Democracy needed inspiring leaders and you stepped up, Simon. Your hard work is a life giving gift to America. Merry Christmas to all! Let’s pack up our Christmas joy for sustenance in a Happy and needful New Year.
Simon, you've dedicated your life to making this country better, and I hope you take a moment to look over what you wrote here and feel pride. You're building your own team here, through your wisdom, intelligence, warmth, and patriotism--all qualities the country needs more of. May Hopium continue to grow. I hope you have a holiday filled with peace and joy. And maybe a puppy.
Yes, a great Senior dog--a rescue--with wisdom aplenty to share and great appreciation for being saved. A worthy successor to Tug--not a replacement for no dog could do that--but someone to be Simon's writing buddy every day to give him strength and inspiration.
Thank you, @ Simon, for all that you do: giving us direction on what are the most important actions we can take to strengthen our democracy; producing great videos of democracy defenders of all stripes and of the thoughtful, bold, new DEMS who are the future of the party. Thank you for keeping us hopeful by "doing more, worrying less" and, while acknowledging the reality of the destruction that defines this regime, never letting us forget that, with the work we do and the hope we hold, we WILL win back our democratic republic in time!
Thank you to the other Hopiates who do the hard, essential, daily work and share amazing, creative, thoughful ideas on how to create a future that includes and works for everyone.
Happy Holidays for those who celebrate. And if for you the holidays are difficult, May Your Holidays Be Gentle.
Thank you for your inspiring leadership. I'm winding down before the holidays with a final mailing of postcards for two VA Jan. 6 state races and a donation to the Winning the House campaign. Happy Holidays to all!
to all hopiums, and simon especially, for sticking together thru thick and thin this miserable year. let's continue to enjoy our wins together in 26. we will always be seeking love, light, democracy, and the end of trumpism torn out by its roots. happy holidays to all!!! simon, time to kick back and relax. thx for your stewardship of this motley crew!
CECOT has been a laser focus of mine since the March 15 flights, so I may be overcritical. I appreciate that the piece has brought public attention back to the most urgent issue of Trump 2.0 thus far, but I am disappointed that:
1. It made no mention that the summary incarceration of the Venezuelans was executed via the same statutory authority as WWII-era Japanese-American internment. It isn’t just a historical parallel. It was literally the same thing.
And, team Trump actually upped the ante by internationally outsourcing the incarceration and making overt infliction of terror and suffering a publicized central premise of the whole scheme.
As a nation, we spent all this time and energy apologizing for Japanese-American internment, and vowing we’d never do it again. And here we did it again. We need to repeal the Alien Enemies Act.
“Venezuelan” and “gang member” are not cause for incarceration any more than “of Japanese ancestry” is. This violates 1st Amendment freedom of association and 14th Amendment equal protection.
You don’t get incarcerated for “gang member,” you get incarcerated for gang-related activity that violates one or more criminal statutes, which brings me to my next point.
2. It made no mention of the 8th Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. Due process does not magically make it legal for torture to be inflicted, or for there to be no known release date on a prison sentence. It doesn’t matter what you fucking did. If you are convicted of a gang-related crime via due process, you get sentenced by a judge in accordance with the sentencing laws of the jurisdiction.
For example, Assault II (infliction of physical injury with a weapon) in Oregon carries 70 months in the Oregon Department of Corrections. If, while serving that sentence, you are subjected to conditions that are unconstitutional (ex/ filthy water, deprivation of food, beatings), you can file a petition to contest the conditions of confinement before a judge. You get appointed counsel to represent you (that’s me!).
When your release date arrives, you are let go (or deported, if applicable). You are not fucking contracted out to a foreign torture prison to be held incommunicado indefinitely.
Due process and the prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment are independent constitutional protections. Regardless how much due process you did or didn’t get, you still cannot lawfully be sent to a foreign dictator’s incommunicado torture dungeon any more than you can be sent to Saudi Arabia to be flogged and beheaded or to Malaysia to be caned.
And immigration detention, FFS, is supposed to be non-punitive.
There need to be memorials, just like we have for Japanese-American internment. Kids need to learn about Andry and Kilmar in high school. Museum displays need to be added. We need to know we broke our vow.
Thank you for following this story so closely. I think I was watching Chris Hayes last night—not completely sure of program—but an expert stated the administration is being so relentless with the Abrego Garcia case because they believe if they lose it they will lose a lot of ground elsewhere. It’s awful but it suggests they still take the courts somewhat seriously, in the sense that they want to appear not to be defying the courts outright.
