The terrible tariffs are providing Dems with an extraordinary opportunity to show that we are for the people and they are for the oligarchs. We need to seize it.
I think this is always how it is done, I'm learning.
What I wonder about is the budget. If the tariffs are not there, then the deficits will be even worse. I hope this isn't going to lead to default or something. I haven't been following this discussion. There's been so much insanity that it is hard to keep track of everything.
Self reporting....I have deliberately been quiet lately to recharge. HAD to call Speaker Johnson after the mayhem in Minnesota this week....a man who stands tall on his Christian values has gone blind with false power. This Congress is baffling, even our "leader" in the Senate...get gutsy
Apologies for linking to another Substack article but I wholeheartedly agree with Dan Pfeiffer’s message this morning regarding the use of AI in Medicare. Affects people in AZ NJ OH OK TX and WA.
My suggestion for framing the Democratic response is: Killer bots for Grandma.
Well that and there is now a lawsuit v ChatGPT by the family of that young man who took his life after an AI "friend" told him to. Kids are using AI for "counseling," and the results have been literally lethal. Longtime subscriber of Dan's newsletter--don't always agree, but he is sharp.
Don’t always agree with Dan either but I think he’s getting better and better. Please share with any seniors you know in NJ on Medicare as AI is going to be used on them! Important to spread the word!!! No killer bots for Grandma!!!!!!
Enjoy your Labor Day weekend. I enjoy your posts. 🙂
I loved this! Everyone in our movement should read it. Here’s a good quote for those who don’t click the link:
“The way we convert “possible” into progress is painfully simple and relentlessly practical: make tiny, concrete “if-then” plans. Examples could be:
If presented with an opportunity to call or write my elected representative, then I’ll take two minutes to do it.
If I see a misleading post, then I’ll reply with a source.
If invited to an event that can help strengthen democracy, then I’ll attend.
If I don’t have time to do any of the above (or even if I do), then I’ll make a donation to a group’s that is planning, mobilizing, and delivering an impact.“
I hope it gets read widely! I’m glad you highlighted the “if-then” statements! They are brilliant in their simple practicality. Doable and shareable.
I’m reminded of what Reverend Sharpton said at his rally in New York City this week about how our movement must be highly disciplined. It seems as if acting on these if-then opportunities would fall into that broad approach.
2) Raise hell re tariffs and vax access, those are two really simple things we can call electeds about
3) I love what you are saying, Simon, about the upcoming budget fight. Indivisible call on Thu was really pushing the budget debate as a pressure point that we can and must use to our advantage. Nothing is done (despite the Big Ugly) until they actually allocate funding for stuff.
4) In the limited voter contact I have had, people are highly motivated to vote here in NJ.
5) Mikie is doing a lot more down here in Central Jersey (yes, it exists) and that is a promising sign. Means they think they have the votes in key areas in North Jersey (her district and neighboring counties) and are working on pulling folks back in who did not vote or, as Simon says, have "strayed," - they are doing outreach to my county and the neighboring counties to the south, which tend to be way more purple/leaning red than North Jersey.
6) Do not forget Minneapolis - the shootings from earlier this year, and the horrific school shooting this week. Text "BAN" to 64433 to sign an assault weapons ban petition, text "JOIN" to get plugged in to Moms Demand in your state. This is another key pressure point that we can raise w electeds - MSM is even saying "it's the guns," as I mentioned yesterday. Thoughts and prayers are BS.
It is imperative that we make our voices heard - on the phone, at rallies/demonstrations, and talking to friends and neighbors, aka relational organizing. MSM keeps spreading message there are not people protesting - this is simply not true, and we need to keep showing up.
Had a great time working on the ad yesterday with state assembly candidates, and met some fantastic young folks working for our local Dems, including the county chair (who is doing an awesome job, esp. after I sent her a detailed email on what I think she should be doing). One of the candidates was saying that at the state level, they have taken away one of the key complaints people have re taxes - big rebates to renters and property owners coming for those making less than $150K. They are doing the work bc they know they are in a vulnerable district.
Yesterday I joined a small protest as part of the “Freedom Fridays” protests. We were in a red section of North Carolina, in Fuquay-Varina where Wake (blue) meets Harnett (bright red) county. There were 8 of us with our signs and flags. About 40% of the cars were honks, about 40% “neutral “and another 20% gave us the middle finger salute. I’m thinking it’s a success considering where we were. 😊
Thanks for your courage. Honestly, I've come to consider the middle finger salute a small win. You've gotten under their skin -- made them uncomfortable.
