Today, 230pm ET - The US Men's National Soccer Team plays Germany in their last warm up before the World Cup kicks off this week. Going to be a big match!
Happy weekend. I’ve donated to Winning Iowa (link not included in today’s post: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/hopiumwinningiowa ) and am donating to our immigrant community food drive. Watered the garden heavily for the heat wave!
Thanks Simon - That 1989-to-present job creation comparison chart is stunning every time I see it. And, yes, the candidate interviews are a great way to lift one’s spirits. Takes a lot of courage and gumption to run these days and I’m very grateful to them. I have some catching up to do on those.
Good news in CA-6, Pan pulled into second with 66% of vote counted. We should be fine there, most of remaining vote is in counties where Pan is ahead. He’s a solid, experienced candidate, a doctor and a former state legislator. He should defeat Kiley easily.
every time i see it, i take a photo and forward it to my fellow info warriors. i show it to people in the waiting room at the vet....people have gotta know, republicans suck at governing.
Ha - I forgot that line in the song, Leu2500! Sad thing when I was a kid we were so proud that an Iowan had become President and I did several field trips to the Herbert Hoover Library in West Branch, IA. We were kids, what did we know?
While 2025 was in fact the worst year for hiring outside of a recession since 2003, with almost no hiring from April on, December brought a different problem — you guessed it… the Trump administration deciding rather than bad news, let’s just lie about. Those who watch job numbers closely know that December is historically a strong month for hiring, so it's hard to view the 50,000 jobs added in December as a positive indicator, although Trump was positively giddy about it. But, you’ll recall, the Administration saw fit to both politicize and muzzle the Bureau of Labor Statistics just revised October and November down by a combined -76,000 jobs. Annually, 2025 saw a paltry 584K new jobs… approximately 49,000 per month, compared to an average of 4.1M jobs annually (341,000 per month) in the prior administration. Making American businesses great again will require more than nostalgia, new branding, and a belief that the cavalry is coming to do the work for us. so it's hard to view 50,000 jobs added in December as a positive indicator; especially since the Bureau of Labor Statistics just revised October and November down by a combined -76,000 jobs." Well? the Bureau of Labor Statistics just revised December 2025 down by 108,000 job layoffs instead... a 205% drop year over year!
Why did you leave out mentioning Graham Platner who has been smeared by Fifield (worked for the Heritage Foundation) and the NYT. We in Maine are still strongly behind him. They are not going to Al Franken him!
Tina, we don't traditionally endorse in Democratic primaries. Let's see what happens on Tuesday and we will take another look at it. We have been one of the largest investors in the ME Dem Party in the country so we are there, for Mainers.
Finally, we keep getting told that the opinions about this race from people like me don't matter. Only the voters of Maine. So I am not sure why any one would care about what we do here regarding the Maine Senate race....
Mr. Rosenberg - you have a powerful voice. It is your choice to use it or not to use it. On the latest Graham Platner issue/controversy/scandal, I will say one thing: it seems that these charges/accusations are coming from former girlfriends. I ask you, would you appreciate an evaluation of your character performed solely by your former romantic interests? Would you agree that such an opinion is accurate and unbiased?
Louise I think I understand what you are asking, and I will be writing about this race a bit more tomorrow, but as there are strong feelings about Platner, both pro and con, here in this community, it is critical that when engaging here we all need to do so earnestly, honestly, and respectfully. Respectfully includes coming on here having done homework, and not repeating facile talking points from any corner.
So in that vein the idea that the concerns about Platner are only being generated from former girlfriends, including a Republican activist, ignores lots of easily accessible information - his shocking tattoo, his terrible reddit commentary, his admitted serial infidelity, his staff turnover, etc - and are we not to believe former girlfriends?
My basic take is this: 1) there is a reason party committees have a bias towards candidates who have won before, and have been vetted. 2) What's happened this past week will make it harder for Platner to win and is not good 3) Let's see what happens on Tuesday, how effective he and his campaign are in managing this crisis, and how polling shakes out in the coming days.
