OH-07 is in the news and looks like it might be in play:
NY Times, Friday, August 8, 2026: "Max Miller, Republican Accused of Abuse, Won’t Drop Out, Spokeswoman Says:
Mr. Miller, who has faced pressure from fellow Republicans to end his campaign and avoid endangering a solidly red seat in Ohio, will stay in the race, his spokeswoman said."
Like all of Ohio, OH-07 is very gerrymandered and rated Likely Republican. It includes some of the (wealthy, conservative) exurbs of Cleveland and a large chunk of rural areas to the southwest. Miller currently has 4 times as much money as Democrat Poindexter, and Miller will likely be able to receive lots of dark money help from right-wing interests (friends of J.D. Vance?)
But Max Miller's Democratic opponent in November, Brian Poindexter, is actually ahead in the most recent poll: 47-33.
The Hill: "Max Miller down double digits to Democrat Poindexter in new poll"
Miller's ex-wife, Emily Moreno, is Republican Senator Bernie Moreno's daughter. Republican Senator Jon Husted even called for him to resign. He seems to be a really nasty dude. Ohio still has a lot of conservative, but not vicious Republicans. I don't know if they would vote for a Democrat, but at least they may stay home.
This district also includes Cleveland suburb Parma which is very working class and also has a large population of Ukrainian-Americans who are very Catholic and socially conservative. Trump turning his back on Ukraine last year did not play well there. I don't know how this affects the race, but I could imagine that it will have some effect especially if the right person came along to fan those embers.
March 1, 2025: "Hundreds of Ohioans rally for U.S. support of Ukraine under high stakes"
Yeah I think we should consider supporting Poindexter. I know we are rather extended already. But boosting Poindexter will I suspect also be helpful to Brown and Acton.
I don't think there is any reliable way to calculate the long-term damage done by Trump. We have to win in 2026, 2028, to mitigate it. Iran is just one facet of the destruction he alone has caused. The fight against fascism is a decades-long project after that.
If we want to be a world leader (and probably if we could get our act together the world we be the better for it rather than it being China or some version of "spheres of influence"), we'd better come together and stop shooting ourselves in the foot. We need to bring billionaires to heel, fix our political system, end corruption, and invest in people and education.
The 21st century keeps moving along, and from the Iraq war to this ridiculous Iran war and all of the internal disarray, we just keep fucking it up. We won the Cold War, and this century should be much better than it is, but we keep scoring one "own goal" after another. We've let the billionaires control our politics and their goals don't include anything that helps ordinary citizens.
When the United States was trying to negotiate an end to the ill-advised Vietnam War, it had Henry Kissinger as the primary representative in those talks. I was not then and still am not a big Kissinger fan. But at least he had some diplomatic chops. Who do we have now? The "Dream Team" of Witkoff, Kushner and Vance, with the deranged, erratic Trump in the background, who changes course more often than most people change underwear. God save us all.
Don't forget "Lil Marco Bigshoes" in that mix. He's usually in the background of these pressers trying to stay stonefaced. Clown Car at the Dumpsterfire. It is beyond troubling.
Good morning Simon, did you happen to watch El-Sayed on Meet the Press earlier? I felt the bulk of his interview went quite well however, the line of questioning (which I don’t fault Welker for at all) supported your point in that he has a lot of work to do ahead of Nov. His deflection from Welker’ Hasan Piker questions I felt were not sufficient enough. Rogers’ camp will use that if he doesn’t distance himself sooner than later throughout the general election. I hope El-Sayed takes note of Whitmer’ strong record of both moderate and progressive policies/approaches and heeds her needed advice. Jim Banks sounded like a fool, period! Chris Murphy however, I thought was very strong. Personally, I’ve long wanted him for Dem Senate leader for some time, but that’s just me. Murphy’ response to Welker’ question about Israel was pitch perfect! “I absolutely support Israel and want America to have a strong U.S.-Israel alliance, but I cannot support this government’s actions.” Boom! Why…why…is it so damn hard for EVERYONE in the party to phrase it just like that?!? For it’s the majority viewpoint, even amongst younger voters (whether they know it or not cuz most young people even, don’t support ‘casting Israel to the sea”). Murphy’ seasoned rhetoric should take center stage throughout the party this general election. Would love to hear your thoughts.
I had not followed him or his comments closely are we did not get involved in the primary. But as Halie mentions, and I watched the interview where this happened, he was asked repeatedly if Israel has a right to exist and just never says yes. It is a bit alarming that he has not taken clear, concrete steps this week to make things better. I continue to believe that his desire to win and ambition will bring him to a place where he can make all this better but he as a lot of work to do.....
I would also point out though that there are Jewish voices out there supporting El Sayed as well. I don’t know if you follow Peter Beinart or Professor Deb Shushan- but both have had thoughtful pieces on why they are supporting El Sayed. Shushan worked in the past for J-Street and is a Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Georgetown University.
She has a terrific Substack page and I really appreciate her- she did an interview with El Sayed as well and it’s available for viewing.
Thanks for sharing this. Of course El-Sayed has Jewish supporters given the broad diversity of opinion in the Jewish community. But he has a serious political problem that he would be wise to try to fix for it will make it more likely he wins - and it is the right thing to do.
Simon, one of our members had responded to me explaining how DSA ‘sees the issue’ altogether. Hopefully, my response wasn’t too brazen but I felt we needed a little history lesson here 🤷🏻♂️😂.
Read the short essay and it does a good job of explaining the concern many have about El-Sayed's comments or lack of comments about Israel and his association with Hasan Piker. I am sharing it with people in my circle and also the radio show(s) I listen to most days. Thank you.
Blake, with all due respect, I believe you keep missing what's at the core of this, though it's easy to do with so many lives on the line and such apocalyptic destruction.
The reason why many DSA and DSA-aligned folks don't articulate a distinction between Bibi and Israel is that they are against Bibi AND Israel as it was conceived. As a nation-state for Jews to have the protection of self-determination, which not only means something nice and heartwarming, like a "homeland" (where the world would put its Jews has ALWAYS been a problem), but a citizen majority as protection against never again facing expulsion or extermination. In the eyes of critics, this leads to an "apartheid" state where minorities are not equal.
So, if, God willing, Bibi departs the scene, it doesn't make much of a difference to how they feel about it. The problem with Israel as a nation-state, a Jewish state, remains front-and-center for them.
That's why they dance around the statement you hope they'll make.
They WILL support Israel and the Israeli people if they CHANGE their very CONCEPTION.
Anyone's guess how this can be negotiated, but I doubt it will.
see below; they are talking vaguely about some sort of post israel state where everyone would have equal votes. probably jews would be outnumbered, but all would be hunky dory, like south africa post apartheid. well for one, everything is not hunky dory in south africa, and two, such a state, unless i missed something, does not exist in the entire region. and i don't believe them for a second. it sounds like bs to me, always did. the only kind of democracy these folks aspire to is the kind you saw in the german democratic republic, imho.....