I read in today's post that Democratic Senators have the power to hold the budget hostage with procedural filibuster. Imagine if Simon's 4 pillars were a requirement to even begin negotiations? No more business as usual. Lets avoid a repeat of the reconciliation process of the big ugly.
If all options are on the table, this seems the only one where the minority party has REAL power.
The gop, doesn't listen, they use illegal recission, making the budget process a farce.
Its extreme I know, but all other options require some republican cooperation. That's Charlie Brown with Lucy holding the football all over again.
Also, on the related matter of general societal well-being, there is the drama impacting the CDC and NIH. It seems that a group of Republican Senators didn’t understand the importance of their “advice and consent” role, and consequently, a number of unqualified candidates joined the new Cabinet: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/30/bill-cassidy-rfk-cdc-susan-monarez/85892684007/ . One could call it a warped sense of careerism.
So, the nation’s overall health is in jeopardy: https://www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/cdc-crisis-what-next-public-health/ . If one EXAMINES ITEM NUMBER 26 from the Russian “Wish List” offered by Peter Zeihan in March of this year (see below), you will notice the explicit reference to the need for sabotaging the country’s health and disease surveillance infrastructure. I’m sure the Russian-friendly policies of Dolos are just a coincidence.
First, take a look at (and LISTEN to) this 2-minute interview with a BRAVE YOUNG AMERICAN VOLUNTEER MEDIC ON THE FRONTLINES of the Russian attack on Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lvIYp41Wrg&list=TLPQMTgwMzIwMjV80y8DdiE1-w. Second, ask yourself if you would trust her safety to the tender mercies of the Tsar or Dolos? I know my answer. Also, if they could spare her, Rebekah Maciorowski would make a great advocate for Ukraine on the home front.
Previously, I said that the allegiance of Dolos to his Tsar makes him predictable. Other observers agree on this predictability as well. Soon, we will have to ask if the USA is sharing its mail about Ukraine with Russia. So, here is Peter Zeihan’s take on the (for more timely updates, take a look at his Patreon: patreon.com/PeterZeihan) Russian “Honey Do” list for Ukrainian surrender (forget peace) that will be part of a bilateral arrangement between Dolos and the Tsar (they have a call this morning) to “defang” Ukraine for later conquest by Russia. Please note that any mistakes in “translation” are my own with these rough transcriptions:
1. No restrictions on the type of Russian forces on their side of the line of control.
2. A demilitarized zone on the Ukrainian side of the line of control.
3. No NATO peacekeepers in Ukraine’s territory at all.
4. Remanding the Ukrainian leadership for trial in Russia for … (your guess?).
5. A public admission that the war was the fault of the Ukrainians.
6. Relative to #5, the Ukrainians need to pay war reparations.
7. The US needs to state that the war was also Western Europe’s idea to help with the war reparations.
8. The US will provide financial assistance to rebuild the hydrocarbon infrastructure across Ukraine and the Black Sea [see my other note about the new USA Sovereign Wealth Fund controlled by Dolos].
9. To give Russia their old market back, the US must no longer provide LNG to Europe.
10. The USA should bar Europe from providing military aid to Ukraine.
11. The USA will impose secondary sanctions on any European country that provides arms to Ukraine.
12. The USA will publicly declare all lands that the Russians have taken recently from their neighboring countries as sovereign Russian territory, and these lands can never revert to their original countries.
13. A US ban on all weapons transfers and civilian assistance to Ukraine.
14. A ban on all weapons transfers and civilian assistance to Ukraine from Europe.
15. Russia must have a presence on all points of entry in Ukraine for customs monitoring by Moscow.
16. The USA will provide intelligence sharing to Russia about European activities relative to Ukraine [Mike Walz has recently broached intelligence sharing with Russia].
17. Managing the deindustrialization of Ukraine so that they cannot develop indigenous weapons.
Per Zeihan, by completing all or most of the above list, this scenario would effectively place the USA outside of NATO (the dream of all dreams for the Tsar). Once separated from NATO, there would be no “Article 5” protections (i.e. military aid assurances), and the smaller Baltic and East European members of NATO would fall like a deck of cards to Russia in the near future. Yes, there is more:
18. The USA will spy on NATO for Russia to help with their future plans of attack.
19. All Russian news outlets should be allowed to operate in the USA (please watch Russian Media Monitor on YouTube) without restrictions.
