In recent weeks the threat Trump represents to democracy here and abroad has become far more clear. Pro-democracy forces must forcefully rise to the challenge in the months ahead
Thank you always, Simon, for encouraging, educating and supporting us to win and save our precious Democracy. This Hopium Community always gives me HOPE.
Something that has been on my mind since it has become much clearer that the MAGA's are staring at a blue tsunami, how do we protect the election? How do we make sure that the votes will be fairly counted? How do we insure it is a legitimate election?
Volunteering to become a poll worker is what Amanda Nelson (of Amanda’s Mild Takes here on Substack and other platforms) always recommends when this concern comes up.
Yes, I'm aware of that. But, and this is a big but, the trust in the electronics has been compromised. We all can "watch," but we are not there for the final transfer. That is my main concern. At some point the volunteers are locked out of the system. These are desperate times and MAGA is a desperate party. I'm an optimistic person! This question is not out of eoyore concern, it's out fear for the system.
We do have time to insure that we can secure the system. Where do we start? It can't be on election day.
We are going to dive into this next year but folks need to work very, very hard to get grounded into what is possible and not spread false info or conspiracy theories. We have Democrats in charge of most of the battleground states and there is just a limit to what Trump can do to disrupt state and local elections.
I'm not in anyway saying, "we aren't going to have elections," that would also delegitimize MAGA if that happened. I am just questioning the integrity of the system in some, not all, of the states. I'm not into conspiracy theories. They sap energy. It's the desperation factor that has me concerned.
We are not concerned about it here in NM, as addressed by Gubernatorial Candidate Deb Haaland at her Holiday Party today. Our election system was rated #1 in the USA. Everyone who is eligible can vote by mail and opt to receive their ballots automatically in the future. Early voting has a long duration and many sites, there is same-day voter registration, 17 year olds who will be 18 by the general election may participate in the primary election, etc. New Mexico uses paper ballots that are scanned on an optical scan tabulating system. We also have Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) that ensures Motor Vehicle Division customers who are also qualified electors will be automatically registered to vote pursuant to state law. ID is not required to vote, only to register.
"Though New Mexico topped the rankings, it’s important to also recognize that election administration has improved all over the nation in recent years – a testament to the strength of our American democracy. As the MIT Election Lab stated in a press release: 'The latest update to the EPI shows that election management across the United States improved in the 2022 midterm election, continuing an upward trend we see throughout the past few iterations of the index…In 2010, the nationwide average score on the index was just 63%. In 2022, that has leapt to 80%, an incredible achievement. Among the biggest factors driving state improvement have been improved data collection and practices, as well as more capable websites that feature better tools for voters.' "
i have always had nothing but the highest respect for your system. I live in Massachusetts, it's not an issue here either. My concern is with those states that have been a little "lax" in their oversight. I worry about the mid-terms being a dry run for the presidential election. Let me repeat, I am by nature, not a worry wart or do I indulge in conspiracies - wasted time, wasted energy and only feeds the ambitions of the other sided. My concern is how do we prepare? I wouldn't trust that gang as far as a mouse could throw a teacup.
Yes, I noticed. Yes, it is objective and borders on being incomprehensible. The one thing I did notice is that the Republicans were a lot happier with the 2024 figures than they were with the 2020 figures. I have learned that the party that just won the last election is much more confident of the security of the system. After that? All bets are off. How comfortable with the voting apparatus does not tell anything about how it will be in the future. These figures are all about hindsight, as that is all they can be. I am concerned about the machinations of the party apparatus, not the voters.
There was a really good interview with Michael Waldman, the head of the Brennan Center yesterday (?). Among other things, he revealed that people have been stepping up to hire all the lawyers and others Trump fired who were safeguarding our elections so that they can continue to do their jobs protecting our democracy, maybe not quite as well as before (as Waldman concedes), but still quite robustly.
Here's a gift link to the entire interview in case you're interested:
Reporting in from war-ravaged Portland! 😄 In a few hours I have an appointment with my realtor friend here to go look at a studio condo that’s for sale at a great deal. Am very excited!!!
