Trump, Our Mad Leader, Is Angry Because He And His Plan Are Failing

As his project fails the Big Blubbery Baby Man becomes more unhinged and desperate

Morning all. The Big Blubbery Baby Man had a really bad week and he ended it by throwing a wild tantrum yesterday, firing BLS chief Dr. Erika McEntarfer. Deeply respected, Dr. McEntarfer had broad, bi-partisan backing for her appointment, and was confirmed by the Senate for her position, 86-8. Here is what the crazy person running our country “truthed” yesterday:

So, here we are. Paul Krugman called it “Caracas on the Potomac.” Others have described it as “enshittification.” Rob Shapiro told us that it was as if the Captain of the Titanic had steered toward the iceberg becase he was unaware it was even there. Here we call it Trump’s agenda of sabotage, plunder and betrayal. Whatever the words we use America is in a bad place now for our leader is a reckless, idiotic, sundowning madman pampered, propped up and enabled by a corrupt Roberts Court and supine Republican Congress.

The anger and “off with her head” rage exploded yesterday for Trump has had a remarkably bad last two months and the “success” of his tariffs and economic plan had begun the process of restoring his STRENGTH and POWER. This period of struggle and decline, of weakening and losing, began with Elon’s three day long Twitter attack that introduced the Epstein files to our discourse and deeply wounded Trump.

Trump then began a series of acts that designed to restore his MANHOOD that had been wounded by Elon - his immigration escalation and MARINES in LA; his sad birthday parade with THE MILITARY; his BOMBING of Iran; the signing of his big ugly bill on THE 4th OF JULY. None of it worked. His poll numbers kept dropping Putin and Bibi continued to defy him. No country agreed to a trade agreement, not one, in his 90 deals in 90 days fantasy. His desperate attempt to bury the dangerous Epstein files exploded, spectacularly. Dozens of young girls died in a Texas camp due in part to his undermining of FEMA and the National Weather Service.

Since Elon’s attacks in early June Trump has just keep droppng despite enormous efforts to restore his standing

Something needed to be done. His STRENGTH had to be restored. And so our mad leader announced that on August 1st the world would feel his STRENGTH and know his POWER through his TARIFFS. If the world and the American people would not BEND THE KNEE he would BEND it for them.

Yes, it was true that THE PEOPLE were unhappy with these TARIFFS. They did not want prices to rise, businesses to be hurt, our economy to slow and our allies angered. But they did not KNOW as he did. And they would come to KNOW and BE THANKFUL to the leader for his GREAT WISDOM. He would SHOW them.

And then the TARIFFS came. 35% for you, 41% for you, angry mean Truths for you Brazil. q2 GDP came in at 3%. Inflation while rising had not yet run wild. His economic plan, despite the critics and the naysayers and the evil Fed Chair, was working. The markets rose. His STRENGTH, at long last, had begun to be RESTORED.

His trade advisor Peter Navarro went on Fox News this celebrated the BRILLIANCE and COURAGE of our leader and said that only did President Trump deserve the Nobel Peace Prize he deserved the Nobel Prize in economics too:

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said Thursday that President Trump deserves a Nobel Prize for his commitment to “restructuring” global trade rates.

“I’m thinking that since he’s basically taught the world trade economics, he might be up for the Nobel on economics because this is a fundamental restructuring of the international trade environment in a way where the biggest market in the world has said, you’re not going to cheat us anymore,” Navarro said during an appearance on Fox Business Network.

A new $200 million BALLROOM fit for his GREATNESS was announced. Ghislaine, his dear friend, was moved to a country club prison. Texas committed to give him 5 more Congressional seats. POWER was being RESTORED.

But then that terrible Fed Chairman did not cut interest rates as he was ORDERED, saying, with great hubris and traitorous lies that in fact the TARIFFS were increasing prices and inflation was rising. And yesterday, that BLS harpy defiantly reported that in fact Trump’s economic plan was not working; that his critics were in fact were correct; that the economy was not strong but weak; and thus the source of his renewed STRENGTH and POWER was an illusion, and was no more. The Burnt Orange Emperor was, in fact, “not wearing any clothes” exclaimed the Director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for all to hear.

