Fun report. I will be attending a special event in Albuquerque with Senators Cory Booker and Ben Ray Luján on Tuesday. It is a fundraiser to support the Democratic Party of New Mexico. This will be exciting, and I want to deliver a Hopium message when I shake Senator Booker’s hand.
Any suggestions about what to say to Senator Booker, especially from Simon or Lincoln??
There is a a similar event on the preceding Monday in Santa Fe.
Please thank him for really standing up. His filibuster early in Trump's second term was a galvanizing moment and one of the small but vital turning points for the pro-democracy movement.
And joining KBH, we Hopium-ites have not forgotten that 25-hour marathon address on the Senate floor on March 31, 2025 when he spoke in defense of the needs of Americans against inhumane and destructive Trump actions, including the destruction wrought by Musk and DOGE.
Yes, that is the filibuster that KBH mentioned. March 31 to April 1, 2025. I will be sure to say that the Hopium Community is so grateful to Senator Booker.
Good response canvassing yesterday and going to a canvass and barbeque tomorrow.
I don't think with approval this low it will be easy to effectively rig an election. I think the obvious thing that should happen is to partner with Indivisible and the No Kings coalition and plan the next mass mobilization for election day itself. Show up for the rally, march down to the polls, cast a ballot, celebrate.
Yes, they are hinting that something big is in the works, and will drop soon. In the meantime, the Immigrant Summer and Hands Off Our Vote initiatives are in full swing, and all sessions are available on the the Indivisible website.
My plan, and I encourage others -vote early. In states that allow mail in voting I would use the drop box as an alternative and in Arizona, in a prior election, someone had set up a camera to make sure goons did not tamper with the box. They can't be in all 50 states and every city, town and village at the same time. And, especially, if you are in a blue state have the number of your state's election official on speed dial!
I repeat: aim our fire at the GOP quisling enablers. There is no morality and Trump’s exploitation of it is, as a like-minded friend said to me yesterday, rational. (Being rational doesn’t make it any less repugnant.)
Trump is an easy foil, because he doesn’t care. The John Thune’s and Bill Cassidy’s are no better. And they will NEVER come through.
It seems to me that Susan Collins made her no vote against Blanche as a way to look good to Maine voters, with Cassidy caving and thus enabling enough yes votes to put Blanche through.
100%. Her "no" vote indicated that Blanche had the votes; she never votes no unless it's lock that the candidate will win and the votes will come from others. COWARD. She is a goner. Buh bye.
I was thinking the same thing, Barbara. They'd have us believe that they are such great patriots that their unending work for the country has them up all night taking care of business. The truth is that they are so disorganized and chaotic and ineffective that they can't get governing done at reasonable hours. Silly, stupid, bullshit.
OK, now I feel better. Welp, we have our marching orders. Terrible, horrendous but necessary reporting by The Guardian on ICE detention force feedings that have been going on for MONTHS. We know this has been going on in America literally for centuries (see: suffragists), but we simply cannot look away and must keep the pressure on these facilities as much as we are able: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/05/ice-force-feeding-hunger-strike
Please support independent media like The Guardian and ProPublica, who are doing fantastic work to hold these goons accountable.
I've got 200 turnout postcards to Alaska to work on, and 100 news boosting postcards to TX coming. Moms Demand NJ is 100% pushing hard for Rebecca Bennett, with door knocking, postcarding, phone banking, etc. Moms are doing all the things.
As for what lies ahead-to quote Han Solo, "I don't know, I can imagine quite a bit." Stay focused, stay engaged, and take breaks as you need to. We all have a part to play, and we can do this! Keep going!
I'm working on news boosting postcards to TX right now, then will get back to the turnout postcards to Iowa that are to be mailed later. I'm grateful to be able to do postcarding from home since at the moment I'm stuck using a walker due to a stress fracture and find it difficult to get out and about.
I am being a bit of a juvenile. I can't get my disdain for Cassidy out of my head. I even went to write him, but thought better of it. I wrote out: "Whatever you do after you depart the Senate, please don't try to go back to medicine. I can't imagine anyone in their right mind putting their trust in you to care for them."
I hope I can sweep this out of my mind by the end of the day. This rage and repulsion aren't productive
BeeBee, I was thinking the same thing yesterday - what I'd say to him if I came upon him in an airport or somewhere! LOL But then I realized that a. I wouldn't recognize him, he is so insignificant in my life and b. people in these positions have minions surrounding them so they never have to face the public or their constituents. We have so much work to do to restore faith and respect in our elected officials. First job: end MAGA with all it's ugliness, corruption, and vulgarity.
