I do not believe that it was high inflation. Sure, we do need to do a better job making the case that Dems are better for the economy. But "inflation" was the excuse this time, just like "her emails" was the excuse in 2016. Inflation was down. Real wages were up. People admitted that their own economic positions were good. Jobs were at amazing levels. No one really cared what server the Secretary of State used in 2016 and no one really cared about "inflation" by 2024.
There is a percentage of the population that will gladly vote against their own interests as long as a candidate stokes their sexism, racism, and tribal hatred of "libs." Look at states like Mississippi that are always near the bottom of economic/health/social measures but that keep voting Republican. They don't wake up one day and say, "Gee, I care about economic issues and the Republicans keep screwing us while blue states keep doing better. Next time, I'm voting for the Democrat!" No, they keep voting for the Republicans year after year. I'm not sure what the answer is (although I don't think we're going to change the MAGAts' minds and probably need to focus on getting others out to vote with us) but I know we won't be able to address the problem if we think it's just inflation.
Martin I am sorry you are down today but you cannot just come dump your sorrows on all of us. Not we do here. I have taken this post down. Come back when you are ready....thank you.
Hi Simon, I just can't deal with seeing this type of subject line in my inbox every day. I don't want to unsubscribe (I'm a paid subscriber), but "Trump 2.0 is Here- Nazi Salutes..." is the exact opposite of Hopium. There has to be a better way to keep this group going.
Carol, a few notes: 1) we don't have these subject lines everyday. This was an overreaction and unfair. 2) We are going to have to talk about Trump and understand what he is doing. We cannot look away, nor we can we let him determine our understanding of the world. But as I've written we must understand him in order to defeat him. 3) I understand your frustration. I have it too. A newsletter full of Trump's ugliness won't work. That's why this place is much more than that. Not sure their will be any political newsletters today that won't be about Trump Day 1. 4) If you need to disengage for a while do it. Folks need to do what they need to do at their own pace. Thanks for being part of this wonderful community - Best, Simon
Hi Simon, Last night I was at a Community Dinner for Abigail Spanberger in Chesterfield, the country that won the race for her in 2018. There were about 40 of us focused on helping her win the Governor's race, beginning with collecting 30,000 signatures on petitions, which would break the record. That's what I have to do for my mental health. That's what we women who have working RELENTLESSLY here in the Richmond area are doing.
That's wonderful! I've signed up to volunteer on her campaign. In the meantime, I'm going to make phone calls on behalf of Josh Weil, who is running for FL-06. I reached about 5 people yesterday, all whom are supporting Weil--and one even already voted for him! Here is a link to the phone-banking events: https://www.mobilize.us/joshweilforcongressionaldistrict6/event/750460/.
This is phone-banking for the primary taking place next Tuesday, January 28. Consider making some calls, along with your other actions. We have a chance to increase our numbers in the House. You know what they say--the more, the merrier!
Hear hear, Moishe. Quoting from an Indivisible post I received yesterday:
So as we endure this shock and awe campaign over the coming week, let’s remember, it’s not a sign of Trump’s invincibility. It’s a sign he’s at the height of his power now. He can make a lot of noise, cause a lot of damage, but soon he’s going to realize the constraints of his very narrow governing coalition and run up against rising backlash to his staggeringly harmful and massively corrupt policies.
As we wrote in the new Indivisible Guide,
“Fascists depend on convincing us to give our power away and fall in line, that the fight is over and we lost. And while we must be clear-eyed about the threat, we must not do the fascists’ work for them by giving them powers they do not have.”
NONE of the orange baby man's clown show would be happening if he was disqualified day one after forensic psychiatrist Dr Bandy X Lee's report of the FIVE DANGEROUS MENTAL PATHOLOGIES of Donald Trump.
In the United States, Medical Doctors are not allowed to diagnose patients they have never seen, or comment on the illness of patients without their consent. It is unethical.
With thousands of hours of the orange baby man's behavior having been recorded, a one on one diagnosis is unnecessary when pathological behavior is in plain sight for all to see.
