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Greetings all. This episode is a recording of Tuesday's conversation with our dear friend Jane Kleeb, Chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, President of the Association of State Democratic Committees, and Vice Chair of the DNC. We cover a lot of ground in this interview - the state of play in Nebraska, the rise of “prairie populism” that it is helping Democrats be more competitive in the heartland than we’ve been in many, many years, and the importance of rebuilding the state parties so we can compete all across the country not just in the traditional Presidential battleground states. Jane and I also talk about how the rise of grassroots fundraising in the Democratic Party is allowing more regular people to run for office and win, and our work together building ⁠The New Battlefield Project⁠, a Hopium-inspired project that was launched by the state parties to drive the early vote, protect our elections, and ensure a peaceful transfer of power next year. Keep working hard everyone - Simon

Greetings everyone. On Monday I asked our good friend Rep. Adam Smith to come by to share his thoughts on recent events in Ukraine, the Middle East, and here at home. He had just been on a call with President Zelenskyy. With 15 days to go we need to drive up the early vote, run up the score, flip the House and Senate, and then get on with making things better and putting things right. One of those most responsible for putting things right will be Congressman Adam Smith, and I encourage you to listen to his thoughts about how we should be approaching the next few years given all the damage Trump has done to this great country and our place in the world. Keep working hard all - Simon

Greetings all. Here's a recording from Friday's live discussion with our good friend Rita Hart, Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party. This is a year of extraordinary opportunity of us in Iowa. Great candidates, a betrayed electorate, lots of momentum, and a very strong state party. Now let's help Chair Hart finish the job! "We've got a couple weeks left here and every day matters. We've got to drive this vote in. We cannot expect that because the polls are good and because people are saying this is going to be good for us that we have a handle on this until every vote is cast. So we're taking that very seriously. I can tell you that there's a lot of momentum. Our early voting did start on the 14th. We've got very hefty numbers there. We're really pushing to get even larger numbers. In fact, today I'm at the University of Northern Iowa campus." "Last year when we had our special elections we were able to flip some seats by more than 20 points. We know that we can win anywhere in the state of Iowa if we have candidates that people can trust. That they feel are listening to them, are centered on actual solutions to the problems that exist. And that we have an organizing effort and the resources to continue that effort right until the end." To help Rita and the good Democrats of Iowa seize this opportunity, donate today to our ⁠Winning Iowa Fund⁠ which splits a contribution three ways - Josh Turek for U.S. Senate, Rob Sand for Iowa Governor, and the Iowa Democratic Party. This community has invested more money in Iowa than any other state this cycle and now we need to finish the job, together! - Simon

Friends, I’m excited to share a new recorded interview with U.S. House candidate Randy Villegas, who as you will hear in this episode is a formidable candidate in a strong position to flip CA-22 blue. "I am a son of the Central Valley. You know, I'm the son of immigrants from Mexico. My dad from Michoacán, my mom from Guerrero. Actually, that's my mom right here in the blue dress [Randy points to photo]. And you know, I grew up here in Bakersfield, California in a working class family. I grew up working. I was the first in my family to graduate from college and university at Bakersfield College, CSUB, and by the grace of God, I got a full-ride scholarship to get my PhD at UC Santa Cruz. I came back to the Central Valley to give back to the communities that gave my family and I so many opportunities. I became a professor at the age of 25 at a local community college, College of the Sequoias. I found myself serving on the school board shortly thereafter. I was elected in ‘22, re-elected and proud of the work that we've done to increase graduation rates and also increase salaries and wages for our teachers, our bus drivers, our custodians, you know, some of the first faces students see every single day. And today I'm running for Congress because all the programs that I grew that allowed me to get to where I am –– programs like Medi-Cal and SNAP and WIC are all being gutted by my opponent [David Valadao], this administration, to go give $1.1 trillion in tax cuts to the wealthiest people in this country. And that is money that needs to be coming back here instead and puts work on behalf of our communities." Friends, enjoy Randy's update, and let’s do what we can to help bring this inspiring leader to Washington next year. Please share our conversation with others, throw a contribution his way, and keep working hard everyone. We have a country to save, and elections like this one in CA-22 to win this November, together! - Simon

