On the most recent Ralph Nader Radio Hour, premier global trade expert, Lori Wallach, joined to help sort out the on again, off again tariffs Donald Trump is assessing U.S. trade partners. What kind of a tool is a tariff? When should it be used? Who should it be used against? And are the current tariff threats on Canada really about stopping fentanyl? Very thorough.
I am against this petition for 2 reasons: 1) petitions are a bit of a scam, and are there to help organizations grow their lists. 2) I spoke to David Hogg and Jane Kleeb this week. There is going to be youth organizing and a greater commitment to partisan voter reg. Of all the things that we should be spending our time on right now this is not one of them.
David is a master strategist, kind of a prodigy at political organizing. I could not be happier that he was elected and can't wait to see what he does. And kudos to Jane for continuing to step up.
Report from Aurora, CO: Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are making a stop in Greeley, Colorado at 1 p.m., and a rally in Denver, Colorado at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2025.
The Greeley free rally is important because Greeley is in the middle of Republican Rep. Gabe Evans’ District (CO CD-08), which he narrowly won in 2024. It is on Simon’s list of the vulnerable 17!
For Front Rangers and Metro Denver Coloradoans, please RSVP for either, or both, events at these links:
“Since Ryan Mackenzie has abandoned his constituents, we’re hosting our own town hall. Open invite to Ryan if he ever decides to face his constituents. Join your neighbors to hear from people directly affected, share your own story about what’s at stake, and learn how we can fight back together. Our healthcare is on the line, and our voices matter.”
Would you think it could be effective to have people at your town hall put their names to a petition to request a town hall with Rep. Mackenzie? He might not honor it, but that fact alone might figure into the campaign. Governor Shapiro won that district by a healthy margin.
Good question for the organizers — Lehigh Co Dems, Northampton Co Dem Cmte, PA Dems. SEIU, Working Families, Indivisible Lehigh Valley Bethlehem, Red Wine & Blue, Joyful Warriors, PSEA, AFGE, Persist are co-organizing.
I have been writing two or three ResistBot petitions every day for the last few weeks, across many important topics. Today, I asked reps in Congress to remove Hegseth and SCOTUS to uphold the 14th amendment. Please check out the full list. https://resist.bot/go/coleman
Here is a list of the DNC's "People's Town Halls" being held in Maga districts, including in Florida. I look at the DNC Press Release page each day to learn more about what is planned.
DNC Chair Ken Martin has hit the ground running! Great to see. Need to make sure each of these town halls get maximum media coverage – including viral clips on social media.
WaPo requires that people register or sign in to read the gift article. Registering for an account requires an email address. When registered, you can sign in using your other accounts: amazon, facebook, google or apple. "Yes, you will need to register or sign in to access the free gifted article. This will be prompted upon opening the gift link."
But, hey, the Washington Post must be desperate given that the paper lost at least a quarter-million subscribers in the immediate aftermath of Bezos blocking the post from endorsing Kamala Harris. That’s 10% of their digital subscriptions. And judging from readers’ comments, they’ve lost a helluva more since then – although they’re not admitting the numbers.
For the time being I am a WaPo subscriber. One of the privileges that I frequently use is to share the occasional worthwhile WaPo articles with friends and family, and with the good people here on Hopium and the other Substack feeds that I follow.
It really irks me to know that WaPo is now making *everybody* with whom I want to share articles jump through these hoops. Imho, that is unacceptable!
I suspect we will have a chance to see some blowback to Senator Schumer's strategizing on Tuesday, March 18, at Temple Emanu-El (Fifth Avenue & 65th St), where he will be pushing his new book on antisemitism in conversation with Rep. Ritchie Torres (Bronx), at 6.30pm. I haven't seen any call to protest so far but these things can happen very quickly as you know.
I would suggest you contact Temple Emanu-El right away tomorrow to make sure they have adequate security in the event of protests from MoveOn and Occupy NY.
