I have to say Simon, you were very much ahead of the curve regarding the need and the opportunity to expand the map and have proved to be absolutely spot on.
Not sure I remember the exact reasoning originally, but the sentiment has proved prescient regardless.
Same. He just goes around doing the work. In that regard, he reminds me of Biden. The DNC needs someone with a lot of sass and fire to amplify the message -- I'm by no means suggesting they replace Martin; rather that their comms focus on explaining the good work he is doing. Biden did amazing things and surrounded himself with very competent people, but he was not good at tooting his own horn. I see Martin the same way. People just aren't aware of what he's doing because his focus is on doing the work and because he is quiet.
I can talk about TN. Rural Tn was ignored until 2025, when the TNDP organized all 95 counties in the State. My rural county is composed of people who remembered the Roosevelt times of TVA and jobs. There is a sizable group of mixed race couples with the younger generation. True for all the South. We are actively trying to register them. I live in a subdivision of transplants from northern states ,who moved here because of politics. We live on a gravel road, I like it because of slowing down storm water runoff from the mountain and haven't seen any dead animals. They want to pave it. Hell no!
Simon, do you feel this scotus ruling will ultimately backfire and galvanize minority voting against the GOP? It’s not only crucial we win both chambers in 2026 but that we retain both and flip the Presidency in 2028. I just wonder how this impacts all this momentum on the ground. In conjunction with further building and reconstructing the movement, the other main factor I see that we need to ensue in our favor is mass voter turnout! With an increasingly younger electorate, that prospect is promising but still, it’s unfortunately a difficult feat ahead. Hopefully, the patterns of our over performance, No Kings attendance, and more will be a true sign of progress to come both in our near and not too distant future.
Touche…very true! I think many will be heading to the polls without party affiliated motivation and rather instead, with pissed off motivation (to our benefit of course) 🙏🤞. Seeing remarks not just from you and this community, but from Obama, Harris, and others who all fully understand the weight of what we’re facing, navigating, continues to reinforce within me cautious optimism against all odds ✌️.
As Simon said so well last night, we have to make this an opportunity, not a defeat. An opportunity to expand our pro-democracy coalition, to reach new or disaffected voters with a forward looking, anti-corruption platform (among other things). As we learned from the overturn of Roe, when rights are taken away, it can energize and motivate people who may have taken them for granted or not understood their importance. This coalition has to include all races and ethnicities, all faiths or belief systems, all walks of life. Maybe it sounds pie-in-the-sky. But so was the civil rights movement. So was the women's suffrage movement. So was the trade union movement. They all were born from struggle. Nothing came easily. But people didn't give up. And so we can't give up on rights earned and recognized by those who came before us. As Marc Elias said after the Callais decision, when Ds come back into power, we need something better than the VRA. Not just to restore it but to improve it.
Have a safe trip up to Maine! I hope the Dems are able to get Mills to endorse Graham and help us beat Collins. On Monday she said she would continue to watch him and determine if he will win Maine votes. We need her to show up at the convention this weekend and stand with him to help her supporters accept his candidacy. We need every vote. As I said last night, thank you so much for coming to help unite our party.
Jon Stewart's interview with Graham was fantastic and really illuminates what so many of us have seen iin Graham over the past 9 months.
This is a step back, but I don’t things are nearly as bad as pre 1964-65, and we’ve beaten these fuckers before. We need to recognize how corrupt and regressive the SC is, but just fight everywhere. I think in some respects the divide is more rural vs urban/suburban more than regional. We need to compete better in rural area.
I have thought that the changes needed are never lasting or work, ie, tinkering around the edges WILL never work when they are based on a system that starts from the same system you are trying to make major changes to and it's goals whether it is economic, political , cultural. This need to make the huge changes in the primary's, campaigning that the Dems have followed and lost with over twenty plus years now seem to be possible with this major change causing the democratic party to get out of the way and have to look for a major change. Thankfully this was started with Hopium and Ken Martin but I had been seeing the DCCC dragging their feet and or ignoring these attempts. I agree that I see more possibilities to move forward greatly and quicker now because of this new reality that is seen to make changes that we were told were “too fast’” , needed more time. Well the time frame is now changed.
Thanks Simon for helping me sort of process this Callais ruling. I appreciate the extensive quote from the NYT article by Ida Bae Wells that makes clear how significant and devastating this ruling is in its historical context. The point that there are people still living who fought for the VRA, and now see its protections gutted, really hit me.
At the same time, I'm glad to have the "okay, it happened, here's what we DO about it" mindset laid out there. We have to learn how to fight in states like TX and FL, which will involve the same tools we use to fight in the redder districts that will be created as a result of Callais. (And surely, there will be some dummymander districts created, especially this November).
I posted this comment on Lucid today. I wanted to share what we are doing in Minnesota in preparation for elections. We know that if anyone can launch such a plan it’s Monarca. During Operation Metro Surge they trained over 50,000 Minnesotans on how to be Constitutional Observers.
