I am concerned that the SAVE Act is intended to "save" Republican's grip on power. Of course, it is unconstitutional, but when have Republicans been concerned with legality? Please comment on where this idiotic legislation is going
I don’t know her source but Heather Cox Richardson today said John Thune has stated that, even apart from the filibuster, he doesn’t even have the votes in the Senate for a simple majority. I think we still need to brace for various approaches to voter suppression but apparently this is the latest on SAVE.
Hubbell reminded readers today that it takes 60 votes (which they don't have) to end a filibuster, 67 votes (which they even farther don't have) to change the rules to allow a talking filibuster, and Thune is still saying he won't do away with the filibuster. I haven't heard the latest on McConnell not letting it out of committee; as far as I know it's still there, making the rest moot.
Additional thought. I think the SAVE Act shows T's desperation, so we have to prepare to fight all sorts of election shenanigans like what happened in TX last week and all sorts of voter suppression in states. That stuff is more than likely - they'll try to do it all.
What happened in TX last week? Did they change the voting center rules at the last minute? Or, were the changes made some time ago? Not that it makes right. Republicans keep changing rules, taking out drop boxes, closing voting centers in Democratic areas for a long time now. Just want to know bc people I know insist that the Republicans changed the rules to help Talarico.
This issue is settled. No one believes what happened would have effected the outcome of the election. Crockett endorsed, enthusiastically, the next morning.
Dallas changed the rules and the local party did not adequately prepare voters in the county for the new rules. Everything was legal. And we need to learn from it for the general election. Time to come together now and go win an election we have a shot of winning.
With respect, while this issue is settled, there are quite a few people who believe otherwise.
My apologies, I got lazy. I was planning on looking up when the centers were changed bc quite a few people I know and a person on the radio with a lot of people who listen, keeps saying the Republicans did this to benefit Talarico. I have been planning on emailing the radio host to inform them they are mistaken but I wanted to make sure first. I figured Rachel knew since she alluded to something happening in TX last week.
My advice to you is to let this go. Crockett has accepted the results. Whatever the purpose, they wanted to disrupt election day, and they did. We need to learn from it to make sure it doesn't happen again in November.
Talarico was badly damaged by this. He did not get a primetime victory speech Tuesday night, and did not a clean win. No one on our side benefited from this. And we need to learn, get smarter, and prepare for more fuckery in November.
As I understand it, Rs in a couple of counties waited till the last minute to not sign agreements with Ds to run primaries with voting centers so people from different precincts could vote wherever it was convenient. So people had to vote in their precincts. But when they looked at the Sec of State website, the new maps were not up yet. When they looked at the county website, which had the new maps, the website crashed from all the traffic. Nothing illegal as Simon wrote, and if Rs had been intentional about it, they might have tried to weaken Talarico rather than Crockett, but guessing at TX Rs motivations or what was incompetence is beyond me. Maybe they were just trying for general Dem voter suppression.
Given the confusion, a judge ruled voting in affected areas could stay open past 7. Then Paxton went to the Supreme Court who said all the 7:00-9:00 votes had to be sequestered and counted separately. Turns out there weren't enough to make up the difference. Maybe Paxton was trying out a tactic for voter suppression in general versus specifically about Crockett; again can't tell.
So to me, what's instructive is that we have to game out and prepare for all sorts of scenarios.
I live in MA, where the Sec of State and municipalities run all elections, including primaries so finding out that parties run primaries in TX was a surprise to me. Even more reason to expect obstacles.
Sure. To me, the details are worth noting so we prepare better, which we can do. Up-to-date maps, voter precinct location info, assuming dragging their feet isn't leading to anything useful, etc.
Rs already see that Dems are having high turnout this year, so suppressing any aspect of Dem turnout might be their goal.
