Democracy Happy Hour – September 6, 2023

Democracy Happy Hour, Sept 6, 2023 - Meeting Recordings:

• Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/OrwQtZFueydqIbAIQPkRpO8tT-9Ce5kHNsbc7FYKni4daSJR7NjAplez_KSaLKgPxEhWfxTgE1diKvoi.sP5yJZIVH0-hY8HH

• Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/6Kbwlfz5hKGIsoEUnBhHX2bVfSD8RAeWu8sJUY3w-UzWkXVSaa1bm94UdPuma1ll8erfHupytAuyaU0e.QCjMGu-asulPDBC0

• Chat file (will download to directly to your computer):  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/NAshKhQ3lDmAkDp_xYqhKMueWuzh9OCeIXJPCcPQH1eNwE5sTzv8E1m6R8JM_Ab85CxmvxYngJhwqhCW.aixThfUUb2bW2mDT

Fix Democracy First Links:

• Fix Democracy First - https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/
• Donate @ https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/donate
• Fix Democracy First 20^th Anniversary Celebration & Get Together – September 9, 2023 @ 6-9 pm – Bloedel Hall @ St. Mark’s in Seattle - Tickets & Sponsorships: https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/event-pages/20th-anniversary-celebration

Democracy Happy Hour Upcoming Topics/Schedule:

• Sept 13 - WA Public Disclosure Commission with Kim Bradford, Deputy Director & Sean Flynn, General Council
• Sept 20 - Braver Angels: Finding Common Ground with Elizabeth Doll, Director of Braver Politics
• Sept 27 - CANCELED - No Democracy Happy Hour this week (Cindy will be at the American Democracy Summit in Los Angeles.)

ACTIONS & EVENTS:

Federal Election Commission – Submit your comments on amending regulation to include deliberately deceptive Artificial Intelligence in campaign ads - https://www.fec.gov/updates/comments-sought-on-amending-regulation-to-include-deliberately-deceptive-artificial-intelligence-in-campaign-ads/

·      Pending rulemaking matters for comment - https://www.fec.gov/legal-resources/regulations/pending-rulemaking-matters-comment/

Common Power & Goodwill Voter Registration Drives in Western WA - https://linktr.ee/2023voterregcampaign

American Democracy Summit 2023 – Sept 27-29 in Los Angeles - https://americandemocracysummit.org/

Citizen Connect - https://citizenconnect.us/

Election Security & Accountability Links:

• King County Elections - https://kingcounty.gov/en/legacy/depts/elections
• King County Election Security & Accountability - https://kingcounty.gov/en/legacy/depts/elections/about-us/security-and-accountability.aspx
• King County Voter Education Fund - https://kingcounty.gov/en/legacy/depts/elections/education-and-outreach/voter-education-fund.aspx
• King County Voter Alerts - https://info.kingcounty.gov/kcelections/vote/myvoterinfo.aspx or kce.wiki/ballotalert

Democracy in the News Links

Trump enters not-guilty plea in Georgia election case, waives hearing - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/08/31/trump-enters-plea-not-guilty-georgia-election-case

Breaking down charges against Trump, 18 co-defendants in Georgia case - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/09/06/georgia-election-case-trump-codefendants

Trump’s co-defendants are already starting to turn against him - https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/05/trump-cases-defendants-flipping-00113910

Republicans fight to defund Trump prosecutions - https://www.valleycentral.com/news/republicans-fight-to-defund-trump-prosecutions/

Fulton judge says Trump court proceedings will be televised - https://www.ajc.com/politics/fulton-judge-says-trump-court-proceedings-will-be-televised/GNUTN4TYAVCQ7IPMOONTIY6SJM/

Trump’s Legal and Political Calendar: All the Dates You Need to Know - https://www.justsecurity.org/88039/trumps-legal-and-political-calendar-all-the-dates-you-need-to-know/

Could the 14th Amendment keep Trump off the ballot in 2024? - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/09/05/trump-14th-amendment-ballot

State election officials studying whether 14th Amendment disqualifies ‘insurrectionist’ Trump from ballot - https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/31/politics/state-efforts-to-disqualify-donald-trump/index.html

Lawsuit contends Constitution’s ‘insurrection’ clause bars Trump from running again for president - https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-constitution-2024-election-primary-ballot-19ca3f17881e8818302cb1260e7c2aed

US supreme court likely to determine Trump’s 2024 eligibility soon – ex-judge - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/05/trump-eligible-president-2024-supreme-court

Proud Boys’ Enrique Tarrio gets record 22 years in prison for Jan. 6 seditious conspiracy - https://apnews.com/article/enrique-tarrio-capitol-riot-seditious-conspiracy-sentencing-da60222b3e1e54902db2bbbb219dc3fb

