MAGA Would Detain, Disappear, & Deport Jesus
country of good people, with no criminal records, contributing to their communities, being detained, disappeared and eventually deported. People here who’ve claimed asylum, people here under protective order. Trump has decided that America must be a very cruel place.
YouTube | Substack
Fighting Trump's War On Science With Colette Delawalla and Dr. Jeremy Berg
Friends, I'm excited to share a deeply informative discussion with Colette Delawalla and Dr. Jeremy Berg of Stand Up For Science, an important new advocacy organization I'm delighted to support. As we discuss, of all the parts of Trump's agenda, the ongoing attack on our global scientific leadership, world-leading universities and our public health remains to me the most shocking and hard to understand. For it will make us poorer; guarantee the planet warms faster; ensure fewer opportunities for young Americans today; make it harder for our companies to compete; seriously degrade our public health; and thus it is an enormous, potentially history-altering gift to our foreign adversaries. As I often say what Trump, Russ Vought, Robert Kennedy and their allies are doing here feels far more like sabotage and grand betrayal than it does a plan for American greatness.
In our conversation today we got caught up on the latest news from a few leaders on the frontlines of this battle. More more information on how to support Stand Up For Science, visit my post and writeup on Substack and here is the link to their "Take Action" page https://www.standupforscience.net/take-action For more commentary like this, and to join these events live, find all of my political analysis and talks at https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/. Like, subscribe, share, keep working hard all.
—Simon
"Got To Keep The Faith, Got To Keep Organizing" - A Conversation With Senator Alex Padilla
Morning all, yesterday Senator Alex Padilla of California sat down with us for an extended conversation in this final week before the Senate summer recess. It was a ride-ranging talk that touched on Trump’s immigration escalation, the coming budget debate, tariffs and the White House’s attempt to break or undermine the Congressional budgeting process. I encourage you to get to it when you have the time.
The moment that is still sticking with me this morning was when the Senator reminded us that those essential workers Trump celebrated during COVID are the very same ones being targeted now by ICE. As the Senator asserts, "that's cruel and it's bad for the country." Hope you all enjoy this great conversation with one of our most important emerging Democratic leaders on the front lines against Trump. To hear from more of the elected officials leading our battle, subscribe and join us on Substack at https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/ for all of my political analysis. Keep organizing and working hard all.
—Simon
Trump's Homeland Security Department Is Releasing Violent Propaganda
Trump's immigration policies have always been fascist, but the latest video released by the Department of Homeland Security is pure propaganda. I examine the video, and talk about how people like Tom Homan and Stephen Miller are dehumanizing immigrants.
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America’s $200 Billion Dollar Mistake: A Conversation with Garrett Graff
We can’t afford pediatric cancer research, healthcare for seniors, or testing to make sure our water is clean, but we have $200 billion dollars to spend on masked, secret police to terrorize us on our streets? Really? This isn’t about safety, it’s about control, and it should deeply concern anyone who believes in human rights, due process and American freedom. Not to mention anyone who cares about the budget. Join me and award winning historian and journalist, Garrett Graff, as we discuss why creating such a polarized, partisan, and violent law enforcement group is such a detriment to American society.
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Thank you so much!
xoPG
How The Roberts Court Is Betraying The Country - My New Interview With Professor Leah Litman
Friends, I'm excited to share a second video today, a new interview held earlier with law professor, legal commentator, podcaster and author Leah Litman. Professor Litman is the author of a new book, linked below, “Lawless: How The Supreme Court Runs On Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, And Bad Vibes.” It’s a great title, an important book and this is a very timely and compelling discussion. (Book at Amazon)
We spend the bulk of our time together discussing a topic that is simply not discussed enough today and is certainly not well understood - the historic corruption of the judiciary by the modern American right and its dangerous descent into unseriousness, partisanship and authoritarianism. We cover a lot of ground in the interview - the escalating illiberalism and lawlessness of the Roberts Court, the central role Chief Justice John Roberts has played in this terrible chapter in our history, the absurdity of the Bush v Gore decision in 2000, how the Roberts Court is a serious legal body the way Fox News is a legitimate news organization and more... the corruption of our judiciary is a story that simply must be told, and Professor Litman does as good of a job telling it as anyone I’ve heard. Watch the interview. Share it with others. Buy her book and let’s keep working hard all. For more commentary like this, like, subscribe and join us on Substack at https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/
—Simon
I’m Running for U.S. Senate
Today, former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper launched his campaign for the U.S. Senate to serve the people of North Carolina.
