Democracy Happy Hour – May 3, 2023

Democracy Happy Hour, May 3, 2023 - Meeting Recordings & Chat File:

• Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/1zxQpZ_de0JB3LJE5PuKoLj7BBFJZJyOVoqUSS-wDLbiom6s3dzY8lHH4Ilb5D2EjZ22yZYnBxMLH8oE.KB1Nv6b_BTxpjFRZ
• Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/WzpXHcQ3N7UivYa9RT2XU-M_KNeZfrI8Xo8WXL_l0ehccuBapToqgNPQtcaVjzRcxEoHuKIM-iRnjqN8.L8q7nd4eY0ZmD5sb

Fix Democracy First Links:

• Fix Democracy First Education Fund GiveBig @02 2023  @ https://www.wagives.org/organization/fixdemocracyfirst
• 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 10^th – Democracy Open Discussion – Bring your ideas & comments
• 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 – Growing Threat of Authoritarianism in the US
  
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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/

Pinion: How Everyday People Can Help Transform Civic Engagement for Healthier Democracy  Links:

Pinion Vote - https://pinionvote.com/

RepresentUS Princeton Study video - Corruption is Legal in America

Democracy in the News Links

Pence appears before Jan. 6 grand jury in Trump special counsel probe - https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/04/27/pence-grand-jury-jan6/

Prosecutors in Jan. 6 Case Step up Inquiry Into Trump Fund-Raising - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/28/us/politics/jan-6-prosecutors-trump-fund-raising.html

Ex-Proud Boys leader argues Trump is to blame for Jan. 6 attack - https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/04/25/tarrio-proud-boys-trial-closings/

Fulton judge extends deadline for DA to reply to Trump motion to kill probe - https://www.ajc.com/politics/fulton-judge-extends-deadline-for-da-to-reply-to-trump-motion-to-kill-probe/DVYX35EDVNB6NGW7EQOTSUNMWM/

Lawyer for ex-Fox News producer says law enforcement interested in recordings - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/abby-grossberg-fox-news-producer-recordings-special-counsel/

A second firm hired by Trump campaign found no evidence of election fraud - https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/04/27/trump-false-election-fraud-claims/

Fox News to turn over more evidence in Smartmatic defamation suit, including Murdoch documents - https://abcnews.go.com/US/fox-news-turn-evidence-smartmatic-defamation-suit-including/story?id=98882066

Former Dominion Voting employee waits for his day(s) in court on multiple suits - https://www.cpr.org/2023/04/29/former-dominion-voting-manager-waits-for-his-days-in-court-on-multiple-suits/

Bipartisan groups urge Congress to boost election security grants - https://rollcall.com/2023/04/26/bipartisan-groups-urge-congress-to-boost-election-security-grants/

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Dick Durbin, Colleagues Reintroduce Comprehensive Legislation to Address Threats Targeting Election Workers - https://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/45655-u-s-senators-amy-klobuchar-dick-durbin-colleagues-reintroduce-comprehensive-legislation-to-address-threats-targeting-election-workers

Securing the 2024 Election - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/policy-solutions/securing-2024-election

Black voting rights under threat in GOP supermajority states, lawmakers say - https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/04/28/southern-republicans-black-democrats-tennessee/

Republican-controlled states target college students’ voting power ahead of high-stakes 2024 elections - https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/02/politics/gop-targets-student-voting/index.html

Losing Ballot Issues on Abortion, G.O.P. Now Tries to Keep Them Off the Ballot - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/23/us/republicans-abortion-voting.html

New Report Finds Restoring Voting Rights for People with Felony Conviction Can Improve Public Safety - https://www.davisvanguard.org/2023/05/new-report-finds-restoring-voting-rights-for-people-with-felony-conviction-can-improve-public-safety/

After 5 years of mail-in ballots, Anchorage election officials say voter turnout has gone up - https://alaskapublic.org/2023/04/26/after-5-years-of-mail-in-ballots-anchorage-election-officials-say-voter-turnout-has-gone-up/

Florida lawmakers pass a sweeping elections bill - https://www.wlrn.org/local-government/2023-05-02/florida-lawmakers-pass-a-sweeping-elections-bill

U.S. appeals court upholds Florida voting law that judge found discriminatory - https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-appeals-court-upholds-florida-voting-law-that-judge-found-discriminatory-2023-04-27/

Minnesota Lawmakers Pass Sweeping Bill to Increase Voting Access - https://readsludge.com/2023/04/27/minnesota-lawmakers-pass-sweeping-bill-to-increase-voting-access/

