Happy Saturday friends. I started the weekend by donating to the DNC to help them with their states agenda. Seems like an important cause to back in addition to the great candidates.
I feel we should take a page of tDrump's book and whenever any refers to "truth social," they should say "Lies social." By us repeating his truth social we're affirming its true. NO! it just the opposite.
I agree we shouldn't call it "Truth Social" and we especially shouldn't say that Trump "truthed" something (a phrase I've heard more than a few Democrats use). It's easy to say Trump "posted on social media." The Meidas Touch people tend to say that Trump "bleated" out something. Anything is better than using his framing.
Amen: Don’t use his framing! I was so disappointed and annoyed to see news media constantly referring to Trump’s "One Big Beautiful Bill". Bullshit! Simon has it right and we can call it many things, but should not parrot the Mad King’s blather.
The second article, I think, is particularly good for people who are beginning to question the basic MAGA narrative: that Trump is taking on "the Swamp," and that he is a "fighter" who is fighting for the American people. I think the story about Bukele really gets at the heart of that (kinda like the whole Epstein File mess does).
But please feel free to give me any feedback you have. Always trying to improve my messaging. :)
Is it possible for the Senate to re-introduce the Tim Kaine measure on tariffs that almost passed? My recollection is that it only failed by 1 vote and that was because 1 Democratic Senator was traveling. Seems as if maybe we could even get a few more Republicans this time? Republicans tried multiple times to repeal the ACA. It wouldn't hurt us to keep trying to take away his "authority" for tariffs.
Jamie Raskin has just done something I think is really smart. He's calling for an investigation into what happened to the Epstein file. A lot of Dems don't spend much time in the MAGA fever-swamps and may underestimate how important this issue is for MAGAts and what division and uproar it's causing in MAGA-world. One big belief MAGA has had, up until now, is that the Epstein file will show that many prominent Democrats were involved in pedophilia w/ Epstein. (Crazy, I know, but that's what they've been told by Trump and other MAGAts.) Seeing Democrats call for an investigation has the potential to blow a few of their minds. We keep being lectured that Democrats need to listen to people, meet them where they are, address issues that are important to them. Well, that's what Raskin is doing. He's not trading in nutty conspiracy theories. He's just saying that the Trump administration's actions don't make sense (first saying the AG has the list on her desk and then saying there's no list). I hope we get Benghazi-style 11 hour hearings of Bondi, et al. TV will cover them. This may not seem like the most important issue to us, but it is very important to a decent-sized chunk of Trump's base and I think we need to listen to what they say matters to them and be responsive.
What does it take to re-introduce a bill on tariffs? Does Schumer have any leverage here? He should use it.
With the circumstantial evidence, it is no great leap that Trump was probably on that island. As well as many other powerful men and celebrities, potentially including high profile Democrats. Musk says he knows. Dershowitz says he knows. The victims certainly know. Did Epstein kill himself? Who knows? But the missing minute of tape adds some intrigue. The pressure to suppress is high, even if we are not sure of the reasons.
If you know about Watergate, it took about 8 months from the break in for it to pick up enough steam to get it before the congressional committee. By all means lets have a hearing. Sunshine is the best disenfectant.
Regardless of what did or did not happen, this is a wedge issue for MAGA, and it would be a missed opportunity if the blue team doesn't press here. I think it might drive Trump's approval down into the mid 30s, maybe further. Nixon had a gallup poll at 24% a few days before he resigned.
Maxwell now says she is willing to reveal the “list”. We should all care about this issue. The children, now women, who were abused never received justice. Recently, another victim committed suicide. Everything but the victims’ names should be released. Bondi was Florida’s attorney general while the abuse was going on. Trump hired the prosecutor who gave Epstein the original sweet heart deal in his first term. Epstein died in custody while Trump was President. I don’t care if several Democratic politicians and donors go down. I care about justice.
