Anything unconstitutional IS illegal because The United States' Constitution is the supreme law of Our Country. Using the public's money for your own illegitimate use / slush fund is corruption. Destroying public property like the East Wing and historic markers is corruption. Installing denigrating and fictional plaques in the White House under the guise of a “Presidential Walk of Fame" is corruption. Taking lavish gifts from others while fulfilling your public duties is corruption and unconstitutional (Emoluments Clause). Insider trading is corruption. Failing to release the Epstein files to prevent prosecution of criminal friends or self is corruption. Stealing public information for your own use through DOGE is corruption. Running a retribution campaign against political enemies is corruption. Endangering lives while denying residents their rights is corruption (CECOT, Minneapolis, etc.). Disobeying the legal determinations of the courts is corruption. This is arguably the most corrupt administration America has ever seen.
"Anything unconstitutional IS illegal because The United States' Constitution is the supreme law of Our Country."
100%. Somehow that fact doesn't appear to be widely understood. I often read or hear pundits say something is "unconstitutional and possibly illegal."
I still think it would be a different, and better, country if we amended our pledge of allegiance to: "I pledge allegiance to our democracy of the United States of America. And to the Constitution BY which it stands...
Think of all the elementary school kids saying that every morning... a different world.
Speaking of the new generation, I'm reposting this link from yesterday... a young man speaking out about the redistricting farce in Louisiana. Our younger generations need to be inspired to take on the mantle, like this guy. Fire in the hole!
I watched it again. Just noticed the fine print that he was speaking on same day, May 12, that we were presenting on the declaration project in Salinas before Monterey County Supervisors. Love it. It's happening everywhere.
Trouble is, "our democracy" means different things to different people. U.S. history right up to the present day bears witness to that. And as I noted elsewhere, the drafters of the Constitution didn't intend it to be fixed in time. Indeed, it was immediately amended by the Bill of Rights -- the first 10 amendments. Once the "under God" part is dropped, the Pledge of Allegiance is OK as is. I'm not wild about the emphasis on the flag, though, because so many people make a fetish of the flag while ignoring the "republic for which it stands" part.
It's also worth noting that through the many decades, much damage to "our democracy" has been done by economic interests, e.g., slaveholders in the antebellum South and corporations from the late 19th century onward. The Citizens United decision of 2010 makes this "constitutional." Economics are barely mentioned in the Constitution. Note that, unlike the parliamentary democracies, the U.S. two-party system doesn't have a social democratic or socialist party. The Democratic Party of the New Deal and the following decades did work to rein in capital, but keep in mind that until the civil rights advances of the mid-1960s it was racist AF. That changed when all the white Southern Democrats became Republicans, but McCarthyism (which long predated its namesake, Joe McCarthy) hasn't gone away. Though in the last few years, there are encouraging signs that the s-word (socialism) is no longer the kiss of death, at least in New York City.
Susana, I think our democracy is pretty commonly understood among the pro-democracy movement: freedom of speech and assembly, the right to choose our representatives through a free and fair electoral process, and to replace them if they displease us, the right to equal treatment under the law, to be safe and secure and move freely regardless of race, religion, cultural or gender (in all its forms). To be part of a commonwealth for the common good and to seek redress. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
"Under God" would be and is, optional. If one is an atheist, or objects because of separation of church and state, then stay silent for those two words. I think the wide majority is a god-believing country, to each his own. God and church are not the same thing. I am neither and atheist nor a church-goer, myself.
It is an imperfect union, and the history is quite obvious about that. The flag represents different things for people. For some it is a salute to those that made the ultimate sacrifice for democracy, the constitutional order, and the hopes and dreams for a more perfect union. (I am writing this response on Memorial Day)
For others it is a symbol of empire and conquest.
Changing the pledge to democracy and the constitution is like a mini-version of the constitutional oath for the public. We, the People, need to strengthen the muscle, and widen the commitment to both. It is our duty as citizens, we are the last line of defense as we are learning. Trumpism is waking up that awareness and commitment in a growing segment of the population. An amended pledge would help deepen the commitment over time and generations. That will help ensure that what we are going through now is even less likely to ever happen again. Throwing out the fascist oligarchy is only the first critical step. There will be much to be done and it won't happen overnight. Dems need to be careful not to overpromise too much too soon, but make real advances in affordability AND in democracy guardrails.
The Constituion can be amended. I agree with you, it was intended by the framers as a living, breathing document of the will of the people, with real thresholds to make the change difficult, but not impossible under the law. An amendend pledge would make civics education more meaningful, and I think there can be little argument that the American People ( and the F'n legacy media) could use some reinforcement in their civics lessons.
Beware the passive voice: “is pretty commonly understood”? Does this pro-democracy movement understand how economic power has been warping our aspiring democracy since the onset of the Reagan administration? If it doesn’t reckon with that, it’s pretty useless.
Of course we do. You can aspire to an ideal, and still understand and witness the reality of the forces that corrupt it.
In fact, I think the democratic party's resistance to acknowledging those forces within it's own team is a greater weakness than anything that showed up in the DNC autopsy. AIPAC and favors to big donors is not the sole jurisdiction of the GOP. Bit it is not nearly as widespread.
Would you consider yourself one of the allies of the pro-democracy effort? If not, then what are you fighting for?
Thank you for the concise list of corruption examples. I will use this in my writing for a local group that publishes letters to the editor in many regional newspapers here in western Ohio
The tricky thing here is that it's often not *obvious* that something is unconstitutional until it's challenged and eventually the Supreme Court declares it so. For instance, much of the Bill of Rights didn't apply to Black people until the Reconstruction Amendments, which were effectively negated in the South by Jim Crow until the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Amendments of the mid-1960s. Upon marriage, white women lost most of what rights they had until the Married Women's Property Acts, starting in 1839, and women couldn't vote (except in a few western states) until the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920.