Made a list of the seven deadly sins and for sure tRump is guilty of them all. He is an agent of chaos not just for us but for the world and it is all about his cravings. He will go down in history as one of the most destructive leaders ever. His diminished capacity makes him even more dangerous as this absurd war demonstrates. Noone has so recklessly used the military as this administration. It puts our men and women in harms way unnecessarily and blows through the national wealth. Lord help us!
Seven deadly sins, nice! I think T's 'envy' doesn't get enough press. sloth!!!
btw, in interview yesterday I replayed the section where Simon talks about T's surprise that Iran didn't surrender to the bullying - ??? difficult to grasp the cartoonish insanity
Simon, thanks for the polling information -- that CIVIQS graph is amazing.
He's not my favorite commenter, but yesterday Chuck Todd posted a long discussion of why he believes Trump's presidency has hit the point of no return. I think he's right and that it's good for that kind of discussion to get out. The more people talk about how he's messed up, the more it becomes true.
I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen to say no more funding for ICE or this war and to emphasize the need for Democrats to make Trump's mental decline a regular topic of discussion. I'm writing postcards to NC today.
If you live in VA or know someone who does, polls are open this week to vote YES on redistricting.
PS - just got off a call with Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic, who had some choice words about this regime and its cavalier attitude about national security, our allies, etc. It will be on YouTube in the near future.
When I was a kid watching the animated Robin Hood by Disney, I never thought I would actually live in a world with a leader who is as big of a fucking buffoon, or as petty and stupid as Prince John… But holy shit, here we are. I mean, seriously, this is all so stupid and dangerous, it’s hard to accept that it’s actually reality. Brighter days are coming, but we have a long crawl through raw sewage to get there. Talk to you later, I have three Republican cowards/enablers that need to be admonished today in the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. Keep up the good fight, my friends!
I never believed that we'd ever have another president as stupid as George W. Bush or another president as evil as Richard Nixon. I will never, ever understand how a majority of Americans voted for him this time.
Twenty-some years ago, sociologists started predicting that by 2040, the USA would be less than 50% White (I don’t know the current projection). I said back then that this would be bad, but I was picturing stupid conservative White leaders passing stupid conservative White laws for a while before they had to accept reality. I laugh now at my naivety.
But my belief is that it is pure racial panic.
I plan to go re-read One Person, No Vote by the incomparable Prof. Carol Anderson, because it has all kinds of lessons from history to counter moves like the SAVE act. It was very inspirational!
Mostly the lessons involve more organizing of course. Just yesterday I found out about an organization called VoteRiders who help people get ID. I am trying to see if my charitable donations and volunteer time budgets can be stretched further to support them.
Hi there! I see you’re interested in VoteRiders! I have been posting about them on here for a couple of months now. I have volunteered for VoteRiders for several years and can honestly say it is one of the best organizations for voting rights out there. Lots of support and you will feel like you’ve really accomplished something every single time you jump in. The one on one contact with voters who need help is very rewarding. If you have less time, you can just write letters or send texts. It is all valuable. Https://Voteriders.org/volunteer
This is great, but I am already deeply involved with my local Democratic group's field team and it takes like 10-15 hours a week right now, which is slightly more than I can afford. I think that demand will only go up as we get to California's June 2 primary. Since I am fairly new at this, I am scrambling to learn a ton of stuff.
So while VoteRiders is clearly a wonderful organization, I don't want to stop doing what I am already doing to do something else. I am finally using my skills to make a difference, with a really great team and some people who are teaching me a lot.
But I have friends who don't live nearby, who might be willing to support them, so I plan to tell them about it.
My synagogue has just started a Justice in Action Initiative, and we are looking for non-partisan groups to support, so I told them about Voteriders. Thanks!
i've been watching a lot of history stuff with the cold winter we had; a good documentary hosted by dr susannah lipscomb on henry the 8th, reminds me a great deal of trump; as henry aged he had leg ulcers, probable diabetes, and suffered a blow to the frontal lobes that may have driven him mad; he wound up executing not only his wives, but his main advisor cromwell, after which he never recovered. this is why we don't believe in kings, folks. and not only that, the tudors had no legitimacy to the crown in the first place, henry's father, also a paranoid and corrupt ruler, was a usurper; richard the 3rd got a bad rap from shakespeare, who favored the other side, who presented him as a child killer and hunchback, when he had mild scoliosis, a rather common condition. i was struck how these kings resembled trump; shaking rich families down, threatening them with ruin or execution, and then turning on advisors. today trump fires people but he would behead them if he could, i have no doubt....
