I wrote letters to all my elective officials to put forth all the recommended actions from Hopium per Rosenberg. Plus, I added a few more.
I donated money as follows to democratic candidates and causes:
Winning The Fall - Support Our November, 2025 Candidates and Yes On 50
* Mikie Sherrill NJ Gov (2025) - donated $20. $250,000 goal, $99k raised - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Watch my new interview with Rep. Sherrill | Read my new post about Sherrill’s sturdy polling lead | Sherrill leads by 8 in new Fox poll
* Abigail Spanberger VA Gov (2025) -donated $20. $250,000 goal, $204k raised - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Watch my interview with Abigail Spanberger
* Yes on 50 (CA) - donated $20. $50,000 goal - Donate | Learn more, volunteer | Sign Up For CA Dem Party Daily Phonebanks | Watch my new interview with Gov. Gavin Newsom
Expanding The Map - Support Our Audacious Expansion Fund (2026-2032)
* Hopium’s Audacious Expansion Fund - donated $50. $250,000 goal, $46,000 raised - Join our new campaign to invest in the Democratic Parties of Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Maine, and Texas | Donate To All Five State Parties | Watch my interviews with Alaska Chair Eric Croft, Florida Chair Nikki Fried, Iowa Chair Rita Hart and Texas Chair Kendall Scudder
Ken Martin leader of the DNC (Democratic National Committee).
******
How do I do this?
Easy.
For each one just Google.
“How do I email my alderman“
Etc.
and then follow the instructions.
They’ll tell you who your representatives are etc.
Be sure to
Login to google.
Then go to google settings and turn on autofill.
This will make filling out the forms fast and easy to do.
******
This is the content of my letter to each of my representatives.
I just sent them each the same thing because it’s too hard to tailor a letter to each person.
Here’s my letter:
Hello! And thank you for all the good things you’re doing!
What follows is a generic email to give you my thoughts on how I want you to proceed as my elected representative.
Some of the things may not be in your purview, but still, this is what I want you to do or Support, if possible…
Please do the following to push back against Trump:
Roll back Trump’s terrible and illegal tariffs that are re-igniting inflation, driving up prices, shifting the tax burden from the wealthy to working people, hurting small businesses and farmers, and alienating governments and people throughout the world. Open prime (Who knew! China isn’t buying our soybeans anymore, thanks Trump!)
Defend our democracy, rule of law and our liberties by blocking the expansion of ICE, restore due process to our immigration system, defend the 1st Amendment, and end the use of the military on our streets and the occupations of our cities.
Fight Trump’s war on science, higher education and our public health; reverse - not delay - the cuts to the ACA and Medicaid; support and co-sponsor Rep. Haley Stevens’ effort to Impeach and remove Robert Kennedy.
Stand with Ukraine and our European allies, and far more forcefully challenge Trump’s traitorous efforts to sell out the US and the West to Russia and China.
Other things I want Democrats to do to take back the United States from Republican rule:
Gerrymander all democratic state maps to minimize republican election possibilities across the board. (Because that’s what Republicans are doing to us in their states! Plus do your best to fight back against any Republican gerrymandering we need to fight fire with fire!)
Force the Republicans to work with Democrats on the federal budget process. Shut down the government, as long as necessary, if the Republicans won’t work with you. Do not allow the republicans to further weaken our democracy by going along with the “big beautiful bill”as it is. This document is designed to destroy America by giving too much power to the president. This is a dangerous bill. Remember, Congress has the power of the purse, not the president of the United States.
Remind all current Republican federal and state officeholders and secretaries that they will be held accountable for all of their illegal actions under Trump. All of these Republicans took an oath of office to uphold the constitution of the United States. They’re not doing that. Be sure to save all your paperwork regarding all the illegal things they have done so far. When Democrats retake the house, Senate and presidency, there will be a legal reckoning for all of these criminals.(The illegal shutdown of USAID will likely kill millions of people. We can start there.)
President Trump is a sick, unstable and grossly unqualified for office. He needs to be removed immediately. He’s a danger to the United States and the world. It’s time all Democrats constantly remind the American people of all the illegal things Trump is doing, and all the people that are following his orders. We have to get LOUD about all the illegal things, and of all the dangers of the of what the Republican Party is doing, so that people will know NOT to vote Republican in the future.