As we've seen, constitutional interpretation is a hotly contested area, with the "originalists" arguing that we must depend on the Constitution as originally written. As I understand it, this is *not* what the drafters, Madison et al., intended. They knew that times would change and the Constitution had to evolve in order to meet new challenges.
Tbe “originalists” are criminals and cultists. They wear white robes under their black ones. Roberts helped create the facade and should be impeached. If we can’t do that, then he and the others should resign without retirement payment.
My hot take (only my theories, not based on anything I have read in the press) is that Trump's Rasputins know he is failing and are going to be pushing even harder for their pet projects. Stephen Miller on ICE (witness the recent news that green card holders will have to leave the country when they reapply), RFK on whatever crazy nonsense he is touting, Putin on Ukraine, Bibi on Iran, and Rubio on Cuba. Rubio has long wanted the Cuban government to go down. This is his last chance. If he can convince Trump that it will go the way Venezuela did, and that it will distract voters from all the bad news, he might do it. I have been expecting this to happen for a month and wouldn't be surprised to see it very soon. To my knowledge, Cuba has no natural resources Trump can exploit, which is why I think Venezuela was first in line.
Well, I’m happy to see that, at least once the bomb is about to detonate on their own personal residence, Republicans are willing to mildly rebuke the massacre. What a bunch of selfish, shortsighted, pathetic excuses for public servants. I’ll take their help, but fuck ‘em….just fuck ‘em all for enabling us to get to this point.
On a lighter note, I have decided to have a very happy Memorial Day weekend, regardless of what Trump does, because in spite of what he believes, he does not actually own my mood. I hope all of you will do the same… Lots of family and friends, barbecues, golfing…whatever your flavor of fun is.
And Simon, if you see this, I have a very unimportant question, although maybe at moments like this it’s the most important kind of question:
All those years you were in DC before the Nats arrived, did you adopt the Baltimore Orioles as your team out of regional proximity? Or were you loyal to one of the New York teams out of solidarity from birth? I personally am still a Cubs fan because growing up in the middle of Nebraska in the 80s and early 90s, they were one of only two teams I could watch all 162 games for. God bless the WGN cable network out of Chicago, and RIP Harry Carey and Ryne Sandberg!
Simon, thanks for the great round up of what was a pretty consequential week.
I was heartened to see that the judge dismissed charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia as vindictive and selective prosecution. Proud of my Senator, Van Hollen, who didn't just give speeches but got on a plane and went to the torture prison and, ultimately, got the man out. Take the wins when we get them!
It's (thankfully!) raining here today, so it's a good day to stay in and write postcards to Ohio voters.
Simon and Family, this is all deeply encouraging news and data. Thank you Simon for this much needed information and a reminder that what we’re doing TRULY is working!
Particularly because the GOP is in the midst of feeling the burn, NOW is the prime opportunity to seize on it, keep em DOWN and push ahead, using available strategic levers.
I’ve read some commentary recently from someone who while very much is Pro-Democracy and often on point with many of his assertions (actually not too dissimilar from ours here)…was however, very disenchanted by the TX race. He is still clinging onto the loss for Crockett and feels strongly that we will lose TX and that ‘White TX Dems’ are in for a rude awakening.
Now look, idk the intricacies of the TX political operation but I can only speak from what I’m seeing and taking in. So, I’d like to offer a few points related and subsequently, overarching points as I feel we’re reaching a pinnacle moment in this midterm election roadway (very much on the heels of something significantly changing in the landscape against Trump, the GOP, and in our favor all as Simon points out).
On one hand, I absolutely empathize with his frustration. Crockett would have been wonderful and frankly, i believe there is still a bright political future for her. Either in the senate or in the DOJ. Unless Kamala becomes President, wouldn’t that be something…Kamala rebrands the DOJ as AG, bringing Crockett (also a lawyer) into the fold with her?!? Def a possibility/plausibility!
All that said, I don’t see Talarico as an enemy nor loser in this fight….obv! Talented politician who has the strongest chance yet to flip a TX seat blue. Beto is talented. Alred is talented. Crockett is talented! For Talarico, it’s right time, right place. Does this mean he’s a shoe-in? Of course not! But it absolutely says something that the GOP are both privately and publicly revolting concerning Trump’s backing of Paxton.
Yes, Paxton is dangerous and will go to any lengths to try and win that seat (or steal it) which is why we MUST remain on guard! That said, TX has seen the largest blue voter turnout in modern history! Fair to say we KNOW they’re not staying home for this one in November. I’m not even confident Republican voters will turn out in droves for Paxton either. We’ll see when all said and done but we can’t let our guard down period.
So, I def caution anyone discounting Talarico this far out. It will be a shock in and of itself to see him win just cuz of how TX politics has played for so long. But…if he does win, it won’t be ‘a surprise’ at the same time. The GOP will bleed out financially as well as politically (arguably because they will financially). They’re over spending and over exerting, on defense as to where to drop all their financial eggs which could very well haunt them should we remain strategic with how WE spend ahead of November.
TX is naturally a long shot but with Talarico currently leading Paxton in polling (which is unheard of even at this stage of the race…in TX), his chances are significant. At this point, I rather be him than Paxton. Both Crockett and Talarico were strong choices. No one has time to be bitter and subsequently risk any hold out in any sort of protest. That hurt us in 2024.
Which brings me to my overarching point beyond TX, especially as it relates to the autopsy. Rick Wilson nails it especially in the wake of the autopsy (yes i personally believe Kamala won and that it was manipulated but data still has value moving forward anyway).
We need to win period! Screw our feelings! The GOP never cared about their own feelings. It’s time we buckle up that way too and THEN, unlike the GOP, actually GOVERN with moxie, sensitivity, and the will to PROGRESS! That would then give credence to our balls to the wall shift.