Got my whistle in case I see ICE/CBP/DHS activity. Ready to film with my phone. Also I have my birth certificate just in case. I started carrying that all the time as soon as all this started. Even though I’m white.
I have thought about the same thing, and it brought to mind some passage I vaguely recall - I believe from Bernard Malamud's "The Fixer,", where a Jewish character in Czarist Russia, traveling to the big city, bemoans: Papers, papers, life is just carrying papers and presenting them at all times, at every turn in your journey.
This is both a domestic and international battle that we have to win for democracy. We have to push forward on all fronts. This has to continue whether or not Trump is still in the picture. We have to wake people up from the plastic bubble MAGA has created.
Paul Krugman has a great interview with a history professor at Columbia University that has a lot of insight into the socioeconomic situation in Europe including a discussion of far-right parties there. Published today on his substack.
Thank you, Simon! I was so glad to see the suit over the destruction of the White House. It really, really upsets me that he thinks he can just take OUR house and tear it up and build an ugly addition.
As a DC native, I am absolutely outraged at this behavior by the Orange Wrecking Crew. I'm sorry, who the F are you to be taking away publicly held land and using it for God knows what? F you, man. I love those public courses, especially the Haines Point course, which for me was always a place of peace and reflection. What's next, the C&O Canal Development Corp.? WTF? Please tell us how we can support the lawsuits!
Will make the calls to electeds here in the Garden State, and quite proud of our wonderful senators, especially Sen. Kim, who has made it his business to reform the corrupt political system here. I envision him as someone who could play a prominent role in doing so at the national level, too, perhaps as part of a bicameral working group on public corruption within the larger investigatory/accountability project we must demand now! No reason to wait, as the two hearings mentioned indicate. Put that sh*t out there and let people see what has been unleashed, and what is at stake. Sometimes people need to be hit over the head, need to feel and see it for themselves, be directly affected by it, for it to register. Now is such a time.
I hope heroes of democracy like Reps. Raskin, Crockett, Garcia, Ramirez, Menendez, McIver and so many others in the House, and Sens. Kim, Booker, Blumenthal, Whitehouse, Murphy, Warren, Markey, Warnock, Ossoff etc. will continue to set the standard and shame the rest into following their lead. Let's do this - and keep going!
WTF, Lisa? My Beloved and I used to go out to Haines Point on dates (married three decades since then--thank you, Haines Point!)). Now this clown, who has the worst taste in the history of the human race (always No. 1 in everything) wants to 'improve it!!?? When are we finally going to tell him FAFO? The mlitary and the Guard don't support him, so he's going to have to roll out InCEls, 60% of whom apparently can't pass a physical that many 80 year olds could ace with flying colors (while IDing animal pictures at the same time).
As for his plan to use the National Parks to make his birthday a federal holiday, how about this? How about we set up just outside the major ones like Yosemite and give visitors the opportunity to give the entrance fee they thought they were going to have to pay to get into the park to the Democratic Party instead (after letting them know that he took away their free park access on MLK Day and Juneteenth to glorify his sag-a** self)? Then send him and the media the grand tally.
Glad I'm not in DC--I'd probably get sent to CECOT for pulling down one of those damned giant banners. At the 12th hour of the 20th day of 2029 (if he's still in office), they will come down in sync all over the city like Christos unwrapped, inshallah and God willing!
Right now what scares me most is the apparent dividing - up of the world order- the attempt to hand over Europe to Putin, China the East, the Mid-East to Saudi Arabia, and Trump taking South America. The first three are full - blown dictatorships, just what Trump wants to be. We really have our work cut out for us. We absolutely have to take the House and Senate in 2026 to have a shot at preventing that. Even if Trump's illness prevents him from a full takeover in his lifetime, there are plenty of others in his circle that will continue.
We need to attack on all fronts, the above and social welfare policy. Unfortunately, the mainstream media has, in large part, capitulated or will be taken over. CNN might be next. We are not creeping toward dictatorship but galloping.