Okay, this will be a longer response (gee what a surprise 🙄😂) and I don’t expect it to be read by all but I want to address your point. We’re way past reconfiguring the concept because we’re never going to completely rewrite that chapter in history, that origin (certainly no fault of the Israeli people themselves). Right, wrong, or indifferent as to how Israel was curated, Jews had literally NOWHERE to go after the Holocaust. Sure, many migrated to America but often under discrete circumstances (most if not all, changing their names to sound more American, etc.).
Israel became (and still is) the ONE overarching safe haven for Jews worldwide. If today, there was an intentional religious war were threatening ‘all Jews,’ Israel would remain still, the one place where Jewish people could run to and feel safe simply just to live as Jewish people, regardless of how religious they are. Mind you, the Genocidal intentions NEVER wavered towards the Jews! Even ‘in a world of their own’ so to speak, for the extreme factions of the Middle East (Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, Jihadists,etc.), their ONE waking goal every single damn day has been and still is, to exterminate the Jews in Israel and subsequently around the world.
We here in American cannot fathom the jihadist ideology. We can’t fathom the ‘blessing’ they believe it to be to become a suicide bomber, to see Jews as a forever enemy number one. Perhaps it sounds naive of me to ask, but anyone see that same horrific dedication around the world towards Christianity, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, the Islamic faith? Maybe in pockets, sure, but long lasting, relentlessly so, publicly expressed with conviction for generations like towards Jews and Judaism? Frankly, I’m not so sure 🤷🏻♂️🤔.
Why do we think the Nazi mentality STIlL has legs around the world? I’m not even talking about these same targeting of African Americans or Latin Americans or Native Americans LGBTQ individuals. We see that too of course but that’s an entirely different conversation. This argument I’m making however, is solely based on one’s religious background and culture.
One could say that very notion speaks to many’s hesitancy in Congress towards cutting off too much aid to Israel alone. Granted, Bibi complicates that entire concept and livelihood safety net because he has made himself a pariah. Just as Putin has in Russia. That said, it isn’t JUST Israelis who live in Israel. Palestinians live there, various Muslims live there, Americans live there, etc. I’ve heard next to nothing BUT positive things for years about how that melting pot of people love living there. Just as well, that same melting pot (separate from the extreme right wing faction of their society and government) also yearns for Palestinian sovereignty, a two-state solution, and for Bibi’ ousting.
Israel isn’t going anywhere, nor should it. Does it have the right to exist as a Jewish state? I think it does but that doesn’t make me an ‘ethno-absolutist’ or anything like that. When others say they support Israel’ right to exist but not as a Jewish state because they don’t believe in any nation to be an ‘ethno-state’ just like Trump and Vance are attempting to turn us into a ‘Christian state’ so to speak, I can empathize with that view. However, even before Bibi, this has been a growing sentiment (even attack) on the scope of Israel’ existence.
I’ve not heard nor seen this same ‘passion’ aimed towards just about any other country in the world. So, forgive me when I say, it’s hard to ignore how it always ‘seems’ to come back towards ‘the Jews.’ May not be meant that way but look at the patterns. People (like Sayed) need to stop saying “Jewish people and Judaism aren’t the same thing as Israel.” That’s too convoluted number one. Number two, that actually doesn’t make sense on its face. One would/should mean to say that Jewish people and Judaism are not synonymous with the Israeli government. That is a far more coherent statement to make and one, most Independents and moderates would agree with. But to have said it the other way around, makes it seem as though they’re treating Israel as one entire thing.
Israel and the Jewish faith have been intertwined for decades, often because of what it meant to one, have a ‘safe haven’ for Jews post the genocide of the Holocaust and two, because it had become the beacon of Democracy in the Middle East! Guess what? As horrific as Bibi is and like most, I pray he’s ousted sooner than later as well (particularly as a Jewish person myself)…Israel STILL IS the ONLY surviving Democracy in the Middle East! What complicates that image? Well, Bibi is their Trump and yes, that’ sucks! Big time! His actions have unequivocally complicated Israel’ image and relationship with America and Western Democracy.
But there will be a day (arguably sooner than later) when he’s gone! Hopefully, the same goes for Hamas in Gaza. Once the heads of the snakes are cut, we cannot afford to linger on ‘hating Israel,’ just cuz. What’s the endgame here, particularly for DSA? Is it to wipe Israel out? Cuz if so, then no, they’re not welcome in our party. That would be beyond an extreme position. It’s nihilistic and the Democratic Party is not nihilistic. Or is it for Israel to give up all its land and be governed by the Palestinians? How’s that gonna work, given underground Hamas presence there still?!? Especially knowing Palestinians are safer living in Israel than they are in Gaza even without Bibi in the mix, go figure!!! Harsh but true!
You can walk the streets of Tel-Aviv as an open member of the LGBTQ community and be free and fine. Can’t do that in Gaza! Not with Hamas, nor their current Palestinian Authority. That doesn’t mean I’m saying all Palestinians are homophobic. Far from it. Im speaking to the leadership and government control as it is. So when DSA so easily and frivolously conflates the Jews and Israel (due to convoluted and non succinct messaging), of course it comes across as Antisemitic!
Look at the horrors of the Iranian Regime, Putin’ regime! Why aren’t we seeing the same dedication towards protesting them, in support of the Iranian people, the innocent people of Russia who don’t align with Putin, Ukraine…hello??? What happened with that? Arguably, the issue of our time for letting Putin overtake Ukraine would lead him to become another Hitler figure in our world? Why aren’t we protesting Trump and his connections to Putin, to Bibi?
Instead we’re protesting our own cuz most of us still yearn for Israel’ sovereignty separate from Bibi? “Oh, he’s been so bad over there that the whole thing may as well just go down?!?” I despise Putin and The Iranian regime but I don wish for neither country to simply ‘not exist.’ I think it’s rather safe to assume that losing Bibi will organically affect how Israel moves forward towards seeking more harmonious, regional peace. Granted, it’s gonna have to work both ways too, coming from the Palestinian people and future government.
Just like here! We’re already organically discussing/working towards progressing forward in a new, yet practical way post Trump for we know things cannot simply go back to as they were even before him (since that’s partly how we got him in the first place). We just have to be realistic, responsible, and informed about all of this. Simon has tried elaborating on these matters before but he has far too much work to do and more important things to focus on. But as long as the conversation is alive and well here, I’ll pitch in. Pretentious of me? Sure, but the topic affects me so I’m adding in my two cents nonetheless.
