Cynthia please we don't "dump" here. Not what we do. Please take this down. Not the same thing every day. That's just wrong. Trump has seen his popularity plummet; has lost critical battles with the courts and Congress; we've been winning in elections all across the country and have brought forward a new generation of leaders. Doomerism has no place here for it not just selfish it is also wrong.
Blessings and well wishes to you, Simon, and to every member of our Hopium community. May this be a New Year in which we, together, face the great challenges and seize wonderful opportunities!
How are the Russians actually doing doing in Ukraine? Here’s a "progress report":
In 2025, Russian forces claim to have occupied an additional 6,640 km2 (2,564 square miles) of Ukrainian territory and seized 334 Ukrainian settlements. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says it had “observed evidence indicating a Russian presence in 4,952 km2 (1,912 sq miles)” and 245 settlements.
Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskii said the additional territory seized amounts to 0.8 percent of Ukraine’s total area. (603,550 km2 or 233,032 sq miles)
The cost? Almost 420,000 dead and wounded Russians.
My thought: No wonder Putin wants Trump’s help to force through a "Ceasefire Deal" that not only lets Russia keep the territory they’re occupying, but hands over additional territory that they don’t even control! (Meanwhile, the Russian economy is bleeding, and in Moscow another car blew up – with a Russian general inside.)
I’m such a nerd. I listened to all 8 hours of Jack Smith’s testimony yesterday — I was crocheting. My bottom line, the repubs were just totally annoying always bringing in politics and the Dems were trying to set the record straight. And one part even made me cry when the Dems were asking him about the threats he receives and he answered a few questions and then said he didn’t he should talk about the threats anymore cause when he does it makes it worse!
He came across as down to earth, apolitical, concerned about all his staff who have been hurt by Trump, and the truth. I think he should be our next Attorney General!
I am half way through - riveting. All the whininess on the part of Rs about the call data I heard as fear on their part. In fact imo can hear the fear in J Jordan's voice in his questioning.
Being AG requires being a good administrator and also being the face of the DOJ. Smith is great at being a prosecutor, but he is more of a nerd than a politician. So the AG job probably is not a good fit for him. I like Special Prosecutor in charge of prosecuting Trump, Miller, Vought, RFK, Jr., and the other enablers and dictator wannabes.
Thanks for taking the time to reply, but I have to disagree with you about Jack Smith being a good AG. After watching him for 8 hours I have to say I think he would be an excellent face of the DOJ. He came across as dedicated to the rule of law, very concerned about his staff, and humble. Excellent qualities in my book. I can’t speak to his administrative abilities, but that’s an area where be can be surrounded by competent people.
Following sent to Sen. Thune and my WA State Murray, Cantwell, and NY Schumer:
Please pressure Sen. Thune to bring the bipartisan bill issuing sanctions on Russia to a VOTE! According to historian Ruth Deyermond, "it is time for Congress to step up and pass the bipartisan Russia sanctions package (with 85 cosponsors!!!!!) that Senator Thune has recklessly shelved. For Russia is weak, and getting desperate, as we saw with Putin’s ridiculous lie about Ukraine attempting to kill him a few days ago." DO NOT LET DJT SELL OUT UKRAINE
I’ve been reading about discharge petitions in the Senate, since I don’t credit Senator Thune as being any more capable of disobeying tRumpy to bring Putin sanctions to a vote than Squeaker Mike was to bring Epstein transparency to a vote.
Apparently Senate rules do define a Discharge Petition, but its use is “extremely rare and limited to Resolutions”
Still, with enough of us writing and phoning our Senators to finally act on potent Sanctions against Putin, we’ve gotta light the fire under Congress somehow.
According to Google, almost 40% of the 340 million people in the United States are people of color. That equates to about 136 million. DHS is saying they rounded up 100 million??? Doesn't it just gall you that they act like we are all fools.
Set up a new, dedicated email account that you use to receive spam mail. Do NOT give them an email account that you use regularly or that is important to you! And do NOT give out your cell phone number.
