I posted yesterday that I thought the dismissal of the Venezuelan opposition by the 🍊💩 was because he was holding a grudge against Machado for winning (and accepting) the Nobel Peace Prize. Now comes the reporting that verifies my hunch. I'd like to write that I'm a clever boy, but it sadly takes very little to divine the motives of a 79 year old man-child.
I find the entire thought of the 🍊💩 so repulsive that I sometimes feel 🤯 and just want to 🤮, but most days it's more of a 😵💫 followed by a well deserved 🥃! 😉
I didn't see it coming given she sucked up to Trump. Not sure if true, per news sources such as Bloomberg News, Machado even said the 2020 election was stolen.
agree--because you're a good and decent person. He's leading a misogynist cult. He has lashedout and attacked women in the public sqaure viciously for years
As we learned during one of the truly cringeworthy moments of the 2024 campaign, absolutely NOBODY can out dance (or is that out shuffle???) the Don!!!
I wouldn't even call it a shuffle, Art. Where I come from, it ain't dancing when your head and wrists are the only things moving. It's called morbid obesity instead.
FYI: On Substack, there's an audio arrow at the top of Simon's articles and I used to use that to listen to his written articles. But when I press that button now, I get this message: This audio for this post is still processing. Please check back in a minute."
I can tell you that I've gotten this same message numerous times in a day and also over at least a week's time.
The current political trajectory is alarming. By operating under a 'Myth of Indispensability,' this administration acts as if it is untouchable and above the law. Threatening international takeovers endangers American citizens and global allies alike. To counter this, winning back Congress in 2026 is no longer just a political goal—it is a matter of survival.
I wake up every morning depressed by the news I read/watch/listen to. Then I read Hopium and the depression doesn't lift but it DOES turn to motivation and action. Thanks for that, Simon, and all the proud, plucky patriots in this community. Mere depression at the state of affairs is something we can't afford--as individuals or as a nation. Positive action is the only thing that will get us through this.
Indeed, motivation and action are the only solutions, and Hopium is where I find both, too. That and wanting to sleep at night/look in the mirror/know that I did everything I could.
But the sorrow always remains, and the outrage, while despair is always looking for an opportunity to move in. These are difficult times for good people.
Yes, as Simon says: Act more, worry less. That is my mantra these days. I avoid the news except when it enables me to act positively. For the last year, I've been trying to write to my two Republican Senators frequently (at least twice a week) and this week every day (or more!).
Unless the Republicans finally do something, January won’t be any different than the past year. More criminal conduct, more treason, more pain and suffering, more fascism, more autocracy,
I agree. And the GOP base is essentially unchanged. It’s barely budged—maybe 3-4 points lower approval for Trump—since Trump took office. That, to me, is very depressing.
Dems have not changed. The same.
Indies have changed the most, with a double-digit drop in approval for Trump. It’s worth noting that the Venezuela thing may be giving Trump a slight bump with Indies, at least that’s what I’m seeing in the polling. That could evaporate quickly. We’ll see.
Simon, I prefer Commander of Oceana since we are living through the dual nightmare scenarios of the Handmaiden’s Tale and 1984. This regime is both malevolent and stupid. Trump can’t “run” Venezuela until he installs Little Marco as viceroy following an all out invasion that will likely see some heavy fighting and a long term occupation force.
He'll have to go there at some point, and every time he does, it will be an opportunity for millions of angry Venezuelans to show him definitively what they think of him.
Now that is a glorious picture! Stephen Miller in a city filled with Venezuelans. Having been to Caracas many times, I can state authoritatively that he would hate it. Let's suggest it to all and sundry! 🤣🤣🤣
I'd love it if we were rid of these creeps forever, but I don't think I could do that to our fellow human beings in Venezuela, Colombia, Greenland, or Mexico. Can we banish them to some uninhabited island instead? (Or a federal prison?)
It's a good article. Points out for one thing that the Administration has "dismantled much of the U.S. foreign policy infrastructure," noting that "The National Security Council staff has been gutted and the administration has yet to nominate an assistant secretary of state to handle the Western Hemisphere."
The best analogy I have for our current situation is that we are in a global mass shooting event. A madman is running around the playground with a gun. He is our president. We need to stop him. Not "demand briefings." Not "let me present you with my analysis about how this is all about oil" or "the structural contradictions of capitalism." That's all weak sauce and not rising to the gravity of the situation. I called Nikki Budzinski, Dick Durbin, and Tammy Duckworth this morning. Budzinski's office answered the phone. Duckworth's took a message. Durbin's phone has been shut off for as long as I can remember. I'm afraid only a mass mobilization of democratic forces to the streets can stop this killer. Congress also needs to get out -- not to mobilize for the elections, but to wrestle this madman to the ground.