“Here in Minnesota one of our democracy champion organizations (Monarca) has developed a framework to build a statewide network of democracy defenders. This is a nonpartisan effort aimed at encouraging everyone, neighbor to neighbor, to participate in their democracy, use their voices, vote. We will be developing this network community by community, person to person. We will help those who need it to get registered, have a plan to vote, help people get to the polls, install poll watchers, have a plan to deal with any ICE involvement. This is about “We the People.” I hope other states are doing the same.
Simon!!! This was a barn burner! Here I was all depressed and you got me all inspired! Thank you for all you do. You and this community are largely responsible for my continuing ability to remain (mostly) sane and do my part of this great work we are engaged in. Where's my tricorn hat?
I fully agree with your analysis. Fortunately, Democrats are now increasingly willing to call out the Republican abuse of power for what it is. As Jeffries stated yesterday: "The corrupt conservative majority on the Supreme Court appointed by Donald Trump has taken a blowtorch to the Voting Rights Act." When Democrats return to power, we must engage in systematic reform of the Supreme Court, among so much more. The Brennan Center has offered six reforms to transform the Supreme Court, including term limits and binding ethical rules. This Court’s reactionary majority has lost all credibility. Issuing edicts by shadow docket is not ruling; it is simply supporting the movement to authoritarianism under the camouflage of a black robe. The KKK and ICE also understand the power of the robe—and the mask. Gutting the Voter Rights Act further cements this Court as the protector of white privilege and the wealthy. Your Wells quote sums this up: "The Court and Congress legitimize the taking of political rights and the end of multiracial democracy itself." We must put an end to this illegitimate Court that does little more than camouflage its gross abuses through legal mumbo jumbo.
Suppose that the 2026 elections produce a House and a Senate with 2/3 majority of Democrats committed to restore equality in voting rights. Can a law be written to accomplish equality (again) that will be proof against Supreme Court tampering?
That is, can Congress impose its laws over the Court's negative review power?
I have to say Simon, you were very much ahead of the curve regarding the need and the opportunity to expand the map and have proved to be absolutely spot on.
Not sure I remember the exact reasoning originally, but the sentiment has proved prescient regardless.
Simon, do we know if the move of people to red states means those states may turn more purple? Or are the people who are moving there red voters?
I have been very unimpressed with Ken Martin.
Care to elaborate, or is that just a trendy sound byte?
I have been very impressed with Ken Martin.
Same. He just goes around doing the work. In that regard, he reminds me of Biden. The DNC needs someone with a lot of sass and fire to amplify the message -- I'm by no means suggesting they replace Martin; rather that their comms focus on explaining the good work he is doing. Biden did amazing things and surrounded himself with very competent people, but he was not good at tooting his own horn. I see Martin the same way. People just aren't aware of what he's doing because his focus is on doing the work and because he is quiet.
I can talk about TN. Rural Tn was ignored until 2025, when the TNDP organized all 95 counties in the State. My rural county is composed of people who remembered the Roosevelt times of TVA and jobs. There is a sizable group of mixed race couples with the younger generation. True for all the South. We are actively trying to register them. I live in a subdivision of transplants from northern states ,who moved here because of politics. We live on a gravel road, I like it because of slowing down storm water runoff from the mountain and haven't seen any dead animals. They want to pave it. Hell no!
Here are great resources for taking action for the Georgia Judicial Elections: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10WBzf-0I2xUKbfCJURH95ij6a2YniTbrRs3bggaty3o/edit?usp=sharing
Donated to them from TN. As Joyce Vance says "We are all in this together".
Me, too!
I did as well. Simon has made it so easy for us to donate from Hopium. Grateful to be able to put my $ towards races he has identified.
Simon, do you feel this scotus ruling will ultimately backfire and galvanize minority voting against the GOP? It’s not only crucial we win both chambers in 2026 but that we retain both and flip the Presidency in 2028. I just wonder how this impacts all this momentum on the ground. In conjunction with further building and reconstructing the movement, the other main factor I see that we need to ensue in our favor is mass voter turnout! With an increasingly younger electorate, that prospect is promising but still, it’s unfortunately a difficult feat ahead. Hopefully, the patterns of our over performance, No Kings attendance, and more will be a true sign of progress to come both in our near and not too distant future.
It may galvanize a lot of white voters too.
Touche…very true! I think many will be heading to the polls without party affiliated motivation and rather instead, with pissed off motivation (to our benefit of course) 🙏🤞. Seeing remarks not just from you and this community, but from Obama, Harris, and others who all fully understand the weight of what we’re facing, navigating, continues to reinforce within me cautious optimism against all odds ✌️.
As Simon said so well last night, we have to make this an opportunity, not a defeat. An opportunity to expand our pro-democracy coalition, to reach new or disaffected voters with a forward looking, anti-corruption platform (among other things). As we learned from the overturn of Roe, when rights are taken away, it can energize and motivate people who may have taken them for granted or not understood their importance. This coalition has to include all races and ethnicities, all faiths or belief systems, all walks of life. Maybe it sounds pie-in-the-sky. But so was the civil rights movement. So was the women's suffrage movement. So was the trade union movement. They all were born from struggle. Nothing came easily. But people didn't give up. And so we can't give up on rights earned and recognized by those who came before us. As Marc Elias said after the Callais decision, when Ds come back into power, we need something better than the VRA. Not just to restore it but to improve it.
