I don’t get how that section of Cuban voters still supports him. Did they leave Cuba because it’s a failed authoritarian state? Are they supporting the same failure here because they’re used to it or because they don’t see this is the same road?
Thank you for including my state House race in this! I was proud to vote for Representative-elect Gisler yesterday. It's super challenging being in Athens where, both state-wise and federally, we are gerrymandered into feeling like our votes don't matter. But it's truly in campaigns like this (Gisler and his opponent had barely a month to campaign after former Rep. Wiedower resigned) where we see just how much every single vote counts.
Hooray for Athens! That’s my favorite win yesterday because the NC GOP did pretty much exactly the same thing to your somewhat sister city of Asheville, NC. There’s hope yet!
How anyone with a speck of decency can vote for these fascist Republicans anymore is so gobsmackingly appalling that I want to throw my hands up in despair. I have always known that America is far from a "Sweet land of liberty," but until Trump came along and opened the flood gates of hate for all to see, I had no inkling it is a bad as it obviously is.
Last I looked, the 40% wall was still there. Around 40% approval for CaligulusTrumpus -- a little under now, 37% or so in some polls, but the aggregate remains near 40. Until that wall is broken, we have a lot to worry about. As long as there are rural areas still voting for Republicans at percentages in the 70% range, we still have a lot to worry about.
Yes, I know. We have a permanent minority of about a third of the country who remain incorrigible. It is beyond troubling, but a fact we must deal with. Thanks for your comment!
I live just west of Athens, GA in a very red (and historically racist) county, currently represented by Andrew Clyde. On every backcountry road are his revolting signs showing the outline of an AR gun (he owns a gun shop near Athens) encouraging people to re-elect him. They are a big part of that 40% wall.
I so hear you, especially about actual voters. However, I just read Heather Cox Richardson's piece about Morris' piece "Strength in Numbers." I remind myself most people are actually mostly good and that A LOT of the hate is actually driven by bots, or non-US accounts, in addition to "so-called" news that is really only about the $$. It is unfortunate that turmoil gets peoples eyes/time/$$ so much more than joy.
I heard it explained this way yesterday, and the light bulb came on. The Magas are willing to put up with the corruption, failing economy, etc., for the promise of the rise of white supremacy.
In the comments on another Substack, someone indicated that the race won in Georgia wasn't good enough because the margin was so close. So, let me just say that every single win in a Red state where the district went for Trump is a big win. Margins don't really matter in the grand scheme of things when there is a win. Closer margins do matter when the GOP wins because it indicates a change. Every single seat we win, regardless of the margin, in a Red district is a huge win. And, the fact that these states were gerrymandered to prevent this is even better. I responded just this to the commenter because wins are cumulative. Every single seat counts so...thank you for reminding us!
We also had a win in Roswell, Georgia last week. Mary Robichaux won the runoff for mayor for Roswell. Much smaller number of voters and not officially a partisan race, but Mary is a Democrat who had previously been in the Georgia House of Representatives and Governor Kemp had endorsed the current incumbent. Small peanuts, but still a Democrat victory.
I don't see how Trump going out and telling people that "affordability" is a Democratic scam in going to help people walking out of the grocery store depressed at how much less they can afford.
I can tell you how - I have a maga in my sphere. They have enough money that they don't actually even look at the bill, they just pay it. And stay loyal to the cult. Edited to add - they aren't super rich, but have just enough that there's no pain at the grocery store, restaurant, online shopping.
While this is all welcome good news, I remain disappointed that it apparently takes an environment *this bad* to motivate voters to finally do the right thing. The American voter’s willingness to be distracted by shiny objects or the price of eggs leaves me skeptical that we will be willing to do the hard work necessary over the long term to repair the damage caused by the Trump administration.
We are always doomsters, always looking for the gray lining in every silver cloud, which is part of the reason it can be hard for us to win. WE don't believe — THEY do.
