To be clear I do not think this is a good idea. Calling Senators or Reps who are not your own is a waste of time, as we've discussed here many times. I lay out my recommendations for what people can do today and this is not among them. If you want to help on the anti-science front sign on to the Bethesda Declaration, encourage others to do so and come watch Colette at 5pm ET today.
Tour Coach Company is providing bus services to ICE. Here’s their Contact me form. Tell them how you feel. Also never use their services for bussing people to your demonstrations
I have learned that your company is contracting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and providing services to enable their inhumane raids and actions. I am writing to express my profound disappointment.
Have you no decency?
By providing transportation for ICE operations, you are directly complicit in a system that tears families apart, literally pulling children from mothers’ arms; detains vulnerable individuals in inhumane conditions; and deports people—many of whom are fleeing violence—back into danger. Including to gulags and prisons in other countries. This is not a neutral business decision. It is a moral failing.
You are facilitating the destruction of lives. Your willingness to profit from human suffering is shameful. No claims of being “just the driver” can absolve you of responsibility.
I will not be using your services now or in the future, and am encouraging my network and the organizations I work with to do the same. People should know which companies are choosing to assist a government that has become lawless.
History will remember where you stood. I urge you to reconsider your involvement with ICE.
Thanks for providing links for taking action... Great letter too. I went to the site and wrote them about boycotting and spreading to my network as well.
Yes, they are. I called Marriott the other day to ask if ICE would be staying at my hotel at the end of the month (I have a reservation in LA) and that I'd need to cancel, as even if ICE wasn't at my hotel, I could not support a company that supports fascism. The agent I talked to was very sympathetic to me.
Also can comment on their social media -- someone posted this on Instagram :Boycott Companies that house ICE -- "It is my understanding that Marriott is allowing ICE agents to stay in their hotels in Los Angeles. I'm extremely distressed about ICE's presence in our communities, and now ICE is terrorizing LA and brutalizing that community. They are ripping families apart. Is Marriott OK with harboring these thugs, who wear masks, show no ID or warrants, and were beating peaceful protestors with batons? If so I will look for accommodations elsewhere in the future. Please ask Marriott’s corporate management to stop harboring ICE agents. Thanks."
Yesterday, the Federal Gov't finally certified that we had a very destructive huge tornado a month ago here in St. Louis. We have had to beg and scream for disaster relief while the Marines are sent, unwanted and unneeded, in LA.
Thank you, Simon. Yesterday, I was at my grandson's high school graduation. This class spent almost half of their middle school years stuck at home, Zooming in for lessons. (And we wonder why they're "so online" all the time. On line is where they made their friendships and learned to socialize). Even so, my grandson and his friends headed to high school, embraced sports, earned good grades, and did hundreds of hours of volunteer work. And yesterday, they graduated against the background of the madman sending troops against Americans. I wish we'd done better by them. They're good kids and they deserve a better future.
I called my Maryland representatives and urged them to do everything they can to defeat Trump's budget bill and to get rid of RFK. I'm writing postcards to North Carolina voters today.
I'm excited to hear about David Jolly's campaign from you this week.
It is morning in Ruby Red inland Northern California and I have been scurrying between chat rooms and email to strengthen the link among our variously electronically abled county DCC membership to organize the Democratic Presence at our No Kings Day event. Looks like we’ll be able to have an info table, sell bumper stickers, and host a “hydration station” set up to solicit voluntary contributions.
I spent most of last evening posting reliable sources of info about the so-called “riots” in SoCal to obviate the claim that “federal buildings need protection.”
I am so proud of Schiff and Padilla that I will craft a thank you message later this afternoon. I’m going to snail mail a thank you to Ray Bonta and another to Newsom.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia returns to the U.S. to face charges.
The return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. On Friday, the United States returned Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador to face charges in Tennessee for alleged trafficking of unauthorized migrants and conspiracy.
IDK who is representing him, but guessing there will be numerous lawyers who will volunteer to do so. These appear to be bogus charges cooked up by the regime in order to save face after being ordered by the courts to return him. Let's hope the charges are dropped by either the judge/grand jury before it gets to trial.
QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART & SULLIVAN, LLP Stephen E. Frank
QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART & SULLIVAN, LLP Andrew J. Rossman, Sascha N. Rand, K. McKenzie Anderson, Samuel P. Nitze, Courtney C. Whang, Roey Goldstein, Sam Heavenrich, Victoria Martin, Morgan L. Anastasio
The recent lawsuit filed by his attorneys is published here, including their contact information.
This is just to say that I sometimes find myself paralyzed by the news and think: Simon is going to break this paralysis. He's going to share some poll that will make me feel better or remind me that I live, steadfastly, among the vast moral majority or share an interview that both informs and uplifts. You've done that again today, Simon. I am calling my senators almost every day. I am planning to go to No Kings in Philly and rallying friends who looked like they might want to stay home, following LA. I don't self report as much as I once did. But I'm still doing the work out here. Also realized that yesterday was my first anniversary with you. Was happy to resubscribe.
So inspired to hear you’re hanging in there Beth with all of us; it’s an endless challenge and would be easy to cover our heads with a blanket and just stay home out of all the mess trump is causing. I work at it everyday too with family and friends to fight back and not be overwhelmed.
You are ... infinitely kind. The late-night panic attacks are taking their toll. I'm doing art, teaching, writing, trying to stay whole. But oh boy. Don't know where I'd be without all of you. You all inspire me.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
It’s how I see our Hopium community in the midst of this chaos. ( I know, 150k is not really small but when you need millions…!🤣)
It helps me too to know there are large and small groups of plucky and patriotic activists ( millions of us like you ) all over the USA, industriously and determinedly working to save our Democracy. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
As I wrote the other day, I started to have heart palpitations.
Early this a.m., before I started my work day and after having browsed through some overnight Hopium chat postings, I fired off a 2-sentence communique to my reps: about how focus should be on the Massive Murder Bill and we shouldn't let the circus of chaos distract us.
It was a little thing and for the morning at least, I felt a little better.
I just signed on to the Bethesda Declaration. I'm a licensed allied health care practitioner and vaccines are an important part of disease prevention. Most health care entities that serve the public mandate the flu vaccine for employees. The firing of the advisory panel for vaccines will be detrimental to public health. It is appalling and dangerous.
Although hypocrisy is standard procedure for the tRump regime, I wondered if RFK’s “principled” (ha!) stand against vaccine experts was upheld with respect to other industries, like for instance, the fossil fuel industry. Surely a government that refuses to accept vaccine recommendations from those tainted by association with vaccine development would likewise eschew recommendations about oil industry policy from those in the oil and gas industry, right?
An internet search gave this answer: “oil company employees do interact with and advise the federal government on matters related to fracking, drilling, and permitting processes.
Some ways this occurs:
Providing information during rule-making: When agencies like the EPA develop technical guidance related to fracking, they consider information from industry professional organizations, potentially representing oil companies' best practices.
Lobbying: Oil companies and industry associations actively lobby the federal government on regulations related to oil and gas extraction and permitting. This can include advocating for weaker regulations or promoting policies that benefit the industry.
The ‘Revolving Door’: There is a phenomenon of individuals moving between positions in the oil and gas industry and roles within government agencies that regulate the industry. This ‘revolving door, allows oil company employees to potentially use their knowledge and contacts to influence policy and regulation from within government.”
I guess there is no point in demanding that Secretary Burgum follow RFK’s lead and kick out all the Interior Department’s advisors if they worked in the fossil fuel industry or are pro drilling…
One thing I think suggests a dangerous trend is local sheriffs and other law enforcement deputizing their officers to work alongside ICE. I'm not sure of the legality or the mechanism. But when not only federal but local and state forces work with the regime on this fascist agenda it represents a dangerous trend. The worst thing that I've heard experts on authoritarianism cite is when law enforcement begins to side with or work with paramilitary forces or militias.
I sent off some postcards this morning. I will get some additional cards from FT6. I called Senators yesterday about the military deployments and immigration actions. Today I think I will call about the reconciliation bill.