The Heritage foundation started all this with their project 2025 plan. Trump just admitted to following it. It is a roadmap to destroy our democracy. Russell Vogt and Steven Miller are part of the Heritage foundation and are implementing project 2025. They are working directly with Trump. It’s time we shut down the Heritage foundation. This is a dangerous fascist organization.
Thanks again!
Good luck in our fight to keep America free and safe!
I've been contacting Schumer's office to ask him to use his microphone to address democracy as well as health care (as an aside: I learned that one of his staffers essentially hung up on someone who tried to talk to him (the staffer) about ICE, and another staffer told another caller that he (the staffer) didn't know anything about what happened in Chicago, making our constituent calls even more important, if they need that educating).
Rep. Hoyle’s staffer also seemed to hang up on me on Friday while I was talking about Chicago and how my friends in Portland say they’re already seeing helicopters circle overhead that don’t usually. She did wait until I was done talking, but then there was silence and the call ended. I don’t know if I shocked her or what. It was an odd interaction. Usually Hoyle’s and Merkley’s staffers are both great. I’m hoping it was a one-off.
I called and emailed on Friday the 2 US Senators from Ohio, Husted & Moreno, to end the shutdown now and restore the ACA tax credits for our health care. On Sunday, I also phone-banked for the Prop 50 campaign in California.
If teachers can afford a $100 donation, so can I. I am from CA but your message and demeanor are spot on. top vs bottom not left vs right may win the day.
I heard one sentence from James Talarico and I wanted to vote for him. unfortunately, I live in Massachusetts. (Unfortunately just because I can't vote in TX.)
I'm home sick so I've been reposting news and pieces on Facebook. I realize they may drive my friends crazy, but I'm unable to get out and demonstrate (to my disappointment) and this is one thing I can do.
I also keep myself informed - and sometimes am able to convince follow Democrats that things are not as hopeless as they may seem.
Your friend, James might want to say where he stands on the issues on his website and make his website more accessible. Others need to make their websites more accessible if they want money. Believe it or not, they can take lessons from the BBC on how to make an amazing website. Patagonia is another one that's really accessible.
I'm purposely linking Patagonia's statement for ideas that people should consider. https://www.patagonia.com/web-accessibility.html. Why donate to a candidate whose website isn't accessible? Why donate if 1 can't find out where they stand on the issues on their website?
Thanks, Simon and Rep. James Talarico for this inspiring conversation. As a former Texan, I am excited about James’s campaign and proud to be a donor. Buen suerte! Si se puede! 💪🏽💙
Democrats need to emulate Republicans in one respect: optimism. Republicans are eternally optimistic that everyone sees things their way, that their candidate will win and that the Forces of Right will defeat whatever demons. Democrats worry, are nervous and are sure that they will lose. Not a good blueprint for success. Stand tall everyone! We are on the progressive side of history
Come on. You can't really believe this. Trump won because more people believed he would make their life better. They were optimistic about his Presidency. 52% of voters said they were excited or optimistic about Trump's Presidency.
My main point was to push back on the idea that Democrats didn’t run on optimism in 2024. I am tired from knocking doors in 80 degree weather in my underfunded campaign for local office. The Republicans here are running relentlessly negative mailers against us. One of my friends who is an East Asian woman running for city council had a gun pulled on her at one door she canvassed last week. Today someone literally slammed their door in my face. Maybe I’m just reflecting the depressing negativity I am seeing at the local level. This is such a hard environment to run for anything right now.
Another vibe shift report. Some of you may remember that the day after the election, my son got together with a friend from high school and three other guys and asked them why they had voted for Trump. He said he thought it would be disrespectful to take notes, but he whipped out his computer as soon as he got back to his dorm and wrote down everything he could remember.
Yesterday he went to a party at his friend's family home. His friend now regrets voting for Trump because "he lied about everything and because he's an authoritarian." The family friends also seemed very anti Trump (adults, almost all Indian Americans or Indian immigrants). None of the other three guys was at the party, so my son has no idea if they have also changed their minds.