Indivisible is not in favor of protesting at this event for two reasons: The book is so very important in alerting people of the rise of anti-semitism, and the group would suggest we write a letter to Schumer (USPS to his DC office) objecting to his YES vote on the spending bill and asking him to step down as Minority Leader! Personally, I asked my two Senators, Durbin and Duckworth, to vote NO. Durbin voted YES. The reason I wanted NO votes was to cause Democrats and Republicans to return to DC and work out a bipartisan compromise, as Hakeem Jeffries suggested. At least this would have shown that the Democrats are not as divided as we are viewed and still have some determination, some strength to try to get some changes to the GOP written spending bill. I cried and could not sleep when that spending bill passed.
If the govt had shut down, what incentive would the Republicans have had to return to DC given DT/Musk stance of wanting a shutdown? Repubs’ constituents’ current uproar was not enough to make them share with Dems in creation of the passed CR.
I now agree with Simon and others that the decision Schumer made is best he could have done and he’s taking the heat for it. Now it’s up to us to continue DT’s downward spiral, stay united and fight him, not each other.
They both comment and share frequently and I often agree with them. Many of us are on Substack to read writers like Simon, not have our own following. All of us commenting are paid subscribers and members of the Hopium community.
I just saw a post on Bluesky indicating that Indivisible is promoting a protest at Schumer's Santa Monica event, and my son says he saw one about the Baltimore event, so Indivisible seems to have changed its view on this.
Protesting at a Temple hosting an event related to antisemitism just because that is where Sen. Schumer will be that day seems like a horrible idea. Need to be much more strategic than that. We are at such a deficit in the information wars including having a cohesive message in the first place. A protest at an event like that will quickly be spun as an antisemitic protest itself.
I agree - similar to Biden's stepping aside, I think we need to be respectful and grateful for his long years of service, and to meet the moment by having the grace to take a supportive role to those Senators who will best fight for us in this crisis - I wrote a respectful letter to Biden before the fateful weekend he finally decided to hear the people (it was too late for Harris, who ran a great campaign but didn't have enough time- We can't afford to make the same mistake -- Schumer can show decisive leadership (despite what his advisors may be telling him) by supporting the new approach and leadership NOW, and preserve his legacy
Regardless of the strategic value of voting NO with a shutdown, Schumer did a terrible job of communicating what the CR meant. While there were "poison pills" in the CR, it is supposed to fund the government at previously budgeted levels until September, with no cuts to Social Security , Medicare and Medicaid. Why didn't he say that and then pledge to fight the DOGE cuts?
If they can't step their game up, we need to shake things up.
Simon, As an academic myself, the loss to these kids of their dreams of careers in academia like your son's friend is literally heartbreaking. Just heartbreaking.
I “shared” this excellent 26 minute YT video with my networks. It’s a conversation between Heather Cox Richardson and Ben Wikler, who explains in plain language the unprecedented national importance of Judge Susan Crawford’s April 1 election to the WI State Supreme Court. He includes the several ways to volunteer and/or donate to Crawford’s campaign.
I knocked on doors in my beloved Kenosha, WI yesterday w my fave canvassing buddy and longtime friend…we come up from suburban Chicago frequently to canvass…it was a mixed neighborhood, some of it looked pretty low income, parts of it looked more working class/middle class, with older homes that had been fixed up with care and resources. The people we spoke with were also a mix…some were already very knowledgeable about the upcoming Supreme Ct election there April 1st and very intentional about supporting Susan Crawford. Some were folks who “only vote in presidential elections” (so frustrating for me as a canvasser!), some were registered voters but not even aware of the upcoming election. I spoke with folks I saw in front of their houses, even one hanging out in front of a small grocery/liquor store, looking to find votes for Susan Crawford in this very important election! I think (certainly hope!) I convinced a few folks to go out and vote, after explaining why this election is so important…one thing that seemed to help a lot was when I mentioned Elon Musk is pouring money into the race to steal this seat for a heinous extremist…absolutely everyone I spoke with hates Elon Musk! So that was a good selling point in and of itself. One thoughtful older gentleman who rarely votes in midterm or local elections was responsive to my explanation that this election isn’t even only important in WI, which it definitely is, but it will be watched carefully around the country to assess whether people are aware of and care what Musk/Trump are doing to our country. It is being seen as a potential sign of what could happen in 2026, when Republicans will be voted on in Congress…so it’s especially important that every Wisconsinite comes out and says “Hell No! We don’t want this!” To Elon Musk especially!