Mikie Sherrill keeps bringing it on social media (Bluesky and Instagram) explaining how the Big Ugly is hurting NJ - now - and closing with Ciattarelli knows jack about NJ. That will play well here.
Linking to NYT article about Missouri’s roll back of voter approved laws providing paid sick leave and setting up COLAs for minimum wage. While legal it seems a brazen disrespect for the 58% of Missouri voters who approved these measures. If you live in Missouri I hope you pound the GOP on this. I’m sure Jane Kleeb and her team know about it, but planning to email them anyway!!!
Hi everyone and especially Massachusetts folk. Here's an uplifting newsletter from my state senator, Jo Comerford (I am in the Pioneer valley) entitled Deep Breaths. She's awesome. Not perfect but hard working and focused on the right stuff. This is just her opening; then a list of everything being done. Keep calling and writing everyone. It's working.
"We’ve received over 500 emails and upwards of 75 calls from constituents asking about actions Massachusetts is taking in response to federal decisions, which is understandable given the stakes of this moment.
In the face of a federal government whose values and actions increasingly do not align with the needs of Massachusetts residents, the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy was charged by Senate President Karen Spilka to respond to the federal administration’s Project 2025 agenda. The Senate President characterized Steering and Policy’s “Response 2025” efforts as:
Assessing federal actions to determine their real-world impact on Massachusetts;
Identifying policy solutions to mitigate potential harm and safeguard residents; and
Prioritizing state responses based on need, feasibility, urgency, and effectiveness.
As Vice Chair of Steering and Policy, I am happy to be working on a range of policies that uphold the rights of Massachusetts residents".
Hi Lisa.. Did you go Smith undergrad or social work? Thanks for your encouragement and all your good activism in New Jersey now (NJ right?). I love reading your posts.
Always enjoy your posts. I strongly recommend posting an explanation of Incoterms to illustrate how tariffs are mostly a sneaky tax increase but also a good educational tool to understand how & where the "tariffs/customs duties get paid by consumers unless importers eat the increase. Export contracts furnished as DDP have the higher cost embedded usually. At the current level of tariffs/duties paid, we will have the US debt eliminated in 390 years.
I'm taking the graphs from the gallup poll on immigration and making hard copies to mail to my Senators and hand deliver to the local office for my House Rep. The press has been saying for awhile that Democrats have been shying away from immigration issues, but this polling information should bolster their confidence to press the issue before the American public. Americans support immigrants by a wide margin, even though they want strong borders to prevent future illegal crossings.
I called my House Rep, Sam Liccardo 3 times this week, and among other requests I've asked him to co sponsor the No Secret Police Act (HR-4176) from House Members Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Dan Goldman (NY-10), requiring ICE agents to be unmasked and identified.
I called Alex Padilla to thank him for writing the VISIBLE Act of 2025 (S-146) with Cory Booker.
I called Adam Schiff to thank him for co-sponsoring S-146
I called CA AG Rob Bonta and asked him to work with other Blue State AGs to protect 4th and 5th Amendment of Californians by suing in federal courts to stop Ice from warrantless, masked, anonymous and random kidnappings targeting brown people, and ensuring they have access to legal representation if they are detained.
The Daily Beast had a thoughtful take on our current politics from a . It seems that some observers in the world are seeing unfortunate echos to the 1930s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z21g2FEEog&list=TLPQMTIwNzIwMjXTlfwzzdDuHA . The journalist missed a few key players (i.e. Pig Pen, Stone, and Seeg Heil), but he gets most of the high notes correct.
One need not hope in order to undertake, nor succeed in order to persevere.
- William The Silent, aka William, Prince of Orange, April 24, 1533 - July 10, 1584.
Was a Dutch Revolt leader against Spain. He was the first European politician to be assassinated by a gun.
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
A centralized governmental citizen registry/database is BAD for privacy and for safety!
Partisan restrictions on academic freedom in higher education are BAD!
Secretive defense contractors with partisan frames/outlooks (i.e. they tell the Pentagon what weapons are needed) are BAD!