20. All agricultural products from Canada should be banned and replaced with Russian produce (are we halfway there with the tariff regime of Dolos?).
21. Decommission our icebreakers (we have two) and abandon any US efforts in the Arctic. Leave this area to Russia.
22. Wipe out all Russian debt held in the USA, and allow all Russian firms to return without restrictions to the US capital markets.
23. Have future Russian debt be backstopped by the sovereign credit ranking of the USA.
24. Have the USA offer financial guarantees to ask US firms to return and invest in Russia [I shared some Bloomberg coverage on investors wanting to return to Russia last Thursday - coincidence?].
25. US firms should set up in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine to solidify the commitment to Russian development.
26. Russians want RFK jr. to help remove the demographic advantage of the USA by reducing the life expectancy of US youngsters (yes, end generalized vaccinations since the Department of Education will no longer be around to mandate vaccinations). Make America Russia Like (MARL).
27. Break the Federal Reserve System, and enhance the use of cryptocurrencies instead of the dollar (as Russia has done to get around sanctions).
28. Use the FBI to go after financial institutions that provide stability [I shared in another post about how “rule of law” has its own intrinsic value to financial markets] under the guise of being against the directives of the Dolos administration.
29. Arrest industrial development in the NAFTA/USMCA region by having a contradictory tariff policy and threatening war with your trading partners (currently, no one wants to manufacture in Russia).
30. Destroy the American agricultural miracle by banning synthetic pesticides and fertilizers to substantially reduce yields. This scenario would enhance Russia’s agricultural position (not unlike destroying Ukraine’s output earlier in the conflict).
31. End American restrictions on high-end chip manufacturing to China to give Russia and China production opportunities and alternative sourcing options (in the war with Ukraine, chips have been harder for Russia to access).
32. Break up the USA and UK alliance which allows for the sharing of bases in former British colonies around the world (creating more freedom of movement for Russian mischief-makers).
33. Have the USA unilaterally reduce its nuclear arsenal, as Dolos has mentioned in the past (supposedly, nuclear research scientists are presently getting fired by Leon and his “incels”).
34. Create a new arms reduction pact to prohibit nuclear weapons from the US Navy, and allow for intrusive inspections of US ships (please notice that the Ukrainians have sunken a large proportion of the Russian Navy without having a navy).
CARTHAGO DELENDA EST (via nonviolence).
P.S.: Do the following now! FIRST, TEACH CIVICS. Second, register voters. THIRD, TEACH CIVICS. Rinse. Repeat.
P.P.S.: DEMOCRATS (AND PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE) NEED TO HAVE “TOWN HALLS” IN REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS - ASAP. YOUR OPPONENTS HAVE WILLINGLY CONCEDED THE FIELD.
P.P.P.S.: Simon has often mentioned the earnest six-million patriots from the last cycle. This is a large pool of thoughtful energy/talent. SO, DEMOCRATS SHOULD ALLOW VETTED-VOLUNTEERS TO AUGMENT THEIR PAID OFFICE STAFF MEMBERS IN ORDER TO COVER THE INCOMING TSUNAMI OF COMMUNICATIONS (AND OTHER CONCERNS) FROM CITIZENS IN GENERAL AND CONSTITUENTS IN PARTICULAR!!
MacWilliams wrote an article back in 2015 in which he predicted that Trump was appealing to voters who wanted authoritarianism. The interview is bleak (but illuminating), but offers a lot of fodder at the end. In essence, his message boils down to two points: 1) A certain segment of people value "strength" above all else (this fits right in with Simon's observations); 2) The incompetence of the administration is our way to break through and turn a portion of those voters away from current events.
Keep hitting these notes throughout the next several weeks. I keep calling Schumer and Gillibrand and John Mannion, but so far they don't seem up to the task
Sent this to both Texas Senators today and a version of it to Governor Abbott. I asked that the Senate Staff Member actually show this to the Senator rather than just stroke-count it:
On YOUR watch, Senator:
1. Not a single key Republican or Trump-championed issue has gained majority approval among voters.
2. Trump and the Republican Party’s poll numbers are underwater on crime, economy, trade, immigration, jobs, inflation, foreign policy, ending the Ukraine war, and the occupation of D.C. (Independents -61%).
3. The military has taken control of Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
4. Legal citizens are being snatched off the streets by masked, jackbooted, black-clad thugs in unmarked vans, denied their constitutional right to due process.
