Democracy Happy Hour - March 19, 2025

Fix Democracy First hosts a weekly Democracy Happy Hour on Wednesdays @ 5-6:30pm PT. Grab a drink and join us and learn about the latest democracy efforts, challenges, solutions, as well upcoming events and actions.

This is a recurring event. You only have to register once.

Multi-Member Districts and Proportional Representation

With the League of Women Voters of WA Education Project Team

• Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/b-0Mb-LY475MPgKZAooR_6z4TEoFfOqEBuSUZVYyvqJpQoImKPRTdlgdLV_xMkBz6syx8n47j4oRinc5.rhBgvQuFRYCXHZlr
• RECOMMENDED: Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/tNGa4tKE2qhYWYP7rm-JIPqlLh7PBIIy5eVeXWExRsjbt-xSs2TThxHLFyT-ik-woKQ2jfwelsoWVKy-.nZF3fA_gc7CgZCP0
• Chat file (will download directly to your computer):  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/nDW5rPtE9i6PKUcy95GLjgUHDQ0S6Uid9MJLPcxWQty43fHL4R9AFRKZcKVBYq2VyBFR4RxzchgF8fY5.blB8vOwDVJSxGmfb
• Closed Caption file (will download directly to your computer):  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/LoxhXlbfa4q-KC8ce0bLP5c3rB-DCC8xH60Kxhp-_hPqkjyn_aMeIFOBm12QcSDsbmOQ9FPp8mHUEmo.IVYYsRCknptswZFN  

Meeting resources

League of Women Voters of WA Multi-Member Districts - https://lwvwa.org/mmd

VIDEO: Proportional Representation in Portland, Oregon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOdZvZkrrSI&t=1s

Politics in the Animal Kingdom: Single Transferable Vote - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8XOZJkozfI

Studies
An Evaluation of Major Election Methods and Selected State Election Laws, Fall 2000, The League of Women Voters of Washington Education Fund
This 46-page study develops an understanding of the basic structure of voting methods and the way voting methods influence representation, voter engagement, political parties, and legislation. No voting method is perfect, and the fundamental question for this study is how to best transform votes into winning candidates and ballot measures.

A Review of Various Election Methods, 2020 (PDF)
At the turn of the 21st century, the League examined major alternatives of election methods used in western democracies and came to positions which continue to address election methods well. That was nearly 20 years ago so the focus of this report is research and a report to bring up to date the information on election methods in use or under consideration for use in various places in 2020. Our goal, as always, is continuing education of League members, our elected officials and the public. Video from LWVWA May 2020 Council.

Books

• Our Shared Republic (2023) by Andrew (Drew) Penrose
• Making Democracy Count: How Mathematics Improves Voting, Electoral Maps, and Representation (Chapter 13) by Volić, Ismar

Articles

• Fix Our House: 2022 Redistricting Report—Single-Winner Districts and the Failures of Redistricting
• Just Security: Proportional Representation Could Reduce the Risk of Political Violence in the U.S.
• TIME: How to Fix America's Broken Electoral System
• Protect Democracy: Proportional Representation, Explained
• Additional recommended reading

FDF Links

• Fix Democracy First - https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/
• Donate to Fix Democracy First here: https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/donate

Democracy Happy Hour Upcoming Topics/Schedule

• Mar 26 - Grand Bargain Project: Reuniting America around a Common-Sense Plan for Nationwide Prosperity
• Apr 2 - Rural Reconnect: Healing America by Rebuilding Rural Local News with Miles Sisk
• Apr 9 - Leaving MAGA with Rich Logis
• Apr 16 - More Like Us: How to Reduce Political Divides at Scale with James Coan

Actions and events

Actions

• 5 Calls - https://5calls.org/
• 50 50 1 - https://www.fiftyfifty.one/
• Declaration for American Democracy – Share Your Democracy Story -  https://dfadcoalition.org/story
• Expand Democracy - https://expanddemocracy.org/
• How You Can Protect Democracy - 29 concrete actions you can take right now to protect democracy - https://protectdemocracy.org/how-to-protect-democracy
• Join Braver Angels - https://braverangels.org/get-involved/#become-member
• Join a local Indivisible group - https://indivisible.org/groups
• Paths to Understanding - The Potluck Project – https://pathstounderstanding.org/get-involved/potluck
• Take Action Network for Washington State Legislation & Actions - https://www.takeaction.network
• The People's Hub For Grassroots Democracy Organizing  - https://www.usgrassroots.org/