So, as was predicted by some folks in the Hopium community (smile), there is only one MAN in America who is the intersection of the Venn diagram of all of these BAD things. Of course, it is Seeg Heil of Palantir and of Anduril (and of Meta and of large Dolos donations and of SpaceX and of multiple passports and of a million-dollar New Zealand bunker and of digital currencies) fame. I did forget to share that he thinks that he can cheat death.
When the Stasi came to an East German’s door, it was a “fait accompli.” Here is a strange fact: they tried to avoid masks in order to better blend into the larger society. So, ICE needs to take better notes as they model other oppressive organizations. Importantly, the Tsar also used his version of ICE to initially go after his “enemies” (i.e. the “truly”guilty).
CARTHAGO DELENDA EST (via nonviolence).
P.S. : DEMOCRATIC officials keep mentioning (and showing) Jan. 6 and the PARDONS relative to the current “law and order” push by Dolos and his associates. This is a simple but strong contrast. Use social media to promote testimonies by former “January 6 Commission” members and witnesses. YES, re-litigate Jan. 6 - again and again and again. Dolos needs to realize that he lives in a GLASS HOUSE. Go on Faux News Channel because it is just like an “unrepresented” Republican district - i.e. plenty of visuals devoid of facts. The VISUAL EVIDENCE IS NOW ON YOUR SIDE. GO ON ESPN (a male-leaning channel) and express concern about the viability of the pending World Cup with actors like Dolos and Miller in the mix. With measles rampant and anti-vax officials influencing policy, will tourists want to visit the USA (weak ticket sales?): https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/soccer/heres-what-fifa-president-gianni-infantino-said-about-ice-cbp-agents-at-club-world-cup/ar-AA1GwUkA ?
P.P.S.: Do the following now! FIRST, TEACH CIVICS. Second, register voters. THIRD, TEACH CIVICS. Rinse. Repeat.
P.P.P.S.: Every local office of the Democratic Party and of the elected officials (including state representatives on up) must become a site for civic teach-ins and a clearing house for needed services (with Federal departments being sabotaged). The fact is that Democrats believe in the value of government and of government service, and the other side (i.e. the MAGAts and the illiberals) simply doesn’t. This engagement process will make registering partisan voters and teaching civics much easier.
That image is beyond pathetic. If I'd seen it elsewhere, I'd have assumed it was a parody. Instead, it's a nice juicy case of copyright and trademark infringement that someone in trumpworld will be getting sued for.
Simon I loved your discussion with Tara; she is brilliant. Please do regular episodes with her as you did in 2024. Her point about the audience moving the podcasters and influencers is really compelling. It’s a positive feedback loop where it becomes hard to tell who is influencing who. We were on the negative end of this in the Biden era. Republicans poisoned the discourse about everything Dems did which lead to widespread discontent which led influencers to perpetuate the feeling to keep up with their audiences. We need to do the same thing to them now. They need to bathe in a miasma of extremism, betrayal and failure that is difficult if not impossible to break free of. Only then will voters be open to the alternative we offer them.
“Republicans poisoned the discourse about everything Dems did which lead to widespread discontent which led influencers to perpetuate the feeling to keep up with their audiences.” Well said! The media was non-stop with inflation coverage helping out republicans and now is relatively silent when it’s worse than before. So it will be up to alternative media to tie what’s going on to republicans.
Thanks for this post. I really like the framing of the tariffs and ICE escalation as trump’s Vietnams. With ICE, it’s a reminder for me that pouring money into something doesn’t necessarily make that a win, as with Vietnam it can backfire spectacularly.
I heard anecdotally that a Sac State student majoring in criminal justice has recently received three different recruitment emails from ICE to their college email (this person was very much not interested). I wonder if this is a nationwide push, and if there is an opportunity for colleges to push back on ICE recruitment on campus or with campus resources. My 22 year old daughter saw an ICE recruitment ad on YouTube just yesterday.