That did make me want to slam my head into the wall. The only thing we have in common and I'm in my 70's, is that we have lost friends because of Don the Con. I hope the hubris of youth has worn off and their eyes have opened up to the realization Donnie is destroying their future. Those young men need to start engaging in their civic duty to help maintain what makes this country so great.
Weekend self-reporting: I phone-banked for Abigail Spanberger yesterday and will do so again this afternoon. In addition, I have adopted 50 voters to write to for California's Yes on 50 campaign, courtesy of Vote Forward.
Thanks for having James on!! Hes fantastic and can only hope he is the right one to finally flip a major seat in Texas. Also nice to see the fundraising numbers tick up closer to the election. Hopium peeps in PA make sure to get turnout going for our judge races. I thankfully have been seeing TV and digital ads.
Thanks, Simon! Talarico is such an intelligent guy. I hope he can win. I find all the religious talk off-putting -- not everyone is Christian or Jewish -- but I recognize that it plays well in Texas and we have to let Democrats run for their areas.
I don't know if there is such a thing as a five-legged stool, but in addition to your three legs, I see two other points that Democrats can emphasize. The first is Trump's declining mental state. I am noting more and more discussion of this issue. Republicans made such a big deal about Biden's age, but on Biden's worst day and Trump's best, there's no comparison. "Trump's too old and too demented for the job" can be added to every other discussion point, especially his invasion of our cities. Secondly, the corruption of the Trump administration, from Trump's crypto, to Homan's bag of cash, is beginning to break through, too. "You can't afford coffee because of Trump's tariffs, but he's taking bribes to hand out pardons" should make a lot of young people angry.
My Donations and actions.
10/5/25
I wrote letters to all my elective officials to put forth all the recommended actions from Hopium per Rosenberg. Plus, I added a few more.
I donated money as follows to democratic candidates and causes:
Winning The Fall - Support Our November, 2025 Candidates and Yes On 50
* Mikie Sherrill NJ Gov (2025) - donated $20. $250,000 goal, $99k raised - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Watch my new interview with Rep. Sherrill | Read my new post about Sherrill’s sturdy polling lead | Sherrill leads by 8 in new Fox poll
* Abigail Spanberger VA Gov (2025) -donated $20. $250,000 goal, $204k raised - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Watch my interview with Abigail Spanberger
* Yes on 50 (CA) - donated $20. $50,000 goal - Donate | Learn more, volunteer | Sign Up For CA Dem Party Daily Phonebanks | Watch my new interview with Gov. Gavin Newsom
Expanding The Map - Support Our Audacious Expansion Fund (2026-2032)
* Hopium’s Audacious Expansion Fund - donated $50. $250,000 goal, $46,000 raised - Join our new campaign to invest in the Democratic Parties of Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Maine, and Texas | Donate To All Five State Parties | Watch my interviews with Alaska Chair Eric Croft, Florida Chair Nikki Fried, Iowa Chair Rita Hart and Texas Chair Kendall Scudder
Total donations were $110.
On 10/5/25 I emailed these people.
My Alderman.
My mayor.
my governor.
My state senator.
My state representative.
My state Attorney General.
My federal senators.
My federal representative.
Ken Martin leader of the DNC (Democratic National Committee).
******
How do I do this?
Easy.
For each one just Google.
“How do I email my alderman“
Etc.
and then follow the instructions.
They’ll tell you who your representatives are etc.
Be sure to
Login to google.
Then go to google settings and turn on autofill.
This will make filling out the forms fast and easy to do.
******
This is the content of my letter to each of my representatives.
I just sent them each the same thing because it’s too hard to tailor a letter to each person.
Here’s my letter:
Hello! And thank you for all the good things you’re doing!
What follows is a generic email to give you my thoughts on how I want you to proceed as my elected representative.
Some of the things may not be in your purview, but still, this is what I want you to do or Support, if possible…
Please do the following to push back against Trump:
Roll back Trump’s terrible and illegal tariffs that are re-igniting inflation, driving up prices, shifting the tax burden from the wealthy to working people, hurting small businesses and farmers, and alienating governments and people throughout the world. Open prime (Who knew! China isn’t buying our soybeans anymore, thanks Trump!)
