Morning all. It has a been a week, hasn’t it? One of the ugliest in this terribly ugly era of Trump, the sequel. The Washington Post has an incredible story this morning, “How Trump’s ballroom will dwarf the White House” (gift link) that shows how enormous - and completely out of proportion - this monstrous new imperial ballroom will be. Here is one of the renderings from the story:
This morning I am choosing not to dwell in all this ugliness, and instead am sharing an uplifting new interview with an old friend, Garrett Graff, an award-winning historian and journalist. A transcript and recording are above.
In the last few months I’ve reconnected with Garrett’s writing and commentary and keep finding it to be especially insightful, informative, and timely. Here’s a passage from his biography that helps explain why he is particularly well suited to help us to make sense of - and get through - this challenging moment:
His award-winning work focuses on the intersection of power, politics, and crisis—including ten books on topics like the presidency, World War II, 9/11, the Cold War, Watergate, and cybersecurity, as well as dozens of magazine articles, essays, podcasts, and documentaries—uses history to explain the story of today, illuminating where we’ve been as a country and where we’re headed as a world.
I asked Garrett to drop by so we could discuss three of his most recent essays:
His “three reasons for hope” essay contains this passage:
To me — as someone who cares deeply about the future of American democracy — the rallies stand as an important expression of love for the United States and the idea and dream that the US has represented for 250 years.
I’ve written over the last three months about how the United States has tipped into authoritarianism — we’ve crossed an invisible line never crossed before in our history — but that slide is not necessarily permanent nor irreversible, and I hope that this weekend’s “No Kings” protests will someday be looked back upon as a turning point when the public anger’s and resistance to fascism began to boil.
I think the most compelling part of our lively and thoughtful discussion is when Garrett explains why, despite it all, he remains hopeful and optimistic about the American project. His three reasons:
People — There are more of us than there are of them
History — America’s progress has always been imperfect
Actuarial — Trump won’t last forever, which means “Trumpism” will fall
I found our live discussion yesterday invigorating and restorative after our ugly week, an antidote even. Get to it when you can. You will be glad you did, and be sure to become a subscriber to his newsletter, Doomsday Scenario, too.
Here’s Garrett’s official bio:
Bestselling historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist Garrett M. Graff has spent nearly two decades covering politics, technology, and national security, and is now recognized as one of the nation’s most prolific and wide-ranging journalists and historians. His award-winning work focuses on the intersection of power, politics, and crisis—including ten books on topics like the presidency, World War II, 9/11, the Cold War, Watergate, and cybersecurity, as well as dozens of magazine articles, essays, podcasts, and documentaries—uses history to explain the story of today, illuminating where we’ve been as a country and where we’re headed as a world. Graff’s dedication to capturing pivotal moments in American history through meticulous research and compelling narratives has solidified his reputation as a leading voice in contemporary journalism and historical analysis.
Today he writes the popular Doomsday Scenario newsletter, serves as a director at the Aspen Institute’s technology program, Aspen Digital, and hosts the Edward R. Murrow Award-winning and Peabody-nominated podcast, Long Shadow. Garrett is a former editor of POLITICO Magazine and the editor-in-chief of Washingtonian.
Enjoy Abigail Spanberger’s closing ad:
Reupping this really encouraging graph from yesterday’s post:
Trump is far weaker today:
If you are looking for the latest trends in national and state polling head to these Hopium posts:
Will Congressional Republicans Stick With Trump? (video and written analysis)
And for more watch my new interviews with Stuart Stevens on his trip to Ukraine, Adelita Grivalja on her battle to take her rightful place in the House, and Oregon Rep. Janelle Bynum on fighting Trump’s assault on our cities.
Now…..
