An English King Schools Our Wanna Be King, Trump And Blanche Escalate, Hill Republicans Keep Melting Down

Katie Phang joins us at 230pm ET today to talk about the new Supreme Court Callais ruling, her law suit against the DOJ, and more...

Morning all. Let’s start with some numbers. Brent crude has surged to $117 a barrel this morning - the highest of the war.

National gas prices here in the US have risen to $4.23 a gallon today - the highest of the war. Trump keeps getting terrible polls, the worst of his 2nd term. Here’s a selection of what we’ve seen in the last few days:

This morning I’ve struggled to put into words what I’ve seen over these last few days but here’s my best shot - as things slip from their grasp, as the failures mount, as the rot and decay becomes clearer to all, Trump and his regime appear to be spiraling out of control, losing their shit, becoming simultaneously more ridiculous and more dangerous.

First, the King’s visit. Yes, an English King came here in part to advocate for democracy and limits to executive power as his contribution to our 250th anniversary celebration of our successful rebellion against one of his ancestors. Here’s The Guardian’s summary of his speech to our Congress yesterday:

King Charles has extolled the importance of Britain’s “special relationship” with the US in a speech to Congress that made pointed reference to the importance of Nato, the defence of Ukraine and the climate crisis.

In a speech that will be read as a veiled plea to Donald Trump to return to the US’s traditional European alliances and restore his country’s role as a defender of liberal values, Charles said: “America’s words carry weight and meaning, as they have since independence. The actions of this great nation matter even more.”

Charles’s appearance before the joint session of Congress – the first such royal address in 35 years – was billed as the centrepiece of his four-day state visit to the United States, where he and Queen Camilla are taking part in celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of independence.

Charles praised the historic bond between the two nations, saying: “The alliance that our two nations have built over the centuries – and for which we are profoundly grateful to the American people – is truly unique.”

But in comments that appeared to draw an approving response from Democratic lawmakers, he noted the roots of “the principle that executive power is subject to checks and balances” in one of the UK’s foundational legal documents, Magna Carta.

And he urged “unyielding resolve” in the cause of “Ukraine and her most courageous people” in order to “secure a truly just and lasting peace”.

Speaking from the dais of the House of Representatives before an audience that included lawmakers from both parties and top military officials, he also emphasised the importance of action on the climate crisis.

I am going to resist sharing all of Trump’s vainglorious buffoonery from the day yesterday except for this post from the official White House account:

There was also this moment:

Here is the clip of King Charles III that Zelenskyy’s Twitter post references. It is a powerful (and somewhat humiliating) challenge to the US to rejoin the European fight for Ukraine:

Meanwhile, there are more signs of Trumpian rot and decay on the Hill this morning. Here’s Punchbowl News’ lead story:

Here’s a bit more from the article:

The wheels are coming off the House Republican Conference.

In a week that was supposed to set the tone for a furious period of election-year legislating, Speaker Mike Johnson’s House GOP majority is once again the epitome of discord and dysfunction.

It’s not really clear how House Republicans will get through the next few days. Johnson’s leadership team may lose yet another big rule vote. There’s constant grumbling inside House Republican leadership circles as people snipe at one another. Senate Republicans are furious with their House GOP counterparts. The White House seems fed up with the chaotic House GOP conference too. Plus, the stakes couldn’t be higher, politically and policy-wise.

……..

“This is chaos, it’s incompetence, amateur hour,” Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), ranking member of the Rules Committee, said of the “shitty” GOP leadership. “This is not a normal process. This is dysfunctional,” McGovern added.

But I think the big story in DC now is the escalating weaponization of the DOJ, FBI, the FCC and other agencies against Trump’s perceived foes. As he rages his cowardly quislings are starting to do ever more dangerous, illiberal and outrageous things. Here’s Axios this morning:

The Trump administration moved Tuesday against three enemies of the MAGA coalition: a former Anthony Fauci adviser, Somali-run daycare centers in Minneapolis, and Jimmy Kimmel.

A fourth, former FBI director James Comey, was indicted for a second time after a federal judge dismissed the Justice Department’s case against him last year.

Why it matters: The retribution campaign at the heart of President Trump’s second term is escalating, not easing, as gas prices climb, the Iran war grinds past 60 days and his approval rating sinks to record lows.

Much of the activity has come in the 26 days since acting Attorney General Todd Blanche assumed leadership of the Justice Department following the ouster of Pam Bondi.

Zoom in: Each of Tuesday’s actions channels federal power against a long-running MAGA grievance.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, once the criminal defense lawyer to both Trump and Paul Manafort, has also

• buried the Epstein report, claiming there is nothing left to release

• accelerated a deeply corrupt DOJ investigation against those government officials who looked into the Russian campaign that helped get Trump elected in 2016

• signed a completely unhinged DOJ Trump gilded ballroom court filing

• misrepresented/lied about what happened at the WHCD on Saturday night - the suspect apparently did not fire his weapon after all

It is clear that the Acting Attorney of the United States, assisted by a weakened and out of favor FBI Director, is now just doing whatever impulsive, insane, and illegal shit Trump is asking him to do. Another one of Trump’s hollow men, FCC Brendan Carr, clearly prompted by Trump, announced an investigation into Disney/ABC to punish them for another Jimmy Kimmel monologue the MAGAistas didn’t like.

