Early voting begins in Virginia on September 18th and in many states across the country soon after. Be sure to make your plan to vote early today, and get everyone you know to join you!
Good morning, folks. The cruel attack on our most vulnerable continues to keep me up at night. Simon's numbers on generic D performance is hopeful.
I continue to be very angry about the selling off of our private lands. The Utah theft is unfathomable. Is there a way to stop this? Some things occurring can be undone. Destroying our public lands is not one of them.
Marc Elias posted about the USPS ruling. I continue to worry about that.
Here is a substack of Amy Fried, Maine author, retired poli sci professor. She was vehemently against GP. I was relieved that she has come out really strongly for Jackson. He has a few issues and one is discussed here in the comments. I have known about it. I also know legislators that were present and I questioned Troy personally about this in depth 2 weeks ago on the phone. He, like every candidate, is not perfect. He can be seen as a mild less strong individual. Make no mistake he is passionate and has fire. He is a fighter. He has not always kept that as contained as one should, but the targets have already started on him. The attacks on him will be merciless.
Booked tickets to Hadestown, the movie, as it is one of my all times favorite shows and Young Washington. Trying to book tickets for IMAX, the Odyssey but 2 weeks out here at the only theater near us, and there are no good seats! Working hard to keep positive and living.
I hope everyone finds ways to relax and stay grounded. Happy Tuesday!
I'm with you on the public lands thing, which was mentioned by HCR on Nicolle Wallace's pod this week. I called Kim & Booker & that was my only message. NO sale of public lands.
I believe the lawsuits are over. However, 71% of Utah residents are against this. Indigenous people such as the Navajo and other groups appear to be mounting a lawsuit. What a nightmare. 90% taken away.
I was heartened to find the below article. If they can stop this until the next administration gets in I suppose there is a chance to keep these sacred lands from being decimated. I missed that Nicole segment.We have been boycotting streaming for nearly 2 years and just decided to watch tv again over the weekend.
I understand your suspicion. I am a long time feminist. President Obama was against both abortion and marriage equality. In 2020 Troy Jackson scored a 100% Planned Parenthood rating. He is solid now on this issue. He was always supportive of cases of incest and rape. This is a really important issue to me too so I appreciate your comment.
Troy is many things and authenticity is one of them. He would not make false promises like Susan Collins, the corrupt legislator we are trying to oust. Troy has a temper too and he once threw a water bottle in a meeting with other legislators. He has a few other issues. I shared a substack in another post this morning from Amy Fried, and if you look in the comments section you will see this.
Troy is from an incredibly remote, conservative region of our state, in Alllagash, in a home with a single mom and they had no heat or running water. He is French Canadian and grew up as a strict Catholic. The fact that he started out as a republican in 2000 and has evolved is impressive to me. He is as blue as they come and may be too blue for some.
I think your comment brings up something I have been concerned about. People from outside may not trust Mainers, and I understand that. We have voted for Collins over and over and 72% choosing a democratic ballot voted for GP. Troy has a few issues and we know about them. Will those issues sink him? It depends how stongly the electorate wants to oust Susan Collins.
I can assure you as the mom of LGBTQ and a long time pro choice activist, I would never support someone who would be another Collins. He has a few issues but this is not one of them.
simon's "politics of misery" just about sums up trumpism. the whole world is in misery. especially americans. dems just need to remind everyone of the misery caused by trumpism.
Hi all, news from Pennsylvania is that our governor, Josh Shapiro, is “using his broad popularity and giant cash stockpile to boost Democratic candidates downballot in competitive elections across Pennsylvania while he campaigns for his own reelection bid.”
From The Philadelphia Inquirer:
Shapiro takes new step in boosting Democrats in both state and federal swing districts
Yes, but it is also in his political self interest. If he has the political muscle (cash, popularity, organization) to flip 4 Congressional seats and the PA Senate, that would make a big statement of power before the 2028 presidential primaries.
It's like the movie and book "Being There", if the main character Chauncey Gardiner was not only dim-witted but also venal and evil.
The Epstein Class requires the laws be such that they can accumulate essentially unlimited wealth. Heaven forbid that they pay even the same tax rate on their earnings as someone who works for a paycheck. I know for a fact that I pay a higher rate than Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos pay. And as long as they help Trump collect crypto wealth and other forms of grift, he's all in on this.
