"We will have reduced drug prices by 1000%. By 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 700, 600. Not 30 or 40 or 50%, but numbers the likes of which you’ve never even dreamed of before."
– Donald J. Trump
Reality check: Such an impressive reduction of drug prices would require drug companies to pay Americans to take them!
I know they think Americans are "trusting" of "authority". But, there's a limit to how low they can set the bar. Have they learned nothing with the blowup over the Epstein files?
These dramatic numbers underscore what Simon has repeatedly highlighted: "Trump is now at minus 40 approval with young people, down from roughly even at the start of his term, per YouGov. The buyers remorse with Gen Z is real."
My take: The big question is what this portends for the Trump-allied MAGA Republican candidates in the Midterms. Trump’s recent actions ("ordering" an extreme Texas gerrymander; ordering House incumbents to seek reelection) show he is extremely worried.
Moreover, according to data journalist G. Elliott Morris: "Democrats now have a lead over Republicans in trust to handle immigration, the economy and inflation. It’s not 2024 anymore!"
I'm encouraged by his drop with younger voters. But those voters often skip the midterms. So it could be good that they won't show up to vote for Republicans but we have a lot of work to do to turn them into D votes.
Hope Springs From Field https://hopespringsfromfield.org/ was founded five years ago by Obama campaign alumni to support our Georgia Democratic Senate candidates. Volunteers knock on doors, sign up voters, make sure voters meet state requirements and fill out surveys asking voters what issues concern them [most of the time, it's THE ECONOMY] I think this organization, which gets college kids [often from historically Black colleges] out working for the Good Side is an excellent way to encourage young voters
He should be worried. The reaction could be overwhelming - far in excess of any advantage that 'redistricting' might yield. Pedal to the metal, patriots!
Simon, thanks for the good summary. The Trump Show has, to use Fonzi's expression, "jumped the shark."
I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen to ask them to do more to oppose the tariffs and to thank them for keeping Epstein front and center. I also thanked Senator Van Hollen for standing with NOAA workers yesterday. I'm writing postcards to Virginia voters today.
How can we bake into the budget process that, if the government shuts down, it's the Republican's fault? I mean, they do control the trifecta. Also, by going home instead of trying to do their jobs and work on the budget, they are making a shutdown more likely.
The budget is a delicate strategic dance for Senate Democrats. It takes 60 votes. We can filibuster it. If we filibuster the budget in the Senate, though, MAGA will try to blame us for a government shutdown. On the other hand, if we don't filibuster a MAGA budget, we're complicit. On the other hand, if we filibuster the budget and the government shuts down, are we just accomplishing Trump's goal for him? Oy vey. (As Tevya would say, there are no more other hands).
In any event, we need to start making an issue now of the Republicans not getting the budget done making them responsible if there is a shutdown. I don't know how we do that from our level, but I would like to see Congressional Democrats talking about it.
I received the following in an email from the American Physical Society Government Affairs. I'm sure this can be found elsewhere and I don't have a link, but here is what they state:
"Good news for NSF, NIST, and NASA
Congress started its budget appropriations process with a bipartisan rejection of the President’s drastic proposed cuts. Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced its Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill, which would fund NSF with $9 billion, NIST’s Scientific and Technical Research and Services (STRS) with approximately $1 billion, and NASA Science with $7.3 billion — on par with 2025 funding levels."
So this looks at least potentially promising for science. It doesn't mention NIH which is less relevant for APS.
I've been calling Senators on this topic quite a bit. For awhile I was doing it daily. So this is some seemingly good news at least.
That is indeed good news! Also seems to me to be a rejection of trump's wishes by that Senate committee, which is not bad news, either. Little cracks, big cracks, etc.
Simon, I look forward to working with this community to as you say, "do[ing] something more explicit about demanding the end of masked, plain clothes “police” snatching people here in America without warrants." Let's go!
The new Resolutions page is helpful; love the links to historical background - will be useful to share. Simon and Lincoln, thanks for setting up that page.
