Happy Sunday all. The Wall Street Journal has a new, very worthy deep dive into Trump’s handling/mishandling of the war (gift link). It is full of remarkable, even comical, moments. Here are a few excerpts:
The president’s impulsive style has never before been tested during a sustained military conflict. Unlike the successful operation in Venezuela, which buoyed his confidence, Trump is confronting a more intractable foe in Iran, which is so far unwilling to bend to his demands.
……..
Soon after Trump’s holiday post, aides fielded calls from Republican senators and Christian leaders. They asked, why would he say “Praise be to Allah” on Easter morning? Why would he use the F-word? Trump swears profusely in private but usually calibrates it in public and on social media.
When one adviser later asked him about it, he said he came up with the Allah idea himself. He said he wanted to seem as unstable and insulting as possible, believing it could bring the Iranians to the table, senior administration officials said. It was a language, he said, the Iranians would understand. But he was also concerned about the fallout. “How’s it playing?” he asked advisers. (Iran’s parliamentary speaker called the threat reckless.)
On the Tuesday after Easter, he issued the most dramatic ultimatum of his presidency, saying that unless Iran struck a deal in 12 hours, a whole civilization would die.
Again, the post was improvisational, and not part of a national security plan, the administration officials said.
People around the U.S. and the world were gripped with fear and confusion about what the president intended to do. Behind the scenes, top aides saw the move as a way to spur negotiations in a war the president was desperately ready to end. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told others privately it was language that might actually bring the Iranians to negotiate.
What Trump really wanted, advisers said, was to scare the Iranians, and to end the conflict. Less than ninety minutes before his deadline, Trump announced a precarious two-week cease-fire.
“President Trump campaigned proudly on his promise to deny the Iranian regime the ability to develop a nuclear weapon, which is what this noble operation accomplishes,” said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary. She said the president had “remained a steady leader our country needs.”
Um, look at these quotes!
“He said he wanted to seem as unstable and insulting as possible, believing it could bring the Iranians to the table, senior administration officials said.”
“Again, the post was improvisational, and not part of a national security plan, the administration officials said.”
Of course the way the Iranians, and the rest of the world are reading this completely unhinged behavior is that they are the pathetic, childish screams of an addled, old man who has badly fucked up and lost control of this ridiculous war. Note that in the quote above Leavitt repeats the Trumpian invention that Iran has agreed to end its nuclear program; and note this morning that Strait remains closed, Trump looks like a buffoon for lying to the world about his imagined victory, and he has, not surprisingly, returned to all caps unhinged threats this morning - for there is no deal on the table Trump can possibly accept that doesn’t look like some form of humiliating surrender. He literally made up the cease fire “deal” - Iran gives up their nuclear program, the Strait reopens, talks commence all due to his MIGHTY STRENGTH. Iran didn’t agree to give up their nuclear program, and the Strait would only re-open when Trump ended the blockade, which HE HAS REFUSED TO DO for it would look like he has retreated.
I have no idea what happens now. But as I’ve been writing these last few weeks the only way this thing ends is if Trump makes major concessions, something I just don’t think he is capable of doing - as evidenced by his refusal to abide by the cease fire deal negotiated last week. So it’s groundhog day now. He issues big threats. Iran and the world laugh at him. The Strait remains closed, “talks” recommence, he and MAGA continue to melt down, and we are left with someone, it is increasingly clear, who is far more mad than King….
Some other stories worth your time in the coming days:
“The FBI Director Is MIA: Kash Patel has alarmed colleagues with episodes of excessive drinking and unexplained absences” - Sarah Fitzpatrick, The Atlantic (gift link). The worst cabinet in history stays true to form.
“The Inside Story of Five Days That Remade the Supreme Court” - Jodi Kantor and Adam Liptak, NYT. “Secret memos obtained by The New York Times illuminate the origins of the court’s now-routine “shadow docket” rulings on presidential power.” A Sunday must read.
“It’s The End of the Internet as We Know It” - Raffi Krikorian, NYT (gift link). AI is here, and changing everything. Something we will be talking about much more in the days ahead. Raffi is the former CTO of the DNC.
“Russian blogger’s fierce critique of Kremlin goes viral: ‘People are afraid of you’ “- The Guardian. “The Kremlin is grappling with the fallout from the viral spread of a celebrity blogger’s criticism of Russian authorities, as Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings register their sixth consecutive weekly decline.”
“Nationwide Survey: Most Farmers Can’t Afford Fertilizer“- The Farm Bureau. “Conducted by the American Farm Bureau Federation April 3-11, the survey shows 70% of respondents say fertilizer is so expensive that they will not be able to buy all the fertilizer they need.”
“Venezuela’s Machado to hold Madrid rally as opposition frozen out after Maduro capture” - The Guardian. “Exiled leader to revive push for change amid US backing of Delcy Rodríguez and delays to democratic transition”
Happy Sunday all. Going to be another crazy week. And now….
Let’s Get To Work Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Winning The Midterms, Competing In Red States and Red Places, Expanding The Map
Hopium’s Winning The House Campaign (2026) - $582,300 raised, $1,000,000 goal (new ambitious, audacious even, q2 goal) - Donate to all twelve of our endorsed House challengers with one click | You can meet and get to know these House flipping candidates by watching our recently recorded Hopium interviews with each.
