I hope that when the Trump name gets torn off the Kennedy Center, the Dems have cameras rolling. That will make a great campaign add. Along with him sleeping. If I knew how, I'd start making memes of Rubio "not seeing" all kinds of things: the sun coming up in the East, the riots in Albania, the fireworks on the 4th of July . . . .
I called Congressman Raskin to say thank you for supporting the Ukraine aid package and I called Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen to ask them to please support it when it comes to the Senate. I'm writing postcards to Ohio voters.
First of all, thanks for all that you and your team are doing to protect our democracy! I am extremely grateful for your work!
If possible can you give some extra attention to the MO-005 race. Rep Cleaver is working so diligently to protect the district from the Republican theft that is taking place across America. He is an incredible human being and has dedicated his career to public service. He is not a good fundraiser and could use a boost! His team is great but this race will cost over 5 million dollars which in our market is expensive. The state rallied and obtained over 300,000 signatures on a ballot measure to maintain the original district and the MAGA Secretary of State won't certify or de-certify the petitions. They are pulling out all of the stops to steal this district.
I know you have many candidates to help. I just ask that you add Rep. Cleaver to your list or for some extra love.
Hi! With all of Trump's environmental destruction, I'm wondering why Dems haven't made an issue of Trump wanting to raise energy costs with his support of fossil fuels (yesterday, the announcement about investing in coal). Also, this is a "minor" issue, but Trump wants to gut some of our national parks, which so many Americans rely on for low-cost vacations.There's so much out there, with the tag line "Trump and the GOP don't care about you, and you can't trust them."
not just national parks, all public land. trust me, this is not minor, but a long running effort out of Utah and NV and ID to grab resources, ignore climate change, and damage fish/wildlife/and ecosystems.
I saw some polling on "the Wilsons" on Lincoln sq. which had Acton only up on Ramaswamy by 1 point. I thought Brown was solidly ahead of Husted. I was surprised. Maybe Acton needs more support. I know it's not very Hopium to worry without acting, but I was surprised by that poll (I guess it was just one poll).
In fact, one good outcome of that has been the sharp independent journalism and advocacy (like Hopium!) that has become available. Not saying the rape of the information system is good, but kudos to what is emerging, ranging from substack and socials resources to community reporting skills development connecting to NPR.
Just a quick note of thanks for the information and ongoing analysis. And congrats on new subscribers!
Thanks, too, for posting the Hopium "Reply Rules" in a prominent place. It was refreshing just reading them. It's a critical piece that sets Hopium apart from so many internet spaces. Respect, civility, facts, doing over just talking, celebrating wins while pushing through losses with focus and determination. Yeah.
I'm concerned that Trump's attack on mail in voting may actually be implemented by USPS!
On June 3, Rep Walkinshaw (VA-11) released the following statement after reports that the U.S. Postal Service is moving forward with a proposed rule to implement President Trump's executive order restricting mail-in voting.
"Donald Trump's policies have failed and he knows he's on track to lose the midterm elections, so now he's trying to rig the rules. From his war of choice in Iran driving up costs to his broken promise to release the Epstein files, Trump can't defend his record. Now he's trying to make the United States Postal Service part of his scheme to block Americans from voting as he desperately clings to power.
The Postal Service has no Constitutional or legal authority to interfere in election administration. No executive order changes that. And no president has the power to put federal officials between voters and their ballots."
I imagine the restrictions Trump plans to place on USPS are going to be challenged in court. But meanwhile, when I talk with people about the options they have for voting, now I will have to start saying that mail-in voting may not be an option for the midterms... I've been encouraging people in Virginia to sign up for the Permanent Absentee list so that they will get a ballot automatically mailed to them every election (great way to never miss an election -- or at least it's always been so...).
It is ripe for every State Attorney General, Governor and City to sue because the executive order is unconstitutional— only states hold the power to administer elections. Lawsuits in progress: AGs led by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, New Jersey, Virginia, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, California, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia Wisconsin, Nevada; and the District of Columbia, and the Governor of Pennsylvania.