Exactly why Musk must remain linked to DT. No one likes Vance either, but DT won't be able to ditch him. With these two stones in his pockets, DT must drown.
Have you tried postcarding? it is great for introverts!
So far I have written and mailed 150 postcards for the Susan Crawford campaign and I plan to do some more in the next week or so before the deadline to mail them.
I just watched a video recording of Substack Live where Heather Cox Richardson interviewed Ben Wikler about the importance of the this race and what Musk was attempting to do. I highly recomend watching it!
There is still time to write postcards for Susan Crawford in the WI race. Both Postcards to Voters (htpps://postcardstovoters.org) and Activate America (www.activateamerica.vote) still have voters to be matched with volunteers. AFAIK the other campaigns have distributed all their names and addresses for this race.
Plus there are lots of opportunities to volunteer with Wisconsin Democrats up to the election (and probably afterwards if there is ballot curing). Check them out here:
Simon, I am encouraged to see all the actions that the Dems in the House are taking. I agree that the Dems in the Senate need to step up. The nine who voted to advance the CR should have listened to Patty Murray and voted NO. Chuck Schumer needs to step aside or be challenged for leadership... and soon.
Here is an on-point quote from a bluesky post from Steven T Dennis, who I believe is a Bloomberg.com reporter. "In 2021, McConnell successfully filibustered a Democratic CR ahead of a government shutdown and forced them to accept a clean one instead. What happened this week - a total cave on a totally partisan long-term funding bill - hasn't happened in the 20 years I've covered Congress."
Here is a link to a recent substack from Robert Hubbell. I think the quotes from Brian Schatz and Adam Serwer are particularly illuminating along with Hubbell's commentary on same.
My incredibly committed, accomplished daughter who is graduating from college with a marine science degree has been told by her mentors that marine science research, most of which is funded by NOAA and NSF, is basically dead in the US and that she should be considering attending graduate school and pursuing a career outside the US. She is a Fulbright semi-finalist to study coral reef resilience in Panama and that program has been frozen. She is heartbroken.
There is a violence to what is happening now. It feels like a literal assault on the country. As if we are under attack by a hostile foreign power who wants us degraded, dead and broken.
Yes and I am having a hard time dealing with those who don't care or who have given up; it is costing me friendships. I cannot be around people who don't give a shit.
It is horrible. I rhetorically asked one of my classes (mostly graduate students at a major research university) how they were at the beginning of class and heard in reply a collective groan. As mom to two college students and a seventh grader and a professor to some of the most wonderfully talented and compassionate people on the planet, I am heart broken.
That's because that's precisely what it is, as I'm sure you are aware. Dr. Ben-Ghiat often talks about one of the key goals of authoritarianism being demoralization and despair. I highly recommend that people read her excellent book Strongmen - so incisive - and sign up for her excellent Substack, Lucid.
My daughter has a degree in ecology and entomology and has decided to forgo any graduate school at all, and has taken a job as an executive secretary in a forklift manufacturing plant. I can't argue with her. your daughter might try the various coastal states to see if they have any state level jobs, that's what my son did, then went for his master's while working. NJ has a hiring freeze right now but there are other states; NY has a lot of coast. And yet I'm still getting into near fisticuffs with the locals who are all convinced there really is a lot of waste....well, not according to people like Paul Krugman or Joe Stiglitz ( by the way, his new book is really worth reading, The Road to Freedom ). The other thing she might do is check out other countries like Australia, where there is a lot of coral reef study going on. Keep us posted.
These stories of bright, hardworking young people’s futures being disrupted and systematically destroyed in specific areas of concentration make my blood boil. This is so WRONG!!! My heart goes out to your daughter and your family.
So sorry about this. Tell your daughter we are all rooting for her - we need her! I know many in the space and recent PhDs are having trouble finding work (it’s heartbreaking). However, there are great marine research institutions/programs in the UK, Canada (UBC) and elsewhere (including in LatAm). And it will really help her career to have an international,non US perspective (that is where a lot of the focus is now - particularly to study these issues in developing countries where there is not yet adequate science. P.S. As a note - it is not well known but the US is really the leader in fisheries and marine science and management. This gutting of NOAA is a major setback, tragedy.
Thanks--luckily she minored in Spanish and studied abroad, so with some effort she could get herself to a level of proficiency where she could do graduate work in Spain or Latin America.
