/01/13/dems-switch-strategy-on-voting-bill-as-biden-pushes-action

TEXT OF THE HOUSE AMENDMENT TO THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 5746 - https://rules.house.gov/sites/democrats.rules.house.gov/files/BILLS-117HR5746EAS-RCP117-28.pdf

Senators are sparring over Democrats’ legislation, and their own rules. - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/19/us/politics/voting-rights-senate-debate.html

Raw Senate debate on voting bill unlikely to end filibuster - https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-joe-biden-college-football-sports-kyrsten-sinema-27c888b4f9bf876520913d7036a942b0

Sinema and Manchin confirm opposition to eliminating filibuster, probably dooming Democrats’ voting rights push - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-set-to-visit-senate-democrats-in-a-final-improbable-pitch-for-voting-rights-action/2022/01/13/fde533b6-7475-11ec-8b0a-bcfab800c430_story.html

Sinema, Manchin slammed as Senate begins voting bill debate - https://apnews.com/article/elections-voting-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-martin-luther-king-iii-d7370d915d0fbcc180dcd1fecbad46b9

Democrats ponder Plan B strategy to circumvent voting rights filibuster - https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/590099-democrats-ponder-plan-b-strategy-to-circumvent-voting-rights-filibuster

Martin Luther King Jr.’s family marches in D.C. for Senate action on voting rights bill - https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/01/17/mlk-dc-voting-rights-march/

College Student Group Un-PAC Organizes Nationwide Hunger Strike in Defense of Voting Rights - https://www.newsweek.com/college-student-group-un-pac-organizes-nationwide-hunger-strike-defense-voting-rights-1668871

With help from Manchin and Sinema, a Republican revolution from below is driving national policy - https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/18/politics/democrats-republicans-supreme-court-states-congress-white-house/index.html

How Manchin and Sinema Completed a Conservative Vision - https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2022/01/manchin-sinema-filibuster-voting-rights/621271/

In Rebuke to Trump, Supreme Court Won’t Block Release of Jan. 6 Files - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/19/us/politics/trump-supreme-court-jan-6.html

Kevin McCarthy Refuses Interview Request From Jan. 6 Committee - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/12/us/politics/kevin-mccarthy-jan-6-committee.html

Jan. 6 Inquiry Subpoenas Giuliani and Legal Team That Made Claims of Voting Fraud - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/18/us/politics/jan-6-inquiry-subpoenas-giuliani.html

Jan. 6 panel grapples with how to secure testimony from lawmakers, Pence - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/01/15/jan-6-subpoenas-committee/

Oath Keepers Leader Charged With Seditious Conspiracy in Jan. 6 Investigation - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/13/us/politics/oath-keepers-stewart-rhodes.html

For Oath Keepers and founder, Jan. 6 was weeks in the making - https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-oath-keepers-stewart-rhodes-0c30d5cb0724c623a27f2eb39da20285

Trump allies' fake Electoral College certificates offer fresh insights about plot to overturn Biden's victory - https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/12/politics/trump-overturn-2020-election-fake-electoral-college/index.html

History tells us forged pro-Trump ‘election documents’ should sound alarm bells - https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/01/18/history-tells-us-gops-forged-2020-election-documents-should-sound-alarm-bells/

The Justice Dept. alleged Jan. 6 was a seditious conspiracy. Now will it investigate Trump? - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trump-jan-6-investigation-garland/2022/01/15/e55a3ca2-7555-11ec-b202-b9b92330d4fa_story.html

Democrats see good chance of Garland prosecuting Trump - https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/589858-democrats-see-good-chance-of-garland-prosecuting-trump?rl=1

The 2020 election wasn't stolen. But Douglas Frank and his bogus equation claiming otherwise are still winning over audiences. - https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/18/politics/douglas-frank-big-lie/index.html

Trump loyalists form alliance in bid to take over election process in key states - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/13/trump-loyalists-secretary-of-state-candidates

Before Elections, Georgia Republicans Again Consider Voting Restrictions - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/13/us/georgia-voting-laws-republicans.html

Election officials in Texas reject hundreds of ballot applications under state’s new voting restrictions - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/texas-voting-ballots-republicans/2022/01/14/97c3d2de-7580-11ec-b202-b9b92330d4fa_story.html

Florida governor proposes special police agency to monitor elections - https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/01/18/florida-governor-proposes-special-police-agency-monitor-elections/