I'm going to follow up and read the essays on Democracy Docket. Thanks for the suggestion and link. I donate monthly to Democracy Docket but I often don't read stuff that is posted. I also give to ACLU and Union of Concerned Scientists on a monthly basis. All of these things I think are important to pushback alongside donations to the Democratic Party and directly to candidates.
I'll sit down a write a couple of postcards when I'm done posting.
I'm very concerned about Hong. The only other candidate I had seen there was Mandela Barnes who ran in the past. I'm puzzled as to why there appear to be such weak candidates that they can't get past a terrible candidate like Hong. Just because she is a female bartender doesn't make her AOC. She has, from what I have seen, a record of views she has to conceal, along with zero qualifications to be governor. You don't need to be supremely qualified to be a decent back bencher in the House, but an unqualified, inexperienced governor can really fuck things up.
It's a bit dispiriting when I've seen so many truly excellent candidates running this year that we have to contend with a truly objectively awful one.
I'm more positive about El-Sayed, both in terms of his chances and my opinion of him, this week than I was just last week before he won the nomination. I think he can win. It might be risky, but there is also an upside, especially if he stays away from Hasan Piker, etc. For one thing, I listened to G. Elliot Morris today, and he suggested the data do not show any evidence he's a weaker candidate than Stevens in the general election. It is undeniable that Stevens spent a lot of money and still lost. I think there is evidence El-Sayed is a solid campaigner.
they aren't comparable; sayed has views i disagree with, but he is an accomplished guy,i'll give him that. he also seems to know something about politics. there's a reason bill clinton encouraged him to get into politics after watching him deliver a graduation speech....hong doesn't seem to bring much to the table except to be a lightning rod for the gop and to cost democrats an election. my understanding, and i could be wrong, was that barnes had some dirt coming out so he stepped aside. i mean, he's been around awhile so not sure what dirt could be that bad.
Jacob Soboroff just did a segment on Blanche that included a clip from a "confidential" phone call he had with an anti-choice, anti-contraception organization re reviving the Comstock Act.
Yeah, that act from the 1870s that barred naughty stuff sent via the mail.
He vowed his allegiance and assured them this would be settled permanently.
I am astonished at the men (and women) lining up to take women's lives.
It's as if I haven't lived as long as I have - like we've learned nothing, seen nothing, lost nothing.
With Trump's polls in the low to mid 30's the DCCC expanded thier endorsements by 12 races last week. Simon indicates he will add in some more names.
I don't think Trump has hit bottom yet. There is always a new floor for him. So much losing!
There is bad news on the horizon. Trump's fuckery in Greenland is very concerning. NATO will have to respond. ACA rates for 2027 will come out in October, and even more people are going to get a wakeup call. If Trump's favorables start showing up in the high to mid 20's over the next several weeks, even more races will come into play.
I received an appeal from Ken Martin of the DNC by snail mail yesterday. I'm pitching in to support the state parties nationwide.
Compete Everywhere, Win Anywhere.
I also like El-Sayed's meme from his victory speech Wednesday morning: "Our many will defeat their money" How many unpaid volunteers do you think the GOP has knocking on doors in this country?
I am pretty sure the alliance never planned for an enemy within NATO. Decisions currently require a unanimous vote from all members, so dt could veto any punitive action against the USA. Article 5 applies to collective defense against outsiders, not insiders. There is also not a way for NATO to expel the USA. Here is a PBS article about it.
each saturday morning from 11-12 seniors from sr housing in st louis Park MN get out on the street with their signs and wave and listen to the honks. Today our signs say VOTE and we will be using them till November. In addition we purchase and handout buttons that say DEMOCRACY MATTERS, I STAND UP WITH IMMIGRANTS, AND VOTE. We can't march but we can demonstrate and spread the mesage. We are 79 strong. Thanks for what you do. anne seltz
Good electoral news from Knox County, TN. Ds flipped a very R seat on the County Commission AND now have a majority on the School Board--again after flipping a seat. Four years ago, Rs campaigned to make the traditionally non-partisan School Board races partisan--thinking that candidates with Rs behind their names would easily win in this traditionally red county. Surprise! As a former non-MAGA Republican Mayor said, "be careful what you wish for."