I look forward to your talks every week , for I am left informed and inspired despite the daily onslaught from T. ❤️
Thanks Nan. Glad you are here!
Have a safe trip up to Maine! I hope the Dems are able to get Mills to endorse Graham and help us beat Collins. On Monday she said she would continue to watch him and determine if he will win Maine votes. We need her to show up at the convention this weekend and stand with him to help her supporters accept his candidacy. We need every vote. As I said last night, thank you so much for coming to help unite our party.
Jon Stewart's interview with Graham was fantastic and really illuminates what so many of us have seen iin Graham over the past 9 months.
See you tomorrow!
This is a step back, but I don’t things are nearly as bad as pre 1964-65, and we’ve beaten these fuckers before. We need to recognize how corrupt and regressive the SC is, but just fight everywhere. I think in some respects the divide is more rural vs urban/suburban more than regional. We need to compete better in rural area.
I have thought that the changes needed are never lasting or work, ie, tinkering around the edges WILL never work when they are based on a system that starts from the same system you are trying to make major changes to and it's goals whether it is economic, political , cultural. This need to make the huge changes in the primary's, campaigning that the Dems have followed and lost with over twenty plus years now seem to be possible with this major change causing the democratic party to get out of the way and have to look for a major change. Thankfully this was started with Hopium and Ken Martin but I had been seeing the DCCC dragging their feet and or ignoring these attempts. I agree that I see more possibilities to move forward greatly and quicker now because of this new reality that is seen to make changes that we were told were “too fast’” , needed more time. Well the time frame is now changed.
Y
Thanks Simon for helping me sort of process this Callais ruling. I appreciate the extensive quote from the NYT article by Ida Bae Wells that makes clear how significant and devastating this ruling is in its historical context. The point that there are people still living who fought for the VRA, and now see its protections gutted, really hit me.
At the same time, I'm glad to have the "okay, it happened, here's what we DO about it" mindset laid out there. We have to learn how to fight in states like TX and FL, which will involve the same tools we use to fight in the redder districts that will be created as a result of Callais. (And surely, there will be some dummymander districts created, especially this November).
Simon, You are amazing!
Everything you said was essential to what We are working for. " Our Birth of Freedom" will come true, as Our New Free Countries have!
We believe in you, and are 💯 % where you are leading Us.
All I can say is, when You go to Maine Friday, just Kick-Ass!!!
I posted this comment on Lucid today. I wanted to share what we are doing in Minnesota in preparation for elections. We know that if anyone can launch such a plan it’s Monarca. During Operation Metro Surge they trained over 50,000 Minnesotans on how to be Constitutional Observers.
“Here in Minnesota one of our democracy champion organizations (Monarca) has developed a framework to build a statewide network of democracy defenders. This is a nonpartisan effort aimed at encouraging everyone, neighbor to neighbor, to participate in their democracy, use their voices, vote. We will be developing this network community by community, person to person. We will help those who need it to get registered, have a plan to vote, help people get to the polls, install poll watchers, have a plan to deal with any ICE involvement. This is about “We the People.” I hope other states are doing the same.
Texas Paul "ride or die Democrats"
Simon!!! This was a barn burner! Here I was all depressed and you got me all inspired! Thank you for all you do. You and this community are largely responsible for my continuing ability to remain (mostly) sane and do my part of this great work we are engaged in. Where's my tricorn hat?
I fully agree with your analysis. Fortunately, Democrats are now increasingly willing to call out the Republican abuse of power for what it is. As Jeffries stated yesterday: "The corrupt conservative majority on the Supreme Court appointed by Donald Trump has taken a blowtorch to the Voting Rights Act." When Democrats return to power, we must engage in systematic reform of the Supreme Court, among so much more. The Brennan Center has offered six reforms to transform the Supreme Court, including term limits and binding ethical rules. This Court’s reactionary majority has lost all credibility. Issuing edicts by shadow docket is not ruling; it is simply supporting the movement to authoritarianism under the camouflage of a black robe. The KKK and ICE also understand the power of the robe—and the mask. Gutting the Voter Rights Act further cements this Court as the protector of white privilege and the wealthy. Your Wells quote sums this up: "The Court and Congress legitimize the taking of political rights and the end of multiracial democracy itself." We must put an end to this illegitimate Court that does little more than camouflage its gross abuses through legal mumbo jumbo.
Suppose that the 2026 elections produce a House and a Senate with 2/3 majority of Democrats committed to restore equality in voting rights. Can a law be written to accomplish equality (again) that will be proof against Supreme Court tampering?
That is, can Congress impose its laws over the Court's negative review power?
Thank you!