The son of a public school teacher and small-town lawyer and farmer, Cooper has spent his life serving the people of North Carolina. As Attorney General, Cooper prosecuted criminals and took on scammers, big banks, and drug companies. As Governor, Cooper balanced the state budget every year and worked with Republicans to raise teacher pay, recruit thousands of better-paying jobs, and expand Medicaid to more than 650,000 working North Carolinians, leaving office as one of the country’s most popular governors.
Now, he’s running for Senate to protect and grow the middle class and put a stop to the politicians in D.C. who are running up the debt, ripping away health care from hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians, disrespecting veterans, and putting Medicare and Social Security at risk – all to give tax breaks to billionaires. As Senator, Cooper will always put North Carolina first.
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The Foul Stench of Todd “Carte” Blanche
This week, Rick's Elephant in the Room is the foul odor of the Epstein files -- and now Todd Blanche meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell in Florida. Blanche, who was Trump's personal attorney throughout cases brought from 2020 through 2024 is now serving as the Deputy Attorney General under the Trump Administration. Backed up by numerous photos and previously released court documents that can be found online, Maxwell, a convicted child sex trafficker who is currently serving a 20-year sentence in Tallahassee for her role in a scheme to sexually exploit and abuse multiple minor girls with Jeffrey Epstein over the course of a decade. She has been friends with Trump for years. Maxwell's defense attorney, David Markus, happens to be friends with Todd Blanche (imagine that). Just google "For The Defense with David Oscar Markus" and you should see a podcast published on June 2, 2024. Now, today when Blanche met with Maxwell, what do you think that conversation was? Do you think their conversation was recorded or unbiased and substantiated notes were taken? Do you think Blanche threatened Maxwell -- take the deal or else we will send you to an international prison, or be careful you don't slip in the shower? Listen, even without the possibility of undocumented threats, Maxwell has nothing to lose and everything to gain from a transactional deal with Blanche, and therefore Trump. Whatever they want her to say, is there ANYTHING that makes you think she wouldn't say it? It's not like she's someone to stand on morals and principles...as a child sex trafficker. There's a zero percent chance that she would push back and hold to the truth of the matter, as the truth doesn't serve her own interests either. They are offering Maxwell a bribe to lie about Trump. Maxwell is the last loose end -- and nothing she says can be trusted (if it ever could be). Blanche technically doesn't represent Trump in this matter, his role is to serve the AMERICAN PEOPLE and their interests. But we all know who Blanche thinks he works for. The corruption in the DOJ reeks, and it makes Watergate look like a ladies' afternoon tea party that forgot to file permit paperwork in a small town
. Thank you to the whistleblowers -- be careful, but keep it up. Members of MAGA are finally waking up and the Epstein files are the lynchpin to their long-anticipated epiphany about Trump. Today, the QAnon Shaman reversed course and refuted that Trump was his president in a post on X. Benny Johnson, Theo Von, and Candace Owens are all finally scent of Trump's rank odor. The Epstein files are Trump's achilles heel -- and if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's a f*cking duck.
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Trump Is In The Epstein Files. Of Course.
"Trump's Budget Could Break The Economy" — A New Conversation With Dr. Rob Shapiro
Good evening all, sharing an interview I completed today with our good friend, economist and Under Secretary of Commerce, Dr. Robert Shapiro. Rob joined us to discuss his new essay in Washington Monthly, titled "Trump's Budget Could Break The Economy," and linked here. In this article and in our conversation it will be become clear that Trump’s economic agenda is reckless and could bring extraordinary and lasting harm to the country. It is creating huge, unsustainable and dangerous deficits. The enormous tariffs he is levying — illegally and unconstitutionally — against every country will cause prices to keep rising here, inflation to re-ignite, interest rates to remain high, our economies to slow and generate unprecedented ill-will against America throughout the world. It is shifting the tax burden from the rich to the middle and working class. It is weakening our health care system and destroying our global scientific leadership. It is giving other nations unacceptable leverage over our country, and weakening our competitiveness. It represents a remarkable betrayal of everything Trump promised during the campaign. It has also become incredibly unpopular even before its most negative impacts are felt. What are we to do? We will be discussing that in the coming days but it starts with aggressively explaining to the American people what our Mad leader is doing to the country.
YouTube | Substack
For more commentary like this, like, subscribe, share and find all my political analysis at Hopium Chronicles.
Trump's USAID Cuts Will Cost The Lives Of MILLIONS
While Trump promised peace and thriving economy, his leadership has only brought international crises and chaos. Steve Schmidt looks at the negative impact of Trump's policies and the need to restrain his power.