The markets, our leader’s friend, did not take the news well and fell, sharply, rudely, wiping out all of the gains since Inauguration day. Here’s The Dow:

• Day 1 - 43,487

• Friday - 43,588

Again, something had to be done. Nuclear Submarines were moved into a more offensive position. And so, SHE was FIRED

Last week I wrote to you that things were bad for Trump but were likely to get worse. And they have. The economy has slowed, inflation has been re-ignited, the deficit is growing, ACA health care premiums are skyrocketing, interest rates remain too high, he has looked all week like a vainglorious asshole, and the American people increasingly understand they’ve been betrayed and are becoming ever more distant TO HIM. If Trump implements the tariffs on Thursday things will get worse; if the big ugly is implemented without change things will get worse; if Stephen Miller really tries to remove 10-15 million people from the country things will get worse; if Trump fires Chairman Powell and god knows who else things will get worse; if the government shuts down this fall things will get worse; if tens of thousands of children starve to death in Gaza things will get worse; if China, as Rob Shapiro has warned, starts to sell off our Treasuries, things will get worse, a whole lot worse.

The Republican Party is now a prisoner of this madness, of this agenda of sabotage, plunder and betrayal, of the very real harms they’ve brought and the ones soon to come. They have no way out. Which is why we must be aggressively, unrelentingly, passionately talking to the American people about what is happening. Yesterday, our candidate for Governor in Virginia, Abigail Spanberger, showed how it should be done:

Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement after President Trump announced new import tariffs for dozens of countries that will go into effect next week — and a 35 percent rate on imports from Canada, Virginia’s largest trading partner, effective today.

“The Trump Administration’s reckless and chaotic trade policies have caused uncertainty and harm to Virginia businesses and our economy for months. And today, Virginia families will start feeling the impact of what is effectively a tax hike. Virginians are already being squeezed by high prices — and these reckless tariffs are doing nothing to make life more affordable. This announcement is just one more example.

“Unfortunately, the Youngkin-Sears Administration has cheered on these tax hikes and applauded potential trade wars. And while families face impending cost increases, Virginia businesses try to plan for the future amid this chaos, and Virginia’s crop and livestock producers grapple with uncertainty, our statewide leaders are refusing to stand up for them. Agriculture is Virginia’s number-one private industry, and the loss of markets and increased costs will be catastrophic for the Virginians who keep the industry strong. Virginians deserve a Governor who will put them first, no matter who is in the White House.

“Virginia’s families, farmers, and businesses need a Governor who is focused on lowering costs and building an economy that brings new opportunities to every corner of our Commonwealth. That’s why I’ve laid out real plans to find new markets for Virginia exports, protect Virginia agriculture, and make sure Virginia is a stable trading partner with other countries — plans that I’ll work to implement on day one as Governor.”

Oh, yeah. Much more of this please.

Here’s The Economist in an article called “Donald Trump thinks he is winning on trade, but America will lose. The harms from the tariffs will be lasting and deep” (published before the disastrous job report yesterday):

MORE than 100 days after President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day”, the new global trading order is becoming clear. It is a system of imperial preference. Canada has angered the president, partly by planning to recognise Palestine as a state, and so it faces a duty of 35%. Because Mr Trump reckons that exporters unfairly cheat America, on July 31st he said he would impose “reciprocal” tariffs on many trading partners, ranging from 10% to 41%. Meanwhile, in order to ward off tariff threats the European Union, Japan and South Korea have all struck deals with Mr Trump, where they promise to open their markets and invest hundreds of billions of dollars in America, in return for levies on their exports of 15%.

A seductive idea is settling in that America is winning from all this. The president has, after all, got his biggest trading partners to make deals that are closer to his demands than theirs. Financial markets have shrugged off higher duties, the real economy shows little sign of damage and all the time tariff revenues are rolling in. But that thinking is deeply misguided. The game is not over. And it is one that America cannot win.

……

American shoppers will pay the price. Once they were spoilt for choice, as both domestic and foreign producers competed to sell to them. Now the companies that succeed will do so not only because they are the most innovative, but also because they are the cleverest at playing the system. And remember that a ratchet effect is at work here. When—or rather, if—future presidents want to restore tariffs to their original level, they will be met by furious lobbying from American firms that got used to sheltering behind tariff barriers and have thereby become uncompetitive in world markets. Everything about this is harmful. And, whatever Mr Trump says, nothing about it is fair. ■

We learned yesterday that Dems have now opened up a modest lead in the generic ballot, in Party ID and a more meaningful lead in enthusiasm. Trump’s reckless policies have taken their toll on the economy but also on this party’s brand. While there is little question that much of our politics will continue to be about our declining and clownish leader’s desperate and perhaps dangerous crusade to restore his STRENGTH and POWER and MANHOOD, what I see now for us now is unrelenting opportunity. Let us work together in the coming days to make sure that our leaders, our party and our networks seize it.

