Gotta give Trump credit, he never hesitates to go where no one has gone before. Pulte for DNI? It would be a joke if it weren't so serious. Going from bad to worse is a feature of this regime.
Postcarding tonight, plus a virtual meeting for the Jolly campaign.
When Trump even can’t put lipstick on the pig, and rather claims he doesn’t care, we’ve entered late-stage Trumpism, or as I like to call it the “Steak and Vodka Phase”.
Here I thought we would have to wait until November to make him a lame duck but he's doing such a great job himself that by November he will be the lamest duck in Presidential history. Keep the pressure on. It's working!
And sd the focus continues to be the POS, the folks in Newark NJ need help in getting out the realities of the Delaney Hall for-profit prison or, as I refer to it, America's Concentration Camp. Please read this substack from folks on the ground in Newark. Spread the word to #ShutDownDelaneyHall
Thanks, Simon! It does feel as if Trump's losses are beginning to pile up.
I also think his physical and mental deterioration are speeding up and both of those make him look weak to Americans.
I called my representatives to say that, in addition to killing the slush fund, Democrats also need to kill the deal that grants Trump and his family immunity from tax investigations and that Trump is out of touch with reality and must be removed from office. I'm writing postcards to Ohio voters.
I am not a medical professional, but it seems to me that whatever measures his physicians are taking are not to preserve or improve his health (he needs to quit his stressful job to do that), but to preserve his ability to stay on his feet and be on camera.
T**** cares about image above all, and so do his cult followers. The fact that he now looks so weak and ill says to me that they have reached the limit of what they can hide, and are now playing for time, so he can finish out the midterms.
But it sure looks like he is burning through his physical reserves to do that.
I'm not sure he experiences stress the way most people do. I would think that most presidents experienced stress as it relates to doing their duty for the country and securing their legacy as a public servant.
His stress is to dominate everything. I'm sure it's stress but it's a different kind.
He can't dominate his end.
Joe Biden was exhibiting signs of aging and signs that he was aging in a stressful job, having lived a more stressful personal life than many can fathom. His losses were traumatic and enormous.
He also had a life-long communication issue in which age breaks down the skills you acquired to help manage your challenges.
He is also a different physical type than the current president.
Biden made some poor choices in the end, and we all know how that worked out for everyone. But he did not have personality disorders that brought harm to the world, and he surrounded himself with able public servants; our govt then had checks and balances (though perhaps loyalty got in the way of people doing the very hard work of advising him against going back on his vow to be a one-term president).
FDR dropped dead in office; Churchill drank his way through the war.
Lincoln suffered severe melancholy. Teddy Roosevelt had his issues.
Morally, lots of presidents we look up to violated their marriage vows. It's not a new thing - just the tech and communication methods are new.
A country run by white old men is not a novelty.
A world run by a grifter, a malevolant narcissist, a rapist, and someone who exhibits psychopathy is a different story.
Actually, I thank God for the bone spurs excuse. Many more young soldiers would likely have come to harm if they had to rely upon this guy to help save them.
No doctors can fix this up. Again, it's up to people to wipe the cobwebs from their eyes - especially those who made what's happening happen in the first place.
It was always there for eye to spy. Maybe it's the New Yorker in me that feels that way (listen, he actually got more NY votes this time around, right?), but it's a grudge I can't completely let go of yet.
I agree that he doesn’t experience stress like the rest of us. But it clearly stresses him out if he doesn’t get his way, if he is criticized for anything, and if he thinks his audience is too small.
Also, activities like flying to AZ to give an hour long speech and then back again the same day, even napping on Air Force One, have got to be physically demanding. His obvious insomnia can’t be helping. He is clearly freaked out about potentially being impeached again. So I think his job is stressful even though he doesn’t care about doing it well, or the consequences of failure.
His mania may be organic to his wiring, or it may be drug-induced - there has been some talk about his use (or past use) of Adderall.
Also, you have to wonder (at least, sometimes I do) despite his dysregulation, what life is like for a man his age spending his nights alone with a phone and a TV while his model wife is likely shtupping the pool boy and can't stand the smell of him, let alone the touch.
