Today is Election Day – and there are five special legislative elections spanning four states: Connecticut (HD-25), Georgia(HD-23), South Carolina (HD-98), and Virginia (HD-15 & SD-77). According to The Downballot, the most competitive of these five is the race for the state House in South Carolina, namely HD-98.
If you live in any of these districts and have not yet voted, please do so! And bring your family and friends to the polling places.
These elections will serve as an early set of meaningful proxy polls of what's happening in (and outside of) the country right now. I have to imagine that enthusiasm will play a major role in dragging folks out to vote in early January, so fingers crossed. Anyway, I'd be really grateful if you'd report out on the results tomorrow morning...thanks!
I sent money to the South Carolina woman running for HD-98. Her resume is impressive as an Air Force Veteran and holds a Ph.d. and a couple of other degrees. She lost by 7 some points in 2024, her opponent R left Congress last Fall, so this seemed like an exciting race. I am excited for tonight's elections. We need some good news on this depressing, bleak day of January 6.
She lost but only by 100 votes. I hope she runs again. I heard from someone on Wolves & Sheep substack that campaign did not do Postcards to Voters. I think this would have helped her and hopefully come the midterms this will happen. I will help.
Thanks, Simon. I called the national offices of my GOP senators and urged them to support Sen. Kaine and their local offices and urged them to remove RFK from his position. I talked to two aides and left voicemails for the others. What a time! Years ago I had a student who was a single mom. She almost had to drop my class because her daughter almost died of Hep B (born right before the vaccine made its way onto the schedule). I am pissed.
I will call my shitty Senators Scott and Moody today about the War Powers vote. I'm thinking about kicking in a few more bucks to one of our efforts. I haven't decided which one yet. I know it doesn't matter probably what I decide, but I need to go through the mental exercise.
Congressman Doug LaMalfa, the Republican representing California’s 1st Congressional District, has died. This according to Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News.
I believe this means that Speaker Mike Johnson is down to a Republican majority of ... one! His challenge of herding his sheep on upcoming votes just got much, much harder!
"Under California law, Governor Gavin Newsom has 14 days to set a date for a special election. He could set the date as soon as mid-May, though he could also schedule it to coincide with the state’s June 2 primary."
If it doesn't look like we can win this one, maybe Newsom should, once again, follow TX's lead, and draw this out as long as possible--based on what TX has done, a Democratic seat will have remained unfilled for 11 months. All's fair in love and war, and this is most definitely war. Two more GOPers die (of natural causes, please), resign, or become independents caucusing with the Dems (not impossible, given what an anchor Trump has become in swing districts) and the House flips even before November?
Those maps are already done and they take effect for November's election, but don't apply to this special election. The same seat with the new maps is up for grabs with the new maps, so whoever wins the special will only serve for a few months before the full midterms.
Well, holy crap...thoughts and prayers! I'm just taking a quick work break right now and don't have time to do the intel. Do you know LaMalfa's 2024 margin of victory?
Edit: In the 2024 election, LaMalfa received 65.3 % of the vote. I believe Trump’s margin in CA-01 was 24 points.
Your question is highly relevant, because I’m pretty certain the special election will be done according to the existing map of CA-01, and not California’s new, gerrymandered map.
I saw this mentioned on The Downballot’s Discourse discussion forum. I’m pretty sure district boundaries are set per term, but I am looking for a reliable source.
But think about it: If the party in power could change boundaries for special elections at will, that is a very dangerous power ripe for abuse!
Simon, I have yet to find a definitive source, but someone replied to me thus:
"If LaMalfa's successor for the remainder of the 119th Congress were elected under the new lines, there would be some people in California who have 2 representatives simultaneously."
While some Californians would have no representative at all.
Theres 700K people in Houston who've been denied representation from 3/5/25-1/31/26 by Mike Johnson. I'm willing to allow a bit of an anomoly in terms of fighting back against this administration and what Republicans are doing on a daily basis.
"Ordinarily, special elections that take place after redistricting but before the next general election use old district lines—but not always. A 2022 special election for Nebraska’s 1st District was held using the state’s new map that had been adopted the previous year, a move that did not face a legal challenge.
"One legal commentator, Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern, argued that Newsom should nonetheless order that the new boundaries be deployed.
"“It’s the map adopted by the people of California, and on top of being democratically defensible, it’s the kind of hardball that [Ron] DeSantis or [Greg] Abbott would obviously pull in the converse scenario,” he wrote on social media, referring to the Republican governors of Florida and Texas."