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Rep. Stansbury: the GOP cancelled votes because they’re still melting down over Epstein
Just found out non-suspension votes were cancelled this week. Why, you ask? Surprise, surprise, the GOP is still unraveling over taking a vote to disclose the Epstein files. The House GOP would rather shut down the House than vote on transparency.
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Tom Homan is a Government Thug Building Concentration Camps
Trump's regime has never been shy about human rights abuses but Border Czar Tom Homan is detaining Americans and building concentration camps. Steve Schmidt looks at the propaganda being spread by Homan and details the terrible abuses being committed in Trump's name.
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The Epstein Files: “MAGA World Isn’t Falling in Line” | Rep. Dan Goldman
Pam Bondi is blocking the release of the Epstein Files to protect Trump. New York Rep. Dan Goldman joins the podcast to discuss the Epstein Files cover-up, masked ICE agents, and congressional Republicans handing over their power to Trump.
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"Trump" As Strongman Brand Is Failing
Here's my latest presentation for the Hopium community. I start by arguing that 2 things can be true at the same time: 1) Trump and MAGA, enabled by a cowardly Congress and corrupt Supreme Court, grinds on, and continues to do real, meaningful damage to the country 2) The damage has become understood in the public and "Trump" the brand is being rejected by the American people and is failing.
In my talk and commentary over the last month I've argued that Trump's ongoing struggle to increase his approval rating has led him to take reckless actions which only further drive down his standing in the American public. While he may get modest "wins" from Congress these next few days (these are actually losses for the American people), Trump is now facing at least 2, perhaps 3 political crises—Epstein, the Aug 1 tariffs and his increasingly unpopular immigration escalation.
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The Jim Acosta Show with Steve Schmidt Tara Setmayer and Nick Valencia
Organize Everywhere, Win Anywhere" - My Conversation With DNC Chair Ken Martin
Why Is Trump HIDING the Epstein Files? MAGA Wants Answers
The walls are closing in on Donald Trump. What is he hiding in the Epstein files, and why does he want you distracted so badly? We're not gunna let him distract us, and neither should you. Rick and Maya break it all down.
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Trump's MAGA Meltdown Over Epstein Controversy
With the Epstein files still causing issues among his supporters, Trump's approval ratings have hit an all-time low. Steve Schmidt looks at the damage Trump's association with Epstein has caused within his base and the long-term consequences of his presidency.
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Trump Not Like Us
The Lincoln Project is a leading pro-democracy organization in the United States — dedicated to the preservation, protection, and defense of democracy. Our fight against Trumpism is only beginning. We must combat these forces everywhere and at all times — our democracy depends on it.
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Rick + Charlie Sykes on Trump’s Epstein Spiral
A recording from Rick Wilson's live video.
YouTube | Substack
Former Attorney General Eric Holder Doesn’t Recognize the DOJ
Pam Bondi is turning the Department of Justice into a political arm of the GOP. Former Attorney General Eric Holder sits down with Marc to discuss the weaponization of his old department.
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Eric Holder concluded his remarks with,
“We can win. We can win if we fight, if we stick together, if we’re strong, if we’re committed. If we bring ourselves together, we have power that we never tap into. And we can beat these people.
“You know, we can beat—I wouldn’t call them enemies, but I would certainly call them enemies of democracy, and they have to be defeated.
John Lewis, His Last Words, Reeleased on the Day of His Funeral
Trump's Illegitimate Secret Police Are Bringing CHAOS To American Streets
With the unlawful arrests by ICE in places like San Francisco, Trump's masked secret police force should be held accountable for their actions. Steve Schmidt looks at the ICE operations across the country and calls for a national unmasking of public servants.
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The Passage Of The Big Ugly Has Given Us A Big Opportunity. We Need To Seize It.
Good morning all, remarkably I begin the day more optimistic than I've been in some time. Last night I gathered as usual with the Hopium community and I'm sharing the recording here. Let me try to summarize where my head is at right now... I think Trump and the Republicans have gone too far, and are making consequential mistakes. They have overplayed a weak hand. The public is not buying what they are selling; their agenda is already doing real harm to the country and the American people; things will get worse; we have 16 months now to tell this story relentlessly and loudly to the American people; and we need to go offense, operate from strength, and go win the big argument with MAGA, mitigate the damage they are doing and regain as much as power as we possibly can. Trump's regime has told us who they are and what they want - they want our country to be poorer, weaker, less safe, less healthy and less free. The passage of the big ugly gives us an opportunity to go tell this bigger story about this rancid agenda of sabotage, plunder and betrayal. We are no longer limited in our comms and storytelling to the elements of the big ugly. We must now in fact integrate the elements of the big ugly into their broader agenda and attack it on all fronts, as they have betrayed us and we can and must find a better way, together.