Those are not the standards that we adhere to in the United States, as referenced above. Presidential powers can be removed under Section 4 of the 25th amendment if the President is deemed unfit to serve, and then those powers are transferred to the Vice President. https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt25-1/ALDE_00013871/
That is why, as Dr. Bandy X Lee states, it is crucial as a public service to inform all voters of the dangers of mentally unfit leadership, so voters tell Congress what they must do.
Lee lost her position at Yale University as a “voluntary” assistant clinical professor for this unethical behavior, i.e., giving professional opinions about someone who is not her patient and who has not granted permission to disclose her findings. She sued Yale in 2021, and lost her case and her dismissal was upheld in appellate court.
I'm reading "On Disinformation: How to Fight for Truth and Protect Democracy" by Lee McIntyre
Ten ways everyone helps stop disinformation in its tracks are in Chapter 6 "How to Win the War on Truth" as long as we all do everything we can.
🔶️Confront the liars🔶️Be a truth teller🔶️Resist polarization🔶️Realize the zombie foot soldiers are victims too🔶️Tune out the BS that there's nothing you can do🔶️Don't fall for false solutions that take 30 years to do🔶️It's false to claim good information stops bad information, it does not🔶️Engage in political activism🔶️Know you are not alone🔶️Keep learning more how disinformation works
I wish the media would report that his inauguration speech and his post speech were filled with “lies”—stop using terms like “false claims”to describe them.
It was also discouraging seeing the ADL downplaying the Nazi salute. Text of their social media post reads:
"This is a delicate moment. It's a new day and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety. It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge. In this moment, all sides should give each other a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath. This is a new beginning. Let's hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years ahead."
Hi Faith, my apologies! I did not see your comment before posting duplicate information. So I just deleted my comment in deference to yours.
Yes, the ADL’s social media post is utter bullshit – and it’s horrifying prevarication from a prominent Jewish organization that purports to fight antisemitism.
I think the mainstream media may be using these terms on advice of their lawyers to avoid libel claims. It's a sad day for FREE SPEECH when a spade cannot be called a spade!
We can't stop the lies but we need to demand that our media devotes - in proportion to the amount of lies told each day - a segment of their reporting to explanations of at least a few of the lies that were told that day. Perhaps a short tutorial now and then about how Trump turns the tables on reporters' questions would be helpful too. We call the Proud Boys "insurrectionists," and he calls them, "patriots." He says that cutting taxes further for the very wealthy will help our economy while it is a fact that his previous tax cuts for the very wealthy more than doubled our national debt (after 200+ years). Call out his lies, and call your Senators and Representatives. Often. Let them know that we know the truth.
I just read Josh Marshall at TPM and between him and Simon, I'm feeling more determined and prepared. To paraphrase Josh and echo Simon, they told us it would be "shock and awe" and we need to hang together and not overreact because that's what they want us to do. We all know it and should have the courage of our convictions to hold us up.
So thanks Simon, for helping us Keep Calm and Carry On.
Josh Marshall is one of the really good guys – and Talking Points Memo (TPM), which he founded and is the editor for, is well worth subscribing to. TPM does real journalism I also wholeheartedly recommend supporting and subscribing to:
– The Contrarian (Jennifer Rubin et al)
– Bolts Magazine (editor Daniel Nichanian)
– The Downballot (David Nir & Jeff Singer, previously DK Elections)
– Letters From an American (Heather Cox Richardson)
Well, today I posted links to two video interviews that Jennifer Rubin did at The Contrarian. One is with Ruth Ben-Ghiat, the other with Heather Cox Richardson. (For those of us who prefer to read, The Contrarian has a "Transcript" button below their videos.)
Once again, I made calls yesterday to my senators to oppose him. We need to keep doing that. Call not just the Republicans but also the Democrats. They need to hear from us and they will!