PS. Personally, I think ActBlue should make it possible to donate without giving them your email or phone number. Full name and postal address really is sufficient for their required reports.
I delete, unsubscribe and most now to go to my junk folder. They just never really stop but I can delete them from junk folder by selecting them all and delete.
ActBlue doesn't sell names. But the campaigns get all your contact info and start integrating you into their campaigns, and some will sell their lists, including you, so others can prospect against you. There is no simple fix for this though I like dummy email idea.
Simon, I think there is a simple fix for this: ActBlue should give people the option of donating without providing an email address! As far as I know, it is NOT required for the campaigns’ federal reports. (I’m pretty sure full name and postal address are sufficient.)
Thanks for this clarification, Simon. In response to ArcticStones' suggestion, is it actually feasible for ActBlue to take donations without a phone # or email address? I'm intrigued by this possibility.
I'm chair of the local Dems in Jackson County in (mostly red) southern Oregon. Without a doubt, the number one complaint we hear is about the incessant fundraising requests. Many people don't understand that we have nothing to do with this. I'm trying to offer them concrete actions they can take to reduce these requests.
I have given money through OATH, they say they do not sell your information. But I really have no way of knowing whether this is a better venue than act blue.
It doesn't matter whether OATH sells it or not. The campaigns will contact you if you give to them, and it is the campaigns that sell the data, not ActBlue. There is no simple or easy to fix to this.
I have the ActBlue donations go to my junk email. I checked it today for something and there sure are a lot of emails in there! But I don't care because it's not an address I regularly use.
do you donate through this Hopium site? it goes via Act Blue, but I think perhaps [?] doesn't lead to barrage of text requests. I'm not bothered by overload - just a few outside our candidates and I just block the unwanted
correction: from reading Elizabeth T's comment: I think I'm not bothered by the emails b/c they go to a folder I just peruse occasionally
Catty, I have the settings on. You can only turn on this feature apparently in the Substack app but not in the regular email or on the site. If you see other Substacks who have it turned on please forward them to me as I can see what they are doing. Thank you!
May I offer a clear and simple vision for Dems 2028? The root of the "affordability" crisis is the depth of income and wealth inequality in this country. Since 70% of the GNP is consumer spending-- and the majority of Americans are struggling with credit card debt-- this course is not sustainable. Two things need to happen: 1) A wholesale restructuring of the tax system to make it more progressive-- especially the the currently pathetic estate tax-- is essential to generate sufficient funds to both reduce the deficit and to strengthen and broaden the "safety net". 2) Build that system based on Gene Sperling's book, "Economic Dignity", which provides incentives for health care, child care, and skills development-- to emphasize the importance of family and dignity of work. Finally, we must ensure the Social Security system for generations to come by having the wealthy contribute much more and recognize that people will be working and living longer. This should be message ONE, along with a commitment to rebuilding our alliances around the world. Let's not get distracted by any other issues!
Repubs campaigned on repealing Obamacare... Dems should campaign on repealing the big ugly. That is something everyone who has been hurt should understand.
Adding to the Mark Levine Bluesky post about NYC crime rates plummeting, which Simon highlighted, Paul Krugman had a Substack post today reenforcing that and also noting the ways in which NYC has defied projections of decline and decay. Not just in crime stats but in commercial property rentals (which many predicted would tank) and the tremendous success of congestion pricing for car trips into southern Manhattan. Government CAN work.
"Fellow patriots, it is time for Congress to step up"
They haven't done so yet and calls and emails to my already committed Dem Senators and Rep (MA) are helpful but. It's the Republican electeds who need to hear from their constituents.
Come on Congress install the necessary bulwarks to cease the great thefts of power and corruption and human tragedy.
sorry for the post being awkward. typing one handed produces bad text, all i wanted was to suggest letting us enjoy the group win in some way rather than making it feel like there is no winning if that makes sense maybe i am the omly one, after all "i am the world" is a logical fallacy! onward
It's a good suggestion but we are not moving the goal posts. It's not the right way to look at it. We will be raising as much as we can for everyone all year and moving the goals as we hit them. The only real win that matters is if we win the elections though I hear you and will try to figure something out.