Bottom line: He's not just running around the playground with a gun. He's running around with *our* gun: the gun belongs to *us,* we, the people, not him!
John - I communicated with Durbin and Duckworth too. I just email them from their website - Durbin's phone has never been answered and I rarely get an answer from Duckworth's office either. However I get email replies from their offices very frequently, so I know someone is manning the inbox. I feel lucky to live in Illinois.
Maybe it will come soon. I know Simon is so busy (today's output was phenomenal), but speaking for myself, my level of....panic/anxiety is always alleviated on Wednesday evenings.
Calls are in to WI Republican elected officials regarding our 5point agenda and my outrage over Venezuela. All lines were busy at the DC Offices -I hope that’s a good sign that people are making calls to oppose this regime. I called local offices to voice my concerns because I couldn’t get through to DC. The holiday break was great and now I’m ready to get back in the fight for our country.
I used to think that in 2016 the deal was a swap that we could invade Iran in exchange for looking the other way with Russia taking Ukraine. Maybe that wasn't so crazy after all, since the same thing appears to have been put forward with Venezuela. I hadn't seen that before from Fiona Hill, I missed it.
I'm not sure they are really serious about similar actions with Colombia, Cuba, and Greenland. Maybe. But it looks to me more like Venezuela is a demonstration of what can happen, and then they expect everyone will just give Trump what he wants. It's gangster stuff, a protection racket. They'll call his bluff and then we'll see what he does.
I guess according to the dictator in charge of our country, only dictators get to make those trades. How does Vladimir Putin, leader of a country immortally described by John McCain, as a "gas station with nuclear weapons" get to claim a 'sphere of influence' while the EU, with a lot more people amd a much more robust economy doesn't? At this point, Scandinavia alone could kick Putin's a** in a conventional war, and unlike Ukraine, the EU does have nukes of its own (and probably ought to--and could--make a lot more fast).
This morning I am very thankful for our hard-working Democratic Congresspeople who continue to work tirelessly to resist the mad leader. The insanity of this regime is gobsmacking.
Good morning all from Italy - we need to win the midterms decisively, up and down the ballot. Did you know that there are approx 6.5 million US Citizens living, working, studying, serving abroad and we CAN VOTE! Many are not aware that it's possible for us to vote. Please help us get the word out! U.S. citizens abroad should visit https://votefromabroad.org to register and request an overseas ballot. It’s quick, free, and valid for all elections in 2026. Need help? Write to help@votefromabroad.org. Vote from Abroad volunteers are ready to assist voters with any questions about requesting or returning ballots. Don’t wait! Primaries start in March.
Really bummed to see today that Tim Walz decided not to run for a third term. Frankly, if I had to put up with all the BS he's had to, having to run against a total idiot like Mike Lindell would be the final straw. Expect GOP pearl clutching over "daycare fraud" to magically vanish now that they got their goal: Walz out of the race.
The useful idiots at the WaPo 'editorial board' wrote a piece claiming that fraud in programs like SNAP "in Democratic states" justify Trump’s abuse of the poor. They then made the mistake of backing their claim with a chart ranking the states by 'error rate' on claims.
Three of the four states with the highest error rates are straight red all up and down the ballot, and they include by far the two biggest--TX and FL--which means the consequences of those errors are disproportionately large (the "blue state" in the top four was DC :D ). Meanwhile, Minnesota ranked...33rd.
Am dealing with the very sad news that Tim Walz won’t be running again. The smear machine won, and we’re losing one of the party’s real fighters, and one of politics’ most decent people. Trump wanted to take him down, and it worked, and I’m truly concerned about the domino effect (especially if Klobuchar decides to run for gov.)
So to have that news juxtaposed with this utter madness is tough. I’d love to hear the language people are using as they call their reps this morning.)
And when I’m down I donate to a Hopium cause, so I’ll do that today.
I'm with you on the sadness Anne. Tim and his family were just getting hammered with negativity and I have to think that he was thinking about how that was affecting his kids. Add to it the orange blob's disgusting post about Melissa Hortman his families' safety was probably number one. If Amy runs for governor she can win, doesn't have to give up senate to run. Someone with more knowledge than me can share how her senate seat then gets filled but I think a Governor can pick? So much going on this morning, my head hurts.
