A group of us have a healthy habit of reading both Robert’s newsletter and Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American. We see more and more clearly that toxic Republican legislation starts with state legislatures. They have restricted voting rights, reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, access to healthcare and public education, and lifted controls on gun violence.
Robert interviewed Melissa Walker of The States Project, which has identified pivotal states where Democratic majorities in state house chambers can be saved or gained. The States Project’s vehicle is Giving Circles to raise funds for good Democratic candidates in these pivotal states, and these candidates need our financial support by October 3rd to be freed to focus on meeting their voters to help them win on November 8th.
We can do our part in response to the alarms. Some people live in safe blue states or nearly hopeless red states, but all of us want to help where we can make a difference. Please check out our Tending to Democracy Giving Circle: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/1XQhnyD/Tending-To-Democracy
Together, our small dollars can make the winning difference! THANK YOU!
Thank you for this. I get about 20 texts/day from Dem's all over the country asking for donations. Some from the same person 2 or 3 times. (I'm on a fixed SS income, and it's a challenge to decide to whom and when to donate.) The one's I find most distressing say, "I'm not asking for money. I need your opinion on what's important." Then at the end of the survey, they ask for money. And almost every one starts out with something dire. I've resisted texting STOP because I don't want to negatively impact any campaign. But this might be the answer; Then I can STOP with a clear conscience. Thanks again!
Thank you, Robert, for mentioning our group, “Tending to Democracy”. As a Florida resident where our legislature is hopelessly gerrymandered, and where the dictator has made it even more so by his meddling, this giving circle gives me great satisfaction that I am doing something that would actually make a difference. If our contributions can flip a couple of other state legislatures, that would be very rewarding indeed.
The sooner people donate to the States Project Giving Circles the better. The money can be used more effectively if it is given early so that the campaigns can purchase ads (at cheaper rates the earlier they buy them) and hire staff. If they know they have the money they can plan.
Also, voting by mail starts BEFORE Election Day!!! So it is extremely important to support Democrats NOW not later! ;-)) Btw, I just donated $50 to the Tending to Democracy giving circle; helped to put them of the $3k mark on their effort to raise $7.5k . . . every little bit helps!
Thank you, Robert, for highlighting this path to effective action. With today's necessary attention on our federal government, we also cannot lose sight of the state legislatures!
Ellie, While I agree and have joined the group, I simply would add, because Republicans ruthlessly are organizing to fill state and local positions with their own people—people who don’t believe in free and fair elections, we also have to remain laser-focused on governorships, Secretaries of State, state A.G.s, and the like. I also understand projects are underway in select states to prevent Republicans from attaining trifecta control—control of both legislative state houses and the governorship.
I'd love the elimination of trifectas-I live in NH. which currently has a Republican QUADRAFECTA -the 4th branch is the Executive Council composed of 5 members who give the governor information about concerns AND can approve/disapprove distribution of monies that involve the state. A perfect example is the current disapproval of monies to support women's health care centers and the Republican majority has voted this down FOUR times this year. (NO abortion issues involved.) There are 4 Republican Men and one Democratic woman member of the Council. That one woman has decades of knowledge regarding health care matters.
Ellie, Though you weren’t addressing me, I, nonetheless, appreciated receiving your note. While I had thought New Hampshire would be on the list, in light of Barbara R’s comment, the validation was most welcomed.
Barbara, Were I a strategist noting that New Hampshire has both a Republican trifecta and a Republican triplex (Republicans holding the positions of Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State), I aggressively would seek out the state’s most vulnerable incumbents and allocate the bulk of the Party’s human and monetary resources to defeating those candidates. That said, I imagine, as a battleground state, New Hampshire is receiving a fair amount of out-of-state support and methodically distributing those resources. The trick, of course, is for Democrats to outsmart the Republicans, and that takes strategic planning and a galvanized base. I would start by enlisting dejected women.
Very helpful since it is very hard for me to get my meager funds to the places they will do the most good, at the state level. Of course, my main goal is at least two more Dem senators and riding Texas of the vermin running a great state into the ground.
A bit off topic, but relative to other newsletters.
There was a great interview today (Tuesday, August 9) of Chuck Schumer, by Judy Woodruff, on PBS Newshour. She tried (rudely, imo) questioning him on recent legislation saying things like “Wouldn’t it have been better if you had done this sooner?” And he really pushed back. It was great to see. I recommend searching it out if you have not seen it, just to watch this segment.
