That was a terrific and much-needed conversation for today. Fighting authoritarians is exhausting and often depressing. Listening to this conversation after also learning about the Supreme Court's upholding of the judgment against Trump by E Jean Carroll helped so much. It seems ridiculous that people still support this corrupt and incompetent administration. We are going to Montana next week for the rest of the summer. I have a big box of postcards to take with me, and I just bought two more rolls of postcard stamps before the price goes up in July. I'm packing a bunch of books, including Nonviolent, the memoir of the man who was the chief strategist for MLK and who introduced King to nonviolent resistance. I also discovered the YouTube video of Bette Midler singing, "All you fascists bound to lose." That helped!
Simon, and Professor Richardson, I definitely enjoyed your conversation with, and all of Hopium Community this afternoon. I just wanted to add how much I appreciated your thoughts and comments on the 19th Century, from the 1870's to the early Nineteen Hundreds, which Era I believe was the Gilded Age. It's Somewhat of a comparison to what is happening now. Perhaps not as disgraceful? I also loved your 2025 Tribute, thank You.
but uniting through love, joy, cooperation, gratitude, and hope impels me to add another big hug and Thank You to both of you and the teams behind you both that do so much to keep the world solid and grounded in all the necessary ways.
if not for the two of you - Simon, and HCR - and also Aaron Parnass - I think I would have lost it a long time ago. We need to keep listening to the voices of hope and sanity. Thank you both.
Beautiful Simon. I’m in a different piece of my life… no $$ but plenty of prayers and belief in all of us working out the path to strengthening our American Way of Life!
Thank you so much for having the esteemed Heather Cox Richardson with us earlier today, Simon. I could have watched both of you for hours. Made me so proud to be part of our coalition.
Two of the best and the brightest discussing where we are now, and how lucky we are to have you both standing up for our democracy ahead of our 250th. The timing couldn't have been better.
I'm feeling so blessed, and am now headed off to make my end-of-quarter donations. So many good people to support. Thank you for doing all the work to make it easy for us to choose. Feeling hopeful.
HCR is a national treasure. I'm so happy for her popular success and for sort of shepherding us through this mess. I confess there are mornings I can't read her post - just overwhelmed with the crazy, but those days are becoming less and less. She is just one of the best.
So very disappointed in Gaellgo’s spending of campaign funds for luxury vacations with the fam, ostensibly to meet with donors, cited in a recent NYT story. I listened to him on your video podcast, I contributed to him and others last cycle. Please have Ruben Gaellego on and have him defend his family trips and Super Bowl tickets purchased with campaign funds.
The NYT article yesterday says "In a separate inquiry, the Senate Ethics Committee on Monday cleared Mr. Gallego of campaign finance violations. A Gallego spokesman slammed the Justice Department investigation as politically motivated, pointing to President Trump’s deployment of the Justice Department to target perceived enemies... The F.E.C. allows lawmakers to use campaign funds to take family along on campaign or official events."
Also in the same article, it explains the PAC money he received has even fewer restrictions. Senator Gallego provided his defense. “The only reason this looks unique is because a majority of members of Congress are millionaires who can afford to attend campaign fund-raisers without having to worry about the cost of child care,” he said in a statement. “I’m not a millionaire, and I have a blended family, so I don’t have that option.”
Deborah - I applaud that so many of our current candidates are NOT people of means. We have far, far, far too many millionaires in Congress IMO. I want people who have to take their kids with them to events and I'm happy that they can use campaign funds for that. I once remember AOC saying that she had never had health insurance before she got elected. These are important personal characteristics to me. I'm aware my blue collar upbringing is showing but I am very proud of that upbringing despite rising above it personally through higher education.
Thanks so much for this fantastic thirty minute conversation between two of my most trusted guides through this unimaginable test of our democracy. The Democratic Party has prided itself on having a big tent. It is time to make that tent even more inclusive, while simultaneously becoming more focused on the core issues that touch us all. As a start, given the precipice we are currently on, anyone who accepts the foundational principles of our Constitution and Bill of Rights should be welcomed into the party. Ours is the party that still believes in the binding force of the Constitution and holds the Bill of Rights with reverence. All individuals have equal rights in this country. No single group has any greater entitlement to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness than any other. I too continue to believe that the vast majority of the American people accept these basic truths, and together we can create a new and more perfect form of democracy.
That was a terrific and much-needed conversation for today. Fighting authoritarians is exhausting and often depressing. Listening to this conversation after also learning about the Supreme Court's upholding of the judgment against Trump by E Jean Carroll helped so much. It seems ridiculous that people still support this corrupt and incompetent administration. We are going to Montana next week for the rest of the summer. I have a big box of postcards to take with me, and I just bought two more rolls of postcard stamps before the price goes up in July. I'm packing a bunch of books, including Nonviolent, the memoir of the man who was the chief strategist for MLK and who introduced King to nonviolent resistance. I also discovered the YouTube video of Bette Midler singing, "All you fascists bound to lose." That helped!
https://youtu.be/uBj57ivPsxQ?si=CU-nOLNaA_ZatobY
thanks for the prompt to go find Bette!
