I believe we - the millions of us out there-grassroots groups are the best shot out there to fight and win this battle. I’m so deeply proud and impressed with what everyone is doing. Someone wrote this is our Dunkirk. They did all they could then and we are doing the same now.
There is also possible good news from France. As we know, in the recent EU Parliamentary Elections, the far-right Popular Front got twice as many votes in France as President Macron’s center-right party. So to everyone’s shock, Emmanuel Macron called for snap elections.
That may sound like political suicide, but there has been an unexpected positive development, which may well deprive the far-right Popular Front of power! Here is a fascinating article by Robert Kuttner.
Simon’s conversation with Markos Moulitsas is excellent and informative! Brilliant analysis of the state of the election and recent developments by Simon. I was not aware that DailyKos’ "The Brief" is available also as video, and not just an audio Podcast.
Question: Is anyone compiling a list of newspapers and pundits that are calling for Trump to withdraw from the presidential race after becoming a convicted felon – with conviction on 34 criminal counts? Or, should I ask: has anyone yet even qualified for that list?
Thanks for the reminder about the video option, always my preference, as I had missed it in Simon's email today. Excellent conversation. And the Prospect article was very clear and interesting as well.
What can we do about the doctored videos of President Biden the RNC is putting out? I think we need to hammer the "I don't care about you. I just want your vote" comment made last weekend in Las Vegas by TFG.
For those who still believe that Smellvis plays with a full deck...
Former Aide: Trump Talked Openly About Executing People
Former President Donald Trump often openly talked about executing people during his presidency, according to a former staffer. Alyssa Farah Griffin, who worked as a communications director for the Trump administration, told Mediaite during a podcast appearance on Friday that Trump talking about executing his political enemies was not a one-time thing. “Trump straight up said a staffer who leaked a story should be executed,” Griffin recalled. “There were others where he talked about executing people,” Griffin added. Trump previously promised to bring back firing squads if he wins the presidential election in November, according to Rolling Stone. “As President Trump has said, the best revenge is the success and prosperity of all Americans,” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung told Newsweek in reaction to Griffin’s comments.
thanks for posting. btw she was the other person on the CNN interview Simon shared with us a couple days ago. An interesting person, she also helped Cassidy Hutchinson
Because of Biden's age, there is a certain amount of angst about Kamala Harris as
Veep. Can you provide info that strengthens her in the eyes of the voter. I am the precinct captain in a senior community. Thanks, Zina Greene, Palm Desert, CA
She has been instrumental in the administrations efforts to curtail the flow of migrants across the border by working with governments in south and Central America to provide opportunities to apply for asylum there at the embassy in consulates, which has protected a lot of vulnerable people from making dangerous and uncertain journeys where they could be exploited or sold intosome kind of trafficking, and eased the significant amount of pressure on our immigration system. She is met several times with foreign leaders for that purpose, and has represented us very able at a number of meetings when President Biden was unavailable to attend himself.
I agree with both your comments! Simon we know, has great affection for Harris, her abilities and rightly so. I’ve told family and friends for years now, I think it actually helps she is underestimated cuz Harris is the most underrated member of Biden’s administration bar none.
Steady as a rock and who undoubtedly has soaked in everything like a sponge right by Biden’s side, likely un-afraid to speak with him quite candidly as a partner (foreshadowed immediately by her zeal towards him in the 2020 debates).
Look at how she has righteously tapped into the matter of women’s healthcare. Remember what Simon has repeatedly pointed out…look at what’s happening on the ground!
Harris is resonating with an abundance of women across the country and I suspect that will be a huge weapon in our arsenal moving forward. The GOP should be able to see this writing on the wall but hopefully, they will continue to sink further into their own narcissism and continually double down with the abortion extremism.
There is no going back from Roe’s overturning. Predictably, a sleeping giant awoke and she isn’t going back to sleep anytime soon. Hence, why I remain somewhat bullish in that above anything else…crime, foreign policy, even the economy, and yes-believe it or not, immigration included (as toxic an issue as it can be)….it’ll be women’s healthcare mixed in with preservation of democracy (as they go directly hand in hand) that will drive voter turnout that I believe will exceed even our own expectations here at Hopium.
It’s been widely expected by many pundits that voter turnout will be similar to 2020 but less than 2016. What does Professor/Historian Allan Lichtman always say in regards to his longtime effective 13 Keys to the WH system? ‘Forget the polls, forget the pundits.’