So far we’ve sat down with Jamie Ager (NC-11), Christina Bohannan (IA-01), Mayor Paige Cognetti (PA-08), Rebecca Cooke (WI-03), Sean McCann (MI-04), Jo Mendoza (AZ-06), Janelle Stelson (PA-10), Shannon Taylor (VA-01), and should rounding out the rest in the coming weeks. If you are looking for inspiration this weekend watch a few of these interviews - I promise they great candidates will get you excited about our opportunities this November!
Mary Peltola For Alaska Senate - $84,900 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Volunteer and Learn More | Enjoy my uplifting conversation with Mary Peltola as she fights to turn Alaska blue
Winning Ohio - $123,900 raised, $250,000 goal - Our new campaign splits contributions evenly among Sherrod Brown, the Acton/Pepper ticket, and the Ohio Democratic Party. Donate today and help us turn this critical 2026 battleground blue, and watch my new discussion with our good friend David Pepper, now our candidate for Lt. Gov in Ohio. This total includes $21,00 sent by a Hopium community member directly to each of our three Buckeye State partners!
Roy Cooper for NC Senate (2026) - $106,700 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Enjoy my new discussion with Gov. Cooper as he fights to turn North Carolina blue
Hopium’s Audacious Expansion Fund - $524,700 raised, $750,000 goal (new stretch goal) - Join our campaign that has helped expand our map by investing in the Democratic Parties of Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Maine, and Texas, all now central battlegrounds in the 2026 election. Catch interviews with the five intrepid state chairs leading their troops into battle this year - will get you fired up!
Many thanks to two generous Hopium community members who have audaciously donated $20,000 to each of our five state parties over the past two years.
Advocate For The Hopium Agenda/Pass Resolutions Of Condemnation In Your Community
There are a few more ways to go to work in the coming days - call your leaders and advocate for elements of our working, ever evolving Hopium Agenda; bring resolutions that condemn our Mad King and lets facts be spoken to a candid world to your state or local government.
Here’s our working Hopium Post-Iran Disaster Agenda:
Work to end this new gulf war and Trump’s Imperial global ambitions
Support Ukraine and Europe, not Russia
Roll back the new, illegal tariffs
Rescind the Trump tax cuts, claw back the extra ICE funding, fund the IRS so it can collect the taxes the rich are hiding from us
Launch a major anti-corruption, renewing democracy campaign, one that ensures accountability for the crimes and treason committed, limits the political power of our emerging oligarchy, and strengthens democracy here and everywhere
Make the US a clean energy superpower, fight for true energy independence, and lower utility and energy prices for the American people
Rein in ICE, end Mass Deportation
End Trump’s destructive war on science, research, our health scare system and our public Health
Make clear to American farmers that we want to end the failed war, repeal the terrible tariffs, find legal pathways for farm workers, and make health care and energy more affordable
This week our calls should clearly focus on reining in the illegal war in the Middle East and ICE here at home, and rescinding the tariffs that are doing so much damage to our economy.
And please use the paid subscriber chat to self-report the good trouble you make each day.
Keep working hard all. We have a country to save and an election to win, together - Simon
Strait of Hormuz? Everything Mad King Donald says contradicts reality – as well as whatever he’s just announced 5 minutes ago, or will Tweet in another 5 minutes.
The only Strait this toxic idiot should have is a straitjacket! And that ASAP!
Just working at a few postcards when the post came up. I have 10 to mail today, 15 more working on right now. The latter batch to NE for voter outreach.
I find it a bit of a relief that the White House is leaking about all of this. Even though they are even worse than the crew in his first term, it seems like at least a few of them are waking up to how fucking insane this all is.
I still go back to the stories Miles Taylor told, about how, for example, he wanted a 2000 mile long moat along the southern border filled with snakes and alligators. Or how he didn't want doors in the southern wall for cattle ranchers, and his idea was to pull firetrucks up to the wall so the cattle could climb a ladder over the wall.
The problem with the narrative that he is entering a stage of dementia is that it neglects the fact that 10 years ago he was just as insane and demented. Maybe it's getting worse. I don't know. His ability to speak coherently has gotten worse. But some of the stupid ideas he has go back quite a long way.
Strait of Hormuz? Everything Mad King Donald says contradicts reality – as well as whatever he’s just announced 5 minutes ago, or will Tweet in another 5 minutes.
The only Strait this toxic idiot should have is a straitjacket! And that ASAP!
Just working at a few postcards when the post came up. I have 10 to mail today, 15 more working on right now. The latter batch to NE for voter outreach.
I find it a bit of a relief that the White House is leaking about all of this. Even though they are even worse than the crew in his first term, it seems like at least a few of them are waking up to how fucking insane this all is.
I still go back to the stories Miles Taylor told, about how, for example, he wanted a 2000 mile long moat along the southern border filled with snakes and alligators. Or how he didn't want doors in the southern wall for cattle ranchers, and his idea was to pull firetrucks up to the wall so the cattle could climb a ladder over the wall.
The problem with the narrative that he is entering a stage of dementia is that it neglects the fact that 10 years ago he was just as insane and demented. Maybe it's getting worse. I don't know. His ability to speak coherently has gotten worse. But some of the stupid ideas he has go back quite a long way.