My daughter is a college freshman. Her dorm mate applied for a summer internship at Cold Spring Harbor laboratory, only to get a notice that the internship has been canceled (apparently the word “diversity” appeared in the description).
As a Ph.D. Biologist I am deeply concerned about the damage being inflicted. America has led the world in scientific research and I have always been proud of our top institutions. The Musk/RFK Jr/Vought chainsaw is toppling our intellectual standing in the world, and our children’s future.
The level of betrayal all this represents is impossible to put into words. Trump and Musk are stealing the futures of tens of millions of young Americans right now.
Thank you! Elon Musk has made this race a priority for the other side. It’s absolutely vital that we win this one, lest the good work and progress in Wisconsin be undone.
Re Walz going to Omaha, Rep. Bacon's district, Dan Osborn ran an unsuccessful but surprisingly close campaign in NE for US Senate as an Independent. I hope he runs for US House for Omaha, where I think he would have a very good chance of winning. He would definitely be worth supporting if he decides to run. (I hope he doesn't run again for Senate; I think he'd lose again.)
Re Kristof's column -- it is so shocking and tragic to learn of all the disasters and deaths Musk and Trump are creating all around the world. It is shameful.
Re Tesla, Musk has destroyed his Tesla brand for many years if not permanently. It's a good car, but the people who used to buy them, upper middle class professionals who are environmentally conscious, will look elsewhere. Watch the next set of Tesla sales figures.
Re Tesla -- especially since other car companies are coming up with FAR less expensive options - here, in Europe, even in China. Saw a few articles over the last few days. Musk was too arrogant to pay attention to competition in his own field. Making him poorer has so many benefits.
On the most recent Ralph Nader Radio Hour, premier global trade expert, Lori Wallach, joined to help sort out the on again, off again tariffs Donald Trump is assessing U.S. trade partners. What kind of a tool is a tariff? When should it be used? Who should it be used against? And are the current tariff threats on Canada really about stopping fentanyl? Very thorough.
https://youtu.be/rl0xAsCcnvM?si=J43KwLwS1ep3a5Ib
Please do not bring Ralph Nader in here. Few have done as much damage to our country as he has. Thank you.
"I will never run for president."
– Ralph Nader, 1980 (a promise he tragically broke!)
Please do not bring commentary by Ralph Nader in here.
I am against this petition for 2 reasons: 1) petitions are a bit of a scam, and are there to help organizations grow their lists. 2) I spoke to David Hogg and Jane Kleeb this week. There is going to be youth organizing and a greater commitment to partisan voter reg. Of all the things that we should be spending our time on right now this is not one of them.
Sounds good, Simon. Happy to hear that Hogg and Kleeb are on the job!
David is a master strategist, kind of a prodigy at political organizing. I could not be happier that he was elected and can't wait to see what he does. And kudos to Jane for continuing to step up.
To be on the lookout, what petition is this?
Hello everyone,
Just wanted to send along my latest reflections on democracy from my series "Notes From the Underground" (https://davidsalzillo.substack.com/p/notes-from-underground-5).
If you like it, and want to see more, please subscribe and share.
In the name of democracy,
David.
Concise and thoughtful article, David!
Report from Aurora, CO: Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are making a stop in Greeley, Colorado at 1 p.m., and a rally in Denver, Colorado at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2025.
The Greeley free rally is important because Greeley is in the middle of Republican Rep. Gabe Evans’ District (CO CD-08), which he narrowly won in 2024. It is on Simon’s list of the vulnerable 17!
For Front Rangers and Metro Denver Coloradoans, please RSVP for either, or both, events at these links:
https://act.berniesanders.com/signup/rsvp-oligarchy-greeley/
https://act.berniesanders.com/signup/rsvp-oligarchy-denver/
You will get confirmatory information in the emails! Let’s get organized!