Glad to see the Senate efforts. I would like to suggest that if you see something reported that references proposed rules, you will have two options to comment online, substantively ideally. The reason this admin is focusing on Federal Register rules is that they are much harder to overturn. You may have seen today an article about P/C appointments. (I was Schedule C once, which is straightforward, but that Rule was specifically put in place to force federal employees to do politics.)
In short, you can, for free, comment on federal rules as well as call, write or email your politicals. Comments are public and that's valuable in that they provide fodder for fighting the efforts to harm (in this case voting) and for discussion.
They don't want administrative rules to have teeth, but they don't mind using this process. We can stand up in just a few minutes by commenting at each option provided.
I am furious but sadly, not surprised, that after voting for the initial bill, ol' Rep. Chris Smith (Traitor-NJ04) is back to his spineless self and voted NO on final passage of Ukraine aid yesterday. This is the same person who just ten years ago was a strong supporter of Ukraine. GRGRGR.
I am loving the turn of events re Iowa and could not love Rob Sand more. Fantastic candidate! Please clarify on the Iowa fund, right now it just says Turek. I set up a recurring for the fund today!
Indivisible call last night on Delaney, Gov. Sherrill needs to get her sh*t together and get back down there. People are pissed.
On tap for the weekend:
Marching in NJ Pride parade with Moms Demand
Weekly call w Dr. Ben-Ghiat on Sunday.
Postcards and some rest for the weary bones tomorrow. Keep going!
The State of NJ is suing DHS, and per reports, Mayor Baraka is drawing down some local police from Newark. Sherrill sent state police earlier in the week thinking this would protect protestors, but they have been extremely aggressive and made the situation worse. I think just her showing up and trying to enter the facility again would send a strong signal that she did not intend to make things worse for protestors. It would be helpful if she would just remove state folks, too. She has not been communicating well with the public on this, which has been disappointing.
Self report - Indivisible Portola Valley is doing another “Whistle Kit” (a whistle and Know Your Rights cards) making event this afternoon. Now ICE is eyeing the southern part of the SF Bay Area, with a proposed detention facility (i.e. concentration camp, I am going with Tim Snyder and Heather Cox Richardson on calling them this) in Gilroy, where the local community has requested whistle kits. The passage of the ICE/CBP money with no strings attached is hard to take, I can only hope that we can unwind this egregious inhumane path somehow when we get control of the federal government again. I’m getting whiplash between crucial issues, going from defending science to stopping ICE to corruption etc. etc. etc. When people ask “What are you protesting?” I can only answer “All of it.”
I've been away from internet for the last 36 hours so I wanted to comment on something Simon said on his weekly talk which I listened to on tape.
For me, primary season ended on June 3, the day after our California election. After that milestone you go with the team you have and stay away from debating candidate viability or fissures between moderates, liberals and progressives. And mostly criticism of leadership too, unless they really make a major f*ckup. Now, let's go kick some a**!!!
I do want to revisit one moment from primary season. I dropped my ballot on Memorial Day, so Election Day wasn't a thing for me, except to watch the non-moving returns on MSNOW for a bit in the evening. But, earlier in the day last Tuesday, who should I bump into at a local restaurant happy hour, but Leon and Sylvia Panetta! On Election Day of all days!!!
The last time I saw them around town in person was over 20 years ago. I said hi and thank you, and Leon agreed with me that there's much to be hopeful about in the coming midterms, and the biggest worry is about seating the new Congress on January 3, 2027. I asked him if he had voted yet because the polls were closing in a couple hours and I got a hearty laugh out of that one. And then I said farewell. He looked great. I guess retirement is easier on life stressers than knocking off Osama bin Laden.
I'm calling his son Jimmy today, to thank him for his vote on passing the Ukrani bill and to keep seeking colleagues across the aisle who can help move the crazyman out and Vance in asap, because national security and grifting.
That's wonderful. True story, one of my assignments in Aptos High School in ages past was to write a letter to my Congressional Representative, and at that time it was Leon Panetta. I wrote passionately about saving whales (really, I did) and I got a nice response -- still recall the excitement of getting that envelope in the mail. Good man -- I remember being really proud when he became Chief of Staff for President Clinton.
Simon: what is it about DC that makes the corruption story misunderstood? Genuinely curious.