As it makes most sense for modern society concerning the best semblance of regional peace, the most practical solution is that of a two-state solution. Yes, both Bibi, his government, Hamas as well as the Palestinian Authority have complicated that majority desire, for both sides of leadership have failed their people and homelands significantly. But there is a democratic future for both and one we should ALL aspire to see come to fruition. God willing we can effectuate that messaging and aspirational vision WITHOUT risking alienating Jewish voters and/or Muslim voters cuz we can’t message effectively. We can do better than this! I believe we will ultimately. But as I like to say with friends and family…forewarned is forearmed.
well, as a retired therapist, i would say when someone will not give a straight answer, they are hiding something. i assume he does not believe israel has a right to exist; this is not an uncommon belief among some groups. he has also been asked about hasan piker more than once and has not denounced him. there is a clear anti israel sentiment on the far left, it is quite obvious, rooted in beliefs that israel is a colonial state founded by white europeans. they would not believe it has a right to exist whether gaza happened or not. some of this dates back to the old ussr, which fomented this idea in order to curry favor with anti colonialist movements and to weaken an american ally in the middle east, israel. the best you are going to get out of these folks is an acknowledgement that there could some sort of one person, one vote state where all could live in what is now israel, but it would not be a jewish state. it would be some sort of pluralistic democracy. which, i might add, does not exist anywhere in the region. i'm not a jew. but i have studied history. and i grew up knowing holocaust survivors and was friends with kids whose parents were in the camps. my uncle was a pow in germany too. jews have every reason to fear what might happen when a hostile group is given the reins of power in a state they live in. for a senate candidate to not say israel has a right to exist is a problem. he can say all the nice things he wants to about american jews. but if he can't bring himself to say israel should exist, and as a jewish state, he is going to have a hard time getting elected in a general election. notice, the gop has no trouble saying this at all......
That question of “does Israel have a right to exist” has become something of a litmus test and I don’t think it’s all that useful. It seems more intended to reduce discussion of Israel into a more narrow yes/no binary response that sidesteps the main issues.
Israel exists. In fact, Israel is now almost as old as the United States was when Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address.
I bring that up, because I think the question for Israelis is what kind of a country do they want to be? To a certain extent it’s the same question Lincoln was grappling with in Gettysburg.
The Israeli people need to decide what kind of a country they want to be. I don’t think the path they are on with these right-wing Israeli governments is sustainable. It sure seems like a path of constant war and a foreign policy seeking to destabilize the neighboring governments around them (on the theory that destabilized neighbors are less capable of presenting a threat).
The existence of the State of Israel or its ability to defend itself isn’t in doubt. Israel is a regional powerhouse- with a robust defense industry that now directly competes with US defense contractors. But, Who/what Israel wants to be is the question Israelis need to decide- I’m worried for them, just as I’m worried about where the United States is going.
Graham, this is just not correct. It should not be hard for anyone to answer a simple yes/no question on whether Israel has a right to exist for as others have written here there is an ideology, anti-Zionism, which argues that Israel is an illegitimate state and does not have the right to exist. On social media I am often attacked as a "Zionist" meaning that I believe Israel has a right to exist and that believing that is bad. AES's answers to these questions are in my mind inadequate and he just has to work harder here......
I don't know Simon- does the United States have a right to exist? Does any country have a right to exist? The United States Exists, Israel exists-countries will defend themselves. The Iranian government undoubtedly believes they have a right to exist and a right to defend themselves and their "Islamic Revolution".
Israel is going to defend itself- just as any other country will defend itself. I just don't feel there's much to be gained by asking whether a country has a right to defend itself- every established government is going to do so.
I think the bigger question is how governments go about it when they do defend themselves.
I don't think Israel is making itself "safer". If anything- Netanyahu's & Trump's war with Iran has demonstrated that the 2015 JCPOA was a better approach and Israel would have been safer if it was still in place. I'm old enough to remember Netanyahu travelling to the US to address the US Congress in an attempt to kill the JCPOA and he worked to undermine it with the Republican party even after it was put in place.
You will get no argument from me that the anti-Zionism rhetoric is largely out of control and becoming outright antisemitic.The Jewish people have a right to a safe home.
I think 30 years of Israeli right-wing governments and their policies have not made Israel safe. This war with Iran has made things even more dangerous for Jewish people living in Israel. How Israel defends itself is a more important question than whether it has a right to defend itself.
It’s a simple question that only has one right answer, “yes”.
If there is significant antisemitism on the far political left (I’m not sure how prevalent it is, but anything is unacceptable), people like El-Sayed I would hope would take a leading role in reversing it. He’s positioned as well as anyone to do it.
I would hope he’d do more than just answering “yes” to the right to exist question.
I’m not sure if this is the paid subscription chat? I am not a founding member but there are my steps today.
1. I was able to read Simon’s post w/o shutting down in misery.
2. I donated to every single one of our campaigns again today.
3. I am actively working within Oregon house district 51 as a neighborhood leader to prepare a positions paper for our district and also to have interviews with all our dem candidates so we can have their answers on our minds as we canvas to get out the vote.
4. I am volunteering several times a month at the county Dems headquarters in a tiny old rickety building with 100 year old computers to answer call/walk ins. Register to vote, etc.
5. I am trying to gently convince a few friends who are disheartened to get back in the fight in some way.
6. Finally, since I have a tremor and cannot write legibly any longer, I have talked a friend into doing postcards for me and I will pay the postage.
7. I have in the past called and emailed reps/senators but need to do it again this coming week.
Can anyone give me more ideas? I cannot walk long distances but will try anything at least once!
Stay in the fight people. We are all warriors in our own ways!
Great job, Gadget! Thanks for all your hard work. Like you, my essential tremor keeps me from writing postcards, but I can still type. Inspired by others in the Hopium community, I've started emailing friends with the short, punchy, informative interviews Simon has been doing with many of our fantastic candidates for Congress. Some of my friends are despairing and discouraged, too. But I remind them that all of us have a part to play in saving democracy. And if they watch these interviews and forward them to their own friends, we all take hope and encouragement. That and pushing for folks to vote on Day 1 of the elections in their communities. Those are concrete, helpful steps that hopefully all of us can take.
Brava Gadget!! Instead of wondering whether we can offer you any other ideas, I think we can all learn from what you have posted here this morning about everything you are doing. Thank you!
Great job! One thing you might not be doing is wearing a button that says "Resist" or something like that for when you go out in public. Sometimes those are conversation starters and you can inform cashiers (or whomever) about important down ballot races or how to register to vote.
Yes, I have a No Kings button that has sparked many wonderful conversations. It clearly comforts people that they are not alone and that kindred spirits walk among them.
Yes, Simon, Donald Trump is a disaster in every conceivable way, the man can’t accomplish a thing that isn’t disastrous, unless theft on a grand scale is considered an accomplishment — he certainly is an expert at violating The Emoluments Clause and cancelling governmental grants and invading Venezuela and making off with oil revenues and keeping the money — but for that he belongs in jail, not in the Oval Office. Trump’s slogan is “Catch Me If You Can” as he thumbs his nose at the Constitution, established law, Congress and SCOTUS. That arch he wants to build as tribute to himself may actually be for all the financial tribute he has successfully stolen for himself.