See my post earlier. Here's from the WaPo article on LaMalfa's death:
“The seven-term congressman represented a district that encompassed much of Northern California’s interior. His district was redrawn last year, taking it from a safely GOP seat to a Democratic-leaning one, as a result of California’s redistricting to counter Republican gains in Texas and across the country.”
The margin in 2024 doesn't matter 'cause this is one of the districts redistricted in CA in response to the TX gerrymander. The district is more D now than it was then.
also, re: votes today, evidently 80 yr old Indiana CD 04 rep Jim Baird is in hospital after car accident.
after watching the cray cray Steven Miller clip I'm going to spend some time today hoping for Speaker Jeffries [correction: not 'hoping' but 'hopium'ing]
people that age never make a 'full recovery 'sorry but that's been my lifetime experience; if there are any broken bones, forget it. my late father broke his shoulder in sept 99 and didn't survive past jan. he never really recovered. he was 78. and i've seen it several times since with other people. blood clots, pneumonia, sepsis....you name it. for the record i do not wish this upon anyone.
I am sorry you lost your dad and thank you for sharing your personal experience regarding him and other people you’ve known who had a similar experience. I think it really depends on the person’s overall health when they are in some kind of accident in their late 70s and older. There are people who are a very healthy and fit 78 and if they break their hip, say, they do really well recovery-wise. Nancy Pelosi, who is in her early 80s, fell and broke her hip while on a Congressional trip last year. She recovered fairly quickly because the surgeries now are so much better than even 10-15 years ago. and she was still quite healthy and strong. I am 74 and I’m working on staying fit. Doing regular strength training is very important. Our muscles, tend to lose their tone when not used and it can affect our overall health. It actually affects things like the mitochondria which are the energizers of the cells. I work with resistance bands which can increase strength rather quickly. It is also important to eat healthy—plenty of clean protein (not McDonald’s burgers like you know who,) fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Dick Van Dyke is 100. He started working out when he was in his 60s/70s. He became an evangelist for working out. He got his friends to come with him when he could. He is an inspiration.
I have a terrific Attorney General here in Washington state. What is the specific ask in relation to Musk? I will email him but am not clear on what action to advocate.
Well, they are attempting to kill us every day. It's a bit like the novel Catch 22, when Yossarian (I think it was him) kept talking about how everyone was trying to kill him.
Yep. Yossarian was complaining about the military actions of a fascist government (in that case Italy). It is awful that it is relevant today with regard to another fascist government.
“They’re trying to kill me,” Yossarian told him calmly.
“No one’s trying to kill you,” Clevinger cried.
“Then why are they shooting at me?” Yossarian asked.
“They’re shooting at everyone,” Clevinger answered. “They’re trying to kill everyone.”
An example of Rs trying to kill everyone: Trump Regime rolling back key provisions of the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. If it stands (in court, because surely the administration is being sued!!) companies will be able to continue releasing PFAS (the forever chemicals—microplastics, etc.) into the environment. Just one example. Anyone think of others?
Well yeah that is relatively easy. Cutting Medicaid. Destroying USAID. Destroying science, and vaccine schedules and guidance not based on science. They are literally in the process of killing millions of people.
If people want to have some imagination about what the anti-science agenda can do, they could read into the history of the Soviet pseudo-scientist Trofim Lysenko. He was a favorite of Stalin, so the fact that his pseudo scientific ideas about biology were rejected by every credible scientist didn't matter. Millions of people died (there were other reasons of course). One thing they did was try to seed on top of snow and ice. People starved.
“The seven-term congressman represented a district that encompassed much of Northern California’s interior. His district was redrawn last year, taking it from a safely GOP seat to a Democratic-leaning one, as a result of California’s redistricting to counter Republican gains in Texas and across the country.”
All of a sudden, the consequences of the TX redistricting are coming back to bite Rs.
“LaMalfa’s death further challenges the incredibly narrow House Republican majority and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), who had ambitious goals for the conference to pass more of President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda in 2026. House Republicans will gather with Trump on Tuesday at the Kennedy Center to discuss how they could go further than the landmark tax and immigration bill — dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill by the president — they passed last year.”
It's interesting that now the Rs see the Trump-Kennedy Center as their own private venue. Good thing, in a way, ‘cause no one else will go there.
“With LaMalfa’s absence and after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) officially vacates her seat Tuesday, the GOP majority will shrink to 218. This means Republicans can only lose two votes to pass partisan bills if all Democrats are present and voting. Democrats hold 213 seats.”
If a D wins LaMalfa’s seat, Ds would hold 214 seats.
With Jim Baird (R, IN-04) hospitalized after a very bad car crash, I believe they’re down to 217–213. Which means Republicans can lose only ONE vote. If they lose two, with all representatives in the chamber and casting votes, it’s a 215–215 tie vote, and the legislation/proposal/budget fails.