These local races aren't as sexy as the ones for Congress, but we've learned the hard way how vitally important they are--especially when trying to claw back from R supermajorities. So, I take the good news wherever I can find it.
Senator Cassidy (R-LA) is 68 yet still could not bring himself to do the right thing. I have seen people with far less sacrifice far more to do the right thing. Dems must unite and win the House/Senate decisively.
Hi Karen - I can't fathom what that man was thinking. Actually, my real thought is "What is wrong with him?" I'm 70, and I know damn well I wouldn't have cast that vote when I was 30, much less with the disregard for what everyone thinks at my age now. These people are empty inside - no values, no sense of right and wrong, no self-respect. It is really pitiful. Cronyn and Tillis - same thing. It's beyond me and I can't stop thinking about it.
This is a man who swore an oath to “First do no Harm”. The betrayal is very deep. People will die because of the GOP and its policies. He knows this, and even now when he has a chance to do the right thing in his dotage, he caves.
Every time they up the f*ckery, we work harder and smarter! I donate more every time they do something terrible.
Pennsylvania needs to flip 3 State Senate seats to have a blue trifecta. Does anyone have more info on these three (or any other good possibilities)?
Mark Pinsley SD 16
https://www.facebook.com/VoteMarkPinsley/
Chris Thomas SD 24
https://christhomas.vote/
Elaine Albiller SD 6
https://www.eileenforpa.com/
Oath.vote has them as Tossup (Thomas) and Lean R (Pinsley, Albiller):
https://app.oath.vote/cart?q=Pennsylvania
Fun report. I will be attending a special event in Albuquerque with Senators Cory Booker and Ben Ray Luján on Tuesday. It is a fundraiser to support the Democratic Party of New Mexico. This will be exciting, and I want to deliver a Hopium message when I shake Senator Booker’s hand.
Any suggestions about what to say to Senator Booker, especially from Simon or Lincoln??
There is a a similar event on the preceding Monday in Santa Fe.
Senator Booker is an old friend. Please tell him you are active with Hopium. I raised money for him in the very first election he ever won!
Sure, Simon! I will tell Senator Booker that you send your regards and that I am an active member of Hopium Chronicles.
That's my senator - we are so proud of him here in the Garden State. Have a great time!
Thank you, Lisa. I will also send regards from all Hopium subscribers from the Garden State.
Please thank him for really standing up. His filibuster early in Trump's second term was a galvanizing moment and one of the small but vital turning points for the pro-democracy movement.
Absolutely!!!
And joining KBH, we Hopium-ites have not forgotten that 25-hour marathon address on the Senate floor on March 31, 2025 when he spoke in defense of the needs of Americans against inhumane and destructive Trump actions, including the destruction wrought by Musk and DOGE.
Yes, that is the filibuster that KBH mentioned. March 31 to April 1, 2025. I will be sure to say that the Hopium Community is so grateful to Senator Booker.
what a star he is, thanks for greeting him on our behalf [trying to place my reply, excuse the deleted comments]
Good response canvassing yesterday and going to a canvass and barbeque tomorrow.
I don't think with approval this low it will be easy to effectively rig an election. I think the obvious thing that should happen is to partner with Indivisible and the No Kings coalition and plan the next mass mobilization for election day itself. Show up for the rally, march down to the polls, cast a ballot, celebrate.
Yes, they are hinting that something big is in the works, and will drop soon. In the meantime, the Immigrant Summer and Hands Off Our Vote initiatives are in full swing, and all sessions are available on the the Indivisible website.
I'd rather see Indivisible push for early voting. A large crowd marching to the polls on election day would be an easy target.
My plan, and I encourage others -vote early. In states that allow mail in voting I would use the drop box as an alternative and in Arizona, in a prior election, someone had set up a camera to make sure goons did not tamper with the box. They can't be in all 50 states and every city, town and village at the same time. And, especially, if you are in a blue state have the number of your state's election official on speed dial!
I repeat: aim our fire at the GOP quisling enablers. There is no morality and Trump’s exploitation of it is, as a like-minded friend said to me yesterday, rational. (Being rational doesn’t make it any less repugnant.)
Trump is an easy foil, because he doesn’t care. The John Thune’s and Bill Cassidy’s are no better. And they will NEVER come through.
It seems to me that Susan Collins made her no vote against Blanche as a way to look good to Maine voters, with Cassidy caving and thus enabling enough yes votes to put Blanche through.
Will this become clear to Maine voters?