Yes, all bad news for Trump, and thus for us. With all of that , we still need to shout out one word - loud and clear - every day, all the time, until we get some modicum of truth:
EPSTEIN! EPSTEIN! EPSTEIN! Heads need to roll. Victims need to heal.
Ironically (or not), with the addition of the heretofore hidden FBI notes about an inmate who, along with "everyone else on the cell block," overheard guards talking about how they were going to cover up Epstein's murder, there is now an overwhelming quantity and quality of circumstantial evidence that Epstein was, in fact, murdered, a crime for which there's no statute of limitations. This is a rare case where it cannot possibly be said that the cover-up is worse than the crime(s), but that's only because the crimes are so heinous, but if "worse" refers only to the perpetrators, the shoe may ultimately fit if there's will to shove it onto the foot:
* The premature press release announcing his death found in the files--sorry but there's NO WAY this was a clerical error, given that not only was the date wrong but so was the day of the week, and that day of the week (on the release) was a *Friday* (anyone *ever* in America not know it was *Friday*?? :D) for a death that happened on Saturday (anyone ever not know it was Saturday, either?) -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=752Cy2FBp6k&t=24s
I am glad that there are journalists who are focusing on Epstein full time. This news is going to come surging back soon. Everything that's coming out is so toxic for Trump!
Good news on Kiley, had heard he’ll run as Independent but not that he’s switching now and didn’t know how historically big that is. He’ll be running in CA-6 against a crowded field in an open Dem primary. Bera the incumbent in 6 will run in 3 which was Kiley’s . Head spinning but I’ll take it.
One of the democrats opposing Kiley in CA district 6 is Dr. Richard Pan, a pediatrician and former state senator. Richard is effective, smart, and works closely with constituents. Kiley has indicated he will continue to caucus with Republicans so not sure how much difference this will make in House votes. I know Simon doesn't endorse in primaries, but if Richard emerges as a candidate in the general election, I hope he will get behind him - he is an awesome candidate.
Yes, and also reaching out to MAHA Moms worried about the pesticide Roundup, which Trump just protected. (And RFK tried to pretzel himself to say, well the protection was short term and for national security.) We may disagree with MAHA about vaccinations, but on food safety and anti-pollution, they are available to us, and I appreciate Dr. Pan reaching out to them in his race. We're not going to agree with everyone on everything, but we should look for common ground and embrace it when we find it.
I can’t wait for the upcoming No Kings! This will be the first event since ICE in Minneapolis, the start of Gulf War 3, and the SCOTUS tariff decision. It’s gonna be a big one!
By the way, finished The Lion Women of Tehran and highly recommend as a humanizing and illuminating historical novel.
Relatedly Rick Wilson is on fire this morning:
“Iran desperately needed to be free of the shackles of the ayatollahs, the morality police, and the medieval clerics who have strangled that country for nearly half a century. It needed the slow pressure of the outside world. It needed time, openness, commerce, and the gradual corrosion of authoritarian power.
Those students and young protesters in the streets, willing to die for their country, looked to America for hope. For a lifeline. For an example. For a hand reaching out in solidarity.
...and MTGs seat is having its special election today!
Hoping Dem Sean Harris, a retired Brigadier General, can make it into a run-off. He outraised the field according to an article in NPR. We will need another wild over-performance to make it so. This will be another finger on the pulse of just how bigly the GOP has fallen.
Two more open seats after this one is settled. Mikie Sherrill's in April and Doug LaMaffa (R-deceased) in August.