Simon, from reading articles & judging my own visceral dislike (I’m lifelong Progressive Dem, original Hopium member, McGovern delegate ‘72 convention, UpState NY Coordinator Ramsey Clark for US Senate ‘74) for the clueless anti-Jewish stance of El Sayed & Darialisa’s the Jewish vote in MI is up for grabs! If these 2 Dem candidates don’t make a huge effort to reach out to Jewish voters- they will have issues in November. Darialisa will still probably win (closer race than it should be) but El Sayed is toast if Jewish Michiganders sit out or vote #GQP. The DSA is Dems version of MAGA & they imperil Dem success in Midterms
the dsa is different from maga; the dsa is supported by a lot of white, educated younger people. they claim to be for the working class, but they are not popular with the working class nor are many of them from it....carville might be old, but he is right about this bunch. and i doubt chevalier is going to come around on anything reasonable. oh, she is also ivy league educated ....columbia. not a typical background for a working class warrior....
Simon, sorry, meant to ask…do you sense Stevens will be able to help Sayed pull in her supporters for Nov, particularly the black community? Thankfully, the enthusiasm amongst the party is significant especially given the overwhelming turnout which I feel won’t suddenly dissipate in Nov (giving us a natural edge to fuel off of). Hence Schumer’ adept strategy (akin to yours) in pushing ‘spreading the map,’ talking about Kansas and other states, motivating voters to see the bigger picture in ‘winning back the majority.’ To that point, Van Jones made comments about how DSA is organized on the ground, stressing that if we want to ensure a big tent party image, more moderate or even Left of Center candidates need to work vigorously to be just as, if not, more organized on the ground, for throwing out multiple ads and the ‘shame on you’ towards more extreme figures won’t be sufficient enough. Granted. I’m not so sure that I necessarily see the far left wing as ‘our tea party.’ MAGA elected multiple candidates quite early on, I think close to even 60. With DSA, they’re not even yet at 10 so 🤔🤷🏻♂️.
I will say I’ve been encouraged by El-sayed’s recent skillful clap-backs, like his response at a rally to Rodgers not being able to pronounce his name. El-Sayed turned it into a play on words where Rodgers says “roger” to a list of Republican demands, implying he can’t think for himself. The crowd went wild! And then there’s his response to Sky News asking him to react to Trump calling him a piece of s***. These are viral social media moments that matter and he’s showing himself to be a brawler. Voters want someone who will fight back and stop being polite. The more he can show he fights back against Trump/MAGA, the less he talks about Israel, and the faster he yeets Hasan Piker into space the more room he’ll have to talk about health care and other important issues.
He is a fighter and it works. The longer he keeps from distancing himself from Hasan Piker, the more uncomfortable it gets for a lot of us. He has a window to correct course. He is a skilled politician. I hope he figures it out.
This is such an interesting and inspiring essay by Beto O’Rourke about what has been occurring in Tarrant County, TX. Don’t you just want to meet Alisa Simmons after reading this?
One of the many bitter (and tragic) ironies of Trump 's cruel, incompetent and Misanthropic (no, not a competitor to the AI company Anthropic) Administration is that he threatened to destroy a civilization - Iran, I.e., Persia. But the civilization he is doing the most to destroy is American and more broadly Western Civilization, reducing it to a parody and travesty of itself as only narrowmindedly white, Christian and nationalist. Just as the Holy Roman Empire was not Holy, or Roman, or really an Empire, so the the US - once proudly (and exaggeratedly perhaps) proclaiming itself as the "last, best hope of earth " - plus Moon and Mars in its new Muskian edition - has never been just white, or only Christian,, and has at times exhibited and put into practice values that transcend purely national interests for the sake of all humanity. As another example of contemporary echoes of history (whether repetitive or rhyming), when King Croesus of Lydia asked the Delphic Oracle if he should attack Persia in 546 BCE, the priestess Pythia famously replied that if he crossed the river and went to war, he would destroy a great empire. Croesus thought this meant Persia, but he lost the war and destroyed his own empire instead.
Dear Simon and friends... Is El-Sayed on your list of support? Importunely, Michagn is critical.
So, if we are to win there, El-Sayed must get help. On his campaigning statement of Medicare for All, he needs help to make it look like he is trying, NOW. We went thru this prior to ObamaCare
and whenever I asked how it can be done, I got blanks. I had Humana Medicare (DIS)advantage.
At the time, it had millions of stock holders and 29,000 employees. NOBODY could tell me how that
transitions to Medicare for all. So, what El-Sayed needs to do is establish a highly respected task force of first-class professionals to give it their best to solve the problem. Has he said anything that is more than an empty promise?
Answer is ‘not yet.’ If you read the comments daily, you’ll see there’s concern regarding his positions towards Israel.
Also I suggest that while Michigan is important, it’s not essential. Senate polling across the field - NC, ME, IA, OH, TX and to a lesser extent AL - has been very good.
It’s going to take time to reach a definitive conclusion regarding his candidacy. And if it comes back as a “no,” of course dissenters are free to contribute on their own, as Simon has made clear in the past.
Simon, thanks for the important look at where Trump has taken us. I'm beginning to think that, in addition to "Who won the 2020 election?" Democratic Senators and Congresspeople need to begin asking "Who won the Iran war?" Emphasizing that Trump has lost this war, that Trump is a loser, is important.
I'm inside with the air conditioning and some iced tea today, writing postcards to Ohio voters.
We have started our news boosting postcards to Alaska to support our fish, family, freedom candidate. The postcards are about the 3/4 of. A Million children affected by SNAP cuts.
OH-07 is in the news and looks like it might be in play:
NY Times, Friday, August 8, 2026: "Max Miller, Republican Accused of Abuse, Won’t Drop Out, Spokeswoman Says:
Mr. Miller, who has faced pressure from fellow Republicans to end his campaign and avoid endangering a solidly red seat in Ohio, will stay in the race, his spokeswoman said."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/08/us/politics/max-miller-ohio-republican.html?unlocked_article_code=1.4FA.zj-9.OJCsDE6bjGke&smid=url-share (gift link)
Mother Jones: "Assault, Misogyny, Verbal Threats: Records Detail New Allegations Against Rep. Max Miller"
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/07/assault-misogyny-verbal-threats-records-detail-new-allegations-against-rep-max-miller-bernie-moreno/
Like all of Ohio, OH-07 is very gerrymandered and rated Likely Republican. It includes some of the (wealthy, conservative) exurbs of Cleveland and a large chunk of rural areas to the southwest. Miller currently has 4 times as much money as Democrat Poindexter, and Miller will likely be able to receive lots of dark money help from right-wing interests (friends of J.D. Vance?)
But Max Miller's Democratic opponent in November, Brian Poindexter, is actually ahead in the most recent poll: 47-33.
The Hill: "Max Miller down double digits to Democrat Poindexter in new poll"
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6015633-poindexter-leads-max-miller-poll/
You can learn more about union-card-carrying ironworker Brian Poindexter here: https://poindexterforcongress.com
This is an excellent article from Signal Ohio describing the race: "Why Democrats think they can compete in this ‘sleeper’ Ohio congressional race"
https://signalohio.org/why-democrats-think-they-can-compete-in-this-sleeper-ohio-congressional-race-max-miller-brian-poindexter-november-election-2026/
Miller's ex-wife, Emily Moreno, is Republican Senator Bernie Moreno's daughter. Republican Senator Jon Husted even called for him to resign. He seems to be a really nasty dude. Ohio still has a lot of conservative, but not vicious Republicans. I don't know if they would vote for a Democrat, but at least they may stay home.
