Trump Goes Full Dictator During Quantico Speech

Donald Trump made it a point to refer to Democrats as “radical” and “enemies.” We also discussed why military leaders MUST resist illegal orders. I hope you’ll tune in to hear what we discussed.
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Check out my full conversation with Ryan on Substack.

Everyone, meet our newest Congresswoman, Adelita Grijalva, representing Arizona’s 7th Congressional District!

Adelita was elected in a Special Election last Tuesday to fill the seat left by her father, a dear friend and beloved mentor. She was supposed to be sworn in this week—but the Speaker has shut down the House and not sworn her in.

But Adelita is here with all of us and ready to work for the American people!
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Winter is Coming

Ukraine is hitting back harder than ever, as its military pushes Russia out of key regions and puts Moscow’s most significant targets in range—all while Russian gas prices skyrocket to a staggering $25 a gallon, deepening Putin’s crisis. At the same time in the U.S., late-night TV is on fire: ABC’s controversial decision to reorder Jimmy Kimmel Live! sparked massive backlash, wiping $4 billion off Disney’s market cap before Kimmel triumphantly returned to air. From Ukraine’s fight for freedom to Disney’s Wall Street disaster and Kimmel’s comeback, this episode dives into the global headlines shaking both the Kremlin and Hollywood.
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Trump’s Revenge Tour

With James Comey getting a federal indictment, Trump’s constant threats are no longer empty promises. I react to the indictment, and explain what can happen when a government goes after its critics.
YouTube | Substack | BlueSky

Challenging Trump's Assault On The Rule Of Law — An Interview With Massachusetts AG Andrea Campbell

Friends, the inspiring Attorney General of Massachusetts, Andrea Campbell, came by yesterday to talk about the critical role she and her fellow Dem AGs have played in fighting Trump’s ongoing assault on our democracy, rule of law and our freedoms. The Dem AGs have been an aggressive, coordinated model for the rest of the pro-democracy family, and given where Trump is headed, their role as guardians of our Constitution will only grow in importance.

Here in this video AG Campbell reflects on some of her and her colleagues' wins — securing funding relief for school districts, her challenges of FEMA, illegal NIH funding cuts and delays for medical and public health research, the important birthright citizenship rulings, and more. I asked the Attorney General, who has been on the front lines of this battle to preserve our democracy, what advice she had for all of us. This is how she responded: “Find something to attach yourself to in this moment of time. To participate. Because the collective effort is what’s going to win the day against an administration that is moving away from our democratic institutions and democratic values.”

I was then excited to share that we here in this community have been doing just that, and that in fact the good citizens of Massachusetts have taken the lead now in passing “resolutions of condemnation” in Boston, Easthampton and Amherst. The Attorney General was proud to hear that her constituents were doing the work that needs to get done now. It’s a great moment in this wonderful conversation.
YouTube | Hopium Chronicles

For more commentary like this, join our political community on Substack at https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/, subscribe to this channel, keep working hard all.
— Simon

Watch this short explainer to understand what Democrats are demanding in the government funding fight and why it'll definitely affect YOUR healthcare! Then call your reps and tell them you WANT Medicaid and ACA premium subsidy funding continued! IT'S LIFE OR DEATH, FOLKS!

Please share this with everyone you know who's worried about helathcare costs--or rural hospitals--in America.
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Trump's Worst Nightmare | Rick Wilson

Rick Wilson — co-founder of The Lincoln Project and one of Donald Trump’s fiercest critics — joins us to explain how the MAGA movement captured the GOP, what really gets under Trump’s skin, and why the Epstein files could roil the 2026 midterms. We also dig into messaging, culture vs. policy, and concrete ways voters can defend democracy.
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Jimmy Kimmel is Back!

Jimmy Kimmel returns to the air and talks about all of the people who have reached out over the last six days including fellow late night talk show hosts, fans of the show, and those who don’t support what he believes but support his right to share those beliefs anyway, and he expresses that it was never his intention to make light of the murder of a young man, how important it is to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this, the Chairman of the FCC Brendan Carr telling an American company that “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Trump saying he has no talent and no ratings, being fortunate to work at a company that has allowed us to do the show we want to do for almost 23 years, not agreeing with the decision to have our show pulled off the air last Wednesday, Trump making it very clear he wants to see Jimmy and other late night hosts fired, and solidarity from the right, left and those in the middle. Then Jimmy talks to the new FCC Chairman (Robert De Niro), and gets into Trump’s day addressing the United Nations, the escalator breaking, having trouble with the teleprompter, and the headache he’s creating with his buddy RFK over Tylenol.
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The chilling effect of politicizing Tylenol

I watched Monday’s White House press conference with alarm. There was President Donald Trump, flanked by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and others, suggesting that Tylenol use during pregnancy might be linked to autism. “There's no harm,” he insisted, “in discouraging its use.”

As a physician who has spent years caring for pregnant patients and sick infants, I can tell you there absolutely is harm. And there's no new science to justify this dangerous rhetoric.

