Thank you for sharing! I had not seen that. RC is one of the more thoughtful sports' figures. Both in his lane and out of it. Not saying that just because he's a former Steeler :-). I'm not surprised at what he said, but I'm grateful that he said it.
I've been meaning to mention this, Simon: thank you for reintroducing the word "vainglorious" into our vernacular. I don't know if there's a cooler sounding more descriptive word for the felon.
We need more ways to explain how bad Trump, MAGA, and Republicans are. Here are 25 I've come up with, in order from mild to wild (and Simon and everyone can feel free to use these)!
I’m seeing clips from Powell’s report today and he basically said directly that tariffs were part of inflation and that there’s been zero job growth in the private sector. There will be some wild Truth posts tonight I imagine.
I also saw a clip of Jeffries and Democrats on the steps of the House announcing their effort to fund DHS with the exception of ICE. They look good today.
Simon, Thank you for all the updates and data. It is very important information to keep track of, since we don't know whether or not a Recession will be knocking at our door!
I called my 5 favorite People( UGh!) and read them a list of 9-10 items that are very important right now, from ending the The New Gulf War to Blocking the "SAVE ACT" and also mentioned "OUR FIVE PART AGENDA".
I read in WaPo yesterday that Schumer said they were “trying to move a little bit” in the GOP direction in negotiations over ICE. Simon, do you know what that "little bit" is? I mean, to be honest, I don't care *what* it is, I feel we should be against it. Republicans and Trump need to be told in no uncertain terms that the proposal we gave them *is* the compromise. We could have asked--no, demanded--a lot more (e.g. I didn't see clawing back the entire ICE increase and using it to pay people back for the tariffs on the Dems list, for example).
In fact, I find myself wondering why we aren't negotiating this in the hardball way Trump would actually respect? Meaning, every time they send over a BS counterproposal like the one they revealed yesterday, we let them know that we're ADDING to our demands (which also has the side benefit of steadily ratcheting up any middle ground). There's a reason why this tactic is popular in the movies--people love and respect it, even if it's the "bad guys" doing it, and we are definitely not the bad guys on this, as far as the American people are concerned. These aren't business as usual times, Chuck.
Are our people afraid of being blamed for the long TSA lines? A response to a national disaster? A terrorist attack? Why? The last shutdown was blamed on the Republicans for two very good reasons: (1) They controlled the entire government--do we *really* believe they *really* think that what worked for McConnell--over and over--wouldn't work for us when the shoe was on the other foot? (2) Big majorities wanted the Republicans to give the Democrats what they were demanding, and as far as I know, there was no polling shift in their direction as it went on and on. Why would we--or they--believe it will be any different this time? Especially given the worst cases involved.
If there's a terrorist attack, not only could it have been averted if they'd been willing to hold Trump to the promises that got him elected, make ICE obey the Constitution, and hold it to the same standards as every other police department and law enforcement agency (what's their excuse NOT to do these things, unless they plan to use ICE as a Brownshirt paramilitary against US citizens?), but dollars to donuts it will be because of his stupid Iran war. If there's a disaster and FEMA's not able to respond, the ICE demands (bolstered by videos of their ongoing unconstitutional and unprofessional operations) can be supplemented by pointing out that Trump gutted FEMA anyway, the victims of the 2024 North Carolina still haven't been paid a dime by this administration, Kristi Noem's micromanagement caused a vital tornado tracking tool to go offline during a tornado, etc. etc. etc. FEMA's not a hill they can die on--it's not even a hill anymore, thanks to them. If something happens that the Coast Guard could have averted, rinse and repeat, and point out that the "Department of War" has already taken the Guard's authority and is using it to blow up fishing boats.
This sure looks like a no-lose for us, unless we start giving ground. If Schumer can't manage to avoid doing that in *this* situation, he really needs to step aside, at least where negotiations on this issue are concerned. There is no deal to be made here--only, as Trump likes to say, "unconditional surrender."
every time they come back with a limp response, schumer should add a couple more items. like reinstate the full training program, no arrest of citizens, background checks, etc etc. that's how u play their game. no, we should not be meeting them in the middle. ice/border patrol need to emulate real law enforcement. the american people are on your side. but you could be a little louder about this issue. americans should know that the dems are trying to pay everyone but ice/dhs. i dont hear it. get louder, put the repubs under pressure. way too quiet on this issue dems!!