My advice to everyone here is to do your homework on what has happened and come to your own understandings and conclusions. Onward - Simon
gotta say, that is the most rational take i've seen. lots of moving parts. i'm worried more will come out down the road. and yes there is a double standard in the media, but my feeling is we can't whine about that; we all know it is there, and we should expect no quarter, and prepare for elections accordingly.
Simon, I hear you on the primary tradition, and I respect it. But this isn't really about an endorsement. It's about whether we let a GOP operative and the New York Times do Susan Collins's dirty work without pushback from our own side.
Lyndsey Fifield worked for the Heritage Foundation and Nikki Haley's campaign. She is "supportive of Susan Collins" ( the Times' own words.) And yet her accusations landed on the front page with no such context. That's not journalism. That's opposition research with a byline.
We in Maine are not naive about Platner's flaws. We know what he did. We're making a values comparison: a man who behaved badly in his personal life versus a senator who gave Kavanaugh his seat on the Supreme Court, confirmed Tulsi Gabbard to run our intelligence agencies, confirmed RFK Jr. to run public health, and cast the deciding procedural vote to strip 61,000 Mainers of Medicaid then voted no once it didn't matter.
They are not going to Al Franken him. Not if Maine voters have anything to say about it.
You're right that only Maine voters decide. And many of us have decided.
Here is what I wrote about the Platner situation higher up in the thread. The Republican operative line is a bit of a dishonest red herring in my view.
Louise I think I understand what you are asking, and I will be writing about this race a bit more tomorrow, but as there are strong feelings about Platner, both pro and con, here in this community, it is critical that when engaging here we all need to do so earnestly, honestly, and respectfully. Respectfully includes coming on here having done homework, and not repeating facile talking points from any corner.
So in that vein the idea that the concerns about Platner are only being generated from former girlfriends, including a Republican activist, ignores lots of easily accessible information - his shocking tattoo, his terrible reddit commentary, his admitted serial infidelity, his staff turnover, etc - and are we not to believe former girlfriends?
My basic take is this: 1) there is a reason party committees have a bias towards candidates who have won before, and have been vetted. 2) What's happened this past week will make it harder for Platner to win and is not good 3) Let's see what happens on Tuesday, how effective he and his campaign are in managing this crisis, and how polling shakes out in the coming days.
My advice to everyone here is to do your homework on what has happened and come to your own understandings and conclusions. Onward - Simon
I will also add that the party line of "only Mainer opinions matter" is giving me and everyone else across the country permission to sit out the race if he wins the primary on Tuesday, and I think has been bit of an own goal. I am hoping for the best and want to beat Susan Collins as bad as anyone but let's not pretend that has not gotten harder and more expensive in recent days.
Simon, you're right that we should do our homework and I respect that standard. So let's apply it consistently.
We are being governed by a man who is a known rapist. Republicans are running Ken Paxton, indicted, impeached, and credibly accused of corruption and adultery. Oh and lets not forget (from Andy Borowitz today) the " merry band of crackpots, bigots, kleptocrats, sociopaths, lunatics, degenerates, furniture molesters, podcast bros, reality-show washouts, diet pill scammers, whale-head-chainsawing maniacs and blackout-drunk warmongers who comprise Preznit Fuckwit’s Cabinet of Sewer Clowns: The bar they are held to and the bar being applied to Platner are not the same bar.
On the tattoo specifically, it was reviewed and approved by the United States military.
On the Reddit comments, they are repulsive. But Platner is a combat veteran who served in one of our unnecessary wars and who has spoken openly about PTSD. I believe people can change.
None of this means ignoring the concerns you've raised. It means weighing them against what Susan Collins has done to the people of Maine.
The bottom line on all this is that if he is the nominee it is no less likely he wins and the race has gotten much more expensive, potentially drawing money away from Ohio, Alaska etc. I am just viewing this as a strategist, and somehow who worked for a talented but flawed man. Let's see what happens Tuesday, see how he handles everything, see where the polling is and we will proceed with respect for all here, as we strive to do on all the things we discuss here at Hopium.