Cynthia please we don't "dump" here. Not what we do. Please take this down. Not the same thing every day. That's just wrong. Trump has seen his popularity plummet; has lost critical battles with the courts and Congress; we've been winning in elections all across the country and have brought forward a new generation of leaders. Doomerism has no place here for it not just selfish it is also wrong.
Blessings and well wishes to you, Simon, and to every member of our Hopium community. May this be a New Year in which we, together, face the great challenges and seize wonderful opportunities!
How are the Russians actually doing doing in Ukraine? Here’s a "progress report":
In 2025, Russian forces claim to have occupied an additional 6,640 km2 (2,564 square miles) of Ukrainian territory and seized 334 Ukrainian settlements. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says it had “observed evidence indicating a Russian presence in 4,952 km2 (1,912 sq miles)” and 245 settlements.
Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskii said the additional territory seized amounts to 0.8 percent of Ukraine’s total area. (603,550 km2 or 233,032 sq miles)
The cost? Almost 420,000 dead and wounded Russians.
My thought: No wonder Putin wants Trump’s help to force through a "Ceasefire Deal" that not only lets Russia keep the territory they’re occupying, but hands over additional territory that they don’t even control! (Meanwhile, the Russian economy is bleeding, and in Moscow another car blew up – with a Russian general inside.)
I’m such a nerd. I listened to all 8 hours of Jack Smith’s testimony yesterday — I was crocheting. My bottom line, the repubs were just totally annoying always bringing in politics and the Dems were trying to set the record straight. And one part even made me cry when the Dems were asking him about the threats he receives and he answered a few questions and then said he didn’t he should talk about the threats anymore cause when he does it makes it worse!
He came across as down to earth, apolitical, concerned about all his staff who have been hurt by Trump, and the truth. I think he should be our next Attorney General!
That’s hardcore
Thanks, I think?! I was explaining it to a friend reminiscing about spending days in July 1987 watching the Ollie North hearings, too.
2029 goals: Jack Smith as attorney general
Alison Gill said that too.
Or perhaps running of “The Hague 2.0” USA version for the next 20 years or whatever it takes to clean out “All The Presidents Men”
(and women) like Nixon cronies.
Hurray for nerds! I commend you and appreciate your summary.
He is SUCH a badass. Alison Gill was saying he should be the next AG. :) She is working on a one-hour summary recording.
I am half way through - riveting. All the whininess on the part of Rs about the call data I heard as fear on their part. In fact imo can hear the fear in J Jordan's voice in his questioning.
Being AG requires being a good administrator and also being the face of the DOJ. Smith is great at being a prosecutor, but he is more of a nerd than a politician. So the AG job probably is not a good fit for him. I like Special Prosecutor in charge of prosecuting Trump, Miller, Vought, RFK, Jr., and the other enablers and dictator wannabes.
Thanks for taking the time to reply, but I have to disagree with you about Jack Smith being a good AG. After watching him for 8 hours I have to say I think he would be an excellent face of the DOJ. He came across as dedicated to the rule of law, very concerned about his staff, and humble. Excellent qualities in my book. I can’t speak to his administrative abilities, but that’s an area where be can be surrounded by competent people.
3rd paragraph, "incineration" should be "inauguration"
Happy New Year to all in the Hopium Community!
Fixed it. Thank you. Crazy spell checker error!
The DHS picture is of a car, looking like a 1960's model, with no people at all in the picture? It's just a car on a beach?
Could have at least put a couple of people with MAL face there, or something. What a nutty thing to post.
with, ironically, a big blue wave heading straight toward it.
Climate change strikes back at MAGA!
😂
good point
Bahahaha I didn’t think of that lol! Great catch.
That picture looks super ugly. It's definitely AI generated, and very poorly too.