But the race though, the race??? Balls to the wall like Wilson says! No more catering to the ‘far left sensitivities.’ That cost us! If we offend people by sticking to voters’ immediate needs more than any social issue, screw it! They need to wake up fast!! We’re not just suddenly homophobic, xenophobic, Antisemitic, Islamophobic, etc. cuz we didn’t spend “enough time” on all the social issues THIS time. Right here, right now, Carville’ long standing assertion that “It’s the economy stupid” WINS period!
Voters should be keen enough to already know the majority of our candidates empathize with all pressing social issues of our time. But we have to be smart about this chance. We need to make the distinctions clear, concise, and press the ability to disassociate properly.
For example, Dems need to focus on Bibi…NOT Israel as a whole (risking coming across Antisemitic alienating Jewish voters by convoluting the messaging or stupidly letting into the field the likes of Hasan Piker for Christ sake) if/when talking about the Middle East.
We need to drill down the REAL impacts Trump and the GOP have on the LGBTQ community, and NOT fester on ‘pronouns!’ See my point? Social issues need to striped to its bare resonating bones in messaging just like kitchen table issues have to be. Blend the best of both…we WIN hands down in numbers too big to rig.
Too often we’ve given the GOP ammunition by our own making. There’s a reason why the most effective ads come from Lincoln Project, Seneca Project, etc. ALL curated by Anti Trump Republicans/Former Republicans turned Independents. They KNOW how the GOP works with their messaging and they’re using those same tools against them effectively! We’d have to be out of our minds NOT to take the cues and let them into our tent all the way.
This is where Ken Martin has to come in, where House and Senate leadership has to come in, etc.
Nonetheless, to have Obama, Harris, Lincoln Project, our Governors, Pete B, and other strong surrogates out and about given the toxicity of Trump and the GOP’ current impact…can only help, not hinder. Only ones who can get in our way is actually us, not them. Let em fall, we keep pushing the right messaging forward and stay the course.
I’m a cautious optimist and believe we WILL win in November against the odds we face. But I also caution us as a party not to fall for our own trap. God speed and let’s win this damn thing!
I think you underestimate Talerico's chances. Why? Because Trump is a drag on the party, and as Simon points out, odds are quite high that it only gets worse for him going forward. He is incapable of pivoting. If he tried, no one would believe the Liar in Chief anyway. But he wont pivot. He will double down. And that is dangerous for everyone. Let's hope the bluster in the Republican Senate takes hold.
So Talerico is polling as a toss up now. And it's STILL only May. Add another $1/gal to the equation. People have to drive far to get around in Texas. It aint over til its over, so keep pushing all the way to the tape.
I’m not underestimating his chances. I’m very cautiously optimistic about him. I agree with your full sentiment. I was basically responding to my own conversation with someone else before making a larger point 😂. It’s no shoe in though. It’s TX and they know how to cheat! But, the turnout and enthusiasm is very promising! As for all the rest of what I had to say concerning the autopsy, how we move forward etc., I stand by that assertion. Will remain a firm believer in Harris. I was disappointed by the party around her though. Not us here in the community but you know what I mean.
It'll really be interesting after November 2026, assuming we take the Senate and the House. How will the GOP Senators and Reps who survived the election start interacting with a lame duck president who fucked up this catastrophically? I think we don't know.
Krugman was talking on Substack about how the inflation is becoming solidified in peoples' view of future economy, and how that likely means elevated prices for some time to come. Maybe some kind of stagflation 1970's style is in our future.
I'm post carding today. I was going to buy stamps because I'm out, but I wasn't sure if the post office was open on the holiday weekend and I wasn't sure I could trust what my phone said. Plus I really didn't feel like going. Next weekend I will go.
I gave $25 one time donation to the TX 35 Johnny Garcia emergency fund to counteract the fuckery. I also gave a recurring $10/month donation to the new "second wave" campaign. Next week there is a planned canvass in Orlando for David Jolly which I will do. I'm trying to figure out the specifics because I think the details, at least last week, were not worked out yet.
The fuckery is most noticeable in the TX race, because of how awful the person's views are that the GOP is supporting, but the NJ-07 race has gotten the same treatment. Fake PACs pretending to be left-wing that support a Dem candidate in a primary who is less likely to win in the general election.
the polling on our senate races is so heartening! my take away for memorial day weekend. winning the senate stops the shit show in its tracks! let's win big so no treachery from satan!!
For me, this coming week won't be as busy as last week, but it will be busy enough. Today I have an endorsement meeting with my local Democratic party. In the afternoon, I'll join REI workers at a local store.
The big news is that the Whatcom County Council will take up a measure in a planning meeting Tuesday to prohibit construction of any more detention centers in the county. This meeting won't allow public comment, but I want to be in attendance and show my face (newly healed after the removal of a skin cancer). A meeting inviting public comment should come in the next sixty days.
It's significant that the lead for this measure is the newly elected Democratic Councilmember from a large rural part of the county. This is the right move at the right time, in my opinion. My guess is that many rural folks in the county don't want an ICE detention center anywhere near where they live. This is an example, by the way, of Democrats going into a red district, winning, and then representing the interests of the people there. This isn't the only thing this Councilmember has done for her constituents--flood control measures are important in the county--but her fight to restrict detention centers shows that Democrats in rural areas can appeal to voters on local issues with national significance.
Held our weekly De-ICE Citizens Bank protest this morning. Several bank customers stopped to talk and learn. Got the protest onto social media after and into the national protest counts.
I've been reaching out to one of list members who lives in a senior living community to see if her community has a pro-democracy group or wants help starting one. She came to today's protest, they do have a group that needs ideas and inspiration. I'll meet with them soon.
Happy to see the polling data, the growing cracks in the GOP and MAGA, the focus on corruption, and Abrego Garcia's case being dismissed for vindictive prosecution.