I emailed my two senators and representative from the state of Illinois.
The content is below.
Hello
Thank you for all the good things you are doing!
Please focus on the following items…
One, fund of the TSA to keep air traffic flowing. Do not fund ICE until it is fully reformed … Such as no masks, identify officers with badges, follow the law, require warrants for searches, do not harm people. Close all the ice facilities that are being built as they hurt people and violate AMERICAN’S constitutional rights. Restore all legal immigrants to the United States that have been illegally deported.
Two, end the war with Iran. Open the straight of HORMUZ. Bring our soldiers home. Hold Trump and his minions accountable for all of their war crimes.
Three, speak plainly about what you’re going to do to take care of the American people, be sure to include:
• Cap certain drug prices
• Increase housing supply (zoning + incentives)
• Target corporate price practices (antitrust)
• Incentivize local building
• Federal support for zoning reform
• Tax credits for developers of affordable housing
• Expand ACA subsidies
• Negotiate more drug prices
• Push public-option-style plans
• Fund policing + training
• Invest in violence prevention programs
• Balance reform with enforcement
• Infrastructure + manufacturing investment
• Union support
• Minimum wage increases
• Border enforcement + asylum reform
• Legal immigration system fixes
• Work permits processing improvements
• Clean energy subsidies
• Domestic production
• Efficiency incentives
Thank you again for all the good things you are doing!
Calls are in to WI members regarding Iran, ICE , tariffs and Epstein. Continue to write postcards for WI Supreme Court and added Shawn Harris of Georgia
A few miscellaneous comments. Jen-Norm-Simon conversations are great. I love getting Norm's court case updates along with Simon's perspective on the overall fight. I hadn't heard yet about the court wins about the JFK Center.
I spent a bunch of today at Immigrants Day at the MA State House - important, moving, and our group included two first-timers going in to lobby. My impression of my state senator: still thinks he's governing for normal times.
I got a newsletter out to our list and included a few sentences from Simon's March 12 column about cognitive warfare. We have to spread self-defense far and wide.
Today's delivery - home heating oil went up 30% since Feb, and Feb was 5% higher than Jan.
Thanks for the sobering reminder of what we're here for. Made the calls.
And wanted to share this thoughtful essay by Parker Molloy, whom I've followed for a while on podcasts and now Substack. Parker's perspective as a progressive, trans woman, is sorely missing from a lot of the discussion amongst Dems, and I think she makes some good points. I think the candidates that Simon has selected are giving us things to vote for--but the party itself needs to take that premise front and center if it wants to remain relevant to Gen Z and beyond. PS - I'm a monthly donor to Justin J. Pearson. :)
When you vote for a reality TV personality instead of a smart, competent lifetime public servant, you get a hefty dose of, well, reality.
Just watched this video where Ryan Clark gets into the difference between a reality star and a public servant. https://youtu.be/G-9ieV6m494?si=MyU9j1Y2Vg1VzZOf
He’s not happy about having his NFL highlights used as part of a war-porn video.
Thank you for sharing! I had not seen that. RC is one of the more thoughtful sports' figures. Both in his lane and out of it. Not saying that just because he's a former Steeler :-). I'm not surprised at what he said, but I'm grateful that he said it.
You bet. James Fallows quotes this video heavily in his latest post and calls Clark “a man of character.” https://fallows.substack.com/p/the-folly-of-war-grows-worse?r=2ia0gw&utm_medium=ios
Thank you for the link. Very powerful and well stated.
I've been meaning to mention this, Simon: thank you for reintroducing the word "vainglorious" into our vernacular. I don't know if there's a cooler sounding more descriptive word for the felon.
I made a list of wonderful things to call him (below). Vainglorious. Overweening. Braggadocious.
Thanks for the update. I saw those numbers earlier in the day. They are terrible. It's going to get worse too, in all likelihood.
I'll go right now and contribute another $25/month to the Audacious Expansion fund.
