OMG, thanks again Simon for this wonderful, informative, reasonable interview. Rep. Goldman makes everything SO clear about where we are headed and the profound mistakes this farce of an administration is making. What absolute FOOLS! The court jesters of this era!!
Daily report...Dems in Richardson, TX, just north of Dallas, are now having weekly protests--hooray! The larger-than-life sign today was, "Honk if you're not in the Epstein Files!" Great sign, and, of course, lots of honks!
Also, one of our very talented state reps, James Talarico, is reported to be announcing he's entering the Dem primary for senator! Not sure how that primary will turn out, but Talarico is a terrific and rising talent. We'll see:-)
Anyone concerned that he's creating a national police state? Anyone concerned that he might be planning to use the state police (ICE, National Guard, Marines...) to intimidate people at the polls?
I’m 73 years old, I’ve been voting for democrats since 1976. Zohran Mandani won the democratic primary in NY. Now the loser and sex offender Andrew Cuomo is going independent with assistance from Trump, and the party establishment sits by wringing their hands. This is an outrageous affront to NY democrats. It is time to open the doors to new ideas and stop cowing to how MAGA will portray it. Schumer, Jeffries, Hochul, NY congressional caucus, ENDORSE MAMDANI NOW, and prevent a NY mayor beholden to Trump!
I'm pretty certain that New Yorkers are capable of picking the candidate they want to support (and vote for). To my mind, there's no excuse for the Democratic powers-that-be to fail to endorse someone who has been chosen by the voters!
I actually think there is too much focus on removing Jeffries and Schumer. Their jobs look sort of administrative to me.
I left comments with WaPo thanking them for covering the DC protest. Much of mainstream media is ignoring it. And I left a note with NYT asking them to cover DC protest, as well as Missouri Democrats’ sit-in in the state house protesting the gerrymander. Big protest in Jefferson City Wednesday. Hope media people show up.
Though their jobs look administrative, their voices are critical to inspiring their respective congressional bodies to action. House and Senate leadership have historically been very impactful; look at Pelosi for someone who knows how to lead to get things done. We wouldn’t have had the ACA survive Republican attacks without her ability to unify the House IMO. Schumer and Jeffries have become wet noodles in comparison and not fit for our current political environment, nice people as they are. We need fire not nice.
I am terrified where we are. The fascist dictatorship is real. He's now blowing up boats on the ocean in an act of aggression (war) and cosplaying apocalypse now to threaten Chicago. It's too much! He needs impeachment and removal.
Yes. His comment that "now Chicago will find out why it's called the Department of War" is a threat that requires not only legal action but "taking it to the streets action".
In Simon’s Intro he says this— “… (the) historic increases in funding (for) the part of our government ALREADY RESPONSIBLE for this - DHS - will be receiving in the coming years.”
It’s important to understand that DHS has not received a penny more of funding. Like the rest of the federal government, it is operating under a Continuing Resolution that “continues” the last Biden appropriations legislation. If the Democrats take the House in ‘26, little or none of the Trump/Republican “BigUgly” law will ever be implemented.
I say all this, because to continue to say things like “ICE has just gotten a zillion more dollars” is not only wrong, it leads to defeatism. I’ve said this before here — and I know I’m spitting in the ocean — the Budget Law is nothing more than a menu of proposed appropriations. It is not the meal; only actual separate appropriations acts are the meal. It wasn’t even until the 1970s that a formal budgeting process was statutorily established.
So, even if the Republican majorities in the House and Senate are able to get appropriations anywhere close to the “BigUgly’s” numbers for FY 2026 (a big stretch in the Senate), those numbers will be yesterday’s fish if the Democrats take the House in November 2026. The curtain on the Trump term will then start crashing down on their shoulders.
The American people need to know this. They need to know that they are not helpless; Because it’s only if they know this — that they can stop Trump and begin to rollback Trump’s attack on the country — that voter turnout will be big enough to take the House.
So let’s not put money in ICE’s pocket that it doesn’t yet have.
It looks like the the right-wing isolationist fetish is coming to the fore again. This was inevitable. It always comes out when, once again, they think they can turn us into a banana republic.