Greetings everyone. Scheduled for today is a recording of the live discussion held yesterday with Manny Rutinel, who is running to flip CO-8. Our discussion is a reminder of why he is a formidable candidate in a very strong position to win. In the past few days Republicans have moved money from other losing races and redirected them into a handful of close races - including this one in Colorado. The incumbent here, freshman Rep. Gabe Evans, won this seat by fewer than 2,500 votes in 2024, one of the smallest margins of any GOP wins last cycle. "You know, I chatted with the DCCC a few weeks ago, and they told me that our campaign had knocked on more doors than any other House race in the country. And so that's how we fight back against the misinformation and lies that they're trying to spread on the airwaves –– by being in the district, showing up to the fairs, to the festivals, to the churches, to the quinceañeras, to make sure that folks understand that I'm there fighting for them to lower gas prices by putting an end to this forever war in Iran, lowering grocery prices by putting an end to these corrupt, chaotic tariff policies, and of course, reversing the cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Because right now hundreds of thousands of Coloradans are getting kicked off their health care." You can support Manny Rutinel today by making a contribution to our core ⁠Winning The House - Stake In The Ground Fund⁠ or by giving to his campaign directly. Friends, share this interview with others, throw a contribution Manny’s way, and keep working hard all. We have a country to save, and elections like this one in CO-8 to win this November, together! - Simon

Greetings all. We got another inflation report this morning, and it was really, really bad. The Producer Price Index, measuring what businesses pay for things, rose a staggering 1.3% in September, more than double what forecasters had expected. This gauge of inflation has now risen 6.3% over the past year, more than three times the Fed target for inflation. Let’s now review some updated graphs of both PPI and CPI (the main inflation measure) under Trump. They are remarkable visualizations of what a profound failure Trump has been, and why we must collectively and forcefully take the keys away from him in the coming months. For when Trump came to office inflation was nearing the 2% Fed target in all three major gauges of inflation. In essence inflation had been conquered, and Trump reignited it through tariffs, mass deportation, reckless fiscal policies, and the war, causing misery for workers, farmers, and small businesses across the country. Find the remainder of my written analysis today and keep working hard everyone - Simon

Greetings all. Excited to share a new discussion I hosted earlier today with Sherrod Brown, who is in a very strong position to flip the Ohio Senate seat currently held by Jon Husted. This is an important and timely conversation for it’s clear that as the national map has deteriorated for Senate Republicans they’ve decided to make a stand in Ohio and will end up spending close to $300 million in Ohio this year... "I was with the member of Congress, Shontel Brown, from the East Side of Cleveland. We're in Cleveland right now. I just spoke at a union hall a minute ago with about 300 people. And Shontel I was with about a week before the early vote started. Probably late September in the basement of a very prominent church –– she said that her goal is 2,500 people in the early vote on day one in Cleveland alone. We have blown past that. And we're seeing that in Columbus. We're seeing it in the big metropolitan areas with large Black populations. But we're seeing it all kinds of places, even in Republican counties. And it's our side that's voting early. Doesn't mean their side won't vote. But the enthusiasm, this is what's so important. Simon, I know you've made this case. Enthusiasm is on our side, and unfortunately, it wasn't two years ago. This time it’s on our side. Their side is disappointed, discouraged and betrayed. So many voted for Trump in those rural areas, 70+ percent. But they voted for him partly because he wasn't going to start a war. They voted for him because he was going to bring prices down, he promised. And the exact opposites happened." Friends, enjoy this update from Sherrod Brown, share the interview with others, consider donating to help us win in Ohio, and keep working hard everyone. For we have a country to save, and elections like this one in Ohio to win, together! - Simon