Thank you. We are the perfect enemy of the perfect. One issue, everything must be perfect for us the most perfect people to vote perfectly. Yes they do belive and we don't. You summed it up really well. Let's vote and let's help others to vote.
Talking to friends, family, neighbors and acquaintances has been found to be the most effective way to get people to vote and to vote for us. They trust people they know more than TV ads or podcasts.
For sure, if the Democrats ever again secure the "trifecta," we will have to accomplish a lot, both to make it stick, and to improve the quality of life enough for voters to want to continue with a Democratic agenda.
Frankly, I don't have a lot of hope. Even when you look at the more settled countries in Europe, they are in flux. I fear the world has reached a point of unsustainability
I live in Europe for the most part with a EU residency. It may seem certain EU nations are in flux but reality is very different from ours. The strong social safety net is strongly supported, with a far better educated pooulation.
Super article by you. Lots of details. Trump knows that his support is falling apart and he is going to do BIG ILLEGAL ACTIONS WITH GREAT FREQUENCY to fill up the airwaves to shut out processing of Epstein files and his criminat behaviors. Reporting that afforability is a fake issue is Trump response to big shares of MAGA cullt members now recognizing that (1) the prices they pay are skyrockted and (2) Trump's tarriff wars ang extortions that he is requiring to be paid by other nations is the cause. Thank you for your column!
I swear at the rate things are going just shy of the entire GOP is gonna be retiring by the midterms and I am HERE FOR IT. The cult is collapsing almost as fast as the decaying orange is.
As a retired historian I hate to think about 2026. I am hopeful, but with all this ICE activity in blue cities I could see this NAZI administration using any protests to declare martial law in say September 2026 and use to cancel elections and the spineless Supreme Court letting them do it.
Robert Hubbell reminds us that if there are no elections, there will be no House of Representatives to swear in and one-third of the Senate will no longer hold their seats.
Of course, some other heinous thing could change that situation, too, i guess.
Agree completely, Bob. As the chaos ratchets up, the cornered vermin in this administration will take more and more extreme measures to impose order. If the military goes along, we're toast.
From my reading, if he'd invoke the Insurrection Act, that would be enough to quash the elections. A pretext for doing so could be fabricated fairly easily, IMO. After all, ICE is arresting people now by making up lies that those people tried to hit agents with their cars. Thus far, the charges don't seem to be sticking, in the majority of cases, but the chilling effect could be contagious.
Charlie Sykes just published a column and podcast about Bondi's new definition of "domestic terrorism" that's frightening.
And Albuquerque, New Mexico, where a relatively unpopular 2 term incumbent Dem mayor, Tim Keller soundly defeated a MAGA GOP funded challenger for an historic 3rd term.
It’s nice to see these type of shifts and results in these special elections, those of this past November, and a few special elections over late summer. But, and a big but, I’ll believe it when I see it in November 2026. When Democrats aren’t busy clutching their pearls they go opposite and get overly optimistic. Clinton 2016, Harris 2024. Not a pessimist, just a realist with some historical perspective.
This is much needed good news after yesterday's write up, I do hope Orange continues his tyrannical nonsensical messaging as it appears some, at least, are not buying his BS.
"Let’s keep them all in our thoughts and prayers through these difficult times."
Heh heh heh.
Loved the snark. So well deserved.
GO BLUE TSU!!!
One thought or one prayer, pick one.
I don’t get how that section of Cuban voters still supports him. Did they leave Cuba because it’s a failed authoritarian state? Are they supporting the same failure here because they’re used to it or because they don’t see this is the same road?
I don't get it either. Maybe they don't consider themselves "Hispanic"?
Thank you for including my state House race in this! I was proud to vote for Representative-elect Gisler yesterday. It's super challenging being in Athens where, both state-wise and federally, we are gerrymandered into feeling like our votes don't matter. But it's truly in campaigns like this (Gisler and his opponent had barely a month to campaign after former Rep. Wiedower resigned) where we see just how much every single vote counts.