Making my calls. Stop the War, Reclaim Article 1 War Powers with another bill, Release the Epstein Files, Stand firm on DHS closure.
Update: Just saw this 3.5 minute clip of Rachel Maddow from last night about the ever eroding House majority. It may not last until November. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU00GNVPPR4
Oil and gas dependency makes us nationally and individually (and globally)vulnerable. In addition to everyone pitching in with work and funds to protect democracy, we can reduce our individual and collective vulnerability by reducing our dependence on oil and gas. Transition to solar electricity at home and work asap. Put up those panels, add storage (battery), heat and cool with heat pumps, cook with an induction stove, get that electric or phev vehicle. Make maximum use of many great state programs that help offset costs for these types of
upgrades and urge electeds to support these programs. As each is added, you will save on utilities and we will all be better off. Help your neighbors and community members learn from your experience.
How delightful that another republican has pulled himself up from the morass of the Donnie Party, and even more delightful that this Donnie Party is no longer actually a majority. They have certainly proved that they are lap dogs and, therefore, no longer deserve even the slightest respect. They've proved they don't respect their oaths OR their constituents, so they've thrown away any right to respect for themselves. (My own, always-so-humble opinion only.)
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My husband, hence I as well since he is forbidden to drive, are in the week of post op appointments with an array of caregivers. All is going (time-consumingly) well. So I upped my subdued local game half a notch by hauling out our American flag to fly proudly over the yard sign promoting support for our opposition candidate for district supervisor. We observe protocol, unlike our neighbors, and bring it inside each evening.
Being as I am in the yesterdayland of the Pacific Time Zone, Simon’s 9 AM is my 6 AM, so this old retired liberal lady watches most of these fascinating interviews in reruns…
I am concerned that the SAVE Act is intended to "save" Republican's grip on power. Of course, it is unconstitutional, but when have Republicans been concerned with legality? Please comment on where this idiotic legislation is going
I don’t know her source but Heather Cox Richardson today said John Thune has stated that, even apart from the filibuster, he doesn’t even have the votes in the Senate for a simple majority. I think we still need to brace for various approaches to voter suppression but apparently this is the latest on SAVE.
Hubbell reminded readers today that it takes 60 votes (which they don't have) to end a filibuster, 67 votes (which they even farther don't have) to change the rules to allow a talking filibuster, and Thune is still saying he won't do away with the filibuster. I haven't heard the latest on McConnell not letting it out of committee; as far as I know it's still there, making the rest moot.
Additional thought. I think the SAVE Act shows T's desperation, so we have to prepare to fight all sorts of election shenanigans like what happened in TX last week and all sorts of voter suppression in states. That stuff is more than likely - they'll try to do it all.
What happened in TX last week? Did they change the voting center rules at the last minute? Or, were the changes made some time ago? Not that it makes right. Republicans keep changing rules, taking out drop boxes, closing voting centers in Democratic areas for a long time now. Just want to know bc people I know insist that the Republicans changed the rules to help Talarico.
This issue is settled. No one believes what happened would have effected the outcome of the election. Crockett endorsed, enthusiastically, the next morning.
Dallas changed the rules and the local party did not adequately prepare voters in the county for the new rules. Everything was legal. And we need to learn from it for the general election. Time to come together now and go win an election we have a shot of winning.
With respect, while this issue is settled, there are quite a few people who believe otherwise.
My apologies, I got lazy. I was planning on looking up when the centers were changed bc quite a few people I know and a person on the radio with a lot of people who listen, keeps saying the Republicans did this to benefit Talarico. I have been planning on emailing the radio host to inform them they are mistaken but I wanted to make sure first. I figured Rachel knew since she alluded to something happening in TX last week.
My advice to you is to let this go. Crockett has accepted the results. Whatever the purpose, they wanted to disrupt election day, and they did. We need to learn from it to make sure it doesn't happen again in November.