I’m willing to be an outlier and say despite all the seeming lack of enthusiasm…the turnout will exceed both 2016 and 2020. Yes, I could be totally wrong but if there’s one thing that can change the tide in society and politics unlike any other…it’s women and when you mess with women’s civil liberties and right that have immediate effect and/or consequences…that takes swift precedence over all other issues cuz autonomy over your own body sets a personal tone for everything else.
Forget blue or red waves. This election has the potential to be a massive pink wave which may as well be blue in our case. Harris sees this with great clarity more than many think and she will continue driving this home.
Speaking of swift…let us not discount the very real possibility that Taylor Swift publicly endorses Biden/Harris sometime this summer/early fall.
If done as suspected, add that to Harris’ prowess on the matter of women’s healthcare, matched with Biden’s steady diplomacy and ‘Presidential character,’ in grave contrast to a progressively demented Trump (likely to further alienate independents and moderates due to his continued reckless and unhinged rhetoric), and not to mention, a crucial outperformance in fundraising (which aids us congressionally while Trump still bleeds desperately needed financial resources all funneled to him through an inevitability bankrupt RNC) …we maintain a very real recipe for success.
Steady, strategic, passionate, laser focused, and anything but non-apathetic…wins the race…regardless how the GOP raves, rants, and tries to cheat…period🙏💯👊🙌.
Blake, thank you for your well-reasoned and very encouraging analysis! You state a lot of prominent facts. In this Post-Factual Era, the challenge is to make sure those facts are heard and seen – as facts. Which is precisely why Simon argues it is incumbent on each and every one of us to be "information warriors", "microphones" that reach our personal and social networks!
.
You state: "I’m willing to be an outlier and say despite all the seeming lack of enthusiasm…the turnout will exceed both 2016 and 2020."
If Democratic voter turnout in November is at Scandinavian levels (80–85 percent) while Republicans turnout remains at 2020 levels (66.9 %), then America will see a Blue Tsunami this year! (What you call a "Pink Tsunami" in reaction to Dobbs, and the GOP’s "War on Women", will be a prominent component of this.)
The strong and widespread Democratic ground game and massive GOTV efforts give me additional reason for confidence. This, imho, is our strongest weapon in 2024!
Also: As Field Team 6 members here have repeatedly underscored, we need to register as many voters as possible, and re-register those purged from their states’ voter rolls – especially in swing states.
Thank you Blake- for a wonderful Hopium write up. Your last paragraph beautifully summed up (for me) the journey Simon has led us through on Hopium Chronicles this past year: to unify us through our community work, planning and relentless focus on hope and truth. To understand and use the civic grassroots power we have against enormous forces, unified, together, to save our democracy.🙏🏻🇺🇸
Hi Zina, This is a great interview to share of VP Kamala with Jimmy Kimmel!
Vice President Kamala Harris talks about being back in California, Roe v. Wade being overturned, contraception being at risk across the country, the threat of the government telling women what they can do with their bodies, Donald Trump looking to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, learning that Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts.+++
I am in pretty deep red VA right now (on holiday in a nice place by the Potomac river). In years past, there were so many MAGA signs, now just a few (and old and mostly faded - like Christmas lights left up too long). The movement, I believe, has receded. It makes sense. The hard core faithful are older, Trump is older, the newness, fun of supporting Trump is dissipating. The new supposed Trump fans - young black men, Latinos - don’t really like the Trump brand that much (they are not like the Trump disaffected voters who came out of the corn fields in droves in 2016). They are just s-talking for fun (this election is not personal for them). Trump 2024 is the very weak and problematic sequel of a once strong franchise. Also, Meta’s banning of politics from its algorithm means that most people are just not, outside of Tik tok, seeing, thinking and talking politics as much. I was at an outdoor concert - quietly obsessing about the election - and I looked up and noticed there were no hats, t-shirts, political talk (and that I was alone in my thoughts). People are - generally - not thinking about this election and won’t until Sept or Oct (when they will be confronted with the very stark choice). I think - despite the increasing noise of MAGA, right wing, Russian bots, angry Gaza kids posting doctored “lost Biden” videos, etc - that the election is turning in our favor day by day because the closer we get, the more people wake up. We are likely to (after an awful election season), if we do the work, end up in a good place. I say this after having to reassure one of my anxious friends about the Economist’s new prediction based on (good new polls for Biden)? I would increasingly much rather be us than them (while increasingly looking forward when we are through this election). Stay strong folks!