For as Harry Truman once told us (h/t Lonnie E):

"A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties."

To go deeper into this precarious moment I share links to some of our recent meaty discussions:

• Got to Keep The Faith, Got To Keep Organizing - Senator Alex Padilla

• Fighting Harder For Those Left Behind - Rep. Josh Riley (NY-19)

• On Epstein And Trump’s Terrible Week - Katie Phang (from a week ago Friday)

• Trump’s Budget Could Break The Economy - Dr. Rob Shapiro

• Organizing Everywhere, Winning Anywhere - DNC Chair Ken Martin

• Fighting Trump’s War on Science - Colette Delawalla and Dr. Jeremy Berg

• How The Roberts Court Is Betraying The Country - Professor Leah Litman (loved this discussion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Now……

Let’s Get To Work People!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Support Hopium’s Priority Candidates And Party Committees - A reminder that Election Day, 2025 is a little more than three months away and early voting starts in Virginia in less than two months - September 19th! Donate, volunteer, learn more about our candidates and opportunities here. I consider all these options must dos for anyone serious about winning this year and next year.

Note that Governor Roy Cooper announced a record breaking $3.4m fundraising haul in his first 24 hours in the race. Amazing stuff everyone! Can we get it to $10m by the end of his first week? Let’s keep working it…..

• Mikie Sherrill NJ Gov (2025) - $250,000 goal, $45k raised - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Watch my interview with Rep. Sherrill

• Abigail Spanberger VA Gov (2025) - $250,000 goal, $159k raised - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Watch my interview with Abigail Spanberger

• Roy Cooper for NC Senate (2026) - $25,000 Labor Day goal, $250,000 goal, $12,000 raised- Donate | Learn More | Volunteer

• Jon Ossoff GA Senate (2026) - $250,000 goal, $44k raised - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer

• Hopium House 7 (2026) - $250,000 goal, $176k raised - Donate | Learn More, Volunteer, Watch My Interviews With Our Great Members

Our updated fundraising goals are now for the end of the year, December 31st, except for the 2025 races, which are now for Election Day, 2025. We can do this people!

Our Recommended Actions - We are prioritizing three actions today. You can get our full list of recommended actions here. Let’s get to it:

1 - Call your Senators and Rep To Demand They Rescind Trump’s Terrible Tariffs - Congress simply must take back its tariff authority that Trump has illegally and unconstitutional seized and dangerously abused. It is time now for to rescind these terrible and destructive madman tariffs.

2 - Bring “Resolutions Of Condemnation” To Your Community - Inspired by the tactics of our Founders learn about how Hopium members are advancing “Resolutions of Condemnation” in their communities across the country and consider bringing this initiative to your state, country or city/town. Remarkably, members of this community are now advancing 50 resolutions projects in 20 states. Can we get to all 50 states by the fall election?

Our newly updated Resolutions page includes a new chat for folks to report in on their progress or seek counsel from those interested in launching a resolutions project in their community. This is one way to fight back against Trump’s unprecedented abandonment of our Constitutional order.

3 - Grow Hopium And This Wonderful Community Of Proud, Plucky, Patriots - We’ve set a goal of trying to grow the Hopium community from the 152,000 we are now to 175,000 by Election Day, 2025. Do what you can to encourage your friends, family and colleagues to become a summer subscriber to Hopium, free or paid. If each current paid subscriber brings in just one new subscriber this summer we will hit our goal.

To encourage the growth of our community annual paid subscriptions are 10% off through Labor Day. Use that link to buy gift or group subscriptions, and join our new referral rewards program too.

Finally, please self-report your activities to our daily paid subscriber chat. These reports help inspire all of us to do more and fight harder! Been impressive to see how many of you remain involved in local, in person protests of all kinds in your communities. Keep it up!!!

Keep working hard all. Proud to be in this fight with all of you, and a fight it truly is - Simon