Thank you Simon. The video here was most illuminating to learn shaking hands causes bruising on the back of your hands. Wasn't this the same person who said (paraphrasing from COVID times) you won't catch me shaking hands as it is disgusting. Surprised no WH order has come out saying making America great again--no shaking of hands allowed.
Simon, I think you are taking Hopium that all Americans need to go. Totally agree with that this is not an either or, it's an all hands on deck moment. When a leader gets weak they tend to strike out so we need to expect things to get worse as Trump declines and be ready for that!
This is just something I hope is helpful. I try to be skeptical of polls, especially if I really like what they are saying. I couldn’t make heads or tails of the percentages on the poll of which issues voters consider most important when voting. But since it had the source listed, I looked at how they did it. Turns out they kept the questions really simple, though I am still mulling over the complexity of the results.
Graphs and polls like the ones today are so helpful when discussing issues with people. (In my case, that is mostly Democrats who don’t believe anything good can happen.)
“As part of our survey, we presented respondents with a random draw of two issues (out of 30 total options) and asked them which was more important when deciding their vote. Among voters overall, the top issues were “cost of living/affordability” (selected 88% of the time), “democracy” (78%), “Medicaid and Medicare” (73%), “corruption” (72%), and “election integrity” (72%). The lowest-ranked issues were “Ukraine and Russia (selected 33% of the time), “artificial intelligence” (27%), “acceptance of gay people” (27%), “Israel and Palestine” (25%), and “acceptance of transgender people” (18%)”
It doesn’t say how many pairs they gave to each respondent.
rachel had a very powerful show on last nite with tim snyder in chicago. she featured community members on how chicago successfully fought back ice. tim snyder had really cogent remarks about what we should be doing to prevent authoritarian rule in the US. he said we all must have a red line. mine is the insurrection act, because then we will have lost our elected govt. highly recommend viewing. it's clear as the storm clouds gather that it will take every american to become involved at many different levels to save us. right now the wind is at out back. so let's take advantage of all the wins and keep on winning!
Public golf courses? No surprise there when you think about it. All Trump cares about is enriching himself and golf is just one convenient way to do that. Take all that public property for yourself, Big Orange Cheato. Just like the East Wing, Kennedy Center, Institute for Peace, National Park passes with your picture on them, "gold" immigration visas, Trump Savings Accounts for every kid born in America--but only if they're born while you're in office. Keep it up, buddy. If not for the Supreme Court, we'd have some public accommodations for you--called federal prison.
He'll leave in a hearse, sooner rather than later. And he "thinks" that stuff is his, but it's still DOD, Kennedy Center & National Airport and National Parks. Jibbering it into a microphone doesn't make it so. :)
Help it be a self-fulfilling prophecy: Indiana GOP state senators made a watershed moment when they told the lame duck to get stuffed and will get away with it.
This is a little off our usual topics but is very interesting. Nina Burleigh interviewed a plastic surgeon about the phenomena of “Mar a Lago face.” She discusses the medical aspects and complications of these facial fillers and some sociological reasons women get them. About halfway through, she shows before-and-after photos of Lara Trump, Kristi Noem, Kimberly Guilfoyle and others. The changes are stark.
Paraphrasing Stuart Stevens in a recent Strategy Session episode on youtube re. the 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy document that aligns US with Russia against Ukraine, what conduct would you expect from a president who received assistance from Russia to win his election.
Thank you always, Simon, for encouraging, educating and supporting us to win and save our precious Democracy. This Hopium Community always gives me HOPE.
Ditto.
Something that has been on my mind since it has become much clearer that the MAGA's are staring at a blue tsunami, how do we protect the election? How do we make sure that the votes will be fairly counted? How do we insure it is a legitimate election?
Volunteering to become a poll worker is what Amanda Nelson (of Amanda’s Mild Takes here on Substack and other platforms) always recommends when this concern comes up.