Montana Republicans bar transgender lawmaker from House floor - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/04/26/montana-transgender-zooey-zephyr-censured-expelled/

Judge denies Rep. Zooey Zephyr’s request to return to Montana House - https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/05/01/zooey-zephyr-lawsuit-montana-reinstatement/

NC Supreme Court overturns gerrymandering decision, reinstates voter ID law, ends felons’ voting rights - https://www.cbs17.com/news/north-carolina-news/nc-supreme-court-reinstates-voter-id-law-ends-felons-voting-rights-overturns-gerrymandering-decision/amp/

Alaska’s Supreme Court Prohibited Partisan Gerrymandering. These States Have Too - https://www.democracydocket.com/analysis/alaskas-supreme-court-prohibited-partisan-gerrymandering-these-states-have-too/

Control of House Could Hinge on Redistricting Battles Playing Out in State Courts - https://www.nysun.com/article/control-of-house-could-hinge-on-redistricting-battles-playing-out-in-state-courts

WA Gov. Jay Inslee won’t seek reelection for fourth term - https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/wa-gov-jay-inslee-wont-seek-reelection-for-fourth-term/

Inslee calls WA Legislature special session to address drug possession - https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/inslee-calls-wa-legislature-special-session-to-address-drug-possession

Supreme Court, done with arguments, turns to decisions - https://rollcall.com/2023/05/01/supreme-court-done-with-arguments-turns-to-decisions/

Supreme Court Election Case in Doubt With State Court Ruling - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-28/north-carolina-ruling-could-scuttle-supreme-court-elections-case?leadSource=uverify%20wall

Supreme Court to Reconsider Precedent Giving Federal Agencies Benefit of Doubt - https://www.wsj.com/articles/supreme-court-to-reconsider-precedent-giving-federal-agencies-benefit-of-doubt-443facf1?mod=politics_lead_pos10

Barnett explains Chevron deference and significance of the U.S. Supreme Court’s hearing of Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimand - https://www.newswise.com/politics/barnett-explains-chevron-deference-and-significance-of-the-u-s-supreme-court-s-hearing-of-loper-bright-enterprises-v-raimand/

If the Supreme Court kills the Chevron doctrine, corporations will have even more power - https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-05-02/supreme-court-chevron-case-conservative-majority

A new Supreme Court case seeks to make the nine justices even more powerful - https://www.vox.com/politics/2023/5/2/23706535/supreme-court-chevron-deference-loper-bright-raimondo

How Scalia Law School Became a Key Friend of the Court - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/30/us/supreme-court-scalia-law-school.html

$30K and a Cushy Italian Trip From a Clout-Chasing Law School? “Fantastico!” Says Gorsuch - https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/04/gorsuch-scalia-law-school-corruption-supreme-court/

Jane Roberts, who is married to Chief Justice John Roberts, made $10.3 million in commissions from elite law firms, whistleblower documents show - https://www.businessinsider.com/jane-roberts-chief-justice-wife-10-million-commissions-2023-4

Thomas' Citizens United Vote Enabled Billionaire Benefactor to Boost Political Power - https://www.commondreams.org/news/clarence-thomas-citizens-united-harlan-crow-political-spending

In Bipartisan Bill, Senators Urge Supreme Court to Adopt Ethics Code - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/26/us/politics/senate-bill-supreme-court-ethics.html

Senators spar over calls for Supreme Court ethics reform - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senators-probe-supreme-court-ethics-hearing-rcna82311

All 9 Supreme Court justices push back on oversight: 'Raises more questions,' Senate chair says - https://abc7.com/supreme-court-justices-scotus-ethics-code-clarence-thomas/13192491/

Why Supreme Court Justices Should Have Term Limits and a Code of Ethics - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/why-supreme-court-justices-should-have-term-limits-and-code-ethics

What the Supreme Court Does in the Shadows - https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/05/steve-vladeck-shadow-docket-emergency-orders-supreme-court/673924/

How Leonard Leo became a conservative power broker in judicial elections - https://americanindependent.com/leonard-leo-conservative-power-broker-judicial-elections/

Leonard Leo used Federalist Society contact to obtain $1.6B donation - https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/02/leonard-leo-federalist-society-00094761

Bill would require disclosure of AI-generated content in political ads - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/05/02/ai-generated-political-ads-bill/

Global Lessons: Proportional Voting Systems and Women’s Representation - https://democracysos.substack.com/p/global-lessons-proportional-voting