I think Republicans are giving us another opening, with their upside down flags, insurrection flags, thin blue line flags, etc. Democrats have ceded patriotism to Republicans, and I believe that is a mistake. Especially with Trump's American carnage rhetoric, how can we reclaim Old Glory and patriotism without the attendant stench of White Christian Nationalism?
Attention all postcard writers! I received an email from Blue Wave Postcard Movement about a new high priority campaign in Wisconsin:
We’re putting our Ohio campaign on hold for a hot minute to get cards to Wisconsin ASAP. The Presidential election, US Senate majority, and US House majority all hang in the balance this year, and Wisconsin will play an important role. We are urging unregistered Wisconsinites to register now so they can vote in the August 13 primary and the general election in November.
An initiative on the primary ballot would limit the Democratic governor’s ability to distribute federal funds allocated to the state. This could include disaster relief funds, Social Security, and Medicaid. A lot is at stake!
Cheryl, is it true that Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled legislature was blocking funds to clean up PFAS ("forever chemicals"), unless Governor Evers agreed to a guarantee that polluters would not be held liable? If so, that is truly outrageous!
We just ordered our Wisconsin cards from BW and will shift when received. My postcarding partner and BF, Ruth and I thank you for the heads up. Great to have communications in our HC community where we can pivot quickly to support in most needed area🙏🏻🇺🇸
I get way too many emails about opportunities for engagement, so I try to amplify them even if I don't have the bandwidth to volunteer for all of them myself!
Simon - Just listened to Deep State and heard talk of the under 40 vote unsure and even trending toward Trump. How!?! How can we get creative on how to touch the young people in a way that they can relate to? It seems we need young surrogates and new ways of speaking with younger folks, something that encourages them to feel engaged and get involved for their future. I feel stronger everyday that we need to make change for them. Why don’t they? What are the democrats doing about this?
I would appreciate it if you would put in a strong 'plug' for postcarding. I am finding it difficult to convince some small & larger AZ groups to take it seriously. Thanks Simon! ~Claudia in Tucson
My sense from what I read is that states outside of Az are flooding it with our postcard campaigns. Are you seeing that yet, there? Blue Wave movement just sent out its 3rd round of cards for its Arizona campaign and all are sold out! I know other postcarding groups from other states are heavily focused on Az also. Hopefully that helps until your local groups wake up to the effectiveness of postcarding. 🇺🇸
Yes, Ilene, outside groups are a huge help! I don't believe we would be in as good a shape as we are if it wasn't for outside group postcarding. It is a conundrum. Its all hands on deck for goodness sake! I always say something about postcarding on local group zooms and more often than not I get a slight slap down. I've given a wonderful 'private' postcard campaign to two Dem groups and they chose not to participate! Wow - just wow. However, a big shoutout to ITAA, an Indivisible Action group in Tucson as they grabbed the campaign and are writing for it. Thanks to everyone of my Hopium sisterhood/brethren for all you do for AZ!
You are so welcome Claudia! I have family in Az so have “adopted “ it politically speaking. But I know Santa Cruz Indivisible and Marin and Oakland have also from California as well as Patrick’s from SoCal. And that’s just the few I know about.
Wondering if your High School groups working on voter registration would be interested in postcarding? They work through CEBV. Good luck🇺🇸
Thanks Irene, Our CEBV group in Phoenix is actively involved in registering High School & College students. Cathy Sigmon, one of the facilitators, also heads up a group SOS, Save Our Schools, (since the GOP majority legislators are decimating AZ budget with the school voucher program) and that is one of their outreach programs. I believe they are also working with and often promote The Civics Center.
Yes, familiar with their program. My friend Ruth and I “adopted” one of their High Schools after Kathy explained the program. Several of the student leaders seemed (to me) really impressive and could maybe be interested in adding a postcarding or texting program to reach more voters. They already have the infrastructure and group communications set up with their registration processes. Just a thought!
Living in Los Angeles, I'm writing lots of postcards into Arizona, and continue to do so. But if I actually resided in Arizona, I'd imagine my time might be better spent-- if at all possible-- canvassing my friends and neighbors. I know it can be intimidating to get out there, but those doorstep conversations tend to be even more powerful than postcards!
Patrick, so the saying goes. That is the attitude in many AZ Dem party groups. 'They' are behind the times and need to reach out in any manner a volunteer is willing to take. You do realize it is absolutely too hot to canvas in AZ starting now through Sept. I will NOT knock on doors in AZ; we have a huge proliferation of guns & hate going on right now. And honestly with postcards we can reach so many more people. I just do not get the attitude about over it. We ALL do what we can and we should not be brow beaten over our choice of action.