I have a few predictions for the next six or so months. First, major infighting amongst the billionaire boys club. Oligarchies start out with the powerful men looking at each other and saying, “As long as no one gets greedy we can all keep feeding at this trough for four years. There’s plenty to go around!” Everyone smiles and nods emphatically while thinking, “I’m going to take him out first before he can come after me.” Second, RFK Junior will not be confirmed. When he starts talking about the need to regulate the food industry and make certain artificial flavors and colors illegal like most other parts of the world have, Trump is going to publicly say that everyone should drink red dye number three straight from the bottle and force RFK Junior to look like an idiot. (Actually, that doesn’t sound right. You can’t force someone to look like an idiot when they have been an idiot for nearly their entire life.) Third, those 1500 pardoned rioters are being released as hardened terrorists. It is sadly the case that prison doesn’t make people better. It makes them worse. These guys are going to be angrier, more confirmed in their radical views, and probably now all tied up with the Aryan Brotherhood. Ask any terrorism expert and they will probably agree with this assessment. That is the mechanism for how a lot of Islamist terror groups formed in prisons. It’s only a matter of time before one of them commits a crime. Maybe an attempted large-scale assassination like Trump’s Chippendale fanboy mail-bomber tried during his first term. If that happens, blame it on Trump nonstop and shout anyone down who tries to do otherwise. Now we can be in the Joe Rogan position of telling people that their government and their media are lying to them constantly. Since that’s the truth, and since people always want to believe that anyway, it’s a pretty powerful message.
I hope you’re right about r Kennedy jr not getting confirmed. My Read is the Trump likes him for a celebrity. He’s a kennedy.!!!!!!!! Trump really likes rubbing our nose in the bad guys in the family that we all revere. And Trump thinks it makes him look big, because he will put Kennedy in his place.
It will come out at some time that this past election was rigged!! There was definite interference!! Trump even said this at his an inauguration. Musk didn’t pour millions into this election for nothing!! I have no respect for the media, all news, that keeps acknowledging him as our 47 president.
2024 was a free and fair election with a peaceful transfer of power. It was not a landslide or mandate: it was a very close election. The Citizens United ruling resulted in the campaign finance laws being as they are and encourages such oligarchy.
I don’t care what the “media” says. Although I don’t believe that Trump knows what he is saying half the time, he admitted during his inauguration that the election was rigged. I don’t know what you watch, but I watched all the rallies and there was no comparison. Also if you saw all the hundreds of thousands that protested on the 18th you would get that most of the country is against a felon and insurrectionist. He couldn’t even put his hand on the Bible!! The man is not fit and everyone knows it. Not only did he have Elon Musk to help him, but he had election deniers help him as well. He had a lot of help with the interference!!!!!
I like to say Trump not only doesn't have a mandate, he has an anti-mandate. Why? Because it turns out that one of the strongest divides between Trump and Harris supporters is that Trump voters didn't believe he would really do the things he said he would and Harris voters believed he would.
I am afraid the mainstream media will not talk about it at all. The repubs are successfully erasing the attack from history. We cannot allow that to happen!
Excellent analysis and crafting of the way forward out of this!! I feel lucky today to be a Virginian because we have such a positive, strong focus in the election of Abigail Spanberger, but let me also point out that the entire Virginia House of Delegates is up for re-election and Abigail needs Democrats to stay in power to get good things done. The House currently hangs in the balance by one vote — which, by the way, pro-democracy groups were able to protect in the recent Jan. 7th special election. But I/we look forward to the the broader, federal targets we need to focus on once our collective pro-democracy leaders, especially Democratic Party leaders, determine those.
Thank you, Simon!! You are a treasure, never more apparent than now.
There was early talk of a challenge by Bobby Scott, but no one in my advocacy group(s) has heard any more. So we’ll see. Don’t think it’s likely. Spanberger has a solid beginning ($) with solid numbers of volunteers collecting petitions to get her on the ballot.
I agree- that's why I emphasized that the fact they are trying to deny it was a salute shows they know it's not a popular thing to do. If they openly admitted to that he did it, then we would have reason to be worried.
I recently reread Orwell’s 1984 and the amount of doublespeak in the day 1 executive orders (“Restore Free Speech” “End the Weaponization of the Department of Justice” meaning the exact opposites) was sickening.
Waking up this morning with that familiar pit in my stomach from 2017-2020. But also ready for action.
I do not believe that it was high inflation. Sure, we do need to do a better job making the case that Dems are better for the economy. But "inflation" was the excuse this time, just like "her emails" was the excuse in 2016. Inflation was down. Real wages were up. People admitted that their own economic positions were good. Jobs were at amazing levels. No one really cared what server the Secretary of State used in 2016 and no one really cared about "inflation" by 2024.