Lehigh County Town Hall: March 20 at 6:00PM
“Since Ryan Mackenzie has abandoned his constituents, we’re hosting our own town hall. Open invite to Ryan if he ever decides to face his constituents. Join your neighbors to hear from people directly affected, share your own story about what’s at stake, and learn how we can fight back together. Our healthcare is on the line, and our voices matter.”
https://mobilize.us/s/s6eDFP
Bethlehem not far from CT, DC, DE, NJ, NY, MD
Would you think it could be effective to have people at your town hall put their names to a petition to request a town hall with Rep. Mackenzie? He might not honor it, but that fact alone might figure into the campaign. Governor Shapiro won that district by a healthy margin.
Good question for the organizers — Lehigh Co Dems, Northampton Co Dem Cmte, PA Dems. SEIU, Working Families, Indivisible Lehigh Valley Bethlehem, Red Wine & Blue, Joyful Warriors, PSEA, AFGE, Persist are co-organizing.
I have been writing two or three ResistBot petitions every day for the last few weeks, across many important topics. Today, I asked reps in Congress to remove Hegseth and SCOTUS to uphold the 14th amendment. Please check out the full list. https://resist.bot/go/coleman
Here is a list of the DNC's "People's Town Halls" being held in Maga districts, including in Florida. I look at the DNC Press Release page each day to learn more about what is planned.
https://democrats.org/news/democrats-to-hold-peoples-town-halls-in-competitive-gop-held-districts-as-republicans-are-hiding-from-their-voters-constituents/
DNC Chair Ken Martin has hit the ground running! Great to see. Need to make sure each of these town halls get maximum media coverage – including viral clips on social media.
So pleased with Chair Martin’s immediate response to Dems clamoring for organized action. I can now feel good about donating to DNC.
Great idea to ck their press release pg - and thanks for the link.
Just so you know..... WaPo no longer allows access to Gift Articles without one giving them an email address. I will not do that.
Do you mean email address to the recipient? Does this mean it’s now impossible to share gift links to WaPo articles here on Hopium?
WaPo requires that people register or sign in to read the gift article. Registering for an account requires an email address. When registered, you can sign in using your other accounts: amazon, facebook, google or apple. "Yes, you will need to register or sign in to access the free gifted article. This will be prompted upon opening the gift link."
https://helpcenter.washingtonpost.com/hc/en-us/articles/4403823008539-How-to-use-gift-articles
I just clicked on Simon's gift link in the importletter and received this prompt:
Already have an account? Sign in
GIFT FROM A POST SUBSCRIBER
Create an account to redeem your FREE article
That sucks. Must be a very recent "innovation".
But, hey, the Washington Post must be desperate given that the paper lost at least a quarter-million subscribers in the immediate aftermath of Bezos blocking the post from endorsing Kamala Harris. That’s 10% of their digital subscriptions. And judging from readers’ comments, they’ve lost a helluva more since then – although they’re not admitting the numbers.
You can use a "junk" account - create one on Yahoo and then delete it.
For the time being I am a WaPo subscriber. One of the privileges that I frequently use is to share the occasional worthwhile WaPo articles with friends and family, and with the good people here on Hopium and the other Substack feeds that I follow.
It really irks me to know that WaPo is now making *everybody* with whom I want to share articles jump through these hoops. Imho, that is unacceptable!
I got access without a request for my email address.
I suspect we will have a chance to see some blowback to Senator Schumer's strategizing on Tuesday, March 18, at Temple Emanu-El (Fifth Avenue & 65th St), where he will be pushing his new book on antisemitism in conversation with Rep. Ritchie Torres (Bronx), at 6.30pm. I haven't seen any call to protest so far but these things can happen very quickly as you know.
I was at yesterday's NYC march and folks were definitely talking about going to this.
I would suggest you contact Temple Emanu-El right away tomorrow to make sure they have adequate security in the event of protests from MoveOn and Occupy NY.
Indivisible is not in favor of protesting at this event for two reasons: The book is so very important in alerting people of the rise of anti-semitism, and the group would suggest we write a letter to Schumer (USPS to his DC office) objecting to his YES vote on the spending bill and asking him to step down as Minority Leader! Personally, I asked my two Senators, Durbin and Duckworth, to vote NO. Durbin voted YES. The reason I wanted NO votes was to cause Democrats and Republicans to return to DC and work out a bipartisan compromise, as Hakeem Jeffries suggested. At least this would have shown that the Democrats are not as divided as we are viewed and still have some determination, some strength to try to get some changes to the GOP written spending bill. I cried and could not sleep when that spending bill passed.