Yes, I'm aware of that. But, and this is a big but, the trust in the electronics has been compromised. We all can "watch," but we are not there for the final transfer. That is my main concern. At some point the volunteers are locked out of the system. These are desperate times and MAGA is a desperate party. I'm an optimistic person! This question is not out of eoyore concern, it's out fear for the system.
We do have time to insure that we can secure the system. Where do we start? It can't be on election day.
We are going to dive into this next year but folks need to work very, very hard to get grounded into what is possible and not spread false info or conspiracy theories. We have Democrats in charge of most of the battleground states and there is just a limit to what Trump can do to disrupt state and local elections.
The "we aren't going to have elections" meme is demobilizing and should be avoided at all costs.
I'm not in anyway saying, "we aren't going to have elections," that would also delegitimize MAGA if that happened. I am just questioning the integrity of the system in some, not all, of the states. I'm not into conspiracy theories. They sap energy. It's the desperation factor that has me concerned.
Thank you.
We are not concerned about it here in NM, as addressed by Gubernatorial Candidate Deb Haaland at her Holiday Party today. Our election system was rated #1 in the USA. Everyone who is eligible can vote by mail and opt to receive their ballots automatically in the future. Early voting has a long duration and many sites, there is same-day voter registration, 17 year olds who will be 18 by the general election may participate in the primary election, etc. New Mexico uses paper ballots that are scanned on an optical scan tabulating system. We also have Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) that ensures Motor Vehicle Division customers who are also qualified electors will be automatically registered to vote pursuant to state law. ID is not required to vote, only to register.
"Though New Mexico topped the rankings, it’s important to also recognize that election administration has improved all over the nation in recent years – a testament to the strength of our American democracy. As the MIT Election Lab stated in a press release: 'The latest update to the EPI shows that election management across the United States improved in the 2022 midterm election, continuing an upward trend we see throughout the past few iterations of the index…In 2010, the nationwide average score on the index was just 63%. In 2022, that has leapt to 80%, an incredible achievement. Among the biggest factors driving state improvement have been improved data collection and practices, as well as more capable websites that feature better tools for voters.' "
https://www.sos.nm.gov/2024/03/25/new-mexicos-elections-ranked-number-one-in-nation/
2024 update https://electionlab.mit.edu/articles/new-report-how-we-voted-2024
Thanks, Deborah! This is very encouraging.
i have always had nothing but the highest respect for your system. I live in Massachusetts, it's not an issue here either. My concern is with those states that have been a little "lax" in their oversight. I worry about the mid-terms being a dry run for the presidential election. Let me repeat, I am by nature, not a worry wart or do I indulge in conspiracies - wasted time, wasted energy and only feeds the ambitions of the other sided. My concern is how do we prepare? I wouldn't trust that gang as far as a mouse could throw a teacup.
I referenced the national data by MIT Election Lab, Survey of the Performance of American Elections, including 2024 update. It is an objective analysis. https://electionlab.mit.edu/articles/new-report-how-we-voted-2024
Yes, I noticed. Yes, it is objective and borders on being incomprehensible. The one thing I did notice is that the Republicans were a lot happier with the 2024 figures than they were with the 2020 figures. I have learned that the party that just won the last election is much more confident of the security of the system. After that? All bets are off. How comfortable with the voting apparatus does not tell anything about how it will be in the future. These figures are all about hindsight, as that is all they can be. I am concerned about the machinations of the party apparatus, not the voters.
Carol--
There was a really good interview with Michael Waldman, the head of the Brennan Center yesterday (?). Among other things, he revealed that people have been stepping up to hire all the lawyers and others Trump fired who were safeguarding our elections so that they can continue to do their jobs protecting our democracy, maybe not quite as well as before (as Waldman concedes), but still quite robustly.
Here's a gift link to the entire interview in case you're interested:
https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/2025/12/david-frum-show-michael-waldman-2026-elections/685219/?gift=FgeEACUw4iJoER4ZiZvsnFyu42NMfro6Be_M_jRZ0Jk&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share
Thank you. I subscribe to the Brennan Center and the Atlantic - Ah, it's David Frum! I will tune in.