I nearly spit out my coffee when I read the quote from Sen. Susan "I'm Concerned" Collins about Trump's endorsement of Ken Paxton for the TX Senate race: “I don’t understand. He is an ethically challenged individual."
I thought she was talking about Don the Con. Although he and Paxton are birds of a feather. Please Maine send her into retirement so no one has to listen to her concerns. I'm reading all my Substacks late as I was protesting ICE at a busy corner in east Mesa AZ. We have to start early as the heat starts cranking up to 90 at 10am. That part of town has some angry men yelling and cursing at the 75 of us waving our signs and flags. But we're joyful warriors.
Thank you for this and your other daily analyses, Simon. I can't keep up with all the interviews, but I read your morning posts every day.
Self-report. Yesterday I delivered my husband's and my mail-in ballots to the county auditor's office. I didn't want to trust the mail to get them there by primary day here. I'm in Iowa CD-01, so I got to vote for Bohannan as well as my pick for Dem Senate nominee.
I continue to write postcards and email my Congress members almost daily, and I'll definitely participate in the next Vote Riders text bank.
A rainy, chill Saturday in the Northeast. I know I'm in the minority, but I prefer it this way, if the alternative is double-digit heat/humidity, which will be here (for months) in just a few weeks.
We had freakish 90+ temps for a few days last week, and I was my hot-weather bitchy self.
Was going to go out to dinner tonight but decided I needed to finish up food in fridge and didn't want to deal with rain.
All the citrus fruits and stone fruits went into a vodka concoction. Wow!
Ergo, the $ I would have spent going out to dinner will go into one of our campaigns.
My heart is with those lost in wars before my birth and after, including my own family, and I'm sure yours as well.
May their memories be for a blessing and their sacrifice not in vain.
My wife is right there with you on preferring any kind of weather to hot weather, which makes Sacramento maybe not the best choice -- but we don't have the same humidity.
Someday I wish to try a citrus fruit/stone fruit vodka concoction -- that would take the sting out of a hot day. Or pretty much anything.
Beautifully said in terms of Memorial Day. May their memories be a blessing. I want to try to research my ancestor who volunteered for the Union Army in his 60s, and died a few month later of disease at a camp. I think of him because at his age, no one would have looked twice at him for staying on his farm and letting the younger men do the fighting. But he didn't.
For the vodka concoction, I put into a small hand citrus squeezer (in alternating segments): lime and lemon wedges, some cut cherries and pieces of apricot. Also, some pomegranate seeds. Threw in some ice cubes, vodka and club soda. Wonderful.
My family, immigrants from what is now Ukraine, landed on the Lower East Side and did the best they could - manual laborers who were hoopers, coopers and the like. My great uncle went missing over the Pacific in WWII, nearly tore his family apart.
Thanks Simon, great post today. The NYT article quote about Trump using "whatever political capital he has left to leave his legacy" (whatever the hell that is), even if it "drags his party down in the process," kind of says it all. It's what has been said here many times -- normally someone does a course correct, and Trumps is simply incapable of that. The idea of a coalition or unity government is becoming clearer to me -- "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." Starting to happen.
Today is Day 12, the last day of the 12 days of political donations my wife and I have committed to in May, front loading our 2026 political donations. Today’s donation was going to go to the DNC, but I routed it to Johnny Garcia in Texas instead in response to Simon's emergency call. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/hopium4johnnygarcia. His primary runoff opponent Galindo's blatant antisemitism is despicable, and the GOP's cynical, underhanded effort to prop her up is too.
The combined 12 days of donations through Hopium was a fair amount for us, and it's safe to say that we have already donated more this year to political causes than we ever have in past election years. And certainly much earlier in the cycle as well. Drops in the buckets big-picture wise, but as the union song "Step by Step" goes "drops of water turn a mill." I appreciate the opportunity to donate effectively that this site provides -- strategically instead of more or less randomly as in the past. Also meeting the candidates through the interviews, and hearing from them and particularly from state party chairs about how the money is spent.
I have dueling fictional images of the Exxon Valdez and the Titanic intentionally being run aground or into an iceberg. That revenge addiction must be a powerful force.
I’m rooting for this analysis by Simon. Humpty Dumpty syndrome. And very curious what Simon will say about the Dem’s autopsy. From the little I’ve read it’s a fiasco and a stain on Ken Martin’s team. Out-of-touch, all. Get onboard, abandon your pre-conceived, ossified perceptions: think out of the box.
Everybody’s talkin’ ‘bout trump’s corruption.
Information Warrior report, my comment to the NYT article “Has Trump Gone Full ‘Mob Boss’?” (also posted to social media this morning)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/23/opinion/trump-slush-fund-republicans.html?unlocked_article_code=1.klA.Zpnz.evNXgY9PVaG1&smid=url-share
Anything unconstitutional IS illegal because The United States' Constitution is the supreme law of Our Country. Using the public's money for your own illegitimate use / slush fund is corruption. Destroying public property like the East Wing and historic markers is corruption. Installing denigrating and fictional plaques in the White House under the guise of a “Presidential Walk of Fame" is corruption. Taking lavish gifts from others while fulfilling your public duties is corruption and unconstitutional (Emoluments Clause). Insider trading is corruption. Failing to release the Epstein files to prevent prosecution of criminal friends or self is corruption. Stealing public information for your own use through DOGE is corruption. Running a retribution campaign against political enemies is corruption. Endangering lives while denying residents their rights is corruption (CECOT, Minneapolis, etc.). Disobeying the legal determinations of the courts is corruption. This is arguably the most corrupt administration America has ever seen.
"Anything unconstitutional IS illegal because The United States' Constitution is the supreme law of Our Country."
100%. Somehow that fact doesn't appear to be widely understood. I often read or hear pundits say something is "unconstitutional and possibly illegal."
I still think it would be a different, and better, country if we amended our pledge of allegiance to: "I pledge allegiance to our democracy of the United States of America. And to the Constitution BY which it stands...