5. Steps have been taken to prevent citizens from voting, which is the opposite of democracy.
6. We are no longer a nation of laws, nor are we participating in the global order.
7. “We the people…” have become less educated, less informed, less capable, and less willing to vote for the good of the collective.
8. As a nation and a people, we are less free, less prosperous, less safe, less healthy, less influential, less respected, and less of a world leader than at any time since WWII. I personally valued being a world leader.
9. Our government is now staffed with dangerously unqualified people, like Robert Kennedy at HHS and Jim O’Neill, a biotech investor, as Acting Director of the CDC—neither has medical expertise, and both are conspiracy theorists.
10. We have abandoned the Western Alliance that has kept us safe since WWII in favor of Putin (his fever dream).
11. The American people have caught on. Democrats have won or overperformed in 39 of 40 key elections this year. In state legislative elections, the average margin of overperformance is 16 points compared to last year. That’s huge! Do you see the writing on the wall? Do you sense the winds of change?
12. Your party’s leader is in physical, cognitive, and political decline.
I want you to be courageous, to stand up and be brave, to push back on this unpopular trend in your party. If you do, history will be kind to you and you might win your next election.
Thanks, John. I worked on that over time and it keeps evolving. Who knows who I will send it to? It also gives me a template to focus on one thing at a time by consulting that list.
Thanks for this Saturday post on a 3-day weekend Simon. Glad you are getting out and enjoying late summer weather. Fall is generally my favorite season, but it was especially true when I lived in DC.
I've bookmarked that excellent Foreign Affairs article you quoted, and I think it would be a good one to refer to when proposing a Resolution to a local elected official who appears hesitant to consider it. O'Neill sounds like someone who won a contest for the title: "Worst Possible Choice to Head the CDC." Iver-freaking-mectin. I swear, bloodletting as a cure will soon be a trend.
A tariff exemption for small package imports ended Friday, and I think this could really have an impact on trump's approval rating. A Guardian article talked about this:
"A research paper from earlier this year called the de minimis exemption a “pro-poor trade policy” because shipments covered by the exemption tended to be shipped to the poorer zip codes. In an email to the Guardian, Amit Khandelwal, a professor of global affairs and economics at Yale University and one of the authors of the paper, said that the end of the de minimis could be seen as a tax increase for lower-income Americans." https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/29/trump-tariffs-exemption-small-packages
Writing postcards to VA today, seeing the A's tonight.
We are gearing up to GOTV for CA redistricting. This is my first year on even the fringes of the field team, and I feel way out of my depth. Everything is moving really fast! Our “plan” was to use this year to lay some groundwork and in my case learn how it’s done.
Not complaining. I am grateful to have a role and others who share their experience with me. I keep reminding myself that showing up is the most important thing.
Yeah, this is great news – but I do wish the appeals court had the spine to not stay its decision while the ruling moves through other courts.
Robert Hubbell explained this point very well in his yesterday's substack post.
Do you have a link? I haven’t been following Hubbell. So much to read!
https://roberthubbell.substack.com/p/two-constitutional-clashes-of-nation
Another good Substack. He's a retired attorney. You can listen to his calm voice on each day's post or read it for yourself.
I think this is always how it is done, I'm learning.
What I wonder about is the budget. If the tariffs are not there, then the deficits will be even worse. I hope this isn't going to lead to default or something. I haven't been following this discussion. There's been so much insanity that it is hard to keep track of everything.
Self reporting....I have deliberately been quiet lately to recharge. HAD to call Speaker Johnson after the mayhem in Minnesota this week....a man who stands tall on his Christian values has gone blind with false power. This Congress is baffling, even our "leader" in the Senate...get gutsy
He chose Mammon over God
Apologies for linking to another Substack article but I wholeheartedly agree with Dan Pfeiffer’s message this morning regarding the use of AI in Medicare. Affects people in AZ NJ OH OK TX and WA.
My suggestion for framing the Democratic response is: Killer bots for Grandma.
https://open.substack.com/pub/messagebox/p/did-you-know-trump-is-bringing-ai?r=366pw4&utm_medium=ios
Thanks Madam Geoffrin! Great link!
Well that and there is now a lawsuit v ChatGPT by the family of that young man who took his life after an AI "friend" told him to. Kids are using AI for "counseling," and the results have been literally lethal. Longtime subscriber of Dan's newsletter--don't always agree, but he is sharp.