Some of us who are on high alert for racism – for survival purposes we have to – knew ages ago that TACO was deranged and that his kind of racism was an existential menace that was not being recognized – and that's because of the racism rooted in this country. TACO keeps showing his hand yet here we are on the verge of apocalyptic happenings that have to be dealt with.
Repeating my comment from yesterday, in case anyone needs it: this is the Know Your Rights training by ACLU that Indivisible is recommending for anyone protesting at No Kings this Saturday (be there!) or anywhere else. It is online TONIGHT at 7 pm eastern:
Thank you for sharing yesterday. I spent some time this morning sending individualized messages with this link to those friends/family who I think will attend.
I'm with Simon: I intend, in whatever way I can, though peacefully, to contribute to making next Saturday the most disappointing, empty birthday that husk of human has ever lived through.
Brian Tyler Cohen interviews the leaders of Indivisible about NO KINGS DAY. If you had doubts or questions this is a great interview. Spread the word and this is a great link for it.
I note that No Kings Day rallies will be global. I don't have a comprehensive list, but chapters of Democrats Abroad are advertising No Kings Day rallies in European cities.
Self report: called my Wisconsin reps (2 senators and Wi 03 representative) as well as Senator Schiff in CA to demand the release of the boy Martir Garcia Lara and to demand that Trump pull the National Guard and marines out of LA. For the latter part I used a script from Jess Craven’s Substack. I am also going to look at donating to this gofundme for a Black family in Florida whose young daughters were assaulted by a racist white woman: https://www.gofundme.com/f/protect-aprils-children-from-racial-violence
My Tues. congresspersons call script that anyone can riff off of:
- Jasmine Crockett for House Oversight! Our constitutional crisis calls for a new generation of leadership that understands our new reality.
- That new reality is careening toward attempted military dictatorship. It’s silly to call that hyperbole when the Marines have now been deployed to LA.
- The Trump regime is likely to use the Insurrection Act to attempt to prevent or undermine the ‘26 midterms. Just like Chris Murphy has been warning.
- All the CECOT detainees must come home. Judge Boasberg said the regime has to facilitate their habeas process. That’s impossible to do if they’re held incommunicado and don’t even know they have a habeas case.
- If the CECOT detainees don’t come home, it sets the precedent that Trump’s gestapo and politicized military can kidnap ANY AMERICAN CITIZEN, pay a foreign dictator to incarcerate that citizen, and then tell the courts nothing can be done. The pieces are now in place to effectively end Americans having rights.
Good time to call Senator Bill Cassidy's office and see whether he regrets voting for RFK Jr. Same thing with Susan Collins.
My next blog post is going to briefly reference that insane decision by RFK Jr. which will cost lives.
To be clear I do not think this is a good idea. Calling Senators or Reps who are not your own is a waste of time, as we've discussed here many times. I lay out my recommendations for what people can do today and this is not among them. If you want to help on the anti-science front sign on to the Bethesda Declaration, encourage others to do so and come watch Colette at 5pm ET today.
Shared the declaration on my socials yesterday. :)
She was great, Simon! Have her on again. I made notes/marks to follow her.
Agree, she was fantastic! please have her on again.
Tour Coach Company is providing bus services to ICE. Here’s their Contact me form. Tell them how you feel. Also never use their services for bussing people to your demonstrations
https://www.tourcoach.com/contact/
This is what I wrote.
I have learned that your company is contracting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and providing services to enable their inhumane raids and actions. I am writing to express my profound disappointment.
Have you no decency?
By providing transportation for ICE operations, you are directly complicit in a system that tears families apart, literally pulling children from mothers’ arms; detains vulnerable individuals in inhumane conditions; and deports people—many of whom are fleeing violence—back into danger. Including to gulags and prisons in other countries. This is not a neutral business decision. It is a moral failing.
You are facilitating the destruction of lives. Your willingness to profit from human suffering is shameful. No claims of being “just the driver” can absolve you of responsibility.
