Morning all. First the inflation news - a main gauge of inflation, PPI, rose 1.1 percent in May, much higher than expected, and really hot!
Here’s our updated PPI chart (see yesterday’s post for more on the explosive inflation we are seeing under Trump):
Yes, Trump’s failed war keeps failing.
The proud, plucky patriots of this remarkable community gathered last night for our weekly look at our progress in the great battle against MAGA and for freedom and democracy, here and everywhere. A video recording and rough transcript of my talk and the lively Q & A that followed can be found above.
The main theme of my talk last night was desperation. With soaring unpopularity, surging inflation, interest rates now more likely to rise than fall, a failed war and global leaders and events failing to bend the knee, political and legal loss after loss piling up, Congressional Rs far more willing to challenge him on things that matter, his candidate losing in a consequential Iowa governor’s race, his health and mind failing, it has become clear and undeniable that his powers are ebbing and he has become a diminished figure, far more a weak man than a strong one. He hit 29% approval on the economy this week in Economist/YouGov, and 24% on inflation - he just keeps crashing through polling floors each week. All measures of our intensity - primary vote totals, polling, electoral overperformance - suggest a wave election is coming. We are now much more likely to return to power, winning the House and even the Senate this November. And all of this is making him more and more desperate, reckless, unhinged, maniacal, wild, and of course dangerous. Consider:
Unwilling to accept surrender in his failed war, but driven by a need to get energy prices down here at home, he returns to bloodthirsty rhetoric, bombing Iran, and potentially committing war crimes - a strategy that has already failed spectacularly. It reeks of desperation.
The ridiculous Trump-led whole of right-wing movement to turn the late vote counting in California into “rigging” and “cheating” is a sign of how scared they are about the upcoming election, and a reminder that he is at the point where he is going to do “whatever it takes” to stay in power. It reeks of desperation.
“Whatever it takes” this week includes the outrageous attempt to put Bill Pulte in charge of ODNI and his mob lawyer Todd Blanche in charge of DOJ over the clear reservations by already estranged Senate Republicans. These moves can only be read as Trump preparing to do whatever it takes to prevent us from winning this November and taking power in January. It reeks of desperation.
In the Oval yesterday when pressed about the terrible new inflation numbers, Trump panicked and blurted out that ridiculous inflation line:
It too reeks of desperation.
Here is something he truthed last night. Senate Rs have already told him no on “Reconciliation 3.0” and the SAVE Act, and yet, like a child, he just keeps screaming for more, more, more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No other President has ever been more committed to both REBUILDING our Great Military and SAVING our Great Country — And NOW is the time to make it happen, for Generations to come.
I am hereby calling on Republicans in Congress to IMMEDIATELY advance and pass the forthcoming $350 Billion Reconciliation Bill (Recon 3.0) — which, at the request of our Great Department of War — will include THE SAVE AMERICA ACT as well. No games, no delays, and no weak compromises! Do this ASAP.
This is a GENERATIONAL Investment in our Military, even bigger than President Reagan’s! Recon 3.0 is the ONLY path to the full $1.5 TRILLION DOLLAR Military Budget our Warriors need in order to build THE ARSENAL OF FREEDOM.
We will defend the Homeland with the Golden Dome, launch the unstoppable Golden Fleet, dominate the skies with the F-47 and B-21, supercharge our ammunition stockpiles, and achieve total Space Force and Drone Dominance!
This Budget reignites American Industry, creates hundreds of thousands of high-paying American Jobs, and secures our Global Dominance without fueling Inflation.
Also, with THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, it will protect our Elections for Generations to come. Our Warriors protect our most Sacred Rights, and Voting is at the top. Time to defend that Right for every American!
Pass ALL $350 BILLION and THE SAVE AMERICA ACT to secure the NATION for our children and grandchildren.
THE SAVE AMERICA ACT!1. ALL VOTERS MUST SHOW PHOTO I.D. (IDENTIFICATION!).
2. ALL VOTERS MUST SHOW PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP.
3. NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS (EXCEPT FOR ILLNESS, DISABILITY, MILITARY, OR TRAVEL!).
4. NO MEN IN WOMEN’S SPORTS.
5. NO TRANSGENDER MUTILIZATION SURGERY FOR OUR CHILDREN.
Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Trump has decided to stop paying back the tariffs he illegally stole from American business and the American people. It’s insane, as that money would be used by business to hire workers, keep prices from rising, and help him win this November. Yet, in his diseased mind that money is his and he just wants to keep it. 100 percent cray-cray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
His health - just OMG. What a charade. It’s become evident to all that it’s time for him to retire.
Epstein has returned. A new NYT expose is putting their illegal coverup of the Epstein files squarely back into our discourse (gift link):
Desperation, whatever it takes, a big blubbery baby man - anything, anything but a strong man. That’s what we talked about last night.
