31 Comments
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BeeBeeinNYC's avatar

According to reports, Xi's gift to Trump was: rose seeds.

Since the beloved WH Rose Garden is now concrete, I wonder if there was a strategy/message behind the choice of gift.

Catherine Giovannoni's avatar

I think they were making fun of Trump the whole time he was there. The rose seeds were just their parting insult. He's an object of ridicule worldwide.

BeeBeeinNYC's avatar

For some reason, it just popped into my head that I don't recall a picture/photo/video - or, in recent memory, a picture/photo/video- of him feeding himself.

Can he still find his mouth with a knife, fork & spoon? Hamburgers and fries can be shoveled in with your fingers.

I'm sure chopsticks were out of the question during this trip.

Leu2500's avatar

I don't believe he's eaten - or drank - much if any in public starting in his 1st term. not after he needed 2 hands to drink from a bottle of water.

now? often when he talks he sounds "slurpy." This is because he's not automatically swallowing saliva while he speaks. it builds up & then he has to make an effort to swallow. So he's at increased risk of choking/aspiration. I bet they gave him an ensure milkshake or something before the banquet so he wasn't hungry. I've seen the menu. no steak cooked until shoe leather, so not anything he'd want to eat. except for the brownie maybe. but beef tenderloin with morels? no way.

MrsCQ's avatar

Notice how slumped over Trump is when he sits? Actually, is always slumped over and waddles rather than walks.

BeeBeeinNYC's avatar

Aspiration PNA high on my list as well.

Thomas's avatar
1hEdited

They were absolutely making fun of him

Because unfortunately, Xi and his administration are ten times smarter (maybe more!) than Trump and his.

Which is a painful thing to have to admit.

Catherine Giovannoni's avatar

Simon, congratulations on your family graduation this week!

I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen to encourage them in their support for the bill on Ukraine, etc. I'm writing postcards to Ohio voters today.

Sheila's avatar

What do we do about it? Aren’t our elected leaders supposed to protect us? Why aren’t they? I hear even the Supreme Court can be impeached!!

Catherine Giovannoni's avatar

We can do a lot about it. Are you calling your representatives daily and then reporting it here? Have you supported any of the candidates Simon endorses?

Sheila's avatar
2hEdited

I have called my representative. I’ve been to her office with my sister. I even met with her at an event in West Palm Beach. Most of the people at the West Palm Beach event agree that Trump MUST BE REMOVED! My rep doesn’t respond. I haven’t seen Simon’s list of candidates.

Ted N's avatar

Keep at it. Thats all we can do.

And please ease up on the exclamation points here. We all get it, we’re all angry. Funnel that emotion into action.

Catherine Giovannoni's avatar

Keep making those calls! And, if you read the post, Simon has a section called Winning the House that lists candidates he endorses to flip the House. It's always in his daily posts

Sheila's avatar

I’ll check out Simon’s candidates, if I can find them. I haven’t been very successful when searching for things on Substack. By the way, can you possibly advise me on what to say when calling people in Congress? I was leaving messages for them to force a vote for impeachment, however, now I’m not sure that’s the best option. What do you say?

Kate Feldman's avatar

Go to the bottom of the newsletter every day. The list is there. Leave messages. They have to record your message. Make sure you are very clear what issue you are talking about and your opinion. They will write everything down. Also Simon has a list of candidates to endorse and a link that will take you directly to make your donation. Those are the only ones I use. SO it's easy.

Sheila's avatar

Sorry to keep bothering you, but what News letter?

Holly's avatar

I wonder who Whiskey Pete is taking orders from! It feels like there are nefarious actors driving decisions given the lack of experience and intelligence at the so-called top.

Art B.'s avatar

The bankrupt conman, i.e., precedent president, has been "hoisted by his own petard." His rejectionist agenda has come home to roost! Fingers crossed the world knows what a fiasco his China trip was.

N  Zweng's avatar

This is a must-read piece, and a must- do call to action!