Claudia, there’s lots of postcarding opportunities out there to reach Arizona voters. Like I said, I’m doing that everyday myself, from here in Los Angeles. Clearly that’s the volunteer option that works for you, so I encourage you to keep with it. But noting that a doorstep conversation tends to have greater motivational efficacy upon a voter than receipt of a postcard does isn’t “brow beating” anyone. It’s just a simple statement of what the data undeniably demonstrates.
And, unless you are actively working with the Democratic groups in Arizona of which I am referring to you will not understand the barriers I run across. I am fully aware of the postcarding opportunities out there. Arizona is and has been a low voting state for decades. Our Democratic groups, in AZ, need to think outside the box now. We are in a much different election environment now (as Simon has often referred to) any and every action needs to be focused on.
Do you have any recent graduates in your life? I received an email from League of Women Voters with free downloadable .png files to create a postcard encouraging the new grads to vote. There are 4 different designs and each one has both an English and Spanish version.
This will work with Avery (or office supply store equivalent) postcard sheets (4-up or 2-up) using a free template you can download at www.avery.com or with other software.
I recommend listening to the latest Focus group podcast (link below). MAGA/Bannon are actively focused on getting low income - system hating - young black and Latino men (and however else they can get) to create a more durable MAGA minority. They believe they can get rid of the RINOs, Nikki Haley voters and still win. While I believe this is an ill conceived strategy (as MAGA does not offer the same central identity, cross community benefit to these voters as that offered to white rural, rust belt and retirees), they are going for it (this is the plan) and having some success based on initial polling. Clearly they are spending on outreach - somehow - to these communities. Has anyone seen reporting about how? Is it just digital advertising? Influencers? I, personally, want to know so I can (to whatever extent is possible) help to counter. https://www.thebulwark.com/p/is-the-gop-happy-with-losing-with
Been searching - gotta stop and get to work! - to answer my own question. What is going on, I believe, is best encapsulated in this obscure article - linked below. Basically, the Trump campaign is using its strong reach into “bro culture/barstool sports” to try to can appeal to and get young black, Latino men to vote for them. Otherwise, there is basically nothing. And ,this way they can using their existing digital meme factory to pump out content shared by the bros (this and probably working to amplify the Gaza kids take down of Biden - don’t know enough about this yet). Trump just did an event with the Paul brothers (who I am ashamed to admit my org worked as an influencer with before they got red pilled and before Logan Paul went on his famous macabre and historically insensitive and gross walk about in the Japanese cemetery). As the article points out, the good news is that this doubling down on misogyny digital strategy in a post Dobbs world, comes with some real risk. Link: https://www.sushibbqinn.ca/paper/261347/.
P.S. Per Tik Tok, for those of you with digital background, this a strategy that can work for us. The Gaza kids takeover of the comments of celebs - which is why they have been able to freeze people like Taylor Swift from joining the Biden campaign - is bad for business. Tik Tok’s revenue comes from people like Taylor Swift (and brands who want to advertise to her followers). So, if we could figure out the right response to the company to organize, Tik Tok should take action to mitigate the impact of this strategy (as it is bad for business). Interesting to think about.
IMO: Reads like same old stuff ( BS) we’ve been seeing. I don’t think it will stop but then neither will we.
You’re welcome Don.
I believe we - the millions of us out there-grassroots groups are the best shot out there to fight and win this battle. I’m so deeply proud and impressed with what everyone is doing. Someone wrote this is our Dunkirk. They did all they could then and we are doing the same now.
There is also possible good news from France. As we know, in the recent EU Parliamentary Elections, the far-right Popular Front got twice as many votes in France as President Macron’s center-right party. So to everyone’s shock, Emmanuel Macron called for snap elections.
That may sound like political suicide, but there has been an unexpected positive development, which may well deprive the far-right Popular Front of power! Here is a fascinating article by Robert Kuttner.
https://prospect.org/blogs-and-newsletters/tap/2024-06-14-french-left-arises-from-the-dead/
Simon’s conversation with Markos Moulitsas is excellent and informative! Brilliant analysis of the state of the election and recent developments by Simon. I was not aware that DailyKos’ "The Brief" is available also as video, and not just an audio Podcast.
Question: Is anyone compiling a list of newspapers and pundits that are calling for Trump to withdraw from the presidential race after becoming a convicted felon – with conviction on 34 criminal counts? Or, should I ask: has anyone yet even qualified for that list?