Greetings all. Our dear friend Anderson Clayton, the chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, joined us yesterday from Charlotte, having just left the Davidson College campus. What you'll hear in our discussion is what muscular and ambitious state parties under the guidance of strong and committed leaders like Anderson are capable of. Like Wisconsin, North Carolina is one of the most gerrymandered states in the country, and its Republican leaders are as illiberal as any set of Republicans in the country. Anderson’s multi-year plan has been to make down-ballot gains including taking the Governorship and re-electing state Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs in 2024, electing Roy Cooper, making additional gains, and keeping Justice Anita Earls in 2026. This will give Anderson and the NC Dems the chance to pick up at least two of the Supreme Court seats in 2028, flipping the court to Democratic control, ending the gerrymander, adopting fair maps, and seizing back control of the state legislatures in advance of the 2032 redistricting. Friends, please consider donating today to our ⁠Winning North Carolina⁠ fund which splits a contribution three ways - Roy Cooper for U.S. Senate, Chair Clayton and the NC Dems, and Anita Earls for state Supreme Court. Together we’ve made great strides with Anderson and the North Carolina Dems and now we need to help them close strong and, as Anderson says, win this thing in October!

Greetings all. Excited to share a new interview with one of the very best party chairs in the country, our good friend Charlie Bailey, chair of the Georgia Democrats. In 2018, Republicans won their statewide races in Georgia by 1-3 points after having had a 4 point lead in primary ballots. This time Democrats head into the November elections with an 8 point lead, 12 points better than 2018. Charlie updates us on the Ossoff Senate race, where the national Republican Party has stopped advertising and Ossoff leads by 9 and 10 points in the last two public polls, the very intense battle for governor, and a whole host of critical down ballot races too, including some against extremist election deniers. I recommend listening to what Charlie says about their preparation for the early vote that starts on Tuesday and their extensive election protection operation, important for a state where Trump has already seized ballots and tried so hard to cheat in 2020. "When you give to the Democratic Party, that is what you are supporting –– infrastructure. I have now, I think, over 30 people on staff just doing voter protection. That's how seriously we take it here. And so we'll be ready for whatever. And our message to people is –– these people, Trump and these others, they want you to think they can take your vote. They can't take your vote. They want you to be intimidated by this. A lot of the stuff they're talking about is flat out illegal. We will go to court. We have got the lawyers ready. This stuff has been pre-briefed. We're ready if need be, but do not be intimidated. That is what they want." Enjoy this interview with another terrific battleground state party chair, share it with others, hit like so more will see it, consider giving to our Winning Georgia Fund today, and keep working hard everyone. We have a country to save, and elections like these in Georgia to win all over the country, together! - Simon

Greetings all. Scheduled for today is a recording from the live discussion held this week with Janelle Stelson, who reported in on her spirited race to flip PA-10. Her third time joining us, Janelle’s update is a reminder of why she is a formidable candidate in a very strong position to win this November. "Something else that I’d like to point out to everyone. Everybody says, “oh, Janelle, you’re going to do this. There’s going to be a big blue wave. People really care about what you have to say.” And I’d like to remind them the last big blue wave, which was in 2018 and saw Pennsylvania make some real gains democratically, did not happen here in PA-10. These are not all folks that are easy to reckon with. You know, in 2018, this area did not flip. It was still Scott Perry. So, you know, we have a big fight ahead of us even in the next couple of weeks." Friends, enjoy this update from Janelle Stelson, one of the very first candidates we endorsed this cycle, and let’s do what we can to help bring her to Washington next year. Please share this interview with others, consider throwing a contribution Janelle’s way, and keep working hard everyone. For we have a country to save, and elections like this one in Pennsylvania to win this November, together! - Simon

Greetings all. Excited to share a new recorded interview with Mary Peltola, who joined us for a final check-in from battleground Alaska. Yes, this cycle we have a very real chance to win in Alaska, a state that Trump won by 13 points in 2024. Leading the way for us there is Peltola, who in a cycle of incredibly talented candidates, is one our very best and most inspiring. I am grateful she took the time in these frenetic closing days to speak to with our community. Enjoy our discussion, friends, and let’s do everything we can to help Mary close strong and win. Keep working hard everyone - Simon