My son's 8th grade English teacher spent the first week talking about AI and this very issue! I'm grateful.
Don’t always agree with Dan either but I think he’s getting better and better. Please share with any seniors you know in NJ on Medicare as AI is going to be used on them! Important to spread the word!!! No killer bots for Grandma!!!!!!
Enjoy your Labor Day weekend. I enjoy your posts. 🙂
In the spirit of Hopium, I found this to be a fortifying read at this challenging time: A Realist’s Case for Hope in the Trump Era https://www.brightamerica.org/p/a-realists-case-for-hope-in-the-trump
This is excellent and very timely. TY Kate!
I loved this! Everyone in our movement should read it. Here’s a good quote for those who don’t click the link:
“The way we convert “possible” into progress is painfully simple and relentlessly practical: make tiny, concrete “if-then” plans. Examples could be:
If presented with an opportunity to call or write my elected representative, then I’ll take two minutes to do it.
If I see a misleading post, then I’ll reply with a source.
If invited to an event that can help strengthen democracy, then I’ll attend.
If I don’t have time to do any of the above (or even if I do), then I’ll make a donation to a group’s that is planning, mobilizing, and delivering an impact.“
I hope it gets read widely! I’m glad you highlighted the “if-then” statements! They are brilliant in their simple practicality. Doable and shareable.
I’m reminded of what Reverend Sharpton said at his rally in New York City this week about how our movement must be highly disciplined. It seems as if acting on these if-then opportunities would fall into that broad approach.
So much to work with. Thank-you, Simon!
Here are my thoughts:
1) Take action on Labor Day if you can - here is the generic signup link: https://www.mobilize.us/mayday/
2) Raise hell re tariffs and vax access, those are two really simple things we can call electeds about
3) I love what you are saying, Simon, about the upcoming budget fight. Indivisible call on Thu was really pushing the budget debate as a pressure point that we can and must use to our advantage. Nothing is done (despite the Big Ugly) until they actually allocate funding for stuff.
4) In the limited voter contact I have had, people are highly motivated to vote here in NJ.
5) Mikie is doing a lot more down here in Central Jersey (yes, it exists) and that is a promising sign. Means they think they have the votes in key areas in North Jersey (her district and neighboring counties) and are working on pulling folks back in who did not vote or, as Simon says, have "strayed," - they are doing outreach to my county and the neighboring counties to the south, which tend to be way more purple/leaning red than North Jersey.
6) Do not forget Minneapolis - the shootings from earlier this year, and the horrific school shooting this week. Text "BAN" to 64433 to sign an assault weapons ban petition, text "JOIN" to get plugged in to Moms Demand in your state. This is another key pressure point that we can raise w electeds - MSM is even saying "it's the guns," as I mentioned yesterday. Thoughts and prayers are BS.
It is imperative that we make our voices heard - on the phone, at rallies/demonstrations, and talking to friends and neighbors, aka relational organizing. MSM keeps spreading message there are not people protesting - this is simply not true, and we need to keep showing up.
Had a great time working on the ad yesterday with state assembly candidates, and met some fantastic young folks working for our local Dems, including the county chair (who is doing an awesome job, esp. after I sent her a detailed email on what I think she should be doing). One of the candidates was saying that at the state level, they have taken away one of the key complaints people have re taxes - big rebates to renters and property owners coming for those making less than $150K. They are doing the work bc they know they are in a vulnerable district.
Keep going!
This fall there are elections for VA House of Delegates. We must avoid the 2017 debacle where a "coin toss" gave the R's a 2 vote majority.
Consider giving to Charles Gaba's Virginia Value Pace 27: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/vavaluepack27
Don't let this Virginia disaster happen again!
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/8/27/2275167/-Don-t-let-this-Virginia-disaster-happen-again
Yesterday I joined a small protest as part of the “Freedom Fridays” protests. We were in a red section of North Carolina, in Fuquay-Varina where Wake (blue) meets Harnett (bright red) county. There were 8 of us with our signs and flags. About 40% of the cars were honks, about 40% “neutral “and another 20% gave us the middle finger salute. I’m thinking it’s a success considering where we were. 😊
Thanks for being out there - that's what we need to keep doing!
Thanks for your courage. Honestly, I've come to consider the middle finger salute a small win. You've gotten under their skin -- made them uncomfortable.
