Not only did John Ewing Jr. flip Omaha Blue after 12 years of Republican control, he did so in a landslide, scoring more than a twelve-point win over incumbent Jean Stothert. That’s an amazing accomplishment.
The election of John Ewing Jr. in Omaha is unalloyed good news. Look at the margin:
Jean Stothert* - 43.7%
John Ewing Jr. - 56.3%. That is a resounding victory in the State of Nebraska's largest city. 486,000 people.
Ewing will be the first Black mayor elected in Omaha, and this in a city in which just 13% of people of all ages are Black..
In other news, Jane Kleeb, President of the Nebraska Democrats reported that Democrats "swept local elections in Lincoln," the state's capital. One might be tempted downplay this by noting that Lincoln is the home of the University of Nebraska and as a university town will always swing a little left, but huge public universities in the states of the Great Plains or the Midwest are often definitely not bastions of liberalism. And we've been told by the consulting class that the Democrats are losing the youth vote.
This is the news the Democratic Party should focus on, not the 2024 election or who lost the last war or fights within the DNC.
Exactly! Read in attached link that DNC is rerunning Vice Chair elections and fighting publicly over motives. Not remotely helpful to the fight upon us now.
There has been no decision by the DNC to re-run the Vice Chair election. It was a resolution passed by the Credentials Committee that would need to be voted on by the entire DNC. I watched the entire DNC elections in real time, and found it unusual that during the election of the last two seats won by Malcolm Kenyatta and David Hogg (both seats on the same ballot question) voters were told that one person elected in the two remaining vice chair seats would need to be male. That probably skewed the vote and resulted in two males taking the highest number of votes, and no females. Separate votes for each position would have avoided the problem. One of the three female candidates, Kalyn Free, who is an attorney from Oklahoma, filed a complaint to the Credentials Committe based on the procedural error.
I absolutely agree with your last line. This is the time for moving forward, not dwelling on the past or bickering over whatever the DNC is bickering over. We do not have a moment to lose. The opposition will stop at nothing to get its own way and it is our job to stop them.
Right On! FOCUS ON the NEXT best step to continue reinforcing every WINNING action, be it an election or a legal “correction”bringing someone home from a Homeland Security ICE jail/prison/extradition !
Simon I know you’re working hard and probably don’t have time to update With Dems Things Get Better but if you could link to the last one you did from time to time (or stick in a link and leave it there as you post new stuff), it would be great. It is such important evidence that Dem policies work while R policies don’t, and that Dems are so much more than just the anti-Trump party.
Anyone else here watching Andor, a Star Wars series without Jedis or The Force? Whether unintended or intentional (imho, yes it is), the commentary on our current political situation is uncanny.
That said, I certainly didn’t see this argument coming! This is amazing!
Jennings on Emperor Palpatine: He took on an entrenched Deep State at the Jedi Council. He wanted free and fair and reciprocal trade around the galaxy. Protected law and order.
Lathan: He blew up Alderaan.
Jennings: Some could argue it was warranted given their rebellious activities. He defended the empire against unelected hippies and violent protesters.
Arctic Stones, I LOVED Andor! Not being a sci fi fan, I'd only seen the first 3 Star Wars movies, when they came out. (they struck me as being 'Flash Gordon' like, to date myself.) But I began watching Andor on my son's recommendation, and just finished Season 2 (there won't be more.) WOW! It shows how a free society is turned into an authoritarian state, and the difficulty but persistence of people who decide to fight evil, little by little, everywhere, not with just one leader. Doesn't that sound familiar? It's incredibly relevant and timely! One character notes that the Empire has become stronger by throwing so many things at the populace, they feel overwhelmed and helpless. Definitely all happening right now. (Of course, now I have to watch the Rogue One movie, set at the end of Andor, followed by the original Star Wars!)
I am really behind, but finally started the last season of Rebels. I kinda had the same reaction to that, though. Andor is definitely on the list.
Recently, though, I was reading about Colbertism. Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the Minister of State for Louis XIV, came up with his own version of mercantilism, put high tariffs on everyone including 100% tariffs on England and Holland, and ruined the economy. They had to bury him in secret (natural causes) because the angry mobs wanted to desecrate his body.
Loved the Colbert Report!! Hardly missed an episode. 20+ years ago, he was lampooning exactly what Republicans have become in the last 10 years. It's like they were watching him, thinking, "yeah, this guy is right on!"
