TikTok is a serious problem, and we need to have a serious conversation about it. There is no reason to expect this blows back on Biden - if there is any blow back - as Rs actually introduced it and made it a condition of their support of Ukraine. This is not something to worry about in my mind right now.
Thank you for sharing again the interview with Anna Hochkammer. One can never doubt the difference one person can make. I will rewatch this inspiring interview.
I didnt write about it today for 1) it's all behind a paywall 2) the data is so crazy I can't believe they published it. Morning Consult's own natl poll this week had Biden ahead, and there is no universe where we are trailing by high single digits in any of these battleground states. Keep promoting the Marist poll - much higher quality pollster, best poll for Biden this year.
A modest request: full URLs, please. There is no way of knowing where so-called "tiny-URLs" take us – and, theoretically, it can be to nefarious sites.
Simon, it’s not just about abortions. I live in Florida, retired from a state job. Thank goodness I’m getting a pension. However, new employees will not be receiving this. The Republicans are taking these badly needed monies away from the work place. Years before I left my job Rick Scott, then the governor, sent emails out to myself and my co-workers letting us know that they would be removing monies that we received every year. He also removed money, coming from the state, that we got towards our pensions. This happened around 8 years before I retired. Monies towards our pensions would have to come from our own paychecks. Today, pensions aren’t even apart of our employee packages!! I was angry about this and couldn’t understand why Rick Scott was doing this to us. About six months ago I heard from another Republican how proud he was that he also removed pensions from a work place in his state. We all are not entrepreneurs. There are decent jobs out there in peoples states, cities, gov’t, etc. these jobs were set up in the United States to support our states and the people who live in them. Social Security is another entity that was set up for us all. The wealthy Republicans who have been fortunate enough to create their own businesses for some reason want to take this away from the working class and away from their own employees. This is what I see happening in my state, but I don’t hear any candidates talking about these important issues.
I just saw an ad with a PA Union worker thanking Joe Biden for saving his pension. More people need to know Biden understands the need to do so. I also heard him speak about NOT making the changes GOP house wants in Medicare budget or Social Security. One POTUS candidate wants to please billionaires with tax cuts and the other,Biden, demonstrates through his policies he supports workers and their families. The hottest issue for voters now which has created a backlash for R’s is abortion rights so he’s frontlining that one but IMHO he’s still keeping the programs you mentioned front and center in his actions. It’s beyond scary to see how GOP leaders are leading against their own voters in these issues (economy, health,rights, climate,etc) but glad to see this last one has exposed their control intents. And Biden’s making use of it to amplify their leadership’s intentions. Now we need to GOTV and vote them out, battling with eyes wide open to challenges!! ( I know you know just venting this part!) Glad to be part of this hope filled and hardworking site with all the HC good people to do just that.
Thanks Irene. I have seen Biden on the picket lines too. I hope he brings the conversation about pensions up. I’m so grateful to have one, but like I said, the Republicans want to remove them!!! My mom still has hers. My dad had one. My aunt and uncle were both teachers and had great pensions too. So many people I know have them. We need to bring them back!! Thanks for the return comment. I’m with you!! VOTE BLUE IN NOVEMBER😬❤️
I’m also in Florida and receive a pension from my years with DOH (way pre-Ladapo, thank goodness !) I’m so grateful for it and my tuition-free graduate studies, which is one thing DeFunding DeSantis surpisingly hasn’t abolished.
Part of GOTV efforts is telling “your” story to voters who can relate.So, keep telling your story and I’ll do the same.
And let’s keep sharing📣 that Rubio and Scott voted Nay on the Ukraine/Israel bill. Rubio actually said it was “legislative blackmail” to spend money on foreign aide because of southern border issues……just as directed by you-know-who.🥵
Thanks Kathy. It’s great that we have the opportunity to communicate with each other and to share our stories!! We need to get rid of Scott!! I believe he has his sights on the White House. We can’t let that happen!! Regards!!😬🙏
I like the ad for Biden from the building trades union in today’s Hopium. Is there a way to get the link for that I can share with others. Thanks for what you’re doing!