This district also includes Cleveland suburb Parma which is very working class and also has a large population of Ukrainian-Americans who are very Catholic and socially conservative. Trump turning his back on Ukraine last year did not play well there. I don't know how this affects the race, but I could imagine that it will have some effect especially if the right person came along to fan those embers.
March 1, 2025: "Hundreds of Ohioans rally for U.S. support of Ukraine under high stakes"
https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2025/03/01/ukraine-rally-u-s--support
It looks like there are 8 Indivisible groups in or very near OH-07 which indicates a fair amount of local activist energy:
* OHIO’S 7TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE - Olmstead
* NEO INDIVISIBLE NORTH OLMSTED - North Olmstead
* INDIVISIBLE STRONGSVILLE - Strongsville
* INDIVISIBLE NEXT 2SDAY ARTS - Rocky River
* MEDINA COUNTY INDIVISIBLE - Medina County, Seville
* GREATER WADSWORTH INDIVISIBLE - Wadsworth
* STAND UP LORAIN COUNTY - Lorain County, North Ridgeville
* INDIVISIBLE AKRON - Akron
Yeah I think we should consider supporting Poindexter. I know we are rather extended already. But boosting Poindexter will I suspect also be helpful to Brown and Acton.
Excellent summary. Thanks Randy. This might be another opportunity for "the many" against "the money."
But with the results in MI last week it's pretty hard to put faith in polling. Fingers crossed for another overperformance in OH -7
grt report thx
Thanks for this comprehensive review. Support for Poindexter seems a wise investment. We will chip in a bit.
I don't think there is any reliable way to calculate the long-term damage done by Trump. We have to win in 2026, 2028, to mitigate it. Iran is just one facet of the destruction he alone has caused. The fight against fascism is a decades-long project after that.
If we want to be a world leader (and probably if we could get our act together the world we be the better for it rather than it being China or some version of "spheres of influence"), we'd better come together and stop shooting ourselves in the foot. We need to bring billionaires to heel, fix our political system, end corruption, and invest in people and education.
The 21st century keeps moving along, and from the Iraq war to this ridiculous Iran war and all of the internal disarray, we just keep fucking it up. We won the Cold War, and this century should be much better than it is, but we keep scoring one "own goal" after another. We've let the billionaires control our politics and their goals don't include anything that helps ordinary citizens.
Postcarding.
When the United States was trying to negotiate an end to the ill-advised Vietnam War, it had Henry Kissinger as the primary representative in those talks. I was not then and still am not a big Kissinger fan. But at least he had some diplomatic chops. Who do we have now? The "Dream Team" of Witkoff, Kushner and Vance, with the deranged, erratic Trump in the background, who changes course more often than most people change underwear. God save us all.
Lots of work to do.
Don't forget "Lil Marco Bigshoes" in that mix. He's usually in the background of these pressers trying to stay stonefaced. Clown Car at the Dumpsterfire. It is beyond troubling.
Good morning Simon, did you happen to watch El-Sayed on Meet the Press earlier? I felt the bulk of his interview went quite well however, the line of questioning (which I don’t fault Welker for at all) supported your point in that he has a lot of work to do ahead of Nov. His deflection from Welker’ Hasan Piker questions I felt were not sufficient enough. Rogers’ camp will use that if he doesn’t distance himself sooner than later throughout the general election. I hope El-Sayed takes note of Whitmer’ strong record of both moderate and progressive policies/approaches and heeds her needed advice. Jim Banks sounded like a fool, period! Chris Murphy however, I thought was very strong. Personally, I’ve long wanted him for Dem Senate leader for some time, but that’s just me. Murphy’ response to Welker’ question about Israel was pitch perfect! “I absolutely support Israel and want America to have a strong U.S.-Israel alliance, but I cannot support this government’s actions.” Boom! Why…why…is it so damn hard for EVERYONE in the party to phrase it just like that?!? For it’s the majority viewpoint, even amongst younger voters (whether they know it or not cuz most young people even, don’t support ‘casting Israel to the sea”). Murphy’ seasoned rhetoric should take center stage throughout the party this general election. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Yes, anti-Zionism is in effect being OK with the Jews of Israel needing to leave and the state of Israel disappearing. It is a radical position.
I encourage everyone who wants to learn more about why Jewish leaders are so concerned about El-Sayed to read this new essay from Halie Soifer, a native Michigander - https://jewishdems.substack.com/p/abdul-el-sayeds-challenge-with-jewish?r=fi0yu&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true
I had not followed him or his comments closely are we did not get involved in the primary. But as Halie mentions, and I watched the interview where this happened, he was asked repeatedly if Israel has a right to exist and just never says yes. It is a bit alarming that he has not taken clear, concrete steps this week to make things better. I continue to believe that his desire to win and ambition will bring him to a place where he can make all this better but he as a lot of work to do.....
Agree 💯
I would also point out though that there are Jewish voices out there supporting El Sayed as well. I don’t know if you follow Peter Beinart or Professor Deb Shushan- but both have had thoughtful pieces on why they are supporting El Sayed. Shushan worked in the past for J-Street and is a Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Georgetown University.
She has a terrific Substack page and I really appreciate her- she did an interview with El Sayed as well and it’s available for viewing.
Thanks for sharing this. Of course El-Sayed has Jewish supporters given the broad diversity of opinion in the Jewish community. But he has a serious political problem that he would be wise to try to fix for it will make it more likely he wins - and it is the right thing to do.
He has outreach work to do- no doubt. Not just to the Jewish community, but also to the African American community.
Simon, one of our members had responded to me explaining how DSA ‘sees the issue’ altogether. Hopefully, my response wasn’t too brazen but I felt we needed a little history lesson here 🤷🏻♂️😂.
Read the short essay and it does a good job of explaining the concern many have about El-Sayed's comments or lack of comments about Israel and his association with Hasan Piker. I am sharing it with people in my circle and also the radio show(s) I listen to most days. Thank you.
Blake, with all due respect, I believe you keep missing what's at the core of this, though it's easy to do with so many lives on the line and such apocalyptic destruction.
The reason why many DSA and DSA-aligned folks don't articulate a distinction between Bibi and Israel is that they are against Bibi AND Israel as it was conceived. As a nation-state for Jews to have the protection of self-determination, which not only means something nice and heartwarming, like a "homeland" (where the world would put its Jews has ALWAYS been a problem), but a citizen majority as protection against never again facing expulsion or extermination. In the eyes of critics, this leads to an "apartheid" state where minorities are not equal.
So, if, God willing, Bibi departs the scene, it doesn't make much of a difference to how they feel about it. The problem with Israel as a nation-state, a Jewish state, remains front-and-center for them.
That's why they dance around the statement you hope they'll make.
They WILL support Israel and the Israeli people if they CHANGE their very CONCEPTION.