Two of my favorites together! I am proud to call HCR a friend (we lived in the same dorm together in college):
Marche on! Marche on!
I love and count on you both, for inspiration and comfort. Thank you so much. Great conversation
ME TOO!!!!!
Thanks to you and Heather!
Thank you. And thank you for holding her in such high esteem. "The patron saint of Hopium". She's a national treasure. You too.
Simon, and Professor Richardson, I definitely enjoyed your conversation with, and all of Hopium Community this afternoon. I just wanted to add how much I appreciated your thoughts and comments on the 19th Century, from the 1870's to the early Nineteen Hundreds, which Era I believe was the Gilded Age. It's Somewhat of a comparison to what is happening now. Perhaps not as disgraceful? I also loved your 2025 Tribute, thank You.
Needless to say...
but uniting through love, joy, cooperation, gratitude, and hope impels me to add another big hug and Thank You to both of you and the teams behind you both that do so much to keep the world solid and grounded in all the necessary ways.
Thank you throughout your days.
if not for the two of you - Simon, and HCR - and also Aaron Parnass - I think I would have lost it a long time ago. We need to keep listening to the voices of hope and sanity. Thank you both.
Beautiful Simon. I’m in a different piece of my life… no $$ but plenty of prayers and belief in all of us working out the path to strengthening our American Way of Life!
Thanks for the wonderfully uplifting conversation! I seek them out daily to keep spirits up.
Inspirational.
And we must keep fighting for what we know is right.
Thank you so much for having the esteemed Heather Cox Richardson with us earlier today, Simon. I could have watched both of you for hours. Made me so proud to be part of our coalition.
Two of the best and the brightest discussing where we are now, and how lucky we are to have you both standing up for our democracy ahead of our 250th. The timing couldn't have been better.
I'm feeling so blessed, and am now headed off to make my end-of-quarter donations. So many good people to support. Thank you for doing all the work to make it easy for us to choose. Feeling hopeful.
I agree 100% Donna!
HCR is a national treasure. I'm so happy for her popular success and for sort of shepherding us through this mess. I confess there are mornings I can't read her post - just overwhelmed with the crazy, but those days are becoming less and less. She is just one of the best.
So very disappointed in Gaellgo’s spending of campaign funds for luxury vacations with the fam, ostensibly to meet with donors, cited in a recent NYT story. I listened to him on your video podcast, I contributed to him and others last cycle. Please have Ruben Gaellego on and have him defend his family trips and Super Bowl tickets purchased with campaign funds.
The NYT article yesterday says "In a separate inquiry, the Senate Ethics Committee on Monday cleared Mr. Gallego of campaign finance violations. A Gallego spokesman slammed the Justice Department investigation as politically motivated, pointing to President Trump’s deployment of the Justice Department to target perceived enemies... The F.E.C. allows lawmakers to use campaign funds to take family along on campaign or official events."
Also in the same article, it explains the PAC money he received has even fewer restrictions. Senator Gallego provided his defense. “The only reason this looks unique is because a majority of members of Congress are millionaires who can afford to attend campaign fund-raisers without having to worry about the cost of child care,” he said in a statement. “I’m not a millionaire, and I have a blended family, so I don’t have that option.”
Ruben has done us and our commitment to him proud in Congress. I remain a fan and believe him.
Deborah - I applaud that so many of our current candidates are NOT people of means. We have far, far, far too many millionaires in Congress IMO. I want people who have to take their kids with them to events and I'm happy that they can use campaign funds for that. I once remember AOC saying that she had never had health insurance before she got elected. These are important personal characteristics to me. I'm aware my blue collar upbringing is showing but I am very proud of that upbringing despite rising above it personally through higher education.
Me too, Kent. I am happy that Senator Gallego found his way to the U.S. Senate.
Thanks so much for this fantastic thirty minute conversation between two of my most trusted guides through this unimaginable test of our democracy. The Democratic Party has prided itself on having a big tent. It is time to make that tent even more inclusive, while simultaneously becoming more focused on the core issues that touch us all. As a start, given the precipice we are currently on, anyone who accepts the foundational principles of our Constitution and Bill of Rights should be welcomed into the party. Ours is the party that still believes in the binding force of the Constitution and holds the Bill of Rights with reverence. All individuals have equal rights in this country. No single group has any greater entitlement to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness than any other. I too continue to believe that the vast majority of the American people accept these basic truths, and together we can create a new and more perfect form of democracy.