I wonder if any of that seeps in and makes restorative sleep at night impossible for him.
Both TR and LBJ are believed to have been bipolar. In addition to Lincoln, Madison and Wilson suffered severe depression (as did Coolidge after the death of his son--and of course Wilson also had a debilitating stroke). Three presidents were alcoholics in office (Pierce, Andrew Johnson, Grant), and JFK was so loaded up on steroids, amphetamines, and pain killers he's been considered an addict. Taft had a stress-related eating disorder. Nixon may not have be an addict, but he definitely self-medicated his paranoia and anxiety with booze, which spiraled out of control. Trump is either our second or third with dementia (Reagan...Biden?), along with a cornucopia of other mental health problems.
That's at least 15 out of 45 with serious mental health or substance problems--one third. And yet mental illness and substance abuse are two of the most stigmatized attributes in our society. Weird...
Well you have to be an egomaniac to run for the office. I would imagine some of those features either come along with or result from that personality type, and some are just stress-induced or exacerbated. But I'm not an MD, your mileage may vary.
I am even more concerned about his mental capacity. I have to wonder if he has had a brain MRI in addition to the test he brags about which he claims he has passed three times in the past several months? I recently took the test again after my brain MRI (which only takes 20 minutes) and a blood test showed areas that are concerning. The women in my family have had dementia ( my mother when she was my age-75-did not know who I was). I have some very concerning signs and the MRI and bloodwork are in agreement, though I do not have dementia or Alzheimer's - yet. I passed the same test as the Prez, and did better on it than I did several years ago when I first took it because I knew what to expect. It still took some concentration. This time I also had to do balance tests, I doubt Trump could pass that. I will be retaking the MRI again next year and the test in the doctor's office as well so it can be deduced how slow/fast there is loss in that particular area of the brain. I also wonder if Trump's bruise on his hand is from scans/MRI's that require color/contrast or any bloodwork if veins in the arm are hard to draw from. But he is most definitely not a well man and, if I am not mistaken, there is dementia that has occurred in his family.
No, you are not mistaken. Trump’s father had some form of dementia. I think your analysis is exactly right.
I am sorry you are suffering from such a scary and upsetting thing. Best wishes to you! And thank you for sharing your perspective, which throws a lot of light on the White House’s attempts to hide information.
I am doing very well, volunteering on two town commissions, the historic commission and the Soldiers' Monument commission. My problem is that as an historian, I can't remember names. Nevertheless, I may not remember the more than 350 names of the Civil War soldiers who fought in the Civil War whose names are engraved on the walls of the monument but I do biographical sketches of those whose info I can find. I am also working with others cleaning cemetery stones and soon having a crew come in to repair the old historic stones in our cemeteries. So, I refuse to give up doing the things that are important to me. When I can't do it anymore, others will have the ability to continue the work.
There is medication that could possibly slow the progression of my memory problems, but I have other health problems that preclude my taking them. But I am happy and stronger than I was two years ago and taking care of my family, town and country keep me motivated.
Yale published a study last week that showed nearly half of Americans experience cognitive and/or physical improvements after their 65th birthdays. And there's room for further gains--a key difference between those who improved and those that didn't, they found, was/is attitude towards aging itself. There's hope for us yet!
Absolutely. And Yale is excellent. Though I go to Hartford Healthcare which is outstanding, my sister had brain cancer and years later the cancer has not returned after her surgery. She has helped others going through the same condition, offering comfort and advice. Sadly, the federal government is impeding research on cancer that could improve life expectancy.
We are all watching it, and it is insane that the GOP and his syncophants are still propping him up. Not to mention corporate media who talk about his political problems but not his physical or cognitive ones.
Some days November feels far, far away. Thank You Catherine for your persistence with your MoCs about our out of touch addled president who needs to go NOW.
It is terrible to hear what is happening in Newark New Jersey! I hope it doesn't escalate to something more, and Governor Sherill will be able to resolve the issue soon.
I am going to make my calls now, to Congress and Senate.
