This week's Democracy Notes
The lawyers pop off, money for Arkansas, and more.
Welcome back!
I’m feeling the love. 89% of y’all. Look at that!
I’ll sprinkle more of my perspective throughout the newsletters going forward.
I’ve also been thinking about creating a new (opt-in) newsletter with my takes (and perhaps yours, too?).
Why a separate newsletter?
To respect your inbox and your attention. You signed up for the 1x/week Democracy Notes curatorial “product.” No more, no less.
And, to segment my roles as curator and commentator. Allowing you to opt into the latter.
So, here’s the question. If I’m sharing more of my takes, would you share more of yours, too? I’d love for this new newsletter to be a platform for your writing, as well as mine. I’m tentatively calling it Democracy Takes. (Get it? Like hot takes.)
If you’d be interested, let me know here (I can’t see who clicks “yes”). Or send me an email at Gabe@democracy-notes.org.
One final update before we dive in:
I’ve buried this in the newsletter over the past couple of weeks, but say hello to our new LinkedIn publication, Democracy Notes Encore!
Each week, I only include a fraction of what I find in the flagship newsletter. I was looking for an outlet to share more of that great content with the world, and this is it!
Democracy Notes 6/26
What’s happening in philanthropy:
($$$)
“The America(s) That Philanthropy Neglects.” Oh boy!
That’s the title of last week’s edition of The Commons’ LinkedIn newsletter (that’s The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s pluralism-focused initiative).
I’ll admit, I was pleasantly surprised to read the newsletter’s opener:
Two articles this week in The Commons illustrate divisions that are much older than the country’s red-blue schism. We look at rural America and Black America and whether philanthropy — which is largely urban and white — is neglecting both.
Love this! In particular, I found the piece by Nwamaka Agbo, president of the Kataly Foundation, compelling.
The Associated Press launched an independent, 501(c)3 sister organization called The AP Fund for Journalism to raise $100M for their local news coverage and other state and local outlets.
Most of you (all of you?) aren’t in Northwest Arkansas. But this $80K grant opportunity (courtesy of Project for Public Spaces and the Walton Family Foundation) may still be relevant.
Why? Because more and more folks in philanthropy are thinking about the role of public spaces (like libraries, which I’m currently obsessed with) in our democracy.
(See: last month’s report on the power of parks to strengthen community from the Trust for Public Land.)
President of the MacArthur Foundation, John Palfrey, wrote an op ed for Juneteenth. It’s quite good!
What to read:
(The big news)
Who runs elections in Arizona? Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, of course!
He’s been preparing for all sorts of crazy AI-related scenarios via tabletop exercises for election officials. (Think: AI-generated public records requests & deepfake phone calls.)
These exercises have always been closed to the media (not just in AZ).
BUT, in May, Fontes’ office partnered with DC-based comms firm CLYDE’s democracy practice to host an exercise for the media.
They placed reporters in the role of election officials, giving them a firsthand sense of election officials’ preparation and the challenges they face from AI.
Scripps News covered the exercise here.
Btw, CLYDE is the only comms agency with a dedicated democracy practice! How neat.
The American Bar Association is popping off! They’re digging in on democracy in a big way.
Their Task Force for American Democracy released a letter signed by more than 100 law school deans reaffirming their commitment to educate students on upholding the rule of law and sustaining our constitutional democracy.
Perhaps more notably, ABA’s president Mary Smith stated:
This letter serves as a national call to action for our law schools and to remind the 1.3 million practicing attorneys [emphasis mine] in the United States of their duty to stand up for our democracy, protect the ethical standards of our profession with courage and professionalism, and to inspire the next generation of lawyers
That same task force released a great report on proportional representation as a fix for our politics.
Keep Our Republic won the American Bar Association’s Unsung Heroes of Democracy Award (to be officially awarded on August 2nd).
Do you and your newsroom want money ($10K), training, and support to do meaningful reporting on government and democracy beyond election day?
Check out Solutions Journalism Network’s new Building Democracy Fellowship!
Application due July 31st. FAQ here.
What to watch/listen to/attend:
(Events, podcasts, and more)
Are you a principled conservative who cares about democracy? Within range of Charleston, SC?
Principles First is hosting a dinner this Saturday (6/29).
Podcast interview with president of Democracy Fund, Joe Goldman.
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (originator of the Our Common Purpose report) is hosting an event on SCOTUS term limits in DC tomorrow.
Learn more about the role of mediators and facilitators in healing U.S. democracy on July 1st (event link).
The Texas Tribune Festival (Sept. 5-7 in downtown Austin) will now include John Fetterman (D-PA), Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R), and former Liz Cheney!
Where to work:
(Jobs, jobs, jobs!)
Protect Democracy Litigation Attorney (Contract) — remote, $125-$175 per hour
Urban Rural Action Director of Collaboration Skills Development — remote, $110K-$120K
Campaign Legal Center (all DC):
Senior Legal Counsel, Litigation — $122K-$174K
Legal Counsel/Senior Legal Counsel, Policy — $105K-$174K
Fall 2025 Public Interest Fellowships (lawyers) — $73K-$99K
Packard Foundation Program Analyst, Democracy, Rights, and Governance Initiative — CA, $90K
National Democratic Institute Consultant - Social Media Impact Assessment — DC, July-October, no $ info
Center for Tech and Civic Life Executive Assistant — Chicago, $75K
The Carter Center Program Associate, Senior, Rule of Law Program — Atlanta, no $ info
Unite America Vice President, Fundraising — remote (Denver preferred), $185K-$225K
American Journalism Project (all remote):
Director, Philanthropic Partnerships — $141K–$156K
Head of Emerging Markets — $190K–$209K
Vice President, Newsroom Strategy — $153K–$168K
Thank you, as always, for your attention. If you’ve found this useful, please share it with a democracy friend or colleague.
And if you found it really useful, upgrade to a paid subscription below!
Take care,
Gabe