There’s a very articulate response to the middle-finger salute:
:pinching_hand:
Edit: Drats. I don’t know how to embed an emoji.
I wonder how many more secretly wanted to honk, but maybe were with someone else in the car? That is great!
Why negotiate at all if you can’t even trust them to pay out existing appropriations? I would walk out at least until those are restored.
That's def an option, we can demand that when we contact them.
I read in today's post that Democratic Senators have the power to hold the budget hostage with procedural filibuster. Imagine if Simon's 4 pillars were a requirement to even begin negotiations? No more business as usual. Lets avoid a repeat of the reconciliation process of the big ugly.
If all options are on the table, this seems the only one where the minority party has REAL power.
The gop, doesn't listen, they use illegal recission, making the budget process a farce.
Its extreme I know, but all other options require some republican cooperation. That's Charlie Brown with Lucy holding the football all over again.
Totally agree.
That is correct! Minority in the Senate actually does have power. We need to demand that they use it.
Once again, Rick Wilson has made a thoughtful proposition for a simple Democratic strategy: PUT DOLOS IN REVERSE! He simply says that we need to think big in terms of absolute objectives. Effectively, we need to save the New Deal and the Great Society: https://therickwilson.substack.com/p/plan-ahead . The Republicans/MAGA lied about implementing the highly unpopular (i.e. 4% approval) Project 2025: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-project-2025-broadly-known-severely-unpopular-voters-rcna172660 . It is our choice whether or not to save Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Also, on the related matter of general societal well-being, there is the drama impacting the CDC and NIH. It seems that a group of Republican Senators didn’t understand the importance of their “advice and consent” role, and consequently, a number of unqualified candidates joined the new Cabinet: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/30/bill-cassidy-rfk-cdc-susan-monarez/85892684007/ . One could call it a warped sense of careerism.
So, the nation’s overall health is in jeopardy: https://www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/cdc-crisis-what-next-public-health/ . If one EXAMINES ITEM NUMBER 26 from the Russian “Wish List” offered by Peter Zeihan in March of this year (see below), you will notice the explicit reference to the need for sabotaging the country’s health and disease surveillance infrastructure. I’m sure the Russian-friendly policies of Dolos are just a coincidence.
ON REPEAT SINCE MARCH 2025:
The NETWORK STATE - For the best synopsis of the objectives of the “Tech Lords”, please listen to this 45-minute podcast and share widely (these folks are going to leave a huge blast radius - if we let them): https://www.thenerdreich.com/the-nerd-reich-podcast-episode-1-the-network-state-2/ .
Project 2025 Trackers:
https://www.project2025.observer .
https://substack.com/@project2025progress .
https://substack.com/@ahmedbaba/p-158109308 .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPElaGebGPc (timestamps 13:10 and 55:07).
Simon et al.:
First, take a look at (and LISTEN to) this 2-minute interview with a BRAVE YOUNG AMERICAN VOLUNTEER MEDIC ON THE FRONTLINES of the Russian attack on Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lvIYp41Wrg&list=TLPQMTgwMzIwMjV80y8DdiE1-w. Second, ask yourself if you would trust her safety to the tender mercies of the Tsar or Dolos? I know my answer. Also, if they could spare her, Rebekah Maciorowski would make a great advocate for Ukraine on the home front.
Previously, I said that the allegiance of Dolos to his Tsar makes him predictable. Other observers agree on this predictability as well. Soon, we will have to ask if the USA is sharing its mail about Ukraine with Russia. So, here is Peter Zeihan’s take on the (for more timely updates, take a look at his Patreon: patreon.com/PeterZeihan) Russian “Honey Do” list for Ukrainian surrender (forget peace) that will be part of a bilateral arrangement between Dolos and the Tsar (they have a call this morning) to “defang” Ukraine for later conquest by Russia. Please note that any mistakes in “translation” are my own with these rough transcriptions:
1. No restrictions on the type of Russian forces on their side of the line of control.
2. A demilitarized zone on the Ukrainian side of the line of control.
3. No NATO peacekeepers in Ukraine’s territory at all.
4. Remanding the Ukrainian leadership for trial in Russia for … (your guess?).
5. A public admission that the war was the fault of the Ukrainians.
6. Relative to #5, the Ukrainians need to pay war reparations.
7. The US needs to state that the war was also Western Europe’s idea to help with the war reparations.
8. The US will provide financial assistance to rebuild the hydrocarbon infrastructure across Ukraine and the Black Sea [see my other note about the new USA Sovereign Wealth Fund controlled by Dolos].