Hello, Tom Massie. Hello, Brian Fitzpatrick. Based on his appearance on Katy Tur yesterday, I wouldn't be counting on Mike Lawler if I were Johnson--willing to spout talking points on Maduro, but not much more than that... Time to kill the ICE expansion, funding for his "rapid response forces," and everything else he can use to put down protests and suppress votes...
Sorry, don't have time to read much in this issue yet but wanted to get my ideas for Cuba and Mexico up to you guys. The Democrats should have and EXPRESS a policy of deep friendship with these people who are now in Trump's path. Cubans love jazz, baseball, music and art. So do we.
It's a big win win if that was the focal point of our relationship. We should have Havana in the MLB playing the Yankees! Joint concerts and art gallerys. Restore travel. This would be great for
Cuba where the people suffer under the rule of obsoleteness. This should be made known NOW to oppose Trump's policy of Cuba being a puppet .
That's great. I've tried to pass the word along that ,right now, the Dems should act like a
country and try and establish much better relationships with Cuba and Mexico thru sports, music, art. That means joint concerts, Havana in rhe MLB playing the Yankees!
I know their government would be fearsome at best but the people would love it.
Just called 4 senators (I have a secret in with CO senators) all of whom are Dems, coming down hard on Kaine's war powers resolution, as well as demanding the DOJ explain the redactions in Epstein files.
Hey everyone... Jan 20 is another "NO Kings" day but it's called FREE AMERICA WALK OUT DAY. https://www.freeameri.ca/ Unfortunately it's in the middle of a work day... the idea is to get people to walk out of work, stores, schools etc. Pretty gutsy.
Also do you all know about the Tibetan monks walking from TX to DC? If they walk near you, I hope you'll go out to cheer them on or even host an overnight. They just walked into S Carolina yesterday. They are so inspiring. Even tracking them on FB, is an uplifting moment for me everyday. Here is their FB link https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=peace%20walk%20monks. Gotta keep our minds free of fear and doom. Onward!
Yesterday, I watched an interview with Sen. Mark Warner regarding the actions of the administration. As the member of the gang of 8, he is not protecting the interests of the American people. If we go into Greenland, do not expect anything other than throat clearing. Sad.
Daily calls are in to WI members of Congress. I called both senators regarding the war powers vote and decided to break up our 5 part agenda into small segments so I cover them all over the course of the week. Thank you Simon and all the community members for such timely and interesting information. I appreciate you.
Maybe because the Danes (or their ancestors) navigated the Atlantic successfully before William the Conqueror established the present line of English royalty, nearly 800 years before the US was a country…. Jackass….
Might makes right is an essential tenet of all fascist/totalitarian type mindsets. They don't believe in labeling something as "stolen" unless it serves their own victimhood narrative. Stealing for me but not for thee, etc.
Clearly Trump and his "coat tail followers" are uninterested in collaboration with any nation and keenly wedded to their misguided notion of "World Domination." When is this BS distraction film going to stop? We have to find an Achilles heal somewhere and sever it!
Thank you Simon. I integrate the need for criminal referrals into each part of the 5-part agenda when I call my reps daily. It may be worth adding that to the agenda. Your analyses and thoughtfulness are extraordinary. Your comment a few weeks ago about how Trump is haunted by symbols of democracy throughout DC was particularly insightful. Thank you for all you do!
From May 1 on, Postcards to Swing States will focus on GOTV, but right now, it's news boosting. As they explain in the email I received: "Sign up now to start the new year with a batch of News Boosting postcards! We need your help to combat disinformation and make sure voters in Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Michigan and North Carolina learn how harmful the Trump/GOP agenda is for them. These states have the most competitive Senate elections in 2026. " I'm currently working on 300 postcards to Michigan voters that I have to mail by Feb. 5.
Thank you for the link. I signed up for the Sequatchie Democratic Party to send out some for GA-14 Shawn Harris. I'm excited about this race. The Republican side is full of crazy people - 18 of them. When State Sen. Colton Moore was in the House, he got banned from it for making terrible comments about the House Speaker David Ralston (R). He's awful and I think GA Republicans are worn out from their MAGA elected officials.
We are close to Ringgold, Fort Oglethorpe, Trenton, so we plan to canvas in that area, too. I am going to do all I can to flip the solid red South.