I will not be using your services now or in the future, and am encouraging my network and the organizations I work with to do the same. People should know which companies are choosing to assist a government that has become lawless.
History will remember where you stood. I urge you to reconsider your involvement with ICE.
Thanks for providing links for taking action... Great letter too. I went to the site and wrote them about boycotting and spreading to my network as well.
Does anyone know if the rumors about Marriott giving them housing are true?
Yes, they are. I called Marriott the other day to ask if ICE would be staying at my hotel at the end of the month (I have a reservation in LA) and that I'd need to cancel, as even if ICE wasn't at my hotel, I could not support a company that supports fascism. The agent I talked to was very sympathetic to me.
Also can comment on their social media -- someone posted this on Instagram :Boycott Companies that house ICE -- "It is my understanding that Marriott is allowing ICE agents to stay in their hotels in Los Angeles. I'm extremely distressed about ICE's presence in our communities, and now ICE is terrorizing LA and brutalizing that community. They are ripping families apart. Is Marriott OK with harboring these thugs, who wear masks, show no ID or warrants, and were beating peaceful protestors with batons? If so I will look for accommodations elsewhere in the future. Please ask Marriott’s corporate management to stop harboring ICE agents. Thanks."
Me too.
Thank you Bobbie. I contacted TourCoach to express my disgust at their complicity with the inhumane ICE policies. Thank you for your research
Yesterday, the Federal Gov't finally certified that we had a very destructive huge tornado a month ago here in St. Louis. We have had to beg and scream for disaster relief while the Marines are sent, unwanted and unneeded, in LA.
And have nowhere to sleep, eat, etc. UGH. I am so sorry. Been there. See: Superstorm Sandy, federal funding.
Thank you, Simon. Yesterday, I was at my grandson's high school graduation. This class spent almost half of their middle school years stuck at home, Zooming in for lessons. (And we wonder why they're "so online" all the time. On line is where they made their friendships and learned to socialize). Even so, my grandson and his friends headed to high school, embraced sports, earned good grades, and did hundreds of hours of volunteer work. And yesterday, they graduated against the background of the madman sending troops against Americans. I wish we'd done better by them. They're good kids and they deserve a better future.
I called my Maryland representatives and urged them to do everything they can to defeat Trump's budget bill and to get rid of RFK. I'm writing postcards to North Carolina voters today.
I'm excited to hear about David Jolly's campaign from you this week.
Good morning Proud Plucky Patriots!
It is morning in Ruby Red inland Northern California and I have been scurrying between chat rooms and email to strengthen the link among our variously electronically abled county DCC membership to organize the Democratic Presence at our No Kings Day event. Looks like we’ll be able to have an info table, sell bumper stickers, and host a “hydration station” set up to solicit voluntary contributions.
I spent most of last evening posting reliable sources of info about the so-called “riots” in SoCal to obviate the claim that “federal buildings need protection.”
I am so proud of Schiff and Padilla that I will craft a thank you message later this afternoon. I’m going to snail mail a thank you to Ray Bonta and another to Newsom.
Great work Emily!!
🙌🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸
HEADS UP in TENNESSEE
Kilmar Abrego Garcia returns to the U.S. to face charges.
The return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. On Friday, the United States returned Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador to face charges in Tennessee for alleged trafficking of unauthorized migrants and conspiracy.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kilmar-abrego-garcia-was-mistakenly-deported-el-salvador-will-face-fed-rcna211514
I am interested in knowing what representation he has and whether supporters will be allowed where he is being held. Thank you from East Tennessee.
IDK who is representing him, but guessing there will be numerous lawyers who will volunteer to do so. These appear to be bogus charges cooked up by the regime in order to save face after being ordered by the courts to return him. Let's hope the charges are dropped by either the judge/grand jury before it gets to trial.
He's being represented by the Law Office of Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/mistakenly-deported-kilmar-abrego-garcia-back-us-face/story
sorry about link! here is the correct one: https://abcnews.go.com/US/mistakenly-deported-kilmar-abrego-garcia-back-us-face/story?id=121333122
Thank you~!
