Democracy Happy Hour – January 17, 2024

Democracy Happy Hour, Jan 17, 2024 - Meeting Recordings:

Speaker View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/Og6iPMYXLje925Dh42nMh-hy0SHl_B2kp7QS97asyS29yJbv8IJAuZdv19JG4jaM_xKD39ZW3aSgTQKf.r9HXhv1RLiGCzSuE

‍Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/dBaRxSN9HToVRHBhT0w_HzRLXWH-T4wsUW6fT740ZwXLC5ZdgRU88SVhs8sIaW-r3H9NfPNnyEODI7XP.agMtgU6JeqB7AkC3

‍Chat file (will download directly to your computer):  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/bjdRuXxZZdljM580dt7RnD2ECk5xZ0Tm0s1kL41G9V1-xJQrpdxVvUbIYwMBmtW1l9h0WI9UrWHl3SVK.I3P5_Fx4YlhZv1Kt

FDF Links:

Fix Democracy First - https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/

‍Fix Democracy First - Donate @ https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/donate

‍Democracy Happy Hour Upcoming Topics/Schedule:

Jan 24 – CANCELED - No Democracy Happy Hour – Instead join us for a special program for Democracy Lobby Week with the League of Women Voters of WA - Elections: Achieving Better Representation in the 21st Century @ 6-8 pm – Register to sign up @ https://lwvwa.org/event-5475122

‍Jan 31 - Citizen Assemblies and Deliberation with Michael Gallagher & Kristin HansenFeb 7 - The People with Katie Fahey, Executive Director (Katie was featured in Slay the Dragon.)

ACTIONS & EVENTS:

Democracy Lobby Week - Jan 22-26, 2024 - https://lwvwa.org/event-5475122

‍LWVWA ACT via Zoom – Mondays @ 10 am through Mar 11, 2024 - https://lwvwa.org/event-5491947

Democracy Legislation Updates Links:

Federal Democracy Legislation:

HR 11 & S 1 - Freedom to Vote ActS. 3313 - Voter Choice ActH.J.Res.54  - We the People AmendmentH.J. Res. 13 & S.J. Res 45 - Democracy for All AmendmentHR 1118 & S 512 - DISCLOSE ActWA State Democracy Legislation:

HB 1885 & SB 5832 – Strengthening campaign finance disclosure by prohibiting campaign contributions and expenditures by foreign-influenced corporationsHB 2250 & SB 6156 – Increasing representation and voter participation in local elections. Also known as the WA VOICES Act (“VOICES” stands for Voting Options, Implementation, Compliance, Education, and Standards). It would set consistent statewide standards for implementing Ranked Choice Voting.HB 2030 – Revoking a person's voting rights only when convicted of a state crime punishable by death.SB 5890 – Reducing ballot rejection rates through updates to ballot curing, canvassing, reporting, and outreach processes.HB 1932 & SB 5723 – Giving cities and towns the freedom to switch their general elections to even-numbered years.SB 5626 – Expanding and enhancing media literacy and digital citizenship in K-12 education.SB 5102 - Concerning school library information and technology programsHB 1755 – Establishing the democracy voucher program for contributions to state legislative candidates.  HB 1241 – Addressing harassment for election workers.HB 2023 – Improving meaningful access to elections by increasing language assistance.HB 1962 – Improving voter registration list accuracy by improving voter address change processes for county election offices and voters.SB 5843 – Concerning security breaches of election systems and election-related systems.HB 2032 – Reducing the size of yard signs that are exempt from certain political advertising disclosure requirements.Democracy in the News Links

MLK DAY - Celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through action. - https://naacp.org/campaigns/mlk-day

Voting rights changes since MLK and their impact on the 2024 election - https://scrippsnews.com/stories/voting-rights-changes-since-mlk-and-their-impact-on-the-2024-election/

Trump wins big in Iowa as Republican contest kicks off 2024 presidential race - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/15/donald-trump-wins-iowa-caucus-republicans-nikki-haley

GOP race moves to N.H. after Trump dominates in Iowa - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/01/16/iowa-caucus-election-2024

This is the real reason for the Obama-Biden camp divide - https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/14/biden-obama-2024-00135446

Maine secretary of state urges judge not to delay ruling in Trump ballot disqualification case - https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2024-01-09/maine-secretary-of-state-urges-judge-not-to-delay-ruling-in-trump-ballot-disqualification-case

Challenge to remove Trump from WA ballot to get hearing in Olympia - https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/court-challenge-to-remove-trump-from-ballot-should-be-heard-in-olympia-wa-judge-says

What happens next in Trump’s immunity case? - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/09/us/politics/trump-immunity-case-whats-next.html

Trump loses appeal of fraud trial gag order at top New York court - https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/16/trump-loses-gag-order-appeal-at-top-new-york-court.html

Judge in Trump’s Civil Fraud Trial Is Swatted at His Home - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/11/nyregion/trump-judge-bomb-threat.html

