Call your Senator and ask them to demand the immediate resignation of RFK Jr. Use 5calls.org or here is a suggested script: This is (name) from (zip code) The Senator, who voted for RFK Jr. must call for his immediate resignation and or impeachment. His complete disregard for evidence based medicine in decisions about vaccines, and now the dismantling of the CDC puts us all at enormous risk. It’s not enough that Republicans took away healthcare from millions; now they want to kill us all. Disease doesn’t care who you voted for.
I will hold the Senator and all Republicans in office responsible for the death and disease which will follow. The Senator must act, now.
Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. A switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate office you request.
Leave your full street address if you are leaving a message.
I don’t have a lot of money to donate, but I have a skill and knowledge that people enjoy and love participating in. I’m leading two walks to fundraise for Sister District (supports downballot Dem. candidates in swing districts), great org. My walks are sold out and raising $1,000. Plus they’re fun for me. If you have a skill/knowledge/act, maybe you can use it to fundraise for your favorite organization.
Consider, please, posting via your own Substack, and then share links here, the details of how you've organized this! I am POSITIVE that others would love to follow your blueprint and replicate this idea!
It’s hugely helpful to narrow down the topics to these four. People are overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, so please keep offering focus. Thanks, Simon.
And, I agree that 5Calls is a great support for action. I use their scripts and then send emails via Resistbot. (Yes, I know calls are the “gold standard “ but email is better for me, unless immediacy is important.)
Simon, this is incredible, and I'm not sure it can be topped: "They slather him with his favorite burnt orange, coif and dye whatever it is that is on his head, tighten the bulging girdle, message his swollen ankles and legs, pump whatever it is they are pumping into him intravenously, wrap him in his long red tie and blue suit, show him fake right-wing polls to comfort and buoy him, and then roll him out at some staged event where someone ritualistically bends the knee and then he rallies to play “TRUMP” one more incoherent time."
this frenetic no vacation, forget-about-the Epstein files/tariffs/shitty economy/crappy poll numbers/Dems kicking our ass in elections and instead look at me red-carpeting Putin/building gilded ballrooms/raiding Bolton’s home/occupying DC/firing the black Fed woman August has not improved his standing with the public.
I attended a town hall with Northern California congressmen Mike Townsend and Jared Hoffman last night in Santa Rosa. They both said, in essence, that it will all hinge on midterms. We must get the House back. They said the plan to redistrict (here Prop 50) makes California a crucial player in this moment, and that we’ll need national money to help us prevail against GOP campaign against it. Simon, what about us in the Hopium community raising funds for Prop 50? I imagine you know Townsend and Hoffman?? Those of us in California need help!
I’ve seen Hoffman at a townhall and he is excellent, very thoughtful and articulate but with fire in his belly. He has an autistic child which makes him a particularly good advocate for neurodiverse children.
Yes, Midterms are crucial. But I think so much hinges on what we all do now. Supporting Hopium candidates for 2026 - of course. Simon’s recommended daily actions - of course. And whatever additional action we each have the time and ability to do - whether that means protests and marches, writing postcards, just talking to people. I’ve been using Simon’s “Trump is doing enormous harm, but he weak not strong” frequently. It really seems to connect.
I’m excited to see that there’s a march planned - Philadelphia to DC over a period of about 2 weeks. I live in MA but would love to participate in some of it. I so hope that it’s well attended, that it grows in numbers as it approaches DC, that it becomes something impossible to ignore..
Report: called reps. Pointed out that while Congress has been on vacation Trump has been busy building a military/police presence in DC among other things. Told them (all Dems) that I expect much more from them when they return to DC next week.
Yes, what our reps were saying (and before that the Sonoma County Democratic Club speakers) is that *now* the priority is Prop 50 for us, and it will have national implications. The work has to start asap. BTW Townsend is quite concerned about GOP attacks on the election, and thinks that’s an ongoing threat.
