Democracy Happy Hour – May 10, 2023

Democracy Happy Hour, May 10, 2023 - Meeting Recordings & Chat File:  

• Speaker View Recording:  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/zd8jNcI9eofFltm19cERhNOL4kbP3kZnhWuLneLA_mUwsKV9W1wjrdoqq-QFvy4QFOskpTC1jXECXHyd.lfFivELNLcZA5GPw
• Gallery View Recording:  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/4dZubv8tP0LFhodrVN_MZN3d_Dd3cT_cgvpGbeQbwBN-IhhuYKWpV2yNb6nKjHox6FmKcKqcqkEib377.8w2ZpuVj9oBblTfq

Fix Democracy First Links:

• FDF Donation Page @ fixdemocracyfirst.org/donate
• FDF website - You can view past event recordings on Past Events page @ fixdemocracyfirst.org

Democracy Happy Hour Upcoming Topics/Schedule:

• May 17^th – The Center for Election Innovation & Research (CEIR) with David J. Becker, Executive Director and Founder
• May 24th - National Infrastructure Bank: What is it and why is it important? w/ Representatives from the Coalition for a National Infrastructure Bank & Washingtonians for Public Banking
• May 31^st – What is the Federalist Society and what does it want from our courts? with Nick Licata

ACTIONS & CONNECTIONS:

• 14Point3 Campaign - https://freespeechforpeople.org/the-14point3-campaign/
• Campaign to disqualify Trump from 2024 ballot - 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
• Citizen Connect - https://citizenconnect.us/

Democracy in the News Links

Proud Boys Enrique Tarrio, 3 others guilty of Jan. 6 seditious conspiracy - https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/05/04/proud-boys-verdict-jan6-seditious-conspiracy/

Proud Boys revealed: Videos, secret chats show how Jan. 6 plot unfolded - https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/interactive/2023/proud-boys-trial-timeline-jan6-videos-chats/

Jury finds Trump liable for sexual abuse, awards accuser $5M - https://apnews.com/article/trump-rape-carroll-trial-fe68259a4b98bb3947d42af9ec83d7db

At least eight Trump electors have accepted immunity in Georgia investigation - https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/05/05/fulton-county-georgia-trump-investigation-electors-immunity/

Justice Dept. Intensifying Efforts to Determine if Trump Hid Documents - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/04/us/politics/trump-documents-subpoenas-justice-department.html

Rep. George Santos charged with 13 counts of fraud, financial crimes - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/05/10/george-santos-charges/

George Santos pleads not guilty to federal indictment and says he won’t resign - https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-federal-charges-updates-33667a0900271e5002459ab748d8fdc8

Donald Trump … on CNN? A Live Town Hall Reignites a Debate. - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/10/business/cnn-trump-town-hall.html

Trump vows to go after ‘radical Left’ colleges, echoing DeSantis approach - https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/02/trump-colleges-desantis-00095007

Trump Vows to Empower Political Pastors on Christian Nationalist Broadcast - https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-end-church-restrictions-politics-1234728218/

DeSantis wants to ‘Make America Florida.’ Here’s what that looks like. - https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/04/16/ron-desantis-florida-proposals/

Under the Radar, Right-Wing Push to Tighten Voting Laws Persists - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/08/us/politics/voting-laws-restrictions-republicans.html

‘Every seat matters’: Redistricting poised to boost House GOP in 2024 - https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/every-seat-matters-redistricting-poised-boost-house-gop-2024-rcna82733

Voter registration rates in 2022 hit highest in 20 years: Census Bureau - https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/3984205-voter-registration-rates-in-2022-hit-highest-in-20-years-census-bureau/

Alabama House passes bill to criminalize help with absentee ballots - https://www.al.com/news/2023/05/alabama-house-in-showdown-over-absentee-ballot-bill.html

Florida Republicans pass school bills on pronouns, diversity - https://apnews.com/article/florida-ron-desantis-lgbtq-diversity-0495c7307668fe309d76badce2a65d63

Kemp signs ban on donating money to Georgia election offices - https://www.ajc.com/politics/kemp-to-sign-ban-on-donating-money-to-georgia-elections-offices/JHTULLJU3NGWFGD4MBOUWBFSNY/

Georgia dashes Democratic dreams of an early 2024 presidential primary - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/05/04/georgia-democrats-primary-biden/

Judge rules for voting-rights groups in Kansas mail-voting case - https://www.courthousenews.com/judge-rules-for-voting-rights-groups-in-kansas-mail-voting-case/

Oklahoma - New law strengthens security for election workers - https://journalrecord.com/2023/05/05/new-law-strengthens-security-for-election-workers/

Hard to read? Oregon GOP boycott comes down to reading level - https://apnews.com/article/oregon-walkout-republicans-boycott-abortion-gun-control-bills-173513a8fb3e105131aeacefe59f18b1

5 major changes in Minnesota's 'historic' new election law - https://www.startribune.com/five-major-changes-to-voting-in-minnesotas-historic-new-election-law-disinformation/600272746/?refresh=true

