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Sunday Hopium - We Are Here Now, And We Must Fight

Good people of Virginia please keep voting early, and help us win this thing in the early vote, not on Election Day!

Simon Rosenberg

Sep 21

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Afternoon and morning all. Last night Trump The Betrayer posted this message on Truth Social. It was a private message meant for his lackey AG Pam Bondi that he mistakenly posted publicly and has since deleted:

Ordering the Attorney General to prosecute his enemies. Firing prosecutors who refuse to comply. Herculean efforts to stifle free speech and end dissent. Stephen Miller declaring the Democratic Party a domestic terrorist organization. Invasions of large American cities. Throwing innocent people into foreign gulags and creating a masked domestic police force. Turning the Pentagon’s focus to protecting “the homeland” and not countering Russia and China. Stealing Congressional appropriations and levying tariffs - modern day taxation without representation - without Congressional or the people’s assent. Furiously trying to end the independence of the Fed.

We are here now. A place no American thought we would ever be. A place so dangerous that even Ted Cruz is speaking out against it.

And so is Senator Rand Paul. Here is on Meet The Press this morning criticizing FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr:

Here’s Stephen Colbert with a clip reminding us that Brendan Carr once defended the rights of late night comedians to do their thing for “free speech” was like yesterday one of the great rallying cries of MAGA:

Here’s Senator Chris Murphy doing a great job this morning communicating the stakes and gravity of the moment, and the need for us to fight:

As I wrote to you yesterday (and over the past few months) I think Trump is escalating because he is scared. Scared of the American people turning against him. Scared of the Epstein files. Scared that his economic plan has failed - prices are rising, the economy slowing, consumer confidence cratering and the deficit exploding. Scared that the ACA premiums are going to skyrocket and our health care system itself buckle. Scared of Putin. Scared that so many foreign leaders have refused to bend the knee. Scared that that his powers are ebbing, his health is declining, and that he will lose the elections next year and Democrats will make life hell for him, again - as we should, and must.

He is scared so he lashes out, sends the military into American cities, builds a private political police force, attacks his opponents and cracks down on dissent. What he isn’t doing is course correcting - what leaders of a democracy always do when things go bad for them - and taking steps that would help the American people and revive his plummeting poll numbers. He is acting like a dictator and not an American President. He is not governing us. He is attacking us, our standard of living, our health care, our safety, our opportunities and our liberties.

As I’ve been saying I think something changed in Washington this week. Congress can no longer look away at what is happening. Republican dissent grew louder this week, on free speech but also on vaccines and our public health. We must be very loud this coming week and lean hard on our Senators and Reps in the House to find that higher gear we’ve been talking about and find ways to formally challenge Trump’s escalating and dangerous illiberalism.

As Governor Gavin Newsom did yesterday in California:

Gov. Gavin Newsom of California signed legislation on Saturday that would prevent federal immigration agents from wearing masks in the state, a direct response to President Trump’s deportation crackdown in the Los Angeles region.
The new law is believed to be the first such ban in the nation, though it is likely to be challenged in court before it can go into effect in January because it is unclear whether California can enforce such restrictions on federal law enforcement. The bill also applies to local law enforcement.
In recent months, videos have spread across social media showing masked and armed immigration agents handcuffing immigrants in Southern California, drawing protests and criticism in the state.
Democratic leaders and immigration activists have suggested that agents have acted with impunity, knowing that their identities were cloaked and that it would be harder to hold them accountable.
“The impact of these policies all across this city, our state and nation are terrifying. It’s like a dystopian sci-fi movie — unmarked cars, people in masks, people quite literally disappearing,” Mr. Newsom said at a signing event on Saturday afternoon at a Los Angeles high school. “This is a disgrace. This is an outrage, what we’ve allowed to happen in this country.”
It is extremely rare for police officers to wear masks in democratic nations. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents began wearing balaclavas and neck gaiters this year, in what might have been the first example of American law enforcement officers wearing masks.
Before this year, state and local leaders had been passing more laws moving in the direction of greater transparency, such as requiring officers to wear body cameras at all times to record footage that could be used in court and seen by the public.
But this week, Department of Homeland Security officials urged Mr. Newsom to veto the bill, which they said would increase harassment and assaults on officers.
“Comparing them to ‘secret police’ — likening them to the Gestapo — is despicable,” Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the department, said in a statement. “Once again, sanctuary politicians are trying to outlaw officers wearing masks to protect themselves from being doxed and targeted by known and suspected terrorist sympathizers.”

As Hopium community members did by passing resolutions of condemnation in Johnson County, Iowa and Easthampton, Massachusetts:

EASTHAMPTON — The City Council passed a resolution defending democracy and the U.S. Constitution this week, accusing the Trump administration of disregarding separation of powers and urging state legislators to continue to push back against the president’s leadership.
Though the measure passed by an 6-1 vote, the one dissenting voice and a member of the public said the council should not make such declarations on behalf of everyone in the city when not everyone agrees.
Council President James “JP” Kwiecinski put forth the “Resolution in Support of Democracy and A Call for the Return to the Constitutional Principles that are the Foundation of our Republic,” for immediate consideration at last council meeting on Sept. 3. He submitted the proposal for immediate consideration to try and get the resolution passed before Constitution Day on Sept. 17, seeking to honor the document that serves as the fundamental law of the United States.
This action drew discontent from multiple residents after it was put on the agenda within 48 hours of the meeting, leaving little time for the public to see it. The resolution was ultimately sent to the Rules and Government Regulations committee for consideration, which voted 2-1 to send it back to the council for Wednesday’s meeting that coincided with Constitution Day.
Overall, the resolution condemns many recent actions by President Donald Trump, claiming the president has recently violated many core principals of the Constitution. The resolution asks state legislators to continue legislative action against his administration.
The first four sections of the resolution reinforce the integrity of democracy in the U.S., refencing the significance of the 1780 Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It refers to “key aspects” of that constitution, including the separation of powers, checks and balances, an independent judiciary, and provisions that protect individuals against state power and that are reflected by the U.S. Constitution.
After that, the fifth section begins by stating, “in just seven months, the current President and his appointees have shown disregard for the separation of powers by … ,” then listing 10 accused actions during Trump’s presidency. These actions include disobeying court rulings, attempting to overturn birthright citizenship and withholding congressionally-approved funds.
Continuing on, the proposal also states that Trump and his appointees have done and publicly stated multiple things, including targeting Massachusetts residents through aggressive immigration enforcement, withholding funds from public schools and attempting institutionwide censorship of educational, health care and scientific institutions.