I’ll be working on postcards to VA today and catching up on Hopium interviews, especially David Leopold.
Today, received this from the Commissioner of the NYS Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (I serve Participants/Beneficiaries of OPWDD programs):
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
As I travel around the state, meeting with self-advocates, family members of people with disabilities, and our not-for-profit providers, I am overwhelmed by the fear and uncertainty you are experiencing about the federal cuts to Medicaid and other vital services and the impact it will have on your lives and on your businesses. I share your deep concern over the recently signed “Big Beautiful Bill,” which will decimate New York State’s safety-net healthcare system and is project to result in 1.5 million New Yorkers losing their health insurance coverage and 300,000 losing their SNAP benefits.
While the federal bill makes little change directly to the developmental disabilities services system, OPWDD relies on $7 billion from the Medicaid program annually to fully support more than 130,000 New Yorkers with developmental disabilities. We know that federal cuts of this magnitude will impact the people who receive our services, their families, direct support workers and providers of services, making it even harder to access medical care and in the form of lost benefits, such as SNAP and HEAP.
These edicts from Washington remain front-and-center for New York, with Governor Hochul committed to protecting New Yorkers. At the same time, OPWDD continues to move forward with our goals to increase independence and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities. This last state budget saw the single largest increase for OPWDD services to date, an increase of 9%, for a total budget of $13.1 billion. This included a 2.6% targeted inflationary increase for non-profit providers, and an historic $850 million investment in funding for our not-for-profit providers to continue to increase salaries for our vital frontline workers.
New federal cuts undermine our ability to provide the greatest quality support for people with developmental disabilities, removing the very safety net health services and benefits people with developmental disabilities rely on for physical wellness and safety in the community. Our resolve and our advocacy for the disability community, however, will only continue to grow. I will keep you informed about any changes or impacts to our system as we chart a path forward together. You are not alone in this: our community stands together.
Happy Saturday friends. I started the weekend by donating to the DNC to help them with their states agenda. Seems like an important cause to back in addition to the great candidates.
I feel we should take a page of tDrump's book and whenever any refers to "truth social," they should say "Lies social." By us repeating his truth social we're affirming its true. NO! it just the opposite.
I agree we shouldn't call it "Truth Social" and we especially shouldn't say that Trump "truthed" something (a phrase I've heard more than a few Democrats use). It's easy to say Trump "posted on social media." The Meidas Touch people tend to say that Trump "bleated" out something. Anything is better than using his framing.
Amen: Don’t use his framing! I was so disappointed and annoyed to see news media constantly referring to Trump’s "One Big Beautiful Bill". Bullshit! Simon has it right and we can call it many things, but should not parrot the Mad King’s blather.
Hello everyone,
First, here is my post on how we can practically prove that Trump defied a Supreme Court order: https://davidsalzillo.substack.com/p/my-100th-post-notes-from-underground.
Otherwise, here is a repost of a story I did on how Bukele made a deal with MS-13 early on in his presidency, and how Trump is now bailing out Bukele by helping him with the cover-up: https://davidsalzillo.substack.com/p/repost-four-notes-from-underground.
The second article, I think, is particularly good for people who are beginning to question the basic MAGA narrative: that Trump is taking on "the Swamp," and that he is a "fighter" who is fighting for the American people. I think the story about Bukele really gets at the heart of that (kinda like the whole Epstein File mess does).
But please feel free to give me any feedback you have. Always trying to improve my messaging. :)
Thank you, Simon!
Is it possible for the Senate to re-introduce the Tim Kaine measure on tariffs that almost passed? My recollection is that it only failed by 1 vote and that was because 1 Democratic Senator was traveling. Seems as if maybe we could even get a few more Republicans this time? Republicans tried multiple times to repeal the ACA. It wouldn't hurt us to keep trying to take away his "authority" for tariffs.