This is a wonderful column and just what I needed this rainy morning to get me off the couch. I am forever grateful that you majored in English and paint beautiful word pictures, especially those of Trump getting bundled up and painted up for another day. Such a nasty, pathetic old crook. I find myself referencing the image from Stongman, of Mussolini’s former supporters urinating on his corpse a lot these days. I’m here in Montana where my personal hotspot went on strike and refused to recognize my laptop. Emailing representatives has been curtailed, but I’m going out to the boathouse to write another fistful of postcards for Virginia. Onward all.
So, although I 100% agree about RFK Jr needing to be fired, that might end up being tomorrow’s call. Today I will ask my stupid rep, who lives in Southern California where we have a lot of fires, if firefighters are “the worst of the worst.” I am going to ask Senators Schiff and Padilla to make a big stink about it and then do whatever senators can do to nationally recognize the valor of firefighters no matter who they are.
Oh wow. My daughter is flying to Seattle today to meet her fire truck (being shipped down from Alaska) to fight fires in WA. This is infuriating. But maybe it will wake up some of her MAGA coworkers.
She is the only woman on a team of 8 or 9 firefighters in Alaska. She's used to being the only woman because she's a civil engineer and forester, so this is nothing new. In her experience, firefighters (and Alaskans, actually) tend to be go-it-alone libertarian types. At least half of them. The other half are lefty back-to-nature types who believe in climate change. She likes all of them, but is sick of the mansplaining that almost all of them engage in. Sadly, she will be dealing with that for the rest of her career as she transitions into her engineering job in 2026. I'll text her the link to that article about ICE to make sure it's on her radar and will report back if she tells me anything interesting about it.
Yes, we are strong and getting stronger; they get weaker every day. See you at a rally on Saturday and/or Monday!
"Given their information superiority. . . ." Oops, their lies generate a lot of energy, but information is not on their side. Our messaging can create as much energy as theirs, but we haven't figured out how. Facts, logic and history are on our side so keep calling out their myths, hate, fear and fabrications.
I have called all three offices, with no human picking up in any one of them. I left messages with Bresnahan, Fetterman, and Mccormick to end the use of military in our cities, including the occupation of DC; to end the tariffs with a simple example of how it is upending the fiber arts global community; and to fire RFKjr for his attack on our public health.
I do these calls out of habit, with the tiny hope that it matters.
I’m a novice in politics, but I’ve heard over and over again in the past months, from members of Congress, staff, and former staffers, that it matters a lot. So thank you
Made my calls to Schumer, Gillibrand & Goldman. Shared links and info on Facebook and emails. Doing my part whenever and however I can from my upstate retreat. Will be back on the free & mighty streets of NYC soon, strengthened by the ongoing words and wisdom of Simon, HCR, MeidasTouchNetwork and all of you. Thank you.
My communique to Gillibrand, Schumer, and Nadler today was probably the shortest I've ever issued (cause I'm usually trying to cover more than one grievance):
RFK Jr. is a public health menace, and he must be removed immediately.
This is an urgent request that you work with Gina DeBlassie, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Health, and the Governors in other states to have the extremist Robert Kennedy removed as United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. In order to keep us all safe, We The People must condemn the anti-science actions and disinformation from his office, especially about vaccines, and insist on his removal from office.
Thank you.
Subject: urgent request for Gina DeBlassie, Cabinet Secretary NMDOH
This is an urgent request for Gina DeBlassie, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Health, to work with Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham and the Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Health in other states to have the extremist Robert Kennedy removed as United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. In order to keep us all safe, We the People must condemn the anti-science actions and disinformation from his office, especially about vaccines, and insist on his removal from office. Thank you.
Well, it was not successful so far, because my message to the Governor was screened out. However, I submitted a response to the following denial.
Dear Dr. Potter,
Thank you for contacting this office. This specific request cannot be addressed by my office, but I am committed to making sure you receive the answers you need. I have transferred your message to a congressional delegate and they will contact you directly as soon as possible.