Thanks for the reminder about the video option, always my preference, as I had missed it in Simon's email today. Excellent conversation. And the Prospect article was very clear and interesting as well.
https://whyy.org/articles/trump-14th-amendment-gop-primary-ballot-presidential-election/
I believe that article from 2023 became outdated after a Supreme Court decision.
Yes, I see that now. My apologies.
Washington State Secretary of State is considering it since no felon can run for public office.
And in Nevada, the Republican Party is clearly in violation of its own bylaws:
"The Nevada Republican Party shall neither recognize nor support any candidate for public office who has been convicted of a felony."
https://nitter.poast.org/RalstonReports/status/1799208146197746131#m
Fun but pathetic fact:
Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s campaign had to refile its petition to appear on Nevada’s November ballot. The reason? They had misspelled “United States"!
https://thenevadaindependent.com/field-notes/eric-neugeboren/rfk-jr-refiles-nevada-ballot-petition-after-united-states-typo
pathetic indeed
They don't believe in the "united" States
What can we do about the doctored videos of President Biden the RNC is putting out? I think we need to hammer the "I don't care about you. I just want your vote" comment made last weekend in Las Vegas by TFG.
For those who still believe that Smellvis plays with a full deck...
Former Aide: Trump Talked Openly About Executing People
Former President Donald Trump often openly talked about executing people during his presidency, according to a former staffer. Alyssa Farah Griffin, who worked as a communications director for the Trump administration, told Mediaite during a podcast appearance on Friday that Trump talking about executing his political enemies was not a one-time thing. “Trump straight up said a staffer who leaked a story should be executed,” Griffin recalled. “There were others where he talked about executing people,” Griffin added. Trump previously promised to bring back firing squads if he wins the presidential election in November, according to Rolling Stone. “As President Trump has said, the best revenge is the success and prosperity of all Americans,” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung told Newsweek in reaction to Griffin’s comments.
https://www.mediaite.com/news/ex-trump-official-makes-stunning-revelation-trump-talked-about-executing-people-at-several-wh-meetings/
thanks for posting. btw she was the other person on the CNN interview Simon shared with us a couple days ago. An interesting person, she also helped Cassidy Hutchinson
Because of Biden's age, there is a certain amount of angst about Kamala Harris as
Veep. Can you provide info that strengthens her in the eyes of the voter. I am the precinct captain in a senior community. Thanks, Zina Greene, Palm Desert, CA
She has been instrumental in the administrations efforts to curtail the flow of migrants across the border by working with governments in south and Central America to provide opportunities to apply for asylum there at the embassy in consulates, which has protected a lot of vulnerable people from making dangerous and uncertain journeys where they could be exploited or sold intosome kind of trafficking, and eased the significant amount of pressure on our immigration system. She is met several times with foreign leaders for that purpose, and has represented us very able at a number of meetings when President Biden was unavailable to attend himself.
I would lean into her bone a few days internationally, because it is giving her gravitas
I agree with both your comments! Simon we know, has great affection for Harris, her abilities and rightly so. I’ve told family and friends for years now, I think it actually helps she is underestimated cuz Harris is the most underrated member of Biden’s administration bar none.
Steady as a rock and who undoubtedly has soaked in everything like a sponge right by Biden’s side, likely un-afraid to speak with him quite candidly as a partner (foreshadowed immediately by her zeal towards him in the 2020 debates).
Look at how she has righteously tapped into the matter of women’s healthcare. Remember what Simon has repeatedly pointed out…look at what’s happening on the ground!
Harris is resonating with an abundance of women across the country and I suspect that will be a huge weapon in our arsenal moving forward. The GOP should be able to see this writing on the wall but hopefully, they will continue to sink further into their own narcissism and continually double down with the abortion extremism.
There is no going back from Roe’s overturning. Predictably, a sleeping giant awoke and she isn’t going back to sleep anytime soon. Hence, why I remain somewhat bullish in that above anything else…crime, foreign policy, even the economy, and yes-believe it or not, immigration included (as toxic an issue as it can be)….it’ll be women’s healthcare mixed in with preservation of democracy (as they go directly hand in hand) that will drive voter turnout that I believe will exceed even our own expectations here at Hopium.
It’s been widely expected by many pundits that voter turnout will be similar to 2020 but less than 2016. What does Professor/Historian Allan Lichtman always say in regards to his longtime effective 13 Keys to the WH system? ‘Forget the polls, forget the pundits.’
