Democracy Happy Hour – October 02, 2024

Topic: Reimagining Democracy for the Next Generation with Aditi Juneja, Executive Director

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.

Democracy Happy Hour, October 02, 2024 - Meeting Recordings

• Speaker View: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/yA0BTbI54_p3so-PSi5vJtcyRZp1S99dIuG-hyyA4kk1nISZVIseB1_R0iPDP5hflyJLWzIVVVKo7wr9.3qEUFTOYnTtR4n3P

• Gallery View: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/Dzuk07fZtj0Ni_Ozudz3jaNMr4Su3IyAma6KzRim-4-PBJN7Lo3WLcjvGj3c3W2oZ7qqZT85xrgGETic.RisOUHLCmLjQJ4jy

• Chat file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/7PuFdl1-0yJHnpF6eY9KxeOaBa9RS15UicGpO80THaaKgDWS03y3gP-QgrX0YsLJ5TqDO9cZFHftinAr.BUHOoooSYWrwSfuG

• Closed Caption file (will download directly to your computer): https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/RPTQ4hhD0-g68vLhkKKD5_qilmtvgqr4XRmdFFYCKznR2cwb6LGuBGo0MjDJqHgtPuhQqYbykSO-UowG.DeAb_ZwdsbHqtBFP

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

• Oct 16 - Harnessing Our Power to End Political Violence (HOPE-PV) Project
• Oct 23 - SPECIAL EVENT for Media Literacy Week: Media Literacy in the Age of AI with NW Center for Media Literacy - How do we ensure we are getting accurate, reliable information? What should we be aware of when it comes to digital media? How do we maximize the benefits while minimizing risks of AI? Join our panel of educators and media literacy experts for a robust discussion on these topics, and more!
• Oct 30 - Combating Polarization & Extremism with Ryan Nakade, Ruminant Resolutions

Actions and events

• 3 Big Ways Democracy Vouchers Changed Seattle’s Elections - Jennifer A. Heerwig with Alan Durning – in Seattle on October 17^th @ 7:30 pm PT - https://townhallseattle.org/event/jennifer-a-heerwig/
• Civics 101: Branches of Government & Elected Office Positions – October 1^st @ 6 pm PT/9 pm ET - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctcO2pqz0pH9SSQByJ7BtuTPLrGMn6Koyh#/registration
• Majority Rules – Screening & Panel Discussion - Sunday, October 13^th @ 4 pm PT/7 pm ET
  • Panelists: Jason Grenn, Former Executive Director for Alaskans for Better Elections & Alaska State Representative & Lisa Ayrault, FairVote WA Executive Director
  • RSVP here: https://bit.ly/majority-rules-screening
• Power the Polls - https://www.powerthepolls.org/fixdemocracyfirst
• Why Do You Vote?  https://www.whydoyou.vote/
  • • Coffee Chats – Tuesdays at 9 am PT/12 pm ET
      https://www.whydoyou.vote/events
    • SPARK THE VOTE Social Media & Film Challenge, deadline extended to October 6^th - https://www.whydoyou.vote/spark-the-vote-challenge

Democracy 2076: Reimagining Democracy for the Next Generation

Aditi Juneja, Executive Director

• Democracy 2076: https://www.democracy2076.org/
• Democracy 2076 Projects:
  • Imagining 2076 - https://www.democracy2076.org/imagining-2076
  • A Constitution for 2076 - https://www.democracy2076.org/a-constitution-for-2076
• Democracy 2076 – Newsletter Sign-up: https://www.democracy2076.org/newsletter

Democracy in the News

Resources

• How Gerrymandering Tilts the 2024 Race for the House - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/how-gerrymandering-tilts-2024-race-houseUNITED
• How to Fortify Civic Culture - https://www.amacad.org/sites/default/files/publication/downloads/2024_civic-culture_0.pdf
• OpenSecrets – 2024 Presidential Race - https://www.opensecrets.org/2024-presidential-race
• STATES OF AMERICA v. DONALD J. TRUMP https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258148/gov.uscourts.dcd.258148.252.0.pdf
• Voting Laws Roundup: September 2024 - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-laws-roundup-september-2024

September

September 25

• A Wisconsin Mayor Took Issue With a Ballot Drop Box Decision, So He Took the Drop Box - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/25/us/politics/wisconsin-mayor-ballot-box.html
• Little-noticed statehouse races could reshape election policies next year - https://www.votebeat.org/2024/09/25/state-legislatures-arizona-michigan-pennsylvania-wisconsin-texas-elections-voting-access/
• Majority of Americans continue to favor moving away from Electoral College - https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/09/25/majority-of-americans-continue-to-favor-moving-away-from-electoral-college/
• Utah Supreme Court crushes constitutional amendment deemed ‘counterfactual’ by lower court - https://apnews.com/article/utah-constitutional-amendment-voting-rights-622fd9d4ff15c23ce8ad5f44dad7c333