There are a lot of reasons why outright court defiance isn’t a great strategy for them. For one, they want to ramp up federal prosecutions of political foes. They need a federal court system in order to do that. Corrupting the court over time via judicial appointments of sycophant ideologues is their existing and continuing strategy. And that strategy has its limits because— elections.
Simon,
If I could wear this 2025 wrap-up around my neck, I would.
My God, I was more productive this year than I imagined!
I deserve a rest!
Cheers to all Hopiates. Let's steer the ship right in 2026!
Thank YOU, Simon! Your energy and focus and expertise make the movement stronger and we appreciate you. On to 2026!
Thank You Simon for all that you do here to give us actionable methods to push back. Peace and Best Wishes to you and your family!
We love you, Simon. I don't think we could get through this without you and Hopium Chronicles.
🎩 “Have At It… and Who Holds the Bag?” 🤖💸
In a land of bright screens
and a brand-new machine,
AI hummed and it dazzled—
so fast, so pristine!
But we asked, “Hold on—wait…
what’s the rule? what’s the rail?
Who protects ‘We the People’
when the systems go stale?”
Then a voice from the top
said, “Less burdens! More speed!”
A big “National Framework”
for Dominance and Lead!
And the states that said, “Safety—
for kids and for hearts!”
Were threatened with court fights
and funding-pull starts.
Now picture the shopper
with cart wheels that squeak—
while tariffs add inches
to each grocery week. 🛒
“Who pays?” asked the neighbors.
The data says plain:
Prices rose on imports—
and domestic felt strain.
And the safety nets woven
since New Deal days began—
get tugged and get trimmed
by a sharp-suited plan.
More folks lose their coverage,
more families afraid—
while fortunes stay cushioned
in a well-feathered shade.
Then TV lights flickered—
a trade man declared:
“White collars are going…
so, hey, be prepared!”
“Go grab blue-collar work,”
with a shrug and a grin—
like that’s simple for all
to just start over again. 📺
Meanwhile, on another stage,
Laura asked—pointed, direct—
“Foreign workers flooding—
does that wage thing get wrecked?”
And Trump answered back,
“We need talent,” he claimed—
inviting more import
while workers feel blamed.
And overtime? Whew—
he once said he hated that pay,
would swap in new workers
to dodge it that way. ⏱️
So we stand at the doorway
of miracle tech—
but the guardrails feel missing,
and folks feel the check.
Because “We the People”
aren’t lines on a chart—
we’re the nurse and the teacher,
the coder with heart.
We’re PhDs and plumbers,
we’re parents and crews—
and dignity matters
no matter the shoes. 👟🎓
And when hate gets stirred up
at immigrant doors,
it fractures the neighborhood,
weakens our shores.
Our WWII families,
our allies, our vets—
they fought fascist lies
so we don’t have regrets. 🕊️
So if profits are piloted
over the crowd,
we grandparents get louder—
clear, steady, and proud:
“Build AI for people—
not people for AI!
Keep truth in the sunlight,
keep freedom up high!” ☀️🇺🇸
“We’ll ride this AI wave together—eyes open, hearts steady. Tech can help all of us when people stay in charge.” 🌊🤖
#ResharingBrigade #GrandparentsForTruth #IndyMedia #ProDemocracy #SupportUkraine #SupportPalestine #SupportAfghanVets
,
Every few minutes, I click on our Winning the House Campaign.
It's fun to watch you guys respond to Simon's shout-out about showing some love there, if you can.
I threw some $ in there and now am watching the total $ raised go up about every 5 minutes.
I predict we'll reach the goal within 24 hours.
Everyone in Hopium is on Santa's Nice List.
Democracy needed inspiring leaders and you stepped up, Simon. Your hard work is a life giving gift to America. Merry Christmas to all! Let’s pack up our Christmas joy for sustenance in a Happy and needful New Year.
Merry Christmas to Simon and all!
I’ll be back callin’ my senators Monday morning on my way to work! No surrender!
Simon, you've dedicated your life to making this country better, and I hope you take a moment to look over what you wrote here and feel pride. You're building your own team here, through your wisdom, intelligence, warmth, and patriotism--all qualities the country needs more of. May Hopium continue to grow. I hope you have a holiday filled with peace and joy. And maybe a puppy.
Dear God, Anne Bear, not a PUPPY!
Oh, NO!
With a puppy, he'll NEVER get ANY SLEEP!
maybe a one year old Democracy Dog then
Try an older dog. They're wonderful (I know!!)
Yes, a great Senior dog--a rescue--with wisdom aplenty to share and great appreciation for being saved. A worthy successor to Tug--not a replacement for no dog could do that--but someone to be Simon's writing buddy every day to give him strength and inspiration.