Thank you Simon, I love All the Polling! Good for Us, Bad for the R's!!
o Hinojosa last night in Plano near Paxton's part of the state. Huge enthusiastic crowd in a traditionally red county. Talarico stayed late to take pictures of the hundreds of people waiting in line. Both candidates' focus was on corruption.
With T showing more and more weakness, I hope our Dem challengers emphasize how weak their R opponents have been by meekly following his every instruction. Although the Rs might be starting to break out of that, they have been total wimps til now.
True to the manual on fascism, trump is blaming the people for Iran. We shouldn't care about gas prices,etc. Hitler just before his death blamed the German people for his defeat. Let's see how his endorsements do today.
Only Netanyahu can make me agree with Trump. The actions of Israel under Netanyahu are unforgivable and so self-defeating. It truly breaks my heart because I can’t defend the indefensible.
Hard no on Bill Pulte and my Senators will hear from me.
As big a deal as we know it is, I think Trump's recent willingness to go after established fellow Republicans may have been the final straw for a lot of these guys. I mean, there's not much point in standing by him if he'll go after you anyway.
Daily calls are in to WI Dem elected members regarding the 4 points in today’s letter, as well as my comments about Pulte. I’m joining the Stand up for Science call today at 3:00 (central time)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Live results will be here after polls close: https://electionresults.sos.nm.gov/
NM Eligible Voters 1,406,532 total = DEM 573,609, REP 443,214, OTH/DTS 389,709
As reported at 10 am MT on June 2, 2026 New Mexico votes cast in our first semi-open primary election are:
207,644 total votes has 137,277 = 66% Democratic ballots for NM
DTS* + OTH has Dems at 16,353 76.3% of their 21,441 vote.
DTS + OTH is 10.3% of all votes
BernCo has 76,867 total votes cast —
48,073 Dems voted + 7,353 (DTS + Oth) chose Dem ballot = 55,246 total = 72% Dem ballots
final turnout for the 2022 election was 46.3%
* DTS means declined to state party affiliation as called independent voters in other states; and
OTH is other meaning parties other than Dem or Repub. Libertarian Party, Green Party, and Forward Party are recognized as minor parties.
There will be updates from the Secretary of State at 2 pm and 5 pm for those that request them by email from lindsey.bachman@sos.nm.gov. Polls close at 7 pm MT.
This is the first time that those who Declined to State their political party (registered to vote but not registered with a minor or major party) can vote in a primary election by choosing either the Democratic or Republican ballot without changing their DTS registration. "Voters registered with a qualified minor party may update the political party on their voter registration to either a major party (Republican or Democratic) or 'Declined-to-State'/Independent before the election or through same day voter registration at a polling location and vote in the primary election." Major party voters (Dem or Repub) receive the ballot for the party they are registered with 28 days before Election Day.
Gotta give Trump credit, he never hesitates to go where no one has gone before. Pulte for DNI? It would be a joke if it weren't so serious. Going from bad to worse is a feature of this regime.
I think Trump is in a death spiral.
If Scott Bessent was going to punch him… I don’t know what to think.
Postcarding tonight, plus a virtual meeting for the Jolly campaign.
When Trump even can’t put lipstick on the pig, and rather claims he doesn’t care, we’ve entered late-stage Trumpism, or as I like to call it the “Steak and Vodka Phase”.
🤞🏼🙏🏻 for Jolly
Step by step, the judiciary is recognizing how unlawful Trumpism actions have been:
https://www.denverpost.com/2026/06/01/ncar-boulder-supercomputer-nsf-judge/?share
Let's keep up the pressure! We are winning!
Thanks for that, Dr D! Just sent to scientists I know: at least some will find it cheering, I'm sure :)
Here I thought we would have to wait until November to make him a lame duck but he's doing such a great job himself that by November he will be the lamest duck in Presidential history. Keep the pressure on. It's working!