You are correct and I sincerely hope Maine voters figure it out.
I am so confident that Mainers figured it out before she even voted.
100%. Her "no" vote indicated that Blanche had the votes; she never votes no unless it's lock that the candidate will win and the votes will come from others. COWARD. She is a goner. Buh bye.
4:30 AM? Who votes at that time?
I was thinking the same thing, Barbara. They'd have us believe that they are such great patriots that their unending work for the country has them up all night taking care of business. The truth is that they are so disorganized and chaotic and ineffective that they can't get governing done at reasonable hours. Silly, stupid, bullshit.
The Democracy Docket article cited today is truly sobering. I have no doubt Trump will pursue all of these avenues he has not already begun.
https://www.democracydocket.com/analysis/how-could-trump-rig-the-midterms/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
I agree Leon. Thank you, God, for Marc Elias.
Oh F Bill Cassidy, cowardly piece of shite.
OK, now I feel better. Welp, we have our marching orders. Terrible, horrendous but necessary reporting by The Guardian on ICE detention force feedings that have been going on for MONTHS. We know this has been going on in America literally for centuries (see: suffragists), but we simply cannot look away and must keep the pressure on these facilities as much as we are able: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/05/ice-force-feeding-hunger-strike
Please support independent media like The Guardian and ProPublica, who are doing fantastic work to hold these goons accountable.
I've got 200 turnout postcards to Alaska to work on, and 100 news boosting postcards to TX coming. Moms Demand NJ is 100% pushing hard for Rebecca Bennett, with door knocking, postcarding, phone banking, etc. Moms are doing all the things.
As for what lies ahead-to quote Han Solo, "I don't know, I can imagine quite a bit." Stay focused, stay engaged, and take breaks as you need to. We all have a part to play, and we can do this! Keep going!
I'm working on news boosting postcards to TX right now, then will get back to the turnout postcards to Iowa that are to be mailed later. I'm grateful to be able to do postcarding from home since at the moment I'm stuck using a walker due to a stress fracture and find it difficult to get out and about.
Thank you for this, Kate!!
I am being a bit of a juvenile. I can't get my disdain for Cassidy out of my head. I even went to write him, but thought better of it. I wrote out: "Whatever you do after you depart the Senate, please don't try to go back to medicine. I can't imagine anyone in their right mind putting their trust in you to care for them."
I hope I can sweep this out of my mind by the end of the day. This rage and repulsion aren't productive
BeeBee, I was thinking the same thing yesterday - what I'd say to him if I came upon him in an airport or somewhere! LOL But then I realized that a. I wouldn't recognize him, he is so insignificant in my life and b. people in these positions have minions surrounding them so they never have to face the public or their constituents. We have so much work to do to restore faith and respect in our elected officials. First job: end MAGA with all it's ugliness, corruption, and vulgarity.
I don’t know…my Democratic brother-in-law saw Mitt Romney in an airport lounge after the impeachment vote and thanked him for voting to impeach.
I'm going to follow up and read the essays on Democracy Docket. Thanks for the suggestion and link. I donate monthly to Democracy Docket but I often don't read stuff that is posted. I also give to ACLU and Union of Concerned Scientists on a monthly basis. All of these things I think are important to pushback alongside donations to the Democratic Party and directly to candidates.
I'll sit down a write a couple of postcards when I'm done posting.
I'm very concerned about Hong. The only other candidate I had seen there was Mandela Barnes who ran in the past. I'm puzzled as to why there appear to be such weak candidates that they can't get past a terrible candidate like Hong. Just because she is a female bartender doesn't make her AOC. She has, from what I have seen, a record of views she has to conceal, along with zero qualifications to be governor. You don't need to be supremely qualified to be a decent back bencher in the House, but an unqualified, inexperienced governor can really fuck things up.
It's a bit dispiriting when I've seen so many truly excellent candidates running this year that we have to contend with a truly objectively awful one.
I'm more positive about El-Sayed, both in terms of his chances and my opinion of him, this week than I was just last week before he won the nomination. I think he can win. It might be risky, but there is also an upside, especially if he stays away from Hasan Piker, etc. For one thing, I listened to G. Elliot Morris today, and he suggested the data do not show any evidence he's a weaker candidate than Stevens in the general election. It is undeniable that Stevens spent a lot of money and still lost. I think there is evidence El-Sayed is a solid campaigner.
they aren't comparable; sayed has views i disagree with, but he is an accomplished guy,i'll give him that. he also seems to know something about politics. there's a reason bill clinton encouraged him to get into politics after watching him deliver a graduation speech....hong doesn't seem to bring much to the table except to be a lightning rod for the gop and to cost democrats an election. my understanding, and i could be wrong, was that barnes had some dirt coming out so he stepped aside. i mean, he's been around awhile so not sure what dirt could be that bad.