Thank you, @ Simon, for all that you do: giving us direction on what are the most important actions we can take to strengthen our democracy; producing great videos of democracy defenders of all stripes and of the thoughtful, bold, new DEMS who are the future of the party. Thank you for keeping us hopeful by "doing more, worrying less" and, while acknowledging the reality of the destruction that defines this regime, never letting us forget that, with the work we do and the hope we hold, we WILL win back our democratic republic in time!
Thank you to the other Hopiates who do the hard, essential, daily work and share amazing, creative, thoughful ideas on how to create a future that includes and works for everyone.
Happy Holidays for those who celebrate. And if for you the holidays are difficult, May Your Holidays Be Gentle.
Reporting on Christmas Eve!
I bought a bundle of Signs of Justice postcards. I added the stamps and sent 12 to each of my siblings for 2026 with a note. Merry Christmas!
GREAT idea!
Simon,
Thank you for your inspiring leadership. I'm winding down before the holidays with a final mailing of postcards for two VA Jan. 6 state races and a donation to the Winning the House campaign. Happy Holidays to all!
Carol, please recommend a postcard group. I would like to start doing that. Thanks.
to all hopiums, and simon especially, for sticking together thru thick and thin this miserable year. let's continue to enjoy our wins together in 26. we will always be seeking love, light, democracy, and the end of trumpism torn out by its roots. happy holidays to all!!! simon, time to kick back and relax. thx for your stewardship of this motley crew!
Thank you, Simon. Don't forget to rest!
Okay, I made my point about disliking alliteration. “Proud, plucky, patriots” it is! Maybe Tshirts as a fundraiser, Simon? Great work all year!
Completed 60 minutes bootleg homework.
CECOT has been a laser focus of mine since the March 15 flights, so I may be overcritical. I appreciate that the piece has brought public attention back to the most urgent issue of Trump 2.0 thus far, but I am disappointed that:
1. It made no mention that the summary incarceration of the Venezuelans was executed via the same statutory authority as WWII-era Japanese-American internment. It isn’t just a historical parallel. It was literally the same thing.
And, team Trump actually upped the ante by internationally outsourcing the incarceration and making overt infliction of terror and suffering a publicized central premise of the whole scheme.
As a nation, we spent all this time and energy apologizing for Japanese-American internment, and vowing we’d never do it again. And here we did it again. We need to repeal the Alien Enemies Act.
“Venezuelan” and “gang member” are not cause for incarceration any more than “of Japanese ancestry” is. This violates 1st Amendment freedom of association and 14th Amendment equal protection.
You don’t get incarcerated for “gang member,” you get incarcerated for gang-related activity that violates one or more criminal statutes, which brings me to my next point.
2. It made no mention of the 8th Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. Due process does not magically make it legal for torture to be inflicted, or for there to be no known release date on a prison sentence. It doesn’t matter what you fucking did. If you are convicted of a gang-related crime via due process, you get sentenced by a judge in accordance with the sentencing laws of the jurisdiction.
For example, Assault II (infliction of physical injury with a weapon) in Oregon carries 70 months in the Oregon Department of Corrections. If, while serving that sentence, you are subjected to conditions that are unconstitutional (ex/ filthy water, deprivation of food, beatings), you can file a petition to contest the conditions of confinement before a judge. You get appointed counsel to represent you (that’s me!).
When your release date arrives, you are let go (or deported, if applicable). You are not fucking contracted out to a foreign torture prison to be held incommunicado indefinitely.
Due process and the prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment are independent constitutional protections. Regardless how much due process you did or didn’t get, you still cannot lawfully be sent to a foreign dictator’s incommunicado torture dungeon any more than you can be sent to Saudi Arabia to be flogged and beheaded or to Malaysia to be caned.
And immigration detention, FFS, is supposed to be non-punitive.
there will be a movie and book about this illegal debacle one day!
There need to be memorials, just like we have for Japanese-American internment. Kids need to learn about Andry and Kilmar in high school. Museum displays need to be added. We need to know we broke our vow.
Thank you for following this story so closely. I think I was watching Chris Hayes last night—not completely sure of program—but an expert stated the administration is being so relentless with the Abrego Garcia case because they believe if they lose it they will lose a lot of ground elsewhere. It’s awful but it suggests they still take the courts somewhat seriously, in the sense that they want to appear not to be defying the courts outright.
I agree with expert.
Love Chris Hayes.
There are a lot of reasons why outright court defiance isn’t a great strategy for them. For one, they want to ramp up federal prosecutions of political foes. They need a federal court system in order to do that. Corrupting the court over time via judicial appointments of sycophant ideologues is their existing and continuing strategy. And that strategy has its limits because— elections.