Yes, I agree. Especially with Gus. I think Amy would win AND be a good governor, though she tends to not want to make waves. I just don't want Angie Craig, who is a huge crypto enthusiast (and, unfortunately, Schumer's choice), near the Senate. The next governor will appoint someone to fill her term. My wish would be that Tina Smith decideds she has two more years in her, but ...why would she want that!
I was also dismayed by this, but when Trump messes with down ballot races like this, he often ruins it for his own party. I’m sorry about Walz but have a feeling this will work out to Trump’s disadvantage.
Going after Walz was the one hope they had, so I do hope that this renders the seat safe and also means all this madness can stop. (The MN Republicans are, fortunately, incapable of producing a decent statewide candidate.)
I posted yesterday that I thought the dismissal of the Venezuelan opposition by the 🍊💩 was because he was holding a grudge against Machado for winning (and accepting) the Nobel Peace Prize. Now comes the reporting that verifies my hunch. I'd like to write that I'm a clever boy, but it sadly takes very little to divine the motives of a 79 year old man-child.
It is my great failure of imagination that I didn’t see this.
Anne Bear, you win!
Gave me the first smile I've had in days.
I'm sort of beside myself.
It's not a failure of imagination; it's a reflection of your decency.
and you sir, are also a decent man for using emojis for the orange turd.
I find the entire thought of the 🍊💩 so repulsive that I sometimes feel 🤯 and just want to 🤮, but most days it's more of a 😵💫 followed by a well deserved 🥃! 😉
I didn't see it coming given she sucked up to Trump. Not sure if true, per news sources such as Bloomberg News, Machado even said the 2020 election was stolen.
When someone has a black hole where their soul is supposed to be, you can never, ever suck up enough.
agree--because you're a good and decent person. He's leading a misogynist cult. He has lashedout and attacked women in the public sqaure viciously for years
Yes, the whole ridiculous Nobel Peace Prize issue, plus he didn't like to see Madura dancing, a reason too ridiculous to even appear in an SNL skit.
As we learned during one of the truly cringeworthy moments of the 2024 campaign, absolutely NOBODY can out dance (or is that out shuffle???) the Don!!!
I wouldn't even call it a shuffle, Art. Where I come from, it ain't dancing when your head and wrists are the only things moving. It's called morbid obesity instead.
Trump has brought out the mean in me
Does ANYONE have the audio arrow? (Black triangle next to the archive icon in upper right).
I am trying to help SubStack with reporting on this but since Jan 1.
Is it only phones where it is missing?
It appears to be missing from ALL publishers/published articles.
I think a lot of folks are missing it thus morning as they typically listen from their phones on their commute.
Thank you all for any feedback you can give.
Much appreciated.
I cannot find one
"but" = bug
I can't type on this phone either 😔
FYI: On Substack, there's an audio arrow at the top of Simon's articles and I used to use that to listen to his written articles. But when I press that button now, I get this message: This audio for this post is still processing. Please check back in a minute."
I can tell you that I've gotten this same message numerous times in a day and also over at least a week's time.
The current political trajectory is alarming. By operating under a 'Myth of Indispensability,' this administration acts as if it is untouchable and above the law. Threatening international takeovers endangers American citizens and global allies alike. To counter this, winning back Congress in 2026 is no longer just a political goal—it is a matter of survival.
I wake up every morning depressed by the news I read/watch/listen to. Then I read Hopium and the depression doesn't lift but it DOES turn to motivation and action. Thanks for that, Simon, and all the proud, plucky patriots in this community. Mere depression at the state of affairs is something we can't afford--as individuals or as a nation. Positive action is the only thing that will get us through this.
Indeed, motivation and action are the only solutions, and Hopium is where I find both, too. That and wanting to sleep at night/look in the mirror/know that I did everything I could.
But the sorrow always remains, and the outrage, while despair is always looking for an opportunity to move in. These are difficult times for good people.
Yes, as Simon says: Act more, worry less. That is my mantra these days. I avoid the news except when it enables me to act positively. For the last year, I've been trying to write to my two Republican Senators frequently (at least twice a week) and this week every day (or more!).
Unless the Republicans finally do something, January won’t be any different than the past year. More criminal conduct, more treason, more pain and suffering, more fascism, more autocracy,
more grift, and so on.
I agree. And the GOP base is essentially unchanged. It’s barely budged—maybe 3-4 points lower approval for Trump—since Trump took office. That, to me, is very depressing.
Dems have not changed. The same.