Let's acknowledge that Garland has a full plate or two here with unprecedented heapings of the highest levels criminal behavior, at the highest level of American government, while we patiently plea for haste. And perfection. Nothing less will do. Failure is not an option.
These years since 2016 have been an emotional roller coaster on so many levels, for so many reasons. It’s tiring, yet i’m so grateful for your newsletter that keeps us focused on the hope that is our democracy and the fact that so many people in so many places are doing good things.
Thinking about the "Dark Brandon" thing, we need to co-opt Witch Hunt into something like "Lock the Witch up" or something from Wizard of Oz about the Wicked Witch thing -- wasn't there a chant of some sort? And re: their threat to investigate Garland and the FBI, we should take that away, too, with something like "Investigate apple pie" or "Investigate the Tooth Fairy." Let's turn all their memes and outrageous statements upside down and against them.
Robert, I agree that we need to get the word out that IRA is a victory. Here's one action I'm taking - respond to GOP lies on Twitter with a contradiction. I thought of this because. I heard a Brian Tyler Cohen piece where he showed Sen. Scott trying to lie about what it meant (War Against Seniors - have they no shame!) and getting called out on Face the Nation. So I went to Scott's twitter account and sure enough, lie after lie. So, hoping to reach some of his followers, I responded to each of the posts with a brief contradiction. And one of them (answering that the Dems Cut Medicare in the Middle of the NIght) got retweeted once so far. "Scott followers: please get the facts before you buy this lie. E.g., the Act doesn't cut Medicare - it allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices and save money. NOT THE SAME! It also caps insulin $ for seniors on Medicare. Ask Sen. Scott why he voted agains this cap for others!." Responding respectfully to their lies with the truth might reach some of the GOP followers. I hope. Blessings,
I'm glad Merrick Garland recognizes the fact that Trump is a threat to our Country and we're finally seeing some effort by the DOJ. As you noted, Robert, if Trump had not issued a statement, the court-approved search of Trumps residence would have remained below the public radar. But instead, Trump is trying to weaponize his victimhood - and rile up his white Christian supremacist fanatics to attack (verbally and, w/out saying so directly, physically) the FBI and the federal government. I do hope the Secret Service has beefed up the security detail around President Biden as well as throughly vetted its agents to make 100% there are no potential threats on the inside.
We must remember that Hitler was imprisoned for 5 years for treason, only to serve 9 months before being released for political reasons. During that time, he dictated Mein Kampf and used his "victim" status to enhance his effort to eventually take over the German government.
I am hopeful that DOJ's investigation and search turns up sufficient evidence of criminal activity (including criminal actions other than the original purpose of the search (i.e. sedition)) so that Trump spends the rest of his miserable days in a high security Federal Penitentiary.
With each new revelation of another betrayal of the Constitution and the American people, another sub-plot to recruit people to overturn the 2020 election, another attempt to make it harder to vote, another lie about – well, everything; with every new Republican apologist failure to stand up against Trump; with every new Republican false claim about Democrats being out to undermine and destroy our democracy (ironically, rendered in a way that outlines exactly what today’s Republican Party is actually doing) the urgency increases to stop this subterfuge before Trump and his minions figure out some other way to outrun justice.
The Democrats must leave everything on the field between now and the 2024 elections: Call out every Republican lie, every Republican who fails to vigorously disclaim Trump, every attempt to stop legislation that will level the playing field and make all our lives better simply because Democrats are proposing it. At the same time, Democrats must continue to put forth more and better legislation that will improve the lives of Americans, especially the lives of those who believe the Trump/Republican lies. And, Democrats must shine a bright light on every policy passed that makes better those things that Republicans claimed would become worse. We must give them no place of refuge from the truth.
Here is a question that runs through my head on occasion. Imagining that hardcore Trump supporters will never believe any search or eventual legal accountability, and reading the disgraceful response of Minority Leader McCarthy the question(s) is: Will this deep divide eventually end in an explosive and violent moment for our country? How does this end in a way that brings about accountability and justice as well as healing for our nation?
No. there won't be an explosive and violent moment for our country. Will there by sporadic violence? Possibly. But most Americans just was to make a better life for themselves and their families.
And not prosecuting Trump carries the same threats of sporadic violence, plus a coup.
Thanks Robert. While I agree with your optimism and, in fact, believe we must think in positive terms, keep that mindset and bust our ass to make a difference, Sometimes I find the hardcore willingness to ignore truth, ride with the grievance mentality on the right, hear an Evangelical “Christian” family member offer sound bites and lose my perspective or, at least, wonder about these questions. Better to read you, Heather & Jessica daily and enjoy the great outdoors of Colorado as my wife and I did today. Peace & thanks again.