Following sent to Sen. Thune and my WA State Murray, Cantwell, and NY Schumer:
Please pressure Sen. Thune to bring the bipartisan bill issuing sanctions on Russia to a VOTE! According to historian Ruth Deyermond, "it is time for Congress to step up and pass the bipartisan Russia sanctions package (with 85 cosponsors!!!!!) that Senator Thune has recklessly shelved. For Russia is weak, and getting desperate, as we saw with Putin’s ridiculous lie about Ukraine attempting to kill him a few days ago." DO NOT LET DJT SELL OUT UKRAINE
I’ve been reading about discharge petitions in the Senate, since I don’t credit Senator Thune as being any more capable of disobeying tRumpy to bring Putin sanctions to a vote than Squeaker Mike was to bring Epstein transparency to a vote.
Apparently Senate rules do define a Discharge Petition, but its use is “extremely rare and limited to Resolutions”
https://www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/discharge-petition-102jjs7/#:~:text=Though%20the%20Senate%20technically%20allows,head%20that%20wears%20the%20crown
Still, with enough of us writing and phoning our Senators to finally act on potent Sanctions against Putin, we’ve gotta light the fire under Congress somehow.
According to Google, almost 40% of the 340 million people in the United States are people of color. That equates to about 136 million. DHS is saying they rounded up 100 million??? Doesn't it just gall you that they act like we are all fools.
Every single day!
Love the energy in this post, Simon!
I am committed to making 2026 the year we want and need it to be!!
As we get Louder and LOUDER, Big Blubbery Baby Man gets Smaller and smaller.
"DONALD TRUMP COULD HAVE
BEEN EXPOSED AND STOPPED
And Should Have Been, Long Ago"
BANDY X. LEE
🔸️Donald Trump is in trouble now, fading and
challenged as all autocrats eventuallv are. but still
likely to take more steps that will keep
government under his control. that will allow him
to invoke the Insurrection Act. martial law. or
even more unthinkable acts. He is still the mafa
don who has instilled false but serious fear into
many.
🔸️As I have said since the verv beginning. he
will never relent. never admit to any wrong, and
never give up power, unless he is stopped from
without.
🔸️However, the situation could get so
difficult for him, with his cognitive abilities and
now his physical as well as his mental health
declining-as I pointed out from the very
beginning--as to make him ever more dangerous,
https://open.substack.com/pub/bandyxlee/p/donald-trump-could-have-been-exposed?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=280c3q
Serious question:
In 2024 I organized a group of donors to contribute to candidates Simon recommended. I want to do it again this year.
The problem is once a donation is made (through ActBlue) all of us have been barraged with an onslaught of emails asking for donations.
Generally I just delete them. Occasionally I take the time to unsubscribe. Either way it takes time. Too much time.
Is there any way of avoiding this?
Or does anyone have suggestions for managing this?
(If I don’t do a daily cleansing of emails in a couple days time I can have 700! This makes finding important emails from other sources frustrating!)
Thanks!
Set up a new, dedicated email account that you use to receive spam mail. Do NOT give them an email account that you use regularly or that is important to you! And do NOT give out your cell phone number.
PS. Personally, I think ActBlue should make it possible to donate without giving them your email or phone number. Full name and postal address really is sufficient for their required reports.
I delete, unsubscribe and most now to go to my junk folder. They just never really stop but I can delete them from junk folder by selecting them all and delete.
In the future, use a different email account. Don’t allow your regular account to become cluttered with these annoyances – not even its Junk folder!
Oh I hadn't thought of that - thank you! I get some weird emails. I just delete. I wonder how the heck did I get on THAT list?
ActBlue doesn't sell names. But the campaigns get all your contact info and start integrating you into their campaigns, and some will sell their lists, including you, so others can prospect against you. There is no simple fix for this though I like dummy email idea.
Simon, I think there is a simple fix for this: ActBlue should give people the option of donating without providing an email address! As far as I know, it is NOT required for the campaigns’ federal reports. (I’m pretty sure full name and postal address are sufficient.)
Thanks for this clarification, Simon. In response to ArcticStones' suggestion, is it actually feasible for ActBlue to take donations without a phone # or email address? I'm intrigued by this possibility.