Proud Boys leader gets 18 years, matching longest Jan. 6 punishment to date - https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/09/01/proud-boys-pezzola-nordean-sentencing-jan6

Proud Boys leader Joseph Biggs sentenced to 17 years for Jan. 6 crimes - https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/08/31/proud-boys-joseph-biggs-sentencing-jan6-seditious-conspiracy

Ex-Trump aide Peter Navarro faces trial on contempt of Congress charges - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/06/peter-navarro-trial-contempt-of-congress-jan-6-trump

9 things to watch as the 2024 presidential campaign heats up - https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2023/09/05/what-to-watch-presidential-campaign-gop

Push to expand voting rights gains ground in 2023 - https://www.axios.com/2023/09/02/push-to-expand-voting-rights-gains-ground-in-2023

Legal fights over voting districts could play role in control of Congress for 2024 - https://apnews.com/article/congress-redistricting-gerrymandering-elections-75e2764f2cc7c8a2e7e0a0e2848d90e9

Court tosses Alabama congressional map after GOP refuses to draw second Black district - https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/05/court-throws-out-alabama-gop-congressional-map-for-violating-voting-rights-act-00113962

DeSantis Florida redistricting map is unconstitutional and must be redrawn, judge says - https://www.npr.org/2023/09/02/1197452442/desantis-florida-redistricting-map-gerrymandering-unconstitutional

A Georgia trial arguing redistricting harmed Black voters could decide control of a US House seat - https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/politics/article/a-georgia-trial-arguing-redistricting-harmed-18346167.php

Iowa attorney general appeals decision allowing non-English voting materials - https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2023/08/30/iowa-attorney-general-appeals-decision-allowing-non-english-voting-materials/

Lawsuit arguing racial gerrymandering in Michigan’s legislative districts to go to trial - https://michiganadvance.com/2023/08/30/lawsuit-arguing-racial-gerrymandering-in-michigans-legislative-districts-to-go-to-trial/

North Carolina bill could change voting rules if state GOP majority overrides veto - https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4184299-north-carolina-bill-could-change-voting-rules-if-state-gop-majority-overrides-veto/

Ohio redistricting up in the air as attorney general says governor must reconstitute commission - https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/08/30/ohio-redistricting-up-in-the-air-as-attorney-general-says-governor-must-reconstitute-commission/

Not just Ohio: Biased language is the hot new tactic to thwart ballot measures - https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/not-just-ohio-biased-language-hot-new-tactic-thwart-ballot-measures

Republican senators, state attorneys seek Oregon Supreme Court review of anti-walkout law - https://www.salemreporter.com/2023/08/30/republican-senators-state-attorneys-seek-oregon-supreme-court-review-of-anti-walkout-law/

New Texas laws enhance accessibility, resources for voters - https://communityimpact.com/austin/central-austin/texas-legislature/2023/09/01/new-texas-laws-enhance-accessibility-resources-for-voters/

Harris County breaks up elections office in compliance with new state law - https://www.chron.com/politics/article/harris-county-elections-office-18338074.php

Ken Paxton’s Texas impeachment trial begins: Here’s what to know - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/09/05/texas-ken-paxton-impeachment

Texas AG Paxton pleads not guilty as historic impeachment trial begins - https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/09/05/texas-ken-paxton-impeachment-trial

Complaints over campaign comments by Wisconsin Supreme Court justice are dismissed - https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-impeach-865fadb85762b0039490f218da3b8db8

New filings reveal more luxury trips and opaque payments to Clarence Thomas’ wife, Ginni - https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2023/09/new-filings-reveal-more-luxury-trips-and-opaque-payments-to-clarence-thomas-wife-ginni

Thomas, Alito go on the attack over Supreme Court ethics - https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4181847-thomas-alito-go-on-the-attack-over-supreme-court-ethics/

PAYDAY LENDERS GAVE MILLIONS TO REPUBLICAN GROUP THAT BACKED SUPREME COURT SUIT TO ANNIHILATE CFPB - https://theintercept.com/2023/08/30/payday-lenders-supreme-court-cfpb-republicans/

Tax prep companies that spent over $90 million lobbying against free tax-filing system face new scrutiny from lawmakers - https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2023/09/tax-prep-companies-lobbying-against-free-file-face-scrutiny-from-lawmakers

D.C. Board of Elections allows ballot initiative on ranked choice, open primaries - https://gwhatchet.com/2023/07/28/d-c-board-of-elections-allows-ballot-initiative-on-ranked-choice-open-primaries/

Portland voters will choose from 5 candidates for mayor in November - https://www.pressherald.com/2023/08/30/portland-voters-will-choose-from-5-candidates-for-mayor-in-november