Defend our democracy, rule of law and our liberties by blocking the expansion of ICE, restore due process to our immigration system, defend the 1st Amendment, and end the use of the military on our streets and the occupations of our cities.
Fight Trump’s war on science, higher education and our public health; reverse - not delay - the cuts to the ACA and Medicaid; support and co-sponsor Rep. Haley Stevens’ effort to Impeach and remove Robert Kennedy.
Stand with Ukraine and our European allies, and far more forcefully challenge Trump’s traitorous efforts to sell out the US and the West to Russia and China.
Other things I want Democrats to do to take back the United States from Republican rule:
Gerrymander all democratic state maps to minimize republican election possibilities across the board. (Because that’s what Republicans are doing to us in their states! Plus do your best to fight back against any Republican gerrymandering we need to fight fire with fire!)
Force the Republicans to work with Democrats on the federal budget process. Shut down the government, as long as necessary, if the Republicans won’t work with you. Do not allow the republicans to further weaken our democracy by going along with the “big beautiful bill”as it is. This document is designed to destroy America by giving too much power to the president. This is a dangerous bill. Remember, Congress has the power of the purse, not the president of the United States.
Remind all current Republican federal and state officeholders and secretaries that they will be held accountable for all of their illegal actions under Trump. All of these Republicans took an oath of office to uphold the constitution of the United States. They’re not doing that. Be sure to save all your paperwork regarding all the illegal things they have done so far. When Democrats retake the house, Senate and presidency, there will be a legal reckoning for all of these criminals.(The illegal shutdown of USAID will likely kill millions of people. We can start there.)
President Trump is a sick, unstable and grossly unqualified for office. He needs to be removed immediately. He’s a danger to the United States and the world. It’s time all Democrats constantly remind the American people of all the illegal things Trump is doing, and all the people that are following his orders. We have to get LOUD about all the illegal things, and of all the dangers of the of what the Republican Party is doing, so that people will know NOT to vote Republican in the future.
The Heritage foundation started all this with their project 2025 plan. Trump just admitted to following it. It is a roadmap to destroy our democracy. Russell Vogt and Steven Miller are part of the Heritage foundation and are implementing project 2025. They are working directly with Trump. It’s time we shut down the Heritage foundation. This is a dangerous fascist organization.
Thanks again!
Good luck in our fight to keep America free and safe!
Jeff Wincentsen
I've been contacting Schumer's office to ask him to use his microphone to address democracy as well as health care (as an aside: I learned that one of his staffers essentially hung up on someone who tried to talk to him (the staffer) about ICE, and another staffer told another caller that he (the staffer) didn't know anything about what happened in Chicago, making our constituent calls even more important, if they need that educating).
Rep. Hoyle’s staffer also seemed to hang up on me on Friday while I was talking about Chicago and how my friends in Portland say they’re already seeing helicopters circle overhead that don’t usually. She did wait until I was done talking, but then there was silence and the call ended. I don’t know if I shocked her or what. It was an odd interaction. Usually Hoyle’s and Merkley’s staffers are both great. I’m hoping it was a one-off.
I called and emailed on Friday the 2 US Senators from Ohio, Husted & Moreno, to end the shutdown now and restore the ACA tax credits for our health care. On Sunday, I also phone-banked for the Prop 50 campaign in California.
If teachers can afford a $100 donation, so can I. I am from CA but your message and demeanor are spot on. top vs bottom not left vs right may win the day.
I heard one sentence from James Talarico and I wanted to vote for him. unfortunately, I live in Massachusetts. (Unfortunately just because I can't vote in TX.)
I'm home sick so I've been reposting news and pieces on Facebook. I realize they may drive my friends crazy, but I'm unable to get out and demonstrate (to my disappointment) and this is one thing I can do.
I also keep myself informed - and sometimes am able to convince follow Democrats that things are not as hopeless as they may seem.
Your friend, James might want to say where he stands on the issues on his website and make his website more accessible. Others need to make their websites more accessible if they want money. Believe it or not, they can take lessons from the BBC on how to make an amazing website. Patagonia is another one that's really accessible.
I'm purposely linking Patagonia's statement for ideas that people should consider. https://www.patagonia.com/web-accessibility.html. Why donate to a candidate whose website isn't accessible? Why donate if 1 can't find out where they stand on the issues on their website?