Friends, all these ads are always on YouTube or the main site of the org that produces them. I will work harder to provide easy links but they are always easy to find. And you can link back to my post too.....
Having political power feels great. Individually we can’t do much to win elections or influence policy but together we’re making a real difference. MAGA whines and Dems work.
Not sure this picture will post, but is of the Republican Voter guide in my voting district. We're in Lancaster County, PA, where the Rs, we thought, were extremely Trumpy. "No endorsement" on the presidential level is remarkable here. And in my suburban district the few remaining Rs went 21 Trump, 17 Haley. And I would note that in PA as a whole, Dem turnout beat R turnout. With no real contest for us on the ballot.
Simon, our household has contacted our reps on Ukraine, and we donated to the NC Dems also. I have a question for you. We've been involved with postcardstovoters.org's Florida campaign. This is a postcard effort to get individual Florida Dem voters to take advantage of the little-known FL state law that allows them to easily register to vote by mail, by making one simple phone call to their county elections office. We are trying to decide whether our energy writing postcards is better directed toward North Carolina instead of Florida. Thoughts? Thanks Simon.
You know, in politics, there's always something new biting at our heels, especially in an election year....and as such, it's easy to forget to take a few deep breaths when something really important happens and truly appreciate it....especially if it isn't absolute top of mind for most people (and a lot of the most important things rarely are in their own time).
I'm still just overwhelmed that the Ukraine funding package hurdle was cleared and is being signed into law today. I can think of a few things as important that we've accomplished under Joe Biden....but nothing MORE important than this particular achievement in our most important mission....to preserve democracy and freedom. My God, the ripple effects of failing to do this could have been so far beyond catastrophic for our way of life in the west that I don't even have an appropriate adjective.
And as I'm sitting here this morning, taking in some current events before I begin my work for the day, I'm thinking about how this achievement was possible, all because a rather extraordinarily ordinary man named Joe Biden was elected President of the United States, and came into the job believing and knowing that even in this rancorous tribal era that we're in, the laws of political physics and interpersonal relationships can still be applied to achieve great things.
There was a great piece in Politico today outlining the march toward this achievement and the roles Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, and President Biden each played in getting us here. But what struck me most was the patient, persistent, and firm but respectful diplomacy Biden's team employed (at his direction) toward Speaker Johnson. Privately providing him with regular intelligence briefings showing him the true consequences of inaction for both Europe, and then America....and not taking cheap shots at him publicly at every opportunity. Chuck Schumer was quoted (I'm paraphrasing because I don't recall the sentence word for word) as saying something like, "Even when it would have been to their momentary political advantage, the White House didn't try to beat the shit out of Johnson." Ultimately, our wise, mature, experienced president knew that Mike Johnson had to go through a personal evolution first, and feel the weight of the real world consequences that would rest on his shoulders in his new position of authority before hard political pressure would make any difference.
The day I became a big fan of Joe Biden was during the 2008 Vice Presidential Debate against Sarah Palin, when he answered a question by saying, "I've learned in my time in the Senate that it's okay to question someone's judgement, but never their motives." It is this basic humanity and decency that gives him both the patience and the persistence to press forward with people he disagrees with until an opportunity for principled cooperation opens up....because at his core, he believes the overwhelming majority of people are doing what they honestly think is right, and they may have to go through a philosophical evolution to some degree to reach a place where compromise is possible for them. This is Biden's superpower in legislating AND foreign policy....his absolute belief in the potential for productive cooperation is unshakable, because he believes in the basic humanity of all of his potential opponents, and has an uncanny sense of where the limits of common ground rest with each of them.