Jamie Raskin has just done something I think is really smart. He's calling for an investigation into what happened to the Epstein file. A lot of Dems don't spend much time in the MAGA fever-swamps and may underestimate how important this issue is for MAGAts and what division and uproar it's causing in MAGA-world. One big belief MAGA has had, up until now, is that the Epstein file will show that many prominent Democrats were involved in pedophilia w/ Epstein. (Crazy, I know, but that's what they've been told by Trump and other MAGAts.) Seeing Democrats call for an investigation has the potential to blow a few of their minds. We keep being lectured that Democrats need to listen to people, meet them where they are, address issues that are important to them. Well, that's what Raskin is doing. He's not trading in nutty conspiracy theories. He's just saying that the Trump administration's actions don't make sense (first saying the AG has the list on her desk and then saying there's no list). I hope we get Benghazi-style 11 hour hearings of Bondi, et al. TV will cover them. This may not seem like the most important issue to us, but it is very important to a decent-sized chunk of Trump's base and I think we need to listen to what they say matters to them and be responsive.
Two strong suggestions. Catherine, TY.
What does it take to re-introduce a bill on tariffs? Does Schumer have any leverage here? He should use it.
With the circumstantial evidence, it is no great leap that Trump was probably on that island. As well as many other powerful men and celebrities, potentially including high profile Democrats. Musk says he knows. Dershowitz says he knows. The victims certainly know. Did Epstein kill himself? Who knows? But the missing minute of tape adds some intrigue. The pressure to suppress is high, even if we are not sure of the reasons.
If you know about Watergate, it took about 8 months from the break in for it to pick up enough steam to get it before the congressional committee. By all means lets have a hearing. Sunshine is the best disenfectant.
Regardless of what did or did not happen, this is a wedge issue for MAGA, and it would be a missed opportunity if the blue team doesn't press here. I think it might drive Trump's approval down into the mid 30s, maybe further. Nixon had a gallup poll at 24% a few days before he resigned.
Maxwell now says she is willing to reveal the “list”. We should all care about this issue. The children, now women, who were abused never received justice. Recently, another victim committed suicide. Everything but the victims’ names should be released. Bondi was Florida’s attorney general while the abuse was going on. Trump hired the prosecutor who gave Epstein the original sweet heart deal in his first term. Epstein died in custody while Trump was President. I don’t care if several Democratic politicians and donors go down. I care about justice.
Mikie Sherrill keeps bringing it on social media (Bluesky and Instagram) explaining how the Big Ugly is hurting NJ - now - and closing with Ciattarelli knows jack about NJ. That will play well here.
Linking to NYT article about Missouri’s roll back of voter approved laws providing paid sick leave and setting up COLAs for minimum wage. While legal it seems a brazen disrespect for the 58% of Missouri voters who approved these measures. If you live in Missouri I hope you pound the GOP on this. I’m sure Jane Kleeb and her team know about it, but planning to email them anyway!!!
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/us/missouri-minimum-wage-leave.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
It doesn’t matter that 58% supported the measure if most turn around and vote for republicans
Hi everyone and especially Massachusetts folk. Here's an uplifting newsletter from my state senator, Jo Comerford (I am in the Pioneer valley) entitled Deep Breaths. She's awesome. Not perfect but hard working and focused on the right stuff. This is just her opening; then a list of everything being done. Keep calling and writing everyone. It's working.
"We’ve received over 500 emails and upwards of 75 calls from constituents asking about actions Massachusetts is taking in response to federal decisions, which is understandable given the stakes of this moment.
In the face of a federal government whose values and actions increasingly do not align with the needs of Massachusetts residents, the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy was charged by Senate President Karen Spilka to respond to the federal administration’s Project 2025 agenda. The Senate President characterized Steering and Policy’s “Response 2025” efforts as:
Assessing federal actions to determine their real-world impact on Massachusetts;
Identifying policy solutions to mitigate potential harm and safeguard residents; and
Prioritizing state responses based on need, feasibility, urgency, and effectiveness.