Anyone's guess how this can be negotiated, but I doubt it will.
see below; they are talking vaguely about some sort of post israel state where everyone would have equal votes. probably jews would be outnumbered, but all would be hunky dory, like south africa post apartheid. well for one, everything is not hunky dory in south africa, and two, such a state, unless i missed something, does not exist in the entire region. and i don't believe them for a second. it sounds like bs to me, always did. the only kind of democracy these folks aspire to is the kind you saw in the german democratic republic, imho.....
Okay, this will be a longer response (gee what a surprise 🙄😂) and I don’t expect it to be read by all but I want to address your point. We’re way past reconfiguring the concept because we’re never going to completely rewrite that chapter in history, that origin (certainly no fault of the Israeli people themselves). Right, wrong, or indifferent as to how Israel was curated, Jews had literally NOWHERE to go after the Holocaust. Sure, many migrated to America but often under discrete circumstances (most if not all, changing their names to sound more American, etc.).
Israel became (and still is) the ONE overarching safe haven for Jews worldwide. If today, there was an intentional religious war were threatening ‘all Jews,’ Israel would remain still, the one place where Jewish people could run to and feel safe simply just to live as Jewish people, regardless of how religious they are. Mind you, the Genocidal intentions NEVER wavered towards the Jews! Even ‘in a world of their own’ so to speak, for the extreme factions of the Middle East (Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, Jihadists,etc.), their ONE waking goal every single damn day has been and still is, to exterminate the Jews in Israel and subsequently around the world.
We here in American cannot fathom the jihadist ideology. We can’t fathom the ‘blessing’ they believe it to be to become a suicide bomber, to see Jews as a forever enemy number one. Perhaps it sounds naive of me to ask, but anyone see that same horrific dedication around the world towards Christianity, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, the Islamic faith? Maybe in pockets, sure, but long lasting, relentlessly so, publicly expressed with conviction for generations like towards Jews and Judaism? Frankly, I’m not so sure 🤷🏻♂️🤔.
Why do we think the Nazi mentality STIlL has legs around the world? I’m not even talking about these same targeting of African Americans or Latin Americans or Native Americans LGBTQ individuals. We see that too of course but that’s an entirely different conversation. This argument I’m making however, is solely based on one’s religious background and culture.
One could say that very notion speaks to many’s hesitancy in Congress towards cutting off too much aid to Israel alone. Granted, Bibi complicates that entire concept and livelihood safety net because he has made himself a pariah. Just as Putin has in Russia. That said, it isn’t JUST Israelis who live in Israel. Palestinians live there, various Muslims live there, Americans live there, etc. I’ve heard next to nothing BUT positive things for years about how that melting pot of people love living there. Just as well, that same melting pot (separate from the extreme right wing faction of their society and government) also yearns for Palestinian sovereignty, a two-state solution, and for Bibi’ ousting.
Israel isn’t going anywhere, nor should it. Does it have the right to exist as a Jewish state? I think it does but that doesn’t make me an ‘ethno-absolutist’ or anything like that. When others say they support Israel’ right to exist but not as a Jewish state because they don’t believe in any nation to be an ‘ethno-state’ just like Trump and Vance are attempting to turn us into a ‘Christian state’ so to speak, I can empathize with that view. However, even before Bibi, this has been a growing sentiment (even attack) on the scope of Israel’ existence.
I’ve not heard nor seen this same ‘passion’ aimed towards just about any other country in the world. So, forgive me when I say, it’s hard to ignore how it always ‘seems’ to come back towards ‘the Jews.’ May not be meant that way but look at the patterns. People (like Sayed) need to stop saying “Jewish people and Judaism aren’t the same thing as Israel.” That’s too convoluted number one. Number two, that actually doesn’t make sense on its face. One would/should mean to say that Jewish people and Judaism are not synonymous with the Israeli government. That is a far more coherent statement to make and one, most Independents and moderates would agree with. But to have said it the other way around, makes it seem as though they’re treating Israel as one entire thing.
Israel and the Jewish faith have been intertwined for decades, often because of what it meant to one, have a ‘safe haven’ for Jews post the genocide of the Holocaust and two, because it had become the beacon of Democracy in the Middle East! Guess what? As horrific as Bibi is and like most, I pray he’s ousted sooner than later as well (particularly as a Jewish person myself)…Israel STILL IS the ONLY surviving Democracy in the Middle East! What complicates that image? Well, Bibi is their Trump and yes, that’ sucks! Big time! His actions have unequivocally complicated Israel’ image and relationship with America and Western Democracy.
But there will be a day (arguably sooner than later) when he’s gone! Hopefully, the same goes for Hamas in Gaza. Once the heads of the snakes are cut, we cannot afford to linger on ‘hating Israel,’ just cuz. What’s the endgame here, particularly for DSA? Is it to wipe Israel out? Cuz if so, then no, they’re not welcome in our party. That would be beyond an extreme position. It’s nihilistic and the Democratic Party is not nihilistic. Or is it for Israel to give up all its land and be governed by the Palestinians? How’s that gonna work, given underground Hamas presence there still?!? Especially knowing Palestinians are safer living in Israel than they are in Gaza even without Bibi in the mix, go figure!!! Harsh but true!
You can walk the streets of Tel-Aviv as an open member of the LGBTQ community and be free and fine. Can’t do that in Gaza! Not with Hamas, nor their current Palestinian Authority. That doesn’t mean I’m saying all Palestinians are homophobic. Far from it. Im speaking to the leadership and government control as it is. So when DSA so easily and frivolously conflates the Jews and Israel (due to convoluted and non succinct messaging), of course it comes across as Antisemitic!
Look at the horrors of the Iranian Regime, Putin’ regime! Why aren’t we seeing the same dedication towards protesting them, in support of the Iranian people, the innocent people of Russia who don’t align with Putin, Ukraine…hello??? What happened with that? Arguably, the issue of our time for letting Putin overtake Ukraine would lead him to become another Hitler figure in our world? Why aren’t we protesting Trump and his connections to Putin, to Bibi?
Instead we’re protesting our own cuz most of us still yearn for Israel’ sovereignty separate from Bibi? “Oh, he’s been so bad over there that the whole thing may as well just go down?!?” I despise Putin and The Iranian regime but I don wish for neither country to simply ‘not exist.’ I think it’s rather safe to assume that losing Bibi will organically affect how Israel moves forward towards seeking more harmonious, regional peace. Granted, it’s gonna have to work both ways too, coming from the Palestinian people and future government.
Just like here! We’re already organically discussing/working towards progressing forward in a new, yet practical way post Trump for we know things cannot simply go back to as they were even before him (since that’s partly how we got him in the first place). We just have to be realistic, responsible, and informed about all of this. Simon has tried elaborating on these matters before but he has far too much work to do and more important things to focus on. But as long as the conversation is alive and well here, I’ll pitch in. Pretentious of me? Sure, but the topic affects me so I’m adding in my two cents nonetheless.