Events

• Hands Off – National Day of Action – April 5^th - https://handsoff2025.com/
• Rally for Democracy – March 29^th – 12-2 pm – Los Angeles - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rally-for-democracy-tickets-1274173821199
• We’re Worth Fighting & Other Events with Election Response Center - https://www.mobilize.us/electionresponsecenter/?utm_source=fixdemocracyfirst

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Democracy in the News

Resources

• All of the Trump Administration’s Major Moves in the First xx Days - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/us/trump-agenda-2025.html
• Democracy 2025 – Democracy 2025 is the strategic hub to protect people and their rights should the Trump-Vance administration seek to unlawfully strip away freedoms and prosperity. -  https://www.democracy2025.org/
• Trump Administration Highlights - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/03/18/us/trump-president-news
• What has Trump done today? - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2025/trump-administration-actions

March 2025

March 05

• Campaign Legal Center Sues Elon Musk and DOGE for Exercising Unchecked Power and Harming Everyday Americans - https://campaignlegal.org/document/campaign-legal-center-sues-elon-musk-and-doge-exercising-unchecked-power-and-harming
• Judge indefinitely blocks Trump’s cuts to National Institutes of Health research funding - https://www.courthousenews.com/judge-indefinitely-blocks-trumps-cuts-to-national-institutes-of-health-research-funding/

March 06

• WA Supreme Court upholds signature checks for ballots - https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/wa-supreme-court-upholds-signature-checks-for-ballots

March 10

• Drawing huge crowds, Bernie Sanders emerges as the leader of the anti-Trump resistance - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/drawing-huge-crowds-bernie-sanders-emerges-as-the-leader-of-the-anti-trump-resistance
• The Montana Legislature’s Partisan Attack on Judicial Independence - https://statecourtreport.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/montana-legislatures-partisan-attack-judicial-independence

March 11

• Bill aims to hand powerful Georgia GOP lawmakers more say over makeup of State Election Board - https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/bill-aims-hand-powerful-georgia-gop-lawmakers-more-say-over-makeup-state-election-board
• League of Women Voters submits Arkansas ballot question to roll back initiative changes - https://www.kark.com/news/politics/league-of-women-voters-submits-arkansas-ballot-question-to-roll-back-initiative-changes/
• NH’s new ID requirements send some would-be voters home to grab passports, birth certificates - https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025-03-11/nhs-new-id-requirements-send-some-would-be-voters-home-to-grab-passports-birth-certificates
• The Supreme Court — and Black voters — may decide who controls the next Congress - https://www.salon.com/2025/03/11/the--and-black--may-decide-controls-the-next-congress/

March 13

• DOJ drops fight against Texas political maps as Trump administration retreats from voting rights cases - https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/13/texas-redistricting-lawsuit-justice-department-withdraws/
• Democratic Attorneys General Sue Over Gutting of Education Department - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/nyregion/democratic-attorneys-general-education-department-suit.html
• Judge orders Elon Musk and Doge to produce records about cost-cutting operations - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/13/elon-musk-doge-court-ruling-records
• Judge orders Trump officials to offer jobs back to thousands of fired workers - https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/03/13/trump-probationary-federal-worker-firings-judge-ruling
• Trump asks Supreme Court to allow birthright citizenship ban in some states - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/13/supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-trump
• Trump Wants to Speed Up Deportations With Alien Enemies Act: What to Know - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/us/politics/alien-enemies-act-trump.html
• Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order Reaches the Supreme Court - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/us/politics/trump-birthright-citizenship-supreme-court.html
• Voters frustrated with Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts, new poll finds - https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/13/elon-musk-doge-poll-025860

