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WA's avatar

Thanks for all your hard work, Simon. I really appreciated your interview with Stand up for Science and have forwarded it to many.

Calls are in to WI Rep members of congress regarding tariffs, ICE, science etc. My usual sets of calls. I called my Dem Senator regarding taking back control of the tariffs.

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Catherine Giovannoni's avatar

Thanks, Simon! Last night's talk was really great and I agree with you -- it's time to go to work on the upcoming elections.

I'm having lunch with my grandson today, before he gets ready to head off to college, so I'll do double postcards tomorrow. I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen to ask them to do everything they can about the tariffs.

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Jenny Ellsworth's avatar

I am on the field team for my local Democratic group, and we have been registering voters and organizing deep canvassing campaigns (where you knock on friendly doors to tell them they are not alone and their vote matters). We are not allowed to endorse candidates until the state party does, but there are some D incumbents in school boards and such who we can start supporting now.

This week’s task is to start narrowing down which are high value precincts, since we can’t cover 100%.

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Leon Rubis's avatar

Jenny, how/where do you register voters? I've been reading the comments by Simon, Ken Martin and others that Dems need to more proactively register new voters, but have not seen any notices about activities to do so. Calls to action are mostly about calling, texting and canvassing existing voters.

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Jenny Ellsworth's avatar

Any public event where we can set up a table, and also while canvassing (some households have a member who newly turned 18, didn’t realize American Independent is George Wallace’s party, or wants to reregister). In June, that included Pride events, there is a county fair, there are summer symphony in the park performances, protests like No Kings, the 4th of July parade, farmers markets, etc.

Once an event is identified, an email goes out asking for volunteers, who get training in how to do it legally. Usually it is about 4 people in 2 hour shifts, or similar. The fair is bigger. We only started doing it about 3 months ago, so I expect it to expand. The number of registrations isn’t high, but it sure isn’t nothing! And it improves visibility and offers one more way for people to take action.

I don’t think it is something for individuals to do, so much as Democratic groups, because it needs a small but dedicated team to find the opportunities and organize them.

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Leon Rubis's avatar

Excellent! I think that is time well spent. I emailed some Fairfax County, Va. Democrat officials recently asking about any voter registration activities but haven't heard back.

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Jenny Ellsworth's avatar

I hope they respond favorably. Let us know?

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Lisa Iannucci's avatar

Awesome, thank you!

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Anne Fitzpatrick's avatar

Hi Jenny - you say you are on the 'field team' - is this field team 6?

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Jenny Ellsworth's avatar

No, it is the field team for my local Democratic group. About 15 people who plan GOTV efforts for our area. We can’t do all the canvassing and registration

ourselves, so we recruit and train volunteers who want to help. I am the most junior member and I have so much to learn! I am trying to learn as much as I can this year to be able to help more next year. I learn a lot from reading Hopium, too.

We have other teams that do things like fundraising, recruiting candidates to run so there aren’t unopposed Rs, organizing community events, and running meetings. We have a postcard coordinator, and she has a massive campaign to collect thousands of cards for when we go canvassing.

I don’t know anything about Field Team 6, but the name is funny.

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Ailene Robinson's avatar

With Mikie Sherrill's election for NJ Governor in Nov 2025, our fundraising for her campaign seems stagnant. Simon, is there a way to highlight her more with another interview first thing in September?

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Judy Williams's avatar

I agree Simon completely, I also think he is half heartedly saying we are donating food to Gaza yet he is doing in in such an unorganized manor that the starving people in Gaza are hurting each other to get to the food!! Dropping it from the air causes people to stampede each other, killing each other and eventually the land is clear for his Hotel and Gold Toilets!!!! HORRIFIC, and he wants to be THANKED, for this...!!!!

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CC Befana's avatar

Yes, I agree, for nearly a year, GAZA and treatment of Palestinians is HORRIFIC!!! Nobody in my lifetime has inflicted so much suffering and death upon people in America or the rest of the world than 47, his administration, and staff appointees from 2016-present. They are all despicable and inhumane!