Indies have changed the most, with a double-digit drop in approval for Trump. It’s worth noting that the Venezuela thing may be giving Trump a slight bump with Indies, at least that’s what I’m seeing in the polling. That could evaporate quickly. We’ll see.
Just as I often quipped during his first term, this seems to still hold true:
"Trump’s single positive trait is that his malevolence is tempered by massive incompetence."
Simon, I prefer Commander of Oceana since we are living through the dual nightmare scenarios of the Handmaiden’s Tale and 1984. This regime is both malevolent and stupid. Trump can’t “run” Venezuela until he installs Little Marco as viceroy following an all out invasion that will likely see some heavy fighting and a long term occupation force.
Read the WaPo piece I link to. They are considering making Stephen Miller the VZ Viceroy.
Lovely!
That insane proposal actually has an upside – if it entails Caracas residency and takes Stephen Miller far away from DC and the White House.
If it requires Caracas residency, Miller will just do what this administration always does, do it anyway, laws be damned.
He'll have to go there at some point, and every time he does, it will be an opportunity for millions of angry Venezuelans to show him definitively what they think of him.
Now that is a glorious picture! Stephen Miller in a city filled with Venezuelans. Having been to Caracas many times, I can state authoritatively that he would hate it. Let's suggest it to all and sundry! 🤣🤣🤣
What 😮!! I will read your WaPo link.. Thanks Simon
I know I sound hopelessly stupid asking this, but what happens if they don't WANT an American Viceroy?
It would require an armed occupation that isn’t likely to happen and would be extremely bloody if it did.
This is a great idea. Miller to VZ, Patel can handle Colombia, Bobby Junior to Greenland, Kristi Noem to Mexico. What could possibly go wrong?
I'd love it if we were rid of these creeps forever, but I don't think I could do that to our fellow human beings in Venezuela, Colombia, Greenland, or Mexico. Can we banish them to some uninhabited island instead? (Or a federal prison?)
It's a good article. Points out for one thing that the Administration has "dismantled much of the U.S. foreign policy infrastructure," noting that "The National Security Council staff has been gutted and the administration has yet to nominate an assistant secretary of state to handle the Western Hemisphere."
The best analogy I have for our current situation is that we are in a global mass shooting event. A madman is running around the playground with a gun. He is our president. We need to stop him. Not "demand briefings." Not "let me present you with my analysis about how this is all about oil" or "the structural contradictions of capitalism." That's all weak sauce and not rising to the gravity of the situation. I called Nikki Budzinski, Dick Durbin, and Tammy Duckworth this morning. Budzinski's office answered the phone. Duckworth's took a message. Durbin's phone has been shut off for as long as I can remember. I'm afraid only a mass mobilization of democratic forces to the streets can stop this killer. Congress also needs to get out -- not to mobilize for the elections, but to wrestle this madman to the ground.
Bottom line: He's not just running around the playground with a gun. He's running around with *our* gun: the gun belongs to *us,* we, the people, not him!
John - I communicated with Durbin and Duckworth too. I just email them from their website - Durbin's phone has never been answered and I rarely get an answer from Duckworth's office either. However I get email replies from their offices very frequently, so I know someone is manning the inbox. I feel lucky to live in Illinois.
I've been calling my MOCs every day since the bombing began. I attended the anti-war protest in Ann Arbor. I've mailed 24 postcards since the weekend.
Quick question to the community -- did I miss the link to register for a Hopium session on Wednesday or have they not yet resumed?
Hi Beth, I was wondering the same re: our Wednesday night Hopium meetings, but I haven't seen any notices yet.
Maybe it will come soon. I know Simon is so busy (today's output was phenomenal), but speaking for myself, my level of....panic/anxiety is always alleviated on Wednesday evenings.
It's scheduled, here's the post.
https://open.substack.com/pub/simonwdc/p/wed-7pm-et-our-first-hopium-paid?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
Calls are in to WI Republican elected officials regarding our 5point agenda and my outrage over Venezuela. All lines were busy at the DC Offices -I hope that’s a good sign that people are making calls to oppose this regime. I called local offices to voice my concerns because I couldn’t get through to DC. The holiday break was great and now I’m ready to get back in the fight for our country.
I used to think that in 2016 the deal was a swap that we could invade Iran in exchange for looking the other way with Russia taking Ukraine. Maybe that wasn't so crazy after all, since the same thing appears to have been put forward with Venezuela. I hadn't seen that before from Fiona Hill, I missed it.