I subscribe to the Cottage and support the work of Diana Butler Bass. She reminded her readers that today for Christians is Epiphany. Rather than a day to marvel at God’s light in the world we see a massive failure of our laws, our justice system, our Constitution. It should be a day of reflection and repentance, and a realization that we have chosen Herod to lead our county. Of all of the betrayals, the unwavering support of the White Evangelicals in this country for this tyrannical president have cut me the most deeply. I stopped calling myself a Christian in 2015, I am too ashamed. I still support the work of my progressive church, and I will not give up on my country, but today hurts.
I recently attended a Catholic mass with my younger daughter, who is Catholic, and learned that in the story of the wise men, Herod had actually tried to use them as his spies. They didn’t cooperate, taking a route back from Bethlehem that avoided Herod’s territory. Kind of inspiring.
There is a beautiful song written by an artist inspired by this story called: Home by Another Way. Spirit take me home by another way is the refrain. And of course according to the story Jesus and Joseph and Mary flee to Egypt to be safe from the slaughter of the innocents by Herod. Egypt, where the people of Israel were enslaved becomes a safe harbor.
The arrogance and hubris of these creeps is off the charts in the last couple days. To think that they are so entitlled that previous versions of toxic masculine warrior nationalism that resulted in World Wars don't apply to them is the height of stupidity. Our 80 year world.order has brought about a more civilized way to coexist that is championed by nearly the whole world. Catch up, MAGA - you're not the first people to have tried this. I told Senators Durbin and Duckworth thank you for their support of the Kaine act today. Let's go, Democrats.
Hegseth, whenever he appears, whenever his lips move, so obviously has his entire self-esteem invested in the image he projects. I'm telling you, at the center of that man is a big, empty sucking hole taking up more and more of him every damn day.
The entire Project 2025/tech broligarchy writings are off-the-charts arrogance on full display, reflecting simplistic thinking and total incompetence. And then they have the nerve to get mad at the rest of us when we aren’t rushing to assist them in fulfilling their vision. I’ll be damned if I’m going to be “ruled” by this catastrophically under qualified bunch!
Today is Election Day – and there are five special legislative elections spanning four states: Connecticut (HD-25), Georgia(HD-23), South Carolina (HD-98), and Virginia (HD-15 & SD-77). According to The Downballot, the most competitive of these five is the race for the state House in South Carolina, namely HD-98.
If you live in any of these districts and have not yet voted, please do so! And bring your family and friends to the polling places.
These elections will serve as an early set of meaningful proxy polls of what's happening in (and outside of) the country right now. I have to imagine that enthusiasm will play a major role in dragging folks out to vote in early January, so fingers crossed. Anyway, I'd be really grateful if you'd report out on the results tomorrow morning...thanks!
In South Carolina, HD-98 is probably headed for an automatic recount – last I heard, the Republican candidate was leading by a scant 21 votes!
EDIT: Cross your fingers: It’s possible that some uncounted provisional ballots remain to be tallied.
(The results in the other races reflect the strong partisan lean of each district, although each result saw a strong Democratic overperformance.)
Thanks!
This is exciting!
I forgot thanks for the reminder. I did write 20 postcards for Eric Schmidt. I think that is the HD-15 race in VA. So I can see what happens.
They picked up D+13 in the House of Delegates in November already. It would be nice to net one more.
I just remembered --- Charlie Schmidt, not Eric. I was confusing with Eric Gisler I think.
Hey, I only wrote 20 postcards and I was in my standard fugue state at the time.
The January 31st runoff in TX - CD18. The runoff pits 2 Dems against each other. So we will have another seat.
Is this race for the Tx. state legislature or for US Congress?
Congress. Blue seat.
I sent money to the South Carolina woman running for HD-98. Her resume is impressive as an Air Force Veteran and holds a Ph.d. and a couple of other degrees. She lost by 7 some points in 2024, her opponent R left Congress last Fall, so this seemed like an exciting race. I am excited for tonight's elections. We need some good news on this depressing, bleak day of January 6.
She lost but only by 100 votes. I hope she runs again. I heard from someone on Wolves & Sheep substack that campaign did not do Postcards to Voters. I think this would have helped her and hopefully come the midterms this will happen. I will help.
I saw that the Democrats won both seats in Virginia by 67% and 76% over that of Republicans. YAY!
Yup, and this was expected. Also Biden and Harris won these seats with large margins.
Thanks, Simon. I called the national offices of my GOP senators and urged them to support Sen. Kaine and their local offices and urged them to remove RFK from his position. I talked to two aides and left voicemails for the others. What a time! Years ago I had a student who was a single mom. She almost had to drop my class because her daughter almost died of Hep B (born right before the vaccine made its way onto the schedule). I am pissed.