As Vice Chair of Steering and Policy, I am happy to be working on a range of policies that uphold the rights of Massachusetts residents".
Love the Pioneer Valley! I went to Smith and it holds a special place in my heart. You are fortunate to live there!
Hi Lisa.. Did you go Smith undergrad or social work? Thanks for your encouragement and all your good activism in New Jersey now (NJ right?). I love reading your posts.
Undergrad. MANY years ago. Tammy Baldwin was in my graduating class!
Always enjoy your posts. I strongly recommend posting an explanation of Incoterms to illustrate how tariffs are mostly a sneaky tax increase but also a good educational tool to understand how & where the "tariffs/customs duties get paid by consumers unless importers eat the increase. Export contracts furnished as DDP have the higher cost embedded usually. At the current level of tariffs/duties paid, we will have the US debt eliminated in 390 years.
I'm taking the graphs from the gallup poll on immigration and making hard copies to mail to my Senators and hand deliver to the local office for my House Rep. The press has been saying for awhile that Democrats have been shying away from immigration issues, but this polling information should bolster their confidence to press the issue before the American public. Americans support immigrants by a wide margin, even though they want strong borders to prevent future illegal crossings.
I called my House Rep, Sam Liccardo 3 times this week, and among other requests I've asked him to co sponsor the No Secret Police Act (HR-4176) from House Members Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Dan Goldman (NY-10), requiring ICE agents to be unmasked and identified.
I called Alex Padilla to thank him for writing the VISIBLE Act of 2025 (S-146) with Cory Booker.
I called Adam Schiff to thank him for co-sponsoring S-146
I called CA AG Rob Bonta and asked him to work with other Blue State AGs to protect 4th and 5th Amendment of Californians by suing in federal courts to stop Ice from warrantless, masked, anonymous and random kidnappings targeting brown people, and ensuring they have access to legal representation if they are detained.
p,s, does that Trump Superman pic look like he is wearing a diaper under those pants? lol
nobody told me how absolutely mortifying autocracy would be
And how incredibly stupid
Morons Are Governing America MAGA
Your version of MAGA is great!
not orginal, I saw it on a protest sign at No Kings.
Actually it was a Tesla Takedown.
A filled-beyond-capacity diaper.
The Daily Beast had a thoughtful take on our current politics from a . It seems that some observers in the world are seeing unfortunate echos to the 1930s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z21g2FEEog&list=TLPQMTIwNzIwMjXTlfwzzdDuHA . The journalist missed a few key players (i.e. Pig Pen, Stone, and Seeg Heil), but he gets most of the high notes correct.
ON REPEAT BECAUSE OF GROK, AKA “MECHAHITLER”:
SEEG HEIL GETS INTERVIEWED BY THE TIMES, BUT OTHERS HAVE BETTER QUESTIONS FOR HIM: https://www.thenerdreich.com/is-peter-thiel-the-antichrist-nyt-didnt-think-to-ask/ .
One need not hope in order to undertake, nor succeed in order to persevere.
- William The Silent, aka William, Prince of Orange, April 24, 1533 - July 10, 1584.
Was a Dutch Revolt leader against Spain. He was the first European politician to be assassinated by a gun.
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
― Frank Herbert, Dune
The NETWORK STATE - For the best synopsis of the objectives of the “Tech Lords”, please listen to this 45-minute podcast and share widely (these folks are going to leave a huge blast radius - if we let them): https://www.thenerdreich.com/the-nerd-reich-podcast-episode-1-the-network-state-2/.
Here is an explanation of the “End Times Fascism” of the “Bunker Boys” (AKA “Tech Lords”): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HAeAHcCW14 .
Folks:
PLAYTIME IS OVER!
Nazi philosophers (e.g. Carl Schmitt) are BAD!
South African Apartheid was BAD!
A centralized governmental citizen registry/database is BAD for privacy and for safety!
Partisan restrictions on academic freedom in higher education are BAD!
