Trump's Failed War Keeps Failing

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Morning all. Look at the front page of The NYT right now:

I think we have to accept that there are parties in this war - Iran, Russia, Israel, perhaps China - that don’t really want the war to end. High inflation and energy shortages are weakening Western and Asian democracies, including the US, which benefits Russia-China-Iran. Trump’s weakness was on full display in China a few weeks ago, something that must have delighted our adversaries throughout the world. Israel wants to keep fighting. And so today, rather than peace, strength, and winning Trump’s failed war keeps failing and he and America keep losing.

This ongoing failure has weakened Trump abroad and at home. He can no longer count on Congressional Republicans to be there for him, as we saw last week. When Congress returns next week Trump is likely to lose two highly symbolic votes - on Ukraine and on the Iran war. Trump also keeps losing on his ballroom and his ridiculous slush fund. Here’s a prominent WaPo story today:

Paxton’s likely win tonight in Texas will further loosen his grip over Senate Republicans. Here’s the lead story in Politico this morning:

The ugliness of his mass deportation regime, which they’ve done everything they can to bury, came roaring back yesterday when New Jersey Senator Andy Kim was tear-gassed and injured:

Yesterday, in a major speech, Pope Leo challenged the Trump-tech bro anything goes alliance in very clear terms:

Pope Leo XIV has been a major global critic of immigration crackdowns and war, staking out a moral agenda that has at times challenged the political leadership of his home country.

Now Leo, the first pope from the United States, has added to that list artificial intelligence, taking on American power brokers of another kind — this time in Silicon Valley.

Leo’s papal document, titled “Magnifica Humanitas,” or “Magnificent Humanity,” and made public on Monday, is the defining theological statement so far of his young papacy, and the most significant moral intervention on A.I. to date from a religious leader. It also is an effort to inject Catholic moral values into a famously secular, and significantly American, industry that is transforming the world at lightning speed.

“Crucial questions impose themselves on our conscience and can no longer be avoided: Where are we going? Toward what goal do we wish to orient ourselves? What direction should we choose as a people and as a human community?” Leo wrote.

Leo specifically called for A.I. to be “disarmed,” similar to the church’s support for nuclear disarmament, meaning “freed from logics that turn it into an instrument of domination, exclusion and death,” he explained in a speech at the Vatican.

Here’s a link to Magnifica Humanitas.

In a strategic blow to Trump Putin’s failed war is also really failing too:

Friends, in surveying the news this morning there is very, very little that looks like winning for Donnie.

A new Strength In Numbers/Verasight poll captures the urgency Trump now faces in changing the trajectory of the election. Look at these charts from G. Elliott Morris……

Dems lead by 8 in the generic ballot, a lead that means big blue wave in November if it holds:

Concerns about rising prices are spiking, making any possible recovery for Trump and the Rs this year far less likely (note elections and democracy are #2 issue here):

Democrats are opening up meaningful leads on the things that matter most to voters:

The DCCC has launched a new digital ad campaign targeting black voters in key battleground House districts, turning Trump’s institutionalized racism and white supremacy into a call to act and vote. Here’s the ad. It’s very good:

In Texas tonight we not only have the Paxton-Cornyn fight but a meaningful Democratic run-off in Texas 35, where we’ve been investing in recent days. Johnny Garcia is running to beat Maureen Galindo, a GOP backed chaos candidate and virulent antisemite. This race will be a test of our ability to beat back a new illicit campaign Republicans have launched to interfere in our primaries, something we discussed with Will Van Nuys of the DCCC on Friday.

Thank you to everyone who has given to Johnny Garcia in these critical closing days. We’ve raised almost $25,000 far surpassing our goal of $10,000……

And yes, with Trump stumbling and failing, we must keep our heads down and keep working as hard as we can…..

Let's Go Win This Election Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Winning The Midterms, Competing In Red States and Red Places, Expanding The Map

Hopium’s Winning The House Campaign - $726,100 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.

Hopium’s Winning The House - Second Wave - $24,400 raised, $250,000 goal - We’ve launched a second House fund this week, one targeting candidates who’ve recently emerged from primaries or have to run in new districts. Our initial crew is Bob Brooks (PA-07), Johnny Garcia (TX-35), Bob Harvie (PA-01), Denise Powell (NE-02), Bobby Pulido (TX-15). More on this exciting new initiative in the coming days…

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This total includes $21,000 sent by a Hopium community member directly to each of our three Buckeye State partners!

Hopium’s Audacious Expansion Fund - $572,100 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! | Contribute to all five state parties with one contribution split evenly among these five new battlegrounds

Many thanks to two generous Hopium community members who have audaciously donated $20,000 to each of our five state parties over the past two years

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Keep working hard everyone. We have a country to save, and these great candidates to elect, together! - Simon