Democracy Happy Hour – September 8, 2021

Democracy Happy Hour, September 8, 2021 - Meeting Recordings & Chat:

• Speaker View Recording:  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/Aph0FIfOkcaBR6CDsGtAanAb7D9BTpKdzvyxuD7uaixbRQMJBN2pODFAWtLmhjGNuou_7eWD29jpOXx_.Si8k0lU1Qi8x-VKh

• Gallery View Recording:  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/2lT7bsd8uQiU4YU5pE6hoI1Bs1N0xiSk7sbd2Cud6fzU-UHh9HG7_ap9cohkftQIGwBWpn0QDcLEr8RS.zSanQ-1i4OP6MXXT

• Chat (Link will download a text file to your computer):  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/EvQX4G7DbAFxli9VaSzZ6ovORANYQxPtcq87x2wR1emRSJ80Xr5mPPTt6ObLUVFow6k1WLFHS3gGnt_r.N1_ImVI7v-TXXpjj

Actions, Events & Misc. Links:

Upcoming Democracy Happy Hour topics:

• Sept 15th - Election Audits – What are the best options?
• Sept 22nd - Extremism in the U.S. – What, When & How?
• Sept 29th - Gender & Racial Parity in Political Participation – Why does it matter?

TAKE ACTION for VOTING RIGHTS – Please commit to doing one or more of these actions:

• Call your Senators: 1.888.453.3211 - Tell them to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the For the People Act & Washington, D.C. Admission Act.
• Call the White House: 202.456.1111 or 1.888.724.8746 - Tell the President to use his power to push the Senate to pass these bills. (The comment line is open Tues-Thurs, 8 am – 12 pm PT.)
• Email Your Senators: Pass The John Lewis Voting Rights Act! - https://www.wearemarchon.org/action-email-john-lewis-voting-rights-act/
• March On For Voting Rights - Sign the Pledge @ marchonforvotingrights.org or votingrightspledge.org or Text PLEDGE to 89799
• March On Action Page - marchonforvotingrights.org/action
• March On - Sign up to Help Register Voters - airtable.com/shr4inVcMttcwNVSR
• League of Women Voters - Take Action page: lwv.org/take-action
• Indivisible National - Take Action page - For the People Act: forthepeople.indivisible.org
• Declaration for American Democracy - Take Action: dfadcoalition.org/takeaction
• Common Cause Phone Banks: mobilize.us/commoncause/event/376178
• Represent Us National Phone Banks: vol.represent.us/a/events-calendar?date_start=08-24-21&date_end=10-23-21
• Fair Fight Hot Call Summer: stopjimcrow2.com
• Host a Virtual Postcard or Letter Writing Party: actionnetwork.org/forms/help-pass-the-for-the-people-act-host-a-virtual-postcard-party
• Letter To the Editor - Use this LTE tool to submit a letter to their local newspapers: dfadcoalition.org/lte
• Share your Story: forms.gle/L9HGMSLYF2n955qp8
• Sign the petition: Urge the Senate to pass John Lewis VRAA @ bit.ly/38qI0Zg
• Tell Senate Democrats: Reform the Jim Crow Filibuster - https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/Jim-Crow-Filibuster

“Democracy Vouchers: How bringing money into politics can drive money out of politics” with author Tom Latkowski - September 9th @ 6 pm

• Register @ https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pH0LBbJmSGW4cdcZsRkdow
• Donate $35 or more & receive a FREE copy of “Democracy Vouchers” - https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/donate/book-fundraiser

• Defending Democracy in a Period of Far-Right Insurrection w/ Leonard Zeskind and Devin Burghart - September 23rd @ 5 pm PT – Register @ https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pL1afA7lQ7OGjfJv_142gw

WA Redistricting Links:

• Redistricting Justice for WA - https://www.redistrictingjusticewa.org/

• Pledge to Support Community-Led WA Redistricting Maps - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdjS_COUv7ekwXIShQ0-lvrWD2ZMU5k4Z-0lVkFsmok6LzFHw/viewform

• WA State Redistricting Commission - https://www.redistricting.wa.gov/

• Public Comment: They are still taking public comment via written testimony, email, voicemail, video submissions. More info here: https://www.redistricting.wa.gov/provide-public-testimony
• Important dates to note:

DrawYourWA mapping tool now live with the official Census Bureau redistricting data and the state’s adjusted data based on relocation of persons in state custody to their last known address for purposes of redistricting. We will inform the public as soon as the data has been uploaded.