Talarico was badly damaged by this. He did not get a primetime victory speech Tuesday night, and did not a clean win. No one on our side benefited from this. And we need to learn, get smarter, and prepare for more fuckery in November.
As I understand it, Rs in a couple of counties waited till the last minute to not sign agreements with Ds to run primaries with voting centers so people from different precincts could vote wherever it was convenient. So people had to vote in their precincts. But when they looked at the Sec of State website, the new maps were not up yet. When they looked at the county website, which had the new maps, the website crashed from all the traffic. Nothing illegal as Simon wrote, and if Rs had been intentional about it, they might have tried to weaken Talarico rather than Crockett, but guessing at TX Rs motivations or what was incompetence is beyond me. Maybe they were just trying for general Dem voter suppression.
Given the confusion, a judge ruled voting in affected areas could stay open past 7. Then Paxton went to the Supreme Court who said all the 7:00-9:00 votes had to be sequestered and counted separately. Turns out there weren't enough to make up the difference. Maybe Paxton was trying out a tactic for voter suppression in general versus specifically about Crockett; again can't tell.
So to me, what's instructive is that we have to game out and prepare for all sorts of scenarios.
I live in MA, where the Sec of State and municipalities run all elections, including primaries so finding out that parties run primaries in TX was a surprise to me. Even more reason to expect obstacles.
Thank you. I really appreciate you explaining. For the record, I did not think the Republicans were trying to help Talarico here. Thank you again!
Sure. To me, the details are worth noting so we prepare better, which we can do. Up-to-date maps, voter precinct location info, assuming dragging their feet isn't leading to anything useful, etc.
Rs already see that Dems are having high turnout this year, so suppressing any aspect of Dem turnout might be their goal.
It is going nowhere. The Senate refused to pass it before, and is even more determined for it to fail now. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-republicans-splinter-america-acts-path-trump-calls-revisions-rcna262509
Made a list of the seven deadly sins and for sure tRump is guilty of them all. He is an agent of chaos not just for us but for the world and it is all about his cravings. He will go down in history as one of the most destructive leaders ever. His diminished capacity makes him even more dangerous as this absurd war demonstrates. Noone has so recklessly used the military as this administration. It puts our men and women in harms way unnecessarily and blows through the national wealth. Lord help us!
Never did I ever imagine the compliance the GOP has given Trump. Unbelievable.
Seven deadly sins, nice! I think T's 'envy' doesn't get enough press. sloth!!!
btw, in interview yesterday I replayed the section where Simon talks about T's surprise that Iran didn't surrender to the bullying - ??? difficult to grasp the cartoonish insanity
His buddy, Vlad, probably told him it would be a cake walk. "Just like Ukraine, Donny!"
I was thinking more it's his delusions that he's bully- king of the world,
Simon, thanks for the polling information -- that CIVIQS graph is amazing.
He's not my favorite commenter, but yesterday Chuck Todd posted a long discussion of why he believes Trump's presidency has hit the point of no return. I think he's right and that it's good for that kind of discussion to get out. The more people talk about how he's messed up, the more it becomes true.
I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen to say no more funding for ICE or this war and to emphasize the need for Democrats to make Trump's mental decline a regular topic of discussion. I'm writing postcards to NC today.
If you live in VA or know someone who does, polls are open this week to vote YES on redistricting.
Thank you. This is terrible news but a major opportunity. We need to seize it! Off to make my calls. Keep going!
PS - just got off a call with Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic, who had some choice words about this regime and its cavalier attitude about national security, our allies, etc. It will be on YouTube in the near future.
When I was a kid watching the animated Robin Hood by Disney, I never thought I would actually live in a world with a leader who is as big of a fucking buffoon, or as petty and stupid as Prince John… But holy shit, here we are. I mean, seriously, this is all so stupid and dangerous, it’s hard to accept that it’s actually reality. Brighter days are coming, but we have a long crawl through raw sewage to get there. Talk to you later, I have three Republican cowards/enablers that need to be admonished today in the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. Keep up the good fight, my friends!