Hooray for Athens! That’s my favorite win yesterday because the NC GOP did pretty much exactly the same thing to your somewhat sister city of Asheville, NC. There’s hope yet!
How anyone with a speck of decency can vote for these fascist Republicans anymore is so gobsmackingly appalling that I want to throw my hands up in despair. I have always known that America is far from a "Sweet land of liberty," but until Trump came along and opened the flood gates of hate for all to see, I had no inkling it is a bad as it obviously is.
Last I looked, the 40% wall was still there. Around 40% approval for CaligulusTrumpus -- a little under now, 37% or so in some polls, but the aggregate remains near 40. Until that wall is broken, we have a lot to worry about. As long as there are rural areas still voting for Republicans at percentages in the 70% range, we still have a lot to worry about.
Yes, I know. We have a permanent minority of about a third of the country who remain incorrigible. It is beyond troubling, but a fact we must deal with. Thanks for your comment!
I live just west of Athens, GA in a very red (and historically racist) county, currently represented by Andrew Clyde. On every backcountry road are his revolting signs showing the outline of an AR gun (he owns a gun shop near Athens) encouraging people to re-elect him. They are a big part of that 40% wall.
Yikes. Annoying. I'm in Atlanta. Kind of a blue island.
I so hear you, especially about actual voters. However, I just read Heather Cox Richardson's piece about Morris' piece "Strength in Numbers." I remind myself most people are actually mostly good and that A LOT of the hate is actually driven by bots, or non-US accounts, in addition to "so-called" news that is really only about the $$. It is unfortunate that turmoil gets peoples eyes/time/$$ so much more than joy.
I heard it explained this way yesterday, and the light bulb came on. The Magas are willing to put up with the corruption, failing economy, etc., for the promise of the rise of white supremacy.
"Thoughts and prayers"-ing so hard for their "blessed hearts."
In the comments on another Substack, someone indicated that the race won in Georgia wasn't good enough because the margin was so close. So, let me just say that every single win in a Red state where the district went for Trump is a big win. Margins don't really matter in the grand scheme of things when there is a win. Closer margins do matter when the GOP wins because it indicates a change. Every single seat we win, regardless of the margin, in a Red district is a huge win. And, the fact that these states were gerrymandered to prevent this is even better. I responded just this to the commenter because wins are cumulative. Every single seat counts so...thank you for reminding us!
We also had a win in Roswell, Georgia last week. Mary Robichaux won the runoff for mayor for Roswell. Much smaller number of voters and not officially a partisan race, but Mary is a Democrat who had previously been in the Georgia House of Representatives and Governor Kemp had endorsed the current incumbent. Small peanuts, but still a Democrat victory.
Woo hoo, Andy! Congrats to Mary and Roswell! Well done!!!!! 💙
Every peanut counts to make a yummy Pad Thai sauce. Way to go Andy.
I don't see how Trump going out and telling people that "affordability" is a Democratic scam in going to help people walking out of the grocery store depressed at how much less they can afford.
I can tell you how - I have a maga in my sphere. They have enough money that they don't actually even look at the bill, they just pay it. And stay loyal to the cult. Edited to add - they aren't super rich, but have just enough that there's no pain at the grocery store, restaurant, online shopping.
Yes, exactly that. People who are hurting will probably do not vote much to begin with.
While this is all welcome good news, I remain disappointed that it apparently takes an environment *this bad* to motivate voters to finally do the right thing. The American voter’s willingness to be distracted by shiny objects or the price of eggs leaves me skeptical that we will be willing to do the hard work necessary over the long term to repair the damage caused by the Trump administration.
We are always doomsters, always looking for the gray lining in every silver cloud, which is part of the reason it can be hard for us to win. WE don't believe — THEY do.