Republicans and their media mouthpieces sought to eviscerate Hillary Clinton for using her personal email for official business. These same folks should now be called to task for dismissing or excusing Trump's treatment of public records. Expose the hypocrisy in clear and certain terms!
Since he was such a destroyer of documents and the requests for documents were over such a long period of time, isn't it likely all the wanted "evidence" has been destroyed? Or is the orange arrogance likely to have kept them anyway.
In 1954, Thurgood Marshall "had" to include four words to his Brown v Board of Education decision to have it approved. Those words were "with all deliberate speed." While that landmark decision helped thousands of children gain access to schools, ten years passed before "with all deliberate speed" became a reality. Hats off to Robert B. Hubble for including and reminding us about "deliberate speed" in today's newsletter. Given that the wheels of justice turn rather slowly, I suggest we supercharge our legislative "engines" and support the 1/6 committee to insure Mafia Don Trump is indicted sooner than later.
I am far more concerned actually by the revelations of the New Yorker article than anything being speculated about the FBI / DOJ search warrant and execution of the search of Mar-a-Lago. Frankly Trump's disregard for careful handling of classified documents and preservation of records is old news. If this is a surprise to anyone they have not been paying attention. We are already aware that 15 boxes of documents were previously removed from Mar-a-Lago, some classified, quite some time ago. What else may have shown up now is speculation. There are far more serious crimes Trump has committed openly and this is but a trifle compared to a failed coup attempt. It is also not unprecedented and very much analogous to the search of Hillary Clinton's email server and that investigation. I suggest everyone, Republicans, Democrats, and the media all take a step back and wait for real facts and information before speculating on what this search warrant means and its implications.
From reader Dorie Lemieux:
A group of us have a healthy habit of reading both Robert’s newsletter and Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American. We see more and more clearly that toxic Republican legislation starts with state legislatures. They have restricted voting rights, reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, access to healthcare and public education, and lifted controls on gun violence.
Robert interviewed Melissa Walker of The States Project, which has identified pivotal states where Democratic majorities in state house chambers can be saved or gained. The States Project’s vehicle is Giving Circles to raise funds for good Democratic candidates in these pivotal states, and these candidates need our financial support by October 3rd to be freed to focus on meeting their voters to help them win on November 8th.
We can do our part in response to the alarms. Some people live in safe blue states or nearly hopeless red states, but all of us want to help where we can make a difference. Please check out our Tending to Democracy Giving Circle: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/1XQhnyD/Tending-To-Democracy
Together, our small dollars can make the winning difference! THANK YOU!
Thank you for this. I get about 20 texts/day from Dem's all over the country asking for donations. Some from the same person 2 or 3 times. (I'm on a fixed SS income, and it's a challenge to decide to whom and when to donate.) The one's I find most distressing say, "I'm not asking for money. I need your opinion on what's important." Then at the end of the survey, they ask for money. And almost every one starts out with something dire. I've resisted texting STOP because I don't want to negatively impact any campaign. But this might be the answer; Then I can STOP with a clear conscience. Thanks again!
Thank you, Robert, for mentioning our group, “Tending to Democracy”. As a Florida resident where our legislature is hopelessly gerrymandered, and where the dictator has made it even more so by his meddling, this giving circle gives me great satisfaction that I am doing something that would actually make a difference. If our contributions can flip a couple of other state legislatures, that would be very rewarding indeed.
As a fellow Florida resident, I agree !
The sooner people donate to the States Project Giving Circles the better. The money can be used more effectively if it is given early so that the campaigns can purchase ads (at cheaper rates the earlier they buy them) and hire staff. If they know they have the money they can plan.
Also, voting by mail starts BEFORE Election Day!!! So it is extremely important to support Democrats NOW not later! ;-)) Btw, I just donated $50 to the Tending to Democracy giving circle; helped to put them of the $3k mark on their effort to raise $7.5k . . . every little bit helps!
Thank you, Andrew!
Thank you, Robert, for highlighting this path to effective action. With today's necessary attention on our federal government, we also cannot lose sight of the state legislatures!
Ellie, While I agree and have joined the group, I simply would add, because Republicans ruthlessly are organizing to fill state and local positions with their own people—people who don’t believe in free and fair elections, we also have to remain laser-focused on governorships, Secretaries of State, state A.G.s, and the like. I also understand projects are underway in select states to prevent Republicans from attaining trifecta control—control of both legislative state houses and the governorship.