I will call my shitty Senators Scott and Moody today about the War Powers vote. I'm thinking about kicking in a few more bucks to one of our efforts. I haven't decided which one yet. I know it doesn't matter probably what I decide, but I need to go through the mental exercise.
OK I decided $10/month recurring for Ossoff. It has the side benefit of refreshing my mind on how many s's and f's are in Ossoff.
LOL, Patrick :D
It matters to me! Thank you
Congressman Doug LaMalfa, the Republican representing California’s 1st Congressional District, has died. This according to Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News.
https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/2008543668479873105
I believe this means that Speaker Mike Johnson is down to a Republican majority of ... one! His challenge of herding his sheep on upcoming votes just got much, much harder!
"Under California law, Governor Gavin Newsom has 14 days to set a date for a special election. He could set the date as soon as mid-May, though he could also schedule it to coincide with the state’s June 2 primary."
– Jeff Singer, The Downballot
If it doesn't look like we can win this one, maybe Newsom should, once again, follow TX's lead, and draw this out as long as possible--based on what TX has done, a Democratic seat will have remained unfilled for 11 months. All's fair in love and war, and this is most definitely war. Two more GOPers die (of natural causes, please), resign, or become independents caucusing with the Dems (not impossible, given what an anchor Trump has become in swing districts) and the House flips even before November?
Yup, agreed. California’s open primary in June, runoff for the top in November. That would mean a Republican winner would serve just over a month.
Isn't California going to be redistricting for 5 more seats? This should be one of them, so a Dem can win.
Those maps are already done and they take effect for November's election, but don't apply to this special election. The same seat with the new maps is up for grabs with the new maps, so whoever wins the special will only serve for a few months before the full midterms.
Thank you for sharing this. Gives me hope.
Notable that elsewhere in these comments, Simon suggested there's precedent for using new maps in a special election 🤷♂️
I assume that would cause a bunch of Californians to be without a representative and another bunch to have 2 reps? We live in strange times lol.
Good to know.
Notable that elsewhere in these comments, Simon suggested there's precedent for using new maps in a special election 🤷♂️
I assume that would cause a bunch of Californians to be without a representative and another bunch to have 2 reps? We live in strange times lol.
Well, holy crap...thoughts and prayers! I'm just taking a quick work break right now and don't have time to do the intel. Do you know LaMalfa's 2024 margin of victory?
Edit: In the 2024 election, LaMalfa received 65.3 % of the vote. I believe Trump’s margin in CA-01 was 24 points.
Your question is highly relevant, because I’m pretty certain the special election will be done according to the existing map of CA-01, and not California’s new, gerrymandered map.
Who has reported it will done under the existing map rather than the new map?
I saw this mentioned on The Downballot’s Discourse discussion forum. I’m pretty sure district boundaries are set per term, but I am looking for a reliable source.
But think about it: If the party in power could change boundaries for special elections at will, that is a very dangerous power ripe for abuse!
There is precedent for implementing newly drawn lines in a special.
Simon, I have yet to find a definitive source, but someone replied to me thus:
"If LaMalfa's successor for the remainder of the 119th Congress were elected under the new lines, there would be some people in California who have 2 representatives simultaneously."
While some Californians would have no representative at all.
Theres 700K people in Houston who've been denied representation from 3/5/25-1/31/26 by Mike Johnson. I'm willing to allow a bit of an anomoly in terms of fighting back against this administration and what Republicans are doing on a daily basis.
Today’s Morning Digest from David Nir & Jeff Singer of The Downballot focuses on just this question.
https://www.the-downballot.com/p/morning-digest-heres-how-republican
Here is part of what they write:
"Ordinarily, special elections that take place after redistricting but before the next general election use old district lines—but not always. A 2022 special election for Nebraska’s 1st District was held using the state’s new map that had been adopted the previous year, a move that did not face a legal challenge.
"One legal commentator, Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern, argued that Newsom should nonetheless order that the new boundaries be deployed.
"“It’s the map adopted by the people of California, and on top of being democratically defensible, it’s the kind of hardball that [Ron] DeSantis or [Greg] Abbott would obviously pull in the converse scenario,” he wrote on social media, referring to the Republican governors of Florida and Texas."
See my post earlier. Here's from the WaPo article on LaMalfa's death:
“The seven-term congressman represented a district that encompassed much of Northern California’s interior. His district was redrawn last year, taking it from a safely GOP seat to a Democratic-leaning one, as a result of California’s redistricting to counter Republican gains in Texas and across the country.”
The margin in 2024 doesn't matter 'cause this is one of the districts redistricted in CA in response to the TX gerrymander. The district is more D now than it was then.
Are you counting MTG?