As Hawaiian Supreme Court Justice Todd Eddins in a new opinion this week:

I’ve noticed something interesting in polling this week. While we know that inflation/tariffs/economy is the #1 concern for voters across the country, two state polls that allowed “threat to democracy” to be a “most important issue” option (it often isn’t) found great intensity around the issue:

In California:

In Virginia:

Key issues: Virginia likely voters are asked which issue is top of mind when they think about voting in the upcoming elections. 21% say inflation/cost of living, followed by 18% who say threats to democracy. The next three top issues are evenly split between K-12 education (9%), immigration (9%), and crime (9%).

Top of mind issues vary by party with Republicans fairly split between inflation/cost of living (19%), immigration (18%) and crime (18%). Top issues among Democrats include threats to democracy (32%), inflation/cost of living (20%), and an even split between K-12 education (12%) and healthcare (12%). Most Independents say inflation/cost of living (25%), followed by threats to democracy (17%), and an even split between K-12 education (10%) and crime (10%).

And a reminder that the Exit Polls also found great intensity around “threats to democracy” last year:

It is why the “No Kings” frame has worked so well. The American people are concerned not just about “kitchen table” issues but about Trump’s abandonment of the Constitution and his assault on our rights and freedoms - as would be expected, for we are Americans and fighting for freedom and democracy is what we do.

Now….

Let’s Get To Work Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Support Our November, 2025 Candidates and Yes On 50

Mikie Sherrill NJ Gov (2025) - $250,000 goal, $79k raised - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Watch my new interview with Rep. Sherrill
Abigail Spanberger VA Gov (2025) - $250,000 goal, $194k raised - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Watch my interview with Abigail Spanberger
Yes on 50 (CA) - $50,000 goal - Donate | Learn more, volunteer

Support Our 2026 Candidates

Roy Cooper for NC Senate (2026) - $250,000 goal, $35,000 raised- Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Watch my interview with Gov. Cooper
Jon Ossoff GA Senate (2026) - $250,000 goal, $71k raised - Donate | Learn More | Volunteer | Watch my inspiring new interview with Senator Ossoff
Hopium House 7 (2026) - $250,000 goal, $202k raised - Donate | Learn More, Volunteer | Watch My Interviews With Our Intrepid Incumbents

Support Our Audacious Expansion Fund (2026-2032)

Hopium's Audacious Expansion Fund - Investing in the Democratic Parties of Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Maine, and Texas - $250,000 goal, $30,000 raised - Donate To All Five State Parties | Watch my interviews with Alaska Chair Eric Croft, Florida Chair Nikki Fried, Iowa Chair Rita Hart and Texas Chair Kendall Scudder | Links to be able support each party individually will be up soon and we off to a great start here everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our updated fundraising goals are now for the end of the year, December 31st, except for the 2025 races, which are now for Election Day, 2025.

Take Action, Express Your Love Of Country And Strengthen Our Democracy Through Good Works - We have two recommended actions today:

1 - Call Your Senators and Member Of The House And Demand They Act Upon Our Four-Part Agenda - We need to be loud people, very, very loud and make the case for our our emerging four part agenda. Demand that your reps work to

Roll back Trump’s terrible, illegal tariffs that are re-igniting inflation, driving up prices, shifting the tax burden from the wealthy to working people, hurting small businesses and farmers, reviving tyrannical “taxation without representation,” and alienating governments and people throughout the world
Block the expansion of ICE, restore due process, defend the 1st Amendment, and end the use of the military on our streets and the occupations of our cities (need to revise and update this one, make it bigger)
Fight Trump’s war on science, higher education and our public health; reverse - not delay - the cuts to the ACA and Medicaid; demand the removal of extremist Robert Kennedy from HHS
Stand with Ukraine and our European allies, and far more forcefully challenge Trump’s traitorous efforts to sell out the US and the West to Russia and China

2 - Bring “Resolutions Of Condemnation” To Your Community - Inspired by the tactics of our Founders learn about how Hopium members are advancing “Resolutions of Condemnation” in their communities across the country and consider bringing this initiative to your state, country or city/town. Be sure to check out our new discussion with Deborah Potter and Rachel Poliner who have passed resolutions in New Mexico and Boston, and offer advice on how to get a resolution passed in your own community.

Remarkably, members of this community have passed or are advancing 81 (!!!!) resolution projects in 22 states + DC. Can we get to all 50 states by the fall election?

Finally, please self-report your activities to our daily paid subscriber chat. These reports help inspire all of us to do more and fight harder! Been impressive to see how many of you remain involved in local, in person protests of all kinds in your communities. Great to see!

Let’s keep working hard all for as Robert Frost told us “the best way out is always through” - Simon