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Learn about beads's avatar

Sad that Bernie's resolution was voted down in the Senate. My two Senators voted against it. I sent them emails to let them know that I disagreed with their vote.

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Babette Hogan's avatar

Back in 2016, Trump promised to show us how the corruption works. Of course, voters at that time didn’t understand that the magician was going to actually show the trick, not fix the problem. Thank you for this post.

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Barbara Moschner's avatar

I called my TX state representative, who is very right wing and expressed my strong opposition to the redistricting effort to increase Republican districts.

I urged him to vote against it.

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Ted N's avatar

Propose a simple message, borrowing from Simon - he’s making billions while we pay more for less.

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Winter Green's avatar

A great reminder. I've been putting it this way:

"I support the office of the presidency. However, I will not support, respect or honor a person in that office who does not respect the office and in fact, disrespects the office.

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Emily H's avatar
1dEdited

Contacted Sen Padilla to thank him for his interview with Simon.

Contacted Schiff to remind him about tariff stuff.

Contacted McClintock to explain to him that his MAGA policies are killing his constituents.

Initiating a planning session for Play Music on the Porch event at the end of August. (Changing my banjo strings.)

Unearthing my ActBlue password so I can support the Hopium Seven.

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ArcticStones's avatar

In these challenging times, please allow a short distraction – nuggets of great news:

GREAT NEWS #1: The world is on the brink of climate breakthrough. More than nine in 10 renewable power projects commissioned in 2024 were less expensive than their fossil fuel equivalent. Solar was 41% cheaper on average and land wind 53% cheaper.

GREAT NEWS #2: Timor-Leste, one of the poorest countries in the world, has eliminated malaria.

GREAT NEWS #3: Canada will protect an area larger than Germany – 2% of the country, or 380,000 km² of land and water. The CA$300 million federal commitment, backed by CA$75 million in philanthropy, supports stewardship, Guardian programmes, and sustainable economies across 21 Indigenous governments, and represents a global milestone in returning land governance to its original caretakers.

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ArcticStones's avatar

GREAT NEWS #4: There was an 8.8 earthquake in Russia and Tsunami across the pacific and no one died (that has been reported so far). A success of early warning systems put in place after the 2005 Tsunami.

GREAT NEWS #5: Smartphones now form world’s largest earthquake detection network. Google’s Android Earthquake Alerts System has turned millions of smartphones into a global seismic sensor grid. By detecting vibrations via phone accelerometers and triangulating signals, the system can issue warnings seconds before shaking arrives. Their alerts are now operational in 98 countries, offering low-cost protection where siren infrastructure is scarce.

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ArcticStones's avatar

GREAT NEWS #6: China cut emissions during the first half of 2025. A nearly 23% rise in clean energy generation during the first six months of the year was the main driver, as higher volumes of wind and solar reduced the output from fossil fuels. (China's emissions are three times greater than the United States, although this does not take into account the population difference.)

GREAT NEWS #7: Lenacapavir has been approved by the FDA and recommended by the WHO. The drug, which Science called its 'breakthrough of the year' in 2024, is a long-lasting shot that provides almost 100% protection against HIV infection.

GREAT NEWS #8: Poland repealed its last anti-LGBT+ resolutions. In 2019 and 2020, over 100 local authorities around Poland adopted sometimes-thinly-veiled anti-LGBT+ resolutions, declaring themselves free of “LGBT ideology” or pledging to “protect children from moral corruption.” Last week, the last of those declarations was revoked after the EU threatened to deny those regions funding, marking the end of Poland’s so-called 'LGBT-free zones.'

.

Source: fixthenews.com/306-ancestors-return/

(Fixthenews is a website and newsletter that focuses exclusively on positive news. Much-needed and pretty cool!)

