Yes, This Was A Very Bad Week For Trump And The Republicans

Let's keep working for Johnny Garcia in TX-35 this weekend.......

Morning all. We’ve all been searching for the right words to describe the dramatic events we saw in Washington this week - meltdown, breach, collapse, FUBAR…….

Let’s spend the morning rummaging through the Trumpian rubble. Trump ends the week with this his worst poll numbers of the second term on FiftyPlusOne’s job approval average:

His staggering unpopularity is starting to show up now in the generic ballot. The NYT and Quinnipiac this week had Dems with an 11 point lead, and the Real Clear Politics average is now D+ 7.4, higher than it was on Election Day on 2018, an election we won by 8.6 points. Look at the angle of the downward slope of the Rs. Big yikes!

A generic ballot of D+ 7.4 is a 9 point shift since early 2025 in the national battlefield yielding a Senate battlefield that gives the Dems a shot to take back the majority in what is a very tough 2026 map for us. Here is a selection of recent Senate polls. They are encouraging:

The influential University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment survey released on Friday not only showed it’s lowest reading in 65 years, look at this summary of their findings:

Consumer sentiment fell for the third straight month as supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to boost gasoline prices. Sentiment is now just below the previous historical trough seen in June 2022. The cost of living continues to be a first-order concern, with 57% of consumers spontaneously mentioning that high prices were eroding their personal finances, up from 50% last month. Lower-income consumers and those without college degrees posted particularly strong sentiment declines; these groups are more sensitive to increases in the cost of gas and other essentials. Independents and Republicans saw decreases in sentiment, with both groups reaching their lowest readings of the current presidential administration. Meanwhile, sentiment of Democrats was little changed from last month. Critically, consumers appear worried that inflation will increase and proliferate beyond fuel prices, even in the long run.

Look at these charts! Holy Trump is a huge fuck-up Batman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here’s the lead story in the NYT this morning:

By pretty much any estimation, President Trump has had a very bad week.

New poll numbers show his approval rating has hit a second-term low. He is weighing whether to restart a bombing campaign in an unpopular war against Iran. Gas prices are high and inching higher heading into Memorial Day weekend. And his grip over Republican lawmakers is beginning to slip after he proposed a pair of deeply unpopular spending items, prompting an unusual revolt from the Senate.

When faced with such a backlash ahead of midterm elections, many politicians would pivot, redirecting their focus to issues they are on stronger footing with.

But Mr. Trump has decided to double down, presenting himself as politically all-powerful even in the face of indications that he is not.

Over the years, Mr. Trump has often appeared to have an air of invincibility. He survived assassination attempts and won re-election despite being under multiple criminal indictments. He has successfully exacted retribution on many a perceived enemy. Now, with less than three years left in office, he seems comfortable burning whatever political capital he has in order to leave his legacy, even if it drags his party down in the process.

Here’s the lead story in the Washington Post:

An excerpt:

For the rest of the week, congressional Republicans were ungovernable.

Cassidy for the first time joined three other Republican senators and Democrats in advancing a resolution to block Trump from ordering further strikes on Iran.

House Republican leaders pulled a vote on a similar measure Thursday when it became clear that it would pass.

After enough Republican senators said they would oppose Trump’s ballroom security funding, GOP leaders abandoned plans to rework the measure to pass muster with the parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough.

On Wednesday, Trump suggested in a post on Truth Social that Senate Republicans should fire the nonpartisan parliamentarian, presumably over her decision. His appeal was roundly rejected and earned a mild rebuke from Thune, who said it is “concerning when anyone is targeted like that.”

Republicans also pushed back en masse against the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” payout fund, raising concerns that the money would be used to compensate people who assaulted police officers and were convicted of other crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

People who have pleaded guilty to violent crimes against law enforcement could benefit, said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina). “How absurd does that sound coming out of my mouth?”

From The Hill this morning:

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) says that about half the Senate Republican Conference blasted acting Attorney General Todd Blanche at an explosive meeting in the Capitol on Thursday, summing up his GOP colleagues’ anger over a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund as “fireworks at an epic level.”

Cruz said he was surprised by the outpouring of anger and frustration directed at Blanche in the Capitol’s wood-empaneled Mansfield Room when Blanche showed up to defend the administration’s proposal to compensate people who believe they were unjustly investigated or prosecuted by the Biden-era Justice Department.

“There were fireworks at an epic level, and I got to say it’s one of the roughest meetings that I’ve seen in my entire time in the Senate. There were a lot of Republican senators who were just pissed,” Cruz said on his podcast “Verdict with Ted Cruz.”

As we’ve been discussing this week as bad as things are now for Trump and the Rs it is likely to get worse. Soon Washington will come to understand that Trump has lost the war to Iran and has done enormous harm to our national security and global standing. Orban is gone, and Putin is losing his war too. Trump is likely to be rebuked in Congress on both the Iranian and Ukrainian wars in the coming days, an extraordinary humiliation. The dramatic cuts to our health care system are going to start to be felt by more people. His greed and gluttony has made his escalating, historic corruption impossible to hide or ignore. Things almost always get worse for the party in power as we get closer to the election, and today we are already sitting at 2018 general election blow out levels with more room for Rs to fall. Ugly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For months I’ve been arguing that there were limits to what the Congressional Republicans would be willing to do. We are hitting them now, and while it won’t be neat and clear, perhaps something a like rough national unity government could emerge in the coming months, one where members of both parties begin working together, regularly to block Trump and even attempt to repeal some of the terrible things he has done. For part of what happened this week is that many Republicans began seeing Trump as we see him - old, unhinged, corrupt, reckless, failed, ridiculous, dangerous, and irredeemable……

