Democracy Happy Hour – November 8, 2023

Democracy Happy Hour, Nov 8, 2023 - Meeting Recordings:

• Speaker View Recording:  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/rMwzyTwT6NghmQJMnU_4rS18bS5lgDNtWSX-Ya5I4ePkA6qV3yMBs3kIi_UUu5Tl0lllCn5KZgeCHVYc.T00Bdwe9Y_-0q3L0

• Gallery View Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/wq1X7DoOETzVxoYUBm-aAGhWSppowwcurabxC5ftSgQDu5qhq_GwXzp_Cw8PLP6p8tC7pAyH8b6XIpdO.Qm85f-Bc2dGY9Kin

• Chat file (will download directly to your computer):  https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/sdownload/Hv_hYyuMhhGl1pbk5_4t7oSGjcuhPBMpXNkowYGyR5MCtFq1q94VSAyOUuJD4yFej2JGLN-rZsF4H_nw.Hsvpkphl3hKb8Ag2

FDF Links:

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

Democracy Happy Hour Upcoming Topics/Schedule:

• Nov 15 - Avoiding Election Misinformation with DeMario Phipps-Smith, News Literacy Project, Senior Manager of Community Learning
• Nov 22 - CANCELED - No Democracy Happy Hour this week - Happy Thanksgiving!
• Nov 29 - The Path to Full Voting Rights Restoration with Anthony Blankenship, Civil Survival
• Dec 6 - The Future of Public Banking in Washington and Beyond with Marco Rosaire Rossi, Washingtonians For Public Banking
• Dec 13 - Universal Voting with 100% Democracy
• Dec 20, 27 & Jan 3 - CANCELED - No Democracy Happy Hours - Happy Holidays!

ACTIONS & EVENTS:

Step Up! To Redistricting Reform – Nov 18^th @ 10 am PT – Register to join @ https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIuf-qurTIvHdKzZr8LJIM7hsjmkIccuhdG#/registration

LWVWA Lobby Team Gears up for Action Workshop (Dec 2, 2023) and Lobby Week (Jan 22-26, 2024) - https://lwvwa.org/page-18629/13271047

CivXNow Educator Advocacy Program Sign Up – Looking for current & retired educators - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeOWc_xCfCfCMumfhnIVeDAcgdLahSTFV5fg-4btfUgd9O91A/viewform

Assemble America – Democracy by Assembly - https://assembleamerica.org/

How to Get Involved with Local Actions Links:

• Take Action Network - https://www.takeaction.network
• Citizen Connect - https://citizenconnect.us/
• Mobilize - Events, Petitions, and Volunteer Opportunities - https://www.mobilize.us/
• Why is Community Engagement Important? - https://granicus.com/blog/why-is-community-engagement-important/
• The bucket list for involved citizens: 76 things you can do to boost civic engagement - https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-bucket-list-for-involved-citizens-76-things-you-can-do-to-boost-civic-engagement/
• How to Get Involved in Local Government: Nine Ways to Contribute to Your Community - https://www.instantinput.com/blog/how-to-get-involved-in-local-government
• 13 Ways to Get Involved in Your Local Government - https://www.rocksolid.com/blog/13-ways-to-get-involved-in-your-local-government
• How to Protect Democracy - https://protectdemocracy.org/about/democracy-playbook/

Democracy in the News Links

Live Election Results: Top Races to Watch - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/11/07/us/elections/results-key-races.html

Abortion rights advocates win major victories in Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/07/abortion-ohio-kentucky-virginia-elecitons

RANKED CHOICE VOTING SWEEPS ON ELECTION DAY 2023 - https://fairvote.org/press/ranked-choice-voting-sweeps-on-election-day-2023/

Live updates: 2023 Washington general election results - https://crosscut.com/politics/2023/11/live-updates-2023-washington-general-election-results

Business-backed candidates lead early Seattle City Council results - https://crosscut.com/politics/2023/11/business-backed-candidates-lead-early-seattle-city-council-results

WA State - November 7, 2023 General Election Results - https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20231107/turnout.html

Pierce, King county election offices evacuated while police investigate white powder - https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/tacoma/hazmat-response-white-powder-note-pierce-county-elections/281-2abb145c-43a9-43de-a364-7d530039dc40

Spokane County ballot counting halted by suspicious substance and evacuation - https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/nov/08/spokane-county-ballot-counting-halted-by-suspiciou/

Appeals courts temporarily lifts Trump’s gag order as he fights the restrictions on his speech - https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/appeals-courts-temporarily-lifts-trumps-gag-order-as-he-fights-the-restrictions-on-his-speech

Trump and media want a televised trial in D.C. The Justice Dept. doesn’t. - https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/11/04/trump-trial-cameras-court-televise

Can Trump be on the ballot in 2024? It can hinge on the meaning of ‘insurrection’ - https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-14th-amendment-2024-election-64ea3e076af335a3e1bce6d7620d58a3

Colorado judge weighs if Trump incited an insurrection, can run again - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/11/02/trump-insurrection-constitution-colorado/