Read in WSJ, the perpetually concerned Susan Collins voted for the final ICE funding bill that contains no guardrails on the slush fund. As did Tillis and Cassidy. That should be a winning point in ME and NC (& TX, IA, OH).
I implore you all to look at your recently filed tax return to see just how much you pay in federal taxes and consider if you want your money used for a slush fund. I shared my POV with Booker, Kim and Mejia.
3 things: 1) party in power is corrupt, so blind to its use and impact in elections 2) pollsters will tell you voters believer everyone is corrupt so not effective 3) we are always told to focus on kitchen table issues.
So key now is to connect corruption to kitchen table issues as you are seeing our candidates do; recognize 2026 is different due to in your face corruption, plunder of Trump team; scale of self enrichment through stock trading on GOP far far greater than in the past.
The Trump legacy is not going to be “one big beautiful “ anything but rather “the most corrupt president, Congress, and SCOTUS in American history” with ample evidence. DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY, will once again mean something in America when the MAGA MOB is gone.
Calls are in to WI R members regarding Ukraine, ICE and corruption. I’ll be picking up postcards tomorrow to encourage low turnout out D voters in our area
Thanks, Simon, for the round-up of headlines!
I hope that when the Trump name gets torn off the Kennedy Center, the Dems have cameras rolling. That will make a great campaign add. Along with him sleeping. If I knew how, I'd start making memes of Rubio "not seeing" all kinds of things: the sun coming up in the East, the riots in Albania, the fireworks on the 4th of July . . . .
I called Congressman Raskin to say thank you for supporting the Ukraine aid package and I called Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen to ask them to please support it when it comes to the Senate. I'm writing postcards to Ohio voters.
you rock!
Simon,
First of all, thanks for all that you and your team are doing to protect our democracy! I am extremely grateful for your work!
If possible can you give some extra attention to the MO-005 race. Rep Cleaver is working so diligently to protect the district from the Republican theft that is taking place across America. He is an incredible human being and has dedicated his career to public service. He is not a good fundraiser and could use a boost! His team is great but this race will cost over 5 million dollars which in our market is expensive. The state rallied and obtained over 300,000 signatures on a ballot measure to maintain the original district and the MAGA Secretary of State won't certify or de-certify the petitions. They are pulling out all of the stops to steal this district.
I know you have many candidates to help. I just ask that you add Rep. Cleaver to your list or for some extra love.
Thank you Simon!
Best,
Lisa Pelofsky
Hi! With all of Trump's environmental destruction, I'm wondering why Dems haven't made an issue of Trump wanting to raise energy costs with his support of fossil fuels (yesterday, the announcement about investing in coal). Also, this is a "minor" issue, but Trump wants to gut some of our national parks, which so many Americans rely on for low-cost vacations.There's so much out there, with the tag line "Trump and the GOP don't care about you, and you can't trust them."
not just national parks, all public land. trust me, this is not minor, but a long running effort out of Utah and NV and ID to grab resources, ignore climate change, and damage fish/wildlife/and ecosystems.
Apropos Republicans, as the saying goes:
“Support democracy – buy a politician.”
I saw some polling on "the Wilsons" on Lincoln sq. which had Acton only up on Ramaswamy by 1 point. I thought Brown was solidly ahead of Husted. I was surprised. Maybe Acton needs more support. I know it's not very Hopium to worry without acting, but I was surprised by that poll (I guess it was just one poll).
Amazing how the media absolutely loves fawning over good job numbers for Trump, but wasn't too fussed when it was Biden.
In fact, with Biden they usually added a caveat of why things might get worse soon!!
The media double standard on nearly everything has been frustrating beyond belief.
Isn't that why we're here? To get away from corporate media.
In fact, one good outcome of that has been the sharp independent journalism and advocacy (like Hopium!) that has become available. Not saying the rape of the information system is good, but kudos to what is emerging, ranging from substack and socials resources to community reporting skills development connecting to NPR.
Just a quick note of thanks for the information and ongoing analysis. And congrats on new subscribers!
