I know yesterday was hard. Today is a new day and the sun broke out this afternoon in NJ.
Called Booker and Kim this morning. Fortunately all I had to do was thank them as they’re both on it. Booker’s Bluesky posts from yesterday about the Big Ugly Farce was 🔥. Andy Kim’s e-Newsletter is just amazing.
And Booker voted for Charles Kushner, a convicted felon, to be Ambassador to France. I expressed my disapproval of both votes to Kim and Booker, respectively. I choose to see the sum of their actions not the parts. I don’t demand perfection from anyone in my life, including my elected representatives.
????? Did you just nominate Rip Van Winkle for POTUS in 2028? It has been LONG past time for the "Democrats" to wake up. I have been screaming that for DECADES!!!
The Wall Street Banker buddy Clintonites have carried the Rebugnicant Water for FAR TOO LONG!!
I have been in the Stevenson trenches since 1956 and I have been smelling ROT for way too long.
Yay for Elissa Slotkin! One of our best! Another smidge of hopium for today (because we all need it after this week and before voting begins on the big ugly bill!): Republican Congressman Don Bacon of NE-02 (the "blue dot" electoral college vote we all worked so hard and successfully to swing to Harris/Walz in 2024) has announced he's not running for reelection. Less MAGA than most, he likely saw the handwriting on the wall for his electoral future as an R. But this could represent a big pickup opportunity for us in 2026--not having to run against a fairly popular incumbent. And it's quite possible a more MAGA R will win a primary there and help our cause. Fortunately, we have great state party chair and Hopium friend, Jane Kleeb, in Nebraska to organize us to victory!
According to the Nebraska Secretary of State's website. . .it's complicated. It appears that if you're a registered D, you cannot vote in an R primary and vice versa. But if you are registered "non-partisan," you may request what's called a "non-partisan-partisan ballot," which will allow you to vote in a R Party's primary for US Representative or US Senate but not the R presidential primary. So, I conclude from that statement that folks in NE-02 who are registered as non-partisan can, under current law, request a ballot to vote in the R primary for Congress. But I hasten to add that I don't live in Nebraska, so have no personal experience or knowledge to share. Thanks!
Looking forward to watching the interview with Senator Slotkin.
I'm out the door now but I wanted to share this interview with Sarah Longwell and Heather Cox Richardson from Thursday. Its uplifting to hear the other historical US epochs when the oligarchs were attempting their takeovers and the pushbacks which ultimately succeeded.
I would only suggest that "these are not our grandparents' oligarchs." When my grandparents came to the US from Poland before World War One -- leaving plenty of family behind -- they experienced a lot more support in their quest to become Americans, thanks in large part to the Carnegies and Vanderbilts ... et al ... of their day. Enormous investments were made in libraries, concert halls, museums, schools, hospitals, etc. Those "elites" had something of an attitude of: "Well, the rabble are coming, and we have to live with them, so we might as well do what we can to lift them and everyone up." Also... it was a matter of civic pride for a city to boast the best of those things above.
Things have changed. Some thinkers (link) observe it is due to the impact of technology. Jeff Bezos and Amazon are great examples. Conditions in our very economic structure are different today -- combined with the challenge of climate change. IMO, these conditions have to be fairly well understood when trying to put together plans for a better life.
Very interesting. Thank you for the link -- I need to go back & refresh my understanding of Yanis Varoufakis. I find his logic compelling -- I recently tried to read his books from my local Pubic Library, but not sure I succeeded in understanding. But I do understand the power of technology & the intermediary role of people like Bezos (boycott Amazon!). And that something has gone terribly wrong when the USA sides with the destruction of the Palestinians -- and now Israel allows the USA to use up its defense resources for Israel against Iran... The aim of tariffs to devalue the dollar & drive investment into US backed crypto....?? I wonder what Mamdani thinks of Yanis Varoufakis & what his response would be.... Or Slotkin? Simon?
Hi patriots - we celebrated Elon Musk's birthday with protests at the local Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colorado. It was great to be in community with other plucky patriots along the sidewalk. And the free water and cupcakes by the local Democratic Socialists of America was appreciated! And the guy with his electric guitar and kazoo - we need more musicians like him at these protests to help spread the joy!
I agree with you one hundred percent. We need more music, singing, joy at these protest. The updated chants from the 1960’s are getting old. Singing We Shall Overcome and Smile On Your Brother never does. We need to ignite the powerful human spirit of these times. No about to money or advertising gimmicks can buy that.
The rally I went to on the 14th featured drummers taking turns beating a marching rhythm on a drum throughout the whole 2 hr event, with regular breaks in the rhythm for the crowd to chant "No Kings!"