My reply:
Dear Constituent Services,
Thank you for the response, but I have already been in contact with the Congressional Delegation from NM to express my concerns. Please consider that in this moment of erosion of constitutional norms in Our Country, elected leaders at all levels of office are called to respond to harms inflicted by the US executive branch on members of their communities. They have sworn an Oath of Office to defend our US Constitution. Our Bernalillo and Santa Fe County Commissions have already adopted resolutions entitled “Defending our U.S. Constitution and Separation of Powers” on June 24 and August 4, 2025, and Doña Ana County is considering adoption as well.
The denial of vaccines that are already proven safe, and the fostering of disinformation and distrust of science and medicine harms the residents of New Mexico and their communities. The oldest and youngest in our communities will particularly face increased risk of infection, illness and death when fewer people are vaccinated. Our NM Attorney General, Raúl Torrez, has filed many lawsuits on our behalf, and actions by other government officials will support those legal battles. https://nmdoj.gov/press-releases/ That includes a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and its Secretary Robert F. Kennedy to Maintain Public Health Grants. Additional lawsuits have been filed and at least partially upheld, including those against mass layoffs and reorganization of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Once again, I ask again that you transmit my email to Governor Lujan-Grisham as requested. Thank you.
So, the message to our State DOH received a better initial response. I provided additional information about why this is important to me.
Good afternoon, Dr. Potter,
I wanted to let you know that we’ve received your concern regarding the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. I have forwarded on your email to Secretary DeBlassie for her review. If you have any questions or if you would like to provide additional feedback, please let me know.
Just called my Senators and member of Congress. I was able to talk to a staff member at one office and left voice messages at the other two. Maybe their phones were busy!
Simon, As a retired TK-8 public school board member (16yrs!), a few items. Most states don't have Education Secretaries. They have an elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction for TK-12 schools & a State Board of Ed, usually appointees. There has been some, but not nearly enough joint outcry from them across the country. Best, most vocal advocate for students to date has been Randi Weingarten & AFT. (She'd make a great podcast guest!) Those are the people I'm pushing on because younger children are affected by some of the most draconian cuts...DeptofEd closure, SNAP & Medicaid cuts, repealed gun safety laws to name a few. I would ask that we broaden the Higher Ed piece of the 4 pillars to include TK-12 Ed. as well. Check out Bruce Lesley, First Focus on Children, great advocate.
I think construct is the right word because the Trump circle is building the illusion.
I read it wrong. Sorry.
Call your Senator and ask them to demand the immediate resignation of RFK Jr. Use 5calls.org or here is a suggested script: This is (name) from (zip code) The Senator, who voted for RFK Jr. must call for his immediate resignation and or impeachment. His complete disregard for evidence based medicine in decisions about vaccines, and now the dismantling of the CDC puts us all at enormous risk. It’s not enough that Republicans took away healthcare from millions; now they want to kill us all. Disease doesn’t care who you voted for.
I will hold the Senator and all Republicans in office responsible for the death and disease which will follow. The Senator must act, now.
Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. A switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate office you request.
Leave your full street address if you are leaving a message.
I don’t have a lot of money to donate, but I have a skill and knowledge that people enjoy and love participating in. I’m leading two walks to fundraise for Sister District (supports downballot Dem. candidates in swing districts), great org. My walks are sold out and raising $1,000. Plus they’re fun for me. If you have a skill/knowledge/act, maybe you can use it to fundraise for your favorite organization.
What a great think to do and what a great way to bring people together. Bravo!
Consider, please, posting via your own Substack, and then share links here, the details of how you've organized this! I am POSITIVE that others would love to follow your blueprint and replicate this idea!
I don’t have or have time for my own substack. I did not organize it, just offered my walks to Sister District, who organized it.
This is brilliant!!!
Thank you for your service!!
It’s hugely helpful to narrow down the topics to these four. People are overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, so please keep offering focus. Thanks, Simon.
And, I agree that 5Calls is a great support for action. I use their scripts and then send emails via Resistbot. (Yes, I know calls are the “gold standard “ but email is better for me, unless immediacy is important.)