As it makes most sense for modern society concerning the best semblance of regional peace, the most practical solution is that of a two-state solution. Yes, both Bibi, his government, Hamas as well as the Palestinian Authority have complicated that majority desire, for both sides of leadership have failed their people and homelands significantly. But there is a democratic future for both and one we should ALL aspire to see come to fruition. God willing we can effectuate that messaging and aspirational vision WITHOUT risking alienating Jewish voters and/or Muslim voters cuz we can’t message effectively. We can do better than this! I believe we will ultimately. But as I like to say with friends and family…forewarned is forearmed.
well, as a retired therapist, i would say when someone will not give a straight answer, they are hiding something. i assume he does not believe israel has a right to exist; this is not an uncommon belief among some groups. he has also been asked about hasan piker more than once and has not denounced him. there is a clear anti israel sentiment on the far left, it is quite obvious, rooted in beliefs that israel is a colonial state founded by white europeans. they would not believe it has a right to exist whether gaza happened or not. some of this dates back to the old ussr, which fomented this idea in order to curry favor with anti colonialist movements and to weaken an american ally in the middle east, israel. the best you are going to get out of these folks is an acknowledgement that there could some sort of one person, one vote state where all could live in what is now israel, but it would not be a jewish state. it would be some sort of pluralistic democracy. which, i might add, does not exist anywhere in the region. i'm not a jew. but i have studied history. and i grew up knowing holocaust survivors and was friends with kids whose parents were in the camps. my uncle was a pow in germany too. jews have every reason to fear what might happen when a hostile group is given the reins of power in a state they live in. for a senate candidate to not say israel has a right to exist is a problem. he can say all the nice things he wants to about american jews. but if he can't bring himself to say israel should exist, and as a jewish state, he is going to have a hard time getting elected in a general election. notice, the gop has no trouble saying this at all......
That question of “does Israel have a right to exist” has become something of a litmus test and I don’t think it’s all that useful. It seems more intended to reduce discussion of Israel into a more narrow yes/no binary response that sidesteps the main issues.
Israel exists. In fact, Israel is now almost as old as the United States was when Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address.
I bring that up, because I think the question for Israelis is what kind of a country do they want to be? To a certain extent it’s the same question Lincoln was grappling with in Gettysburg.
The Israeli people need to decide what kind of a country they want to be. I don’t think the path they are on with these right-wing Israeli governments is sustainable. It sure seems like a path of constant war and a foreign policy seeking to destabilize the neighboring governments around them (on the theory that destabilized neighbors are less capable of presenting a threat).
The existence of the State of Israel or its ability to defend itself isn’t in doubt. Israel is a regional powerhouse- with a robust defense industry that now directly competes with US defense contractors. But, Who/what Israel wants to be is the question Israelis need to decide- I’m worried for them, just as I’m worried about where the United States is going.
Graham, this is just not correct. It should not be hard for anyone to answer a simple yes/no question on whether Israel has a right to exist for as others have written here there is an ideology, anti-Zionism, which argues that Israel is an illegitimate state and does not have the right to exist. On social media I am often attacked as a "Zionist" meaning that I believe Israel has a right to exist and that believing that is bad. AES's answers to these questions are in my mind inadequate and he just has to work harder here......
I don't know Simon- does the United States have a right to exist? Does any country have a right to exist? The United States Exists, Israel exists-countries will defend themselves. The Iranian government undoubtedly believes they have a right to exist and a right to defend themselves and their "Islamic Revolution".
Israel is going to defend itself- just as any other country will defend itself. I just don't feel there's much to be gained by asking whether a country has a right to defend itself- every established government is going to do so.
I think the bigger question is how governments go about it when they do defend themselves.
I don't think Israel is making itself "safer". If anything- Netanyahu's & Trump's war with Iran has demonstrated that the 2015 JCPOA was a better approach and Israel would have been safer if it was still in place. I'm old enough to remember Netanyahu travelling to the US to address the US Congress in an attempt to kill the JCPOA and he worked to undermine it with the Republican party even after it was put in place.
You will get no argument from me that the anti-Zionism rhetoric is largely out of control and becoming outright antisemitic.The Jewish people have a right to a safe home.
I think 30 years of Israeli right-wing governments and their policies have not made Israel safe. This war with Iran has made things even more dangerous for Jewish people living in Israel. How Israel defends itself is a more important question than whether it has a right to defend itself.
The right to exist - self determination, nationhood, and not be invaded by others - is the foundation of the UN and all international law since 1945.
It's the foundation of the modern world.
Ok- then, as you note, it’s largely a settled question.
It’s a simple question that only has one right answer, “yes”.
If there is significant antisemitism on the far political left (I’m not sure how prevalent it is, but anything is unacceptable), people like El-Sayed I would hope would take a leading role in reversing it. He’s positioned as well as anyone to do it.
I would hope he’d do more than just answering “yes” to the right to exist question.
I’m not sure if this is the paid subscription chat? I am not a founding member but there are my steps today.
1. I was able to read Simon’s post w/o shutting down in misery.
2. I donated to every single one of our campaigns again today.
3. I am actively working within Oregon house district 51 as a neighborhood leader to prepare a positions paper for our district and also to have interviews with all our dem candidates so we can have their answers on our minds as we canvas to get out the vote.
4. I am volunteering several times a month at the county Dems headquarters in a tiny old rickety building with 100 year old computers to answer call/walk ins. Register to vote, etc.
5. I am trying to gently convince a few friends who are disheartened to get back in the fight in some way.
6. Finally, since I have a tremor and cannot write legibly any longer, I have talked a friend into doing postcards for me and I will pay the postage.
7. I have in the past called and emailed reps/senators but need to do it again this coming week.
Can anyone give me more ideas? I cannot walk long distances but will try anything at least once!
Stay in the fight people. We are all warriors in our own ways!
grt job! thx!
Great job, Gadget! Thanks for all your hard work. Like you, my essential tremor keeps me from writing postcards, but I can still type. Inspired by others in the Hopium community, I've started emailing friends with the short, punchy, informative interviews Simon has been doing with many of our fantastic candidates for Congress. Some of my friends are despairing and discouraged, too. But I remind them that all of us have a part to play in saving democracy. And if they watch these interviews and forward them to their own friends, we all take hope and encouragement. That and pushing for folks to vote on Day 1 of the elections in their communities. Those are concrete, helpful steps that hopefully all of us can take.
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brava Gadget!! Instead of wondering whether we can offer you any other ideas, I think we can all learn from what you have posted here this morning about everything you are doing. Thank you!
Great job! One thing you might not be doing is wearing a button that says "Resist" or something like that for when you go out in public. Sometimes those are conversation starters and you can inform cashiers (or whomever) about important down ballot races or how to register to vote.
Yes, I have a No Kings button that has sparked many wonderful conversations. It clearly comforts people that they are not alone and that kindred spirits walk among them.
Have you tried Propranolol for your tremors? It has helped my sister a lot. Tremors are a terrible scourge. I wish you the best.
Amazing and inspiring.