Really needed my Hopium today! It’s so easy to read the news and whipsaw between anger and fear. This work that we do here is the antidote to that. It allows me to put aside the feelings of impotent rage and take positive action. Hopium helps me put one foot in front of the other on the bad days and feel actual optimism on the good days. Thank you all for being here.
Thanks, Simon! I used a modified version of your script in my calls to NC's Tillis and Budd today and added that voting for this bill will lead to Democrats being in charge for the next 30 years. I hope that gives their call screeners a shiver.
Thank you, Simon! I really appreciate your strategy of picking Democratic Committees to strengthen. We've got to have a strong party structure in every part of every state.
I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen to thank them for speaking out (Raskin: Trump's corrupt and illegal "deal" for an airplane and crypto bucks; Alsobrooks: Roberts Kennedy needs to go; Van Hollen: due process for all) and to complain about a budget deal that will blow up the deficit. Also writing postcards for Virginia. We've got to elect Abigail Spanberger. If she has coattails, we could see "red" counties electing Democrats.
Made calls to my Senators about the reconciliation bill. I added to Simon's script some words about cuts to EV tax breaks, green energy subsidies, and subsidies to oil and gas. This is devastating to the environment. The link from Krugman discusses this.
Wow! AG Raúl Torrez was so terrific! Preserving our Democracy is the number one task at hand. Not being able to pass any bills through Congress is the epitome of trump's weakness. dt doesn't have the support to govern ... only a fat sharpie. I'm glad he emphasized that the DAGA was working for a year before the election to address the maga battle plan presented in Project 2025. Their strong collaboration and focus on this constitutional crisis has been the key to our success in the courts.
I would hope that Democrats never face another big election without a strategic plan for what to do if we don't win. Sure, we should work to win, but it was a BIG oversight for Schumer and Jeffries not to have a plan as the Dem AGs did.
An alliance with the AGs and Congress would be fantastic. This level of not following norms and ignoring the Constitution is unprecedented and will take all of us, We The People, to preserve our Democracy.
Agree. And it is now the norm that if Rs lose, they'll challenge the results, take powers away from the office that they lost, etc., etc. That's not going to stop with the end of Lame Donald Duck. Dems need a "plan B" for if we win and for if we lose.
There is no need to fear 2026. We have 250 years of constitutional order on our side. Simon is addressing the mid-term elections in the Hopium Zoom tonight, and you can catch it tomorrow if you are not on the call.
I think a useful term for discussion of Trump’s disastrous policies is “rationing.” He is telling us to ration the Christmas presents. We will soon need to ration health care. Trump’s version of the American Dream is less of everything, not more, unless you are already very wealthy.
100% yes!!! And tie that into Musk's getting Starlink contracts with Vietnam as part of the tariff deal, and Trump's cryptoschemes. We get rations, they get richer. Use Trump's own words against him "yes, this is rigged system, and now you see exactly who is doing the rigging. Trump, Musk, Zuckerberg, and all the other billionaire cowards are using the government to sell you and America out just to get richer."
Self reporting from WI. I made calls to republican members regarding tariffs, reconciliation bill and deficit. Called my AG to thank him and also called my Dem senator to thank her for standing up for WI and her increased social media presence and asked her to be even louder with her speaking out against what Trump and the republicans are doing to our country.
What an eloquent, on point explanation! All of us appreciate the projection of how to move forward sensibly and the importance of considering the critical aspects of just how to proceed. The AGs are forward, sensible thinkers that will help us hold on to our extremely fragile democracy. Thank you Simon and AG Torrez...very reassuring!!
Can you comment on the fact that the press continues to report that voters don't like Democrats? I keep seeing stories about this and don't understand it.
I would encourage you to read the whole poll I linked to today. In a head to head rematch Harris beats Trump 47-42; we are up 6 in the generic; and we keep winning and overperforming elections all across the country. The way I read polling right now is that by some measures we are not as popular as we were due to Democrats being disapointed in our leaders and party, but that doesn't mean they won't vote enthusiastically against Rs. I think this data has been used by some in our family to convey a sense of party wide weakness that doesn't actually exist.
There's also been some ridiculous party purity test arguments going on on Blue Sky. If I find the comments again I will weigh in respectfully that they are wasting their energy on these arguments while our republic is under assault.
Thanks. Appreciate your take. It had occurred to me that disappointment with Democrats’ early ineffective pushback against Trump might be a factor. Nice having that confirmed.
It seems somewhat like the arguments people use about public schools. They bemoan public schools and say they're terrible, but then they say, "But MY child's school is great!" In local elections, the Democrats are crushing it. We need to keep pushing the narrative that those local Democrats winning the elections are no different than the ones at the national level.
