I am carving out an hour in today's busy work schedule to contact my Dem Reps and let them know I am insisting on accountability for all criminals now running our govt and more strongarming of whatever levers can be used.
I am very fearful about intrusions into NYC, where density is always an issue on top of everything else.
Chris Murphy said he will refuse to vote for any bill that doesn’t include restrictions on how ICE and CBP can operate as well. And he is on the Appropriations committee. I think all Democratic Senators should join the 2 Chrises.
The near silence of national Democrats in 2026 has been deafening. Venezuela, Minneapolis. Rep. Robin Kelly of Illinois has introduced a motion to impeach Kristi Noem over what she has done with ICE, and her blatant lies about it. To me, now that the Trump Administration has killed an American, it is mandatory that every Democrat in the House support this motion regardless of its likely failure, as a show of resistance. I turn a deaf ear to any Democrat who calls this a distraction.
Trump's former Defense Secretary knew something like this could happen.
Last spring:
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐄𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫:
“I have said that Trump’s a threat to democracy.
“I’m definitely not voting for Trump. I’m not there – yet (for Biden). But every day that Trump does something more crazy, the door to voting for Biden opens a little bit more.”
“He (Trump) wanted to deploy active-duty troops on the street of Washington, D.C., and 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭.
"That’s kind of more of what you’ll see…. 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞."
How do some people look at themselves in the mirror when they wake up in the morning, and how do they look at their children when they put them to bed at night?
I just don't know. I don't know how they can stomach themselves, let alone look in the mirror. Such cowards. Marco Rubio is the poster child for the republican party or maybe it should be Lindsay Graham or Lisa Murkowski or Susan Collins or ... the list goes on.
Sorry, I should not have written that, knowing that people in this forum have loved ones who are so "afflicted."
It comes from anger and sadness. And fear of what's to come in a crazy place like NYC, dense with people and cars and pets and diversification and hard-headed folks.
Honestly, I didn't take offense. I know you were speaking figuratively and I think most here knew it as well. I rarely speak with family members that are MAGA. I just cannot. It's a moral issue for me. I ended up telling one to go talk to other MAGAs that agree with her, to go have a MAGAthon with her fellow MAGAs. (This was in a text which she showed her family and I did not care).
I’m no longer willing to associate with family or former friends if they are Trumpers. Supporting a rapist and a felon and a malevolent creep makes them an outcast.
Remember that it's a cult. Watch the Netflix documentary about how to be a cult leader. Watch other documentaries like that. Remember that putin is the pupeteer and miller, musk, thiel, vought, orange, vance, etc. are simply the marionettes.
I called Sen. Tillis and thanked him for speaking out against Stephen Miller and for supporting NATO. I asked him to condemn ICE's execution of a US citizen. I unleashed on Budd for not supporting NATO and for not speaking out against ICE.
That photo you have posted of Renee — it absolutely slays me. I was crying yesterday and I am crying again and I just left voice mails for my stupid PA senators — because no one is answering over there. And I screamed and I cursed and I said STOP THE FREAKING MADNESS, and thank God for you, because now I am going to go take a walk and listen to your tape from last night, which I look forward to every Thursday morning. (I can never attend live, given the schedule here.)
Lawrence O'Donnell of MS NOW did an excellent job exposing the lies of Kristi Noem and Donald Trump. Show this to anyone who believes the lies FOX is feeding them
Along with following Simon, I follow historian/theologian Diana Butler Bass who is on Substack and Bluesky. Today she wrote Doomed to Repeat It? She states "I couldn't sleep last night", then she related a brief accurate portrayal of the action against this beautiful, young widow, mother and poet, and then she reminded us that we, who are old enough, have lived through this before. Kent State and Jackson State where protesting students were killed by police and National Guard back in 1970. It didn't stop protestors, it increased their numbers. So we must remember. The protestors won. But remembering isn't enough and she quotes George Santayana and Amanda Gorman. We have to do, "We must respect the past, remembering that it was once all that was humanly possible" and as Amanda says "We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation, because we know our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation." So, I believe, if we all keep doing and growing the movement- We Will Overcome!
Virginia, thank you. I do believe with you that the death of this beautiful young woman will deepen and broaden our rallying cry. But at such a price. Such a terrible, terrible price. And of course she is a poet, a writer, as am I. She wanted to do something good with her life and words. I just — I am so furious. They keep beating upon our heads.