This is a moment of triumph for the President, but really for the USA and free people all over the globe....not even just the western hemisphere. And it is a moment that gives me hope and faith in our future....because it proves that when you elect good people to positions of power, they can and will find ways to do good in the world. It was true with Lincoln in the midst of a Civil War with half the states having seceded from the Union when he managed to negotiate monumentally important things (like the 13th amendment abolishing slavery for example) with Democrats who considered him a dangerous tyrant and the reason for the splintering of the nation...it was true with Harry Truman when he had to get funding for the "Marshall Plan" from a congress that had just flipped Republican in the 1946 midterm for the first time since 1930 with no mind to compromise with the party that had held them out of power for so long...and it was true of Lyndon Johnson when he rallied Democratic votes from his native south and from Republicans of good faith to end the Jim Crow era.
I called Speaker Johnson's office this morning and told his staffer that as a Democrat in Nebraska, my call may not be very meaningful to him....but as Speaker of the House, making the politically difficult decision he made to bring that funding to the floor and helping to preserve the freedom based global order that we've built and sustained for nearly a century was VERY meaningful to me. I said, "I'm sure we'll have much to disagree about and oppose one another on in the course of time....but today, I'm a very grateful citizen, and this couldn't have been accomplished with your leadership and cooperation....and you deserve to hear that from me."
And the reason I made that call and genuinely felt that way.....is because Joe Biden has taught me everything important about politics. Happy Wednesday everyone.....grateful to be part of this community, and BEAMING with pride and gratitude for my President, my party, and our extraordinary country.
😭💗🙌🏻 thank you for sharing your heartfelt thoughtful journey with us. You wrote so much of what I’ve felt about Biden but could never put into words so well. I had wondered if Biden had “seen” a part of Johnson’s equally religious and humane soul. There’s so much I don’t agree with J about but our leader spotted the similarities and made it better for us all the way he kept respect and dignity intact and allowed room for influence. He didn’t win, he partnered and they won together.
I remember exactly when Biden entered the 2020 race and I was annoyed that this old guy from the Obama years was getting in the mix. At first his candidacy appeared to be going nowhere and everyone wrote him off then suddenly he started winning and kept winning. He knows how to build coalitions and get stuff done. And he genuinely respects people who disagree with him which builds a lot of credibility. And now he’s the most accomplished president of the past 50 years or more. To think he could have just stayed comfortably retired but instead decided to dedicate the rest of his life to national service and God knows how much stress. We are all blessed to have Biden as our leader now. Maybe one of the other 2020 candidates could have accomplished as much as Biden (unlikely) but for sure no one could have done more under such circumstances.
Thanks Jason…. I have contemplated many times how blessed we are that he decided to have one more act in the play of his life in public service…..and omg, is he ever delivering the masterpiece performance of an already hall of fame career. ❤️🩹🇺🇸
Some of you may recall that I have posted before about DemCast USA being a great resource for Simon's "information warriors" - well they are now on Substack as "Digital Drumbeat"
My senators split on approving the aid package - Tillis in favor and Budd against. I called both and left appropriate messages of thanks and dissappointment, respectively.
TikTok is a serious problem, and we need to have a serious conversation about it. There is no reason to expect this blows back on Biden - if there is any blow back - as Rs actually introduced it and made it a condition of their support of Ukraine. This is not something to worry about in my mind right now.
Thank you for sharing again the interview with Anna Hochkammer. One can never doubt the difference one person can make. I will rewatch this inspiring interview.
What are we to make of today’s Bloomberg/Morning consult polls?
Old news? From nearly 2 weeks ago. Small sample? That’s what I make of it.
I didnt write about it today for 1) it's all behind a paywall 2) the data is so crazy I can't believe they published it. Morning Consult's own natl poll this week had Biden ahead, and there is no universe where we are trailing by high single digits in any of these battleground states. Keep promoting the Marist poll - much higher quality pollster, best poll for Biden this year.
First thing I heard on my morning walk, and it really bummed me out. Then I concluded it couldn't possibly be right.