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kitkatmia's avatar

thx! always time for good news!! especially in the torrent of daily bad news!!

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Fisher's avatar

thanks, i needed some good news; lost my shit arguing with some trumpers who were filling in for my dog groomer who is in the hospital. got thrown out of the joint, told them i'm taking my business elsewhere. dude should have never mentioned he watched newsmax....people see a middle aged white guy they think i'm down with the cult, even here in a blue county in nj.....they had all the bullshit down pat, the open borders, biden's dementia, the fake news, e jean carroll lied, and epstein was something or other for the democrats....i went off. and i'm not sorry i did. i've had it with these assholes, and just sent money to mikie here in nj.

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CC Befana's avatar

Don't chastise yourself, Fisher. My mood is up and down most days.

It's one time, and next time you'll be wiser and move on from the 💩 they spew. Time to fuggettaboutit:)

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Madam Geoffrin's avatar

Love it! You sound like my extremely diplomatic friend who went off in the nail salon, also in a blue county in NJ. One at a time!!

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Lisa Iannucci's avatar

Woot, give him some Jersey attitude! I am in CD4, stuck with a Traitor as a congressman so we have plenty of them in my pretty red area.

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BeeBeeinNYC's avatar

I live in a very Blue place, but over the past few years, I have had to confront that I'm as naive as anyone, believing people gathering for a particular event (non-political) are all like me. And, man, have I been set straight. I really don't talk politics with anyone I don't know, even on my home turf anymore. I feel your frustration, Fisher, but let it go. You need your energy for other things. And, listen, you never know if you might have dropped a pearl that, at some point, they'll remember, because the time is right for them to do so. And if that's only one person, imagine the good you've done.

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Susan Dieterlen's avatar

Keep that good news coming!

China has really gotten religion, so to speak, about clean energy. Bill McKibben thinks it's possible that China and the EU will agree to a real international treaty limiting (or phasing out?) fossil fuels, now that the US's dysfunctional Senate will not longer make such a treaty pointless by refusing to ratify it (which takes a 2/3 vote). I can envision a future US Congress then finding the votes once we're a rogue state that's lost our competitive edge in tech and energy.

This would be outstandingly great news for a livable climate!!

Paywall, sorry: https://sojo.net/magazine/august-2025/maybe-world-will-work-better-us-out-way

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Anne Fitzpatrick's avatar

GREAT NEWS #9 Nepal is targeting 90% of private vehicles being EVs by 2030. 70ish % of all vehicle purchases in Nepal are EVs.

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ArcticStones's avatar

That’s wonderful news! I know Norway was high on the EV statistics but I was unaware of Nepal. Thanks for sharing!

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Anne Fitzpatrick's avatar

Love GREAT NEWS #7 - So when US AID is restored, and anyone tries to shut them down, it won't have the death impact that is occurring with Trumpty Dumpty now.

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CC Befana's avatar

Grateful for all that info. Thank you!! That is the best news I've heard all day!!

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Lucinda Beattie's avatar

Hi, Simon. I commented yesterday that I hoped you would follow Robert Hubbelll's example and, when referring to Trump and tariffs, always call them "illegal tariffs". While one issue is the question of how large Trump's illegal tariffs are, the bigger issue is his usurpation of Congressional power. And the fact that the courts so far have ruled them unconstitutional. We have to keep front and center the fact that almost every thing this administration does is illegal under the Constitution and not get caught up in back and forth on how high Trump's illegal tariffs are. I see lots of progressive substack writers falling into the trap of normalizing Trump's illegal acts, just like the legacy media does unquestioningly.

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Sandra Greer's avatar

Right you are! If THEY are going to call refugees "illegal immigrants", which is mostly a lie, then we can call out tariffs as "Illegal Tariffs".