• Tuesday, September 21 – Commissioners will each release their proposed state legislative district map.
• Tuesday, September 28 – Commissioners will each release their proposed congressional district map.
• Tuesday, October 5 (7 p.m.) – Statewide Virtual Public Outreach Meeting to receive feedback on state legislative map proposals.
• Saturday, October 9 (10 a.m.) - Statewide Virtual Public Outreach Meeting to receive feedback on congressional map proposals.
• Friday, October 22 – Deadline to ensure full consideration of third-party map submissions by the Commission.
• Monday, November 15 (11:59 p.m.) – Deadline for Commission to submit final maps to the Legislature.

DONATE:

• Fix Democracy First or Fix Democracy First Education Fund - https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/donate
• YO VOTE! - https://www.yo-vote.org/donate
• Donate $35 or more & receive a FREE copy of “Democracy Vouchers” by Tom Latkowski -https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/donate/book-fundraiser

Democracy in the News Links:

What The Texas Abortion Ban Does — And What It Means For Other States - https://www.npr.org/2021/09/01/1033202132/texas-abortion-ban-what-happens-next

What to know about the Texas abortion law - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/09/01/texas-abortion-law-faq/

Texas anti-abortion law turns everyday citizens into bounty hunters - https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/texas-anti-abortion-law-turns-everyday-citizens-into-bounty-hunters/

Texas created a blueprint for abortion restrictions. Republican-controlled states may follow suit. - https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/09/03/texas-abortion-ban-states/

Why Texas’s Abortion Law May Go Too Far For Most Americans - https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-texass-abortion-law-may-go-too-far-for-most-americans/

Texas county judge temporarily blocks anti-abortion group from enforcing ban against Planned Parenthood - https://www.axios.com/texas-abortion-planned-parenthood-judge-3e5c1b88-077a-4578-b30b-68d53694cae7.html

Justice Department to protect women seeking an abortion in Texas - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/abortion-justice-department-biden-administration-texas/2021/09/06/f9cdc7ba-0f36-11ec-882f-2dd15a067dc4_story.html

Corporate America, critical of restrictive voting bills, remains largely silent on Texas abortion ban - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/09/04/companies-response-texas-abortion-ban/

Mexico’s Supreme Court Votes to Decriminalize Abortion - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/07/world/americas/mexico-supreme-court-decriminalize-abortion.html

Women’s March – October 2nd - https://womensmarch.com/

State GOP leaders push new 2020 election reviews as Arizona report looms - https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/07/state-gop-2020-election-review-510023

Heeding Steve Bannon’s Call, Election Deniers Organize to Seize Control of the GOP — and Reshape America’s Elections - https://www.propublica.org/article/heeding-steve-bannons-call-election-deniers-organize-to-seize-control-of-the-gop-and-reshape-americas-elections

Special Report: Terrorized U.S. election workers get little help from law enforcement - https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/terrorized-us-election-workers-get-little-help-law-enforcement-2021-09-08/

Bipartisan group offers free legal aid to election workers facing intimidation - https://thefulcrum.us/big-picture/election-workers-legal-assistance

After voters embraced mail ballots, GOP states tighten rules - https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-voting-rights-election-2020-2caf9b85bec73c807ecea15775f6da63

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs law creating new voting restrictions as opponents sue in federal court - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/09/07/abbott-texas-voting-restrictions-signs-bill/

New Texas voting bill deepens growing disparities in how Americans can cast their ballots - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/voting-rights-national-divide/2021/09/05/24165092-0b4e-11ec-9781-07796ffb56fe_story.html

We’re Suing Texas Over Its New Voter Suppression Law - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/were-suing-texas-over-its-new-voter-suppression-law

North Florida Voting Rights Advocates Call For More Federal Oversight - https://news.wfsu.org/wfsu-local-news/2021-09-01/north-florida-voting-rights-advocates-call-for-more-federal-oversight

The election gambit that’s sending Georgia Democrats into a frenzy - https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/02/georgia-democrats-election-gambit-508681

Kansas’ new law halts voter registration efforts, as local elections draw near - https://www.ksnt.com/capitol-bureau/kansas-new-law-halts-voter-registration-efforts-as-local-elections-draw-near/

Georgia shows the promise of automatic voter registration - https://www.facingsouth.org/2021/09/georgia-shows-promise-automatic-voter-registration

New study suggests Native American voting disparity growing - https://missoulacurrent.com/government/2021/09/voting-disparity/

ALEC Lied About Its Work on Election Suppression Bills - https://readsludge.com/2021/09/01/alec-lied-about-its-work-on-election-suppression-bills/

The John Lewis Act would restore key voting protections. Democrats should fight for it. - https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/06/john-lewis-act-would-restore-key-voting-protections-democrats-should-fight-it/

Justice Department releases Voting Rights Act mapmaking guidance - https://www.rollcall.com/2021/09/01/justice-department-releases-voting-rights-act-mapmaking-guidance/

