Happy Saturday everyone. Excited to bring to you a new interview I completed yesterday afternoon with Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin. While she updates us on Iran and reconciliation, the bulk of our conversation is about a new speech and argument she made this week called a new “Economic War Plan.” You can find a video recording of the speech, below, and more here. As she says in the speech:
“Defense is simply not enough. We need to offer a different vision and demonstrate an affirmative, positive plan for the country. That's our responsibility and what this moment demands of us.”
Senator Slotkin is another rising star in our party whom I’m excited to introduce you to. She won her election in 2024 despite Harris losing Michigan; she delivered a powerful and compelling State of the Union response in just her first weeks as a Senator; and now she is working hard to shape the national narrative and story for a Democratic Party that does indeed need to go on offense now and not just play defense.
Watch our discussion when you get a chance and let me know what you think. Senator Sloktin embodies those three elements I think Democrats need to embrace to be successful that we first discussed in my post about Rep. Mikie Sherrill
Be a warrior for every day people, be focused on delivering a better life for all and make it clear that we are on their side and not the side of oligarchs
Be a proud patriot, let love of our country guide us, fly the flag rightside up not upside down. Make it clear that we are the patriots, the defenders of America, they the betrayers
Be a fighter, be strong, make it clear that you have the strength and grit to challenge Trump and deliver for the American people; or as Rep. Sherrill said we need to make it clear we “are willing to run into the fight” and not run from it.
More Hopium For The Weekend - It’s been a bit of an ugly week so am sending along some our recent conversations for weekend enlightenment and uplift. Dive in when you can……
“Boundless Optimism” - My conversation with Rep. Mikie Sherrill, our great candidate for NJ Governor
Tom Bonier’s compelling presentation pulling together new data about the 2024 that concludes Dems must make partisan voter registration a much bigger priority
Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, on how Trump is making America far less safe
Elissa has dedicated her career to serving the country she loves. A former CIAanalyst who served three tours in Iraq alongside the U.S. military, Elissa then worked in national security roles at the Pentagon and White House under President Bush and President Obama. In the Obama Administration, she briefed the President on some of the most sensitive national security matters of the day and was eventually nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs at the Pentagon.
In 2018, Elissa was motivated to do more and ran for Congress, flipping a long time Republican-held seat and helping Democrats retake the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Elissa was re-elected to the House in 2020 and again in 2022 by delivering on the things that mattered the most to her constituents – expanding access to affordable healthcare, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, and bringing critical supply chains and manufacturing back to Michigan.
In November 2024, Elissa was elected to serve Michigan in the U.S. Senate, succeeding Debbie Stabenow. In the Senate, Elissa will fight to expand Michigan’s middle class, create jobs with dignity, and keep our communities and children safe.
I will be reporting in on the great Women’s Summit in tomorrow’s Hopium post. Got some gardening to do this afternoon and need to get going. Was great seeing so many members of the Hopium community and other leaders of our movement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Had a great conversation with Lynlee Thorne of Rural Ground Game
Keep working hard all. Proud to be in this fight with all of you - Simon
Expert commentary from a 30 year veteran of US politics. Here we'll be working on strategies to defeat MAGA, tell our story more effectively and ensure freedom and democracy prevail. Expect sharp analysis, live events and all sorts of Hopium!
Expert commentary from a 30 year veteran of US politics. Here we'll be working on strategies to defeat MAGA, tell our story more effectively and ensure freedom and democracy prevail. Expect sharp analysis, live events and all sorts of Hopium!
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