Thanks, too, for posting the Hopium "Reply Rules" in a prominent place. It was refreshing just reading them. It's a critical piece that sets Hopium apart from so many internet spaces. Respect, civility, facts, doing over just talking, celebrating wins while pushing through losses with focus and determination. Yeah.
I'm concerned that Trump's attack on mail in voting may actually be implemented by USPS!
On June 3, Rep Walkinshaw (VA-11) released the following statement after reports that the U.S. Postal Service is moving forward with a proposed rule to implement President Trump's executive order restricting mail-in voting.
"Donald Trump's policies have failed and he knows he's on track to lose the midterm elections, so now he's trying to rig the rules. From his war of choice in Iran driving up costs to his broken promise to release the Epstein files, Trump can't defend his record. Now he's trying to make the United States Postal Service part of his scheme to block Americans from voting as he desperately clings to power.
The Postal Service has no Constitutional or legal authority to interfere in election administration. No executive order changes that. And no president has the power to put federal officials between voters and their ballots."
I imagine the restrictions Trump plans to place on USPS are going to be challenged in court. But meanwhile, when I talk with people about the options they have for voting, now I will have to start saying that mail-in voting may not be an option for the midterms... I've been encouraging people in Virginia to sign up for the Permanent Absentee list so that they will get a ballot automatically mailed to them every election (great way to never miss an election -- or at least it's always been so...).
This battle is currently being fought in the U.S. Senate https://www.commerce.senate.gov/press/dem/release/cantwell-colleagues-tell-sec-lutnick-to-halt-implementation-of-trumps-illegal-eo-to-undermine-vote-by-mail/
and in the courts.
https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/federal-court-hears-challenge-to-trump-executive-order-restricting-mail-in-ballots
https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trump-order-targeting-mail-voting-leaves-judge-very-concerned/
It is ripe for every State Attorney General, Governor and City to sue because the executive order is unconstitutional— only states hold the power to administer elections. Lawsuits in progress: AGs led by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, New Jersey, Virginia, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, California, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia Wisconsin, Nevada; and the District of Columbia, and the Governor of Pennsylvania.
https://nmdoj.gov/press-release/attorney-general-raul-torrez-sues-trump-administration-over-unlawful-executive-order-attempting-to-exert-federal-control-over-elections/
Thanks, Deborah. That's great news!
Glad to see the Senate efforts. I would like to suggest that if you see something reported that references proposed rules, you will have two options to comment online, substantively ideally. The reason this admin is focusing on Federal Register rules is that they are much harder to overturn. You may have seen today an article about P/C appointments. (I was Schedule C once, which is straightforward, but that Rule was specifically put in place to force federal employees to do politics.)
In short, you can, for free, comment on federal rules as well as call, write or email your politicals. Comments are public and that's valuable in that they provide fodder for fighting the efforts to harm (in this case voting) and for discussion.
They don't want administrative rules to have teeth, but they don't mind using this process. We can stand up in just a few minutes by commenting at each option provided.
I am furious but sadly, not surprised, that after voting for the initial bill, ol' Rep. Chris Smith (Traitor-NJ04) is back to his spineless self and voted NO on final passage of Ukraine aid yesterday. This is the same person who just ten years ago was a strong supporter of Ukraine. GRGRGR.
I am loving the turn of events re Iowa and could not love Rob Sand more. Fantastic candidate! Please clarify on the Iowa fund, right now it just says Turek. I set up a recurring for the fund today!
Indivisible call last night on Delaney, Gov. Sherrill needs to get her sh*t together and get back down there. People are pissed.
On tap for the weekend:
Marching in NJ Pride parade with Moms Demand
Weekly call w Dr. Ben-Ghiat on Sunday.
Postcards and some rest for the weary bones tomorrow. Keep going!
Why isn't Sherill using her office to do more for Delaney?
The State of NJ is suing DHS, and per reports, Mayor Baraka is drawing down some local police from Newark. Sherrill sent state police earlier in the week thinking this would protect protestors, but they have been extremely aggressive and made the situation worse. I think just her showing up and trying to enter the facility again would send a strong signal that she did not intend to make things worse for protestors. It would be helpful if she would just remove state folks, too. She has not been communicating well with the public on this, which has been disappointing.