Simon, You are so Amazing! You make Us feel that there are 10 of you doing all this very important work. And We are the beneficiaries of it! We Applaud You. The Charts are always great and helpful to see what the status of things are. You also know what to say to Us, if We get out of hand, Haha!!
I am so Proud and Happy to be part of this Exclusive Hopium Family. Thank You!
My question is why should we trust anything this regime claims? Trump fired the last BLS person because he fisher like the numbers so couldn't the numbers now be cooked?
all the dems have to do is keep showing that graph! it should be on their letterhead! over & over again until it sticks in people's heads. very proud of our vast dem team. dems are real people and they care. they are knowledgeable about policy. they are not lying, sniveling, cowards. they are typically not in it for the money. let's be proud of our achievements for our nation! hope everyone is sending that graph all around on social media!! important, urgent message when hiring has come to a standstill.
Thanks Simon. Does anyone know what happened to all those federal employees who lost jobs under the DOGE sweep? Did they find jobs and if so, did their earnings and quality of life get altered dramatically? Numbers are great and important but what has happened to people who lost jobs in a great sweep? Do you know of anyone looking at this? I know it is an empathetic question.
I would like to know the ethnic and gender breakdown of the government employees who lost their jobs under Musk’s DOGE purge. I would also like to know to what extent Peter Thiel and his Palantir has played a role in this purge – and to what extent it has removed employees of *bothersome* integrity or with pro-democratic (i.e. anti-authoritarian) political leanings.
I personally know three such people. One lost his job at US AID. He decided to take an early retirement and is helping his wife who has cancer. The second worked at the EPA and I think did the same thing. The third also worked at the EPA. She is now working as a life coach.
I met one person who was DOGE'd and had a lengthy conversation with her. She worked for Medicare and had a tale to tell about Musk and his tactics. Ultimately, she lost her job and eventually found a job in health care for the State of Washington. She still seemed traumatized by what happened to her and her colleagues.
I'm a retired scientist from USDA-FS, so your question got my attention.
Various reports note that 350,000 federal workers were fired, resigned or accepted buyouts. A lot has been written about how smaller groups of people were affected. Lives were upended and these are difficult times for those affected. Some retired. Some were rehired. Some are still looking for work. Some took a cut in pay. Some moved to find new opportunities. Some are running for office. Some have found new roles in federal or state government. etc. Nonprofit organizations like Work for America have stepped up to help them. These references and more tell their stories— "working anywhere they can to make the world a better place."
Finding this community of proud plucky patriots in early 2024 provided me an enormous sense of relief: that I was not alone in loving my country, that others still believed in its ideals and are willing to fight for them.
Thank you, Simon, for your vision.
Thank you all Hopium-mates. I learn from you everyday. I value this virtual community more than you know.
maga's first assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles has been assigned to harass CA officials over election processes. He's already ginning up some bogus investigations and audits. Gavin Newsom, Xavier Becerra, Rob Bonta and all the other good people of CA will settle the score. The party of drowsy donnie is headed for defeat.
What do you make of the Graham Platner situation? Are you raising money for him? His past seems to be filled with racism, lies and bad behavior toward women - sound familiar? How can the Democrats claim the moral high ground and put him up as a candidate for Senate?
Thank you for keeping us sane and seeing what's happening.
Happy weekend. I’ve donated to Winning Iowa (link not included in today’s post: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/hopiumwinningiowa ) and am donating to our immigrant community food drive. Watered the garden heavily for the heat wave!
Thanks Simon - That 1989-to-present job creation comparison chart is stunning every time I see it. And, yes, the candidate interviews are a great way to lift one’s spirits. Takes a lot of courage and gumption to run these days and I’m very grateful to them. I have some catching up to do on those.