And sd the focus continues to be the POS, the folks in Newark NJ need help in getting out the realities of the Delaney Hall for-profit prison or, as I refer to it, America's Concentration Camp. Please read this substack from folks on the ground in Newark. Spread the word to #ShutDownDelaneyHall
https://sussexvisibilitybrigade.substack.com/p/gov-sherrill-must-take-stronger-action-198?r=9mc3r&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
Thanks, Simon! It does feel as if Trump's losses are beginning to pile up.
I also think his physical and mental deterioration are speeding up and both of those make him look weak to Americans.
I called my representatives to say that, in addition to killing the slush fund, Democrats also need to kill the deal that grants Trump and his family immunity from tax investigations and that Trump is out of touch with reality and must be removed from office. I'm writing postcards to Ohio voters.
My go-to is that he is "unwell and must be removed from office."
Sometimes, I feel so overwhelmed, it's the only thing I can communicate.
I am not a medical professional, but it seems to me that whatever measures his physicians are taking are not to preserve or improve his health (he needs to quit his stressful job to do that), but to preserve his ability to stay on his feet and be on camera.
T**** cares about image above all, and so do his cult followers. The fact that he now looks so weak and ill says to me that they have reached the limit of what they can hide, and are now playing for time, so he can finish out the midterms.
But it sure looks like he is burning through his physical reserves to do that.
I'm not sure he experiences stress the way most people do. I would think that most presidents experienced stress as it relates to doing their duty for the country and securing their legacy as a public servant.
His stress is to dominate everything. I'm sure it's stress but it's a different kind.
He can't dominate his end.
Joe Biden was exhibiting signs of aging and signs that he was aging in a stressful job, having lived a more stressful personal life than many can fathom. His losses were traumatic and enormous.
He also had a life-long communication issue in which age breaks down the skills you acquired to help manage your challenges.
He is also a different physical type than the current president.
Biden made some poor choices in the end, and we all know how that worked out for everyone. But he did not have personality disorders that brought harm to the world, and he surrounded himself with able public servants; our govt then had checks and balances (though perhaps loyalty got in the way of people doing the very hard work of advising him against going back on his vow to be a one-term president).
FDR dropped dead in office; Churchill drank his way through the war.
Lincoln suffered severe melancholy. Teddy Roosevelt had his issues.
Morally, lots of presidents we look up to violated their marriage vows. It's not a new thing - just the tech and communication methods are new.
A country run by white old men is not a novelty.
A world run by a grifter, a malevolant narcissist, a rapist, and someone who exhibits psychopathy is a different story.
Actually, I thank God for the bone spurs excuse. Many more young soldiers would likely have come to harm if they had to rely upon this guy to help save them.
No doctors can fix this up. Again, it's up to people to wipe the cobwebs from their eyes - especially those who made what's happening happen in the first place.
It was always there for eye to spy. Maybe it's the New Yorker in me that feels that way (listen, he actually got more NY votes this time around, right?), but it's a grudge I can't completely let go of yet.
I agree that he doesn’t experience stress like the rest of us. But it clearly stresses him out if he doesn’t get his way, if he is criticized for anything, and if he thinks his audience is too small.
Also, activities like flying to AZ to give an hour long speech and then back again the same day, even napping on Air Force One, have got to be physically demanding. His obvious insomnia can’t be helping. He is clearly freaked out about potentially being impeached again. So I think his job is stressful even though he doesn’t care about doing it well, or the consequences of failure.
His mania may be organic to his wiring, or it may be drug-induced - there has been some talk about his use (or past use) of Adderall.
Also, you have to wonder (at least, sometimes I do) despite his dysregulation, what life is like for a man his age spending his nights alone with a phone and a TV while his model wife is likely shtupping the pool boy and can't stand the smell of him, let alone the touch.
I wonder if any of that seeps in and makes restorative sleep at night impossible for him.
Both TR and LBJ are believed to have been bipolar. In addition to Lincoln, Madison and Wilson suffered severe depression (as did Coolidge after the death of his son--and of course Wilson also had a debilitating stroke). Three presidents were alcoholics in office (Pierce, Andrew Johnson, Grant), and JFK was so loaded up on steroids, amphetamines, and pain killers he's been considered an addict. Taft had a stress-related eating disorder. Nixon may not have be an addict, but he definitely self-medicated his paranoia and anxiety with booze, which spiraled out of control. Trump is either our second or third with dementia (Reagan...Biden?), along with a cornucopia of other mental health problems.