Secretive defense contractors with partisan frames/outlooks (i.e. they tell the Pentagon what weapons are needed) are BAD!
So, as was predicted by some folks in the Hopium community (smile), there is only one MAN in America who is the intersection of the Venn diagram of all of these BAD things. Of course, it is Seeg Heil of Palantir and of Anduril (and of Meta and of large Dolos donations and of SpaceX and of multiple passports and of a million-dollar New Zealand bunker and of digital currencies) fame. I did forget to share that he thinks that he can cheat death.
Seeg Heil will now manage the most intimate data collection effort on every American citizen: https://gizmodo.com/trump-admin-is-building-a-searchable-database-to-track-citizens-2000622110 . What could possibly go wrong? People (all citizens and prospective citizens) need to get ahead of this obvious train wreck.
Remember what I shared about the “transparent citizens” of the oil-rich, non-democratic Gulf states. Curious, the Tsar and Xi (e.g. the Chinese social credit system) already have these types of databases in place. In East Germany where the Tsar cut his baby spy teeth, the folks who ran the nation’s citizen database were called the Stasi: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stasi_Records_Agency#:~:text=The%20Stasi%20spied%20on%20almost,and%20amassed%20an%20enormous%20archive .
When the Stasi came to an East German’s door, it was a “fait accompli.” Here is a strange fact: they tried to avoid masks in order to better blend into the larger society. So, ICE needs to take better notes as they model other oppressive organizations. Importantly, the Tsar also used his version of ICE to initially go after his “enemies” (i.e. the “truly”guilty).
CARTHAGO DELENDA EST (via nonviolence).
P.S. : DEMOCRATIC officials keep mentioning (and showing) Jan. 6 and the PARDONS relative to the current “law and order” push by Dolos and his associates. This is a simple but strong contrast. Use social media to promote testimonies by former “January 6 Commission” members and witnesses. YES, re-litigate Jan. 6 - again and again and again. Dolos needs to realize that he lives in a GLASS HOUSE. Go on Faux News Channel because it is just like an “unrepresented” Republican district - i.e. plenty of visuals devoid of facts. The VISUAL EVIDENCE IS NOW ON YOUR SIDE. GO ON ESPN (a male-leaning channel) and express concern about the viability of the pending World Cup with actors like Dolos and Miller in the mix. With measles rampant and anti-vax officials influencing policy, will tourists want to visit the USA (weak ticket sales?): https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/soccer/heres-what-fifa-president-gianni-infantino-said-about-ice-cbp-agents-at-club-world-cup/ar-AA1GwUkA ?
P.P.S.: Do the following now! FIRST, TEACH CIVICS. Second, register voters. THIRD, TEACH CIVICS. Rinse. Repeat.
P.P.P.S.: Every local office of the Democratic Party and of the elected officials (including state representatives on up) must become a site for civic teach-ins and a clearing house for needed services (with Federal departments being sabotaged). The fact is that Democrats believe in the value of government and of government service, and the other side (i.e. the MAGAts and the illiberals) simply doesn’t. This engagement process will make registering partisan voters and teaching civics much easier.
Beneath the headlines and polls, let's not forget or ignore the sinister unchecked power
that continues to operate.
https://x.com/AdamKinzinger/status/1944019840529748266
That's what we work against at Hopium every day, no reminders necessary.
I do love this place for focusing on clear-eyed action rather than making us paralyzed with fear.
Oh.. so we know everything all the time.. I'll let Adam know his posts are not necessary...
Wow, that StupidMan pic of dt is as delusional as the pope meme and Kash Patel's children's fantasy books (trilogy) The Plot Against the King.
Update: there's a maga story behind it. https://wapo.st/4nL1fC9
Honestly, it’s the kind of thing someone here might come up with to prove Simon’s point about trump’s pathological need to be seen as STRONG.
That image is beyond pathetic. If I'd seen it elsewhere, I'd have assumed it was a parody. Instead, it's a nice juicy case of copyright and trademark infringement that someone in trumpworld will be getting sued for.