If somehow, despite the Department of Injustice not actually enforcing white-collar criminal law, one of the Epstein elite runs afoul of the law, they can just need to pay the Trump extortion fee to avoid prosecution.
Maybe people will wake up to what is going on. I'm still postcarding. Maybe I'll look into a phone bank for Jolly. I occasionally get an email or text from them, but lately I haven't been volunteering at all. I did one about 3-4 weeks ago but nothing since.
Thanks, Simon! I'm glad to see someone doing something, finally, about the way Trump is tearing up DC. I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen about the new tariffs and about the need to remove Trump, who is no longer in touch with reality, from office. I'm working on postcards to Ohio voters today.
22% of people in NM depend on SNAP benefits, the highest percent in the nation (~466,100 people). Democrats planned ahead for a loss of federal funding for SNAP. Last fall Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the New Mexico Legislature appropriated $30 million onto existing EBT cards for temporary, state-funded food assistance for current recipients affected by the federal cuts. https://tinyurl.com/SNAP-NM
As an Arizonan I find it appalling that almost half a of a million people in this state have lost SNAP benefits. These are some of the more vulnerable people. What's even more appalling is the GOP'ers running for high office in this state are all MAGA and election deniers and won't do anything to help their constituents currently. Last night I was out in front of my city council building protesting a huge data center being considered on land in the south eastern section of Mesa AZ. The city council has banned protest signs in meetings and are trying to shut us out of the process to be heard. While I was doing that, my next door neighbor was finishing her training on being a poll monitor. We're making good trouble. Today is our primary day and I've already voted by mail and had my signature verified. These SOB's aren't going to take away my vote to silence me. People are angry about voting being tampered with.
Simon, I just want to thank you for the work that you put into this newsletter every single day it is invaluable and so much appreciated. It really keeps my spirits up and motivates me for the work on the ground.
President Clinton once said, “When a person with a philosophy finds himself in a hole, he asks for a letter. When an ideologue finds himself in a hole, he asks for a bigger shovel.“
I’ve been thinking for a few minutes about how to add to this one what happens when a narcissist finds himself in a hole… I think he asks for a backhoe.
Effen cretin, "He made certain claims relating to the opponents of his project. Mr. O’Leary has now corrected the record and explained he has ‘no evidence’ that the Alliance for a Better Utah, Josh Kantor or Taylor Knuth are funded by China or the Chinese Communist Party.”
"House Republicans are hurtling toward August recess and a 105-day sprint to midterm elections, and President Donald Trump is showing little interest in boosting their prospects.
"Zero," a person close to the president told Playbook when asked about his engagement on the Hill.
Trump "doesn't care about anything beyond SAVE, Iran, and the ballroom,” another White House ally put it."
Simon, I really enjoy "listening" to your post. It's soothing whether I'm driving or relaxing.
Simon, You mentioned all the horrors and miseries and fantasies that Trump has placed upon Us. His Megalomania has come to a point of no return and He has boxed himself in!
We will now have to rely on our Democratic Governor's and Senator's to be forceful and speak out together about all the atrocities that this one Megalomania has committed!
A thorough and well-written communication from DNC Chair, Ken Martin, linked below. Some in the D Party and others in the general media ecosystem keeping harping on Martin for the DNC not having enough money in the bank. As Martin points out, the goal is not to accumulate a ton of money to be spent in the last couple of months before elections in selected places. It is to RAISE AND SPEND money throughout the year to build the necessary Party infrastructure to compete in elections everywhere and win them anywhere. The DNC has raised twice as much in 2025/2026 (so far) as it did in all of 2017/2018 (the last comparable cycle where Rs held the presidency)--with increases in both grassroots, small-donor contributions as well as large-dollar donations. But instead of just looking at a fat bank balance every month and patting himself and DNC staff on the back, Martin has been putting the funds to good use--helping State and Local Parties hire staff and update technology; investing in partisan voter registration; preparing to counter Trump's malign efforts to steal November's election. Hopium has been following the same path with its Audacious Expansion Fund to help designated State Parties. And we've already seen what a difference that's made in Maine as they had to pull off an amazing organizational feat in only two weeks to replace Platner on the ballot. Martin's communication is worth a read.