Thanx (again) Simon for another good summary of where things stand.. in April. Plenty of time to ramp up for when it counts.
Let’s see how a Trump felony conviction sullies his standing with independents.
And let’s see if SCOTUS (in the coming days) stands up or down when it comes to justice and democracy.
Reminder: Focus for Democracy's informational meeting for the 2024 election cycle on:
Thursday, April 25th at 8PM Eastern/5PM Pacific.
Please click here to register:
http://tinyurl.com/F4D25Apr
A modest request: full URLs, please. There is no way of knowing where so-called "tiny-URLs" take us – and, theoretically, it can be to nefarious sites.
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UtpJ-xyoR4SOBM_8IdUwlQ?_x_zm_rtaid=d2WWv0PySY2wp7iEJy_Gvg.1713977353049.583e7616dc7bc19472e4f734a17bb079&_x_zm_rhtaid=311#/registration
Thank you!
Now have a $700k match for this event!
Simon, it’s not just about abortions. I live in Florida, retired from a state job. Thank goodness I’m getting a pension. However, new employees will not be receiving this. The Republicans are taking these badly needed monies away from the work place. Years before I left my job Rick Scott, then the governor, sent emails out to myself and my co-workers letting us know that they would be removing monies that we received every year. He also removed money, coming from the state, that we got towards our pensions. This happened around 8 years before I retired. Monies towards our pensions would have to come from our own paychecks. Today, pensions aren’t even apart of our employee packages!! I was angry about this and couldn’t understand why Rick Scott was doing this to us. About six months ago I heard from another Republican how proud he was that he also removed pensions from a work place in his state. We all are not entrepreneurs. There are decent jobs out there in peoples states, cities, gov’t, etc. these jobs were set up in the United States to support our states and the people who live in them. Social Security is another entity that was set up for us all. The wealthy Republicans who have been fortunate enough to create their own businesses for some reason want to take this away from the working class and away from their own employees. This is what I see happening in my state, but I don’t hear any candidates talking about these important issues.
Sheila,
I just saw an ad with a PA Union worker thanking Joe Biden for saving his pension. More people need to know Biden understands the need to do so. I also heard him speak about NOT making the changes GOP house wants in Medicare budget or Social Security. One POTUS candidate wants to please billionaires with tax cuts and the other,Biden, demonstrates through his policies he supports workers and their families. The hottest issue for voters now which has created a backlash for R’s is abortion rights so he’s frontlining that one but IMHO he’s still keeping the programs you mentioned front and center in his actions. It’s beyond scary to see how GOP leaders are leading against their own voters in these issues (economy, health,rights, climate,etc) but glad to see this last one has exposed their control intents. And Biden’s making use of it to amplify their leadership’s intentions. Now we need to GOTV and vote them out, battling with eyes wide open to challenges!! ( I know you know just venting this part!) Glad to be part of this hope filled and hardworking site with all the HC good people to do just that.
Thanks Irene. I have seen Biden on the picket lines too. I hope he brings the conversation about pensions up. I’m so grateful to have one, but like I said, the Republicans want to remove them!!! My mom still has hers. My dad had one. My aunt and uncle were both teachers and had great pensions too. So many people I know have them. We need to bring them back!! Thanks for the return comment. I’m with you!! VOTE BLUE IN NOVEMBER😬❤️
Hi Sheila,
I’m also in Florida and receive a pension from my years with DOH (way pre-Ladapo, thank goodness !) I’m so grateful for it and my tuition-free graduate studies, which is one thing DeFunding DeSantis surpisingly hasn’t abolished.
Part of GOTV efforts is telling “your” story to voters who can relate.So, keep telling your story and I’ll do the same.