I early voted this morning, Simon! One of the first ones there on Day 1. Felt great!😊
Here is an excellent website to share with students: https://voteriders.org/voter/student/
It has information for each state on what ID is required to register and vote and other election laws especially relevant to students.
Jacob Soboroff just did a segment on Blanche that included a clip from a "confidential" phone call he had with an anti-choice, anti-contraception organization re reviving the Comstock Act.
Yeah, that act from the 1870s that barred naughty stuff sent via the mail.
He vowed his allegiance and assured them this would be settled permanently.
I am astonished at the men (and women) lining up to take women's lives.
It's as if I haven't lived as long as I have - like we've learned nothing, seen nothing, lost nothing.
With Trump's polls in the low to mid 30's the DCCC expanded thier endorsements by 12 races last week. Simon indicates he will add in some more names.
I don't think Trump has hit bottom yet. There is always a new floor for him. So much losing!
There is bad news on the horizon. Trump's fuckery in Greenland is very concerning. NATO will have to respond. ACA rates for 2027 will come out in October, and even more people are going to get a wakeup call. If Trump's favorables start showing up in the high to mid 20's over the next several weeks, even more races will come into play.
I received an appeal from Ken Martin of the DNC by snail mail yesterday. I'm pitching in to support the state parties nationwide.
Compete Everywhere, Win Anywhere.
I also like El-Sayed's meme from his victory speech Wednesday morning: "Our many will defeat their money" How many unpaid volunteers do you think the GOP has knocking on doors in this country?
Keep pushing.
I'm rooting for NATO to kick Trump's butt again about Greenland.
Same! I made Greenland the focus of my calls to my NC traitor senators today -- after I expressed my dismay about their votes.
I am pretty sure the alliance never planned for an enemy within NATO. Decisions currently require a unanimous vote from all members, so dt could veto any punitive action against the USA. Article 5 applies to collective defense against outsiders, not insiders. There is also not a way for NATO to expel the USA. Here is a PBS article about it.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/what-to-know-about-how-nato-works-as-trump-threatens-to-take-over-greenland
The work to defeat maga falls on us, We the People, including all Proud Plucky Patriots. Success will start with the upcoming general elections.
each saturday morning from 11-12 seniors from sr housing in st louis Park MN get out on the street with their signs and wave and listen to the honks. Today our signs say VOTE and we will be using them till November. In addition we purchase and handout buttons that say DEMOCRACY MATTERS, I STAND UP WITH IMMIGRANTS, AND VOTE. We can't march but we can demonstrate and spread the mesage. We are 79 strong. Thanks for what you do. anne seltz
This is fantastic, Anne! You and the other Seniors inspire us!!!
This is so awesome Anne! Thank you and tell your pals too!
Good electoral news from Knox County, TN. Ds flipped a very R seat on the County Commission AND now have a majority on the School Board--again after flipping a seat. Four years ago, Rs campaigned to make the traditionally non-partisan School Board races partisan--thinking that candidates with Rs behind their names would easily win in this traditionally red county. Surprise! As a former non-MAGA Republican Mayor said, "be careful what you wish for."
These local races aren't as sexy as the ones for Congress, but we've learned the hard way how vitally important they are--especially when trying to claw back from R supermajorities. So, I take the good news wherever I can find it.
Senator Cassidy (R-LA) is 68 yet still could not bring himself to do the right thing. I have seen people with far less sacrifice far more to do the right thing. Dems must unite and win the House/Senate decisively.
Hi Karen - I can't fathom what that man was thinking. Actually, my real thought is "What is wrong with him?" I'm 70, and I know damn well I wouldn't have cast that vote when I was 30, much less with the disregard for what everyone thinks at my age now. These people are empty inside - no values, no sense of right and wrong, no self-respect. It is really pitiful. Cronyn and Tillis - same thing. It's beyond me and I can't stop thinking about it.
This is a man who swore an oath to “First do no Harm”. The betrayal is very deep. People will die because of the GOP and its policies. He knows this, and even now when he has a chance to do the right thing in his dotage, he caves.