YouTube | Video at Hopium Chronicles
For more commentary like this, like, subscribe, share this video, and to participate in these meetings live, join us on Substack at Hopium Chronicles.
Keep working hard all. — Simon
Slotkin's Intel Brief: Trump's Big Beautiful (Ugly) Bill and what it means for you
In this week’s Intel Briefing, we dig in on the specifics of President Trump's bill that just passed, and what it will practically mean for your health care, SNAP, energy and more.
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What Trump’s Threat to ‘Take Over’ Cities Says About Our Democracy; Politics Chat
Trump's Assault On Our Health Care, Explained—A Conversation With Charles Gaba
Friends, sharing a recording of the live discussion I had with health care policy expert Charles Gaba from earlier today. I asked Charles to return to our community to talk about what to expect now that the big ugly has passed. While this is a wide-ranging discussion, Charles makes an important point that needs to be heard in the family right now - that Americans will feel the cuts and the damage being done to our health care long before the midterm elections next year.
Hopium Chronicles | YouTube
Charles has just released a new analysis on the impacts of the budget bill, drawn largely from the work of the KFF, that finds “more than half of the health care related provisions will be fully or partially implemented before November 3rd, 2026.” Of greatest significance is the ending of the expanded ACA subsidies at the end of this year, something that will impact the price and access to care for tens of millions of Americans.
As we discuss it is important to recognize the totality of Trump’s assault our health care, as it goes far beyond cutting Medicaid:
- Enormous cuts to medical research, weakening of our entire bio-medical research eco-system. These cuts and disruptions are already being felt now.
- Dramatic undermining of the nation’s vaccine regime and other elements of our public health care system. Will become a far bigger issue when back to school that starts next month.
- The dramatic weakening of the ACA and the private, individual insurance market. This begins in a few months and will impact tens of millions of Americans.
- While the deep cuts into Medicaid begin mostly in 2027, all actors in our health care system will start taking the incredible loss of money from the system into account now. Layoffs, downsizing, closures have already begun.
Two final points. As we discuss the weakening of the ACA will give Americans far less leverage against their employers, and make it far harder for people to start their own businesses or become self-employed contractors. We have heard this from the Trump regime this week - best way to get health insurance is to “get a job.” It is no coincidence in my mind that the period of greatest new business formation in recent American history came at the same time we made health care more affordable. Easier to take risks, start new ventures if you know that health care will be there for you and your family no matter what. That era is ending.
A conversation with Anne Applebaum
I encourage you to tune in to hear what the brilliant Anne Applebaum has to say about the the police state that has emerged in the US, historical lessons on the rise of authoritarianism and its implications for our country, and so much more.
Substack | YouTube
Trump's Deployment of ICE is DANGEROUS to America
With ICE now being the largest law enforcement entity in the US, its aggressive tactics in major American cities are only increasing. Steve Schmidt looks at the deployment of ICE against American citizens and how it has turned our democracy into fascism.
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You Aren't Going to Believe This
Donald Trump's latest Justice Department appointee? Someone who called for cops to be beaten and killed. Seriously. Shifting law enforcement resources to carry out Trump’s vendettas does not make us more safe.
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ICE: coming to a town square near you
Steve Schmidt and Ryan Lizza.
We spent most of our time focused on the secret police state that was funded by the “Big Beautiful Bill” that no one understands, nor voted for, but is coming to a town square near you.
Substack
It Was Never About The "Illegals"
What happened in LA today was intolerable political theater meant to intimidate, but behind the scenes this administration is making choices that will disrupt millions of people’s lives… #msnbc #Weekendprimetime.
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People Are Going to Die Because of This Bill" | Gov. JB Pritzker on Democracy, the GOP's Budget
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker joined Marc Elias to discuss the Republicans' budget bill, how he's working to protect democracy in Illinois, the future of the Democratic Party and more.
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Watch Gov. Pritzker's State of the State Address.
Law vs. Executive Disorder
Rick Wilson, The Lincoln ProjectDemocracy Docket founder and legal legend Marc Elias joins Rick to unpack everything that’s currently going on with the law and the Trump administration. Shedding light on various cases and what’s really going on, Marc Elias shares his breadth of knowledge on the legal lay of the land when it comes to Trump, the Supreme Court, the DOJ, and States’ rights.
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