Great example of not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Simon, this is incredible, and I'm not sure it can be topped: "They slather him with his favorite burnt orange, coif and dye whatever it is that is on his head, tighten the bulging girdle, message his swollen ankles and legs, pump whatever it is they are pumping into him intravenously, wrap him in his long red tie and blue suit, show him fake right-wing polls to comfort and buoy him, and then roll him out at some staged event where someone ritualistically bends the knee and then he rallies to play “TRUMP” one more incoherent time."
I hope someone uses it as his eulogy, too.
My husband and I were thinking that Simon could be a poet, a la Lawrence Ferlinghetti. For example, there’s a line in today’s post…I’ll go find it.
this frenetic no vacation, forget-about-the Epstein files/tariffs/shitty economy/crappy poll numbers/Dems kicking our ass in elections and instead look at me red-carpeting Putin/building gilded ballrooms/raiding Bolton’s home/occupying DC/firing the black Fed woman August has not improved his standing with the public.
Poetry
I attended a town hall with Northern California congressmen Mike Townsend and Jared Hoffman last night in Santa Rosa. They both said, in essence, that it will all hinge on midterms. We must get the House back. They said the plan to redistrict (here Prop 50) makes California a crucial player in this moment, and that we’ll need national money to help us prevail against GOP campaign against it. Simon, what about us in the Hopium community raising funds for Prop 50? I imagine you know Townsend and Hoffman?? Those of us in California need help!
I’ve seen Hoffman at a townhall and he is excellent, very thoughtful and articulate but with fire in his belly. He has an autistic child which makes him a particularly good advocate for neurodiverse children.
Oh, that's so great to hear. We lost a huge disability champion in Sherrod Brown.
yeah, but Brown is back in the ring.
Yes, Midterms are crucial. But I think so much hinges on what we all do now. Supporting Hopium candidates for 2026 - of course. Simon’s recommended daily actions - of course. And whatever additional action we each have the time and ability to do - whether that means protests and marches, writing postcards, just talking to people. I’ve been using Simon’s “Trump is doing enormous harm, but he weak not strong” frequently. It really seems to connect.
I’m excited to see that there’s a march planned - Philadelphia to DC over a period of about 2 weeks. I live in MA but would love to participate in some of it. I so hope that it’s well attended, that it grows in numbers as it approaches DC, that it becomes something impossible to ignore..
Report: called reps. Pointed out that while Congress has been on vacation Trump has been busy building a military/police presence in DC among other things. Told them (all Dems) that I expect much more from them when they return to DC next week.
Yes, what our reps were saying (and before that the Sonoma County Democratic Club speakers) is that *now* the priority is Prop 50 for us, and it will have national implications. The work has to start asap. BTW Townsend is quite concerned about GOP attacks on the election, and thinks that’s an ongoing threat.
This is a wonderful column and just what I needed this rainy morning to get me off the couch. I am forever grateful that you majored in English and paint beautiful word pictures, especially those of Trump getting bundled up and painted up for another day. Such a nasty, pathetic old crook. I find myself referencing the image from Stongman, of Mussolini’s former supporters urinating on his corpse a lot these days. I’m here in Montana where my personal hotspot went on strike and refused to recognize my laptop. Emailing representatives has been curtailed, but I’m going out to the boathouse to write another fistful of postcards for Virginia. Onward all.
I thought the adjective “medieval” was particularly apt
I think about Mussolini's corpse a lot too.
Also the last years of Henry VIII, fawning courtiers, sickening stench, and all.
ICE is arresting firefighters while they fight fires. https://www.firerescue1.com/police/federal-agents-detain-crews-arrest-firefighters-battling-wash-wildfire
So, although I 100% agree about RFK Jr needing to be fired, that might end up being tomorrow’s call. Today I will ask my stupid rep, who lives in Southern California where we have a lot of fires, if firefighters are “the worst of the worst.” I am going to ask Senators Schiff and Padilla to make a big stink about it and then do whatever senators can do to nationally recognize the valor of firefighters no matter who they are.