Good news in CA-6, Pan pulled into second with 66% of vote counted. We should be fine there, most of remaining vote is in counties where Pan is ahead. He’s a solid, experienced candidate, a doctor and a former state legislator. He should defeat Kiley easily.
every time i see it, i take a photo and forward it to my fellow info warriors. i show it to people in the waiting room at the vet....people have gotta know, republicans suck at governing.
Thank goodness!
Aww, Simon, your rousing rally cry has got me actually crying. Together we can get our astronauts to the moon!
Worst since Hoover? Reminds of the theme song from All in the Family :"we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again." Suuuuuure we could.
Ha - I forgot that line in the song, Leu2500! Sad thing when I was a kid we were so proud that an Iowan had become President and I did several field trips to the Herbert Hoover Library in West Branch, IA. We were kids, what did we know?
While 2025 was in fact the worst year for hiring outside of a recession since 2003, with almost no hiring from April on, December brought a different problem — you guessed it… the Trump administration deciding rather than bad news, let’s just lie about. Those who watch job numbers closely know that December is historically a strong month for hiring, so it's hard to view the 50,000 jobs added in December as a positive indicator, although Trump was positively giddy about it. But, you’ll recall, the Administration saw fit to both politicize and muzzle the Bureau of Labor Statistics just revised October and November down by a combined -76,000 jobs. Annually, 2025 saw a paltry 584K new jobs… approximately 49,000 per month, compared to an average of 4.1M jobs annually (341,000 per month) in the prior administration. Making American businesses great again will require more than nostalgia, new branding, and a belief that the cavalry is coming to do the work for us. so it's hard to view 50,000 jobs added in December as a positive indicator; especially since the Bureau of Labor Statistics just revised October and November down by a combined -76,000 jobs." Well? the Bureau of Labor Statistics just revised December 2025 down by 108,000 job layoffs instead... a 205% drop year over year!
Why did you leave out mentioning Graham Platner who has been smeared by Fifield (worked for the Heritage Foundation) and the NYT. We in Maine are still strongly behind him. They are not going to Al Franken him!
Tina, we don't traditionally endorse in Democratic primaries. Let's see what happens on Tuesday and we will take another look at it. We have been one of the largest investors in the ME Dem Party in the country so we are there, for Mainers.
Finally, we keep getting told that the opinions about this race from people like me don't matter. Only the voters of Maine. So I am not sure why any one would care about what we do here regarding the Maine Senate race....
Mr. Rosenberg - you have a powerful voice. It is your choice to use it or not to use it. On the latest Graham Platner issue/controversy/scandal, I will say one thing: it seems that these charges/accusations are coming from former girlfriends. I ask you, would you appreciate an evaluation of your character performed solely by your former romantic interests? Would you agree that such an opinion is accurate and unbiased?
Louise I think I understand what you are asking, and I will be writing about this race a bit more tomorrow, but as there are strong feelings about Platner, both pro and con, here in this community, it is critical that when engaging here we all need to do so earnestly, honestly, and respectfully. Respectfully includes coming on here having done homework, and not repeating facile talking points from any corner.
So in that vein the idea that the concerns about Platner are only being generated from former girlfriends, including a Republican activist, ignores lots of easily accessible information - his shocking tattoo, his terrible reddit commentary, his admitted serial infidelity, his staff turnover, etc - and are we not to believe former girlfriends?
My basic take is this: 1) there is a reason party committees have a bias towards candidates who have won before, and have been vetted. 2) What's happened this past week will make it harder for Platner to win and is not good 3) Let's see what happens on Tuesday, how effective he and his campaign are in managing this crisis, and how polling shakes out in the coming days.
My advice to everyone here is to do your homework on what has happened and come to your own understandings and conclusions. Onward - Simon
gotta say, that is the most rational take i've seen. lots of moving parts. i'm worried more will come out down the road. and yes there is a double standard in the media, but my feeling is we can't whine about that; we all know it is there, and we should expect no quarter, and prepare for elections accordingly.
Simon, I hear you on the primary tradition, and I respect it. But this isn't really about an endorsement. It's about whether we let a GOP operative and the New York Times do Susan Collins's dirty work without pushback from our own side.