To add to my fury, the federal government will not allow the state to investigate. It will be the FBI- probably hand-picked. But we all know what we saw and the woman who took the video told what she saw in heartbreaking terms. This was just posted on NBC.
I prefer Caligula, but clearly we are the Romans in the Gospels, the chronically violent Romans. No Prince of Peace for the GOP, they prefer a risen Christ of the AR15. Tragic for our country and the world.
My Dem rep and Senators called - focus on reeling in ICE by Congress. I also contributed to the House campaign. Thank you Simon for your heartfelt talk and answering questions last night. The only way to tackle this challenge is to keep on fighting - nonviolently of course!
It’s hard not to be really depressed today. But I think that—dangerous as these people are—they’re incompetent and overplaying their hand. Minneapolis and Minnesota have great leaders—ironically, many of the same people experienced from the George Floyd tragedy. Maybe a relatively simple thing to do is ask Democrats in Congress to come out as strong as many Democratic governors and state leaders.
Thank you for you commentary and analysis. I appreciate your leaving out the sensationalized hypberole in your videos. We are all activated enough and just need the information. Thank you.
A blessing on your head for your assessment and recommendations. It's because of people like you that I am able to keep on keeping on in the resistance. Here's one of your apt phrases that needs to be printed on a hundred million t-shirts and placards: "The entire reason this country was founded was to prevent a people from having to live under the rule of a narcissistic lunatic leader who decrees whatever he wants."
Thanks Simon, last night was much needed on my end. I couldn’t agree more that the Dems need to make the threat to our constitutional Republic central to their messaging. Especially now. I will focus on that in my calls today to my members of Congress.
Called Senators Cortez Masto & Rosen to tell them to vote for the War Powers Resolution to restrain Donald the Terrible's aggression for Venezuelan oil. CCM's staffer said she's in support, which is great since Catherine is not always reliable.
Shawn Harris GA 14's election is in 60 days. This was MTG's seat until Monday. I've contacted the campaign for my friends and I to canvass the northern border of her district in the Chattanooga blob. Also, contacted Postcards to Voters to send out.
I have many friends and they are very motivated to vote. It says it is R 19, but we just saw in TN-7, lots of enthusiasm by Dems and indies and meh from the Republicans.
My heart aches for the Good family and friends. In honor of her memory, I will do all I can to elect Dems and get rid of the Trump crime family.
Self report: Listening to last night's ZOOM recording because we were at our Albany NY Visibility Brigade RushHour Overpass - Positive honks and waves exponentially increased! 3rd one this week. 2 more today since the murder of Renee Good - Noon at the James Foley Federal Courthouse organized by NYS Senator Pat Fahy and NYS Assemblymember Gabriella Romero. 6pm another at the Empire State Plaza in Albany NY. We're exhasuted but STILL out there in the cold
Thanks so much for ALL this action! Will try to follow your role model and up my game. Such an inspiring community of proud, plucky patriots who DO things to save our democracy.
Simon, thank you for last night's honest discussion. (BTW, there was something wrong with your mic; you kept fading in and out.)
Senator Van Hollen has announced he won't vote any more funding for ICE, which I think is a good idea.
I called my representatives and am continuing my postcards to NC.
I am carving out an hour in today's busy work schedule to contact my Dem Reps and let them know I am insisting on accountability for all criminals now running our govt and more strongarming of whatever levers can be used.
I am very fearful about intrusions into NYC, where density is always an issue on top of everything else.
Chris Murphy said he will refuse to vote for any bill that doesn’t include restrictions on how ICE and CBP can operate as well. And he is on the Appropriations committee. I think all Democratic Senators should join the 2 Chrises.
why is a Democratic Senator from Maryland voting FOR funding for ICE?
Follow the money.
The near silence of national Democrats in 2026 has been deafening. Venezuela, Minneapolis. Rep. Robin Kelly of Illinois has introduced a motion to impeach Kristi Noem over what she has done with ICE, and her blatant lies about it. To me, now that the Trump Administration has killed an American, it is mandatory that every Democrat in the House support this motion regardless of its likely failure, as a show of resistance. I turn a deaf ear to any Democrat who calls this a distraction.
I believe she is the 13th or 14th murdered by ICE. But this was the one caught on film and with a great number of people who witnessed it.