We need more ways to explain how bad Trump, MAGA, and Republicans are. Here are 25 I've come up with, in order from mild to wild (and Simon and everyone can feel free to use these)!
- Colossal, Pompous Debacle
- Monumental, Arrogant Fiasco
- Epic, Swaggering Disaster
- Grandiose, Hubris-Laden Calamity
- Spectacular, Preening Catastrophe
- Staggering, Overweening Collapse
- Magnificent, Conceited Blunder
- Towering, Self-Important Trainwreck
- Stupendous, Narcissistic Implosion
- Breathtaking, Smug Farce
- Mammoth, Boastful Meltdown
- Thunderous, Self-Aggrandizing Shambles
- Resounding, Overblown Botch
- Seismic, Strutting Omnishambles
- Gargantuan, Braggadocious Cock-Up
- Brazen, Peacocking Balls-Up
- Cataclysmic, Blustering Shitshow
- Apocalyptic, Puffed-Up Dumpster Fire
- Volcanic, Blowhard Shitstorm
- Devastating, Chest-Thumping Shitfest
- Shattering, Grandstanding Clusterfuck
- Ruinous, Posturing Fuckery
- Obliterating, Ego-Soaked Shitpile
- Almighty, Hubristic Shitwreck
- Nuclear, Bombastic Fuckstorm
I’m seeing clips from Powell’s report today and he basically said directly that tariffs were part of inflation and that there’s been zero job growth in the private sector. There will be some wild Truth posts tonight I imagine.
I also saw a clip of Jeffries and Democrats on the steps of the House announcing their effort to fund DHS with the exception of ICE. They look good today.
Simon, Thank you for all the updates and data. It is very important information to keep track of, since we don't know whether or not a Recession will be knocking at our door!
I called my 5 favorite People( UGh!) and read them a list of 9-10 items that are very important right now, from ending the The New Gulf War to Blocking the "SAVE ACT" and also mentioned "OUR FIVE PART AGENDA".
I read in WaPo yesterday that Schumer said they were “trying to move a little bit” in the GOP direction in negotiations over ICE. Simon, do you know what that "little bit" is? I mean, to be honest, I don't care *what* it is, I feel we should be against it. Republicans and Trump need to be told in no uncertain terms that the proposal we gave them *is* the compromise. We could have asked--no, demanded--a lot more (e.g. I didn't see clawing back the entire ICE increase and using it to pay people back for the tariffs on the Dems list, for example).
In fact, I find myself wondering why we aren't negotiating this in the hardball way Trump would actually respect? Meaning, every time they send over a BS counterproposal like the one they revealed yesterday, we let them know that we're ADDING to our demands (which also has the side benefit of steadily ratcheting up any middle ground). There's a reason why this tactic is popular in the movies--people love and respect it, even if it's the "bad guys" doing it, and we are definitely not the bad guys on this, as far as the American people are concerned. These aren't business as usual times, Chuck.
Are our people afraid of being blamed for the long TSA lines? A response to a national disaster? A terrorist attack? Why? The last shutdown was blamed on the Republicans for two very good reasons: (1) They controlled the entire government--do we *really* believe they *really* think that what worked for McConnell--over and over--wouldn't work for us when the shoe was on the other foot? (2) Big majorities wanted the Republicans to give the Democrats what they were demanding, and as far as I know, there was no polling shift in their direction as it went on and on. Why would we--or they--believe it will be any different this time? Especially given the worst cases involved.
If there's a terrorist attack, not only could it have been averted if they'd been willing to hold Trump to the promises that got him elected, make ICE obey the Constitution, and hold it to the same standards as every other police department and law enforcement agency (what's their excuse NOT to do these things, unless they plan to use ICE as a Brownshirt paramilitary against US citizens?), but dollars to donuts it will be because of his stupid Iran war. If there's a disaster and FEMA's not able to respond, the ICE demands (bolstered by videos of their ongoing unconstitutional and unprofessional operations) can be supplemented by pointing out that Trump gutted FEMA anyway, the victims of the 2024 North Carolina still haven't been paid a dime by this administration, Kristi Noem's micromanagement caused a vital tornado tracking tool to go offline during a tornado, etc. etc. etc. FEMA's not a hill they can die on--it's not even a hill anymore, thanks to them. If something happens that the Coast Guard could have averted, rinse and repeat, and point out that the "Department of War" has already taken the Guard's authority and is using it to blow up fishing boats.