Think of all the elementary school kids saying that every morning... a different world.
Speaking of the new generation, I'm reposting this link from yesterday... a young man speaking out about the redistricting farce in Louisiana. Our younger generations need to be inspired to take on the mantle, like this guy. Fire in the hole!
... a little morning hopium with your coffee
https://youtube.com/shorts/P58otkVgZ2U?si=4ojw48y7YJXHPzyx
Keep pushing.
Woah, that video is awesome!
I love your idea about amending our Pledge of Allegiance!!!!!!
I watched it again. Just noticed the fine print that he was speaking on same day, May 12, that we were presenting on the declaration project in Salinas before Monterey County Supervisors. Love it. It's happening everywhere.
That was amazing. Appropriate level of outrage, what we here at Hopium feel and understand.
Oh Lord, that guy is on fire! It’s not just a rant, but the very definition of speaking truth to power 💪🏽
This young man is fantastic!! "MAGA is the last breath of the Confederacy." We must make it happen!!
Awesome right? Who is that guy?
Guess what. I found out his name is Marshan Camese. Here is the follow-up
https://youtube.com/shorts/G0w7DQb-nnA?si=UVWogDs9y4eyplTK
Trouble is, "our democracy" means different things to different people. U.S. history right up to the present day bears witness to that. And as I noted elsewhere, the drafters of the Constitution didn't intend it to be fixed in time. Indeed, it was immediately amended by the Bill of Rights -- the first 10 amendments. Once the "under God" part is dropped, the Pledge of Allegiance is OK as is. I'm not wild about the emphasis on the flag, though, because so many people make a fetish of the flag while ignoring the "republic for which it stands" part.
It's also worth noting that through the many decades, much damage to "our democracy" has been done by economic interests, e.g., slaveholders in the antebellum South and corporations from the late 19th century onward. The Citizens United decision of 2010 makes this "constitutional." Economics are barely mentioned in the Constitution. Note that, unlike the parliamentary democracies, the U.S. two-party system doesn't have a social democratic or socialist party. The Democratic Party of the New Deal and the following decades did work to rein in capital, but keep in mind that until the civil rights advances of the mid-1960s it was racist AF. That changed when all the white Southern Democrats became Republicans, but McCarthyism (which long predated its namesake, Joe McCarthy) hasn't gone away. Though in the last few years, there are encouraging signs that the s-word (socialism) is no longer the kiss of death, at least in New York City.
We Proud Plucky Patriots are moving Our Country toward a more perfect union, building the best new United States of America that we can imagine.
Susana, I think our democracy is pretty commonly understood among the pro-democracy movement: freedom of speech and assembly, the right to choose our representatives through a free and fair electoral process, and to replace them if they displease us, the right to equal treatment under the law, to be safe and secure and move freely regardless of race, religion, cultural or gender (in all its forms). To be part of a commonwealth for the common good and to seek redress. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
"Under God" would be and is, optional. If one is an atheist, or objects because of separation of church and state, then stay silent for those two words. I think the wide majority is a god-believing country, to each his own. God and church are not the same thing. I am neither and atheist nor a church-goer, myself.
It is an imperfect union, and the history is quite obvious about that. The flag represents different things for people. For some it is a salute to those that made the ultimate sacrifice for democracy, the constitutional order, and the hopes and dreams for a more perfect union. (I am writing this response on Memorial Day)
For others it is a symbol of empire and conquest.
Changing the pledge to democracy and the constitution is like a mini-version of the constitutional oath for the public. We, the People, need to strengthen the muscle, and widen the commitment to both. It is our duty as citizens, we are the last line of defense as we are learning. Trumpism is waking up that awareness and commitment in a growing segment of the population. An amended pledge would help deepen the commitment over time and generations. That will help ensure that what we are going through now is even less likely to ever happen again. Throwing out the fascist oligarchy is only the first critical step. There will be much to be done and it won't happen overnight. Dems need to be careful not to overpromise too much too soon, but make real advances in affordability AND in democracy guardrails.
The Constituion can be amended. I agree with you, it was intended by the framers as a living, breathing document of the will of the people, with real thresholds to make the change difficult, but not impossible under the law. An amendend pledge would make civics education more meaningful, and I think there can be little argument that the American People ( and the F'n legacy media) could use some reinforcement in their civics lessons.
Beware the passive voice: “is pretty commonly understood”? Does this pro-democracy movement understand how economic power has been warping our aspiring democracy since the onset of the Reagan administration? If it doesn’t reckon with that, it’s pretty useless.
Of course we do. You can aspire to an ideal, and still understand and witness the reality of the forces that corrupt it.
In fact, I think the democratic party's resistance to acknowledging those forces within it's own team is a greater weakness than anything that showed up in the DNC autopsy. AIPAC and favors to big donors is not the sole jurisdiction of the GOP. Bit it is not nearly as widespread.
Would you consider yourself one of the allies of the pro-democracy effort? If not, then what are you fighting for?
Well stated, Deborah! Could be the basis for an ad for upcoming elections.
I see they published my remarks here. https://www.nytimes.com/shared/comment/4gai1c?rsrc=cshare&smid=url-share
Simon's recent interview, Coffee with the Contrarians, inspired me.
Way to go, Deborah!
Dr. Potter,
Thank you for the concise list of corruption examples. I will use this in my writing for a local group that publishes letters to the editor in many regional newspapers here in western Ohio
The tricky thing here is that it's often not *obvious* that something is unconstitutional until it's challenged and eventually the Supreme Court declares it so. For instance, much of the Bill of Rights didn't apply to Black people until the Reconstruction Amendments, which were effectively negated in the South by Jim Crow until the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Amendments of the mid-1960s. Upon marriage, white women lost most of what rights they had until the Married Women's Property Acts, starting in 1839, and women couldn't vote (except in a few western states) until the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920.