I’m willing to be an outlier and say despite all the seeming lack of enthusiasm…the turnout will exceed both 2016 and 2020. Yes, I could be totally wrong but if there’s one thing that can change the tide in society and politics unlike any other…it’s women and when you mess with women’s civil liberties and right that have immediate effect and/or consequences…that takes swift precedence over all other issues cuz autonomy over your own body sets a personal tone for everything else.
Forget blue or red waves. This election has the potential to be a massive pink wave which may as well be blue in our case. Harris sees this with great clarity more than many think and she will continue driving this home.
Speaking of swift…let us not discount the very real possibility that Taylor Swift publicly endorses Biden/Harris sometime this summer/early fall.
If done as suspected, add that to Harris’ prowess on the matter of women’s healthcare, matched with Biden’s steady diplomacy and ‘Presidential character,’ in grave contrast to a progressively demented Trump (likely to further alienate independents and moderates due to his continued reckless and unhinged rhetoric), and not to mention, a crucial outperformance in fundraising (which aids us congressionally while Trump still bleeds desperately needed financial resources all funneled to him through an inevitability bankrupt RNC) …we maintain a very real recipe for success.
Steady, strategic, passionate, laser focused, and anything but non-apathetic…wins the race…regardless how the GOP raves, rants, and tries to cheat…period🙏💯👊🙌.
Blake, thank you for your well-reasoned and very encouraging analysis! You state a lot of prominent facts. In this Post-Factual Era, the challenge is to make sure those facts are heard and seen – as facts. Which is precisely why Simon argues it is incumbent on each and every one of us to be "information warriors", "microphones" that reach our personal and social networks!
.
You state: "I’m willing to be an outlier and say despite all the seeming lack of enthusiasm…the turnout will exceed both 2016 and 2020."
If Democratic voter turnout in November is at Scandinavian levels (80–85 percent) while Republicans turnout remains at 2020 levels (66.9 %), then America will see a Blue Tsunami this year! (What you call a "Pink Tsunami" in reaction to Dobbs, and the GOP’s "War on Women", will be a prominent component of this.)
The strong and widespread Democratic ground game and massive GOTV efforts give me additional reason for confidence. This, imho, is our strongest weapon in 2024!
Also: As Field Team 6 members here have repeatedly underscored, we need to register as many voters as possible, and re-register those purged from their states’ voter rolls – especially in swing states.
Thank you Blake- for a wonderful Hopium write up. Your last paragraph beautifully summed up (for me) the journey Simon has led us through on Hopium Chronicles this past year: to unify us through our community work, planning and relentless focus on hope and truth. To understand and use the civic grassroots power we have against enormous forces, unified, together, to save our democracy.🙏🏻🇺🇸
Hi Zina, This is a great interview to share of VP Kamala with Jimmy Kimmel!
Vice President Kamala Harris talks about being back in California, Roe v. Wade being overturned, contraception being at risk across the country, the threat of the government telling women what they can do with their bodies, Donald Trump looking to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, learning that Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts.+++
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne3-KA8ja6g
Fantastic interview Kathy; thanks for posting!🇺🇸
I am in pretty deep red VA right now (on holiday in a nice place by the Potomac river). In years past, there were so many MAGA signs, now just a few (and old and mostly faded - like Christmas lights left up too long). The movement, I believe, has receded. It makes sense. The hard core faithful are older, Trump is older, the newness, fun of supporting Trump is dissipating. The new supposed Trump fans - young black men, Latinos - don’t really like the Trump brand that much (they are not like the Trump disaffected voters who came out of the corn fields in droves in 2016). They are just s-talking for fun (this election is not personal for them). Trump 2024 is the very weak and problematic sequel of a once strong franchise. Also, Meta’s banning of politics from its algorithm means that most people are just not, outside of Tik tok, seeing, thinking and talking politics as much. I was at an outdoor concert - quietly obsessing about the election - and I looked up and noticed there were no hats, t-shirts, political talk (and that I was alone in my thoughts). People are - generally - not thinking about this election and won’t until Sept or Oct (when they will be confronted with the very stark choice). I think - despite the increasing noise of MAGA, right wing, Russian bots, angry Gaza kids posting doctored “lost Biden” videos, etc - that the election is turning in our favor day by day because the closer we get, the more people wake up. We are likely to (after an awful election season), if we do the work, end up in a good place. I say this after having to reassure one of my anxious friends about the Economist’s new prediction based on (good new polls for Biden)? I would increasingly much rather be us than them (while increasingly looking forward when we are through this election). Stay strong folks!