Trump's former Defense Secretary knew something like this could happen.
Last spring:
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐄𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫:
“I have said that Trump’s a threat to democracy.
“I’m definitely not voting for Trump. I’m not there – yet (for Biden). But every day that Trump does something more crazy, the door to voting for Biden opens a little bit more.”
“He (Trump) wanted to deploy active-duty troops on the street of Washington, D.C., and 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭.
"That’s kind of more of what you’ll see…. 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞."
He "wasn't there yet to vote for Biden", pretty much sums up the the republican party.
How do some people look at themselves in the mirror when they wake up in the morning, and how do they look at their children when they put them to bed at night?
I just don't know. I don't know how they can stomach themselves, let alone look in the mirror. Such cowards. Marco Rubio is the poster child for the republican party or maybe it should be Lindsay Graham or Lisa Murkowski or Susan Collins or ... the list goes on.
Trumpers are like the followers of “the Rev” Jim Jones. They are too far gone. You ask the right questions. But they won’t connect with Trumpers.
They will drink the poison… way too far gone.
Then let them, please. Drink the poison. Be done with it.
I have family members who are MAGA. They justify everything Trump does or says. They are bigots, racist and self loathing - and not white. Go figure.
Sorry, I should not have written that, knowing that people in this forum have loved ones who are so "afflicted."
It comes from anger and sadness. And fear of what's to come in a crazy place like NYC, dense with people and cars and pets and diversification and hard-headed folks.
Honestly, I didn't take offense. I know you were speaking figuratively and I think most here knew it as well. I rarely speak with family members that are MAGA. I just cannot. It's a moral issue for me. I ended up telling one to go talk to other MAGAs that agree with her, to go have a MAGAthon with her fellow MAGAs. (This was in a text which she showed her family and I did not care).
We understand.
I’m no longer willing to associate with family or former friends if they are Trumpers. Supporting a rapist and a felon and a malevolent creep makes them an outcast.
I often hear family before politics. I say, it's not politics for me. It's a moral issue.
Remember that it's a cult. Watch the Netflix documentary about how to be a cult leader. Watch other documentaries like that. Remember that putin is the pupeteer and miller, musk, thiel, vought, orange, vance, etc. are simply the marionettes.
I called Sen. Tillis and thanked him for speaking out against Stephen Miller and for supporting NATO. I asked him to condemn ICE's execution of a US citizen. I unleashed on Budd for not supporting NATO and for not speaking out against ICE.
That photo you have posted of Renee — it absolutely slays me. I was crying yesterday and I am crying again and I just left voice mails for my stupid PA senators — because no one is answering over there. And I screamed and I cursed and I said STOP THE FREAKING MADNESS, and thank God for you, because now I am going to go take a walk and listen to your tape from last night, which I look forward to every Thursday morning. (I can never attend live, given the schedule here.)
Lawrence O'Donnell of MS NOW did an excellent job exposing the lies of Kristi Noem and Donald Trump. Show this to anyone who believes the lies FOX is feeding them
https://www.ms.now/the-last-word/watch/lawrence-video-of-deadly-minneapolis-ice-shooting-exposes-trump-noem-s-lies-2480184387688
Thank you, Nana. He does such good work. And Chris Hayes lacerated the idiots. As he is so good at doing, too.
Yes, I watch Lawrence O'Donnell every night. I wish he was on seven nights a week.
Or even 5 nights.
Along with following Simon, I follow historian/theologian Diana Butler Bass who is on Substack and Bluesky. Today she wrote Doomed to Repeat It? She states "I couldn't sleep last night", then she related a brief accurate portrayal of the action against this beautiful, young widow, mother and poet, and then she reminded us that we, who are old enough, have lived through this before. Kent State and Jackson State where protesting students were killed by police and National Guard back in 1970. It didn't stop protestors, it increased their numbers. So we must remember. The protestors won. But remembering isn't enough and she quotes George Santayana and Amanda Gorman. We have to do, "We must respect the past, remembering that it was once all that was humanly possible" and as Amanda says "We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation, because we know our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation." So, I believe, if we all keep doing and growing the movement- We Will Overcome!
Virginia, thank you. I do believe with you that the death of this beautiful young woman will deepen and broaden our rallying cry. But at such a price. Such a terrible, terrible price. And of course she is a poet, a writer, as am I. She wanted to do something good with her life and words. I just — I am so furious. They keep beating upon our heads.