Simon, I’m very fascinated by the rematch polling. Do you have any insight or instincts about Kamala’s trajectory? I NEVER felt the issue we had was her! I still think not only could she have won, but that she still can win should she choose to run again, regardless who the GOP nominee would be next go around. Granted, I also feel the election was manipulated on at least some level and feel to a degree, she actually did win. Be that as it may, we are where we are and can’t go back in time. I just have a fear the party will cast her to the waste side. I don’t that will be the case but already, it seems many have moved past her as a frontrunner candidate (which she should be). You pointed out her X Factor to us some time back. I haven’t lose sight of that and feel she is STILL arguably, the most underestimated political figure. Yes, I admire Shapiro, Moore, Whitmer, Pritzker, Pete, Beshear, Newsome (more than not), and Kinzinger even. I’d be content with any of them as the next President. However, I instinctively feel Kamala is far from done. Unless the CA Governor’s race is in her line of sight, she at least has the makings of the next Secretary of State or AG. But I wouldn’t be so quick for people to discount future Presidential prospects. I feel the country was more ready for her than perceived. Can you shed any light on this please? Thank you again for all you do! Nebraska was a BIG deal and I’m not sure the GOP understands the scope of how big a deal it was and will pan out to be.
DEM LANDSLIDE IN OMAHA
Not only did John Ewing Jr. flip Omaha Blue after 12 years of Republican control, he did so in a landslide, scoring more than a twelve-point win over incumbent Jean Stothert. That’s an amazing accomplishment.
In 2026, Bacon will be toast!
https://www.the-downballot.com/p/democrats-just-flipped-nebraskas
https://www.ketv.com/article/omaha-general-election-results-mayor-2025/64645995
Gonna fry up that Bacon next year … unless he retires first.
I was going to post the link to the Downballot post, but I see you beat me to it!
Here's hoping he makes the smart decision and retires.
And Independent Osborn is contemplating running again in 2026.
Great news! Yea, Omaha!
The election of John Ewing Jr. in Omaha is unalloyed good news. Look at the margin:
Jean Stothert* - 43.7%
John Ewing Jr. - 56.3%. That is a resounding victory in the State of Nebraska's largest city. 486,000 people.
Ewing will be the first Black mayor elected in Omaha, and this in a city in which just 13% of people of all ages are Black..
In other news, Jane Kleeb, President of the Nebraska Democrats reported that Democrats "swept local elections in Lincoln," the state's capital. One might be tempted downplay this by noting that Lincoln is the home of the University of Nebraska and as a university town will always swing a little left, but huge public universities in the states of the Great Plains or the Midwest are often definitely not bastions of liberalism. And we've been told by the consulting class that the Democrats are losing the youth vote.
This is the news the Democratic Party should focus on, not the 2024 election or who lost the last war or fights within the DNC.
That’s thumpin’.
Looks like stripping the bark off the little bastards and making Trump their running mate works!
Exactly! Read in attached link that DNC is rerunning Vice Chair elections and fighting publicly over motives. Not remotely helpful to the fight upon us now.
https://open.substack.com/pub/meidastouch/p/today-in-politics-bulletin-130-51325?r=366pw4&utm_medium=ios
There has been no decision by the DNC to re-run the Vice Chair election. It was a resolution passed by the Credentials Committee that would need to be voted on by the entire DNC. I watched the entire DNC elections in real time, and found it unusual that during the election of the last two seats won by Malcolm Kenyatta and David Hogg (both seats on the same ballot question) voters were told that one person elected in the two remaining vice chair seats would need to be male. That probably skewed the vote and resulted in two males taking the highest number of votes, and no females. Separate votes for each position would have avoided the problem. One of the three female candidates, Kalyn Free, who is an attorney from Oklahoma, filed a complaint to the Credentials Committe based on the procedural error.
I absolutely agree with your last line. This is the time for moving forward, not dwelling on the past or bickering over whatever the DNC is bickering over. We do not have a moment to lose. The opposition will stop at nothing to get its own way and it is our job to stop them.
Right On! FOCUS ON the NEXT best step to continue reinforcing every WINNING action, be it an election or a legal “correction”bringing someone home from a Homeland Security ICE jail/prison/extradition !
Hello everyone,
Just in case you didn't see my last comment about my latest post on Qatar Planegate, here it is again: https://davidsalzillo.substack.com/p/donny-two-dolls-vs-donny-one-jet.