Two weeks later, that drumbeat and chant is still echoing in my mind and heart, and through every piece of terrible news that falls on us, both continue right on in the background of my thoughts, never flagging. This is the power of music and solidarity.
I love Elissa’s idea of a Shadow Cabinet. We cannot afford another slow footed Merrick Gardner strategy when we regain control. That assumes that we have another election.
A Shadow Cabinet can document the changes and deconstruction going on across the Federal Government. We need a set of facts for corrective action to take place quickly and comprehensively right of the gate.
If you think about it, Project 2025 was a shadow cabinet not only in strategy but in coming prepared with priorities and action items. They could be the informed spokespeople of our Democratic Republic.
I would love to hear follow on on progress on a Shadow Cabinet.
Thanks for this interview, Simon! I admit that I'm not her biggest fan, but she comes across as really intelligent and tough, both qualities we really need. I like her idea that it's now time to go on offense, all while continuing to play defense.
Re your discussion of vaccines, Senator Alsobrooks has made RFK's sabotage of our healthcare system one of her big issues. I thank her for that when I call her office.
I left phone messages for Senator Hawley and Senator Schmitt, asking them to vote no on the budget bill. Along with cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, I referred to a national news story (I didn’t keep the source) that uses the small Missouri town of Hermann to sketch out probable negative impacts of the bill.
Outstanding interview with Senator Slotkin, Simon. I then went and watched her Economic War Plan speech, which you included, and it is really worth the time. Heartily recommend!
I have not watched the video, yet. Scrolled through and saw the name of a group called "The Rural Groundgame" and googled it. It is a great help for those of us in rural areas, plus I watched "The Storyteller Project" and loved it. We will be using these great ideas.
On May 15th, we organized the Sequatchie County Democratic Party at the Courthouse. On June 26th we had our first official meeting. People were happy to be there and with each other. Most were elderly and that is wonderful because they vote and know everybody. The lady sitting across from me was 90 years old and sharp as a tack. She knows the great things the Democrats have done in southern Appalachia.
Next year, we will have a float in the parade and our Madame Chair will drive her tractor to pull the float. This year, we have tee shirts and will help do litter clean up for the town after the parade. One Dem woman has a big pick up truck and we can put the garbage bags in it. I love we are being part of the community and getting some exposure, too.
Looking forward to the Women's Summit piece tomorrow.
I just love Elissa Slotkin! She’s my Senator and I’m so glad! I voted for her because of how strong and Patriot she truly is. I email her a lot about different issues, but I also congratulate her & thank her for her great leadership skills too. Thank you for having her on. She’s like breath of fresh air in these polarized and scary times. Needless to say I think she right about going on the offense.
I am so proud of our movement today! Despite all the darkness, there is light streaming through:
1) Another Tesla Takedown today here in Central NJ
2) Our great gubernatorial candidate continues to kick a$$
3) Our AG also kicked some a$$ on the national stage yesterday w his response to the SCOTUS decision on injunctions. (Y'all may remember, he was one of the folks arguing our case on Birthright Citizenship before them about 6 weeks ago.)
4) The women & POC in the Senate and the House are fighting hard and loudly, including Sen. Slotkin.
5) Just look at all the great work our folks are doing, and folks in other opposition groups on Substack and elsewhere. The Opposition is big, loud, and growing.
I called Sens. Kim & Booker on supporting Gov. Newsom and the vax issue. (I got an MMR update vax a couple days back on the advice of my physician, I'm in that age bracket.)
Have any of you investigated and reported on Rob Schenck? He is one of the architects of what we are going through now. It is decades in the making and involves lots of wealthy people behind the scenes as well as members of Congress.
Dear Hopium-mates:
I know yesterday was hard. Today is a new day and the sun broke out this afternoon in NJ.
Called Booker and Kim this morning. Fortunately all I had to do was thank them as they’re both on it. Booker’s Bluesky posts from yesterday about the Big Ugly Farce was 🔥. Andy Kim’s e-Newsletter is just amazing.
Keep fighting!!!
Yep, agree 100%. I'll have to catch up on Booker's BlueSky. I've been on him about stepping up his Socials game.
Good to hear this. Let’s keep being loud about the good news and our strength in numbers. I’ve had it with the crooks.
Andy voted to confirm puppy killer family ripper apparter Noem, has he apologized? His explanation for the vote was kindergarten level naive.
And Booker voted for Charles Kushner, a convicted felon, to be Ambassador to France. I expressed my disapproval of both votes to Kim and Booker, respectively. I choose to see the sum of their actions not the parts. I don’t demand perfection from anyone in my life, including my elected representatives.
Yes, to live of a life of perpetual disappointment is neither fulfilling nor movement-building. Thank you for your wisdom.