March 14

• Congress holds a unique duty to uphold democracy. Is it doing so? - https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/congress-holds-a-unique-duty-to-uphold-democracy-is-it-doing-so/
• Election officials face limited options as federal security resources fall away - https://penncapital-star.com/election-2025/election-officials-face-limited-options-as-federal-security-resources-fall-away/
• Judge Pushes Back on Justice Dept.’s Broad View of Jan. 6 Pardons - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/us/politics/justice-department-trump-jan-6-pardons.html
• National Democratic committees to stage town halls in House GOP districts - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/14/national-democratic-committees-stage-town-halls-house-gop-districts
• State Republicans push early ballot election reform, ID requirements for voting - https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/03/14/state-republicans-push-early-ballot-election-reform-id-requirements-for-voting/
• The SAVE Act's Threat to Community-Based Voter Registration Drives - https://www.demos.org/research/save-acts-threat-community-based-voter-registration-drives
• Trump and Musk have huge conflicts of interest. Who’s policing them? - https://www.vox.com/policy/403900/trump-musk-conflicts-of-interest-ethics-rules

March 15

• NC high court election case heads to three-judge panel, 2 Republicans and 1 Democrat - https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article301558294.html
• Wisconsin voters to elect education leader and decide on voter ID amendment - https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-education-head-race-cb9dec0938e079defdd0c2967a1e3784

March 16

• Attempts to remove technology from SD elections lose in court after losing at the polls - https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/03/16/sd-elections-attempts-remove-technology-lose-court/
• ‘Beyond My Wildest Dreams’: The Architect of Project 2025 Is Ready for His Victory Lap - https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/03/16/project-2025-paul-dans-qa-00228890
• Legislature seeks tighter limits on voter qualifications with host of ‘election integrity’ bills - https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/03/16/legislature-puts-tighter-limits-voter-qualifications-election-integrity-bills/

March 17

• Influenced by the Architects of Project 2025, Utah Poised to Phase Out Automatic By-Mail Voting - https://www.commondreams.org/news/utah-mail-in-voting-heritage-foundation
• Presidents have used autopens for decades. Now Trump objects to Biden’s use of one - https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-pardons-autopen-capitol-riot-1956c5dcb44ecba10cd9b01171ca9efa
• Trump administration deports hundreds of immigrants even as a judge orders their removals be stopped - https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-el-salvador-immigration-dd4f61999f85c4dd8bcaba7d4fc7c9af
• Trump claims Biden’s pardons for Jan. 6 committee are ‘void, vacant’ - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/17/trump-presidency-news
• Trump escalates fight with federal courts over deportation authority - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/17/trump-court-orders-defy-deportations/
• Warned Off Meeting Voters, Republicans Who Do Confront Anger and Unease - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/us/politics/republicans-town-halls.html
• Wisconsin constitutional amendment would lock in voter ID law - https://captimes.com/news/government/wisconsin-constitutional-amendment-would-lock-in-voter-id-law/article_af663222-0116-11f0-b13d-5f75491f99de.html

March 18

• DOGE’s real goal is privatizing government - https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/doges-real-goal-is-privatizing-government
• Judge Blocks Policy That Would Expel Transgender Troops - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/us/transgender-troops-military-injunction.html
• Judge halts Trump EPA bid to kill $14 billion Biden climate grant fund - https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/03/18/greenbank-freeze-citibank-judge-order/
• Judge rules DOGE’s USAID dismantling likely violates the Constitution - https://apnews.com/article/usaid-federal-judge-trump-administration-bdc919a5d98eda5ab72a32fdfe2f147d
• Kansas Senate adds to potential makeover of state elections with passage of two more bills - https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/18/kansas-senate-adds-to-potential-makeover-of-state-elections-with-passage-of-two-more-bills/
• Roberts rejects Trump’s call for impeaching judge who ruled against his deportation plans - https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-federal-judges-impeachment-29da1153a9f82106748098a6606fec39
• Trump could reshape judiciary with 300 judge appointments, analysis shows - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/18/trump-judge-appointments-analysis
• Trump’s mass deportation plans hit riskier phase with legal immigrants, court fights - https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/18/trump-deportation-plans-concerns-00234545

Good News Websites

• ABC Good News - https://abcnews.go.com/alerts/good-news
• Daily Good - https://www.dailygood.org/
• Democracy's Good News - https://www.democracygroup.org/topics/democracys-good-news
• Good News Network - https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/
• Politics & Government Good News - https://www.goodgoodgood.co/impact/democracy
• Sunny Skyz - https://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news
• The Happy News - https://thehappynewspaper.com/

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