As we've seen, constitutional interpretation is a hotly contested area, with the "originalists" arguing that we must depend on the Constitution as originally written. As I understand it, this is *not* what the drafters, Madison et al., intended. They knew that times would change and the Constitution had to evolve in order to meet new challenges.
Tbe “originalists” are criminals and cultists. They wear white robes under their black ones. Roberts helped create the facade and should be impeached. If we can’t do that, then he and the others should resign without retirement payment.
Love this. So excellent!
Reading and enjoying, just hoping predictions of Trump’s demise are not premature. Time to invade Cuba?
Where are the predictions of his demise?
Agree, my bad, just wishful thinking! Thanks as always for all of your hard work. Any thoughts on Cuba?
My hot take (only my theories, not based on anything I have read in the press) is that Trump's Rasputins know he is failing and are going to be pushing even harder for their pet projects. Stephen Miller on ICE (witness the recent news that green card holders will have to leave the country when they reapply), RFK on whatever crazy nonsense he is touting, Putin on Ukraine, Bibi on Iran, and Rubio on Cuba. Rubio has long wanted the Cuban government to go down. This is his last chance. If he can convince Trump that it will go the way Venezuela did, and that it will distract voters from all the bad news, he might do it. I have been expecting this to happen for a month and wouldn't be surprised to see it very soon. To my knowledge, Cuba has no natural resources Trump can exploit, which is why I think Venezuela was first in line.
Well, I’m happy to see that, at least once the bomb is about to detonate on their own personal residence, Republicans are willing to mildly rebuke the massacre. What a bunch of selfish, shortsighted, pathetic excuses for public servants. I’ll take their help, but fuck ‘em….just fuck ‘em all for enabling us to get to this point.
On a lighter note, I have decided to have a very happy Memorial Day weekend, regardless of what Trump does, because in spite of what he believes, he does not actually own my mood. I hope all of you will do the same… Lots of family and friends, barbecues, golfing…whatever your flavor of fun is.
And Simon, if you see this, I have a very unimportant question, although maybe at moments like this it’s the most important kind of question:
All those years you were in DC before the Nats arrived, did you adopt the Baltimore Orioles as your team out of regional proximity? Or were you loyal to one of the New York teams out of solidarity from birth? I personally am still a Cubs fan because growing up in the middle of Nebraska in the 80s and early 90s, they were one of only two teams I could watch all 162 games for. God bless the WGN cable network out of Chicago, and RIP Harry Carey and Ryne Sandberg!
#Legends
#TakeMeOutToTheBallGame
#TheHawk
⚾️🏟️🇺🇸
Simon, thanks for the great round up of what was a pretty consequential week.
I was heartened to see that the judge dismissed charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia as vindictive and selective prosecution. Proud of my Senator, Van Hollen, who didn't just give speeches but got on a plane and went to the torture prison and, ultimately, got the man out. Take the wins when we get them!
It's (thankfully!) raining here today, so it's a good day to stay in and write postcards to Ohio voters.
Simon and Family, this is all deeply encouraging news and data. Thank you Simon for this much needed information and a reminder that what we’re doing TRULY is working!
Particularly because the GOP is in the midst of feeling the burn, NOW is the prime opportunity to seize on it, keep em DOWN and push ahead, using available strategic levers.
I’ve read some commentary recently from someone who while very much is Pro-Democracy and often on point with many of his assertions (actually not too dissimilar from ours here)…was however, very disenchanted by the TX race. He is still clinging onto the loss for Crockett and feels strongly that we will lose TX and that ‘White TX Dems’ are in for a rude awakening.
Now look, idk the intricacies of the TX political operation but I can only speak from what I’m seeing and taking in. So, I’d like to offer a few points related and subsequently, overarching points as I feel we’re reaching a pinnacle moment in this midterm election roadway (very much on the heels of something significantly changing in the landscape against Trump, the GOP, and in our favor all as Simon points out).
On one hand, I absolutely empathize with his frustration. Crockett would have been wonderful and frankly, i believe there is still a bright political future for her. Either in the senate or in the DOJ. Unless Kamala becomes President, wouldn’t that be something…Kamala rebrands the DOJ as AG, bringing Crockett (also a lawyer) into the fold with her?!? Def a possibility/plausibility!
All that said, I don’t see Talarico as an enemy nor loser in this fight….obv! Talented politician who has the strongest chance yet to flip a TX seat blue. Beto is talented. Alred is talented. Crockett is talented! For Talarico, it’s right time, right place. Does this mean he’s a shoe-in? Of course not! But it absolutely says something that the GOP are both privately and publicly revolting concerning Trump’s backing of Paxton.
Yes, Paxton is dangerous and will go to any lengths to try and win that seat (or steal it) which is why we MUST remain on guard! That said, TX has seen the largest blue voter turnout in modern history! Fair to say we KNOW they’re not staying home for this one in November. I’m not even confident Republican voters will turn out in droves for Paxton either. We’ll see when all said and done but we can’t let our guard down period.
So, I def caution anyone discounting Talarico this far out. It will be a shock in and of itself to see him win just cuz of how TX politics has played for so long. But…if he does win, it won’t be ‘a surprise’ at the same time. The GOP will bleed out financially as well as politically (arguably because they will financially). They’re over spending and over exerting, on defense as to where to drop all their financial eggs which could very well haunt them should we remain strategic with how WE spend ahead of November.
TX is naturally a long shot but with Talarico currently leading Paxton in polling (which is unheard of even at this stage of the race…in TX), his chances are significant. At this point, I rather be him than Paxton. Both Crockett and Talarico were strong choices. No one has time to be bitter and subsequently risk any hold out in any sort of protest. That hurt us in 2024.