Dr. Kass’s full statement is available on The Contrarian site at Substack.
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Trump's Inner Circle of Whack Jobs Putting Americans in Danger

While Trump is mentally unfit to lead America, the loyalist goons around him aren't any better. Steve Schmidt reacts to the latest claims from RFK Jr. and Tom Homan and warns of a growing decay in America.
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Trump’s Policies Are Devastating Farmers

Trump has abandoned farmers. Tariffs, budget cuts, and the chaos of this administration have plunged American farmers into record debt. Countries have stopped buying American products and China has totally stopped buying soybeans from the US. Budget cuts to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) have significantly reduced farm revenue.

The president has broken his campaign promises to help American farmers. Share this with your friends and family so that they know the impact Trump is having on farmers.
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Two Separate Realities: A Conversation w/ former Evangelical Christian fundamentalist Tim Whitaker

There are two separate realities in America right now. One we saw at the Charlie Kirk memorial, where God has picked a side and if you’re not with them you’re not on it, and one rooted in reality. However, the reality one…it’s not winning.
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Guest social: https://www.thenewevangelicals.com/

Joan Baez: Here’s how to get over 'dictator phobia' and resist Trump's war on democracy

Legendary singer and activist Joan Baez still marches in protests and has spent her career on the political frontlines. She has a candid conversation with Nicolle Wallace talking about how to protest President Trump.
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Killings, Cancellations & the Russia-Ukraine War

In the latest edition of "The Schmidt Storm", Steve answers your questions on Jimmy Kimmel's future with ABC, how young people should react to Charlie Kirk's murder and what's happening with the Russia-Ukraine war.
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The Right turns on Trump as Hegseth Orders Massive Media Crackdown

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Trump SHUT DOWN Bribery Investigation in MASSIVE Cover Up

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This is What Proves Trump’s Dementia: Psychologist

Dr. John Gartner, former Johns Hopkins professor and co-host of the podcast ‘Shrinking Trump,’ joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles to deliver a chilling diagnosis: Donald Trump is showing signs of dementia layered on top of malignant narcissism. Drawing on decades of clinical expertise, Dr. Gartner explains how Trump’s declining language, erratic gait, and disturbing anecdotes point to brain deterioration that makes him not just unpredictable but uniquely dangerous in office. Coles presses him on how Trump’s narcissism compares to King Charles’ public persona, whether his cabinet and family are retreating from his volatility, and what it means when a leader with nuclear codes also displays symptoms of mini-strokes and confabulation. From Hitler’s psychology to Bill Clinton’s benign narcissism, this episode explores how power amplifies paranoia, cruelty, and decay—and asks the starkest question of all: as Trump weakens physically and mentally while tightening his grip on authority, how far can Trumpism go before it breaks America?
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Letters from an American

First They Came For The Comedians...

When will more of my Republicans colleagues recognize that traveling down this road does not end well for any of us?
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Congressman Crow Speaks on the Concerning State of US Politics & the Path Forward

President Trump and his administration have increasingly acted in ways antithetical to American and democratic values, including deploying the U.S. military to cities, labeling the Democratic Party as domestic terrorists, targeting non-profit organizations and civil society organizations, and intimidating media companies, law firms and universities that don’t align with Trump’s policies.

Congressman Crow’s speech underlined the stakes of this moment, and builds on Crow’s longstanding work to condemn political violence and stand up for our democracy.
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Kimmel: The First Casualty of State Media

Donald Trump and his handpicked FCC chair, Brendan Carr, just made satire a crime. After punishing ABC and Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show getting pulled off-air, America is staring down the barrel of state-run media where free speech is no longer protected, jokes are illegal, and satire is treated as sedition. This episode dives into Trump’s FCC censorship crackdown, the chilling rise of state-controlled news, and what it means when a president can silence critics with the stroke of a pen. From the death of late-night comedy to the birth of authoritarian propaganda, Rick Wilson unpacks how Trump’s fragile ego and lust for power are reshaping American media into his own personal megaphone.
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This Is Trump's Latest Attack On Free Speech

Marc Elias explains why Donald Trump is escalating his authoritarian crackdown on thought, dissent, media and organizations.
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Trump FACES BACKLASH from His OWN PARTY over KIMMEL SHAKEDOWN

Aaron Parnas discusses today's headlines, including ABC/Disney facing mass boycotts in the wake of Kimmel’s cancellation, including shocking condemnation from Ted Cruz, a House resolution to honor Kirk, Trump debating raising Social Security age, and much more!
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Trump Has Shown Us Who He Is. Time For Us To Show The American People And The World Who We Are

Dems clearly found a higher gear and jumped up another level in our ambition and willingness to challenge Trump’s ruinous regime. In statements and committee hearings House Dem leaders reminded those enabling Trump’s escalating illiberalism that we will be in power again soon and will have subpoena power. Senate Dems, led by Senator Chris Murphy, introduced a new bill, the No Political Enemies Act. We’ve seen other signs of our movement growing stronger and more ambitious in recent days.