If the govt had shut down, what incentive would the Republicans have had to return to DC given DT/Musk stance of wanting a shutdown? Repubs’ constituents’ current uproar was not enough to make them share with Dems in creation of the passed CR.
I now agree with Simon and others that the decision Schumer made is best he could have done and he’s taking the heat for it. Now it’s up to us to continue DT’s downward spiral, stay united and fight him, not each other.
agree
Fwiw, neither Freda nor SW have any info in their Substack profiles.
and?? I am going to take this as a trollish ad hominem unworthy of Hopium community.
They both comment and share frequently and I often agree with them. Many of us are on Substack to read writers like Simon, not have our own following. All of us commenting are paid subscribers and members of the Hopium community.
I just saw a post on Bluesky indicating that Indivisible is promoting a protest at Schumer's Santa Monica event, and my son says he saw one about the Baltimore event, so Indivisible seems to have changed its view on this.
Protesting at a Temple hosting an event related to antisemitism just because that is where Sen. Schumer will be that day seems like a horrible idea. Need to be much more strategic than that. We are at such a deficit in the information wars including having a cohesive message in the first place. A protest at an event like that will quickly be spun as an antisemitic protest itself.
Indivisible agrees with you. They have suggested writing letter to Senator Schumer’s office:
https://indivisible.org/statements/indivisible-calls-schumer-step-aside
I hope people are respectful. Sen Schumer is trying to protect us and democracy and keep whatever tools we have.
I agree - similar to Biden's stepping aside, I think we need to be respectful and grateful for his long years of service, and to meet the moment by having the grace to take a supportive role to those Senators who will best fight for us in this crisis - I wrote a respectful letter to Biden before the fateful weekend he finally decided to hear the people (it was too late for Harris, who ran a great campaign but didn't have enough time- We can't afford to make the same mistake -- Schumer can show decisive leadership (despite what his advisors may be telling him) by supporting the new approach and leadership NOW, and preserve his legacy
Our Congress members should PUT THEIR NEW BOOKS ON HOLD and DO THEIR JOB
I fully agree. For any Democratic leader to prioritize a book tour now is really tone deaf.
Hakeem Jefferies is doing it too
Regardless of the strategic value of voting NO with a shutdown, Schumer did a terrible job of communicating what the CR meant. While there were "poison pills" in the CR, it is supposed to fund the government at previously budgeted levels until September, with no cuts to Social Security , Medicare and Medicaid. Why didn't he say that and then pledge to fight the DOGE cuts?
If they can't step their game up, we need to shake things up.
Simon, As an academic myself, the loss to these kids of their dreams of careers in academia like your son's friend is literally heartbreaking. Just heartbreaking.
Academic here, agree 100%. I am disgusted beyond belief.
I “shared” this excellent 26 minute YT video with my networks. It’s a conversation between Heather Cox Richardson and Ben Wikler, who explains in plain language the unprecedented national importance of Judge Susan Crawford’s April 1 election to the WI State Supreme Court. He includes the several ways to volunteer and/or donate to Crawford’s campaign.
https://www.youtube.com/live/AyXba-vx1sw?si=NzVAd0RuQQhWBH6F
I knocked on doors in my beloved Kenosha, WI yesterday w my fave canvassing buddy and longtime friend…we come up from suburban Chicago frequently to canvass…it was a mixed neighborhood, some of it looked pretty low income, parts of it looked more working class/middle class, with older homes that had been fixed up with care and resources. The people we spoke with were also a mix…some were already very knowledgeable about the upcoming Supreme Ct election there April 1st and very intentional about supporting Susan Crawford. Some were folks who “only vote in presidential elections” (so frustrating for me as a canvasser!), some were registered voters but not even aware of the upcoming election. I spoke with folks I saw in front of their houses, even one hanging out in front of a small grocery/liquor store, looking to find votes for Susan Crawford in this very important election! I think (certainly hope!) I convinced a few folks to go out and vote, after explaining why this election is so important…one thing that seemed to help a lot was when I mentioned Elon Musk is pouring money into the race to steal this seat for a heinous extremist…absolutely everyone I spoke with hates Elon Musk! So that was a good selling point in and of itself. One thoughtful older gentleman who rarely votes in midterm or local elections was responsive to my explanation that this election isn’t even only important in WI, which it definitely is, but it will be watched carefully around the country to assess whether people are aware of and care what Musk/Trump are doing to our country. It is being seen as a potential sign of what could happen in 2026, when Republicans will be voted on in Congress…so it’s especially important that every Wisconsinite comes out and says “Hell No! We don’t want this!” To Elon Musk especially!