And let’s keep sharing📣 that Rubio and Scott voted Nay on the Ukraine/Israel bill. Rubio actually said it was “legislative blackmail” to spend money on foreign aide because of southern border issues……just as directed by you-know-who.🥵
Thanks Kathy. It’s great that we have the opportunity to communicate with each other and to share our stories!! We need to get rid of Scott!! I believe he has his sights on the White House. We can’t let that happen!! Regards!!😬🙏
I like the ad for Biden from the building trades union in today’s Hopium. Is there a way to get the link for that I can share with others. Thanks for what you’re doing!
Friends, all these ads are always on YouTube or the main site of the org that produces them. I will work harder to provide easy links but they are always easy to find. And you can link back to my post too.....
Having political power feels great. Individually we can’t do much to win elections or influence policy but together we’re making a real difference. MAGA whines and Dems work.
Joe signed the bill.https://apnews.com/article/b72aed9b195818735d24363f2bc34ea4
/Users/Gallagher/Downloads/IMG_2447.HEIC
Not sure this picture will post, but is of the Republican Voter guide in my voting district. We're in Lancaster County, PA, where the Rs, we thought, were extremely Trumpy. "No endorsement" on the presidential level is remarkable here. And in my suburban district the few remaining Rs went 21 Trump, 17 Haley. And I would note that in PA as a whole, Dem turnout beat R turnout. With no real contest for us on the ballot.
Holding hope, and investing time and resources to the cause, will save our democracy. It works if you work it!
Simon, our household has contacted our reps on Ukraine, and we donated to the NC Dems also. I have a question for you. We've been involved with postcardstovoters.org's Florida campaign. This is a postcard effort to get individual Florida Dem voters to take advantage of the little-known FL state law that allows them to easily register to vote by mail, by making one simple phone call to their county elections office. We are trying to decide whether our energy writing postcards is better directed toward North Carolina instead of Florida. Thoughts? Thanks Simon.
You know, in politics, there's always something new biting at our heels, especially in an election year....and as such, it's easy to forget to take a few deep breaths when something really important happens and truly appreciate it....especially if it isn't absolute top of mind for most people (and a lot of the most important things rarely are in their own time).
I'm still just overwhelmed that the Ukraine funding package hurdle was cleared and is being signed into law today. I can think of a few things as important that we've accomplished under Joe Biden....but nothing MORE important than this particular achievement in our most important mission....to preserve democracy and freedom. My God, the ripple effects of failing to do this could have been so far beyond catastrophic for our way of life in the west that I don't even have an appropriate adjective.
And as I'm sitting here this morning, taking in some current events before I begin my work for the day, I'm thinking about how this achievement was possible, all because a rather extraordinarily ordinary man named Joe Biden was elected President of the United States, and came into the job believing and knowing that even in this rancorous tribal era that we're in, the laws of political physics and interpersonal relationships can still be applied to achieve great things.
There was a great piece in Politico today outlining the march toward this achievement and the roles Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, and President Biden each played in getting us here. But what struck me most was the patient, persistent, and firm but respectful diplomacy Biden's team employed (at his direction) toward Speaker Johnson. Privately providing him with regular intelligence briefings showing him the true consequences of inaction for both Europe, and then America....and not taking cheap shots at him publicly at every opportunity. Chuck Schumer was quoted (I'm paraphrasing because I don't recall the sentence word for word) as saying something like, "Even when it would have been to their momentary political advantage, the White House didn't try to beat the shit out of Johnson." Ultimately, our wise, mature, experienced president knew that Mike Johnson had to go through a personal evolution first, and feel the weight of the real world consequences that would rest on his shoulders in his new position of authority before hard political pressure would make any difference.
The day I became a big fan of Joe Biden was during the 2008 Vice Presidential Debate against Sarah Palin, when he answered a question by saying, "I've learned in my time in the Senate that it's okay to question someone's judgement, but never their motives." It is this basic humanity and decency that gives him both the patience and the persistence to press forward with people he disagrees with until an opportunity for principled cooperation opens up....because at his core, he believes the overwhelming majority of people are doing what they honestly think is right, and they may have to go through a philosophical evolution to some degree to reach a place where compromise is possible for them. This is Biden's superpower in legislating AND foreign policy....his absolute belief in the potential for productive cooperation is unshakable, because he believes in the basic humanity of all of his potential opponents, and has an uncanny sense of where the limits of common ground rest with each of them.