I believe so. But frankly, with so many rats abandoning the ship these days, it’s hard to keep track.
NB. I would love to see Hakeem Jeffries become Speaker long before the midterms – say, in the course of the Spring or Summer!
also, re: votes today, evidently 80 yr old Indiana CD 04 rep Jim Baird is in hospital after car accident.
after watching the cray cray Steven Miller clip I'm going to spend some time today hoping for Speaker Jeffries [correction: not 'hoping' but 'hopium'ing]
From CBS news: "Congressman Baird is in the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery"
people that age never make a 'full recovery 'sorry but that's been my lifetime experience; if there are any broken bones, forget it. my late father broke his shoulder in sept 99 and didn't survive past jan. he never really recovered. he was 78. and i've seen it several times since with other people. blood clots, pneumonia, sepsis....you name it. for the record i do not wish this upon anyone.
And we also need to note quote from CBS News any longer.....
I am sorry you lost your dad and thank you for sharing your personal experience regarding him and other people you’ve known who had a similar experience. I think it really depends on the person’s overall health when they are in some kind of accident in their late 70s and older. There are people who are a very healthy and fit 78 and if they break their hip, say, they do really well recovery-wise. Nancy Pelosi, who is in her early 80s, fell and broke her hip while on a Congressional trip last year. She recovered fairly quickly because the surgeries now are so much better than even 10-15 years ago. and she was still quite healthy and strong. I am 74 and I’m working on staying fit. Doing regular strength training is very important. Our muscles, tend to lose their tone when not used and it can affect our overall health. It actually affects things like the mitochondria which are the energizers of the cells. I work with resistance bands which can increase strength rather quickly. It is also important to eat healthy—plenty of clean protein (not McDonald’s burgers like you know who,) fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Dick Van Dyke is 100. He started working out when he was in his 60s/70s. He became an evangelist for working out. He got his friends to come with him when he could. He is an inspiration.
I have a terrific Attorney General here in Washington state. What is the specific ask in relation to Musk? I will email him but am not clear on what action to advocate.
They launch an investigation into him allowing the creation of underage sexual exploitation videos and whether it violated any state laws
To be very honest if you read up on what has happened you are going to be very, very upset.
thank you
Especially with the non-release of the Epstein files...
I’ll get on it, thanks!
Another one: Indiana Congressman Jim Baird (R, IN-04) has been hospitalized after a bad car accident.
Here's the Baird story. It was a bad accident, and he is 80 years old. Wow - https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/01/06/congress/jim-baird-hospitalized-00712230
They may be down to 217 for the month and all the budget votes to come. Big yikes for them. Wow.
I feel guilty about hitting like on this message, but hurrah for a slimmer margin!
Well, they are attempting to kill us every day. It's a bit like the novel Catch 22, when Yossarian (I think it was him) kept talking about how everyone was trying to kill him.
Yep. Yossarian was complaining about the military actions of a fascist government (in that case Italy). It is awful that it is relevant today with regard to another fascist government.
“They’re trying to kill me,” Yossarian told him calmly.
“No one’s trying to kill you,” Clevinger cried.
“Then why are they shooting at me?” Yossarian asked.
“They’re shooting at everyone,” Clevinger answered. “They’re trying to kill everyone.”
“And what difference does that make?”
Precisely. And here we are.
Well said!
An example of Rs trying to kill everyone: Trump Regime rolling back key provisions of the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. If it stands (in court, because surely the administration is being sued!!) companies will be able to continue releasing PFAS (the forever chemicals—microplastics, etc.) into the environment. Just one example. Anyone think of others?
Well yeah that is relatively easy. Cutting Medicaid. Destroying USAID. Destroying science, and vaccine schedules and guidance not based on science. They are literally in the process of killing millions of people.
If people want to have some imagination about what the anti-science agenda can do, they could read into the history of the Soviet pseudo-scientist Trofim Lysenko. He was a favorite of Stalin, so the fact that his pseudo scientific ideas about biology were rejected by every credible scientist didn't matter. Millions of people died (there were other reasons of course). One thing they did was try to seed on top of snow and ice. People starved.
Same here.
The WaPo has an article on LaMalfa’s death, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/01/06/lamalfa-death-house-republicans/?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wp_news_alert_revere&location=alert
Here are a few excerpts, and my comments:
“The seven-term congressman represented a district that encompassed much of Northern California’s interior. His district was redrawn last year, taking it from a safely GOP seat to a Democratic-leaning one, as a result of California’s redistricting to counter Republican gains in Texas and across the country.”
All of a sudden, the consequences of the TX redistricting are coming back to bite Rs.