To add to my fury, the federal government will not allow the state to investigate. It will be the FBI- probably hand-picked. But we all know what we saw and the woman who took the video told what she saw in heartbreaking terms. This was just posted on NBC.
HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE!!!!!!!???????
Gov. Walz has just said that he can't see a fair outcome over this. It's on NBCnews.com
I follow her as well. It was a beautiful and courageous post today.
And all thru Advent she called him Herod!
I prefer Caligula, but clearly we are the Romans in the Gospels, the chronically violent Romans. No Prince of Peace for the GOP, they prefer a risen Christ of the AR15. Tragic for our country and the world.
My Dem rep and Senators called - focus on reeling in ICE by Congress. I also contributed to the House campaign. Thank you Simon for your heartfelt talk and answering questions last night. The only way to tackle this challenge is to keep on fighting - nonviolently of course!
It’s hard not to be really depressed today. But I think that—dangerous as these people are—they’re incompetent and overplaying their hand. Minneapolis and Minnesota have great leaders—ironically, many of the same people experienced from the George Floyd tragedy. Maybe a relatively simple thing to do is ask Democrats in Congress to come out as strong as many Democratic governors and state leaders.
Our mayor was not remotely prepared for George Floyd. He's fully prepared now.
Thank you for you commentary and analysis. I appreciate your leaving out the sensationalized hypberole in your videos. We are all activated enough and just need the information. Thank you.
A blessing on your head for your assessment and recommendations. It's because of people like you that I am able to keep on keeping on in the resistance. Here's one of your apt phrases that needs to be printed on a hundred million t-shirts and placards: "The entire reason this country was founded was to prevent a people from having to live under the rule of a narcissistic lunatic leader who decrees whatever he wants."
I just called my DC Congresswoman.
Thank you so much Simon.
Renee Nicole Good-May her memory be a blessing.
Thanks Simon, last night was much needed on my end. I couldn’t agree more that the Dems need to make the threat to our constitutional Republic central to their messaging. Especially now. I will focus on that in my calls today to my members of Congress.
Thank you for giving a respectful silence for the innocent woman who was killed.
Thank you for recognizing how evil he is.
Thank you for Legitimizing my despair.
Your calm voice. Your list of positive to dos saves me on my dark days.
Called Senators Cortez Masto & Rosen to tell them to vote for the War Powers Resolution to restrain Donald the Terrible's aggression for Venezuelan oil. CCM's staffer said she's in support, which is great since Catherine is not always reliable.
LFG everyone!
Shawn Harris GA 14's election is in 60 days. This was MTG's seat until Monday. I've contacted the campaign for my friends and I to canvass the northern border of her district in the Chattanooga blob. Also, contacted Postcards to Voters to send out.
I have many friends and they are very motivated to vote. It says it is R 19, but we just saw in TN-7, lots of enthusiasm by Dems and indies and meh from the Republicans.
My heart aches for the Good family and friends. In honor of her memory, I will do all I can to elect Dems and get rid of the Trump crime family.
Before I head out to register voters at a local campus, I am sharing two files:
First is a LTE I sent to the DALLAS MORNING NEWS yesterday. Feel free to use/copy/whatever. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YdYwn6pZ2vxIr4BRQD7HdV4X2MPBu3nrEWdy6g3IZW0/edit?usp=sharing
Second is a new postcard I'm leaving every place I got that seems to invite a postcard being left. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dwOahfHo7jGFH2XOQGg7tGlPDFRtNZ3Q/view?usp=sharing
Thank you for calling out the terrible headline and writing a LTE.
Well done on the LTE. Short and sweet!
Self report: Listening to last night's ZOOM recording because we were at our Albany NY Visibility Brigade RushHour Overpass - Positive honks and waves exponentially increased! 3rd one this week. 2 more today since the murder of Renee Good - Noon at the James Foley Federal Courthouse organized by NYS Senator Pat Fahy and NYS Assemblymember Gabriella Romero. 6pm another at the Empire State Plaza in Albany NY. We're exhasuted but STILL out there in the cold
Thanks so much for ALL this action! Will try to follow your role model and up my game. Such an inspiring community of proud, plucky patriots who DO things to save our democracy.