Inflation Surges (Again), It's Becerra Hilton In CA, Platner Wins In Maine, Trump's Failed War Keeps Failing
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Morning all. The May report of the primary gauge of inflation, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was released this morning. It showed a 0.5 percent gain for May, and a 4.2 percent gain over the past 12 months. Here are our updated Trump inflation charts:
Here’s that second inflation gauge, Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE):
The coverage this morning looks like this:
The “war” goes on and prices keep rising because Trump is not willing to accept the terms of his surrender:
As we saw yesterday Trump’s approval on the economy in Econ/YouGov was 29%, and he has seen the lowest consumer sentiment in 65 years. For more on Trump’s failed Presidency and his betrayal of every day Americans see my new data-filled post, Reality Check - Trump Has The Worst Jobs Record Since Hoover.
In California we got some more race calls yesterday - Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton will battle it out for Governor this November, Dr. Richard Pan will take on Rep. Kevin Kiley in CA-06, and Randy Villegas will take on David Valadao in CA-22. As we reported yesterday Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is heading towards a November runoff with City Councilwoman Nithya Raman. Also see my new, extensive analysis on how the tactics Trump and his allies have used to question the integrity of the California election results may be a dry run for November.
Graham Platner won his primary in Maine last night and is now the Democratic nominee for US Senate against Susan Collins. Contested races for Governor on both sides, and on our side in ME-02, did not produce outright winners. So they will now go through the ranked choice voting tally process which will not produce official winners until June 19th (ugh).
Many of you commented on how powerful Platner’s victory speech was last night. For those who didn’t get to watch it here it is. It is very much worth your time:
I am not yet ready to rally behind Platner. I know this is not going to make everyone here happy but I want to see some independent polling, let things shake out over the next few days, and hear from folks in the community. Not ruling out endorsing and rallying for Platner but we have a lot of other races to focus on today, including many in the Senate. If you want to help Platner today you can give to him directly through his campaign site here. You can also help build out the coordinated campaign which houses the party wide field operation for Platner, and our eventual nominees for Governor and ME-02, by giving to the Audacious Expansion Fund or the Maine Democratic Party directly.
A reminder that this community has been a large and early investor in the Maine Democratic Party, and have been one of the most significant investors in what will be the general election field operation that will benefit Platner and all other Democrats this November.
I also want to hear from you before making a call here, as there are very strong feelings in this community about Platner both pro and con. As we have this conversation, together, we need work through it as we do all important and challenging matters - respectfully, truthfully, earnestly. I look forward to our discussion in the coming days and hope folks will weigh in - I really do want to hear from you about the best path forward here.
Here’s our updated Senate outlook, with updated polls in Maine and Texas (note that the Siena poll in Texas we wrote about yesterday was revised this morning from Talarico up 3 to even, 46-46. I have no idea what happened here):
And here’s a summary of recent public polling for Platner:
The rancid ICE funding bill passed the House yesterday and is now headed to Trump’s desk:
Here are things you can call your Senators and House Rep about today:
Finish the job on the Ukraine Support Act, get it passed through the Senate to the President’s desk
Finish the job on the Iran war powers resolutions that have passed both the Senate and House in recent weeks, and get them to the President’s desk
No to the ballroom, the Arch, the gilded statues, the slush fund, the corruption, self-enrichment……
Hell no to Bill Pulte for ODNI, and hell hell no to Todd Blanche becoming Attorney General
Hell hell hell no to the new OMB regs that will destroy government-funded science in America. Joins the new Stand Up For Science campaign to Stop Vought. Save Science today.
Hopium paid subscribers gather tonight to discuss all this at 7pm ET. Register here.
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Now, it is that time everyone!!!! Let’s……
Go Out And Win Some Elections People!!!!
Winning The Midterms, Competing In Red States and Red Places, Expanding The Map
Hopium’s Winning The House Campaign - $766,800 raised, $1,000,000 goal (new ambitious, audacious even, q2 goal) - Donate to all twelve of our endorsed House challengers with a single contribution split twelve ways | Get to know Jamie Ager (NC-11), Christina Bohannan (IA-01), Paige Cognetti (PA-08), Rebecca Cooke (WI-03), Elaine Luria (VA-02), Sean McCann (MI-04), Jo Mendoza (AZ-06), Chaz Molder (TN-05), Jonathan Nez (AZ-02), Janelle Stelson (PA-10), Shannon Taylor (VA-01), and Sarah Trone Garriott (IA-03) by watching our recently recorded Hopium interviews.
Friends if these twelve win, the House will flip, no matter redistricting madness the Rs execute in the coming days. So eyes on the prize here everyone!
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Josh Turek For Iowa Senate - $11,300 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Learn more and volunteer |
Mary Peltola For Alaska Senate - $101,800 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Learn more through my uplifting conversation with Mary Peltola as she fights to turn Alaska blue
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Winning Ohio - $156,800 raised, $250,000 goal - Our new campaign splits contributions evenly among Sherrod Brown, the Acton/Pepper ticket, and the Ohio Democratic Party | Donate today and help us turn this critical 2026 battleground blue
Winning Iowa - $5,500 raised, $100,000 goal - We’ve also set up a new Winning Iowa campaign that splits a contribution three ways - to Turek, to Gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand, and to the Iowa Democratic Party and its great chair, Rita Hart | Watch my new interview with State Auditor Rob Sand
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Roy Cooper for NC Senate - $121,700 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Learn more through my new discussion with Gov. Cooper
Jon Ossoff GA Senate - $184,100 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Learn more through my uplifting conversation with Senator Ossoff
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Keep working hard everyone. We have a country to save, and elections all across this great country to win, together! - Simon
This is my first post as a paid subscriber. You asked for your opinions on Platner. I support him. There are no candidates without flaws. He appears to have the support of his wife. He appears to have grown from his past mistakes. That is more than you can say for our President. To lose the Senate because Collins squeaks by because Democrats don't rally around this candidate is to lose a major opportunity to challenge Trump's authoritarian agenda. Saving democracy is the greater good here. Let's just say it: that end justifies some flexibility on means. If we want to be the party of a big tent, and compete in red states, we can't lead with purity tests. It will kill our momentum. Thanks for listening.
I am absolutely behind Platner. Anyone who's spent time in the military can attest to being young, drunk and coming back to the barracks with a regrettable tattoo. It's almost a right of passage. Tired of the smear campaigns and the lack of support from pro-democracy media on this.
I have my regrettable tattoo. It’s terrible, but I’ve left it untouched mainly because it reminds me of that time of my life, my buddies, etc. And, I’m sure if I dig thru my phone enough I’ll find some questionable texts I’ve sent. That doesn’t make anyone unfit. What makes someone unfit is molesting teenagers and committing crimes right in our faces like Republicans are doing right now.