Thank you. We are the perfect enemy of the perfect. One issue, everything must be perfect for us the most perfect people to vote perfectly. Yes they do belive and we don't. You summed it up really well. Let's vote and let's help others to vote.
Talking to friends, family, neighbors and acquaintances has been found to be the most effective way to get people to vote and to vote for us. They trust people they know more than TV ads or podcasts.
For sure, if the Democrats ever again secure the "trifecta," we will have to accomplish a lot, both to make it stick, and to improve the quality of life enough for voters to want to continue with a Democratic agenda.
Frankly, I don't have a lot of hope. Even when you look at the more settled countries in Europe, they are in flux. I fear the world has reached a point of unsustainability
I live in Europe for the most part with a EU residency. It may seem certain EU nations are in flux but reality is very different from ours. The strong social safety net is strongly supported, with a far better educated pooulation.
Super article by you. Lots of details. Trump knows that his support is falling apart and he is going to do BIG ILLEGAL ACTIONS WITH GREAT FREQUENCY to fill up the airwaves to shut out processing of Epstein files and his criminat behaviors. Reporting that afforability is a fake issue is Trump response to big shares of MAGA cullt members now recognizing that (1) the prices they pay are skyrockted and (2) Trump's tarriff wars ang extortions that he is requiring to be paid by other nations is the cause. Thank you for your column!
I swear at the rate things are going just shy of the entire GOP is gonna be retiring by the midterms and I am HERE FOR IT. The cult is collapsing almost as fast as the decaying orange is.
That last paragraph is hilarious, thanks!
LOVE the last line!
All very pleasant news; but I will believe in a 2026 election only when I have my "I Voted"sticker on my shirt.
Not until the polls close, votes are counted and certified. But that’s me. 😳
As a retired historian I hate to think about 2026. I am hopeful, but with all this ICE activity in blue cities I could see this NAZI administration using any protests to declare martial law in say September 2026 and use to cancel elections and the spineless Supreme Court letting them do it.
You are not alone in your concerns.
Robert Hubbell reminds us that if there are no elections, there will be no House of Representatives to swear in and one-third of the Senate will no longer hold their seats.
Of course, some other heinous thing could change that situation, too, i guess.
Thank you. For every naysaying martial law theorist, Robert Hubbell is a must read.
Every Blue city is fighting back and winning. Keep on pushing the martial law narrative and all will be fine. Please read Robert Hubbell if you can.
Read him every day and quote him frequently.
Agree completely, Bob. As the chaos ratchets up, the cornered vermin in this administration will take more and more extreme measures to impose order. If the military goes along, we're toast.
My fear is martial law will be declared in late summer 2026 and maybe the end of free and fair elections.
From my reading, if he'd invoke the Insurrection Act, that would be enough to quash the elections. A pretext for doing so could be fabricated fairly easily, IMO. After all, ICE is arresting people now by making up lies that those people tried to hit agents with their cars. Thus far, the charges don't seem to be sticking, in the majority of cases, but the chilling effect could be contagious.
Charlie Sykes just published a column and podcast about Bondi's new definition of "domestic terrorism" that's frightening.
https://charliesykes.substack.com/p/pam-bondi-is-coming-for-domestic
And Albuquerque, New Mexico, where a relatively unpopular 2 term incumbent Dem mayor, Tim Keller soundly defeated a MAGA GOP funded challenger for an historic 3rd term.
Yippee, Burque! Well done! 🌶️💙🌶️💙🌶️
It’s nice to see these type of shifts and results in these special elections, those of this past November, and a few special elections over late summer. But, and a big but, I’ll believe it when I see it in November 2026. When Democrats aren’t busy clutching their pearls they go opposite and get overly optimistic. Clinton 2016, Harris 2024. Not a pessimist, just a realist with some historical perspective.
This is much needed good news after yesterday's write up, I do hope Orange continues his tyrannical nonsensical messaging as it appears some, at least, are not buying his BS.