9. To give Russia their old market back, the US must no longer provide LNG to Europe.
10. The USA should bar Europe from providing military aid to Ukraine.
11. The USA will impose secondary sanctions on any European country that provides arms to Ukraine.
12. The USA will publicly declare all lands that the Russians have taken recently from their neighboring countries as sovereign Russian territory, and these lands can never revert to their original countries.
13. A US ban on all weapons transfers and civilian assistance to Ukraine.
14. A ban on all weapons transfers and civilian assistance to Ukraine from Europe.
15. Russia must have a presence on all points of entry in Ukraine for customs monitoring by Moscow.
16. The USA will provide intelligence sharing to Russia about European activities relative to Ukraine [Mike Walz has recently broached intelligence sharing with Russia].
17. Managing the deindustrialization of Ukraine so that they cannot develop indigenous weapons.
Per Zeihan, by completing all or most of the above list, this scenario would effectively place the USA outside of NATO (the dream of all dreams for the Tsar). Once separated from NATO, there would be no “Article 5” protections (i.e. military aid assurances), and the smaller Baltic and East European members of NATO would fall like a deck of cards to Russia in the near future. Yes, there is more:
18. The USA will spy on NATO for Russia to help with their future plans of attack.
19. All Russian news outlets should be allowed to operate in the USA (please watch Russian Media Monitor on YouTube) without restrictions.
20. All agricultural products from Canada should be banned and replaced with Russian produce (are we halfway there with the tariff regime of Dolos?).
21. Decommission our icebreakers (we have two) and abandon any US efforts in the Arctic. Leave this area to Russia.
22. Wipe out all Russian debt held in the USA, and allow all Russian firms to return without restrictions to the US capital markets.
23. Have future Russian debt be backstopped by the sovereign credit ranking of the USA.
24. Have the USA offer financial guarantees to ask US firms to return and invest in Russia [I shared some Bloomberg coverage on investors wanting to return to Russia last Thursday - coincidence?].
25. US firms should set up in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine to solidify the commitment to Russian development.
26. Russians want RFK jr. to help remove the demographic advantage of the USA by reducing the life expectancy of US youngsters (yes, end generalized vaccinations since the Department of Education will no longer be around to mandate vaccinations). Make America Russia Like (MARL).
27. Break the Federal Reserve System, and enhance the use of cryptocurrencies instead of the dollar (as Russia has done to get around sanctions).
28. Use the FBI to go after financial institutions that provide stability [I shared in another post about how “rule of law” has its own intrinsic value to financial markets] under the guise of being against the directives of the Dolos administration.
29. Arrest industrial development in the NAFTA/USMCA region by having a contradictory tariff policy and threatening war with your trading partners (currently, no one wants to manufacture in Russia).
30. Destroy the American agricultural miracle by banning synthetic pesticides and fertilizers to substantially reduce yields. This scenario would enhance Russia’s agricultural position (not unlike destroying Ukraine’s output earlier in the conflict).
31. End American restrictions on high-end chip manufacturing to China to give Russia and China production opportunities and alternative sourcing options (in the war with Ukraine, chips have been harder for Russia to access).
32. Break up the USA and UK alliance which allows for the sharing of bases in former British colonies around the world (creating more freedom of movement for Russian mischief-makers).
33. Have the USA unilaterally reduce its nuclear arsenal, as Dolos has mentioned in the past (supposedly, nuclear research scientists are presently getting fired by Leon and his “incels”).
34. Create a new arms reduction pact to prohibit nuclear weapons from the US Navy, and allow for intrusive inspections of US ships (please notice that the Ukrainians have sunken a large proportion of the Russian Navy without having a navy).
CARTHAGO DELENDA EST (via nonviolence).
P.S.: Do the following now! FIRST, TEACH CIVICS. Second, register voters. THIRD, TEACH CIVICS. Rinse. Repeat.
P.P.S.: DEMOCRATS (AND PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE) NEED TO HAVE “TOWN HALLS” IN REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS - ASAP. YOUR OPPONENTS HAVE WILLINGLY CONCEDED THE FIELD.