Yes, I so agree. So hard to do. It is an internal process of reconciliation that we can extend to other aspects of life. Good for you! Good for us!
????? Did you just nominate Rip Van Winkle for POTUS in 2028? It has been LONG past time for the "Democrats" to wake up. I have been screaming that for DECADES!!!
The Wall Street Banker buddy Clintonites have carried the Rebugnicant Water for FAR TOO LONG!!
I have been in the Stevenson trenches since 1956 and I have been smelling ROT for way too long.
Put that in your expert pipes and smoke it.
there's a point in here somewhere...
maybe
Yay for Elissa Slotkin! One of our best! Another smidge of hopium for today (because we all need it after this week and before voting begins on the big ugly bill!): Republican Congressman Don Bacon of NE-02 (the "blue dot" electoral college vote we all worked so hard and successfully to swing to Harris/Walz in 2024) has announced he's not running for reelection. Less MAGA than most, he likely saw the handwriting on the wall for his electoral future as an R. But this could represent a big pickup opportunity for us in 2026--not having to run against a fairly popular incumbent. And it's quite possible a more MAGA R will win a primary there and help our cause. Fortunately, we have great state party chair and Hopium friend, Jane Kleeb, in Nebraska to organize us to victory!
KBH, does Nebraska have open primaries?
According to the Nebraska Secretary of State's website. . .it's complicated. It appears that if you're a registered D, you cannot vote in an R primary and vice versa. But if you are registered "non-partisan," you may request what's called a "non-partisan-partisan ballot," which will allow you to vote in a R Party's primary for US Representative or US Senate but not the R presidential primary. So, I conclude from that statement that folks in NE-02 who are registered as non-partisan can, under current law, request a ballot to vote in the R primary for Congress. But I hasten to add that I don't live in Nebraska, so have no personal experience or knowledge to share. Thanks!
Looking forward to watching the interview with Senator Slotkin.
I'm out the door now but I wanted to share this interview with Sarah Longwell and Heather Cox Richardson from Thursday. Its uplifting to hear the other historical US epochs when the oligarchs were attempting their takeovers and the pushbacks which ultimately succeeded.
Made me feel better. five stars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHK7YTsLt2A
I would only suggest that "these are not our grandparents' oligarchs." When my grandparents came to the US from Poland before World War One -- leaving plenty of family behind -- they experienced a lot more support in their quest to become Americans, thanks in large part to the Carnegies and Vanderbilts ... et al ... of their day. Enormous investments were made in libraries, concert halls, museums, schools, hospitals, etc. Those "elites" had something of an attitude of: "Well, the rabble are coming, and we have to live with them, so we might as well do what we can to lift them and everyone up." Also... it was a matter of civic pride for a city to boast the best of those things above.
Things have changed. Some thinkers (link) observe it is due to the impact of technology. Jeff Bezos and Amazon are great examples. Conditions in our very economic structure are different today -- combined with the challenge of climate change. IMO, these conditions have to be fairly well understood when trying to put together plans for a better life.
https://youtu.be/hMjLaTiY0vA?si=Y8JehA1-vw8jsGLy
Very interesting. Thank you for the link -- I need to go back & refresh my understanding of Yanis Varoufakis. I find his logic compelling -- I recently tried to read his books from my local Pubic Library, but not sure I succeeded in understanding. But I do understand the power of technology & the intermediary role of people like Bezos (boycott Amazon!). And that something has gone terribly wrong when the USA sides with the destruction of the Palestinians -- and now Israel allows the USA to use up its defense resources for Israel against Iran... The aim of tariffs to devalue the dollar & drive investment into US backed crypto....?? I wonder what Mamdani thinks of Yanis Varoufakis & what his response would be.... Or Slotkin? Simon?
Hi patriots - we celebrated Elon Musk's birthday with protests at the local Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colorado. It was great to be in community with other plucky patriots along the sidewalk. And the free water and cupcakes by the local Democratic Socialists of America was appreciated! And the guy with his electric guitar and kazoo - we need more musicians like him at these protests to help spread the joy!
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸!!!!!!!!🙌🏻
I agree with you one hundred percent. We need more music, singing, joy at these protest. The updated chants from the 1960’s are getting old. Singing We Shall Overcome and Smile On Your Brother never does. We need to ignite the powerful human spirit of these times. No about to money or advertising gimmicks can buy that.
The rally I went to on the 14th featured drummers taking turns beating a marching rhythm on a drum throughout the whole 2 hr event, with regular breaks in the rhythm for the crowd to chant "No Kings!"
Two weeks later, that drumbeat and chant is still echoing in my mind and heart, and through every piece of terrible news that falls on us, both continue right on in the background of my thoughts, never flagging. This is the power of music and solidarity.