Thank you so much for going to Kenosha! Really grateful.
THANK YOU! Stay warm while out there canvassing.
Excellent! Persuade one voter at a time! Musk is a great foil! Sending best wishes from Colorado!
Exactly why Musk must remain linked to DT. No one likes Vance either, but DT won't be able to ditch him. With these two stones in his pockets, DT must drown.
Good metaphor!
thank you for your efforts! is an inspiration (even though I am an introvert I can do more of this). you are awesome
Juli,
Have you tried postcarding? it is great for introverts!
So far I have written and mailed 150 postcards for the Susan Crawford campaign and I plan to do some more in the next week or so before the deadline to mail them.
I LOVE Kenosha! Great minor league ballpark there.
I just watched a video recording of Substack Live where Heather Cox Richardson interviewed Ben Wikler about the importance of the this race and what Musk was attempting to do. I highly recomend watching it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyXba-vx1sw
During the discussion, Wikler mentioned a website that WisDems had created. (It reminds me of the "Real Mark Robinson" campaign by the NC Dems):
https://www.peoplevmusk.com/
There is still time to write postcards for Susan Crawford in the WI race. Both Postcards to Voters (htpps://postcardstovoters.org) and Activate America (www.activateamerica.vote) still have voters to be matched with volunteers. AFAIK the other campaigns have distributed all their names and addresses for this race.
Plus there are lots of opportunities to volunteer with Wisconsin Democrats up to the election (and probably afterwards if there is ballot curing). Check them out here:
https://www.mobilize.us/wisdems/
Simon, I am encouraged to see all the actions that the Dems in the House are taking. I agree that the Dems in the Senate need to step up. The nine who voted to advance the CR should have listened to Patty Murray and voted NO. Chuck Schumer needs to step aside or be challenged for leadership... and soon.
Here is an on-point quote from a bluesky post from Steven T Dennis, who I believe is a Bloomberg.com reporter. "In 2021, McConnell successfully filibustered a Democratic CR ahead of a government shutdown and forced them to accept a clean one instead. What happened this week - a total cave on a totally partisan long-term funding bill - hasn't happened in the 20 years I've covered Congress."
Here is a link to a recent substack from Robert Hubbell. I think the quotes from Brian Schatz and Adam Serwer are particularly illuminating along with Hubbell's commentary on same.
https://roberthubbell.substack.com/p/reflections-on-a-tough-week-with?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=271358&post_id=159110052&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=nblx&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
Relevant to Schatz's quote, Joe Manchin never sounded more like a Republican (and maybe a misogynist?) when he teed up zingers in AOC's direction.
To emphasize, Chuck Schumer needs to realize his time has passed and the rest of the Senate Dems need to hasten his replacement... pronto.
I hung on every word of Patty Murray's speech - it provides a great framework for unifying a clear mission and messaging - I hope all with listen
My incredibly committed, accomplished daughter who is graduating from college with a marine science degree has been told by her mentors that marine science research, most of which is funded by NOAA and NSF, is basically dead in the US and that she should be considering attending graduate school and pursuing a career outside the US. She is a Fulbright semi-finalist to study coral reef resilience in Panama and that program has been frozen. She is heartbroken.
There is a violence to what is happening now. It feels like a literal assault on the country. As if we are under attack by a hostile foreign power who wants us degraded, dead and broken.
Yes and I am having a hard time dealing with those who don't care or who have given up; it is costing me friendships. I cannot be around people who don't give a shit.
we are under attack by a hostile foreign power...people just cant see it yet
I sense the same.
It is horrible. I rhetorically asked one of my classes (mostly graduate students at a major research university) how they were at the beginning of class and heard in reply a collective groan. As mom to two college students and a seventh grader and a professor to some of the most wonderfully talented and compassionate people on the planet, I am heart broken.