That's at least 15 out of 45 with serious mental health or substance problems--one third. And yet mental illness and substance abuse are two of the most stigmatized attributes in our society. Weird...
Well you have to be an egomaniac to run for the office. I would imagine some of those features either come along with or result from that personality type, and some are just stress-induced or exacerbated. But I'm not an MD, your mileage may vary.
I am even more concerned about his mental capacity. I have to wonder if he has had a brain MRI in addition to the test he brags about which he claims he has passed three times in the past several months? I recently took the test again after my brain MRI (which only takes 20 minutes) and a blood test showed areas that are concerning. The women in my family have had dementia ( my mother when she was my age-75-did not know who I was). I have some very concerning signs and the MRI and bloodwork are in agreement, though I do not have dementia or Alzheimer's - yet. I passed the same test as the Prez, and did better on it than I did several years ago when I first took it because I knew what to expect. It still took some concentration. This time I also had to do balance tests, I doubt Trump could pass that. I will be retaking the MRI again next year and the test in the doctor's office as well so it can be deduced how slow/fast there is loss in that particular area of the brain. I also wonder if Trump's bruise on his hand is from scans/MRI's that require color/contrast or any bloodwork if veins in the arm are hard to draw from. But he is most definitely not a well man and, if I am not mistaken, there is dementia that has occurred in his family.
No, you are not mistaken. Trump’s father had some form of dementia. I think your analysis is exactly right.
I am sorry you are suffering from such a scary and upsetting thing. Best wishes to you! And thank you for sharing your perspective, which throws a lot of light on the White House’s attempts to hide information.
I am doing very well, volunteering on two town commissions, the historic commission and the Soldiers' Monument commission. My problem is that as an historian, I can't remember names. Nevertheless, I may not remember the more than 350 names of the Civil War soldiers who fought in the Civil War whose names are engraved on the walls of the monument but I do biographical sketches of those whose info I can find. I am also working with others cleaning cemetery stones and soon having a crew come in to repair the old historic stones in our cemeteries. So, I refuse to give up doing the things that are important to me. When I can't do it anymore, others will have the ability to continue the work.
There is medication that could possibly slow the progression of my memory problems, but I have other health problems that preclude my taking them. But I am happy and stronger than I was two years ago and taking care of my family, town and country keep me motivated.
Historians have always been cooler than they get credit for, but I think right now some of us are starting to realize you are indispensable.
Yale published a study last week that showed nearly half of Americans experience cognitive and/or physical improvements after their 65th birthdays. And there's room for further gains--a key difference between those who improved and those that didn't, they found, was/is attitude towards aging itself. There's hope for us yet!
https://ysph.yale.edu/news-article/yale-study-challenges-notion-that-aging-means-decline-finds-many-older-adults-improve-over-time/
Absolutely. And Yale is excellent. Though I go to Hartford Healthcare which is outstanding, my sister had brain cancer and years later the cancer has not returned after her surgery. She has helped others going through the same condition, offering comfort and advice. Sadly, the federal government is impeding research on cancer that could improve life expectancy.
My sister is my hero.
That must be a very frightening journey for you, Virginia.
Do remember to take care of yourself first, no matter what the political developments are.
Personally, I think his hand bruises are from IV administration of Lasix.
Possibly. In that case an MRI with color contrast would be inadvisable according to what I read.
bravo you for keeping it going!!!!!!
We are all watching it, and it is insane that the GOP and his syncophants are still propping him up. Not to mention corporate media who talk about his political problems but not his physical or cognitive ones.
Some days November feels far, far away. Thank You Catherine for your persistence with your MoCs about our out of touch addled president who needs to go NOW.
It is terrible to hear what is happening in Newark New Jersey! I hope it doesn't escalate to something more, and Governor Sherill will be able to resolve the issue soon.