Lyndsey Fifield worked for the Heritage Foundation and Nikki Haley's campaign. She is "supportive of Susan Collins" ( the Times' own words.) And yet her accusations landed on the front page with no such context. That's not journalism. That's opposition research with a byline.
We in Maine are not naive about Platner's flaws. We know what he did. We're making a values comparison: a man who behaved badly in his personal life versus a senator who gave Kavanaugh his seat on the Supreme Court, confirmed Tulsi Gabbard to run our intelligence agencies, confirmed RFK Jr. to run public health, and cast the deciding procedural vote to strip 61,000 Mainers of Medicaid then voted no once it didn't matter.
They are not going to Al Franken him. Not if Maine voters have anything to say about it.
You're right that only Maine voters decide. And many of us have decided.
Here is what I wrote about the Platner situation higher up in the thread. The Republican operative line is a bit of a dishonest red herring in my view.
Louise I think I understand what you are asking, and I will be writing about this race a bit more tomorrow, but as there are strong feelings about Platner, both pro and con, here in this community, it is critical that when engaging here we all need to do so earnestly, honestly, and respectfully. Respectfully includes coming on here having done homework, and not repeating facile talking points from any corner.
So in that vein the idea that the concerns about Platner are only being generated from former girlfriends, including a Republican activist, ignores lots of easily accessible information - his shocking tattoo, his terrible reddit commentary, his admitted serial infidelity, his staff turnover, etc - and are we not to believe former girlfriends?
My basic take is this: 1) there is a reason party committees have a bias towards candidates who have won before, and have been vetted. 2) What's happened this past week will make it harder for Platner to win and is not good 3) Let's see what happens on Tuesday, how effective he and his campaign are in managing this crisis, and how polling shakes out in the coming days.
My advice to everyone here is to do your homework on what has happened and come to your own understandings and conclusions. Onward - Simon
I will also add that the party line of "only Mainer opinions matter" is giving me and everyone else across the country permission to sit out the race if he wins the primary on Tuesday, and I think has been bit of an own goal. I am hoping for the best and want to beat Susan Collins as bad as anyone but let's not pretend that has not gotten harder and more expensive in recent days.
Simon, you're right that we should do our homework and I respect that standard. So let's apply it consistently.
We are being governed by a man who is a known rapist. Republicans are running Ken Paxton, indicted, impeached, and credibly accused of corruption and adultery. Oh and lets not forget (from Andy Borowitz today) the " merry band of crackpots, bigots, kleptocrats, sociopaths, lunatics, degenerates, furniture molesters, podcast bros, reality-show washouts, diet pill scammers, whale-head-chainsawing maniacs and blackout-drunk warmongers who comprise Preznit Fuckwit’s Cabinet of Sewer Clowns: The bar they are held to and the bar being applied to Platner are not the same bar.
On the tattoo specifically, it was reviewed and approved by the United States military.
On the Reddit comments, they are repulsive. But Platner is a combat veteran who served in one of our unnecessary wars and who has spoken openly about PTSD. I believe people can change.
None of this means ignoring the concerns you've raised. It means weighing them against what Susan Collins has done to the people of Maine.
And the serial infidelities he admitted to this week in the early days of his new marriage, after he had turned the corner? No biggie?
I will add that the tattoo explanation you provide here is insufficient and the continued dismissal of the significance of it is offensive to many, many people here, including me. See this - https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/05/democrats-graham-platner-tattoo/687364/.
The bottom line on all this is that if he is the nominee it is no less likely he wins and the race has gotten much more expensive, potentially drawing money away from Ohio, Alaska etc. I am just viewing this as a strategist, and somehow who worked for a talented but flawed man. Let's see what happens Tuesday, see how he handles everything, see where the polling is and we will proceed with respect for all here, as we strive to do on all the things we discuss here at Hopium.
