It's Been A Hard Week - Let's Take It Easy This Weekend Everyone
Early in person voting begins this Friday in Virginia - let's make it a big day!
Morning all. It’s been a hard week. I’m going to try and have a weekend. It’s going to be a beautiful weekend in DC and I’ve got gardening to do, a lawn to mow and my wife and I are heading to see the Nats and all their promising young players this afternoon. Am looking forward to time away from it all this weekend….
If you want to plug in I have two new videos and posts on the killing of Charlie Kirk, our ailing leader’s reprehensible encouragement of political violence, his vile white supremacy, and the clear, undeniable failure of his government and his political project:
Trump Has Failed The Country, And We Desperately Need Something Better
Our North Star Must Continue To Be Democracy, Rule Of Law, And Freedom
And I will say it again for it cannot be said enough:
There is no left of center ideology or leader calling for violence. Our movement is fighting, peacefully, patriotically, for democracy, rule of law, freedom and opportunity for all. The invention of a dangerous “radical left” in America is one of Trump’s most pernicious and outrageous fictions.
In the crush of the terrible events this week we cannot let the clear decline in our ailing leader’s health get flushed down the memory hole:
Nor can we let this one go either:
Nor should we miss that the U of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Survey hit its lowest level in the past 50 years on Friday:
For additional pick me ups this weekend we have a new, inspiring conversation with Senator Jon Ossoff; Senator Ruben Gallego talked to us about Trump’s escalating assault the Latino community; Mikie Sherrill updated us on her promising campaign for governor in New Jersey; Senator Angela Alsobrooks spoke to us about standing up for science and public health and the urgent need to fire Robert Kennedy; and Rep. Dan Goldman gave us a comprehensive update on what he is seeing from the House side. Lots of wonderful insights in these talks. Get to them when you can.
Let’s revisit the challenge Senator Ossoff made to us earlier this week:
"Allow yourselves to feel hope. Allow yourselves to believe in victory. The only way that we don't win these elections is if we lose faith in ourselves and our ability to shape the country's future as citizens. We still have that power as bleak as it seems. And we still have the power to build a country that we believe in and to present an agenda that can unite the country again. But if we lose faith, that's what worries me. So keep the faith, help me in Georgia, keep fighting."
Hopium community member Susan Troy shared this inspiring note in our chat:
It has been a sad and depressing week. My laptop is finally online again, and I found a beautiful excerpt from Nick Cave's The Red Hand Files, which appears in the September/October issue of the British publication, Resurgence and the Ecologist. The theme of the current issue is Choosing Peace. I felt we could all use a dose of that just now.
"Hope is an emotional temper that emboldens the heart to be active, it is a condition, a mood, an aura of being. It is a feat of the imagination, both courageous and ingenious, a vitality that inspires us to take innovative action to defend the world. Hope is essential to our survival and our flourishing."
Don't give up. A better world is possible, but only if we work for it. How much
There is a Stand Up For Science rally in DC this Wednesday morning. Register here, and spread the word people!
better to live in hope than grovel in fear.
In Virginia early in-person voting begins this Friday. Here is a statement from the Spanberger campaign. Let’s make it a big day everyone!
RICHMOND, Va. — Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger today — one week ahead of polls opening for early voting — encouraged Virginians to check their voter registration status and make a plan to vote.
“One week from today, Virginians will begin casting their votes — choosing leaders they trust to get to work for their families, bring people together across party lines, and deliver for their families. As I continue to travel across the Commonwealth, I’m hearing from parents, seniors, and young Virginians who are feeling the squeeze of high costs. I’m hearing from parents who want to know that their children are being set up for success in the classroom. And I’m hearing from businesses who face significant uncertainty.
“Together, we can put Virginia first — and as Virginia’s next Governor, I will get to work on day one to lower costs for Virginians, grow Virginia’s economy, and make sure Virginia’s public schools are the best in America. I encourage every eligible Virginian to register to vote or make sure their registration is up to date, find their polling place, make a plan to vote, and make their voice heard.”
In Texas the corrupt, venal Attorney General, Ken Paxton, has an exciting new scandal to deal with:
As we head into months of negotiation and confrontation on the budget here are our recommendations for what Dems should be fighting for:
Roll back Trump’s terrible, illegal tariffs that are re-igniting inflation, driving up prices, shifting the tax burden from the wealthy to working people, hurting small businesses and farmers, reviving tyrannical “taxation without representation,” and alienating governments and people throughout the world
Block the expansion of ICE, restore due process and end the use of the military on our streets and occupations of our cities
Fight Trump’s war on science, higher education and our public health; reverse - not delay - the cuts to the ACA and Medicaid; demand the removal of extremist Robert Kennedy from HHS.
Stand with Ukraine and far more forcefully challenge Trump’s traitorous efforts to sell out the US and the West to Russia and China
When our ailing and diminished leader was asked yesterday about the coming budget negotiations he clearly did not understand that it takes 60 votes to pass a budget in the US Senate. Yet another 25th Amendment moment:
There are two parts to our winning the fall strategy - winning these fall elections, and getting as much of our agenda enacted as possible. Now…..