Which brings me to my overarching point beyond TX, especially as it relates to the autopsy. Rick Wilson nails it especially in the wake of the autopsy (yes i personally believe Kamala won and that it was manipulated but data still has value moving forward anyway).
We need to win period! Screw our feelings! The GOP never cared about their own feelings. It’s time we buckle up that way too and THEN, unlike the GOP, actually GOVERN with moxie, sensitivity, and the will to PROGRESS! That would then give credence to our balls to the wall shift.
But the race though, the race??? Balls to the wall like Wilson says! No more catering to the ‘far left sensitivities.’ That cost us! If we offend people by sticking to voters’ immediate needs more than any social issue, screw it! They need to wake up fast!! We’re not just suddenly homophobic, xenophobic, Antisemitic, Islamophobic, etc. cuz we didn’t spend “enough time” on all the social issues THIS time. Right here, right now, Carville’ long standing assertion that “It’s the economy stupid” WINS period!
Voters should be keen enough to already know the majority of our candidates empathize with all pressing social issues of our time. But we have to be smart about this chance. We need to make the distinctions clear, concise, and press the ability to disassociate properly.
For example, Dems need to focus on Bibi…NOT Israel as a whole (risking coming across Antisemitic alienating Jewish voters by convoluting the messaging or stupidly letting into the field the likes of Hasan Piker for Christ sake) if/when talking about the Middle East.
We need to drill down the REAL impacts Trump and the GOP have on the LGBTQ community, and NOT fester on ‘pronouns!’ See my point? Social issues need to striped to its bare resonating bones in messaging just like kitchen table issues have to be. Blend the best of both…we WIN hands down in numbers too big to rig.
Too often we’ve given the GOP ammunition by our own making. There’s a reason why the most effective ads come from Lincoln Project, Seneca Project, etc. ALL curated by Anti Trump Republicans/Former Republicans turned Independents. They KNOW how the GOP works with their messaging and they’re using those same tools against them effectively! We’d have to be out of our minds NOT to take the cues and let them into our tent all the way.
This is where Ken Martin has to come in, where House and Senate leadership has to come in, etc.
Nonetheless, to have Obama, Harris, Lincoln Project, our Governors, Pete B, and other strong surrogates out and about given the toxicity of Trump and the GOP’ current impact…can only help, not hinder. Only ones who can get in our way is actually us, not them. Let em fall, we keep pushing the right messaging forward and stay the course.
I’m a cautious optimist and believe we WILL win in November against the odds we face. But I also caution us as a party not to fall for our own trap. God speed and let’s win this damn thing!
I think you underestimate Talerico's chances. Why? Because Trump is a drag on the party, and as Simon points out, odds are quite high that it only gets worse for him going forward. He is incapable of pivoting. If he tried, no one would believe the Liar in Chief anyway. But he wont pivot. He will double down. And that is dangerous for everyone. Let's hope the bluster in the Republican Senate takes hold.
So Talerico is polling as a toss up now. And it's STILL only May. Add another $1/gal to the equation. People have to drive far to get around in Texas. It aint over til its over, so keep pushing all the way to the tape.
I’m not underestimating his chances. I’m very cautiously optimistic about him. I agree with your full sentiment. I was basically responding to my own conversation with someone else before making a larger point 😂. It’s no shoe in though. It’s TX and they know how to cheat! But, the turnout and enthusiasm is very promising! As for all the rest of what I had to say concerning the autopsy, how we move forward etc., I stand by that assertion. Will remain a firm believer in Harris. I was disappointed by the party around her though. Not us here in the community but you know what I mean.
Trump will be defeated when he's in prison for child molestation, theft and all the other awful things he's done.
Agreed. I hope Donald Trump continues to have bad weeks for the rest of his life.
First step is destroying his political power, because as long as he’s president he avoids justice
It'll really be interesting after November 2026, assuming we take the Senate and the House. How will the GOP Senators and Reps who survived the election start interacting with a lame duck president who fucked up this catastrophically? I think we don't know.
Krugman was talking on Substack about how the inflation is becoming solidified in peoples' view of future economy, and how that likely means elevated prices for some time to come. Maybe some kind of stagflation 1970's style is in our future.
I'm post carding today. I was going to buy stamps because I'm out, but I wasn't sure if the post office was open on the holiday weekend and I wasn't sure I could trust what my phone said. Plus I really didn't feel like going. Next weekend I will go.
I gave $25 one time donation to the TX 35 Johnny Garcia emergency fund to counteract the fuckery. I also gave a recurring $10/month donation to the new "second wave" campaign. Next week there is a planned canvass in Orlando for David Jolly which I will do. I'm trying to figure out the specifics because I think the details, at least last week, were not worked out yet.
Musta missed stories about the Johnny Garcia fuckery - can you say more about it?
Here's Garcia's opponent in the Dem primary. Republicans are financing and pushing her. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/05/maureen-galindo-sex-therapist-democrat-zionists-ice-aipac.html
This article as well https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/22/texas-democrat-maureen-galindo-zionists, and Simon's interview with DCCC Deputy Executive Director Will Van Nuys here https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/desperate-rs-are-now-intervening.
The fuckery is most noticeable in the TX race, because of how awful the person's views are that the GOP is supporting, but the NJ-07 race has gotten the same treatment. Fake PACs pretending to be left-wing that support a Dem candidate in a primary who is less likely to win in the general election.
Do you know what the chances are for NJ-7 race?
No, sorry I don’t have a clue. Mr. Van Nuys said that the GOP ruse failed in PA with a primary involving Bob Brooks so maybe that’s a good sign.
🤞🏼
Reading all of this this morning is deeply satisfying. I’m letting it soak in . “ No war. No haters. No demented dictators.”
the polling on our senate races is so heartening! my take away for memorial day weekend. winning the senate stops the shit show in its tracks! let's win big so no treachery from satan!!