Just today, however, she has upped the budget for legal services for detainees and announced a new "Rapid Legal Response Initiative" to intervene in cases where New Jersey residents are detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials or facing deportation proceedings. https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/sherrill-offers-money-resources-delaney-162600629.html
Things have been somewhat quieter in the last day or two.
Good morning, Lisa:
I thought you might find the linked article interesting:
https://www.insidernj.com/sherrill-defends-herself-against-delaney-hall-critics/
Self report - Indivisible Portola Valley is doing another “Whistle Kit” (a whistle and Know Your Rights cards) making event this afternoon. Now ICE is eyeing the southern part of the SF Bay Area, with a proposed detention facility (i.e. concentration camp, I am going with Tim Snyder and Heather Cox Richardson on calling them this) in Gilroy, where the local community has requested whistle kits. The passage of the ICE/CBP money with no strings attached is hard to take, I can only hope that we can unwind this egregious inhumane path somehow when we get control of the federal government again. I’m getting whiplash between crucial issues, going from defending science to stopping ICE to corruption etc. etc. etc. When people ask “What are you protesting?” I can only answer “All of it.”
I've been away from internet for the last 36 hours so I wanted to comment on something Simon said on his weekly talk which I listened to on tape.
For me, primary season ended on June 3, the day after our California election. After that milestone you go with the team you have and stay away from debating candidate viability or fissures between moderates, liberals and progressives. And mostly criticism of leadership too, unless they really make a major f*ckup. Now, let's go kick some a**!!!
I do want to revisit one moment from primary season. I dropped my ballot on Memorial Day, so Election Day wasn't a thing for me, except to watch the non-moving returns on MSNOW for a bit in the evening. But, earlier in the day last Tuesday, who should I bump into at a local restaurant happy hour, but Leon and Sylvia Panetta! On Election Day of all days!!!
The last time I saw them around town in person was over 20 years ago. I said hi and thank you, and Leon agreed with me that there's much to be hopeful about in the coming midterms, and the biggest worry is about seating the new Congress on January 3, 2027. I asked him if he had voted yet because the polls were closing in a couple hours and I got a hearty laugh out of that one. And then I said farewell. He looked great. I guess retirement is easier on life stressers than knocking off Osama bin Laden.
I'm calling his son Jimmy today, to thank him for his vote on passing the Ukrani bill and to keep seeking colleagues across the aisle who can help move the crazyman out and Vance in asap, because national security and grifting.
That's wonderful. True story, one of my assignments in Aptos High School in ages past was to write a letter to my Congressional Representative, and at that time it was Leon Panetta. I wrote passionately about saving whales (really, I did) and I got a nice response -- still recall the excitement of getting that envelope in the mail. Good man -- I remember being really proud when he became Chief of Staff for President Clinton.
Simon: what is it about DC that makes the corruption story misunderstood? Genuinely curious.
Read in WSJ, the perpetually concerned Susan Collins voted for the final ICE funding bill that contains no guardrails on the slush fund. As did Tillis and Cassidy. That should be a winning point in ME and NC (& TX, IA, OH).
I implore you all to look at your recently filed tax return to see just how much you pay in federal taxes and consider if you want your money used for a slush fund. I shared my POV with Booker, Kim and Mejia.
3 things: 1) party in power is corrupt, so blind to its use and impact in elections 2) pollsters will tell you voters believer everyone is corrupt so not effective 3) we are always told to focus on kitchen table issues.
So key now is to connect corruption to kitchen table issues as you are seeing our candidates do; recognize 2026 is different due to in your face corruption, plunder of Trump team; scale of self enrichment through stock trading on GOP far far greater than in the past.
The Trump legacy is not going to be “one big beautiful “ anything but rather “the most corrupt president, Congress, and SCOTUS in American history” with ample evidence. DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY, will once again mean something in America when the MAGA MOB is gone.
We can’t believe anything that comes out of this regime, unfortunately. Including the job numbers.
I donated to Josh Turek. I wish him well.
Calls are in to WI R members regarding Ukraine, ICE and corruption. I’ll be picking up postcards tomorrow to encourage low turnout out D voters in our area