If I make one donation for the House Group and/or the Senate group, I Don’t want to be bombarded with emails from each candidate. Can you let them know we want to give, through you a Trusted source, and not get our inbox’s flooded with donation requests? Thank you SO much
Right now all the settings are opt in, meaning that you must volunteer to give up your contact info to the campaigns. If you donate please confirm this is what you experience.
"Greed and gluttony" is right. President Jabba the Hutt.
Jabba is less disgusting
Good morning, folks. The cruel attack on our most vulnerable continues to keep me up at night. Simon's numbers on generic D performance is hopeful.
I continue to be very angry about the selling off of our private lands. The Utah theft is unfathomable. Is there a way to stop this? Some things occurring can be undone. Destroying our public lands is not one of them.
Marc Elias posted about the USPS ruling. I continue to worry about that.
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5976171-appeals-court-trump-administration-usps-mail-in-ballots/
However, I am hopeful here in Maine that we have a viable candidate to take out Collins.
This is a decent take on our presumptive nominee, Troy Jackson.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/opinion/troy-jackson-maine-democrats.html
Here is a substack of Amy Fried, Maine author, retired poli sci professor. She was vehemently against GP. I was relieved that she has come out really strongly for Jackson. He has a few issues and one is discussed here in the comments. I have known about it. I also know legislators that were present and I questioned Troy personally about this in depth 2 weeks ago on the phone. He, like every candidate, is not perfect. He can be seen as a mild less strong individual. Make no mistake he is passionate and has fire. He is a fighter. He has not always kept that as contained as one should, but the targets have already started on him. The attacks on him will be merciless.
https://amyfried.substack.com/p/biddeford-ice-shooting-troy-jackson-maine-senate?r=dyfy&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
Booked tickets to Hadestown, the movie, as it is one of my all times favorite shows and Young Washington. Trying to book tickets for IMAX, the Odyssey but 2 weeks out here at the only theater near us, and there are no good seats! Working hard to keep positive and living.
I hope everyone finds ways to relax and stay grounded. Happy Tuesday!
I'm with you on the public lands thing, which was mentioned by HCR on Nicolle Wallace's pod this week. I called Kim & Booker & that was my only message. NO sale of public lands.
It is devastating. The speed of them destroying everything we took hundreds of years to build, create and preserve is horrifying.
I know groups like Sierra Club are suing. Do you know status of lawsuits?
I believe the lawsuits are over. However, 71% of Utah residents are against this. Indigenous people such as the Navajo and other groups appear to be mounting a lawsuit. What a nightmare. 90% taken away.
I was heartened to find the below article. If they can stop this until the next administration gets in I suppose there is a chance to keep these sacred lands from being decimated. I missed that Nicole segment.We have been boycotting streaming for nearly 2 years and just decided to watch tv again over the weekend.
https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/utah-national-monument-reductions/
I'm glad he's "come around" on allowing women to control our own bodies. I hope he means it.
I understand your suspicion. I am a long time feminist. President Obama was against both abortion and marriage equality. In 2020 Troy Jackson scored a 100% Planned Parenthood rating. He is solid now on this issue. He was always supportive of cases of incest and rape. This is a really important issue to me too so I appreciate your comment.
https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/planned-parenthood-maine-action-fund/meadvocacy/maine-electeds
Troy is many things and authenticity is one of them. He would not make false promises like Susan Collins, the corrupt legislator we are trying to oust. Troy has a temper too and he once threw a water bottle in a meeting with other legislators. He has a few other issues. I shared a substack in another post this morning from Amy Fried, and if you look in the comments section you will see this.
Troy is from an incredibly remote, conservative region of our state, in Alllagash, in a home with a single mom and they had no heat or running water. He is French Canadian and grew up as a strict Catholic. The fact that he started out as a republican in 2000 and has evolved is impressive to me. He is as blue as they come and may be too blue for some.
I think your comment brings up something I have been concerned about. People from outside may not trust Mainers, and I understand that. We have voted for Collins over and over and 72% choosing a democratic ballot voted for GP. Troy has a few issues and we know about them. Will those issues sink him? It depends how stongly the electorate wants to oust Susan Collins.