Ted N's avatar

My daily calls have a lost a little steam of late, I’ll admit, but I’m on the MFers now!

Pluck on….

N  Zweng's avatar

Just finished calling my Congressmen and Senators in CA and NY asking them to support the Meeks bill. Asked them to actively work to persuade as many colleagues across the aisle that they can in order to stand up to a President who is shredding our national security by cozying up to our adversaries and destroying our alliances. We need a veto-proof vote!

David E.'s avatar

Thank you for information about HR 2913. That will be the subject of my phone calls in the ensuing days.

On another subject, there is an interesting article today in the Seattle Times about redistricting in Washington State. One issue concerns the Republican challenge to the redistricting that formed a Latino-majority 14th legislative district in eastern Washington. They want the Supreme Court to undo that decision.

The other issue is the debate among Democrats on whether we should redistrict our Congressional districts if Democrats gain a 2/3 majority in both chambers of the legislature. Jamie Pedersen, Senate Majority leader, thinks we won't get to 2/3 and doesn't like the idea of redistricting anyway. Joe Fitzgibbon, House Majority Leader, is more optimistic about getting to 2/3 and is for Congressional redistricting. The State Party Chair, Shasti Conrad, said in an article in the Washington Standard, that she thinks the Democrats could gain 2/3 control of both chambers by 2028.

The Seattle Times article is behind the paywall, but the Washington Standard article can be accessed here:

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/05/07/washington-democrats-congressional-redistricting-commission/

Millie Polli Haskell's avatar

What a fantastic, important article Dr.Timothy Snyder wrote. It's definitely a must read!

Good morning Simon, I will call my Congressman and Senator's and tell them You must pass the Support Ukraine Bill.

Kate Feldman's avatar

Thanks for this thorough analysis. Hard to read. SO tragic. I called all Warren, Markey and McGovern today about the HR 2913. I also rail about ICE, Hegseth, the ballroom/arch/reflecting pool disasters. I always include a comment about my opinion that T needs to step down or be removed because he is mentally unwell. Today I'm going to send a letter via email about that too. ALSO, the interviews with Amy Acton and Josh Shapiro were terrific. I listen to them while i"m on the elliptical and the time flies!! Can you imagine if Ohio gets a woman governor?? OMG we have to make sure she wins. She is awesome. You should hear her experience. AND her LOVE! She's amazing.

Barry A Rosenbaum's avatar

I'm becoming more and more convinced that Trump is consciously trying to weaken our country at the behest of his good friends in Russia.

Leu2500's avatar

that's more than "weak & pathetic." so many times now, it's "the lights are on but nobody is home."

& he has visible bruising on his left hand in this picture. iat to the spackle-covered bruising on his right hand.

Marcia's avatar

Some anecdotal data to report:

Our overpass message yesterday was “Gas Prices Rise; GOP & 47 Lie”. It was visible to drivers on Interstate 80 in eastern Iowa.

In roughly 2 hours, I counted 200 honks and saw 31 negative gestures (middle fingers or thumbs down). Halfway through our protest, I started counting positive gestures (waves, thumbs up) that didn’t have honks. In just an hour, I saw 50 such positive signs (estimate 100 if I had been counting the whole time).

So, that’s a ratio of 300 anti-trump vs 31 protrump. And lots and lots of drivers who didn’t obviously respond either yea or nay, but I’m hoping still saw and internalized our message!

James Parks's avatar

As Democrats we need to up our rhetorical game big time. The fact that he and his regime can lie with impunity is killing us all! Where are the fiery democrats on every show and every Chanel. talking about what a disgrace he is? Where are the threat of hearings to unmask his weakness and treason? The republicans do a way better job of constantly blaming Joe Biden and Obama! And they do it everyday! It makes me sick. We have lost our fighting instincts in this party and that is a big reason why we are here. I am sick of it. Stop FEELING something and ASKING for permission. Take the power that has been given to trump and crush them. Because that's what they are doing to us and to this once great nation.