Littered throughout the stories this week are quotes and sentiments from Republicans that we have not seen in this term, or perhaps ever, about Trump. Something changed in Washington this week. Trump’s working to defeat two prominent Republican Senators and Massie in the House was a breach, a before and after moment, an OK we really can’t trust these assholes in the White House any more moment. Look at the sentiment in the quote from Susan Collins as they all come to terms with having to rally behind one of the most lawless and disgusting politicians in modern American history (from that WaPo article, above), Ken Paxton, one that Trump is working to shove down their throats:

Trump’s endorsement of Paxton is not only likely to boost Democrats’ chances in the Lone Star State in the general election, many Republicans fear, but it will also draw money away from other key Senate races to defend the longtime Republican stronghold, potentially endangering GOP control of the Senate.

“I don’t understand. He is an ethically challenged individual,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told reporters of Paxton, who has been dogged by scandals, including his 2023 impeachment by the state House of Representatives on charges including bribery and abusing his office to cover up an affair. (Paxton was acquitted by the Texas Senate.)

Something broke in the Washington this week and I am not sure Trump is going to be able to repair it before the election, or ever. Through his arrogance and megalomania he is now far more alone and exposed than he was before, which makes his eventual fall now far more likely.

Happy Saturday all!

We have some terrific new conversations for your holiday weekend viewing and listening pleasure:

• National leaders Governor Josh Shapiro and Senator Ruben Gallego

• Impressive House candidates Jonathan Nez (AZ-02), Denise Powell (NE-02), Bobby Pulido (TX-15)

Now, Heads Down, And Let’s Go Out And Win This Frigging Election!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our fundraising campaign for Johnny Garcia in TX-35 has already raised $16,000, beating our weekend goal of $10,000. Thank you all!

But we aren’t stopping there, however, and encourage you to learn more about why we’ve launched an emergency fundraising campaign for Garcia for his Tuesday run-off here. Consider donating to Garcia today directly here, or by supporting our new Winning The House - Second Wave campaign where is one of the five recipients along with Bob Brooks (PA-07), Bob Harvie (PA-01), Denise Powell (NE-02) and Bobby Pulido (TX-15). We can do this people!!!!!!!

Winning The Midterms, Competing In Red States and Red Places, Expanding The Map

Hopium’s Winning The House Campaign - $718,200 raised, $1,000,000 goal (new ambitious, audacious even, q2 goal) - Donate to all twelve of our endorsed House challengers with a single contribution split twelve ways | Get to know Jamie Ager (NC-11), Christina Bohannan (IA-01), Paige Cognetti (PA-08), Rebecca Cooke (WI-03), Elaine Luria (VA-02), Sean McCann (MI-04), Jo Mendoza (AZ-06), Chaz Molder (TN-05), Jonathan Nez (AZ-02), Janelle Stelson (PA-10), Shannon Taylor (VA-01), and Sarah Trone Garriott (IA-03) by watching our recently recorded Hopium interviews.

Friends if these twelve win, the House will flip, no matter redistricting madness the Rs execute in the coming days. So eyes on the prize here.

Hopium’s Winning The House - Second Wave - $16,300 raised, $250,000 goal - We’ve launched a second House fund this week, one targeting candidate who’ve recently emerged from primaries or have to run in new districts. Our initial crew is

• Bob Brooks (PA-07)

• Johnny Garcia (TX-35)

• Bob Harvie (PA-01)

• Denise Powell (NE-02)

• Bobby Pulido (TX-15)

More on this exciting new initiative in the coming days……

Mary Peltola For Alaska Senate - $95,500 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Learn more through my uplifting conversation with Mary Peltola as she fights to turn Alaska blue

James Talarico For Texas - $73,500 raised, $250,000 - Donate | Learn more from my inspiring interview with Rep. Talarico as he fights to turn Texas blue

Winning Ohio - $147,300 raised, $250,000 goal - Our new campaign splits contributions evenly among Sherrod Brown, the Acton/Pepper ticket, and the Ohio Democratic Party | Donate today and help us turn this critical 2026 battleground blue | Watch my new discussions with US Senate candidate Sherrod Brown, our candidate for Governor Dr. Amy Acton, Lt. Gov candidate David Pepper, and Ohio Dem Chair Kathleen Clyde

This total includes $21,000 sent by a Hopium community member directly to each of our three Buckeye State partners!

Hopium’s Audacious Expansion Fund - $570,600 raised, $1,000,000 goal (new stretch goal) - Join our campaign that has helped expand our map by investing in the Democratic Parties of Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Maine, and Texas, all now central battlegrounds in the 2026 election | Catch interviews with the five intrepid state chairs leading their troops into battle this year - will get you fired up! | Contribute to all five state parties with one contribution split evenly among these five new battlegrounds

Many thanks to two generous Hopium community members who have audaciously donated $20,000 to each of our five state parties over the past two years

Roy Cooper for NC Senate - $113,700 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Learn more through my new discussion with Gov. Cooper as he fights to turn North Carolina blue

Jon Ossoff GA Senate - $178,100 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Learm more through my uplifting conversation with Senator Ossoff

Keep working hard everyone. We have a country to save, and these great candidates to elect, together! - Simon