P.P.P.S.: Simon has often mentioned the earnest six-million patriots from the last cycle. This is a large pool of thoughtful energy/talent. SO, DEMOCRATS SHOULD ALLOW VETTED-VOLUNTEERS TO AUGMENT THEIR PAID OFFICE STAFF MEMBERS IN ORDER TO COVER THE INCOMING TSUNAMI OF COMMUNICATIONS (AND OTHER CONCERNS) FROM CITIZENS IN GENERAL AND CONSTITUENTS IN PARTICULAR!!
Sam Stein has a fascinating interview with Matthew MacWilliams on the Bulwark today: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-one-trait-that-predicts-trump
MacWilliams wrote an article back in 2015 in which he predicted that Trump was appealing to voters who wanted authoritarianism. The interview is bleak (but illuminating), but offers a lot of fodder at the end. In essence, his message boils down to two points: 1) A certain segment of people value "strength" above all else (this fits right in with Simon's observations); 2) The incompetence of the administration is our way to break through and turn a portion of those voters away from current events.
Sam's interview is outstanding.
Keep hitting these notes throughout the next several weeks. I keep calling Schumer and Gillibrand and John Mannion, but so far they don't seem up to the task
Sent this to both Texas Senators today and a version of it to Governor Abbott. I asked that the Senate Staff Member actually show this to the Senator rather than just stroke-count it:
On YOUR watch, Senator:
1. Not a single key Republican or Trump-championed issue has gained majority approval among voters.
2. Trump and the Republican Party’s poll numbers are underwater on crime, economy, trade, immigration, jobs, inflation, foreign policy, ending the Ukraine war, and the occupation of D.C. (Independents -61%).
3. The military has taken control of Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
4. Legal citizens are being snatched off the streets by masked, jackbooted, black-clad thugs in unmarked vans, denied their constitutional right to due process.
5. Steps have been taken to prevent citizens from voting, which is the opposite of democracy.
6. We are no longer a nation of laws, nor are we participating in the global order.
7. “We the people…” have become less educated, less informed, less capable, and less willing to vote for the good of the collective.
8. As a nation and a people, we are less free, less prosperous, less safe, less healthy, less influential, less respected, and less of a world leader than at any time since WWII. I personally valued being a world leader.
9. Our government is now staffed with dangerously unqualified people, like Robert Kennedy at HHS and Jim O’Neill, a biotech investor, as Acting Director of the CDC—neither has medical expertise, and both are conspiracy theorists.
10. We have abandoned the Western Alliance that has kept us safe since WWII in favor of Putin (his fever dream).
11. The American people have caught on. Democrats have won or overperformed in 39 of 40 key elections this year. In state legislative elections, the average margin of overperformance is 16 points compared to last year. That’s huge! Do you see the writing on the wall? Do you sense the winds of change?
12. Your party’s leader is in physical, cognitive, and political decline.
I want you to be courageous, to stand up and be brave, to push back on this unpopular trend in your party. If you do, history will be kind to you and you might win your next election.
This is a really good summary.
Thanks, John. I worked on that over time and it keeps evolving. Who knows who I will send it to? It also gives me a template to focus on one thing at a time by consulting that list.
Love this, Nora! Fellow Texan here:-)
Thanks for this Saturday post on a 3-day weekend Simon. Glad you are getting out and enjoying late summer weather. Fall is generally my favorite season, but it was especially true when I lived in DC.
I've bookmarked that excellent Foreign Affairs article you quoted, and I think it would be a good one to refer to when proposing a Resolution to a local elected official who appears hesitant to consider it. O'Neill sounds like someone who won a contest for the title: "Worst Possible Choice to Head the CDC." Iver-freaking-mectin. I swear, bloodletting as a cure will soon be a trend.
A tariff exemption for small package imports ended Friday, and I think this could really have an impact on trump's approval rating. A Guardian article talked about this:
"A research paper from earlier this year called the de minimis exemption a “pro-poor trade policy” because shipments covered by the exemption tended to be shipped to the poorer zip codes. In an email to the Guardian, Amit Khandelwal, a professor of global affairs and economics at Yale University and one of the authors of the paper, said that the end of the de minimis could be seen as a tax increase for lower-income Americans." https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/29/trump-tariffs-exemption-small-packages
Writing postcards to VA today, seeing the A's tonight.
We are gearing up to GOTV for CA redistricting. This is my first year on even the fringes of the field team, and I feel way out of my depth. Everything is moving really fast! Our “plan” was to use this year to lay some groundwork and in my case learn how it’s done.
Not complaining. I am grateful to have a role and others who share their experience with me. I keep reminding myself that showing up is the most important thing.