I love the Disney Prince John analogy! I suppose that means Stephen Miller is the snake???
Also perfect analogy for Miller. Yuck. Disgusting human being.
A POX on that phony King of England! Oo-Da-Lally! 😂
I never believed that we'd ever have another president as stupid as George W. Bush or another president as evil as Richard Nixon. I will never, ever understand how a majority of Americans voted for him this time.
...or another VP as ridiculous as Dan Quayle
Didn't Pence consult with Quayle, who reinforced his decision to not bend to Trump's knee because it was not constitutional?
Oops meant to write: "not bend a knee to Trump."
Moral: Don't do Hopium during a phone meeting for work....
Yes! although I didn't remember whom he consulted.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/14/politics/dan-quayle-pence-trump-january-6-woodward-costa-book
Twenty-some years ago, sociologists started predicting that by 2040, the USA would be less than 50% White (I don’t know the current projection). I said back then that this would be bad, but I was picturing stupid conservative White leaders passing stupid conservative White laws for a while before they had to accept reality. I laugh now at my naivety.
But my belief is that it is pure racial panic.
I plan to go re-read One Person, No Vote by the incomparable Prof. Carol Anderson, because it has all kinds of lessons from history to counter moves like the SAVE act. It was very inspirational!
Mostly the lessons involve more organizing of course. Just yesterday I found out about an organization called VoteRiders who help people get ID. I am trying to see if my charitable donations and volunteer time budgets can be stretched further to support them.
Hi there! I see you’re interested in VoteRiders! I have been posting about them on here for a couple of months now. I have volunteered for VoteRiders for several years and can honestly say it is one of the best organizations for voting rights out there. Lots of support and you will feel like you’ve really accomplished something every single time you jump in. The one on one contact with voters who need help is very rewarding. If you have less time, you can just write letters or send texts. It is all valuable. Https://Voteriders.org/volunteer
This is great, but I am already deeply involved with my local Democratic group's field team and it takes like 10-15 hours a week right now, which is slightly more than I can afford. I think that demand will only go up as we get to California's June 2 primary. Since I am fairly new at this, I am scrambling to learn a ton of stuff.
So while VoteRiders is clearly a wonderful organization, I don't want to stop doing what I am already doing to do something else. I am finally using my skills to make a difference, with a really great team and some people who are teaching me a lot.
But I have friends who don't live nearby, who might be willing to support them, so I plan to tell them about it.
Thank you!
My synagogue has just started a Justice in Action Initiative, and we are looking for non-partisan groups to support, so I told them about Voteriders. Thanks!
Thank you! 😘
Fox News
i've been watching a lot of history stuff with the cold winter we had; a good documentary hosted by dr susannah lipscomb on henry the 8th, reminds me a great deal of trump; as henry aged he had leg ulcers, probable diabetes, and suffered a blow to the frontal lobes that may have driven him mad; he wound up executing not only his wives, but his main advisor cromwell, after which he never recovered. this is why we don't believe in kings, folks. and not only that, the tudors had no legitimacy to the crown in the first place, henry's father, also a paranoid and corrupt ruler, was a usurper; richard the 3rd got a bad rap from shakespeare, who favored the other side, who presented him as a child killer and hunchback, when he had mild scoliosis, a rather common condition. i was struck how these kings resembled trump; shaking rich families down, threatening them with ruin or execution, and then turning on advisors. today trump fires people but he would behead them if he could, i have no doubt....
Yes, all bad news for Trump, and thus for us. With all of that , we still need to shout out one word - loud and clear - every day, all the time, until we get some modicum of truth:
EPSTEIN! EPSTEIN! EPSTEIN! Heads need to roll. Victims need to heal.