Yes, this is the paid subscriber chat. You are an inspiration. If all of us worked as hard as you do, we'd win for sure.
Thank you, Gadget!
Yes, Simon, Donald Trump is a disaster in every conceivable way, the man can’t accomplish a thing that isn’t disastrous, unless theft on a grand scale is considered an accomplishment — he certainly is an expert at violating The Emoluments Clause and cancelling governmental grants and invading Venezuela and making off with oil revenues and keeping the money — but for that he belongs in jail, not in the Oval Office. Trump’s slogan is “Catch Me If You Can” as he thumbs his nose at the Constitution, established law, Congress and SCOTUS. That arch he wants to build as tribute to himself may actually be for all the financial tribute he has successfully stolen for himself.
I think that “The art of the deal “ title belongs to Iran .
Simon, from reading articles & judging my own visceral dislike (I’m lifelong Progressive Dem, original Hopium member, McGovern delegate ‘72 convention, UpState NY Coordinator Ramsey Clark for US Senate ‘74) for the clueless anti-Jewish stance of El Sayed & Darialisa’s the Jewish vote in MI is up for grabs! If these 2 Dem candidates don’t make a huge effort to reach out to Jewish voters- they will have issues in November. Darialisa will still probably win (closer race than it should be) but El Sayed is toast if Jewish Michiganders sit out or vote #GQP. The DSA is Dems version of MAGA & they imperil Dem success in Midterms
the dsa is different from maga; the dsa is supported by a lot of white, educated younger people. they claim to be for the working class, but they are not popular with the working class nor are many of them from it....carville might be old, but he is right about this bunch. and i doubt chevalier is going to come around on anything reasonable. oh, she is also ivy league educated ....columbia. not a typical background for a working class warrior....
Simon, sorry, meant to ask…do you sense Stevens will be able to help Sayed pull in her supporters for Nov, particularly the black community? Thankfully, the enthusiasm amongst the party is significant especially given the overwhelming turnout which I feel won’t suddenly dissipate in Nov (giving us a natural edge to fuel off of). Hence Schumer’ adept strategy (akin to yours) in pushing ‘spreading the map,’ talking about Kansas and other states, motivating voters to see the bigger picture in ‘winning back the majority.’ To that point, Van Jones made comments about how DSA is organized on the ground, stressing that if we want to ensure a big tent party image, more moderate or even Left of Center candidates need to work vigorously to be just as, if not, more organized on the ground, for throwing out multiple ads and the ‘shame on you’ towards more extreme figures won’t be sufficient enough. Granted. I’m not so sure that I necessarily see the far left wing as ‘our tea party.’ MAGA elected multiple candidates quite early on, I think close to even 60. With DSA, they’re not even yet at 10 so 🤔🤷🏻♂️.
I will say I’ve been encouraged by El-sayed’s recent skillful clap-backs, like his response at a rally to Rodgers not being able to pronounce his name. El-Sayed turned it into a play on words where Rodgers says “roger” to a list of Republican demands, implying he can’t think for himself. The crowd went wild! And then there’s his response to Sky News asking him to react to Trump calling him a piece of s***. These are viral social media moments that matter and he’s showing himself to be a brawler. Voters want someone who will fight back and stop being polite. The more he can show he fights back against Trump/MAGA, the less he talks about Israel, and the faster he yeets Hasan Piker into space the more room he’ll have to talk about health care and other important issues.
He is a fighter and it works. The longer he keeps from distancing himself from Hasan Piker, the more uncomfortable it gets for a lot of us. He has a window to correct course. He is a skilled politician. I hope he figures it out.
This is such an interesting and inspiring essay by Beto O’Rourke about what has been occurring in Tarrant County, TX. Don’t you just want to meet Alisa Simmons after reading this?
https://betoorourke.substack.com/p/a-surprise-win-in-texas
Thanks a million for sharing this, Bobbie. So many undertold stories of refusing to give up or give in when facing corruption of epic proportions.
Great find!!
Alissa Simmons is the tip of the spear for all the races in Texas according to Beto. Helping her helps the Senate and Governor races.
Just an impossibly corrupt, incompetent, and evil regime. And for what?
And this interview Margaret Brennan did this morning with Jay Bhattacharya from the CDC was an absolute train wreck.
https://www.facebook.com/FaceTheNation/videos/full-interview-with-national-institutes-of-health-director-dr-jay-bhattacharya/2279593622810231/
I wonder if Brennan's job will be in jeopardy after this.
One of the many bitter (and tragic) ironies of Trump 's cruel, incompetent and Misanthropic (no, not a competitor to the AI company Anthropic) Administration is that he threatened to destroy a civilization - Iran, I.e., Persia. But the civilization he is doing the most to destroy is American and more broadly Western Civilization, reducing it to a parody and travesty of itself as only narrowmindedly white, Christian and nationalist. Just as the Holy Roman Empire was not Holy, or Roman, or really an Empire, so the the US - once proudly (and exaggeratedly perhaps) proclaiming itself as the "last, best hope of earth " - plus Moon and Mars in its new Muskian edition - has never been just white, or only Christian,, and has at times exhibited and put into practice values that transcend purely national interests for the sake of all humanity. As another example of contemporary echoes of history (whether repetitive or rhyming), when King Croesus of Lydia asked the Delphic Oracle if he should attack Persia in 546 BCE, the priestess Pythia famously replied that if he crossed the river and went to war, he would destroy a great empire. Croesus thought this meant Persia, but he lost the war and destroyed his own empire instead.
Dear Simon and friends... Is El-Sayed on your list of support? Importunely, Michagn is critical.
So, if we are to win there, El-Sayed must get help. On his campaigning statement of Medicare for All, he needs help to make it look like he is trying, NOW. We went thru this prior to ObamaCare
and whenever I asked how it can be done, I got blanks. I had Humana Medicare (DIS)advantage.
At the time, it had millions of stock holders and 29,000 employees. NOBODY could tell me how that
transitions to Medicare for all. So, what El-Sayed needs to do is establish a highly respected task force of first-class professionals to give it their best to solve the problem. Has he said anything that is more than an empty promise?
Answer is ‘not yet.’ If you read the comments daily, you’ll see there’s concern regarding his positions towards Israel.
Also I suggest that while Michigan is important, it’s not essential. Senate polling across the field - NC, ME, IA, OH, TX and to a lesser extent AL - has been very good.
It’s going to take time to reach a definitive conclusion regarding his candidacy. And if it comes back as a “no,” of course dissenters are free to contribute on their own, as Simon has made clear in the past.
Simon, thanks for the important look at where Trump has taken us. I'm beginning to think that, in addition to "Who won the 2020 election?" Democratic Senators and Congresspeople need to begin asking "Who won the Iran war?" Emphasizing that Trump has lost this war, that Trump is a loser, is important.
I'm inside with the air conditioning and some iced tea today, writing postcards to Ohio voters.
We have started our news boosting postcards to Alaska to support our fish, family, freedom candidate. The postcards are about the 3/4 of. A Million children affected by SNAP cuts.