Let’s Get To Work Everyone!
Support Our November, 2025 Candidates
Mikie Sherrill NJ Gov (2025) - $250,000 goal, $74k raised - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Watch my new interview with Rep. Sherrill
Abigail Spanberger VA Gov (2025) - $250,000 goal, $187k raised - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Watch my interview with Abigail Spanberger
Support Our 2026 Candidates
Roy Cooper for NC Senate (2026) - $250,000 goal, $33,000 raised- Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Watch my interviews with Gov. Cooper and NC Dem Chair Anderson Clayton
Jon Ossoff GA Senate (2026) - $250,000 goal, $66k raised - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Watch my inspiring new interview with Senator Ossoff
Hopium House 7 (2026) - $250,000 goal, $198k raised - Donate | Learn More, Volunteer | Watch My Interviews With Our Intrepid Incumbents
Our updated fundraising goals are now for the end of the year, December 31st, except for the 2025 races, which are now for Election Day, 2025. For more on Hopium’s approach to elections check out 1) the many important wins we had together last cycle 2) my big recommendations to the family coming out of the 2024 elections about what we need to do now 3) my latest thinking on where we are and the path forward for the Hopium community.
Take Action, Express Your Love Of Country And Strengthen Our Democracy Through Good Works - We are prioritizing two actions today:
1 - Call Your Senators and Member Of The House And Demand They Act Upon Our Four-Part Agenda - We need to be loud people, very, very loud and make the case for our our emerging four part agenda. Demand that your reps work to
Roll back Trump’s terrible, illegal tariffs that are re-igniting inflation, driving up prices, shifting the tax burden from the wealthy to working people, hurting small businesses and farmers, reviving tyrannical “taxation without representation,” and alienating governments and people throughout the world
Block the expansion of ICE, restore due process and end the use of the military on our streets and occupations of our cities
Fight Trump’s war on science, higher education and our public health; reverse - not delay - the cuts to the ACA and Medicaid; demand the removal of extremist Robert Kennedy from HHS. Yes, we need to FIRE HIM
Stand with Ukraine and far more forcefully challenge Trump’s traitorous efforts to sell out the US and the West to Russia and China
2 - Bring “Resolutions Of Condemnation” To Your Community - Inspired by the tactics of our Founders learn about how Hopium members are advancing “Resolutions of Condemnation” in their communities across the country and consider bringing this initiative to your state, country or city/town. Be sure to check out our new discussion with Deborah Potter and Rachel Poliner who have passed resolutions in New Mexico and Boston, and offer advice on how to get a resolution passed in your own community.
Remarkably, members of this community are now advancing 75 (!!!!) resolutions projects in 23 states +DC. Can we get to all 50 states by the fall election?
On Tuesday night the town council of Corrales, New Mexico debated and passed a resolution of condemnation. A preview of the resolution can be found in this article from a local new site. In considering the resolution Councilor Bill Woldman said:
"I want to thank the Mayor and administration for the comprehensive and important statement on our democracy. This is not a partisan statement, but rather an acknowledgment of a significant deviation from 250 years of practice of the Separation of Powers. While all politics may not be local, it is important for local governmental bodies to acknowledge threats when they exist and support our Congressional Representatives in their resistance to executive branch overreach. Thank you."
Keep up the great work proud, plucky patriots of the Hopium community!!!!
Finally, please self-report your activities to our daily paid subscriber chat. These reports help inspire all of us to do more and fight harder! Been impressive to see how many of you remain involved in local, in person protests of all kinds in your communities. Great to see!
Keep working hard all, and let’s go out and win the fall, together - Simon
Dearest Simon, our fearless leader. I'm packing for a trip to Italy for 12 days. Not sure if it's a good or not so good thing to be out of the country right now
But I couldn't leave without saying that I have now watched your most recent video 2x -- I forgot his name, your buddy from Chicago who I met for the 1st time in your video (Ex CEO of Chicago Trib, I think!).
Your words on so many topics affected me, so here goes quickly: Why you care about immigration so much -- you took the words right out of mouth. Growing up in NY as 2nd generation immigrants, I know exactly what you mean. That's why my 2nd career is teaching ESL to adults...even though I'm now past retirement age.
Your rage about the vile ugliness and call for violence from Trump and the right so resonated. We leave from Dulles this afternoon and I'm feeling a bit nervous...which never happens as I've crossed the Atlantic so many times.
I have promised husband that I will stay away from politics while in Italy, if that's at all possible. But I will jump right back in here in northern VA when we return at the end of the month.
Thank you again for all you do to inspire and motivate us. Best to all hopium-ites and see you soon. Warmly, Claire C.
Thank you for pointing out that those on the “left” (however we define this demographic) have not called for violence when Democrats are targeted. When Gov. Whitmer was the target of a planned abduction/murder, when Gov. Shapiro’s home was torched (attempted murder), when Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated, when John Hoffman and his wife were gunned down…no one declared war. Democratic leaders called for justice.
And now, we have clear declarations of war - threats to wipe out the “radical left” using the language of pogroms. Is anyone else feeling extremely unsafe?