You gotta hand it to them - they had a great game plan for destroying this country in as short a time as possible. They are making huge holes in our social safety net, our science, our medicine, and our employment numbers. They know exactly how to hurt every one of us. The people are now the enemy of the state. You did a great job of expressing yourself today, Simon.
wow simon! this is the best daily intro yet! yes, the flames are getting closer now. we feel the heat, smell the smoke. its touching all of us. maybe the dems could start a meme of "Stay Faithful" to our constitution. buttons, bumper stickers, tik tok, pins for electeds, protest signs, etc. very simply, we must all "Stay Faithful". we should start with members of Congress, cabinet members. then state, then local.
Sen. Murphy was on Bulwark pod today talking about this. Well worth a listen. He said it's death by a thousand cuts--gerrymandering, voter suppression, etc. It's a difficult situation but we are aware of it. Please support Marc Elias and his important work!
I do believe Musk had a huge hand in hacking the ‘24 election in the swing states. Totally agree that there was a multi-pronged effort to impact the election. Kitchen sink approach to “winning” an election.
We have to use everything in our sink to combat those mo fos.
It has been suggested that Stephen Colbert might run for Senate against Lindsay Graham in 2026. With Paramount/CBS cancelling his show, Colbert would be available to campaign next year. Politics runs in the family; a few years ago, Stephen Colbert’s sister ran for a House seat in South Carolina.
In the Senate, Stephen Colbert would surely prove himself to be a worthy heir of Al Franken. Both are highly articulate and very serious people, not withstanding the fact that they are comedians.
Colbert could successfully run campaign ads featuring his current persona aimed at Democrats and Independents – and ads with his faux-rightwing persona aimed at Republican voters!
I'm on vacation and just read this aloud to my family. Everyone cheered. It also looks like Roy Cooper is gearing up to run for Senate in NC. It might be Cooper vs Lara Trump.
Self report from WI… several calls in to Republican elected members regarding our top concerns- ICE, tariffs, Ukraine etc. as well as their responsibility to uphold the constitution. Sent an email of thanks to WI AG Kaul. Signed the 3 declarations supporting science. I’m still trying to get information on how to become involved with Dem party voter registration.
sorry, once again. also simon think you might have the one unifying universal handle on this. we need to refer to everything he does as a "tv show" produced by him, for his benefit and enjoyment. but, we can change the channel, the show can be cancelled. etc etc if we always refer to him not as president but as a 3rd rate, old, summer rerun show that nobody watched the first time around, people will get that analogy. grt for social media campaign. and will really get to him!
ps i think the biggest thing i have noticed lately (try not to watch) is that everything that comes out of his mouth is a lie. every single thing. either incoherent or a lie or both.
So a dead man (Epstein) shuts down the Republican House of Congress earlier than the August 1st original recess date. Not bad for a dead man. It's not going away no matter how much they try to cover it up!
Of course sane people are not buying Trump's lies. Reminds me of the fable of Peter and the Wolf. The cronies around him will continue to protect him and themselves. The rest of us will continue to persist, roll up our sleeves and get these criminals out of power and office.
Bizarre Quote of the Day:
"We will have reduced drug prices by 1000%. By 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 700, 600. Not 30 or 40 or 50%, but numbers the likes of which you’ve never even dreamed of before."
– Donald J. Trump
Reality check: Such an impressive reduction of drug prices would require drug companies to pay Americans to take them!
https://politicalwire.com/2025/07/23/trump-claims-hell-slash-drug-prices-by-1400/
My favorite quote of all time: “…understanding of numbers is so weak that they don’t communicate anything…”. Daniel Kahneman (Thinking Fast and Slow.)
I can see the legacy media headlines now: “Trump supports clinical trials”
I know they think Americans are "trusting" of "authority". But, there's a limit to how low they can set the bar. Have they learned nothing with the blowup over the Epstein files?
