GREAT point about using really the correct label of "corruption" rather than the one that I personally am sick and tired of, "unprecedented." Corrupt is our reality right now, including in the Worthless Court, as you know, so let's use it!
Simon, how do we, at Hopium, get the DNC to do a few things? They need to be LOUDER and with the limited money. They also need to be SMARTER with that money? Think of playing the long- term game and not just the short-term game, and thus playing chess instead of playing checkers. That's where I'll give the GQP credit. They are LOUD. They play the long-term game.
I think sending more DNC-raised money to State Democratic Parties in current red states than in current blue states, which Chair Martin has done and is doing, is an example of playing the long game. Expanding the map--whether within states as Chairman Croft discussed--or by going into redder states is a long-term, not a short-term strategy. At the same time, Martin's efforts on the races in 2025 and those currently in front of us (including down-ballot state races the DNC has never been involved with before) is also playing the immediacy game. We have to do both and from what I see, the DNC is doing that--and getting better at it. More work to do, to be sure.
As for Ds getting louder, MANY of our electeds have taken great strides to do that since January of 2025. And I recommend to everyone in Hopium to go to the DNC website and sign up for their organizing newsletter. It's full of lots of important information about what's going on--things that are almost never covered in traditional media. Example: yesterday, there was a nationwide call about efforts to address the Calais Supreme Court decision and gerrymandering, in general. Very informative.
I think the DNC is playing the long game now, after a long period of dormancy. What they don't have (in my opinion) is a comms team that can rival Hurricane Trump. Yelling in a loud voice cannot get traction when faced with a Cat 7 hurricane. That's a tough needle to thread. But what is happening is that millions of ordinary citizens like us are being activated to do the work. We have to be the comms team among our own networks. We hold tremendous power. I think we saw this in Hungary. Magyar had to go to the people and meet with them face-to-face because he wasn't allowed to campaign on state media. But the people saw the corruption of the regime and didn't like it. And they amplified that message in their own communities. So that's what we have to do. The DNC is building the infrastructure, hiring competent staff, and running terrific candidates. I am growing more and more confident that all of our voices together will harmonize and counteract the corrosive gale-force winds of Trumpism.
You guys. Watch this! This was the interview I didn't know I needed to see today! My biggest takeaway from this is the theme of interconnectedness. Simon and Eric illustrated perfectly how me, sitting in Oregon, is connected to Eric, sitting in Alaska, is connected to everyone in this community and beyond. And as shitty and dysfunctional as these times are, I think the party and the process are getting healthier. Simon, you are a real leader in that effort!
Simon, what a fascinating conversation that was with Chair Eric Croft. He is so exuberant, he is doing so much for the Democratic Party in Alaska. He has quite a Bio as well!
He also has one of best Candidates, Mary Peltola. She is a winner! And I love her "Fish Family Freedom" you can't go wrong with that!
I really liked the point, Simon, that you and Eric discussed about having the CONFIDENCE to go into places that Democrats have forsaken because they think they can't win there. This ties in so well with the STRENGTH argument that you've consistently made over the past year. This strategy will pay dividends over the longer term and may even yield some surprising short-term wins given the current state of our country and politics.
Wonderful interview! Eric's enthusiasm is infectious. I also appreciate his effusive thank you for our expansion fund contributions. He shows how wise you were Simon to start that project.
Very much appreciated this interview. Croft’s enthusiasm is contagious. This is what we need for the Dem party. Great to hear his strategy and how Hopium is adding to the successes.
Thank you for the insights an interview on Alaska, Simon
also, Ken Martin’s interview from last week was strong in my opinion. Maybe it did not hit style points with the consultant class or Washington, it hit the right buttons for us in middle America.
I had not listen to Pod Save America in a long time and the rehashing of some political report from 2024 was ridiculous.
As Rick Wilson says, the Party Chair needs to 1) win and 2) stay on message. Ken did not budge in that interview with a fake journalist. And I like Jon Favreau.
I LOVE Eric's enthusiasm! Between him and Mary, we got this! Thanks Simon.