I'd love the elimination of trifectas-I live in NH. which currently has a Republican QUADRAFECTA -the 4th branch is the Executive Council composed of 5 members who give the governor information about concerns AND can approve/disapprove distribution of monies that involve the state. A perfect example is the current disapproval of monies to support women's health care centers and the Republican majority has voted this down FOUR times this year. (NO abortion issues involved.) There are 4 Republican Men and one Democratic woman member of the Council. That one woman has decades of knowledge regarding health care matters.
Good news is that New Hampshire is one of the states currently on The States Project list:
https://statesproject.org/our-states/
Ellie, Though you weren’t addressing me, I, nonetheless, appreciated receiving your note. While I had thought New Hampshire would be on the list, in light of Barbara R’s comment, the validation was most welcomed.
Barbara, Were I a strategist noting that New Hampshire has both a Republican trifecta and a Republican triplex (Republicans holding the positions of Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State), I aggressively would seek out the state’s most vulnerable incumbents and allocate the bulk of the Party’s human and monetary resources to defeating those candidates. That said, I imagine, as a battleground state, New Hampshire is receiving a fair amount of out-of-state support and methodically distributing those resources. The trick, of course, is for Democrats to outsmart the Republicans, and that takes strategic planning and a galvanized base. I would start by enlisting dejected women.
Very helpful since it is very hard for me to get my meager funds to the places they will do the most good, at the state level. Of course, my main goal is at least two more Dem senators and riding Texas of the vermin running a great state into the ground.
A bit off topic, but relative to other newsletters.
There was a great interview today (Tuesday, August 9) of Chuck Schumer, by Judy Woodruff, on PBS Newshour. She tried (rudely, imo) questioning him on recent legislation saying things like “Wouldn’t it have been better if you had done this sooner?” And he really pushed back. It was great to see. I recommend searching it out if you have not seen it, just to watch this segment.
Let's acknowledge that Garland has a full plate or two here with unprecedented heapings of the highest levels criminal behavior, at the highest level of American government, while we patiently plea for haste. And perfection. Nothing less will do. Failure is not an option.
These years since 2016 have been an emotional roller coaster on so many levels, for so many reasons. It’s tiring, yet i’m so grateful for your newsletter that keeps us focused on the hope that is our democracy and the fact that so many people in so many places are doing good things.
Thinking about the "Dark Brandon" thing, we need to co-opt Witch Hunt into something like "Lock the Witch up" or something from Wizard of Oz about the Wicked Witch thing -- wasn't there a chant of some sort? And re: their threat to investigate Garland and the FBI, we should take that away, too, with something like "Investigate apple pie" or "Investigate the Tooth Fairy." Let's turn all their memes and outrageous statements upside down and against them.
Does the Medicare part d drug loophole go away under the new inflation reduction act?
Does the Medicare part d drug loophole go away under the new inflation reduction act?
Robert, I agree that we need to get the word out that IRA is a victory. Here's one action I'm taking - respond to GOP lies on Twitter with a contradiction. I thought of this because. I heard a Brian Tyler Cohen piece where he showed Sen. Scott trying to lie about what it meant (War Against Seniors - have they no shame!) and getting called out on Face the Nation. So I went to Scott's twitter account and sure enough, lie after lie. So, hoping to reach some of his followers, I responded to each of the posts with a brief contradiction. And one of them (answering that the Dems Cut Medicare in the Middle of the NIght) got retweeted once so far. "Scott followers: please get the facts before you buy this lie. E.g., the Act doesn't cut Medicare - it allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices and save money. NOT THE SAME! It also caps insulin $ for seniors on Medicare. Ask Sen. Scott why he voted agains this cap for others!." Responding respectfully to their lies with the truth might reach some of the GOP followers. I hope. Blessings,
I'm glad Merrick Garland recognizes the fact that Trump is a threat to our Country and we're finally seeing some effort by the DOJ. As you noted, Robert, if Trump had not issued a statement, the court-approved search of Trumps residence would have remained below the public radar. But instead, Trump is trying to weaponize his victimhood - and rile up his white Christian supremacist fanatics to attack (verbally and, w/out saying so directly, physically) the FBI and the federal government. I do hope the Secret Service has beefed up the security detail around President Biden as well as throughly vetted its agents to make 100% there are no potential threats on the inside.