Edit: calls made.
I live in WA and very close to this fire! This is despicable that this has happened! I am beside myself with rage! I'm making my phone calls for sure!
Oh wow. My daughter is flying to Seattle today to meet her fire truck (being shipped down from Alaska) to fight fires in WA. This is infuriating. But maybe it will wake up some of her MAGA coworkers.
Thanks so much. What does your daughter tell you about her MAGA co-workers? It would be great to get her perspective.
She is the only woman on a team of 8 or 9 firefighters in Alaska. She's used to being the only woman because she's a civil engineer and forester, so this is nothing new. In her experience, firefighters (and Alaskans, actually) tend to be go-it-alone libertarian types. At least half of them. The other half are lefty back-to-nature types who believe in climate change. She likes all of them, but is sick of the mansplaining that almost all of them engage in. Sadly, she will be dealing with that for the rest of her career as she transitions into her engineering job in 2026. I'll text her the link to that article about ICE to make sure it's on her radar and will report back if she tells me anything interesting about it.
This is an ideal topic for a letter to the editor of local media.
Good point!
Yes, we are strong and getting stronger; they get weaker every day. See you at a rally on Saturday and/or Monday!
"Given their information superiority. . . ." Oops, their lies generate a lot of energy, but information is not on their side. Our messaging can create as much energy as theirs, but we haven't figured out how. Facts, logic and history are on our side so keep calling out their myths, hate, fear and fabrications.
Daily calls have been made to WI Republican members of congress regarding our 4part agenda with an additional demand for gun control.
I have called all three offices, with no human picking up in any one of them. I left messages with Bresnahan, Fetterman, and Mccormick to end the use of military in our cities, including the occupation of DC; to end the tariffs with a simple example of how it is upending the fiber arts global community; and to fire RFKjr for his attack on our public health.
I do these calls out of habit, with the tiny hope that it matters.
I’m a novice in politics, but I’ve heard over and over again in the past months, from members of Congress, staff, and former staffers, that it matters a lot. So thank you
Refusing to sit down and shut up seems like a big deal to me.
Made my calls to Schumer, Gillibrand & Goldman. Shared links and info on Facebook and emails. Doing my part whenever and however I can from my upstate retreat. Will be back on the free & mighty streets of NYC soon, strengthened by the ongoing words and wisdom of Simon, HCR, MeidasTouchNetwork and all of you. Thank you.
My communique to Gillibrand, Schumer, and Nadler today was probably the shortest I've ever issued (cause I'm usually trying to cover more than one grievance):
RFK Jr. is a public health menace, and he must be removed immediately.
Nadler used to be my Rep… we must be neighbors… downtown Manhattan? Would be great to meet.
Self report, messages sent to Governor and Cabinet Secretary NMDOH
https://www.governor.state.nm.us/contact-the-governor/
Dear Governor,
This is an urgent request that you work with Gina DeBlassie, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Health, and the Governors in other states to have the extremist Robert Kennedy removed as United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. In order to keep us all safe, We The People must condemn the anti-science actions and disinformation from his office, especially about vaccines, and insist on his removal from office.
Thank you.
Subject: urgent request for Gina DeBlassie, Cabinet Secretary NMDOH
To: Constituent Concerns: Marisa Romero, Constituent Concerns Liaison marisa.romero@doh.nm.gov
https://www.nm.gov/departments-and-agencies/department-of-health/
This is an urgent request for Gina DeBlassie, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Health, to work with Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham and the Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Health in other states to have the extremist Robert Kennedy removed as United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. In order to keep us all safe, We the People must condemn the anti-science actions and disinformation from his office, especially about vaccines, and insist on his removal from office. Thank you.
Excellent letters. I am stealing them to send to my Michigan folks.
Well, it was not successful so far, because my message to the Governor was screened out. However, I submitted a response to the following denial.