Let’s Get To Work People!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Winning The Fall - Support Our November, 2025 Candidates and Yes On 50
Mikie Sherrill NJ Gov (2025) - $123k raised, $250,000 goal, - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Watch my new interview with Rep. Sherrill
Abigail Spanberger VA Gov (2025) - $218k raised, $250,000 goal, - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Watch my interview with Abigail Spanberger
Yes on 50 (CA) - $50,000 goal - Donate | Learn more, volunteer | Sign Up For CA Dem Party Daily Phonebanks | Watch my new interview with Gov. Gavin Newsom
Winning The Midterms - Support Our 2026 Candidates
Roy Cooper for NC Senate (2026) - $250,000 goal, $46k raised- Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Watch my interview with Gov. Cooper
Jon Ossoff GA Senate (2026) - $250,000 goal, $87k raised - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Watch my inspiring new interview with Senator Ossoff
Hopium House 7 (2026) - $250,000 goal, $223k raised - Donate | Learn More, Volunteer | Watch My Interviews With Our Intrepid Incumbents
Expanding The Map - Support Our Audacious Expansion Fund (2026-2032)
Hopium’s Audacious Expansion Fund - $250,000 goal, $170,000 raised - Join our new campaign to invest in the Democratic Parties of Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Maine, and Texas | Donate To All Five State Parties | Watch my interviews with Alaska Chair Eric Croft, Florida Chair Nikki Fried, Iowa Chair Rita Hart, Maine Chair Charlie Dingman, and Texas Chair Kendall Scudder
Our updated fundraising goals are now for the end of the year, December 31st, except for the 2025 races, which are now for Election Day, 2025.
Here’s a message that Abigail Spanberger sent to the Hopium community this week (yes she is grateful for all that we’ve done for her campaign - thank you all):
Hopium members in CA/NJ/PA/VA or wherever you have elections on November 4th - please vote on Day 1, or as early as you can, either by mail or in-person. When you vote early your names comes off the campaign GOTV rolls allowing them to move on to lower propensity voters, which increases D turnout and makes it more likely we win. Voting early = another way to help us win.
Defending America, Winning The Big Arguments With Trump - We have two recommended actions today:
1 - Call Your Senators and Member Of The House And Demand They Act Upon Our Four-Part Agenda - We need to be loud people, very, very loud and make the case for our our emerging four part agenda. Demand that your Senators and House Member work to:
Roll back Trump’s terrible, illegal tariffs that are re-igniting inflation, driving up prices, shifting the tax burden from the wealthy to working people, hurting small businesses and farmers, reviving tyrannical “taxation without representation,” and alienating governments and people throughout the world
Defend our democracy, rule of law, and our liberties by blocking the expansion of ICE, restoring due process for immigrants across the country, vigorously defending the 1st Amendment, warring against his outrageous targeting of his domestic political opponents, and ending the use of the military on our streets and the unlawful occupation of our cities
Fight Trump’s war on science, higher education and our public health; reverse - not delay - the cuts to the ACA and Medicaid; support and co-sponsor Rep. Haley Stevens’ effort to Impeach and remove Robert Kennedy
Stand with Ukraine and our European allies, and far more forcefully challenge Trump’s traitorous efforts to sell out the US and the West to Russia and China
2 - Bring “Resolutions Of Condemnation” To Your Community - Inspired by the tactics of our Founders learn about how Hopium members are advancing “Resolutions of Condemnation” in their communities across the country and consider bringing this initiative to your state, country or city/town. Be sure to check out our new discussion with Deborah Potter and Rachel Poliner who have passed resolutions in New Mexico and Boston. They offer practical advice on how to get a resolution passed in your own community.
Remarkably, members of this community have passed or are advancing 85 (!!!!) resolution projects in 23 states + DC. Can we get to all 50 states by the end of the year?
Finally, please self-report your activities to our daily paid subscriber chat. These reports help inspire all of us to do more and fight harder! Please include reports of voting early and consider sending photos of your completed ballot or or your “I’ve voted” sticker to community@hopiumchronicles.com.
Keep working hard all, and remember Hopium is hope with a plan. We don’t just hope tomorrow will be better than today.
We do the work to make it so - Simon