I'm not sure they are really serious about similar actions with Colombia, Cuba, and Greenland. Maybe. But it looks to me more like Venezuela is a demonstration of what can happen, and then they expect everyone will just give Trump what he wants. It's gangster stuff, a protection racket. They'll call his bluff and then we'll see what he does.
It's fucking dangerous for sure.
I guess according to the dictator in charge of our country, only dictators get to make those trades. How does Vladimir Putin, leader of a country immortally described by John McCain, as a "gas station with nuclear weapons" get to claim a 'sphere of influence' while the EU, with a lot more people amd a much more robust economy doesn't? At this point, Scandinavia alone could kick Putin's a** in a conventional war, and unlike Ukraine, the EU does have nukes of its own (and probably ought to--and could--make a lot more fast).
This morning I am very thankful for our hard-working Democratic Congresspeople who continue to work tirelessly to resist the mad leader. The insanity of this regime is gobsmacking.
Good morning all from Italy - we need to win the midterms decisively, up and down the ballot. Did you know that there are approx 6.5 million US Citizens living, working, studying, serving abroad and we CAN VOTE! Many are not aware that it's possible for us to vote. Please help us get the word out! U.S. citizens abroad should visit https://votefromabroad.org to register and request an overseas ballot. It’s quick, free, and valid for all elections in 2026. Need help? Write to help@votefromabroad.org. Vote from Abroad volunteers are ready to assist voters with any questions about requesting or returning ballots. Don’t wait! Primaries start in March.
Hi Kelly - we need your votes desperately! Hi to the Pope if you see him. :)
Really bummed to see today that Tim Walz decided not to run for a third term. Frankly, if I had to put up with all the BS he's had to, having to run against a total idiot like Mike Lindell would be the final straw. Expect GOP pearl clutching over "daycare fraud" to magically vanish now that they got their goal: Walz out of the race.
The useful idiots at the WaPo 'editorial board' wrote a piece claiming that fraud in programs like SNAP "in Democratic states" justify Trump’s abuse of the poor. They then made the mistake of backing their claim with a chart ranking the states by 'error rate' on claims.
Three of the four states with the highest error rates are straight red all up and down the ballot, and they include by far the two biggest--TX and FL--which means the consequences of those errors are disproportionately large (the "blue state" in the top four was DC :D ). Meanwhile, Minnesota ranked...33rd.
Am dealing with the very sad news that Tim Walz won’t be running again. The smear machine won, and we’re losing one of the party’s real fighters, and one of politics’ most decent people. Trump wanted to take him down, and it worked, and I’m truly concerned about the domino effect (especially if Klobuchar decides to run for gov.)
So to have that news juxtaposed with this utter madness is tough. I’d love to hear the language people are using as they call their reps this morning.)
And when I’m down I donate to a Hopium cause, so I’ll do that today.
I was just writing you to ask how you felt about this Walz/Klobuchar development.
Thanks for channeling your sadness into something productive.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and make a prediction: Before too long, I think Tim Walz's daughter, Hope, will run for some office.
I'm with you on the sadness Anne. Tim and his family were just getting hammered with negativity and I have to think that he was thinking about how that was affecting his kids. Add to it the orange blob's disgusting post about Melissa Hortman his families' safety was probably number one. If Amy runs for governor she can win, doesn't have to give up senate to run. Someone with more knowledge than me can share how her senate seat then gets filled but I think a Governor can pick? So much going on this morning, my head hurts.
Yes, I agree. Especially with Gus. I think Amy would win AND be a good governor, though she tends to not want to make waves. I just don't want Angie Craig, who is a huge crypto enthusiast (and, unfortunately, Schumer's choice), near the Senate. The next governor will appoint someone to fill her term. My wish would be that Tina Smith decideds she has two more years in her, but ...why would she want that!
@Anne Bear, I haven’t heard about Tim Walz, won’t be running again. Wow I feel so sad hearing this.. Yes, he was one of the party’s real fighters 😞😞
I was also dismayed by this, but when Trump messes with down ballot races like this, he often ruins it for his own party. I’m sorry about Walz but have a feeling this will work out to Trump’s disadvantage.
Going after Walz was the one hope they had, so I do hope that this renders the seat safe and also means all this madness can stop. (The MN Republicans are, fortunately, incapable of producing a decent statewide candidate.)
Come and get those pillows!
Right? Good God.
Very sad that Minnesota is losing Governor Coach Dad. 🏈💙 But he would put his family first.
contacted my reps. postcards. bridge standout on Tuesday.
January 6 anniversary tomorrow. How can we participate or amplify whatever it is that our D electeds have planned to mark it?