There is a percentage of the population that will gladly vote against their own interests as long as a candidate stokes their sexism, racism, and tribal hatred of "libs." Look at states like Mississippi that are always near the bottom of economic/health/social measures but that keep voting Republican. They don't wake up one day and say, "Gee, I care about economic issues and the Republicans keep screwing us while blue states keep doing better. Next time, I'm voting for the Democrat!" No, they keep voting for the Republicans year after year. I'm not sure what the answer is (although I don't think we're going to change the MAGAts' minds and probably need to focus on getting others out to vote with us) but I know we won't be able to address the problem if we think it's just inflation.
Martin I am sorry you are down today but you cannot just come dump your sorrows on all of us. Not we do here. I have taken this post down. Come back when you are ready....thank you.
Hi Simon, I just can't deal with seeing this type of subject line in my inbox every day. I don't want to unsubscribe (I'm a paid subscriber), but "Trump 2.0 is Here- Nazi Salutes..." is the exact opposite of Hopium. There has to be a better way to keep this group going.
Carol, a few notes: 1) we don't have these subject lines everyday. This was an overreaction and unfair. 2) We are going to have to talk about Trump and understand what he is doing. We cannot look away, nor we can we let him determine our understanding of the world. But as I've written we must understand him in order to defeat him. 3) I understand your frustration. I have it too. A newsletter full of Trump's ugliness won't work. That's why this place is much more than that. Not sure their will be any political newsletters today that won't be about Trump Day 1. 4) If you need to disengage for a while do it. Folks need to do what they need to do at their own pace. Thanks for being part of this wonderful community - Best, Simon
Hi Simon, Last night I was at a Community Dinner for Abigail Spanberger in Chesterfield, the country that won the race for her in 2018. There were about 40 of us focused on helping her win the Governor's race, beginning with collecting 30,000 signatures on petitions, which would break the record. That's what I have to do for my mental health. That's what we women who have working RELENTLESSLY here in the Richmond area are doing.
Thank you for posting this! I just signed up to gather signatures in Hanover County and perhaps a few from adjacents.
Carol, so grateful to you for doing just this — relentlessly leaning toward the future for the sake of us all. Thank you.
That's wonderful! I've signed up to volunteer on her campaign. In the meantime, I'm going to make phone calls on behalf of Josh Weil, who is running for FL-06. I reached about 5 people yesterday, all whom are supporting Weil--and one even already voted for him! Here is a link to the phone-banking events: https://www.mobilize.us/joshweilforcongressionaldistrict6/event/750460/.
This is phone-banking for the primary taking place next Tuesday, January 28. Consider making some calls, along with your other actions. We have a chance to increase our numbers in the House. You know what they say--the more, the merrier!
Thank you, Simon. We need to be clear-eyed and know exactly what is going on. Trump 2.0 is Nazism and the destruction of the American ideal.
That being said, we have a ton of work to do and Nazis to punch (a la Indiana Jones)
Hear hear, Moishe. Quoting from an Indivisible post I received yesterday:
So as we endure this shock and awe campaign over the coming week, let’s remember, it’s not a sign of Trump’s invincibility. It’s a sign he’s at the height of his power now. He can make a lot of noise, cause a lot of damage, but soon he’s going to realize the constraints of his very narrow governing coalition and run up against rising backlash to his staggeringly harmful and massively corrupt policies.
As we wrote in the new Indivisible Guide,
“Fascists depend on convincing us to give our power away and fall in line, that the fight is over and we lost. And while we must be clear-eyed about the threat, we must not do the fascists’ work for them by giving them powers they do not have.”
Rather like a toupeed Tasmanian Devil of Looney Tunes fame.
NONE of the orange baby man's clown show would be happening if he was disqualified day one after forensic psychiatrist Dr Bandy X Lee's report of the FIVE DANGEROUS MENTAL PATHOLOGIES of Donald Trump.
"World Mental Health Coalition"
https://youtube.com/@dangerouscasenow2523?si=OzNy4LkMVxd8JzHZ
In the United States, Medical Doctors are not allowed to diagnose patients they have never seen, or comment on the illness of patients without their consent. It is unethical.