Dear Dr. Potter,
Thank you for contacting this office. This specific request cannot be addressed by my office, but I am committed to making sure you receive the answers you need. I have transferred your message to a congressional delegate and they will contact you directly as soon as possible.
My reply:
Dear Constituent Services,
Thank you for the response, but I have already been in contact with the Congressional Delegation from NM to express my concerns. Please consider that in this moment of erosion of constitutional norms in Our Country, elected leaders at all levels of office are called to respond to harms inflicted by the US executive branch on members of their communities. They have sworn an Oath of Office to defend our US Constitution. Our Bernalillo and Santa Fe County Commissions have already adopted resolutions entitled “Defending our U.S. Constitution and Separation of Powers” on June 24 and August 4, 2025, and Doña Ana County is considering adoption as well.
The denial of vaccines that are already proven safe, and the fostering of disinformation and distrust of science and medicine harms the residents of New Mexico and their communities. The oldest and youngest in our communities will particularly face increased risk of infection, illness and death when fewer people are vaccinated. Our NM Attorney General, Raúl Torrez, has filed many lawsuits on our behalf, and actions by other government officials will support those legal battles. https://nmdoj.gov/press-releases/ That includes a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and its Secretary Robert F. Kennedy to Maintain Public Health Grants. Additional lawsuits have been filed and at least partially upheld, including those against mass layoffs and reorganization of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Once again, I ask again that you transmit my email to Governor Lujan-Grisham as requested. Thank you.
So, the message to our State DOH received a better initial response. I provided additional information about why this is important to me.
Good afternoon, Dr. Potter,
I wanted to let you know that we’ve received your concern regarding the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. I have forwarded on your email to Secretary DeBlassie for her review. If you have any questions or if you would like to provide additional feedback, please let me know.
Thank you,
Marie Ulibarri
Special Assistant-Health Policy Project Manager
Office of the Secretary
New Mexico Department of Health
ph: (505) 699-0486
email: marie.ulibarri@doh.nm.gov
nmhealth.org
Thank you. I borrowed some of your language in a message to Gov. Ferguson via his contact form.
For those living in Washington State, the Secretary of Health is Dennis Worsham. The link for contacting Gov. Ferguson is:
https://governor.wa.gov/contacting-governor/contacting-governors-office
Just called my Senators and member of Congress. I was able to talk to a staff member at one office and left voice messages at the other two. Maybe their phones were busy!
Thank you for again motivating all of us.
Simon, As a retired TK-8 public school board member (16yrs!), a few items. Most states don't have Education Secretaries. They have an elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction for TK-12 schools & a State Board of Ed, usually appointees. There has been some, but not nearly enough joint outcry from them across the country. Best, most vocal advocate for students to date has been Randi Weingarten & AFT. (She'd make a great podcast guest!) Those are the people I'm pushing on because younger children are affected by some of the most draconian cuts...DeptofEd closure, SNAP & Medicaid cuts, repealed gun safety laws to name a few. I would ask that we broaden the Higher Ed piece of the 4 pillars to include TK-12 Ed. as well. Check out Bruce Lesley, First Focus on Children, great advocate.
https://firstfocus.org/about-us/staff-and-board/bruce-lesley/
Many states also have State Public Health Officers that we can engage.
Sorry for the long post. I'm fired up about firing RFKJr!!
You always need 5 short points. Here’s my version of Simon’s 4 points, with new language in caps—
SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE AND MEDICAID FROM TRUMPS’s WRECKING CREW
GET TRUMP’s BLACK MASKED STORMTROOPERS OUT OF OUR CITIES AND OFF OUR STREETS
BLOCK TRUMP’s GUTTING OF CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED FUNDING, INCLUDING FOR science, PUBLIC education and health; demand the removal of Kennedy from HHS
RESTORE THE RIGHTS AND JOBS OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES FIRED BY TRUMP AND MUSK
Stand with Ukraine AGAINST PUTIN and DESTROY HAMAS TO GIVE HOPE TO THE MIDDLE EAST