YOUNG VOTERS TURN AGAINST TRUMP
These dramatic numbers underscore what Simon has repeatedly highlighted: "Trump is now at minus 40 approval with young people, down from roughly even at the start of his term, per YouGov. The buyers remorse with Gen Z is real."
https://nitter.poast.org/pic/orig/media%2FGweg8v0XsAIa01j.jpg
https://politicalwire.com/2025/07/23/young-voters-turn-on-trump/
My take: The big question is what this portends for the Trump-allied MAGA Republican candidates in the Midterms. Trump’s recent actions ("ordering" an extreme Texas gerrymander; ordering House incumbents to seek reelection) show he is extremely worried.
Moreover, according to data journalist G. Elliott Morris: "Democrats now have a lead over Republicans in trust to handle immigration, the economy and inflation. It’s not 2024 anymore!"
https://nitter.poast.org/gelliottmorris/status/1948010965942862133#m
(Nitter is a way to access Tweets without having to visit Musk’s Xitter.)
I'm encouraged by his drop with younger voters. But those voters often skip the midterms. So it could be good that they won't show up to vote for Republicans but we have a lot of work to do to turn them into D votes.
Hope Springs From Field https://hopespringsfromfield.org/ was founded five years ago by Obama campaign alumni to support our Georgia Democratic Senate candidates. Volunteers knock on doors, sign up voters, make sure voters meet state requirements and fill out surveys asking voters what issues concern them [most of the time, it's THE ECONOMY] I think this organization, which gets college kids [often from historically Black colleges] out working for the Good Side is an excellent way to encourage young voters
P. S. 10 more postcards going in the mail today
They may have figured out that it matters.
So he's ordered the rats not to jump ship before the midterms? Intrigued to see how that plays out...
He should be worried. The reaction could be overwhelming - far in excess of any advantage that 'redistricting' might yield. Pedal to the metal, patriots!
Hear, hear!
Simon, thanks for the good summary. The Trump Show has, to use Fonzi's expression, "jumped the shark."
I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen to ask them to do more to oppose the tariffs and to thank them for keeping Epstein front and center. I also thanked Senator Van Hollen for standing with NOAA workers yesterday. I'm writing postcards to Virginia voters today.
When Trump becomes too much of a burden for them his handlers will dispose of him.
How can we bake into the budget process that, if the government shuts down, it's the Republican's fault? I mean, they do control the trifecta. Also, by going home instead of trying to do their jobs and work on the budget, they are making a shutdown more likely.
The budget is a delicate strategic dance for Senate Democrats. It takes 60 votes. We can filibuster it. If we filibuster the budget in the Senate, though, MAGA will try to blame us for a government shutdown. On the other hand, if we don't filibuster a MAGA budget, we're complicit. On the other hand, if we filibuster the budget and the government shuts down, are we just accomplishing Trump's goal for him? Oy vey. (As Tevya would say, there are no more other hands).
In any event, we need to start making an issue now of the Republicans not getting the budget done making them responsible if there is a shutdown. I don't know how we do that from our level, but I would like to see Congressional Democrats talking about it.
As of a couple days ago the Pentagon has called back the Marines from LA. Good news for the Marines, LA and for us.
I received the following in an email from the American Physical Society Government Affairs. I'm sure this can be found elsewhere and I don't have a link, but here is what they state:
"Good news for NSF, NIST, and NASA
Congress started its budget appropriations process with a bipartisan rejection of the President’s drastic proposed cuts. Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced its Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill, which would fund NSF with $9 billion, NIST’s Scientific and Technical Research and Services (STRS) with approximately $1 billion, and NASA Science with $7.3 billion — on par with 2025 funding levels."
So this looks at least potentially promising for science. It doesn't mention NIH which is less relevant for APS.
I've been calling Senators on this topic quite a bit. For awhile I was doing it daily. So this is some seemingly good news at least.
That is indeed good news! Also seems to me to be a rejection of trump's wishes by that Senate committee, which is not bad news, either. Little cracks, big cracks, etc.