It never works. This country is too involved with the rest of the world. We have been involved in international trade since before the American Revolution. The right still deludes itself that they can change that.
Trump administration reverses course, says money for Philadelphia’s Woodmere Art Museum is on its way
The reversal came shortly after the museum filed a lawsuit demanding the full payment of a $750,000 IMLS grant. The hearing was scheduled for Sept. 12.
I am glad that Democrats are starting to talk like we are at war. The trump administration has declared war on American citizens. Now can Democratic leadership act like we are at war and assess the military for alignment to the constitution or to trump. Can they protect communication and power resources for those Americans fighting for democracy. Can they show the media and the rich supporters of trump (not just fox, but also the rest of them that could manage to come after Bernie and AOC and then let trump walk all over them) that their collaboration large and small will not play well in the post trmp world. Can they fight like they mean it?
Very compelling discussion with Rep. Goldman. I agree that in terms of electoral politics the pro-democracy movement must stay focused on our better approaches to addressing the affordability crisis. For instance, Mamdani is popular for a reason and I think that’s the reason, transferable far beyond NYC.
Rep. Goldman is wise to recommend a focus on pressuring Congressional Republicans, who are squarely responsible for allowing all this madness to happen, and who could choose to stop it even now.
Rep Goldman is a great role model for other Dems for clear communication about the most critical issues we face as a country; his leadership on filing a lawsuit against DHS regarding oversight of immigrant detention centers should be an example for all our House Reps who are similarly being illegally denied access by DHS. Thanks for the interview!
So we don't have to worry about China anymore, we are focusing on the "crime" on our home soil? I feel Trump's actions are setting us up for another 9/11 style attack or worse, and this administration is too busy policing its own citizens to notice. And yes, we have to get very, very loud now. I'm grateful for all the ways our MA reps have been speaking up, as well as Boston's Mayor Wu and Governor Healey.
OMG, thanks again Simon for this wonderful, informative, reasonable interview. Rep. Goldman makes everything SO clear about where we are headed and the profound mistakes this farce of an administration is making. What absolute FOOLS! The court jesters of this era!!
Daily report...Dems in Richardson, TX, just north of Dallas, are now having weekly protests--hooray! The larger-than-life sign today was, "Honk if you're not in the Epstein Files!" Great sign, and, of course, lots of honks!
Also, one of our very talented state reps, James Talarico, is reported to be announcing he's entering the Dem primary for senator! Not sure how that primary will turn out, but Talarico is a terrific and rising talent. We'll see:-)
Anyone concerned that he's creating a national police state? Anyone concerned that he might be planning to use the state police (ICE, National Guard, Marines...) to intimidate people at the polls?
I think every patriotic American and decent person anywhere is concerned.
We've got to stick together! Thank you.
I’m 73 years old, I’ve been voting for democrats since 1976. Zohran Mandani won the democratic primary in NY. Now the loser and sex offender Andrew Cuomo is going independent with assistance from Trump, and the party establishment sits by wringing their hands. This is an outrageous affront to NY democrats. It is time to open the doors to new ideas and stop cowing to how MAGA will portray it. Schumer, Jeffries, Hochul, NY congressional caucus, ENDORSE MAMDANI NOW, and prevent a NY mayor beholden to Trump!
I'm pretty certain that New Yorkers are capable of picking the candidate they want to support (and vote for). To my mind, there's no excuse for the Democratic powers-that-be to fail to endorse someone who has been chosen by the voters!
I thought this piece from NY magazine was interesting, though I know not everyone will agree with it:
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/democrats-should-stop-looking-to-d-c-for-party-leadership.html
I actually think there is too much focus on removing Jeffries and Schumer. Their jobs look sort of administrative to me.
I left comments with WaPo thanking them for covering the DC protest. Much of mainstream media is ignoring it. And I left a note with NYT asking them to cover DC protest, as well as Missouri Democrats’ sit-in in the state house protesting the gerrymander. Big protest in Jefferson City Wednesday. Hope media people show up.