Oh. My. God.
Simon I loved your discussion with Tara; she is brilliant. Please do regular episodes with her as you did in 2024. Her point about the audience moving the podcasters and influencers is really compelling. It’s a positive feedback loop where it becomes hard to tell who is influencing who. We were on the negative end of this in the Biden era. Republicans poisoned the discourse about everything Dems did which lead to widespread discontent which led influencers to perpetuate the feeling to keep up with their audiences. We need to do the same thing to them now. They need to bathe in a miasma of extremism, betrayal and failure that is difficult if not impossible to break free of. Only then will voters be open to the alternative we offer them.
“Republicans poisoned the discourse about everything Dems did which lead to widespread discontent which led influencers to perpetuate the feeling to keep up with their audiences.” Well said! The media was non-stop with inflation coverage helping out republicans and now is relatively silent when it’s worse than before. So it will be up to alternative media to tie what’s going on to republicans.
"Donald Trump, Like Hitler, is a Psychopath"
By far the most dangerous of all mental disorders, since behaving in a morally reprehensible way is an essential part of its nature.
DR. BANDY X. LEE
https://open.substack.com/pub/bandyxlee/p/donald-trump-like-hitler-is-a-psychopath?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=280c3q
FAR more similar to another American -- Jim Jones -- than AH.
Thanks for this post. I really like the framing of the tariffs and ICE escalation as trump’s Vietnams. With ICE, it’s a reminder for me that pouring money into something doesn’t necessarily make that a win, as with Vietnam it can backfire spectacularly.
I heard anecdotally that a Sac State student majoring in criminal justice has recently received three different recruitment emails from ICE to their college email (this person was very much not interested). I wonder if this is a nationwide push, and if there is an opportunity for colleges to push back on ICE recruitment on campus or with campus resources. My 22 year old daughter saw an ICE recruitment ad on YouTube just yesterday.
I’ll be working on postcards to VA today and catching up on Hopium interviews, especially David Leopold.
Today, received this from the Commissioner of the NYS Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (I serve Participants/Beneficiaries of OPWDD programs):
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
As I travel around the state, meeting with self-advocates, family members of people with disabilities, and our not-for-profit providers, I am overwhelmed by the fear and uncertainty you are experiencing about the federal cuts to Medicaid and other vital services and the impact it will have on your lives and on your businesses. I share your deep concern over the recently signed “Big Beautiful Bill,” which will decimate New York State’s safety-net healthcare system and is project to result in 1.5 million New Yorkers losing their health insurance coverage and 300,000 losing their SNAP benefits.
While the federal bill makes little change directly to the developmental disabilities services system, OPWDD relies on $7 billion from the Medicaid program annually to fully support more than 130,000 New Yorkers with developmental disabilities. We know that federal cuts of this magnitude will impact the people who receive our services, their families, direct support workers and providers of services, making it even harder to access medical care and in the form of lost benefits, such as SNAP and HEAP.
These edicts from Washington remain front-and-center for New York, with Governor Hochul committed to protecting New Yorkers. At the same time, OPWDD continues to move forward with our goals to increase independence and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities. This last state budget saw the single largest increase for OPWDD services to date, an increase of 9%, for a total budget of $13.1 billion. This included a 2.6% targeted inflationary increase for non-profit providers, and an historic $850 million investment in funding for our not-for-profit providers to continue to increase salaries for our vital frontline workers.
New federal cuts undermine our ability to provide the greatest quality support for people with developmental disabilities, removing the very safety net health services and benefits people with developmental disabilities rely on for physical wellness and safety in the community. Our resolve and our advocacy for the disability community, however, will only continue to grow. I will keep you informed about any changes or impacts to our system as we chart a path forward together. You are not alone in this: our community stands together.
Sincerely,
Willow Baer
Commissioner
❤️
https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/trump-is-weak-not-strong-brutal-new/comment/134524537?r=27is3y&utm_medium=ios