I'm chair of the local Dems in Jackson County in (mostly red) southern Oregon. Without a doubt, the number one complaint we hear is about the incessant fundraising requests. Many people don't understand that we have nothing to do with this. I'm trying to offer them concrete actions they can take to reduce these requests.
I have given money through OATH, they say they do not sell your information. But I really have no way of knowing whether this is a better venue than act blue.
It doesn't matter whether OATH sells it or not. The campaigns will contact you if you give to them, and it is the campaigns that sell the data, not ActBlue. There is no simple or easy to fix to this.
I have the ActBlue donations go to my junk email. I checked it today for something and there sure are a lot of emails in there! But I don't care because it's not an address I regularly use.
my situation as well
do you donate through this Hopium site? it goes via Act Blue, but I think perhaps [?] doesn't lead to barrage of text requests. I'm not bothered by overload - just a few outside our candidates and I just block the unwanted
correction: from reading Elizabeth T's comment: I think I'm not bothered by the emails b/c they go to a folder I just peruse occasionally
Hi Simon,
Could you please Change your settings so that we can listen to your articles as well. That's easier for me than having to read it.
We appreciate you!
Catty, I have the settings on. You can only turn on this feature apparently in the Substack app but not in the regular email or on the site. If you see other Substacks who have it turned on please forward them to me as I can see what they are doing. Thank you!
Great suggestion. I didn't know I could listen to your articles. I rarely use the App but I will use it more now. Thank you.
It works. Thank you!
May I offer a clear and simple vision for Dems 2028? The root of the "affordability" crisis is the depth of income and wealth inequality in this country. Since 70% of the GNP is consumer spending-- and the majority of Americans are struggling with credit card debt-- this course is not sustainable. Two things need to happen: 1) A wholesale restructuring of the tax system to make it more progressive-- especially the the currently pathetic estate tax-- is essential to generate sufficient funds to both reduce the deficit and to strengthen and broaden the "safety net". 2) Build that system based on Gene Sperling's book, "Economic Dignity", which provides incentives for health care, child care, and skills development-- to emphasize the importance of family and dignity of work. Finally, we must ensure the Social Security system for generations to come by having the wealthy contribute much more and recognize that people will be working and living longer. This should be message ONE, along with a commitment to rebuilding our alliances around the world. Let's not get distracted by any other issues!
Repubs campaigned on repealing Obamacare... Dems should campaign on repealing the big ugly. That is something everyone who has been hurt should understand.
Adding to the Mark Levine Bluesky post about NYC crime rates plummeting, which Simon highlighted, Paul Krugman had a Substack post today reenforcing that and also noting the ways in which NYC has defied projections of decline and decay. Not just in crime stats but in commercial property rentals (which many predicted would tank) and the tremendous success of congestion pricing for car trips into southern Manhattan. Government CAN work.
"Fellow patriots, it is time for Congress to step up"
They haven't done so yet and calls and emails to my already committed Dem Senators and Rep (MA) are helpful but. It's the Republican electeds who need to hear from their constituents.
Come on Congress install the necessary bulwarks to cease the great thefts of power and corruption and human tragedy.
I call my two GOP senators almost every day and tried to do it in front of family over the holidays to show them how easy it is.
That's wonderful!
I hope others will follow your important effort.
is there a chance you could put a goal reached icon up before moving the goal posts on donations? it feels like bait and switch after the first
stretch and i ont find it an incentive to donate now that it is clear we are never going to get the satsfaction of a win
much rather have sprint donation strategy as this way produces a little donation
fatigue to
consider
sorry for the post being awkward. typing one handed produces bad text, all i wanted was to suggest letting us enjoy the group win in some way rather than making it feel like there is no winning if that makes sense maybe i am the omly one, after all "i am the world" is a logical fallacy! onward
It's a good suggestion but we are not moving the goal posts. It's not the right way to look at it. We will be raising as much as we can for everyone all year and moving the goals as we hit them. The only real win that matters is if we win the elections though I hear you and will try to figure something out.
Maybe Phase 1 goal met; here's Phase 2?