“LaMalfa’s death further challenges the incredibly narrow House Republican majority and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), who had ambitious goals for the conference to pass more of President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda in 2026. House Republicans will gather with Trump on Tuesday at the Kennedy Center to discuss how they could go further than the landmark tax and immigration bill — dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill by the president — they passed last year.”
It's interesting that now the Rs see the Trump-Kennedy Center as their own private venue. Good thing, in a way, ‘cause no one else will go there.
“With LaMalfa’s absence and after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) officially vacates her seat Tuesday, the GOP majority will shrink to 218. This means Republicans can only lose two votes to pass partisan bills if all Democrats are present and voting. Democrats hold 213 seats.”
If a D wins LaMalfa’s seat, Ds would hold 214 seats.
With Jim Baird (R, IN-04) hospitalized after a very bad car crash, I believe they’re down to 217–213. Which means Republicans can lose only ONE vote. If they lose two, with all representatives in the chamber and casting votes, it’s a 215–215 tie vote, and the legislation/proposal/budget fails.
And if Baird is hospitalized and LaMalfa's replacement is a D, then it would only take one vote to create a tie.
Hello, Tom Massie. Hello, Brian Fitzpatrick. Based on his appearance on Katy Tur yesterday, I wouldn't be counting on Mike Lawler if I were Johnson--willing to spout talking points on Maduro, but not much more than that... Time to kill the ICE expansion, funding for his "rapid response forces," and everything else he can use to put down protests and suppress votes...
NJ11 is vacant til April 14 special election, should be a hold for the House Dems.
Sorry, don't have time to read much in this issue yet but wanted to get my ideas for Cuba and Mexico up to you guys. The Democrats should have and EXPRESS a policy of deep friendship with these people who are now in Trump's path. Cubans love jazz, baseball, music and art. So do we.
It's a big win win if that was the focal point of our relationship. We should have Havana in the MLB playing the Yankees! Joint concerts and art gallerys. Restore travel. This would be great for
Cuba where the people suffer under the rule of obsoleteness. This should be made known NOW to oppose Trump's policy of Cuba being a puppet .
What a great idea! And dancing!!!
Thanks! Keep up your spirit.,
This makes me want to watch Buena Vista Social Club again
That's great. I've tried to pass the word along that ,right now, the Dems should act like a
country and try and establish much better relationships with Cuba and Mexico thru sports, music, art. That means joint concerts, Havana in rhe MLB playing the Yankees!
I know their government would be fearsome at best but the people would love it.
Democrats, especially elected, should act like a country by ourselves in relation to Canada, Mexico and Cuba.
Meidas doing their thing today: streaming the J6 hearings:
https://www.youtube.com/live/dySZlLRa29k?si=9VRpdFUeN8V6TvMM
PS: NY students may be studying Jan 6 in schools.
https://gothamist.com/news/ny-students-would-study-jan-6-capitol-attack-under-pending-bill
Just called 4 senators (I have a secret in with CO senators) all of whom are Dems, coming down hard on Kaine's war powers resolution, as well as demanding the DOJ explain the redactions in Epstein files.
Hey everyone... Jan 20 is another "NO Kings" day but it's called FREE AMERICA WALK OUT DAY. https://www.freeameri.ca/ Unfortunately it's in the middle of a work day... the idea is to get people to walk out of work, stores, schools etc. Pretty gutsy.
Also do you all know about the Tibetan monks walking from TX to DC? If they walk near you, I hope you'll go out to cheer them on or even host an overnight. They just walked into S Carolina yesterday. They are so inspiring. Even tracking them on FB, is an uplifting moment for me everyday. Here is their FB link https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=peace%20walk%20monks. Gotta keep our minds free of fear and doom. Onward!
Yesterday, I watched an interview with Sen. Mark Warner regarding the actions of the administration. As the member of the gang of 8, he is not protecting the interests of the American people. If we go into Greenland, do not expect anything other than throat clearing. Sad.
Simon, thank you for all of this information.
I called my congressman and senators. I'm continuing to work on my postcards to NC voters.
Daily calls are in to WI members of Congress. I called both senators regarding the war powers vote and decided to break up our 5 part agenda into small segments so I cover them all over the course of the week. Thank you Simon and all the community members for such timely and interesting information. I appreciate you.
“By what right does Denmark control Greenland?”
Maybe because the Danes (or their ancestors) navigated the Atlantic successfully before William the Conqueror established the present line of English royalty, nearly 800 years before the US was a country…. Jackass….
by what right do we control the stolen land of north america? what an utterly stupid statement. can the cray cray get any worse from this crowd?