For me, this coming week won't be as busy as last week, but it will be busy enough. Today I have an endorsement meeting with my local Democratic party. In the afternoon, I'll join REI workers at a local store.
The big news is that the Whatcom County Council will take up a measure in a planning meeting Tuesday to prohibit construction of any more detention centers in the county. This meeting won't allow public comment, but I want to be in attendance and show my face (newly healed after the removal of a skin cancer). A meeting inviting public comment should come in the next sixty days.
It's significant that the lead for this measure is the newly elected Democratic Councilmember from a large rural part of the county. This is the right move at the right time, in my opinion. My guess is that many rural folks in the county don't want an ICE detention center anywhere near where they live. This is an example, by the way, of Democrats going into a red district, winning, and then representing the interests of the people there. This isn't the only thing this Councilmember has done for her constituents--flood control measures are important in the county--but her fight to restrict detention centers shows that Democrats in rural areas can appeal to voters on local issues with national significance.
Held our weekly De-ICE Citizens Bank protest this morning. Several bank customers stopped to talk and learn. Got the protest onto social media after and into the national protest counts.
I've been reaching out to one of list members who lives in a senior living community to see if her community has a pro-democracy group or wants help starting one. She came to today's protest, they do have a group that needs ideas and inspiration. I'll meet with them soon.
Happy to see the polling data, the growing cracks in the GOP and MAGA, the focus on corruption, and Abrego Garcia's case being dismissed for vindictive prosecution.
I nearly spit out my coffee when I read the quote from Sen. Susan "I'm Concerned" Collins about Trump's endorsement of Ken Paxton for the TX Senate race: “I don’t understand. He is an ethically challenged individual."
There really aren't words.
I thought she was talking about Don the Con. Although he and Paxton are birds of a feather. Please Maine send her into retirement so no one has to listen to her concerns. I'm reading all my Substacks late as I was protesting ICE at a busy corner in east Mesa AZ. We have to start early as the heat starts cranking up to 90 at 10am. That part of town has some angry men yelling and cursing at the 75 of us waving our signs and flags. But we're joyful warriors.
Thank you for this and your other daily analyses, Simon. I can't keep up with all the interviews, but I read your morning posts every day.
Self-report. Yesterday I delivered my husband's and my mail-in ballots to the county auditor's office. I didn't want to trust the mail to get them there by primary day here. I'm in Iowa CD-01, so I got to vote for Bohannan as well as my pick for Dem Senate nominee.
I continue to write postcards and email my Congress members almost daily, and I'll definitely participate in the next Vote Riders text bank.
A rainy, chill Saturday in the Northeast. I know I'm in the minority, but I prefer it this way, if the alternative is double-digit heat/humidity, which will be here (for months) in just a few weeks.
We had freakish 90+ temps for a few days last week, and I was my hot-weather bitchy self.
Was going to go out to dinner tonight but decided I needed to finish up food in fridge and didn't want to deal with rain.
All the citrus fruits and stone fruits went into a vodka concoction. Wow!
Ergo, the $ I would have spent going out to dinner will go into one of our campaigns.
My heart is with those lost in wars before my birth and after, including my own family, and I'm sure yours as well.
May their memories be for a blessing and their sacrifice not in vain.
My wife is right there with you on preferring any kind of weather to hot weather, which makes Sacramento maybe not the best choice -- but we don't have the same humidity.
Someday I wish to try a citrus fruit/stone fruit vodka concoction -- that would take the sting out of a hot day. Or pretty much anything.
Beautifully said in terms of Memorial Day. May their memories be a blessing. I want to try to research my ancestor who volunteered for the Union Army in his 60s, and died a few month later of disease at a camp. I think of him because at his age, no one would have looked twice at him for staying on his farm and letting the younger men do the fighting. But he didn't.
For the vodka concoction, I put into a small hand citrus squeezer (in alternating segments): lime and lemon wedges, some cut cherries and pieces of apricot. Also, some pomegranate seeds. Threw in some ice cubes, vodka and club soda. Wonderful.
My family, immigrants from what is now Ukraine, landed on the Lower East Side and did the best they could - manual laborers who were hoopers, coopers and the like. My great uncle went missing over the Pacific in WWII, nearly tore his family apart.
Typical story. You have to honor it.
Thanks Simon, great post today. The NYT article quote about Trump using "whatever political capital he has left to leave his legacy" (whatever the hell that is), even if it "drags his party down in the process," kind of says it all. It's what has been said here many times -- normally someone does a course correct, and Trumps is simply incapable of that. The idea of a coalition or unity government is becoming clearer to me -- "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." Starting to happen.
Today is Day 12, the last day of the 12 days of political donations my wife and I have committed to in May, front loading our 2026 political donations. Today’s donation was going to go to the DNC, but I routed it to Johnny Garcia in Texas instead in response to Simon's emergency call. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/hopium4johnnygarcia. His primary runoff opponent Galindo's blatant antisemitism is despicable, and the GOP's cynical, underhanded effort to prop her up is too.
The combined 12 days of donations through Hopium was a fair amount for us, and it's safe to say that we have already donated more this year to political causes than we ever have in past election years. And certainly much earlier in the cycle as well. Drops in the buckets big-picture wise, but as the union song "Step by Step" goes "drops of water turn a mill." I appreciate the opportunity to donate effectively that this site provides -- strategically instead of more or less randomly as in the past. Also meeting the candidates through the interviews, and hearing from them and particularly from state party chairs about how the money is spent.
I have dueling fictional images of the Exxon Valdez and the Titanic intentionally being run aground or into an iceberg. That revenge addiction must be a powerful force.
I’m rooting for this analysis by Simon. Humpty Dumpty syndrome. And very curious what Simon will say about the Dem’s autopsy. From the little I’ve read it’s a fiasco and a stain on Ken Martin’s team. Out-of-touch, all. Get onboard, abandon your pre-conceived, ossified perceptions: think out of the box.