Feel free to give me any feedback you may have on its messaging effectiveness; always looking to improve.
Simon I know you’re working hard and probably don’t have time to update With Dems Things Get Better but if you could link to the last one you did from time to time (or stick in a link and leave it there as you post new stuff), it would be great. It is such important evidence that Dem policies work while R policies don’t, and that Dems are so much more than just the anti-Trump party.
ANDOR – A TV SHOW FOR OUR TIMES
Anyone else here watching Andor, a Star Wars series without Jedis or The Force? Whether unintended or intentional (imho, yes it is), the commentary on our current political situation is uncanny.
That said, I certainly didn’t see this argument coming! This is amazing!
https://x.com/Acyn/status/1922486771008602162
Jennings on Emperor Palpatine: He took on an entrenched Deep State at the Jedi Council. He wanted free and fair and reciprocal trade around the galaxy. Protected law and order.
Lathan: He blew up Alderaan.
Jennings: Some could argue it was warranted given their rebellious activities. He defended the empire against unelected hippies and violent protesters.
Arctic Stones, I LOVED Andor! Not being a sci fi fan, I'd only seen the first 3 Star Wars movies, when they came out. (they struck me as being 'Flash Gordon' like, to date myself.) But I began watching Andor on my son's recommendation, and just finished Season 2 (there won't be more.) WOW! It shows how a free society is turned into an authoritarian state, and the difficulty but persistence of people who decide to fight evil, little by little, everywhere, not with just one leader. Doesn't that sound familiar? It's incredibly relevant and timely! One character notes that the Empire has become stronger by throwing so many things at the populace, they feel overwhelmed and helpless. Definitely all happening right now. (Of course, now I have to watch the Rogue One movie, set at the end of Andor, followed by the original Star Wars!)
I am really behind, but finally started the last season of Rebels. I kinda had the same reaction to that, though. Andor is definitely on the list.
Recently, though, I was reading about Colbertism. Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the Minister of State for Louis XIV, came up with his own version of mercantilism, put high tariffs on everyone including 100% tariffs on England and Holland, and ruined the economy. They had to bury him in secret (natural causes) because the angry mobs wanted to desecrate his body.
I didn’t know this! That said, I am a keen adherent of the other kind of Colbertism – Stephen Colbertism.
Loved the Colbert Report!! Hardly missed an episode. 20+ years ago, he was lampooning exactly what Republicans have become in the last 10 years. It's like they were watching him, thinking, "yeah, this guy is right on!"
It's always hilarious watching right wingers' hot takes on Star Wars when they try to invert the narrative.
Really needed my Hopium today! It’s so easy to read the news and whipsaw between anger and fear. This work that we do here is the antidote to that. It allows me to put aside the feelings of impotent rage and take positive action. Hopium helps me put one foot in front of the other on the bad days and feel actual optimism on the good days. Thank you all for being here.
I would like to echo that. I feel exactly the same way!
Me too!
Thanks, Simon! I used a modified version of your script in my calls to NC's Tillis and Budd today and added that voting for this bill will lead to Democrats being in charge for the next 30 years. I hope that gives their call screeners a shiver.
Thank you, Simon! I really appreciate your strategy of picking Democratic Committees to strengthen. We've got to have a strong party structure in every part of every state.
I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen to thank them for speaking out (Raskin: Trump's corrupt and illegal "deal" for an airplane and crypto bucks; Alsobrooks: Roberts Kennedy needs to go; Van Hollen: due process for all) and to complain about a budget deal that will blow up the deficit. Also writing postcards for Virginia. We've got to elect Abigail Spanberger. If she has coattails, we could see "red" counties electing Democrats.
So happy for Omaha and Jane Kleeb!
Made calls to my Senators about the reconciliation bill. I added to Simon's script some words about cuts to EV tax breaks, green energy subsidies, and subsidies to oil and gas. This is devastating to the environment. The link from Krugman discusses this.
https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/is-this-the-year-we-doom-civilization
Wow! AG Raúl Torrez was so terrific! Preserving our Democracy is the number one task at hand. Not being able to pass any bills through Congress is the epitome of trump's weakness. dt doesn't have the support to govern ... only a fat sharpie. I'm glad he emphasized that the DAGA was working for a year before the election to address the maga battle plan presented in Project 2025. Their strong collaboration and focus on this constitutional crisis has been the key to our success in the courts.
I would hope that Democrats never face another big election without a strategic plan for what to do if we don't win. Sure, we should work to win, but it was a BIG oversight for Schumer and Jeffries not to have a plan as the Dem AGs did.