Joe Biden Needs to Get Serious About Voting Rights - https://jacobinmag.com/2021/09/joe-biden-voting-rights-texas-republicans

The Divide in American Democracy Deepens - https://votingrightslab.org/a-tale-of-two-democracies-how-the-2021-wave-of-state-voting-laws-created-a-new-american-fault-line/

Congressional Gerrymandering Is Voter Suppression, Too - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/congressional-gerrymandering-is-voter-suppression-too/2021/09/07/f2f0a394-0fff-11ec-baca-86b144fc8a2d_story.html

Barely underway, Texas redistricting draws its first lawsuit challenging Legislature’s authority to redraw legislative maps - https://www.texastribune.org/2021/09/01/texas-legislature-redistricting/

Native American leaders in S.D. keeping close eye on legislative redistricting - https://www.sdnewswatch.org/stories/native-american-leaders-keeping-close-eye-on-legislative-redistricting/

Redistricting and the Coming Collisions Between Partisans and Courts - https://www.governing.com/now/redistricting-and-the-coming-collisions-between-partisans-and-courts

How redistricting may cause a delay to the 2022 primary calendar - https://news.ballotpedia.org/2021/09/07/how-redistricting-may-cause-a-delay-to-the-2022-primary-calendar/

Tea party 2.0? Conservatives get organized in school battles - https://apnews.com/article/business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-3157002e9d011e5283f55886b1c7078a

COMPANIES LOBBYING AGAINST INFRASTRUCTURE TAX INCREASES HAVE AVOIDED PAYING BILLIONS IN TAXES - https://theintercept.com/2021/09/06/infrastructure-bill-companies-tax-increase/

Why I Won’t Support Spending Another $3.5 Trillion - https://www.wsj.com/articles/manchin-pelosi-biden-3-5-trillion-reconciliation-government-spending-debt-deficit-inflation-11630605657

‘Sick of bipartisan corruption’: AOC takes aim at Joe Manchin for ‘huddling’ with fossil fuel lobbyists - https://news.yahoo.com/sick-bipartisan-corruption-aoc-takes-221832577.html

Shadow docket Supreme Court decisions could affect millions - https://fortwaynesnbc.com/2021/09/04/shadow-docket-supreme-court-decisions-could-affect-millions-2/

Partisan divides in media trust widen, driven by a decline among Republicans - https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/08/30/partisan-divides-in-media-trust-widen-driven-by-a-decline-among-republicans/

Why Right-Wing Media Wants its Viewers to Live in Another Reality - https://www.smerconish.com/exclusive-content/why-right-wing-media-wants-its-viewers-to-live-in-another-reality

The Internet Trust Tool - https://www.newsguardtech.com/

Patriotism and freedom: The two most misused terms in U.S. politics - https://thefulcrum.us/big-picture/understanding-of-freedom

How a Small Town Silenced a Neo-Nazi Hate Campaign - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/05/us/politics/nazi-whitefish-charlottesville.html

The Democracy Constitution - https://democracyjournal.org/magazine/61/the-democracy-constitution/

The Influence of Political Think Tanks on Policy Making Links:

Think Tank - Definition - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_tank

A History of Think-Tanks: 12 Things You Should Know - https://medium.com/chatham-house/a-history-of-think-tanks-12-things-you-should-know-4283b76b2da3

The Fifth Estate: Think Tanks, Public Policy, and Governance - https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/chapter-one_-the-fifth-estate.pdf

How Think Tanks Influence Policy – An Overview of Current Debates - https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52e1f399e4b06a94c0cdaa41/t/53204216e4b04cff12000948/1394622998318/How+Think+Tanks+Influence+Policy+-+An+Overview+of+Current+Debates+_Transparify+2014_.pdf

What's Behind the 'Think Tanks' That Influence US Policy? - https://www.voanews.com/usa/whats-behind-think-tanks-influence-us-policy

Do Think Tanks Still Matter? Myths and Reality of Think Tank Influence in the Digital Age - https://ecpr.eu/Events/Event/PanelDetails/10150

How Think Tanks Amplify Corporate America’s Influence - https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/08/us/politics/think-tanks-research-and-corporate-lobbying.html

Think tanks, evidence and policy: democratic players or clandestine lobbyists? - https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2017/02/08/think-tanks-evidence-and-policy/

Positioning think tanks for policy influence - https://www.idrc.ca/en/research-in-action/positioning-think-tanks-policy-influence

Top Influential Think Tanks 2021 - https://academicinfluence.com/inflection/influence/influential-think-tanks

Political Biases of Influential Think Tanks - https://academicinfluence.com/inflection/influence/influential-think-tanks#top-conservative

The 50 Most Influential Think Tanks in the United States - https://thebestschools.org/features/most-influential-think-tanks/