MURRAY OSORIO PLLC Simon Y. Sandoval-Moshenberg
QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART & SULLIVAN, LLP Stephen E. Frank
QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART & SULLIVAN, LLP Andrew J. Rossman, Sascha N. Rand, K. McKenzie Anderson, Samuel P. Nitze, Courtney C. Whang, Roey Goldstein, Sam Heavenrich, Victoria Martin, Morgan L. Anastasio
The recent lawsuit filed by his attorneys is published here, including their contact information.
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815.186.0_1.pdf
Chris Newman, National Day Laborer Organizing Network, in one of the family's attorneys who spoke on Democracy Now today. https://www.democracynow.org/2025/6/10/kilmar_abrego_garcia_update
More info today from his attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg is reported here. https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/06/10/kilmar-abrego-garcia-human-smuggling-court-filing/
Thank you~!
This is just to say that I sometimes find myself paralyzed by the news and think: Simon is going to break this paralysis. He's going to share some poll that will make me feel better or remind me that I live, steadfastly, among the vast moral majority or share an interview that both informs and uplifts. You've done that again today, Simon. I am calling my senators almost every day. I am planning to go to No Kings in Philly and rallying friends who looked like they might want to stay home, following LA. I don't self report as much as I once did. But I'm still doing the work out here. Also realized that yesterday was my first anniversary with you. Was happy to resubscribe.
So inspired to hear you’re hanging in there Beth with all of us; it’s an endless challenge and would be easy to cover our heads with a blanket and just stay home out of all the mess trump is causing. I work at it everyday too with family and friends to fight back and not be overwhelmed.
Thank you 🙏🏻🇺🇸
You are ... infinitely kind. The late-night panic attacks are taking their toll. I'm doing art, teaching, writing, trying to stay whole. But oh boy. Don't know where I'd be without all of you. You all inspire me.
Mead’s quote helps me to stay focused:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
It’s how I see our Hopium community in the midst of this chaos. ( I know, 150k is not really small but when you need millions…!🤣)
It helps me too to know there are large and small groups of plucky and patriotic activists ( millions of us like you ) all over the USA, industriously and determinedly working to save our Democracy. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I always smile when Simon begins with the plucky and patriotic ... that would be us ... and I thank you.
I giggle a little myself....
As I wrote the other day, I started to have heart palpitations.
Early this a.m., before I started my work day and after having browsed through some overnight Hopium chat postings, I fired off a 2-sentence communique to my reps: about how focus should be on the Massive Murder Bill and we shouldn't let the circus of chaos distract us.
It was a little thing and for the morning at least, I felt a little better.
I just signed on to the Bethesda Declaration. I'm a licensed allied health care practitioner and vaccines are an important part of disease prevention. Most health care entities that serve the public mandate the flu vaccine for employees. The firing of the advisory panel for vaccines will be detrimental to public health. It is appalling and dangerous.
Although hypocrisy is standard procedure for the tRump regime, I wondered if RFK’s “principled” (ha!) stand against vaccine experts was upheld with respect to other industries, like for instance, the fossil fuel industry. Surely a government that refuses to accept vaccine recommendations from those tainted by association with vaccine development would likewise eschew recommendations about oil industry policy from those in the oil and gas industry, right?
An internet search gave this answer: “oil company employees do interact with and advise the federal government on matters related to fracking, drilling, and permitting processes.
Some ways this occurs:
Providing information during rule-making: When agencies like the EPA develop technical guidance related to fracking, they consider information from industry professional organizations, potentially representing oil companies' best practices.
Lobbying: Oil companies and industry associations actively lobby the federal government on regulations related to oil and gas extraction and permitting. This can include advocating for weaker regulations or promoting policies that benefit the industry.
The ‘Revolving Door’: There is a phenomenon of individuals moving between positions in the oil and gas industry and roles within government agencies that regulate the industry. This ‘revolving door, allows oil company employees to potentially use their knowledge and contacts to influence policy and regulation from within government.”