GREAT point about using really the correct label of "corruption" rather than the one that I personally am sick and tired of, "unprecedented." Corrupt is our reality right now, including in the Worthless Court, as you know, so let's use it!
Simon, how do we, at Hopium, get the DNC to do a few things? They need to be LOUDER and with the limited money. They also need to be SMARTER with that money? Think of playing the long- term game and not just the short-term game, and thus playing chess instead of playing checkers. That's where I'll give the GQP credit. They are LOUD. They play the long-term game.
I think sending more DNC-raised money to State Democratic Parties in current red states than in current blue states, which Chair Martin has done and is doing, is an example of playing the long game. Expanding the map--whether within states as Chairman Croft discussed--or by going into redder states is a long-term, not a short-term strategy. At the same time, Martin's efforts on the races in 2025 and those currently in front of us (including down-ballot state races the DNC has never been involved with before) is also playing the immediacy game. We have to do both and from what I see, the DNC is doing that--and getting better at it. More work to do, to be sure.
As for Ds getting louder, MANY of our electeds have taken great strides to do that since January of 2025. And I recommend to everyone in Hopium to go to the DNC website and sign up for their organizing newsletter. It's full of lots of important information about what's going on--things that are almost never covered in traditional media. Example: yesterday, there was a nationwide call about efforts to address the Calais Supreme Court decision and gerrymandering, in general. Very informative.
I think the DNC is playing the long game now, after a long period of dormancy. What they don't have (in my opinion) is a comms team that can rival Hurricane Trump. Yelling in a loud voice cannot get traction when faced with a Cat 7 hurricane. That's a tough needle to thread. But what is happening is that millions of ordinary citizens like us are being activated to do the work. We have to be the comms team among our own networks. We hold tremendous power. I think we saw this in Hungary. Magyar had to go to the people and meet with them face-to-face because he wasn't allowed to campaign on state media. But the people saw the corruption of the regime and didn't like it. And they amplified that message in their own communities. So that's what we have to do. The DNC is building the infrastructure, hiring competent staff, and running terrific candidates. I am growing more and more confident that all of our voices together will harmonize and counteract the corrosive gale-force winds of Trumpism.
You guys. Watch this! This was the interview I didn't know I needed to see today! My biggest takeaway from this is the theme of interconnectedness. Simon and Eric illustrated perfectly how me, sitting in Oregon, is connected to Eric, sitting in Alaska, is connected to everyone in this community and beyond. And as shitty and dysfunctional as these times are, I think the party and the process are getting healthier. Simon, you are a real leader in that effort!
Simon, what a fascinating conversation that was with Chair Eric Croft. He is so exuberant, he is doing so much for the Democratic Party in Alaska. He has quite a Bio as well!
He also has one of best Candidates, Mary Peltola. She is a winner! And I love her "Fish Family Freedom" you can't go wrong with that!
I really liked the point, Simon, that you and Eric discussed about having the CONFIDENCE to go into places that Democrats have forsaken because they think they can't win there. This ties in so well with the STRENGTH argument that you've consistently made over the past year. This strategy will pay dividends over the longer term and may even yield some surprising short-term wins given the current state of our country and politics.
Fantastic chat.
Some really GREAT state party chairs that we get to meet here at Hopium!!!
Wonderful interview! Eric's enthusiasm is infectious. I also appreciate his effusive thank you for our expansion fund contributions. He shows how wise you were Simon to start that project.
Very much appreciated this interview. Croft’s enthusiasm is contagious. This is what we need for the Dem party. Great to hear his strategy and how Hopium is adding to the successes.
Thank you for the insights an interview on Alaska, Simon
also, Ken Martin’s interview from last week was strong in my opinion. Maybe it did not hit style points with the consultant class or Washington, it hit the right buttons for us in middle America.
I had not listen to Pod Save America in a long time and the rehashing of some political report from 2024 was ridiculous.
As Rick Wilson says, the Party Chair needs to 1) win and 2) stay on message. Ken did not budge in that interview with a fake journalist. And I like Jon Favreau.