I am going to make my calls now, to Congress and Senate.
Thank you Simon, I love All the Polling! Good for Us, Bad for the R's!!
Saw James Talarico and Gin
o Hinojosa last night in Plano near Paxton's part of the state. Huge enthusiastic crowd in a traditionally red county. Talarico stayed late to take pictures of the hundreds of people waiting in line. Both candidates' focus was on corruption.
Fantastic! Did you take any pictures? Were they registering new voters?
Excellent post, Simon. Remember to like everyone!
Thanks for the reminder to 'like'.
With T showing more and more weakness, I hope our Dem challengers emphasize how weak their R opponents have been by meekly following his every instruction. Although the Rs might be starting to break out of that, they have been total wimps til now.
True to the manual on fascism, trump is blaming the people for Iran. We shouldn't care about gas prices,etc. Hitler just before his death blamed the German people for his defeat. Let's see how his endorsements do today.
Only Netanyahu can make me agree with Trump. The actions of Israel under Netanyahu are unforgivable and so self-defeating. It truly breaks my heart because I can’t defend the indefensible.
Hard no on Bill Pulte and my Senators will hear from me.
Contacted my reps with Simon’s points. My postcarding habit continues!
So great to see T caving on the slush fund. Or as some call it, the Thug Fund!
As big a deal as we know it is, I think Trump's recent willingness to go after established fellow Republicans may have been the final straw for a lot of these guys. I mean, there's not much point in standing by him if he'll go after you anyway.
I never underestimate the masochistic capabilities of the republicans
True. That goes with the fascist mentality I think.
Daily calls are in to WI Dem elected members regarding the 4 points in today’s letter, as well as my comments about Pulte. I’m joining the Stand up for Science call today at 3:00 (central time)
https://events.standupforscience.net/stand-up-for-science/emergency-science-meeting
Final Statewide Voter Turnout = 24.41%
BernCo final turnout was 116,357 = 25.93%
Deb Haaland for Governor won 72% of the vote -- My party photos & videos are posted here: https://www.facebook.com/deborahulinskipotter
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Live results will be here after polls close: https://electionresults.sos.nm.gov/
NM Eligible Voters 1,406,532 total = DEM 573,609, REP 443,214, OTH/DTS 389,709
Bernalillo County has ~448,400 registered voters
realtime turnout reporting for BernCo is here https://nmstats2.goasked.com/bernco/DistrictTurnout/
at 5 pm turnout rate is 22% in NM although for Democrats it is 30%
w/24,803 additional Dem ballots requested, 64% of current returns are Democratic ballots in NM
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As reported at 10 am MT on June 2, 2026 New Mexico votes cast in our first semi-open primary election are:
207,644 total votes has 137,277 = 66% Democratic ballots for NM
DTS* + OTH has Dems at 16,353 76.3% of their 21,441 vote.
DTS + OTH is 10.3% of all votes
BernCo has 76,867 total votes cast —
48,073 Dems voted + 7,353 (DTS + Oth) chose Dem ballot = 55,246 total = 72% Dem ballots
final turnout for the 2022 election was 46.3%
* DTS means declined to state party affiliation as called independent voters in other states; and
OTH is other meaning parties other than Dem or Repub. Libertarian Party, Green Party, and Forward Party are recognized as minor parties.
There will be updates from the Secretary of State at 2 pm and 5 pm for those that request them by email from lindsey.bachman@sos.nm.gov. Polls close at 7 pm MT.
What does semi open mean?
This is the first time that those who Declined to State their political party (registered to vote but not registered with a minor or major party) can vote in a primary election by choosing either the Democratic or Republican ballot without changing their DTS registration. "Voters registered with a qualified minor party may update the political party on their voter registration to either a major party (Republican or Democratic) or 'Declined-to-State'/Independent before the election or through same day voter registration at a polling location and vote in the primary election." Major party voters (Dem or Repub) receive the ballot for the party they are registered with 28 days before Election Day.
https://www.sos.nm.gov/voting-and-elections/voting-faqs/semi-open-primaries/