Texas bill allows secretary of state to overturn elections - https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3985519-texas-bill-allows-sos-to-overturn-elections/

Vt. House approves Burlington charter changes on noncitizen voting and ranked choice voting - https://www.wcax.com/2023/05/03/vt-house-approves-burlington-charter-changes-noncitizen-voting-ranked-choice-voting/

Wisconsin lawmakers unveil bipartisan bills overhaul election practices - https://pbswisconsin.org/news-item/wisconsin-lawmakers-unveil-bipartisan-bills-overhaul-election-practices/

WA passed a 'Voting Rights Act 2.0' bill. Here's what's in it - https://crosscut.com/politics/2023/05/wa-passed-voting-rights-act-20-bill-heres-whats-it

Washington Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to State Voting Rights Act - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/washington-supreme-court-hear-challenge-state-voting-rights-act

State supreme courts up the stakes for Democrats in 2024 - https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3991039-state-supreme-courts-up-the-stakes-for-democrats-in-2024/

Messenger: The feds tell judges to stop trampling on the civil rights of poor people - https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/columns/tony-messenger/messenger-the-feds-tell-judges-to-stop-trampling-on-the-civil-rights-of-poor-people/article_6c58c974-e90b-11ed-912a-ef91941ba321.html

How to Police Gerrymanders? Some Judges Say the Courts Can’t. - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/05/us/gerrymander-maps-north-carolina-supreme-court.html

SCOTUS wants answers in Moore v. Harper after NC gerrymandering reversal - https://www.wral.com/story/scotus-wants-answers-in-moore-v-harper-after-nc-gerrymandering-reversal/20845093/

Clarence Thomas Had a Child in Private School. Harlan Crow Paid the Tuition. - https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-harlan-crow-private-school-tuition-scotus

Judicial activist directed fees to Clarence Thomas’s wife, urged ‘no mention of Ginni’ - https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2023/05/04/leonard-leo-clarence-ginni-thomas-conway/

Billionaire Harlan Crow Also Bankrolled GOP Lawmakers Blocking SCOTUS Ethics Reform - https://www.commondreams.org/news/harlan-crow-senate-judiciary-committee-republicans-supreme-court-reforms

How Clarence Thomas Keeps the Influence Machine Running - https://newrepublic.com/article/172495/clarence-thomas-crow-leo-money?fbclid=IwAR2LXTi3c_wumJ8vWadgDEa5cjnGsuQaBmHe2ZM6hlhifgC5BglyUSnH6iE

Here’s The Real Goal Of Supreme Court Corruption - https://www.levernews.com/heres-the-real-goal-of-supreme-court-corruption/

Supreme Court Justices Offer Unconvincing Dodge on Ethics - https://prospect.org/justice/2023-05-04-supreme-court-justices-dodge-ethics/

Deep divide at Supreme Court ethics hearing, despite some GOP calls for action - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/05/02/senate-supreme-court-ethics-hearing/

Record-breaking outside spending dominated state Supreme Court race - https://wisconsinexaminer.com/brief/record-breaking-outside-spending-dominated-state-supreme-court-race/

Watchdog group seeks federal probe into allegation that Herschel Walker directed six-figure political contribution to his company - https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/05/politics/herschel-walker-political-contribution-watchdog-investigation/index.html

RON DESANTIS HAS RAKED IN $3.9 MILLION FROM INSURANCE INDUSTRY, NEW REPORT REVEALS - https://theintercept.com/2023/05/03/ron-desantis-insurance-industry/

Charities can be used to move 'dark' money that shapes public policy: report - https://www.rawstory.com/schwab-charitable/

Peer Into the Dark Money Abyss - https://readsludge.com/2023/05/09/peer-into-the-dark-money-abyss/

Tanked Biden pick highlights escalation of dark-money forces - https://apnews.com/article/biden-nominees-dark-money-sohn-senators-election-56e18264a0478404ba04f54637b31085

“Revolving door” lobbyists help defense contractors get off to “strong” start in 2023 - https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2023/05/revolving-door-lobbyists-help-defense-contractors-get-off-to-strong-start-in-2023/

US Elections Are More Democratic Now. Thank the Money. - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/05/04/us-elections-are-more-democratic-now-thank-the-money/eba3a336-ea71-11ed-869e-986dd5713bc8_story.html

Public Campaign Financing Is Coming to New York - https://readsludge.com/2023/05/03/public-campaign-financing-is-coming-to-new-york/

New Twitter rules expose election offices to spoof accounts - https://apnews.com/article/twitter-verification-blue-check-elections-elon-musk-5df36ed183d16ec3bf99446e6827bcdd

UNCOMPETITIVE AND UNREPRESENTED: VOTERS LOCKED OUT OF REPRESENTATION - https://fairvote.org/report/uncompetitive-and-unrepresented-voters-locked-out-of-representation/

There’s only one way to fix gerrymandering (and it’s not through the courts) - https://thehill.com/homenews/3992810-theres-only-one-way-to-fix-gerrymandering-and-its-not-through-the-courts/