Might makes right is an essential tenet of all fascist/totalitarian type mindsets. They don't believe in labeling something as "stolen" unless it serves their own victimhood narrative. Stealing for me but not for thee, etc.
Clearly Trump and his "coat tail followers" are uninterested in collaboration with any nation and keenly wedded to their misguided notion of "World Domination." When is this BS distraction film going to stop? We have to find an Achilles heal somewhere and sever it!
Epstein
You've got that right!
Thank you Simon. I integrate the need for criminal referrals into each part of the 5-part agenda when I call my reps daily. It may be worth adding that to the agenda. Your analyses and thoughtfulness are extraordinary. Your comment a few weeks ago about how Trump is haunted by symbols of democracy throughout DC was particularly insightful. Thank you for all you do!
I'm sharing two resources. My wonderful Congressman, Jamie Raskin, has a guest essay in the NYT today. Here's a gift link:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/opinion/jamie-raskin-jan-6-anniversary.html?unlocked_article_code=1.CVA.cX_n.Epgeg1gSYn15&smid=url-share
In addition, I've seen some Hopium members in the last few days ask how to get involved in postcard campaigns. Here's a link from an email I just received from Postcards to Swing States about their news-boosting postcarding campaign: https://secure.ngpvan.com/NPCPSG0VaUqaLw7w6AbNDg2?emci=ff025399-41ea-f011-8195-000d3a1d58aa&emdi=c883ac12-19eb-f011-8195-000d3a1d58aa&ceid=31802636.
From May 1 on, Postcards to Swing States will focus on GOTV, but right now, it's news boosting. As they explain in the email I received: "Sign up now to start the new year with a batch of News Boosting postcards! We need your help to combat disinformation and make sure voters in Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Michigan and North Carolina learn how harmful the Trump/GOP agenda is for them. These states have the most competitive Senate elections in 2026. " I'm currently working on 300 postcards to Michigan voters that I have to mail by Feb. 5.
Thank you! Jamie Raskin is one of my heroes.
Thank you for the link. I signed up for the Sequatchie Democratic Party to send out some for GA-14 Shawn Harris. I'm excited about this race. The Republican side is full of crazy people - 18 of them. When State Sen. Colton Moore was in the House, he got banned from it for making terrible comments about the House Speaker David Ralston (R). He's awful and I think GA Republicans are worn out from their MAGA elected officials.
We are close to Ringgold, Fort Oglethorpe, Trenton, so we plan to canvas in that area, too. I am going to do all I can to flip the solid red South.
Awesome!
I subscribe to the Cottage and support the work of Diana Butler Bass. She reminded her readers that today for Christians is Epiphany. Rather than a day to marvel at God’s light in the world we see a massive failure of our laws, our justice system, our Constitution. It should be a day of reflection and repentance, and a realization that we have chosen Herod to lead our county. Of all of the betrayals, the unwavering support of the White Evangelicals in this country for this tyrannical president have cut me the most deeply. I stopped calling myself a Christian in 2015, I am too ashamed. I still support the work of my progressive church, and I will not give up on my country, but today hurts.
I recently attended a Catholic mass with my younger daughter, who is Catholic, and learned that in the story of the wise men, Herod had actually tried to use them as his spies. They didn’t cooperate, taking a route back from Bethlehem that avoided Herod’s territory. Kind of inspiring.
There is a beautiful song written by an artist inspired by this story called: Home by Another Way. Spirit take me home by another way is the refrain. And of course according to the story Jesus and Joseph and Mary flee to Egypt to be safe from the slaughter of the innocents by Herod. Egypt, where the people of Israel were enslaved becomes a safe harbor.
The arrogance and hubris of these creeps is off the charts in the last couple days. To think that they are so entitlled that previous versions of toxic masculine warrior nationalism that resulted in World Wars don't apply to them is the height of stupidity. Our 80 year world.order has brought about a more civilized way to coexist that is championed by nearly the whole world. Catch up, MAGA - you're not the first people to have tried this. I told Senators Durbin and Duckworth thank you for their support of the Kaine act today. Let's go, Democrats.
Hegseth, whenever he appears, whenever his lips move, so obviously has his entire self-esteem invested in the image he projects. I'm telling you, at the center of that man is a big, empty sucking hole taking up more and more of him every damn day.
The entire Project 2025/tech broligarchy writings are off-the-charts arrogance on full display, reflecting simplistic thinking and total incompetence. And then they have the nerve to get mad at the rest of us when we aren’t rushing to assist them in fulfilling their vision. I’ll be damned if I’m going to be “ruled” by this catastrophically under qualified bunch!