Greetings all. Excited to share with you the recording of the live conversation I held yesterday with our good friend Devon Murphy-Anderson of the Maine Democratic Party. Troy Jackson and Susan Collins had their first of four debates Tuesday night. Here is how Devon saw it: "In case you missed the debate, let me just be the first to tell you that Troy Jackson absolutely won that debate fair and square. He was the Troy Jackson that we all know and love. He was direct. He was genuine. He was authentic. And he made this race exactly what it was supposed to be about the whole time, which was who is going to fight for us working Mainers? And so, what you saw from Troy and what you've been seeing from Troy is that he talks like a Mainer and he fights like a Mainer and he has Maine values — because he is a Mainer. He's not some longtime Washington politician like Susan Collins, who has spent the last 30 years in Washington, D.C., really strengthening her connections with special corporate interests and billionaires. Troy came ready to talk about issues that Mainers actually care about. Susan Collins spent the entire night on that debate stage on her back foot playing defense. And a lot of the night, Susan Collins was really trying to answer to her record. I think it's important for everyone who's watching who's maybe not a Mainer, Simon, to know that this is very new for Susan. She is not used to losing." Enjoy the spirited update from this talented, capable rising star of our party fighting it out in one of our most important battleground states. And friends, share this episode with others, consider supporting our Winning Maine Fund today, and keep working hard all. For we have a country to save, and elections like these in Maine to win all across the country, together! - Simon

Greetings all. Last night the proud, plucky patriots of our remarkable community at Hopium Chronicles gathered for our weekly get together. It was a lively affair, as they usually are. Excited to share my opening remarks today. Keep working hard everyone - Simon

Greetings all. Excited to share an uplifting new discussion with Sarah Trone Garriott from our live event earlier today. This was Sarah’s third time joining us, and as you will hear she is a compelling candidate, a passionate leader, a proven winner in tough districts, and is in a very strong position to flip IA-3 blue this November. "My life has always been about serving my neighbors, helping people solving problems. I was a hospital chaplain. I was a parish pastor. I worked for a food pantry network... I ran for state Senate because I wanted to bring that kind of energy to our state government. That's why I'm running for Congress now. Our neighbors are just so hungry for leaders within integrity, leaders who are showing up for them in Washington. And what they're seeing right now in our current congressman is a guy who took $1.7 million from corporate PACs. Who's voted to cut Medicaid, who voted five times for this war in Iran that's raising gas prices and just destroying the farm economy. A guy who took $50,000 from folks in the Epstein files and then voted against releasing the files. I mean, they can see that he is showing up for big money, for corporate PACs, for his party leaders, but he's not showing up for us. And we're suffering because of it." You can support Sarah today by making a contribution to our core ⁠Winning The House - Stake In The Ground Fund⁠ or by giving to her campaign directly⁠. Friends, please share this interview with others, consider throwing a contribution her way, and keep working hard everyone. We have a country to save, and elections like this one in Iowa to win this November, together! - Simon

Greetings all. Excited to bring you a recording shared over the weekend - the third interview in our series of discussions about winning the trifecta in Wisconsin this November. The first was with Devin Remiker, the talented new Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. The next was with David Crowley, our inspiring candidate for governor in Wisconsin. Today we’re bringing you a spirited conversation we held with Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein and House Minority Leader Greta Neubauer. They are leading the charge to flip the Wisconsin state assembly and state senate and help get us a trifecta there - something that is within our grasp - which would finally, and fully, restore democracy to a state who had seen it taken away by a wildly illiberal set of Republicans leaders and their oligarchical backers. Our community at Hopium Chronicles has invested a great deal of support of this project since we first heard from Ben Wikler in March of 2023. Now, friends, we need to finish the job by donating to our Winning Wisconsin Fund which splits a contribution evenly between David Crowley and the Wisconsin Democrats. Enjoy getting to know these remarkable state legislative leaders, consider supporting their important work today, and keep working hard all. For we have a country to save, and elections like these in Wisconsin, to win, together! - Simon