Here is an explanation from the American Psychiatric Association. https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/the-goldwater-rule
With thousands of hours of the orange baby man's behavior having been recorded, a one on one diagnosis is unnecessary when pathological behavior is in plain sight for all to see.
For more details go to
"World Mental Health Coalition"
https://youtube.com/@dangerouscasenow2523?si=OzNy4LkMVxd8JzHZ
Those are not the standards that we adhere to in the United States, as referenced above. Presidential powers can be removed under Section 4 of the 25th amendment if the President is deemed unfit to serve, and then those powers are transferred to the Vice President. https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt25-1/ALDE_00013871/
Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment addresses disqualification for insurrection or rebellion against the United States government. https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/amendment-14/section-3/
That is why, as Dr. Bandy X Lee states, it is crucial as a public service to inform all voters of the dangers of mentally unfit leadership, so voters tell Congress what they must do.
Lee lost her position at Yale University as a “voluntary” assistant clinical professor for this unethical behavior, i.e., giving professional opinions about someone who is not her patient and who has not granted permission to disclose her findings. She sued Yale in 2021, and lost her case and her dismissal was upheld in appellate court.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/academic-freedom/2023/06/29/yale-professor-who-diagnosed-dershowitz-tweet-loses and
https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2021/03/23/former-professor-says-yale-fired-her-over-tweet-on-trump-dershowitz/
Thank you for this important information. It matters.
I'm reading "On Disinformation: How to Fight for Truth and Protect Democracy" by Lee McIntyre
Ten ways everyone helps stop disinformation in its tracks are in Chapter 6 "How to Win the War on Truth" as long as we all do everything we can.
🔶️Confront the liars🔶️Be a truth teller🔶️Resist polarization🔶️Realize the zombie foot soldiers are victims too🔶️Tune out the BS that there's nothing you can do🔶️Don't fall for false solutions that take 30 years to do🔶️It's false to claim good information stops bad information, it does not🔶️Engage in political activism🔶️Know you are not alone🔶️Keep learning more how disinformation works
https://youtu.be/54zYLJnB5vk?si=jN_PqD5hrpCVc3kt
Crimes of Big Money in Politics
🔸Endless war in every country for endless profit
🔸Endless destruction of the environment for endless profit
🔸Endlessly pit society against itself to hide in plain sight for endless profit
"Consequences of Capitalism", Noam Chomsky, Preface
https://open.substack.com/pub/simonwdc?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=280c3q
ACTIONS BY EVERYONE GROWS FREEDOM
How to Prevent "GOP MASS PSYCHOSIS - How an Entire Population Becomes MENTALLY ILL"
❤️ Discredit totalitarian propaganda everywhere
🤣 Mock GOP worship of dictators
❤️ Promote moral organizations
❤️ c 1st 📈
https://youtu.be/09maaUaRT4M
I wish the media would report that his inauguration speech and his post speech were filled with “lies”—stop using terms like “false claims”to describe them.
It was also discouraging seeing the ADL downplaying the Nazi salute. Text of their social media post reads:
"This is a delicate moment. It's a new day and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety. It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge. In this moment, all sides should give each other a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath. This is a new beginning. Let's hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years ahead."
“Who are you going to believe? Me, or your lying eyes?”
BS. bending the knee.
This tweet by the ADL was extremely disappointing/ ridiculous/ shameful/ pitiful.
Hi Faith, my apologies! I did not see your comment before posting duplicate information. So I just deleted my comment in deference to yours.
Yes, the ADL’s social media post is utter bullshit – and it’s horrifying prevarication from a prominent Jewish organization that purports to fight antisemitism.
https://nitter.poast.org/ADL/status/1881474892022919403#m
The CEO of JCPA condemned Musk:
https://x.com/amyspitalnick/status/1881494602613674270?s=12
I think the mainstream media may be using these terms on advice of their lawyers to avoid libel claims. It's a sad day for FREE SPEECH when a spade cannot be called a spade!
"Spade" can also be a problematic term. Just saying. ;)
😬yes, there is that!