Reporting in from war-ravaged Portland! 😄 In a few hours I have an appointment with my realtor friend here to go look at a studio condo that’s for sale at a great deal. Am very excited!!!
Got my whistle in case I see ICE/CBP/DHS activity. Ready to film with my phone. Also I have my birth certificate just in case. I started carrying that all the time as soon as all this started. Even though I’m white.
I have thought about the same thing, and it brought to mind some passage I vaguely recall - I believe from Bernard Malamud's "The Fixer,", where a Jewish character in Czarist Russia, traveling to the big city, bemoans: Papers, papers, life is just carrying papers and presenting them at all times, at every turn in your journey.
Thank you
This is both a domestic and international battle that we have to win for democracy. We have to push forward on all fronts. This has to continue whether or not Trump is still in the picture. We have to wake people up from the plastic bubble MAGA has created.
Paul Krugman has a great interview with a history professor at Columbia University that has a lot of insight into the socioeconomic situation in Europe including a discussion of far-right parties there. Published today on his substack.
Thank you, Simon! I was so glad to see the suit over the destruction of the White House. It really, really upsets me that he thinks he can just take OUR house and tear it up and build an ugly addition.
As a DC native, I am absolutely outraged at this behavior by the Orange Wrecking Crew. I'm sorry, who the F are you to be taking away publicly held land and using it for God knows what? F you, man. I love those public courses, especially the Haines Point course, which for me was always a place of peace and reflection. What's next, the C&O Canal Development Corp.? WTF? Please tell us how we can support the lawsuits!
Will make the calls to electeds here in the Garden State, and quite proud of our wonderful senators, especially Sen. Kim, who has made it his business to reform the corrupt political system here. I envision him as someone who could play a prominent role in doing so at the national level, too, perhaps as part of a bicameral working group on public corruption within the larger investigatory/accountability project we must demand now! No reason to wait, as the two hearings mentioned indicate. Put that sh*t out there and let people see what has been unleashed, and what is at stake. Sometimes people need to be hit over the head, need to feel and see it for themselves, be directly affected by it, for it to register. Now is such a time.
I hope heroes of democracy like Reps. Raskin, Crockett, Garcia, Ramirez, Menendez, McIver and so many others in the House, and Sens. Kim, Booker, Blumenthal, Whitehouse, Murphy, Warren, Markey, Warnock, Ossoff etc. will continue to set the standard and shame the rest into following their lead. Let's do this - and keep going!
WTF, Lisa? My Beloved and I used to go out to Haines Point on dates (married three decades since then--thank you, Haines Point!)). Now this clown, who has the worst taste in the history of the human race (always No. 1 in everything) wants to 'improve it!!?? When are we finally going to tell him FAFO? The mlitary and the Guard don't support him, so he's going to have to roll out InCEls, 60% of whom apparently can't pass a physical that many 80 year olds could ace with flying colors (while IDing animal pictures at the same time).
As for his plan to use the National Parks to make his birthday a federal holiday, how about this? How about we set up just outside the major ones like Yosemite and give visitors the opportunity to give the entrance fee they thought they were going to have to pay to get into the park to the Democratic Party instead (after letting them know that he took away their free park access on MLK Day and Juneteenth to glorify his sag-a** self)? Then send him and the media the grand tally.
Glad I'm not in DC--I'd probably get sent to CECOT for pulling down one of those damned giant banners. At the 12th hour of the 20th day of 2029 (if he's still in office), they will come down in sync all over the city like Christos unwrapped, inshallah and God willing!
Right now what scares me most is the apparent dividing - up of the world order- the attempt to hand over Europe to Putin, China the East, the Mid-East to Saudi Arabia, and Trump taking South America. The first three are full - blown dictatorships, just what Trump wants to be. We really have our work cut out for us. We absolutely have to take the House and Senate in 2026 to have a shot at preventing that. Even if Trump's illness prevents him from a full takeover in his lifetime, there are plenty of others in his circle that will continue.