Thanks, Simon and Rep. James Talarico for this inspiring conversation. As a former Texan, I am excited about James’s campaign and proud to be a donor. Buen suerte! Si se puede! 💪🏽💙
Roy Cooper and Jon Ossoff have the website layouts that are accessible if people want ideas.
Democrats need to emulate Republicans in one respect: optimism. Republicans are eternally optimistic that everyone sees things their way, that their candidate will win and that the Forces of Right will defeat whatever demons. Democrats worry, are nervous and are sure that they will lose. Not a good blueprint for success. Stand tall everyone! We are on the progressive side of history
Come on. You can't really believe this. Trump won because more people believed he would make their life better. They were optimistic about his Presidency. 52% of voters said they were excited or optimistic about Trump's Presidency.
My main point was to push back on the idea that Democrats didn’t run on optimism in 2024. I am tired from knocking doors in 80 degree weather in my underfunded campaign for local office. The Republicans here are running relentlessly negative mailers against us. One of my friends who is an East Asian woman running for city council had a gun pulled on her at one door she canvassed last week. Today someone literally slammed their door in my face. Maybe I’m just reflecting the depressing negativity I am seeing at the local level. This is such a hard environment to run for anything right now.
Exactly!
Another vibe shift report. Some of you may remember that the day after the election, my son got together with a friend from high school and three other guys and asked them why they had voted for Trump. He said he thought it would be disrespectful to take notes, but he whipped out his computer as soon as he got back to his dorm and wrote down everything he could remember.
Yesterday he went to a party at his friend's family home. His friend now regrets voting for Trump because "he lied about everything and because he's an authoritarian." The family friends also seemed very anti Trump (adults, almost all Indian Americans or Indian immigrants). None of the other three guys was at the party, so my son has no idea if they have also changed their minds.
Here's his original write up if you're interested. Warning: it will make you want to slam your head into the wall. https://docs.google.com/document/d/175e6-KXMDbbKC2LK_2gU6oaC1AUOTPURGprk73rziCc/edit?tab=t.0
That did make me want to slam my head into the wall. The only thing we have in common and I'm in my 70's, is that we have lost friends because of Don the Con. I hope the hubris of youth has worn off and their eyes have opened up to the realization Donnie is destroying their future. Those young men need to start engaging in their civic duty to help maintain what makes this country so great.
How to Not Be Fooled by Anyone
"5 Tips to Improve Your Critical Thinking | Ted-Ed"
1 Formulate your question
2 Gather your information
3 Apply the information
4 Consider the implications
5 Explore other viewpoints
https://youtu.be/dItUGF8GdTw?si=IoFgqQND0jPYrdG9
on bill maher last nite (ugh) guest tom friedman said that the new budget does not have one penny for Ukraine. so guess putin won on that one.
Weekend self-reporting: I phone-banked for Abigail Spanberger yesterday and will do so again this afternoon. In addition, I have adopted 50 voters to write to for California's Yes on 50 campaign, courtesy of Vote Forward.
Thank you!
Thanks for having James on!! Hes fantastic and can only hope he is the right one to finally flip a major seat in Texas. Also nice to see the fundraising numbers tick up closer to the election. Hopium peeps in PA make sure to get turnout going for our judge races. I thankfully have been seeing TV and digital ads.
Thanks, Simon! Talarico is such an intelligent guy. I hope he can win. I find all the religious talk off-putting -- not everyone is Christian or Jewish -- but I recognize that it plays well in Texas and we have to let Democrats run for their areas.
I don't know if there is such a thing as a five-legged stool, but in addition to your three legs, I see two other points that Democrats can emphasize. The first is Trump's declining mental state. I am noting more and more discussion of this issue. Republicans made such a big deal about Biden's age, but on Biden's worst day and Trump's best, there's no comparison. "Trump's too old and too demented for the job" can be added to every other discussion point, especially his invasion of our cities. Secondly, the corruption of the Trump administration, from Trump's crypto, to Homan's bag of cash, is beginning to break through, too. "You can't afford coffee because of Trump's tariffs, but he's taking bribes to hand out pardons" should make a lot of young people angry.
I'm writing postcards to Virginia voters today.