This sure looks like a no-lose for us, unless we start giving ground. If Schumer can't manage to avoid doing that in *this* situation, he really needs to step aside, at least where negotiations on this issue are concerned. There is no deal to be made here--only, as Trump likes to say, "unconditional surrender."
PS Here's the source for the Schumer quote (gift link): https://wapo.st/475BmGC
every time they come back with a limp response, schumer should add a couple more items. like reinstate the full training program, no arrest of citizens, background checks, etc etc. that's how u play their game. no, we should not be meeting them in the middle. ice/border patrol need to emulate real law enforcement. the american people are on your side. but you could be a little louder about this issue. americans should know that the dems are trying to pay everyone but ice/dhs. i dont hear it. get louder, put the repubs under pressure. way too quiet on this issue dems!!
I also believe to we all continue to be loud about the Epstein files and class.
I emailed my two senators and representative from the state of Illinois.
The content is below.
Hello
Thank you for all the good things you are doing!
Please focus on the following items…
One, fund of the TSA to keep air traffic flowing. Do not fund ICE until it is fully reformed … Such as no masks, identify officers with badges, follow the law, require warrants for searches, do not harm people. Close all the ice facilities that are being built as they hurt people and violate AMERICAN’S constitutional rights. Restore all legal immigrants to the United States that have been illegally deported.
Two, end the war with Iran. Open the straight of HORMUZ. Bring our soldiers home. Hold Trump and his minions accountable for all of their war crimes.
Three, speak plainly about what you’re going to do to take care of the American people, be sure to include:
• Cap certain drug prices
• Increase housing supply (zoning + incentives)
• Target corporate price practices (antitrust)
• Incentivize local building
• Federal support for zoning reform
• Tax credits for developers of affordable housing
• Expand ACA subsidies
• Negotiate more drug prices
• Push public-option-style plans
• Fund policing + training
• Invest in violence prevention programs
• Balance reform with enforcement
• Infrastructure + manufacturing investment
• Union support
• Minimum wage increases
• Border enforcement + asylum reform
• Legal immigration system fixes
• Work permits processing improvements
• Clean energy subsidies
• Domestic production
• Efficiency incentives
Thank you again for all the good things you are doing!
A funny bit of intelligent underground warfare against DJT from some creative hackers in Denver:
https://www.denverpost.com/2026/03/16/hacked-crosswalks-denver-donald-trump/?share=s0lcadhaodevlroadrh0
That financial news is brutal. The wheels are coming off. Stocks took a big hit today. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/17/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
Calls are in to WI members regarding Iran, ICE , tariffs and Epstein. Continue to write postcards for WI Supreme Court and added Shawn Harris of Georgia
A few miscellaneous comments. Jen-Norm-Simon conversations are great. I love getting Norm's court case updates along with Simon's perspective on the overall fight. I hadn't heard yet about the court wins about the JFK Center.
I spent a bunch of today at Immigrants Day at the MA State House - important, moving, and our group included two first-timers going in to lobby. My impression of my state senator: still thinks he's governing for normal times.
I got a newsletter out to our list and included a few sentences from Simon's March 12 column about cognitive warfare. We have to spread self-defense far and wide.
Today's delivery - home heating oil went up 30% since Feb, and Feb was 5% higher than Jan.
Thanks for the sobering reminder of what we're here for. Made the calls.
And wanted to share this thoughtful essay by Parker Molloy, whom I've followed for a while on podcasts and now Substack. Parker's perspective as a progressive, trans woman, is sorely missing from a lot of the discussion amongst Dems, and I think she makes some good points. I think the candidates that Simon has selected are giving us things to vote for--but the party itself needs to take that premise front and center if it wants to remain relevant to Gen Z and beyond. PS - I'm a monthly donor to Justin J. Pearson. :)
https://www.readtpa.com/p/what-if-we-didnt-suck