That's because that's precisely what it is, as I'm sure you are aware. Dr. Ben-Ghiat often talks about one of the key goals of authoritarianism being demoralization and despair. I highly recommend that people read her excellent book Strongmen - so incisive - and sign up for her excellent Substack, Lucid.
Exactly. But instead of a hostile foreign power, it’s a hostile third column, led by the president himself.
To borrow a Bushism, the influence of a hostile foreign power should not be misunderestimated.
I feel for you both. How I wish times were different!
My daughter has a degree in ecology and entomology and has decided to forgo any graduate school at all, and has taken a job as an executive secretary in a forklift manufacturing plant. I can't argue with her. your daughter might try the various coastal states to see if they have any state level jobs, that's what my son did, then went for his master's while working. NJ has a hiring freeze right now but there are other states; NY has a lot of coast. And yet I'm still getting into near fisticuffs with the locals who are all convinced there really is a lot of waste....well, not according to people like Paul Krugman or Joe Stiglitz ( by the way, his new book is really worth reading, The Road to Freedom ). The other thing she might do is check out other countries like Australia, where there is a lot of coral reef study going on. Keep us posted.
Yes, Australia has lots of coral reef research, and she will be looking there. Thank you!
These stories of bright, hardworking young people’s futures being disrupted and systematically destroyed in specific areas of concentration make my blood boil. This is so WRONG!!! My heart goes out to your daughter and your family.
That is so heartbreaking. We need our country and our scientists back!
All the more reason to fight this plague, and overcome it ASAP. Hope with a plan, right?
So sorry about this. Tell your daughter we are all rooting for her - we need her! I know many in the space and recent PhDs are having trouble finding work (it’s heartbreaking). However, there are great marine research institutions/programs in the UK, Canada (UBC) and elsewhere (including in LatAm). And it will really help her career to have an international,non US perspective (that is where a lot of the focus is now - particularly to study these issues in developing countries where there is not yet adequate science. P.S. As a note - it is not well known but the US is really the leader in fisheries and marine science and management. This gutting of NOAA is a major setback, tragedy.
Thanks--luckily she minored in Spanish and studied abroad, so with some effort she could get herself to a level of proficiency where she could do graduate work in Spain or Latin America.
My daughter is a college freshman. Her dorm mate applied for a summer internship at Cold Spring Harbor laboratory, only to get a notice that the internship has been canceled (apparently the word “diversity” appeared in the description).
As a Ph.D. Biologist I am deeply concerned about the damage being inflicted. America has led the world in scientific research and I have always been proud of our top institutions. The Musk/RFK Jr/Vought chainsaw is toppling our intellectual standing in the world, and our children’s future.
The level of betrayal all this represents is impossible to put into words. Trump and Musk are stealing the futures of tens of millions of young Americans right now.
There are things that we cannot repair.
I can’t like your post because I hate that it is true. 😞
Great conversation between Ben Wikler & Heather Cox Richardson about the absolutely vital Wisconsin Supreme Court race. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyXba-vx1sw
Thank you! Elon Musk has made this race a priority for the other side. It’s absolutely vital that we win this one, lest the good work and progress in Wisconsin be undone.
Re Walz going to Omaha, Rep. Bacon's district, Dan Osborn ran an unsuccessful but surprisingly close campaign in NE for US Senate as an Independent. I hope he runs for US House for Omaha, where I think he would have a very good chance of winning. He would definitely be worth supporting if he decides to run. (I hope he doesn't run again for Senate; I think he'd lose again.)
Re Kristof's column -- it is so shocking and tragic to learn of all the disasters and deaths Musk and Trump are creating all around the world. It is shameful.
Re Tesla, Musk has destroyed his Tesla brand for many years if not permanently. It's a good car, but the people who used to buy them, upper middle class professionals who are environmentally conscious, will look elsewhere. Watch the next set of Tesla sales figures.
Re Tesla -- especially since other car companies are coming up with FAR less expensive options - here, in Europe, even in China. Saw a few articles over the last few days. Musk was too arrogant to pay attention to competition in his own field. Making him poorer has so many benefits.
Shameful and Evil -- those were the words of Atul Gawande, former officer of USAID on the New Yorker Radio Hour with David Remnick.