Minnesota Supreme Court dismisses ‘insurrection clause’ challenge and allows Trump on 2024 ballot - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/minnesota-supreme-court-dismisses-insurrection-clause-challenge-and-allows-trump-on-2024-ballot

Donald Trump sues to stay on Michigan ballot as opponents seek disqualification - https://themanchestermirror.com/2023/11/06/donald-trump-sues-to-stay-on-michigan-ballot-as-opponents-seek-disqualification/

14th Amendment challenges to Trump's candidacy are likely Supreme Court bound - https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/14th-amendment-challenges-trumps-candidacy-supreme-court-bound/story?id=104587744

Trump completes testimony in N.Y. civil fraud trial - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/11/06/trump-testimony-ny-fraud-trial

Testifying in fraud case, Trump clashes with judge and draws reprimands - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/06/trump-testimony-new-york-fraud-trial

Trump sons testify during New York civil fraud trial against their family business - https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/11/02/trump-fraud-trial-new-york

Ivanka Trump testifies she wasn't involved in documents central to her father's civil fraud trial - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/08/trump-fraud-lawsuit-trial-ivanka-trump-testimony/a505aee6-7df7-11ee-b5cc-66c30a3bbb91_story.html

Judge Hints at a Delay in Trump Documents Trial - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/01/us/trump-documents-trial-judge.html

Renegade review: Adam Kinzinger on why he left Republican ranks - https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/nov/05/renegade-review-adam-kinzinger-january-6-republican-trump

State and local election workers quitting amid abuse, officials tell U.S. Senate panel - https://www.penncapital-star.com/campaigns-elections/state-and-local-election-workers-quitting-amid-abuse-officials-tell-u-s-senate-panel/

A tide of election worker resignations raises alarms ahead of 2024 - https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/05/politics/election-worker-resignations-2024-elections/index.html

Republicans claw back control of elections in key states - https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/01/republicans-elections-key-states-2024-00124734

How states are using legislative privilege to drag out redistricting lawsuits - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-states-are-using-legislative-privilege-to-drag-out-redistricting-lawsuits

How a wave of Gen Z voters will impact upcoming elections - https://www.wvtm13.com/article/gen-z-voting-politics-elections-change/45721773#

Trial begins over Arizona voter registration laws - https://www.courthousenews.com/trial-begins-over-arizona-voter-registration-laws/

Florida - Redistricting plaintiffs face skeptical court - https://thecapitolist.com/redistricting-plaintiffs-face-skeptical-court/

Georgia to appeal order to add Black districts to state’s political maps, but special session still set for Nov. 29 - https://georgiarecorder.com/brief/georgia-to-appeal-order-to-add-black-districts-to-states-political-maps-but-special-session-still-set-for-nov-29/

After Georgia’s Congressional and Legislative Maps Were Struck Down, Court Pauses Other Cases - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/after-georgias-congressional-and-legislative-maps-were-struck-down-court-delays-separate-cases/

Michigan has emerged as a model for U.S. electoral reform - https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/us-politics/article-michigan-has-emerged-as-a-model-for-us-electoral-reform/

Minnesota appeals court protects felon voting rights after finding a lower court judge overstepped - https://www.livingstonenterprise.com/ap_news/national/minnesota-appeals-court-protects-felon-voting-rights-after-finding-a-lower-court-judge-overstepped/article_6b983275-88c8-5326-9a9b-db1c6041eb44.html

Gov. Stitt establishes task force to bolster election security and campaign finance integrity in Oklahoma - https://okcfox.com/news/local/gov-stitt-establishes-task-force-to-bolster-election-security-and-campaign-finance-integrity-in-oklahoma

27K registered Ohio voters removed for inactivity weeks before November 7 election - https://www.cleveland19.com/video/2023/11/02/27k-registered-ohio-voters-removed-inactivity-weeks-before-november-7-election-2/

Oregon Republicans Challenge Amendment Barring Lawmakers With Unexcused Absences From Reelection - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/oregon-republicans-challenge-amendment-barring-lawmakers-with-unexcused-absences-from-reelection

New study finds evidence voters of color in Washington get their ballots rejected more often - https://www.knkx.org/government/2023-11-06/new-study-finds-evidence-voters-of-color-in-washington-get-their-ballots-rejected-more-often

For the second year in a row, three Washington counties reportedly go against state election security suggestion - https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/oct/31/for-the-second-year-in-a-row-three-wa-counties-rep/

Court seems likely to allow gun bans for those under protective orders - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/07/supreme-court-guns-domestic-violence-rahimi

Supreme Court will rule on ban on rapid-fire gun bump stocks, used in the Las Vegas mass shooting - https://floridapolitics.com/archives/642888-supreme-court-will-rule-on-ban-on-rapid-fire-gun-bump-stocks-used-in-the-las-vegas-mass-shooting/

Supreme Court Considers Challenge to Washington State’s Conversion Therapy Ban - https://news.yahoo.com/supreme-court-considers-challenge-washington-174803694.html

Bankman-Fried convicted on all charges after weeks-long criminal trial - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/11/02/sbf-bankman-fried-trial-ftx

Faith in Elections Playbook - https://www.interfaithamerica.org/resources/faith-in-elections/

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/