Trump’s 91 criminal charges and where they stand - https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-reports/trumps-91-criminal-charges-and-where-they-stand/

IF TRUMP WINS - https://www.theatlantic.com/if-trump-wins/

Numerous Voting and Election Changes Take Effect In States Across U.S. - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/numerous-voting-and-election-changes-take-effect-in-states-across-u-s/

The battle over Congressional maps ahead of 2024 elections - https://www.kmbc.com/article/congressional-maps-2024-elections/46338960

The changing congressional map is shifting the fight for control of the House - https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/08/house-redistricting-2024-elections-00134053

Brennan Center analysis suggests 2030 redistricting could bring big increases for the South - https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2024/01/11/brennan-center-analysis-suggests-2030-redistricting-could-bring-big-increases-for-the-south/

How Congressional Maps Could Change in 2030 - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/how-congressional-maps-could-change-2030

‘It would be a complete disaster:’ Florida bill would end no-excuse needed mail-in voting - https://www.clickorlando.com/news/politics/2024/01/09/it-would-be-a-complete-disaster-florida-bill-would-end-no-excuse-needed-mail-in-voting/

Democrats Introduce Comprehensive Voting Rights Act to ‘Safeguard Democracy’ - https://westorlandonews.com/democrats-introduce-comprehensive-voting-rights-act-to-safeguard-democracy/

Court lays out redistricting timeline for maps ruled unconstitutional - https://www.interlochenpublicradio.org/2024-01-14/court-lays-out-redistricting-timeline-for-maps-ruled-unconstitutional

Federal judge challenges North Carolina gerrymandering suit - https://www.courthousenews.com/federal-judge-challenges-north-carolina-gerrymandering-suit/

Student IDs Approved as Voter Identification for 2024 Elections - https://www.waketech.edu/post/wt-news-story/16866

Judge orders new North Dakota legislative district for 2 Native American tribes - https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/judge-orders-new-north-dakota-legislative-district-for-2-native-american-tribes/

Redrawing contested legislative district could cost several GOP state lawmakers their seats - https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/01/04/redrawing-contested-legislative-district-could-cost-several-gop-state-lawmakers-their-seats/

For second time, Washington House backs tougher penalties for threatening election workers - https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/

Women are close to holding half the seats in WA’s Legislature. Here’s why it matters - https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/dec/20/women-are-close-to-holding-half-the-seats-in-was-l/

Seven new redistricting maps to be considered by the Wisconsin Supreme Court - https://www.tmj4.com/news/decision-2023/seven-new-redistricting-maps-to-be-considered-by-the-wisconsin-supreme-court

Most map proposals before Wisconsin Supreme Court would dilute GOP legislative majorities - https://www.wpr.org/news/most-map-proposals-before-wisconsin-supreme-court-would-dilute-gop-legislative-majorities

A Fight Over a Fishing Regulation Could Help Tear Down the Administrative State - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/15/us/politics/supreme-court-fisherman-chevron.html

Supreme Court set to decide if cities can ban homeless encampments - https://smdp.com/2024/01/13/homeless-encampments-could-be-limited-with-supreme-court-ruling/

U.S. Supreme Court won’t take up WA capital gains tax challenge - https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/u-s-supreme-court-wont-take-up-wa-capital-gains-tax-challenge

Koch network ramping up political activity ahead of 2024 election - https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2024/01/koch-network-super-pac-ramping-up-political-activity-2024-election

A Super PAC Forms to Support No Labels - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/10/us/politics/super-pac-no-labels.html

After the Capitol Attack, Companies Pledged to Rethink Political Giving. Did They? - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/06/business/dealbook/jan-6-companies-donations.html

Corporate PACs and industry trade groups steered over $108 million to election objectors since Jan. 6 - https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2024/01/corporate-pacs-and-industry-trade-groups-steered-over-108-million-to-election-objectors-since-jan-6

How Boeing Bought Washington - https://www.levernews.com/how-boeing-bought-washington/

San Jose bans ‘foreign-influenced corporations’ from political donations - https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-bans-foreign-influenced-corporations-from-political-donations-campaign-contributions-election-2024/

State Legislators, Wary of Deceptive Election Ads, Tighten A.I. Rules - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/11/us/ai-election-ads-state-legislators.html

RANKED CHOICE VOTING ELECTIONS BENEFIT CANDIDATES AND VOTERS OF COLOR: 2024 UPDATE - https://fairvote.org/report/communities-of-color-2024/

Opinion - Is fixing democracy partisan? Here are answers to this and more questions. - https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/08/23/democracy-renovation-faq-danielle-allen/

GOOD NEWS Websites:

Politics & Government Good News - https://www.goodgoodgood.co/impact/democracy

Good News Network - https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/

Sunny Skyz - https://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news

ABC Good News - https://abcnews.go.com/alerts/good-news

Daily Good - https://www.dailygood.org/

The Happy News - https://thehappynewspaper.com/