We can't stop the lies but we need to demand that our media devotes - in proportion to the amount of lies told each day - a segment of their reporting to explanations of at least a few of the lies that were told that day. Perhaps a short tutorial now and then about how Trump turns the tables on reporters' questions would be helpful too. We call the Proud Boys "insurrectionists," and he calls them, "patriots." He says that cutting taxes further for the very wealthy will help our economy while it is a fact that his previous tax cuts for the very wealthy more than doubled our national debt (after 200+ years). Call out his lies, and call your Senators and Representatives. Often. Let them know that we know the truth.
I just read Josh Marshall at TPM and between him and Simon, I'm feeling more determined and prepared. To paraphrase Josh and echo Simon, they told us it would be "shock and awe" and we need to hang together and not overreact because that's what they want us to do. We all know it and should have the courage of our convictions to hold us up.
So thanks Simon, for helping us Keep Calm and Carry On.
Josh Marshall is one of the really good guys – and Talking Points Memo (TPM), which he founded and is the editor for, is well worth subscribing to. TPM does real journalism I also wholeheartedly recommend supporting and subscribing to:
– The Contrarian (Jennifer Rubin et al)
– Bolts Magazine (editor Daniel Nichanian)
– The Downballot (David Nir & Jeff Singer, previously DK Elections)
– Letters From an American (Heather Cox Richardson)
– The Borowitz Report (satire and more)
– Lucid (Ruth Ben Ghiat)
– Hopium (of course!)
I would add Deep State Radio (David Rothkopf et al.) and Thinking About (Timothy Snyder)
Let us know when you read something that all of us at Hopium Need to know about and read. Thanks.
Likewise!
Well, today I posted links to two video interviews that Jennifer Rubin did at The Contrarian. One is with Ruth Ben-Ghiat, the other with Heather Cox Richardson. (For those of us who prefer to read, The Contrarian has a "Transcript" button below their videos.)
Agreed- they know they only have a short window to operate in, so that's why they are piling on early.
HEGSETH IS UNQUALIFIED AND EXTREMIST 😡😡😡
GABBARD IS UNQUALIFIED AND EXTREMIST 😡😡😡
PATEL IS UNQUALIFIED AND EXTREMIST 😡😡😡
KENNEDY IS UNQUALIFIED AND EXTREMIST 😡😡😡
BONDI IS UNQUALIFIED AND EXTREMIST 😡😡😡
Russ Vought, Trump’s OMB nominee, is a qualified – but a very dangerous extremist.
Nailed it!
Once again, I made calls yesterday to my senators to oppose him. We need to keep doing that. Call not just the Republicans but also the Democrats. They need to hear from us and they will!
He’s the most dangerous of them all, because he’s smart, dedicated to Project 2025, and can make it a reality
I have a few predictions for the next six or so months. First, major infighting amongst the billionaire boys club. Oligarchies start out with the powerful men looking at each other and saying, “As long as no one gets greedy we can all keep feeding at this trough for four years. There’s plenty to go around!” Everyone smiles and nods emphatically while thinking, “I’m going to take him out first before he can come after me.” Second, RFK Junior will not be confirmed. When he starts talking about the need to regulate the food industry and make certain artificial flavors and colors illegal like most other parts of the world have, Trump is going to publicly say that everyone should drink red dye number three straight from the bottle and force RFK Junior to look like an idiot. (Actually, that doesn’t sound right. You can’t force someone to look like an idiot when they have been an idiot for nearly their entire life.) Third, those 1500 pardoned rioters are being released as hardened terrorists. It is sadly the case that prison doesn’t make people better. It makes them worse. These guys are going to be angrier, more confirmed in their radical views, and probably now all tied up with the Aryan Brotherhood. Ask any terrorism expert and they will probably agree with this assessment. That is the mechanism for how a lot of Islamist terror groups formed in prisons. It’s only a matter of time before one of them commits a crime. Maybe an attempted large-scale assassination like Trump’s Chippendale fanboy mail-bomber tried during his first term. If that happens, blame it on Trump nonstop and shout anyone down who tries to do otherwise. Now we can be in the Joe Rogan position of telling people that their government and their media are lying to them constantly. Since that’s the truth, and since people always want to believe that anyway, it’s a pretty powerful message.
