We Dems have the best candidates, don't we? I think actually having the values and morals you're talking about is so refreshing! Thanks for the great interview, Simon.
Txt today from my immigrant and now US citizen friend who grew up in Tehran:
"It has been a very difficult and emotionally heavy time. My family has thankfully moved out of Tehran for now and they are safe, which has been a great relief, but the situation overall has been very hard to process."
"Personally, I'm still trying to make sense of everything that is happening. What many Iranian people are calling for right now is very complex, and in this historic moment some of those calls seem to align, at least in certain respects, with positions that Trump has advocated, though of course for very different reasons and within a very complicated political landscape."
"What is also important to understand is that, for many people in Iran right now, the primary enemy is not the United States or Israel. For many, the regime itself has become the main source of suffering. In January, only a couple of months before the escalation of the conflict, the regime violently suppressed protests and killed 35,000 Iranian citizens in the street. Because of this many people in Iran today see their own government as the enemy rather than external countries..."
The problem is, of course, that doing what he did without other allies, he has no chance of helping a regime change for the people of Iran. He doesn't have the intelligence or the discipline or skills to actually plan to do something worthwhile for anyone including himself.
I noticed right away that my two friends from the Middle East don't have any expectation that their leaders would ever have the same values as we all and they do. Having both lived in authoritarian governments (Iran and Jordan) their whole lives, they accept that governments are authoritarian and corrupt. It was a surprise when I realized that as I've ALWAYS expected my President to have high morals and values.
I thought you might find her comments interesting.
I think we all share that feeling about the expectations we were born into and raised with here in the US. Then, the turmoil we've all been living in, as everything we were taught about American inspiration and aspiration (because we don't always meet the moment, do we?) is turned upside down, seemingly with little accountability or consequence.
Again, I wonder: Once that consequence comes knocking (taking back House/Senate), what will accountability and justice look like? How many people will need to be investigated and brought before the American people? In my estimation, the numbers are so large that we would need to open up a new branch within the govt to work full-time on this. Because just going after a few isn't justice. The enablers were from the bottom up in addition to the crimes from the top down.
It is going to be a gargantuan task. Thankfully, I think we all agree that it has to be done - no blanket pardons ala Ford - to try to deter it from ever happening again. There has to be accountability this time.
Paige is a star! She's already made us proud as a successful Mayor of Scranton. And she'll be a GREAT representative in Congress!! Thanks for the interview.
Hello Mayor Paige, thank you for the great conversation you and Simon had. You're really impressed all of us the last time. I know you Love Pennsylvania and you will be a Wonderful Congresswoman. Let your Opponent know that you Kick- Ass!
In honor of Paige and Simon (who is finally taking some quality time off with his wife), I have made an additional donation to our Winning the House campaign this a.m.
Paige is sensational and fills me with Hopium and pride.
Great column about Mayor, soon-to-be-Congresswoman Cognetti in Tuesday's NYT. Posting via gift link, which sometimes works but sometimes doesn't. Hope folks can read it.
Thank you Paige for running and showing up for your state
Thank you Paige. AND, thank you Simon for videos with Hopium-supported candidates and Party chairs. Definitely “hope with plans!”
We Dems have the best candidates, don't we? I think actually having the values and morals you're talking about is so refreshing! Thanks for the great interview, Simon.
Txt today from my immigrant and now US citizen friend who grew up in Tehran:
"It has been a very difficult and emotionally heavy time. My family has thankfully moved out of Tehran for now and they are safe, which has been a great relief, but the situation overall has been very hard to process."
"Personally, I'm still trying to make sense of everything that is happening. What many Iranian people are calling for right now is very complex, and in this historic moment some of those calls seem to align, at least in certain respects, with positions that Trump has advocated, though of course for very different reasons and within a very complicated political landscape."
"What is also important to understand is that, for many people in Iran right now, the primary enemy is not the United States or Israel. For many, the regime itself has become the main source of suffering. In January, only a couple of months before the escalation of the conflict, the regime violently suppressed protests and killed 35,000 Iranian citizens in the street. Because of this many people in Iran today see their own government as the enemy rather than external countries..."
The problem is, of course, that doing what he did without other allies, he has no chance of helping a regime change for the people of Iran. He doesn't have the intelligence or the discipline or skills to actually plan to do something worthwhile for anyone including himself.
I noticed right away that my two friends from the Middle East don't have any expectation that their leaders would ever have the same values as we all and they do. Having both lived in authoritarian governments (Iran and Jordan) their whole lives, they accept that governments are authoritarian and corrupt. It was a surprise when I realized that as I've ALWAYS expected my President to have high morals and values.
I thought you might find her comments interesting.
Yes, Kent, thanks for this.
I think we all share that feeling about the expectations we were born into and raised with here in the US. Then, the turmoil we've all been living in, as everything we were taught about American inspiration and aspiration (because we don't always meet the moment, do we?) is turned upside down, seemingly with little accountability or consequence.
Again, I wonder: Once that consequence comes knocking (taking back House/Senate), what will accountability and justice look like? How many people will need to be investigated and brought before the American people? In my estimation, the numbers are so large that we would need to open up a new branch within the govt to work full-time on this. Because just going after a few isn't justice. The enablers were from the bottom up in addition to the crimes from the top down.
It is going to be a gargantuan task. Thankfully, I think we all agree that it has to be done - no blanket pardons ala Ford - to try to deter it from ever happening again. There has to be accountability this time.
She is awesome! Leading with Joy! A winner.
Paige is a star! She's already made us proud as a successful Mayor of Scranton. And she'll be a GREAT representative in Congress!! Thanks for the interview.
Yay Paige!!!!
Hello Mayor Paige, thank you for the great conversation you and Simon had. You're really impressed all of us the last time. I know you Love Pennsylvania and you will be a Wonderful Congresswoman. Let your Opponent know that you Kick- Ass!
In honor of Paige and Simon (who is finally taking some quality time off with his wife), I have made an additional donation to our Winning the House campaign this a.m.
Paige is sensational and fills me with Hopium and pride.
And to keep the good feeling going, I just decided I need to be more audacious and dropped some more $ into that Campaign.
Simon, have a great time this week with family.
NYT on Paige:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/opinion/scranton-biden-2026-midterms.html?unlocked_article_code=1.T1A.SvYy.jXdnm8aceUb7&smid=url-share
As ever, the comments are priceless.
Perfect timing! Paige seems like the rock star we need now - and what we've always needed. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/opinion/scranton-biden-2026-midterms.html
Great column about Mayor, soon-to-be-Congresswoman Cognetti in Tuesday's NYT. Posting via gift link, which sometimes works but sometimes doesn't. Hope folks can read it.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/opinion/scranton-biden-2026-midterms.html
Great article in New York Times about Paige Cognetti
Love Paige! She is such an asset to our NEPA Community! I love that she is Hopium famous now. :)
My nephew, who grew up in NEPA, once told me his car was burglarized so often that he stopped locking his car!
Thank you Simon for putting candidates from my home state on Hopium's donation list!
Ms. Cognetti is so impressive!! Thanks to everyone who donated to her campaign; I will do the same!
Thank you, Paige, for standing up against corruption. Your enthusiasm and energy are contagious. You viewpoints are just what we need in Congress.