We also talked about Graham Platner, and my effort to get feedback from the community before moving ahead with an endorsement. I appreciate everyone who weighed in yesterday, with their support and with their concerns. I encourage folks to register their opinions using this link, while always keeping it in the spirit of how we do things here - respectfully civilly, and truthfully/no BS.
For Platner supporters my recommendation is recognize that there is real concern in the family about his character and viability, respect that, and work to bring people along to build a stronger and more robust coalition behind him. Harris won Maine by 7 points and it is essential we win there this November. Bring people along to you point of view, make your case - it is the very essence of how things work in a democracy, and how we do things here at Hopium.
In addition to what I shared yesterday about Platner and his campaign here are a few more things to review:
On Platner, and Me - Daniel Barkuff
Condemning a Nazi Tattoo Shouldn’t Be This Hard - Mike Nelson, The Atlantic
Platner’s first general election ad
The GOP’s first general ad against Platner
Here are things you can call your Senators and House Rep about today:
Finish the job on the Ukraine Support Act, get it passed through the Senate to the President’s desk
Finish the job on the Iran war powers resolutions that have passed both the Senate and House in recent weeks, and get them to the President’s desk
No to the ballroom, the Arch, the gilded statues, the slush fund, the corruption, self-enrichment……
Hell no to Bill Pulte for ODNI, and hell hell no to Todd Blanche becoming Attorney General
Hell hell hell no to the new OMB regs that will destroy government-funded science in America. Joins the new Stand Up For Science campaign to Stop Vought. Save Science today.
A big thank you to everyone who has become a paid subscriber in recent days. We’ve signed up 85 new people, well on our way to our goal of 500 by July 4th. Take 10% off a paid annual Hopium subscription today and help make our Independence Day membership sale and drive a success!
Now, it is that time everyone!!!! Let’s……
Go Out And Win Some Elections People!!!!
Winning The Midterms, Competing In Red States and Red Places, Expanding The Map
Hopium’s Winning The House Campaign - $768,100 raised, $1,000,000 goal (new ambitious, audacious even, q2 goal) - Donate to all twelve of our endorsed House challengers with a single contribution split twelve ways | Get to know Jamie Ager (NC-11), Christina Bohannan (IA-01), Paige Cognetti (PA-08), Rebecca Cooke (WI-03), Elaine Luria (VA-02), Sean McCann (MI-04), Jo Mendoza (AZ-06), Chaz Molder (TN-05), Jonathan Nez (AZ-02), Janelle Stelson (PA-10), Shannon Taylor (VA-01), and Sarah Trone Garriott (IA-03) by watching our recently recorded Hopium interviews.
Friends if these twelve win, the House will flip, no matter redistricting madness the Rs execute in the coming days. So eyes on the prize here everyone!
Hopium’s Winning The House - Second Wave - $76,100 raised, $250,000 goal - We’ve launched a second House fund, one targeting candidates who’ve recently emerged from primaries or have to run in new districts. Our initial crew is Rebecca Bennett (NJ-07), Bob Brooks (PA-07), Johnny Garcia (TX-35), Bob Harvie (PA-01), Denise Powell (NE-02), and Bobby Pulido (TX-15). A donation to the Second Wave Fund is split evenly among these six, and more as other worthy candidates emerge for their primaries. We are off to a great start here people!
Josh Turek For Iowa Senate - $11,500 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Learn more and volunteer |
Mary Peltola For Alaska Senate - $102,600 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Learn more through my uplifting conversation with Mary Peltola as she fights to turn Alaska blue
James Talarico For Texas - $85,200 raised, $250,000 - Donate | Learn more from my inspiring interview with Rep. Talarico as he fights to turn Texas blue
Winning Ohio - $158,100 raised, $250,000 goal - Our new campaign splits contributions evenly among Sherrod Brown, the Acton/Pepper ticket, and the Ohio Democratic Party | Donate today and help us turn this critical 2026 battleground blue
Winning Iowa - $6,500 raised, $100,000 goal - We’ve also set up a new Winning Iowa campaign that splits a contribution three ways - to Turek, to Gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand, and to the Iowa Democratic Party and its great chair, Rita Hart | Watch my new interview with State Auditor Rob Sand
Hopium’s Audacious Expansion Fund - $589,700 raised, $1,000,000 goal (new stretch goal) - Join our campaign that has helped expand our map by investing in the Democratic Parties of Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Maine, and Texas, all now central battlegrounds in the 2026 election | Catch interviews with the five intrepid state chairs leading their troops into battle this year - will get you fired up! and use the link to make contributions to any of the state parties directly | Contribute to all five state parties with one contribution split evenly among these five critical battlegrounds
Roy Cooper for NC Senate - $121,900 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Learn more through my new discussion with Gov. Cooper
Jon Ossoff GA Senate - $184,100 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Learn more through my uplifting conversation with Senator Ossoff
Please use the paid subscriber chat to self-report the good trouble you make each day.
Keep working hard everyone. We have a country to save, and elections all across this great country to win, together! - Simon