September 26

• An American Democracy Built for the People: Why Democracy Matters and How To Make It Work for the 21st Century - https://www.americanprogress.org/article/an-american-democracy-built-for-the-people-why-democracy-matters-and-how-to-make-it-work-for-the-21st-century/
• Battle for US Senate likely to come down to a few states - https://san.com/cc/battle-for-us-senate-likely-to-come-down-to-a-few-states/?lid=xgoiolxulexx
• California U.S. Senator Alex Padilla Introduces Bill to Protect Voters and Election Workers at Election Centers - https://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/60637-california-u-s-senator-alex-padilla-introduces-bill-to-protect-voters-and-election-workers-at-election-centers
• Federal court halts Alabama’s new absentee ballot law as it applies to the disabled - https://aldailynews.com/federal-court-halts-alabamas-new-absentee-ballot-law-as-it-applies-to-the-disabled/
• Groups work to engage young voters in democracy as election processes come under scrutiny - https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-voting-ohio-b2498f0dda993163579f52757a58a1d2
• Jack Smith lays out Jan. 6 case against Trump. Will filing be public? - https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/09/26/trump-jan-6-case-filing-under-seal/
• Legal questions about Pennsylvania mail-in ballots loom as voting starts - https://www.npr.org/2024/09/26/nx-s1-5111886/pennsylvania-mail-in-ballot-lawsuit-2024-election
• Revealed: how the fossil fuel industry helps spread anti-protest laws across the US - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/26/anti-protest-laws-fossil-fuel-lobby?
• Sweeping bill to overhaul Supreme Court would add six justices - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/09/26/supreme-court-reform-15-justices-wyden
• Trump attorneys lay out case for tossing $478 million fraud verdict - https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/09/26/trump-civil-fraud
• Where will abortion be on the ballot in the 2024 US election? - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/26/election-abortion-ballot-measures-states

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September 27

• Democrats challenge Ohio order preventing drop-box use for those helping voters with disabilities - https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-voting-ohio-lawsuit-drop-boxes-52a0e94251be6bce17d6b1492c5997c8
• Justice Dept. sues Alabama over program aimed at removing voters - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/09/27/justice-department-alabama-lawsuit-voting/
• The Intriguing Role Public Financing of Campaigns Played in the Eric Adams Indictments - https://washingtonmonthly.com/2024/09/27/the-intriguing-role-public-financing-of-campaigns-played-in-the-eric-adams-indictments/
• To save our democracy, fix our civic culture - https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/to-save-our-democracy-fix-our-civic-culture/

September 28

• Texas can no longer investigate alleged cases of vote harvesting, federal judge says - https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/28/texas-vote-harvesting-law-unconstitutional/
• The Role of Money in US Elections: Can We Achieve Fair Campaign Finance? - https://www.thecollector.com/role-money-us-elections-campaign-finance/

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September 29

• Eric Adams allegedly abused the city’s matching funds program. A City Council member wants him to stop having access to it - https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2024/09/eric-adams-allegedly-abused-citys-matching-funds-program-city-council-member-wants-him-stop-having-access-it/399914/
• Five Court Cases to Watch Ahead of Election Day - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/29/us/politics/election-court-cases.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb
• Trump Allies Bombard the Courts, Setting Stage for Post-Election Fight - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/29/us/politics/trump-2024-presidential-campaign-election-lawsuits.html

September 30

• California Governor Signs Law to Ban Local Voter ID Requirements - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/california-governor-signs-law-to-ban-local-voter-id-requirements/
• The Stakes Of The State Supreme Court Elections - https://www.npr.org/2024/09/30/1202833909/1a-09-30-2024

October

October 1

• Arizona Voter Data Error Affected 218,000 Voters - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/arizona-data-error-could-disenfranchise-nearly-100000-voters/
• Georgia judge signals a need to clarify ‘vague’ new election certification rule - https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/01/politics/georgia-judge-signals-a-need-to-clarify-vague-new-election-certification-rule/index.html
• Key swing state election faces ‘daunting’ level of uncertainty after storm ravages multiple counties - https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-north-carolina-voting-ballots-46a7fbecb44464409d796dd687d3cb9d
• Life Tenure Is a Rarity on State Supreme Courts - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/life-tenure-rarity-state-supreme-courts
• Pennsylvania county manager sued over plans to end use of drop boxes for mail-in ballots - https://apnews.com/article/luzerne-pennsylvania-mailin-ballots-drop-boxes-6c48f0d71924565881678e2a0114c7db

October 2

• Judge Unseals New Evidence in Federal Election Case Against Trump - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/02/us/politics/trump-jan-6-case-jack-smith-evidence.html
• Prosecutors lay out new evidence in Trump election case, accuse him of having ‘resorted to crimes’ - https://apnews.com/article/trump-jack-smith-election-supreme-court-0b9969b480036bb1f7c61a73980d406c

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Good News Websites

• ABC Good News - https://abcnews.go.com/alerts/good-news
• Daily Good - https://www.dailygood.org/
• 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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