Yup! And we should never confuse MAGA loudness with MAGA support.
I think Republicans are giving us another opening, with their upside down flags, insurrection flags, thin blue line flags, etc. Democrats have ceded patriotism to Republicans, and I believe that is a mistake. Especially with Trump's American carnage rhetoric, how can we reclaim Old Glory and patriotism without the attendant stench of White Christian Nationalism?
President Biden has done what Trump failed to do: Biden "Made America Great Again!"
Attention all postcard writers! I received an email from Blue Wave Postcard Movement about a new high priority campaign in Wisconsin:
We’re putting our Ohio campaign on hold for a hot minute to get cards to Wisconsin ASAP. The Presidential election, US Senate majority, and US House majority all hang in the balance this year, and Wisconsin will play an important role. We are urging unregistered Wisconsinites to register now so they can vote in the August 13 primary and the general election in November.
An initiative on the primary ballot would limit the Democratic governor’s ability to distribute federal funds allocated to the state. This could include disaster relief funds, Social Security, and Medicaid. A lot is at stake!
Please order Wisconsin Postcards here:
https://shop.bluewavepostcards.org/pages/write-postcards
Cheryl, is it true that Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled legislature was blocking funds to clean up PFAS ("forever chemicals"), unless Governor Evers agreed to a guarantee that polluters would not be held liable? If so, that is truly outrageous!
That I do not know.... but GOP controlled legislatures like to strip power from Democratic Governors - it happened here in NC for sure
Thanks Cheryl!
We just ordered our Wisconsin cards from BW and will shift when received. My postcarding partner and BF, Ruth and I thank you for the heads up. Great to have communications in our HC community where we can pivot quickly to support in most needed area🙏🏻🇺🇸
You are very welcome!
I get way too many emails about opportunities for engagement, so I try to amplify them even if I don't have the bandwidth to volunteer for all of them myself!
Simon - Just listened to Deep State and heard talk of the under 40 vote unsure and even trending toward Trump. How!?! How can we get creative on how to touch the young people in a way that they can relate to? It seems we need young surrogates and new ways of speaking with younger folks, something that encourages them to feel engaged and get involved for their future. I feel stronger everyday that we need to make change for them. Why don’t they? What are the democrats doing about this?
Happy Father's Day Simon! Looking forward to With Dems, Things Get Better and also your presentation to LD18, Pima County on June 25. Here's a link : https://ld18dems.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=88f9cdedfdc555bb2f9f5388e&id=6a09ffe943&e=6a8cfb350a
I would appreciate it if you would put in a strong 'plug' for postcarding. I am finding it difficult to convince some small & larger AZ groups to take it seriously. Thanks Simon! ~Claudia in Tucson
Hi Claudia,
My sense from what I read is that states outside of Az are flooding it with our postcard campaigns. Are you seeing that yet, there? Blue Wave movement just sent out its 3rd round of cards for its Arizona campaign and all are sold out! I know other postcarding groups from other states are heavily focused on Az also. Hopefully that helps until your local groups wake up to the effectiveness of postcarding. 🇺🇸
Yes, Ilene, outside groups are a huge help! I don't believe we would be in as good a shape as we are if it wasn't for outside group postcarding. It is a conundrum. Its all hands on deck for goodness sake! I always say something about postcarding on local group zooms and more often than not I get a slight slap down. I've given a wonderful 'private' postcard campaign to two Dem groups and they chose not to participate! Wow - just wow. However, a big shoutout to ITAA, an Indivisible Action group in Tucson as they grabbed the campaign and are writing for it. Thanks to everyone of my Hopium sisterhood/brethren for all you do for AZ!
You are so welcome Claudia! I have family in Az so have “adopted “ it politically speaking. But I know Santa Cruz Indivisible and Marin and Oakland have also from California as well as Patrick’s from SoCal. And that’s just the few I know about.
Wondering if your High School groups working on voter registration would be interested in postcarding? They work through CEBV. Good luck🇺🇸
Thanks Irene, Our CEBV group in Phoenix is actively involved in registering High School & College students. Cathy Sigmon, one of the facilitators, also heads up a group SOS, Save Our Schools, (since the GOP majority legislators are decimating AZ budget with the school voucher program) and that is one of their outreach programs. I believe they are also working with and often promote The Civics Center.
Yes, familiar with their program. My friend Ruth and I “adopted” one of their High Schools after Kathy explained the program. Several of the student leaders seemed (to me) really impressive and could maybe be interested in adding a postcarding or texting program to reach more voters. They already have the infrastructure and group communications set up with their registration processes. Just a thought!