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kitkatmia's avatar

we need an explanation about how he can continue to do this if the court that is in charge has said they are illegal. i guess that is being appealed? and why are countries entering into "illegal" agreements when they know the WTO does that? it is extortion? a trade deal has to be done by congress, so it wont even be real. and where is all the paperwork that takes years to accomplish that goes along with this charade? and when will the MSM stand up and start telling americans that they are paying the 15% extra, the 50% extra, the 25% extra. the working class will be crushed by deportations, tariffs, loss of health care insurance or higher costs, higher food costs, inflation, and less available jobs. i just dont get everyone is not up in arms about this. and no clarity in the media.

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Sandra Greer's avatar

As Lucinda pointed out, almost everything this administration does is illegal under the Constitution. There has seldom been so much work for lawyers! And when the courts agree that his action (in everything) is illegal, he ignores it. His usurpation of Congressional power just keeps rolling along, like a locomotive that has lost its brakes.

When Customs collects the tariffs, trumpery just says "Look how much money is coming in!" This is money paid by the importer, to be passed on to the consumer ultimately. It's a kind of sales tax, collected by the federal government. Sales taxes are always a burden on the working class.

The media are not standing up at all, as they are afraid of being sued by the ShitGibbon. And how would people even know what is being done to them, without some sort of media explanation?

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Simon Rosenberg's avatar

I don't agree with this which is why I am not following my good friend Robert Hubbell. The politically salient of the aspects is everything I've been writing about - higher prices, betrayal of his promises, more madness. This is what is driving his numbers down as higher prices and affordability have been the central issue in our politics for years now, his abuse of power less so. Second I literally write about the illegality of this tariffs in every single post here, and have probably spent more time educating all of you about what I call the greatest abuse of power in American history than other writer on Substack or in the legacy media. So hear you, welcome the feedback and I will continue to keep approaching this issue as I have, as I've been working on trade and global economic policy for more than 30 years. Was the central basket of issues at my old think tank, NDN.

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CC Befana's avatar

Lucinda, I agree that illegal tariffs is whatever they are.

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Ted N's avatar

Thanks for talking Texas!

Wanted to add - from what I’ve read, they are basing everything on 2024 performance which includes historic gains among Hispanic people that now might have evaporated per polling. There’s a reason Abbott was reportedly reluctant to do this. It’s a massive risk. It’s another opportunity for us!

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Susan Dieterlen's avatar

I've seen this, too, that it's betting everything on Latinos voting republican like they did for trump, when he won't be on the ballot and all of this 2025 catastrophe has happened. Seems a poor bet. Si, se puede!

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B. King's avatar

Simon,

Thank you for all you are doing for democrats but also for our country as a whole. I am a life long northern Californian, now living in North Dallas area of Texas. I have started trying to engage with Democratic Party here. I went to James Talarico speech in Plano last week. He’s honest and talented. One big positive. I have been protesting on Saturdays in McKinney , Frisco area. I do feel there is a desire for change here in this red area. It’s growing. I want to be hopeful. We, democrats need a big push here. There is opportunity. Some really dedicated people.

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Babette Hogan's avatar

Does California benefit from splitting as a state? If we gained an appropriate number of senators to represent this state, would we also face a potential invitation for more robber Barron senators?

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Catherine Giovannoni's avatar

I don't think California can just decide to split, but Congress should split the 9th Circuit into 2 or 3 circuits and appoint the judges for the new one as soon as we're back in control. Should have been done years ago.

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Tracey's avatar

In his delusional mind, he is winning. WE are losing.

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Madam Geoffrin's avatar

I read the screenshot of the Truth Social post about Mexico. Clearly Trump did not write it as it’s grammatically correct. However describing a 25% Fentanyl tariff in the same sentence as the 25% tariff on cars, aluminum, copper and steel, implies that we’re letting Fentanyl into the country, albeit for a price, rather than confiscating it and keeping it from reaching our streets. He’s such a stable genius.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. -MG

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Elizabeth T.'s avatar

Oh my heavens! That's crazy!

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