We must remember that Hitler was imprisoned for 5 years for treason, only to serve 9 months before being released for political reasons. During that time, he dictated Mein Kampf and used his "victim" status to enhance his effort to eventually take over the German government.
I am hopeful that DOJ's investigation and search turns up sufficient evidence of criminal activity (including criminal actions other than the original purpose of the search (i.e. sedition)) so that Trump spends the rest of his miserable days in a high security Federal Penitentiary.
With each new revelation of another betrayal of the Constitution and the American people, another sub-plot to recruit people to overturn the 2020 election, another attempt to make it harder to vote, another lie about – well, everything; with every new Republican apologist failure to stand up against Trump; with every new Republican false claim about Democrats being out to undermine and destroy our democracy (ironically, rendered in a way that outlines exactly what today’s Republican Party is actually doing) the urgency increases to stop this subterfuge before Trump and his minions figure out some other way to outrun justice.
The Democrats must leave everything on the field between now and the 2024 elections: Call out every Republican lie, every Republican who fails to vigorously disclaim Trump, every attempt to stop legislation that will level the playing field and make all our lives better simply because Democrats are proposing it. At the same time, Democrats must continue to put forth more and better legislation that will improve the lives of Americans, especially the lives of those who believe the Trump/Republican lies. And, Democrats must shine a bright light on every policy passed that makes better those things that Republicans claimed would become worse. We must give them no place of refuge from the truth.
I took your advice to subscribe to Chop Wood, Carry Water and am glad I did. I love that she gives specific things we can do to further our goals. Beyond that, the link to this article was heartening: https://www.thedailybeast.com/dark-brandon-or-how-the-left-stopped-worrying-and-learned-to-love-joe-bidens-alter-ego-lets-go-brandon?ref=scroll We are on the offense! Let's keep running up the score!
Here is a question that runs through my head on occasion. Imagining that hardcore Trump supporters will never believe any search or eventual legal accountability, and reading the disgraceful response of Minority Leader McCarthy the question(s) is: Will this deep divide eventually end in an explosive and violent moment for our country? How does this end in a way that brings about accountability and justice as well as healing for our nation?
No. there won't be an explosive and violent moment for our country. Will there by sporadic violence? Possibly. But most Americans just was to make a better life for themselves and their families.
And not prosecuting Trump carries the same threats of sporadic violence, plus a coup.
See Dan Rather as well: https://steady.substack.com/p/the-fbi-comes-a-knockin?r=39h2h&utm_medium=ios
Thanks Robert. While I agree with your optimism and, in fact, believe we must think in positive terms, keep that mindset and bust our ass to make a difference, Sometimes I find the hardcore willingness to ignore truth, ride with the grievance mentality on the right, hear an Evangelical “Christian” family member offer sound bites and lose my perspective or, at least, wonder about these questions. Better to read you, Heather & Jessica daily and enjoy the great outdoors of Colorado as my wife and I did today. Peace & thanks again.
Republicans and their media mouthpieces sought to eviscerate Hillary Clinton for using her personal email for official business. These same folks should now be called to task for dismissing or excusing Trump's treatment of public records. Expose the hypocrisy in clear and certain terms!
Since he was such a destroyer of documents and the requests for documents were over such a long period of time, isn't it likely all the wanted "evidence" has been destroyed? Or is the orange arrogance likely to have kept them anyway.
In 1954, Thurgood Marshall "had" to include four words to his Brown v Board of Education decision to have it approved. Those words were "with all deliberate speed." While that landmark decision helped thousands of children gain access to schools, ten years passed before "with all deliberate speed" became a reality. Hats off to Robert B. Hubble for including and reminding us about "deliberate speed" in today's newsletter. Given that the wheels of justice turn rather slowly, I suggest we supercharge our legislative "engines" and support the 1/6 committee to insure Mafia Don Trump is indicted sooner than later.
I am far more concerned actually by the revelations of the New Yorker article than anything being speculated about the FBI / DOJ search warrant and execution of the search of Mar-a-Lago. Frankly Trump's disregard for careful handling of classified documents and preservation of records is old news. If this is a surprise to anyone they have not been paying attention. We are already aware that 15 boxes of documents were previously removed from Mar-a-Lago, some classified, quite some time ago. What else may have shown up now is speculation. There are far more serious crimes Trump has committed openly and this is but a trifle compared to a failed coup attempt. It is also not unprecedented and very much analogous to the search of Hillary Clinton's email server and that investigation. I suggest everyone, Republicans, Democrats, and the media all take a step back and wait for real facts and information before speculating on what this search warrant means and its implications.