Ironically (or not), with the addition of the heretofore hidden FBI notes about an inmate who, along with "everyone else on the cell block," overheard guards talking about how they were going to cover up Epstein's murder, there is now an overwhelming quantity and quality of circumstantial evidence that Epstein was, in fact, murdered, a crime for which there's no statute of limitations. This is a rare case where it cannot possibly be said that the cover-up is worse than the crime(s), but that's only because the crimes are so heinous, but if "worse" refers only to the perpetrators, the shoe may ultimately fit if there's will to shove it onto the foot:
* Julie K Brown (who broke the original Epstein story) on the uncovered notes and more (MSNOW) -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br0PfxTf3Ho
* Julie K Brown on why she doesn't buy suicide (New Yorker) -- https://www.instagram.com/reels/DU36MHuFNBE/
* WIRED on the missing 3 minutes from the CCTV of Epstein's cell on the day he was murdered -- https://www.wired.com/story/the-fbis-jeffrey-epstein-prison-video-had-nearly-3-minutes-cut-out/
* The premature press release announcing his death found in the files--sorry but there's NO WAY this was a clerical error, given that not only was the date wrong but so was the day of the week, and that day of the week (on the release) was a *Friday* (anyone *ever* in America not know it was *Friday*?? :D) for a death that happened on Saturday (anyone ever not know it was Saturday, either?) -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=752Cy2FBp6k&t=24s
* A Daily Mail timelines cataloging more evidence this was a murder, in a federal prison, on hands-on (not just women) Donald Trump -- https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15558797/evidence-Epstein-murdered-death-notice-died-doctor-strangled.html
* "16 Anomalies That Defy Explanation" (Rage X--not a great source, but nobody in the corporate media seems willing to gather all this stuff in one location, and neither does Wikipedia) -- https://ragex.co/global/epstein-death-anomalies-suicide-vs-homicide/
I've never been one to believe in others' conspiracy theories. Only my own - and this was one of them.
LOL. The universe is a conspiracy--and we're forever trying to connect the dots :)
I am glad that there are journalists who are focusing on Epstein full time. This news is going to come surging back soon. Everything that's coming out is so toxic for Trump!
Good news on Kiley, had heard he’ll run as Independent but not that he’s switching now and didn’t know how historically big that is. He’ll be running in CA-6 against a crowded field in an open Dem primary. Bera the incumbent in 6 will run in 3 which was Kiley’s . Head spinning but I’ll take it.
New War Powers resolution will be the focus of my calls. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/09/democrats-iran-war-powers-resolutions
One of the democrats opposing Kiley in CA district 6 is Dr. Richard Pan, a pediatrician and former state senator. Richard is effective, smart, and works closely with constituents. Kiley has indicated he will continue to caucus with Republicans so not sure how much difference this will make in House votes. I know Simon doesn't endorse in primaries, but if Richard emerges as a candidate in the general election, I hope he will get behind him - he is an awesome candidate.
He definitely seems like a solid, experienced choice.
I feel like we can make some noise about the “majority” being so small and deflated.
I think I remember Dr Pan from the fight to require vaccination for school enrollment. He was wonderful!
Yes, and also reaching out to MAHA Moms worried about the pesticide Roundup, which Trump just protected. (And RFK tried to pretzel himself to say, well the protection was short term and for national security.) We may disagree with MAHA about vaccinations, but on food safety and anti-pollution, they are available to us, and I appreciate Dr. Pan reaching out to them in his race. We're not going to agree with everyone on everything, but we should look for common ground and embrace it when we find it.
Well put!
I can’t wait for the upcoming No Kings! This will be the first event since ICE in Minneapolis, the start of Gulf War 3, and the SCOTUS tariff decision. It’s gonna be a big one!
By the way, finished The Lion Women of Tehran and highly recommend as a humanizing and illuminating historical novel.
Relatedly Rick Wilson is on fire this morning:
“Iran desperately needed to be free of the shackles of the ayatollahs, the morality police, and the medieval clerics who have strangled that country for nearly half a century. It needed the slow pressure of the outside world. It needed time, openness, commerce, and the gradual corrosion of authoritarian power.