I know just what you mean. The solidarity and the music brings us together. I’m hoping for some taiko dogo drums at the next one 😊
I love Elissa’s idea of a Shadow Cabinet. We cannot afford another slow footed Merrick Gardner strategy when we regain control. That assumes that we have another election.
A Shadow Cabinet can document the changes and deconstruction going on across the Federal Government. We need a set of facts for corrective action to take place quickly and comprehensively right of the gate.
If you think about it, Project 2025 was a shadow cabinet not only in strategy but in coming prepared with priorities and action items. They could be the informed spokespeople of our Democratic Republic.
I would love to hear follow on on progress on a Shadow Cabinet.
I like her areas of focus:
1. Build back the middle class
2. Take back our flag
3. Healthcare, Healthcare, Healthcare
She is right!
I love Slotkin. I can see her as our future President.
Thanks for this interview, Simon! I admit that I'm not her biggest fan, but she comes across as really intelligent and tough, both qualities we really need. I like her idea that it's now time to go on offense, all while continuing to play defense.
Re your discussion of vaccines, Senator Alsobrooks has made RFK's sabotage of our healthcare system one of her big issues. I thank her for that when I call her office.
We've invited Alsobrooks to come on and I think we will get her soon.
I left phone messages for Senator Hawley and Senator Schmitt, asking them to vote no on the budget bill. Along with cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, I referred to a national news story (I didn’t keep the source) that uses the small Missouri town of Hermann to sketch out probable negative impacts of the bill.
Senator Hawley’s support for the bill— now that he sees that Medicaid cuts will not be implemented until AFTER the midterms— is disgusting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISc8KjmT-Cw
Too bad that the mob in the Capitol that he was scampering away from on Jan 6, 2021 failed to catch him.
Disgusting... but not surprising.
Outstanding interview with Senator Slotkin, Simon. I then went and watched her Economic War Plan speech, which you included, and it is really worth the time. Heartily recommend!
HI Simon and Hopium folks,
I have not watched the video, yet. Scrolled through and saw the name of a group called "The Rural Groundgame" and googled it. It is a great help for those of us in rural areas, plus I watched "The Storyteller Project" and loved it. We will be using these great ideas.
On May 15th, we organized the Sequatchie County Democratic Party at the Courthouse. On June 26th we had our first official meeting. People were happy to be there and with each other. Most were elderly and that is wonderful because they vote and know everybody. The lady sitting across from me was 90 years old and sharp as a tack. She knows the great things the Democrats have done in southern Appalachia.
Next year, we will have a float in the parade and our Madame Chair will drive her tractor to pull the float. This year, we have tee shirts and will help do litter clean up for the town after the parade. One Dem woman has a big pick up truck and we can put the garbage bags in it. I love we are being part of the community and getting some exposure, too.
Looking forward to the Women's Summit piece tomorrow.
Boy, I wish I could have gone to The Women’s Summit. I know it’s going to be great. I hope someone reports on it.
I just love Elissa Slotkin! She’s my Senator and I’m so glad! I voted for her because of how strong and Patriot she truly is. I email her a lot about different issues, but I also congratulate her & thank her for her great leadership skills too. Thank you for having her on. She’s like breath of fresh air in these polarized and scary times. Needless to say I think she right about going on the offense.
I agree. Slotting is correct. To go on offense, we need to powerfully spell out what we are for, not just what we are against.
I am so proud of our movement today! Despite all the darkness, there is light streaming through:
1) Another Tesla Takedown today here in Central NJ
2) Our great gubernatorial candidate continues to kick a$$
3) Our AG also kicked some a$$ on the national stage yesterday w his response to the SCOTUS decision on injunctions. (Y'all may remember, he was one of the folks arguing our case on Birthright Citizenship before them about 6 weeks ago.)
4) The women & POC in the Senate and the House are fighting hard and loudly, including Sen. Slotkin.
5) Just look at all the great work our folks are doing, and folks in other opposition groups on Substack and elsewhere. The Opposition is big, loud, and growing.
I called Sens. Kim & Booker on supporting Gov. Newsom and the vax issue. (I got an MMR update vax a couple days back on the advice of my physician, I'm in that age bracket.)
Keep going!
Thanks, Lisa! I love your take on this.
Great interview with Senator Slotkin! You're right; she's another rising star in the party.
Have any of you investigated and reported on Rob Schenck? He is one of the architects of what we are going through now. It is decades in the making and involves lots of wealthy people behind the scenes as well as members of Congress.
Did a quick search -- recent articles say he has changed his mind?? No idea -- I'd never heard of him... (article was in aljazeera).
Found this article about him on wikipedia from 2024
https://revealnews.org/podcast/a-christian-nationalist-has-second-thoughts/