I hope you’re right about r Kennedy jr not getting confirmed. My Read is the Trump likes him for a celebrity. He’s a kennedy.!!!!!!!! Trump really likes rubbing our nose in the bad guys in the family that we all revere. And Trump thinks it makes him look big, because he will put Kennedy in his place.
It will come out at some time that this past election was rigged!! There was definite interference!! Trump even said this at his an inauguration. Musk didn’t pour millions into this election for nothing!! I have no respect for the media, all news, that keeps acknowledging him as our 47 president.
2024 was a free and fair election with a peaceful transfer of power. It was not a landslide or mandate: it was a very close election. The Citizens United ruling resulted in the campaign finance laws being as they are and encourages such oligarchy.
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/citizens-united-explained
There are conspiracy theories that state what you have alleged, and by definition are not worthy of perpetuating. https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/election-denialism-emerges-left-trumps-win-rcna179797
I don’t care what the “media” says. Although I don’t believe that Trump knows what he is saying half the time, he admitted during his inauguration that the election was rigged. I don’t know what you watch, but I watched all the rallies and there was no comparison. Also if you saw all the hundreds of thousands that protested on the 18th you would get that most of the country is against a felon and insurrectionist. He couldn’t even put his hand on the Bible!! The man is not fit and everyone knows it. Not only did he have Elon Musk to help him, but he had election deniers help him as well. He had a lot of help with the interference!!!!!
Hope some polling companies do a poll on the unpopularity of pardoning 1500 rioters and traitors.
It's been polled and it is very bad for Trump
I like to say Trump not only doesn't have a mandate, he has an anti-mandate. Why? Because it turns out that one of the strongest divides between Trump and Harris supporters is that Trump voters didn't believe he would really do the things he said he would and Harris voters believed he would.
Details? Can they be published?
I will work to include them in tomorrow's post. My guess is that we will start to see regular media polling again in the coming weeks.
thanks
I am afraid the mainstream media will not talk about it at all. The repubs are successfully erasing the attack from history. We cannot allow that to happen!
Check out Tim Miller's video on the pardons. Get fired up!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sageDiTknbk
Thanks, he was spot on.
Looking forward to the details.
Seems like if we are to pick one fight, this is a great one. "Law and Order"?????
Excellent analysis and crafting of the way forward out of this!! I feel lucky today to be a Virginian because we have such a positive, strong focus in the election of Abigail Spanberger, but let me also point out that the entire Virginia House of Delegates is up for re-election and Abigail needs Democrats to stay in power to get good things done. The House currently hangs in the balance by one vote — which, by the way, pro-democracy groups were able to protect in the recent Jan. 7th special election. But I/we look forward to the the broader, federal targets we need to focus on once our collective pro-democracy leaders, especially Democratic Party leaders, determine those.
Thank you, Simon!! You are a treasure, never more apparent than now.
What is the word on whether there will be a primary challenger to Spanberger? I hope not!
As of today she is unopposed, but we are unlikely to rescind our endorsement if someone gets in.
She is also tied or ahead in all public polls so far.
There was early talk of a challenge by Bobby Scott, but no one in my advocacy group(s) has heard any more. So we’ll see. Don’t think it’s likely. Spanberger has a solid beginning ($) with solid numbers of volunteers collecting petitions to get her on the ballot.
The time to really worry is when they stop denying it was a Nazi salute.
As disgusting as Elmo's actions are, this could be one of the distractions Simon warned us about.
I agree- that's why I emphasized that the fact they are trying to deny it was a salute shows they know it's not a popular thing to do. If they openly admitted to that he did it, then we would have reason to be worried.
That’s already being done. Shockingly enough, also by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
Unfortunately for them, genuine American Nazis fully acknowledge that this was a Nazi salute – and they are applauding and celebrating!
I recently reread Orwell’s 1984 and the amount of doublespeak in the day 1 executive orders (“Restore Free Speech” “End the Weaponization of the Department of Justice” meaning the exact opposites) was sickening.
Waking up this morning with that familiar pit in my stomach from 2017-2020. But also ready for action.
"Lord of the Flies" is another book worth a read or re-read.
Good idea, putting it on my list!