An alliance with the AGs and Congress would be fantastic. This level of not following norms and ignoring the Constitution is unprecedented and will take all of us, We The People, to preserve our Democracy.
Agree. And it is now the norm that if Rs lose, they'll challenge the results, take powers away from the office that they lost, etc., etc. That's not going to stop with the end of Lame Donald Duck. Dems need a "plan B" for if we win and for if we lose.
Deborah,
Exactly. See my note above about supporting AG Torrez' suit. You and I are thinking alike. Not the first time, either.
I fear there will not be a 2026 election if the Leaders of the Democratic Party don’t Rise Up and Fight for Democracy and Our Constitution NOW!
There is no need to fear 2026. We have 250 years of constitutional order on our side. Simon is addressing the mid-term elections in the Hopium Zoom tonight, and you can catch it tomorrow if you are not on the call.
I think a useful term for discussion of Trump’s disastrous policies is “rationing.” He is telling us to ration the Christmas presents. We will soon need to ration health care. Trump’s version of the American Dream is less of everything, not more, unless you are already very wealthy.
100% yes!!! And tie that into Musk's getting Starlink contracts with Vietnam as part of the tariff deal, and Trump's cryptoschemes. We get rations, they get richer. Use Trump's own words against him "yes, this is rigged system, and now you see exactly who is doing the rigging. Trump, Musk, Zuckerberg, and all the other billionaire cowards are using the government to sell you and America out just to get richer."
Self reporting from WI. I made calls to republican members regarding tariffs, reconciliation bill and deficit. Called my AG to thank him and also called my Dem senator to thank her for standing up for WI and her increased social media presence and asked her to be even louder with her speaking out against what Trump and the republicans are doing to our country.
What an eloquent, on point explanation! All of us appreciate the projection of how to move forward sensibly and the importance of considering the critical aspects of just how to proceed. The AGs are forward, sensible thinkers that will help us hold on to our extremely fragile democracy. Thank you Simon and AG Torrez...very reassuring!!
Today, we are all Peyton Manning :-)
Can you comment on the fact that the press continues to report that voters don't like Democrats? I keep seeing stories about this and don't understand it.
I would encourage you to read the whole poll I linked to today. In a head to head rematch Harris beats Trump 47-42; we are up 6 in the generic; and we keep winning and overperforming elections all across the country. The way I read polling right now is that by some measures we are not as popular as we were due to Democrats being disapointed in our leaders and party, but that doesn't mean they won't vote enthusiastically against Rs. I think this data has been used by some in our family to convey a sense of party wide weakness that doesn't actually exist.
There's also been some ridiculous party purity test arguments going on on Blue Sky. If I find the comments again I will weigh in respectfully that they are wasting their energy on these arguments while our republic is under assault.
Thanks. Appreciate your take. It had occurred to me that disappointment with Democrats’ early ineffective pushback against Trump might be a factor. Nice having that confirmed.
It seems somewhat like the arguments people use about public schools. They bemoan public schools and say they're terrible, but then they say, "But MY child's school is great!" In local elections, the Democrats are crushing it. We need to keep pushing the narrative that those local Democrats winning the elections are no different than the ones at the national level.
Simon, I’m very fascinated by the rematch polling. Do you have any insight or instincts about Kamala’s trajectory? I NEVER felt the issue we had was her! I still think not only could she have won, but that she still can win should she choose to run again, regardless who the GOP nominee would be next go around. Granted, I also feel the election was manipulated on at least some level and feel to a degree, she actually did win. Be that as it may, we are where we are and can’t go back in time. I just have a fear the party will cast her to the waste side. I don’t that will be the case but already, it seems many have moved past her as a frontrunner candidate (which she should be). You pointed out her X Factor to us some time back. I haven’t lose sight of that and feel she is STILL arguably, the most underestimated political figure. Yes, I admire Shapiro, Moore, Whitmer, Pritzker, Pete, Beshear, Newsome (more than not), and Kinzinger even. I’d be content with any of them as the next President. However, I instinctively feel Kamala is far from done. Unless the CA Governor’s race is in her line of sight, she at least has the makings of the next Secretary of State or AG. But I wouldn’t be so quick for people to discount future Presidential prospects. I feel the country was more ready for her than perceived. Can you shed any light on this please? Thank you again for all you do! Nebraska was a BIG deal and I’m not sure the GOP understands the scope of how big a deal it was and will pan out to be.
also, the press just really enjoys dunking on Dems