I guess there is no point in demanding that Secretary Burgum follow RFK’s lead and kick out all the Interior Department’s advisors if they worked in the fossil fuel industry or are pro drilling…
One thing I think suggests a dangerous trend is local sheriffs and other law enforcement deputizing their officers to work alongside ICE. I'm not sure of the legality or the mechanism. But when not only federal but local and state forces work with the regime on this fascist agenda it represents a dangerous trend. The worst thing that I've heard experts on authoritarianism cite is when law enforcement begins to side with or work with paramilitary forces or militias.
I sent off some postcards this morning. I will get some additional cards from FT6. I called Senators yesterday about the military deployments and immigration actions. Today I think I will call about the reconciliation bill.
Jessica Craven suggested using this tool to call your Sheriff and note that you do not want the department aiding and abetting ICE. They are elected. https://www.safetybound.org/call-your-sheriff?utm_source=hometown&utm_id=hometown&utm_medium=email
That sounds like great advice to spread around. Thanks. I was thinking along those lines too. I'm glad she's spreading the word.
Some of us who are on high alert for racism – for survival purposes we have to – knew ages ago that TACO was deranged and that his kind of racism was an existential menace that was not being recognized – and that's because of the racism rooted in this country. TACO keeps showing his hand yet here we are on the verge of apocalyptic happenings that have to be dealt with.
Repeating my comment from yesterday, in case anyone needs it: this is the Know Your Rights training by ACLU that Indivisible is recommending for anyone protesting at No Kings this Saturday (be there!) or anywhere else. It is online TONIGHT at 7 pm eastern:
https://act.aclu.org/a/2025-kyr-training-2
Thank you for sharing yesterday. I spent some time this morning sending individualized messages with this link to those friends/family who I think will attend.
Glad it was helpful! I hope they all found it useful. I did!
Simon and all Hopium members,
Thank you,
my heart is breaking, but reading this newsletter inspires me to keep calling, protesting, posting on Social Media, talking to people I know.
Wave the flag, proudly, as true patriots and lovers of democracy.
I'm with Simon: I intend, in whatever way I can, though peacefully, to contribute to making next Saturday the most disappointing, empty birthday that husk of human has ever lived through.
Brian Tyler Cohen interviews the leaders of Indivisible about NO KINGS DAY. If you had doubts or questions this is a great interview. Spread the word and this is a great link for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH6un97Ds0M
Thank you, Mr. Baer. That was encouraging.
I note that No Kings Day rallies will be global. I don't have a comprehensive list, but chapters of Democrats Abroad are advertising No Kings Day rallies in European cities.
Thanks for sending! Sending it on to friends and family 🙏🏻 🇺🇸
Self report: called my Wisconsin reps (2 senators and Wi 03 representative) as well as Senator Schiff in CA to demand the release of the boy Martir Garcia Lara and to demand that Trump pull the National Guard and marines out of LA. For the latter part I used a script from Jess Craven’s Substack. I am also going to look at donating to this gofundme for a Black family in Florida whose young daughters were assaulted by a racist white woman: https://www.gofundme.com/f/protect-aprils-children-from-racial-violence
My Tues. congresspersons call script that anyone can riff off of:
- Jasmine Crockett for House Oversight! Our constitutional crisis calls for a new generation of leadership that understands our new reality.
- That new reality is careening toward attempted military dictatorship. It’s silly to call that hyperbole when the Marines have now been deployed to LA.
- The Trump regime is likely to use the Insurrection Act to attempt to prevent or undermine the ‘26 midterms. Just like Chris Murphy has been warning.
- All the CECOT detainees must come home. Judge Boasberg said the regime has to facilitate their habeas process. That’s impossible to do if they’re held incommunicado and don’t even know they have a habeas case.
- If the CECOT detainees don’t come home, it sets the precedent that Trump’s gestapo and politicized military can kidnap ANY AMERICAN CITIZEN, pay a foreign dictator to incarcerate that citizen, and then tell the courts nothing can be done. The pieces are now in place to effectively end Americans having rights.
I called Sen Moreno and said no "Big Bad Bill" and I called him the "Big Bad Wolf". Oops. It just slipped off the tongue.