Though their jobs look administrative, their voices are critical to inspiring their respective congressional bodies to action. House and Senate leadership have historically been very impactful; look at Pelosi for someone who knows how to lead to get things done. We wouldn’t have had the ACA survive Republican attacks without her ability to unify the House IMO. Schumer and Jeffries have become wet noodles in comparison and not fit for our current political environment, nice people as they are. We need fire not nice.
I am terrified where we are. The fascist dictatorship is real. He's now blowing up boats on the ocean in an act of aggression (war) and cosplaying apocalypse now to threaten Chicago. It's too much! He needs impeachment and removal.
Yes. His comment that "now Chicago will find out why it's called the Department of War" is a threat that requires not only legal action but "taking it to the streets action".
In Simon’s Intro he says this— “… (the) historic increases in funding (for) the part of our government ALREADY RESPONSIBLE for this - DHS - will be receiving in the coming years.”
It’s important to understand that DHS has not received a penny more of funding. Like the rest of the federal government, it is operating under a Continuing Resolution that “continues” the last Biden appropriations legislation. If the Democrats take the House in ‘26, little or none of the Trump/Republican “BigUgly” law will ever be implemented.
I say all this, because to continue to say things like “ICE has just gotten a zillion more dollars” is not only wrong, it leads to defeatism. I’ve said this before here — and I know I’m spitting in the ocean — the Budget Law is nothing more than a menu of proposed appropriations. It is not the meal; only actual separate appropriations acts are the meal. It wasn’t even until the 1970s that a formal budgeting process was statutorily established.
So, even if the Republican majorities in the House and Senate are able to get appropriations anywhere close to the “BigUgly’s” numbers for FY 2026 (a big stretch in the Senate), those numbers will be yesterday’s fish if the Democrats take the House in November 2026. The curtain on the Trump term will then start crashing down on their shoulders.
The American people need to know this. They need to know that they are not helpless; Because it’s only if they know this — that they can stop Trump and begin to rollback Trump’s attack on the country — that voter turnout will be big enough to take the House.
So let’s not put money in ICE’s pocket that it doesn’t yet have.
Appreciate the helpful clarification.
It looks like the the right-wing isolationist fetish is coming to the fore again. This was inevitable. It always comes out when, once again, they think they can turn us into a banana republic.
It never works. This country is too involved with the rest of the world. We have been involved in international trade since before the American Revolution. The right still deludes itself that they can change that.
Trump administration reverses course, says money for Philadelphia’s Woodmere Art Museum is on its way
The reversal came shortly after the museum filed a lawsuit demanding the full payment of a $750,000 IMLS grant. The hearing was scheduled for Sept. 12.
by Peter Dobrin
Published Sept. 6, 2025, 5:27 p.m. ET
https://share.inquirer.com/9ZbHUr
I am glad that Democrats are starting to talk like we are at war. The trump administration has declared war on American citizens. Now can Democratic leadership act like we are at war and assess the military for alignment to the constitution or to trump. Can they protect communication and power resources for those Americans fighting for democracy. Can they show the media and the rich supporters of trump (not just fox, but also the rest of them that could manage to come after Bernie and AOC and then let trump walk all over them) that their collaboration large and small will not play well in the post trmp world. Can they fight like they mean it?
Very compelling discussion with Rep. Goldman. I agree that in terms of electoral politics the pro-democracy movement must stay focused on our better approaches to addressing the affordability crisis. For instance, Mamdani is popular for a reason and I think that’s the reason, transferable far beyond NYC.
Rep. Goldman is wise to recommend a focus on pressuring Congressional Republicans, who are squarely responsible for allowing all this madness to happen, and who could choose to stop it even now.
Rep Goldman is a great role model for other Dems for clear communication about the most critical issues we face as a country; his leadership on filing a lawsuit against DHS regarding oversight of immigrant detention centers should be an example for all our House Reps who are similarly being illegally denied access by DHS. Thanks for the interview!
So we don't have to worry about China anymore, we are focusing on the "crime" on our home soil? I feel Trump's actions are setting us up for another 9/11 style attack or worse, and this administration is too busy policing its own citizens to notice. And yes, we have to get very, very loud now. I'm grateful for all the ways our MA reps have been speaking up, as well as Boston's Mayor Wu and Governor Healey.
When you back a rat into a corner …