We need to attack on all fronts, the above and social welfare policy. Unfortunately, the mainstream media has, in large part, capitulated or will be taken over. CNN might be next. We are not creeping toward dictatorship but galloping.
Only if we do nothing. Keep fighting!
Absolutely!
Thank you Simon. The video here was most illuminating to learn shaking hands causes bruising on the back of your hands. Wasn't this the same person who said (paraphrasing from COVID times) you won't catch me shaking hands as it is disgusting. Surprised no WH order has come out saying making America great again--no shaking of hands allowed.
Simon, I think you are taking Hopium that all Americans need to go. Totally agree with that this is not an either or, it's an all hands on deck moment. When a leader gets weak they tend to strike out so we need to expect things to get worse as Trump declines and be ready for that!
This is just something I hope is helpful. I try to be skeptical of polls, especially if I really like what they are saying. I couldn’t make heads or tails of the percentages on the poll of which issues voters consider most important when voting. But since it had the source listed, I looked at how they did it. Turns out they kept the questions really simple, though I am still mulling over the complexity of the results.
Graphs and polls like the ones today are so helpful when discussing issues with people. (In my case, that is mostly Democrats who don’t believe anything good can happen.)
“As part of our survey, we presented respondents with a random draw of two issues (out of 30 total options) and asked them which was more important when deciding their vote. Among voters overall, the top issues were “cost of living/affordability” (selected 88% of the time), “democracy” (78%), “Medicaid and Medicare” (73%), “corruption” (72%), and “election integrity” (72%). The lowest-ranked issues were “Ukraine and Russia (selected 33% of the time), “artificial intelligence” (27%), “acceptance of gay people” (27%), “Israel and Palestine” (25%), and “acceptance of transgender people” (18%)”
It doesn’t say how many pairs they gave to each respondent.
https://youthpoll.yale.edu/fall-2025-results
New polling from PRRI on disapproval of ICE raids, masked men, etc
https://open.substack.com/pub/robertpjones/p/ice-and-empty-mangers-new-polling?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
That nativity scene poster was amazing.
rachel had a very powerful show on last nite with tim snyder in chicago. she featured community members on how chicago successfully fought back ice. tim snyder had really cogent remarks about what we should be doing to prevent authoritarian rule in the US. he said we all must have a red line. mine is the insurrection act, because then we will have lost our elected govt. highly recommend viewing. it's clear as the storm clouds gather that it will take every american to become involved at many different levels to save us. right now the wind is at out back. so let's take advantage of all the wins and keep on winning!
Public golf courses? No surprise there when you think about it. All Trump cares about is enriching himself and golf is just one convenient way to do that. Take all that public property for yourself, Big Orange Cheato. Just like the East Wing, Kennedy Center, Institute for Peace, National Park passes with your picture on them, "gold" immigration visas, Trump Savings Accounts for every kid born in America--but only if they're born while you're in office. Keep it up, buddy. If not for the Supreme Court, we'd have some public accommodations for you--called federal prison.
with his own golf course & ballroom will he ever leave?
He'll leave in a hearse, sooner rather than later. And he "thinks" that stuff is his, but it's still DOD, Kennedy Center & National Airport and National Parks. Jibbering it into a microphone doesn't make it so. :)
Help it be a self-fulfilling prophecy: Indiana GOP state senators made a watershed moment when they told the lame duck to get stuffed and will get away with it.
Spread the word.
This is a little off our usual topics but is very interesting. Nina Burleigh interviewed a plastic surgeon about the phenomena of “Mar a Lago face.” She discusses the medical aspects and complications of these facial fillers and some sociological reasons women get them. About halfway through, she shows before-and-after photos of Lara Trump, Kristi Noem, Kimberly Guilfoyle and others. The changes are stark.
https://open.substack.com/pub/americanpoliticalfreakshow/p/live-with-nina-burleigh-187?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
Paraphrasing Stuart Stevens in a recent Strategy Session episode on youtube re. the 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy document that aligns US with Russia against Ukraine, what conduct would you expect from a president who received assistance from Russia to win his election.
I think that explains a lot.