As we often bring up here, you never know in politics what is going to cause people to rise up or find a higher gear. Moments present themselves, leaders lead, and things just change. The right’s wild and dangerous reaction to Charlie Kirk’s tragic murder last week has forced Democrats to more forcefully confront the undeniable descent of Trump into Putinist authoritarianism. This is the next moment. For as we say here two things have become very, very clear these last few weeks: 1) Trump’s government is failing, foreign leaders keep refusing to bend the knee, his health problems are clearly growing more severe, and he and his rancid agenda have become wildly unpopular. A majority of the country just isn’t buying into his strongman act, and this majority continues to want an American President, not a bloody dictator... and 2) Trump is responding to the failure of his government and political project by going full-on paranoid tyrant, threatening us/his opposition with state-sponsored and vigilante violence and launching what has to be understood as an early stage crackdown. I’ve called this dangerous dynamic the vicious cycle of a failing strongman

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Democrats have been right to respond to Trump’s dangerous escalation and increasing madness with an escalation of our own. For there is an unambiguous lesson we must carry with us from history - every inch a dictator takes encourages him to take more. It is why our opposition movement simply now must find a higher gear, organize ourselves to challenge him 24/7/365 in far more sophisticated and ambitious ways, and not just comfort ourselves that we are leading in the November elections and will likely win next year. We must also develop muscular strategies to mitigate the damage that he is doing to the country and ensure there will be free and fair elections next year. We are here now. We know who he is and what he wants. Now the nation, and the world, must come to know us, what we want and what we are fighting for.
&mdash: Simon

YouTube | Substack

The First Amendment and judicial proceedings: Mary McCord in conversation

“The federal government is bound by the First Amendment. It cannot discriminate based on viewpoint,” Mary said. “The fact that the FCC chair would be suggesting that ABC might lose its broadcast license if it doesn’t take action against Jimmy Kimmel, that is direct coercion by the federal government that is related to speech.”

Trump Has Divided the World Into Friends and Enemies | Explainer

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You Can Watch the full chat here:

September 18, 2025

Politics Chat

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Get full, free access to Letters from an American here:

Letter from an American

Substack

What Happened to Jimmy Kimmel?

Taking Kimmel off the air has nothing to do with HIM and everything to do with YOU. He’s losing his show, but you’re losing your rights.
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Senate GOP Blocks Whitehouse Effort to Undo Looming Half-Trillion Dollar Cut to Medicare

September 18 | Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) took to the Senate floor to request unanimous consent to pass his resolution to protect Medicare from automatic cuts resulting from Republicans’ Big, Beautiful-for-Billionaires law. Senate GOP Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) blocked the passage of this resolution

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Sheldon Whitehouse represents Rhode Island in the U.S. Senate, where he champions policies to uphold American leadership in the world, protect our planet in a changing climate, and hold the powerful accountable.
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DOJ Pulls DATA as FBI Field Office is ATTACKED

Aaron Parnas discusses today’s headlines, including the Department of Justice removing a study from its website outlining White Supremacy violence, an act of terror committed in Pittsburgh, an update on the men found hanging from trees in Mississippi, and much more!
Substack | YouTube

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It's Not Going Away

“A hoax,” “irrelevant, "dead issue.” Call it whatever you want Donald, just know it’s never going away.

Donald Trump is in the Epstein files.

And we're not letting voters forget that.

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MAGA Abusing Charlie Kirk's Murder for Personal Gain

While most have condemned any political violence in our country, members of MAGA across America have taken Charlie Kirk's murder and turned it into a political prop. Steve Schmidt looks at the use of Kirk's death from prominent MAGA figures and urges a return to free speech in America.
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Why the Constitution Separates Church and State | Explainer

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CBS News New York poll shows Zohran Mamdani leading NYC mayor's race due to pocketbook issues

Dick Brennan has more on how affordability appears to be most important to voters.
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Recessions, Assassinations and Government-Sanctioned Murder

In the latest edition of "The Schmidt Storm", Steve Schmidt answers your questions about the Charlie Kirk assassination, America's dangerous game in Venezuela and the current state of the US economy.
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The Death of Debate

America is bleeding out from within. In just the past few years, the U.S. has been rocked by political violence, extremist attacks, and assassinations that have pushed democracy to the brink. From right-wing radicals to left-wing extremists, the rhetoric of hate has turned deadly, fueling a surge in domestic terrorism and political assassinations. The killing of Charlie Kirk in Utah and the shocking assassination of Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband are the latest wake-up calls, and no side has clean hands. Hate has become a political strategy, amplified by social media algorithms, AI echo chambers, and corrupt politicians who profit from division and literal blood money. While the powerful get richer, ordinary Americans are left living in a democracy under threat—where both sides have stopped listening—and it has to stop.
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URGENT: Trump's Plan To Steal The 2026 Election Revealed

Today, I'm breaking down everything you need to know about how Trump and the Republicans plan to interfere with the 2026 and 2028 elections.
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Our North Star Must Continue To Be Democracy, Rule Of Law, And Freedom

Given yesterday’s tragic and shocking killing of Charlie Kirk I did my best to make sense of the current moment as I do each week. Here’s where I ended up last night, and where I am now, today, as we commemorate 9/11 on its 24th anniversary. The road ahead of us is going to be hard, and as we go forward our North Star must be democracy, rule of law, freedom, love of country and love of one another.
YouTube | Hopium Chronicles