Simon, I look forward to working with this community to as you say, "do[ing] something more explicit about demanding the end of masked, plain clothes “police” snatching people here in America without warrants." Let's go!
The new Resolutions page is helpful; love the links to historical background - will be useful to share. Simon and Lincoln, thanks for setting up that page.
You gotta hand it to them - they had a great game plan for destroying this country in as short a time as possible. They are making huge holes in our social safety net, our science, our medicine, and our employment numbers. They know exactly how to hurt every one of us. The people are now the enemy of the state. You did a great job of expressing yourself today, Simon.
wow simon! this is the best daily intro yet! yes, the flames are getting closer now. we feel the heat, smell the smoke. its touching all of us. maybe the dems could start a meme of "Stay Faithful" to our constitution. buttons, bumper stickers, tik tok, pins for electeds, protest signs, etc. very simply, we must all "Stay Faithful". we should start with members of Congress, cabinet members. then state, then local.
Love this
Yes, fantastic idea!
Just listened to Scott Carney on his substack...about the potential hacking by Trump
of the 2024 election..especially interesting was the "drop-off rate" in key states. My daughter
spoke of this right after the election and no one believed her. But she is clever and now
proven maybe to be correct. Please speak about this..and how to make our elections really
secure..only paper?
Sen. Murphy was on Bulwark pod today talking about this. Well worth a listen. He said it's death by a thousand cuts--gerrymandering, voter suppression, etc. It's a difficult situation but we are aware of it. Please support Marc Elias and his important work!
I do believe Musk had a huge hand in hacking the ‘24 election in the swing states. Totally agree that there was a multi-pronged effort to impact the election. Kitchen sink approach to “winning” an election.
We have to use everything in our sink to combat those mo fos.
STEPHEN COLBERT FOR SENATE!
It has been suggested that Stephen Colbert might run for Senate against Lindsay Graham in 2026. With Paramount/CBS cancelling his show, Colbert would be available to campaign next year. Politics runs in the family; a few years ago, Stephen Colbert’s sister ran for a House seat in South Carolina.
In the Senate, Stephen Colbert would surely prove himself to be a worthy heir of Al Franken. Both are highly articulate and very serious people, not withstanding the fact that they are comedians.
Colbert could successfully run campaign ads featuring his current persona aimed at Democrats and Independents – and ads with his faux-rightwing persona aimed at Republican voters!
I'm on vacation and just read this aloud to my family. Everyone cheered. It also looks like Roy Cooper is gearing up to run for Senate in NC. It might be Cooper vs Lara Trump.
Dr. Annie Andrews is running a great campaign against Graham. I'd love to see Colbert campaign for her.
Self report from WI… several calls in to Republican elected members regarding our top concerns- ICE, tariffs, Ukraine etc. as well as their responsibility to uphold the constitution. Sent an email of thanks to WI AG Kaul. Signed the 3 declarations supporting science. I’m still trying to get information on how to become involved with Dem party voter registration.
sorry, once again. also simon think you might have the one unifying universal handle on this. we need to refer to everything he does as a "tv show" produced by him, for his benefit and enjoyment. but, we can change the channel, the show can be cancelled. etc etc if we always refer to him not as president but as a 3rd rate, old, summer rerun show that nobody watched the first time around, people will get that analogy. grt for social media campaign. and will really get to him!
ps i think the biggest thing i have noticed lately (try not to watch) is that everything that comes out of his mouth is a lie. every single thing. either incoherent or a lie or both.
The Trump Show definitely needs to be canceled.
So a dead man (Epstein) shuts down the Republican House of Congress earlier than the August 1st original recess date. Not bad for a dead man. It's not going away no matter how much they try to cover it up!
Of course sane people are not buying Trump's lies. Reminds me of the fable of Peter and the Wolf. The cronies around him will continue to protect him and themselves. The rest of us will continue to persist, roll up our sleeves and get these criminals out of power and office.