Those students and young protesters in the streets, willing to die for their country, looked to America for hope. For a lifeline. For an example. For a hand reaching out in solidarity.
Instead, they got bombs.”
https://lincolnsquare.substack.com/p/everything-trump-touches-dies-goes?r=2ia0gw&utm_medium=ios
...and MTGs seat is having its special election today!
Hoping Dem Sean Harris, a retired Brigadier General, can make it into a run-off. He outraised the field according to an article in NPR. We will need another wild over-performance to make it so. This will be another finger on the pulse of just how bigly the GOP has fallen.
Two more open seats after this one is settled. Mikie Sherrill's in April and Doug LaMaffa (R-deceased) in August.
Making my calls. Stop the War, Reclaim Article 1 War Powers with another bill, Release the Epstein Files, Stand firm on DHS closure.
Update: Just saw this 3.5 minute clip of Rachel Maddow from last night about the ever eroding House majority. It may not last until November. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU00GNVPPR4
Oil and gas dependency makes us nationally and individually (and globally)vulnerable. In addition to everyone pitching in with work and funds to protect democracy, we can reduce our individual and collective vulnerability by reducing our dependence on oil and gas. Transition to solar electricity at home and work asap. Put up those panels, add storage (battery), heat and cool with heat pumps, cook with an induction stove, get that electric or phev vehicle. Make maximum use of many great state programs that help offset costs for these types of
upgrades and urge electeds to support these programs. As each is added, you will save on utilities and we will all be better off. Help your neighbors and community members learn from your experience.
How delightful that another republican has pulled himself up from the morass of the Donnie Party, and even more delightful that this Donnie Party is no longer actually a majority. They have certainly proved that they are lap dogs and, therefore, no longer deserve even the slightest respect. They've proved they don't respect their oaths OR their constituents, so they've thrown away any right to respect for themselves. (My own, always-so-humble opinion only.)
Help Trump and his Republicans fall on their faces by voting for these Democrats:
SENATE:TX: Talarico, NC: Cooper
HOUSE: NC: Smith-03, Hubbard-05, Watson-11,
TX: Palida-15, Hockett-05, Galindo-35, Hook-22, Rabel-19, Rourk-10
Contribute to: www.SenateMajority.comhttp://www.dscc.orghttps://dccc.org
Here are our Hopium priorities and we are donating through the links provided by Simon. https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/the-third-gulf-war-is-both-illegal?utm_source=publication-search
Winning The Midterms, Competing In Red States and Red Places, Expanding The Map
Hopium’s Winning The House Campaign (2026) - $293,900 raised, $400,000 goal
Donate to all twelve of our endorsed House challengers with one click
James Talarico For Texas - $25,600 raised, $100,000 March 31st goal
Mary Peltola For Alaska Senate - $43,300 raised, $250,000 goal
Winning Ohio - $68,500 raised, $250,000 goal - Our new campaign splits contributions evenly among Sherrod Brown, the Acton/Pepper ticket, and the Ohio Democratic Party.
Roy Cooper for NC Senate (2026) - $83,300 raised, $250,000 goal
Jon Ossoff GA Senate (2026) - $137,600 raised, $250,000 goal
Hopium’s Audacious Expansion Fund - $402,400 raised, $500,000 goal (new stretch goal) - investing in the Democratic Parties of Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Maine, and Texas
My husband, hence I as well since he is forbidden to drive, are in the week of post op appointments with an array of caregivers. All is going (time-consumingly) well. So I upped my subdued local game half a notch by hauling out our American flag to fly proudly over the yard sign promoting support for our opposition candidate for district supervisor. We observe protocol, unlike our neighbors, and bring it inside each evening.
Being as I am in the yesterdayland of the Pacific Time Zone, Simon’s 9 AM is my 6 AM, so this old retired liberal lady watches most of these fascinating interviews in reruns…
I'm in eastern time, and I catch the interviews in reruns, too
I work full-time+ and mostly watch on demand.