My point - Trump’s desperate “off with their heads” Mad Kingy illiberalism is escalating, spinning out of control now. More guardrails are falling. As we all expected as his failure becomes more acute and clear to all, he is escalating and attacking - it is his only play. And we must gird ourselves for this new and consequential fight.

I will be talking about all this and the new malevolent SCOTUS Callais decision with Katie Phang today live here at Hopium at 230pm ET. You can join us by clicking here, and for those who can’t make it live we will be sending out a recording this afternoon.

We will also be talking about it tonight at our weekly paid subscriber gathering at 7pm ET. Register here for that one.

Now, my friends, it is once again time……

To Get To Work Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Winning The Midterms, Competing In Red States and Red Places, Expanding The Map

Rallying For Jordan and Rankin For Georgia Supreme Court - This is our next big opportunity to make good trouble all. The Election is May 19th, early voting has begun, and we have 2 great candidates, Jen Jordan and Miracle Rankin, who have a serious shot at flipping two GOP-held Supreme Court seats. Watch our new interview with Jordan and Rankin, donate to their campaign, and volunteer no matter where you are! In just one day we’ve already raised $14,300 towards our $50,000 goal!

We can do this people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hopium’s Winning The House Campaign (2026) - $624,100 raised, $1,000,000 goal (new ambitious, audacious even, q2 goal) - Donate to all twelve of our endorsed House challengers with one click | Get to know Jamie Ager (NC-11), Christina Bohannan (IA-01), Paige Cognetti (PA-08), Rebecca Cooke (WI-03), Sean McCann (MI-04), Jo Mendoza (AZ-06), Chaz Molder (TN-05), Janelle Stelson (PA-10), Shannon Taylor (VA-01), and Sarah Trone Garriott (IA-03) by watching our recently recorded Hopium interviews. Interviews with Jonathan Nez and Elaine Luria coming soon!

If you are looking for inspiration watch a few of these interviews - I promise these great candidates will get you excited about our opportunities this November! For it is simple - if we win these twelve races the House flips. Period.

James Talarico For Texas - $63,100 raised, $250,000 - Donate | Volunteer and Learn More | Enjoy my inspiring interview with Rep. Talarico as he fights to turn Texas blue

Mary Peltola For Alaska Senate - $87,100 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Volunteer and Learn More | Enjoy my uplifting conversation with Mary Peltola as she fights to turn Alaska blue

Winning Ohio - $130,300 raised, $250,000 goal - Our new campaign splits contributions evenly among Sherrod Brown, the Acton/Pepper ticket, and the Ohio Democratic Party | Donate today and help us turn this critical 2026 battleground blue | Watch my new discussions with US Senate candidate Sherrod Brown, Lt. Gov candidate David Pepper, and Ohio Dem Chair Kathleen Clyde

This total includes $21,000 sent by a Hopium community member directly to each of our three Buckeye State partners!

Hopium’s Audacious Expansion Fund - $536,500 raised, $1,000,000 goal (new stretch goal) - Join our campaign that has helped expand our map by investing in the Democratic Parties of Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Maine, and Texas, all now central battlegrounds in the 2026 election | Catch interviews with the five intrepid state chairs leading their troops into battle this year - will get you fired up! | Contribute to all five state parties with one contribution split evenly among these five new battlegrounds

Many thanks to two generous Hopium community members who have audaciously donated $20,000 to each of our five state parties over the past two years.

Roy Cooper for NC Senate (2026) - $107,500 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Enjoy my new discussion with Gov. Cooper as he fights to turn North Carolina blue

Jon Ossoff GA Senate (2026) - $170,800 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Enjoy my inspiring conversation with Senator Ossoff

Advocate For The Hopium Agenda/Pass Resolutions Of Condemnation In Your Community/Winning In An Evolving Battlefield

There are a few more ways to go to work in the coming days - call your leaders and advocate for elements of our working, ever evolving Hopium Agenda; bring resolutions that condemn our Mad King and lets facts be spoken to a candid world to your state or local government; and learn how you can help us win in evolving political and electoral battlefield this year.

Here’s our working Post-Iran Disaster Agenda:

• Work to end this new gulf war and Trump’s Imperial global ambitions

• Support Ukraine and Europe, not Russia

• Roll back the new, illegal tariffs

• Rescind the Trump tax cuts, claw back the extra ICE funding, fund the IRS so it can collect the taxes the rich are hiding from us

• Launch a major anti-corruption, renewing democracy campaign, one that ensures accountability for the crimes and treason committed, limits the political power of our emerging oligarchy, and strengthens democracy here and everywhere

• Make the US a clean energy superpower, fight for true energy independence, and lower utility and energy prices for the American people

• Rein in ICE, end Mass Deportation

• End Trump’s destructive war on science, research, our health scare system and our public Health

• Make clear to American farmers that we want to end the failed war, repeal the terrible tariffs, find legal pathways for farm workers, and make health care and energy more affordable

Please use the paid subscriber chat to self-report the good trouble you make each day.

Keep working hard all. We have a country to save and elections to win, together! - Simon