Thank you for the info. I hope you're right.
I can assure you as the mom of LGBTQ and a long time pro choice activist, I would never support someone who would be another Collins. He has a few issues but this is not one of them.
Thanks again!
simon's "politics of misery" just about sums up trumpism. the whole world is in misery. especially americans. dems just need to remind everyone of the misery caused by trumpism.
Hi all, news from Pennsylvania is that our governor, Josh Shapiro, is “using his broad popularity and giant cash stockpile to boost Democratic candidates downballot in competitive elections across Pennsylvania while he campaigns for his own reelection bid.”
From The Philadelphia Inquirer:
Shapiro takes new step in boosting Democrats in both state and federal swing districts
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/josh-shapiro-pennsylvania-democratic-party-candidates-20260718.html?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=ios&utm_campaign=app_ios_article_share&utm_content=TQJAILBZQRDTNKWUA2EN5NE2OU
Shapiro joined the Pennsylvania Democratic Party Saturday to launch a new effort that will pool donations for field offices, signage, and volunteers.
What a leader Shapiro is.
Yes, but it is also in his political self interest. If he has the political muscle (cash, popularity, organization) to flip 4 Congressional seats and the PA Senate, that would make a big statement of power before the 2028 presidential primaries.
Very true - but there’s nothing wrong with laying the groundwork for his own future run. Thats smart politics!
I really love Governor Shapiro! Thanks for this.
Huge props to Governor Pritzker too.
Saw that - rock star!
It's like the movie and book "Being There", if the main character Chauncey Gardiner was not only dim-witted but also venal and evil.
The Epstein Class requires the laws be such that they can accumulate essentially unlimited wealth. Heaven forbid that they pay even the same tax rate on their earnings as someone who works for a paycheck. I know for a fact that I pay a higher rate than Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos pay. And as long as they help Trump collect crypto wealth and other forms of grift, he's all in on this.
If somehow, despite the Department of Injustice not actually enforcing white-collar criminal law, one of the Epstein elite runs afoul of the law, they can just need to pay the Trump extortion fee to avoid prosecution.
Maybe people will wake up to what is going on. I'm still postcarding. Maybe I'll look into a phone bank for Jolly. I occasionally get an email or text from them, but lately I haven't been volunteering at all. I did one about 3-4 weeks ago but nothing since.
Wait, Patrick. He was evil? I saw him as gentle and naive. Did I miss something?
"I like to watch" was creepy but also hysterical.
But evil is undoubtedly at plat with many of these people on the right. It shocks me that there are so many bad people in our society.
Thank goodness the resistance brought out the good ones so we could be drawn to them like moths to flames! I really found my peeps starting in 2017.
No he wasn't evil and venal. I'm saying if he were also those things, he'd be like Trump.
Now I see it. I completely misread it. YES to your comment!
Thanks, Simon! I'm glad to see someone doing something, finally, about the way Trump is tearing up DC. I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen about the new tariffs and about the need to remove Trump, who is no longer in touch with reality, from office. I'm working on postcards to Ohio voters today.
22% of people in NM depend on SNAP benefits, the highest percent in the nation (~466,100 people). Democrats planned ahead for a loss of federal funding for SNAP. Last fall Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the New Mexico Legislature appropriated $30 million onto existing EBT cards for temporary, state-funded food assistance for current recipients affected by the federal cuts. https://tinyurl.com/SNAP-NM
As an Arizonan I find it appalling that almost half a of a million people in this state have lost SNAP benefits. These are some of the more vulnerable people. What's even more appalling is the GOP'ers running for high office in this state are all MAGA and election deniers and won't do anything to help their constituents currently. Last night I was out in front of my city council building protesting a huge data center being considered on land in the south eastern section of Mesa AZ. The city council has banned protest signs in meetings and are trying to shut us out of the process to be heard. While I was doing that, my next door neighbor was finishing her training on being a poll monitor. We're making good trouble. Today is our primary day and I've already voted by mail and had my signature verified. These SOB's aren't going to take away my vote to silence me. People are angry about voting being tampered with.
Here's a song for you from Our Living Presidents😉 about the importance of voting.