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Simon, You are so Amazing! You make Us feel that there are 10 of you doing all this very important work. And We are the beneficiaries of it! We Applaud You. The Charts are always great and helpful to see what the status of things are. You also know what to say to Us, if We get out of hand, Haha!!
I am so Proud and Happy to be part of this Exclusive Hopium Family. Thank You!
My question is why should we trust anything this regime claims? Trump fired the last BLS person because he fisher like the numbers so couldn't the numbers now be cooked?
FWIW, Paul Krugman says that, so far,we can still trust the BLS numbers. For now ...
Thank you!
Here is another cultural coup attempt along the lines of the War on Science - this time its the Smithsonian https://www.notus.org/trump-white-house/trump-smithsonian-budget-omb
all the dems have to do is keep showing that graph! it should be on their letterhead! over & over again until it sticks in people's heads. very proud of our vast dem team. dems are real people and they care. they are knowledgeable about policy. they are not lying, sniveling, cowards. they are typically not in it for the money. let's be proud of our achievements for our nation! hope everyone is sending that graph all around on social media!! important, urgent message when hiring has come to a standstill.
Thanks Simon. Does anyone know what happened to all those federal employees who lost jobs under the DOGE sweep? Did they find jobs and if so, did their earnings and quality of life get altered dramatically? Numbers are great and important but what has happened to people who lost jobs in a great sweep? Do you know of anyone looking at this? I know it is an empathetic question.
I would like to know the ethnic and gender breakdown of the government employees who lost their jobs under Musk’s DOGE purge. I would also like to know to what extent Peter Thiel and his Palantir has played a role in this purge – and to what extent it has removed employees of *bothersome* integrity or with pro-democratic (i.e. anti-authoritarian) political leanings.
I personally know three such people. One lost his job at US AID. He decided to take an early retirement and is helping his wife who has cancer. The second worked at the EPA and I think did the same thing. The third also worked at the EPA. She is now working as a life coach.
I met one person who was DOGE'd and had a lengthy conversation with her. She worked for Medicare and had a tale to tell about Musk and his tactics. Ultimately, she lost her job and eventually found a job in health care for the State of Washington. She still seemed traumatized by what happened to her and her colleagues.
I'm a retired scientist from USDA-FS, so your question got my attention.
Various reports note that 350,000 federal workers were fired, resigned or accepted buyouts. A lot has been written about how smaller groups of people were affected. Lives were upended and these are difficult times for those affected. Some retired. Some were rehired. Some are still looking for work. Some took a cut in pay. Some moved to find new opportunities. Some are running for office. Some have found new roles in federal or state government. etc. Nonprofit organizations like Work for America have stepped up to help them. These references and more tell their stories— "working anywhere they can to make the world a better place."
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/a-year-after-trumps-doge-cuts-workers-whose-lives-were-upended-ask-what-was-saved
https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/14/politics/former-federal-workers-doge-cuts
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/doge/year-doge-former-federal-employees-still-unemployed-looking-jobs-rcna265911
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/12/after-doge-cuts-federal-workers-new-roles.html
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/former-federal-workers-speak-out-about-being-fired-and-why-theyre-now-running-for-office
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a1ZmmPMuXE
I love this post!
Finding this community of proud plucky patriots in early 2024 provided me an enormous sense of relief: that I was not alone in loving my country, that others still believed in its ideals and are willing to fight for them.
Thank you, Simon, for your vision.
Thank you all Hopium-mates. I learn from you everyday. I value this virtual community more than you know.
maga's first assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles has been assigned to harass CA officials over election processes. He's already ginning up some bogus investigations and audits. Gavin Newsom, Xavier Becerra, Rob Bonta and all the other good people of CA will settle the score. The party of drowsy donnie is headed for defeat.
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5912737-california-election-fraud-probes/ and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFYLmlLAEto and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Sa0-fioMJQ
Simon
What do you make of the Graham Platner situation? Are you raising money for him? His past seems to be filled with racism, lies and bad behavior toward women - sound familiar? How can the Democrats claim the moral high ground and put him up as a candidate for Senate?
Joel Allen