Democrats take voting rights fight to state-level races - https://www.axios.com/dem-governors-state-level-voting-rights-protections-1971cbdd-b57c-407f-a46b-faab51654ac2.html

Inslee, Washington Democrats push election bills, as they weigh threats to democracy - https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/inslee-washington-democrats-push-election-bills-as-they-weigh-threats-to-democracy/

Electoral act reform picks up growing bipartisan support - https://www.axios.com/electoral-reform-bipartisan-support-0b1ffd06-2c17-4460-b96e-f69f43a9786f.html

R.N.C. Signals a Pullout From Presidential Debates - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/13/us/politics/presidential-debates-rnc.html

U.S. Political Party Preferences Shifted Greatly During 2021 - https://news.gallup.com/poll/388781/political-party-preferences-shifted-greatly-during-2021.aspx

Political Instability Not U.S. Adversaries, Seen As Bigger Threat, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Nearly 6 In 10 Think Nation's Democracy Is In Danger Of Collapse

Share - https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3831

Revealed: The Billionaires Funding the Coup’s Brain Trust - https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/devos-bradley-claremont-trump-election-fraud-insurrection-1274253

Major US Companies Slam Voter Suppression Laws Then Donate to Their Sponsors - https://readsludge.com/2022/01/18/major-us-companies-slam-voter-suppression-laws-then-donate-to-their-sponsors/

Distrust in political, media and business leaders sweeps the globe - https://www.axios.com/distrust-in-political-media-and-business-leaders-sweeps-the-globe-f02f7cf0-9385-4067-abff-92c6b6392d02.html

Reps Bought Pipeline Stocks Before Passing the Infrastructure Bill - https://readsludge.com/2022/01/13/reps-bought-pipeline-stocks-before-passing-the-infrastructure-bill/

STOCK Act is ‘ready to go a step further’ by banning Congress members from trading: Lobbyist - https://finance.yahoo.com/video/stock-act-ready-step-further-215133445.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

Ohio Supreme Court overturns partisan district maps - https://thefulcrum.us/ohio-redistricting-2656402508

Ohio Redistricting Commission begins again after court order - https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2022/01/19/ohio-redistricting-commission-begins-again-after-court-order/

NC Supreme Court justices asked to sit out redistricting case over perceived conflicts of interest - https://www.wral.com/nc-supreme-court-justices-asked-to-sit-out-redistricting-case-over-perceived-conflicts-of-interest/20077193/

DeSantis shakes up Florida redistricting as veto concerns grow - https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2022/01/18/desantis-shakes-up-florida-redistricting-as-veto-concerns-grow-1405811

State courts become battlegrounds in redistricting fights - https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/589646-state-courts-become-battlegrounds-in-redistricting-fights?rl=1

Texas’s six-week abortion ban remains in effect after federal appeals court ruling - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/texas-abortion-law/2022/01/17/d18b848a-7256-11ec-b202-b9b92330d4fa_story.html

Supreme Court Blocks Biden’s Virus Mandate for Large Employers - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/13/us/politics/supreme-court-biden-vaccine-mandate.html

The Supreme Court’s Right Turn Goes Way Beyond Guns And Abortion - https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-supreme-courts-right-turn-goes-way-beyond-guns-and-abortion/

Campaign Finance Returns to Supreme Court in Ted Cruz Case - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/campaign-finance-returns-supreme-court-ted-cruz-case

Press Information Sheet for FEC v. Ted Cruz for Senate - https://campaignlegal.org/document/press-information-sheet-fec-v-ted-cruz-senate

A Supreme Court Selected By Big Money Will Rule on Whether Big Money Is Corruptive - https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a38749602/supreme-court-ted-cruz-campaign-finance-loan/

The Supreme Court Case That Could Upend Efforts to Protect the Environment - https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-supreme-court-case-that-could-upend-efforts-to-protect-the-environment

This Kind of Case Is Why Mitch McConnell Was So Ruthless in Seizing Control of the Supreme Court - https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a38746991/supreme-court-epa-regulation-case-mitch-mcconnell/

We Found the One Group of Americans Who Are Most Likely to Spread Fake News - https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/01/14/we-found-the-one-group-of-americans-who-are-most-likely-to-spread-fake-news-526973

Rise of right-wing apps seen worsening midterm disinformation - https://www.rollcall.com/2022/01/18/rise-of-right-wing-apps-seen-worsening-midterm-disinformation/