I love it! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Uu9eiCdtPvw
Oh! Excellent! AI is amazing when it is used for good or fun.
OMG!!! what a treat. spread far and wide. so cool!!! thanks!!
Yes! Get off your butt and vote.🤩
Of course, the only time we hear from Bush is AI-generated.
Simon, I just want to thank you for the work that you put into this newsletter every single day it is invaluable and so much appreciated. It really keeps my spirits up and motivates me for the work on the ground.
President Clinton once said, “When a person with a philosophy finds himself in a hole, he asks for a letter. When an ideologue finds himself in a hole, he asks for a bigger shovel.“
I’ve been thinking for a few minutes about how to add to this one what happens when a narcissist finds himself in a hole… I think he asks for a backhoe.
And screams at everyone else for digging the hole
A mirror, so he can fall in love with an image of himself all over again and endure it all.
Or calls regular Americans commies.
Effen cretin, "He made certain claims relating to the opponents of his project. Mr. O’Leary has now corrected the record and explained he has ‘no evidence’ that the Alliance for a Better Utah, Josh Kantor or Taylor Knuth are funded by China or the Chinese Communist Party.”
https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/shark-tank-kevin-oleary-sued-utah-data-center-china-1236816032/
"House Republicans are hurtling toward August recess and a 105-day sprint to midterm elections, and President Donald Trump is showing little interest in boosting their prospects.
"Zero," a person close to the president told Playbook when asked about his engagement on the Hill.
Trump "doesn't care about anything beyond SAVE, Iran, and the ballroom,” another White House ally put it."
https://x.com/jmart/status/2079569594361241933
He is such a monumental screwup. We need to scream it from the rooftops every day.
Thank you for all you do for our democracy!
Please consider Blake Gendebien NY21 in your second house wave. He is polling approximately equal in a historically red district
Simon, I really enjoy "listening" to your post. It's soothing whether I'm driving or relaxing.
Simon, You mentioned all the horrors and miseries and fantasies that Trump has placed upon Us. His Megalomania has come to a point of no return and He has boxed himself in!
We will now have to rely on our Democratic Governor's and Senator's to be forceful and speak out together about all the atrocities that this one Megalomania has committed!
...And the Democratic State Attorneys General.
Do my eyes need adjustment, or is Hegseth layering on the makeup a bit too much these days?
Is he trying to out-bronze RFK Jr (who, likely, has a real tan, and, as we know, that's great for the skin - MAHA!!!)
Between Trump and Hegseth, I need to irrigate my eyeballs to refresh my vision.
A thorough and well-written communication from DNC Chair, Ken Martin, linked below. Some in the D Party and others in the general media ecosystem keeping harping on Martin for the DNC not having enough money in the bank. As Martin points out, the goal is not to accumulate a ton of money to be spent in the last couple of months before elections in selected places. It is to RAISE AND SPEND money throughout the year to build the necessary Party infrastructure to compete in elections everywhere and win them anywhere. The DNC has raised twice as much in 2025/2026 (so far) as it did in all of 2017/2018 (the last comparable cycle where Rs held the presidency)--with increases in both grassroots, small-donor contributions as well as large-dollar donations. But instead of just looking at a fat bank balance every month and patting himself and DNC staff on the back, Martin has been putting the funds to good use--helping State and Local Parties hire staff and update technology; investing in partisan voter registration; preparing to counter Trump's malign efforts to steal November's election. Hopium has been following the same path with its Audacious Expansion Fund to help designated State Parties. And we've already seen what a difference that's made in Maine as they had to pull off an amazing organizational feat in only two weeks to replace Platner on the ballot. Martin's communication is worth a read.
https://substack.com/@dncgrassrootsteam/p-207799878?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2
This is great. Thanks for sharing.
Love this - thanks!
This is very good. Thanks for sharing it.
If I make one donation for the House Group and/or the Senate group, I Don’t want to be bombarded with emails from each candidate. Can you let them know we want to give, through you a Trusted source, and not get our inbox’s flooded with donation requests? Thank you SO much
Right now all the settings are opt in, meaning that you must volunteer to give up your contact info to the campaigns. If you donate please confirm this is what you experience.