This is a moment of triumph for the President, but really for the USA and free people all over the globe....not even just the western hemisphere. And it is a moment that gives me hope and faith in our future....because it proves that when you elect good people to positions of power, they can and will find ways to do good in the world. It was true with Lincoln in the midst of a Civil War with half the states having seceded from the Union when he managed to negotiate monumentally important things (like the 13th amendment abolishing slavery for example) with Democrats who considered him a dangerous tyrant and the reason for the splintering of the nation...it was true with Harry Truman when he had to get funding for the "Marshall Plan" from a congress that had just flipped Republican in the 1946 midterm for the first time since 1930 with no mind to compromise with the party that had held them out of power for so long...and it was true of Lyndon Johnson when he rallied Democratic votes from his native south and from Republicans of good faith to end the Jim Crow era.
I called Speaker Johnson's office this morning and told his staffer that as a Democrat in Nebraska, my call may not be very meaningful to him....but as Speaker of the House, making the politically difficult decision he made to bring that funding to the floor and helping to preserve the freedom based global order that we've built and sustained for nearly a century was VERY meaningful to me. I said, "I'm sure we'll have much to disagree about and oppose one another on in the course of time....but today, I'm a very grateful citizen, and this couldn't have been accomplished with your leadership and cooperation....and you deserve to hear that from me."
And the reason I made that call and genuinely felt that way.....is because Joe Biden has taught me everything important about politics. Happy Wednesday everyone.....grateful to be part of this community, and BEAMING with pride and gratitude for my President, my party, and our extraordinary country.
Just lovely Steve. Thank you. Hug from NC
Hug back Bridgette….it’s a good day for us all! 😊🇺🇸❤️🩹
😭💗🙌🏻 thank you for sharing your heartfelt thoughtful journey with us. You wrote so much of what I’ve felt about Biden but could never put into words so well. I had wondered if Biden had “seen” a part of Johnson’s equally religious and humane soul. There’s so much I don’t agree with J about but our leader spotted the similarities and made it better for us all the way he kept respect and dignity intact and allowed room for influence. He didn’t win, he partnered and they won together.
Thank you,again🙏🏻
Thanks Irene….your last line (he partnered and they won together) should be Joe’s epitaph one day….beautifully said 🇺🇸
I remember exactly when Biden entered the 2020 race and I was annoyed that this old guy from the Obama years was getting in the mix. At first his candidacy appeared to be going nowhere and everyone wrote him off then suddenly he started winning and kept winning. He knows how to build coalitions and get stuff done. And he genuinely respects people who disagree with him which builds a lot of credibility. And now he’s the most accomplished president of the past 50 years or more. To think he could have just stayed comfortably retired but instead decided to dedicate the rest of his life to national service and God knows how much stress. We are all blessed to have Biden as our leader now. Maybe one of the other 2020 candidates could have accomplished as much as Biden (unlikely) but for sure no one could have done more under such circumstances.
Thanks Jason…. I have contemplated many times how blessed we are that he decided to have one more act in the play of his life in public service…..and omg, is he ever delivering the masterpiece performance of an already hall of fame career. ❤️🩹🇺🇸
Thank you for the new union ad - outstanding.
Some of you may recall that I have posted before about DemCast USA being a great resource for Simon's "information warriors" - well they are now on Substack as "Digital Drumbeat"
https://open.substack.com/pub/demcastusa/p/welcome-to-the-digital-drumbeat?r=1aiy5t&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
My senators split on approving the aid package - Tillis in favor and Budd against. I called both and left appropriate messages of thanks and dissappointment, respectively.
Cheryl, you inspired me to follow suit, which I did and left messages similar to yours!
Thanks.