All my best to you. Your win is our win too🇺🇸
Living in Los Angeles, I'm writing lots of postcards into Arizona, and continue to do so. But if I actually resided in Arizona, I'd imagine my time might be better spent-- if at all possible-- canvassing my friends and neighbors. I know it can be intimidating to get out there, but those doorstep conversations tend to be even more powerful than postcards!
Patrick, so the saying goes. That is the attitude in many AZ Dem party groups. 'They' are behind the times and need to reach out in any manner a volunteer is willing to take. You do realize it is absolutely too hot to canvas in AZ starting now through Sept. I will NOT knock on doors in AZ; we have a huge proliferation of guns & hate going on right now. And honestly with postcards we can reach so many more people. I just do not get the attitude about over it. We ALL do what we can and we should not be brow beaten over our choice of action.
Claudia, there’s lots of postcarding opportunities out there to reach Arizona voters. Like I said, I’m doing that everyday myself, from here in Los Angeles. Clearly that’s the volunteer option that works for you, so I encourage you to keep with it. But noting that a doorstep conversation tends to have greater motivational efficacy upon a voter than receipt of a postcard does isn’t “brow beating” anyone. It’s just a simple statement of what the data undeniably demonstrates.
The brow beating to which I am referring to is comment that are made to me by 'those' that don't understand the successfulness of postcarding
And, unless you are actively working with the Democratic groups in Arizona of which I am referring to you will not understand the barriers I run across. I am fully aware of the postcarding opportunities out there. Arizona is and has been a low voting state for decades. Our Democratic groups, in AZ, need to think outside the box now. We are in a much different election environment now (as Simon has often referred to) any and every action needs to be focused on.
Do you have any recent graduates in your life? I received an email from League of Women Voters with free downloadable .png files to create a postcard encouraging the new grads to vote. There are 4 different designs and each one has both an English and Spanish version.
https://www.lwv.org/blog/get-your-grads-vote-ready
This will work with Avery (or office supply store equivalent) postcard sheets (4-up or 2-up) using a free template you can download at www.avery.com or with other software.
I recommend listening to the latest Focus group podcast (link below). MAGA/Bannon are actively focused on getting low income - system hating - young black and Latino men (and however else they can get) to create a more durable MAGA minority. They believe they can get rid of the RINOs, Nikki Haley voters and still win. While I believe this is an ill conceived strategy (as MAGA does not offer the same central identity, cross community benefit to these voters as that offered to white rural, rust belt and retirees), they are going for it (this is the plan) and having some success based on initial polling. Clearly they are spending on outreach - somehow - to these communities. Has anyone seen reporting about how? Is it just digital advertising? Influencers? I, personally, want to know so I can (to whatever extent is possible) help to counter. https://www.thebulwark.com/p/is-the-gop-happy-with-losing-with
Been searching - gotta stop and get to work! - to answer my own question. What is going on, I believe, is best encapsulated in this obscure article - linked below. Basically, the Trump campaign is using its strong reach into “bro culture/barstool sports” to try to can appeal to and get young black, Latino men to vote for them. Otherwise, there is basically nothing. And ,this way they can using their existing digital meme factory to pump out content shared by the bros (this and probably working to amplify the Gaza kids take down of Biden - don’t know enough about this yet). Trump just did an event with the Paul brothers (who I am ashamed to admit my org worked as an influencer with before they got red pilled and before Logan Paul went on his famous macabre and historically insensitive and gross walk about in the Japanese cemetery). As the article points out, the good news is that this doubling down on misogyny digital strategy in a post Dobbs world, comes with some real risk. Link: https://www.sushibbqinn.ca/paper/261347/.
P.S. Per Tik Tok, for those of you with digital background, this a strategy that can work for us. The Gaza kids takeover of the comments of celebs - which is why they have been able to freeze people like Taylor Swift from joining the Biden campaign - is bad for business. Tik Tok’s revenue comes from people like Taylor Swift (and brands who want to advertise to her followers). So, if we could figure out the right response to the company to organize, Tik Tok should take action to mitigate the impact of this strategy (as it is bad for business). Interesting to think about.
See: https://mashable.com/article/tiktok-blue-comments-for-palestine-operation-watermelon
Not sure how much to accept the framing from The Hill but this seems like a bad thing to not support for House dems if we could get it to the floor.
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4723312-white-house-accused-of-scuttling-democratic-support-for-ethics-bill/