Simon Rosenberg weighs in on Biden's meeting with Xi, the ZERO-inflation last month, abortion access and the GOP's continued miscalculations, treason and mass deportation.
Published:November 15, 2023
Share
*Published with the generous permission of Simon Rosenberg. Read more of his important work on his Hopium substack.
By Simon Rosenberg
On Tuesday night, once again, the Democrats bailed out House Republicans and helped pass a continuing resolution (CR) which carries over last year’s budget through early next year. To be clear about what this process means - for at least the first four months of this new fiscal year which began on October 1st, the government is required to use last year’s budgets and plans to guide this year’s activities. While this CR was necessary to avoid disaster, that this stop-gap measures goes so far into next year and does not include Ukraine funding is yet another sign of just how dysfunctional and reckless the House GOP has become. The GOP wrecking ball continues to wreck havoc on the Congress and the country.
Meanwhile, the APEC summit kicks into high gear today in San Francisco with a meeting between President Xi of China and President Biden. This is President Xi’s first visit to the US since 2017. Important days ahead for America and the world.
As I sit to write this morning, still thinking about these five stories we’ve been discussing of late:
2023 Has Been A Very Good Year for Democrats - not done with this one yet. Congratulations all. Leaves me very optimistic about 2024. Inflation Was Zero Last Month - to repeat, inflation was zero last month, prices didn’t rise at all, wage growth remains strong, and groceries have only increased by 2.1% over the past year. More signs that we are getting to the other side my friends. More work to do, but congratulations all. This is a big moment in our recovery from the global shocks of COVID and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We are getting to the other side.
For those questioning these results, it’s possible that for many Americans Hamas’ attack on Israel brings back memories of the 9/11 era, and how similar terrorists brought so much harm and trauma to the United States and people all around the world.
Trump’s War on Immigrants and Immigration Is A Big 2024 Problem for Republicans - As someone who has been on the front lines of the immigration battles here in the US over the past 20 years, I remain shocked at how radical and wild Trump’s new immigration plans are. By embracing raids, mass incarceration and mass deportation, he has entered a dangerous political place that we know from years of polling an overwhelming majority of the country rejects, akin to the public’s rejection of abortion bans of any kind. This position was so unpopular that the anti-immigration movement abandoned it more than a decade ago, adopting a far softer “self-deportation” strategy. The GOP’s xenophobia has helped push the heavily Mexican-American parts of the US further and further away from the Rs over the past 20 years, and this plan almost certainly makes this region of the country even more challenging for all Republicans next year. It also makes it far less likely that Republicans will be successful with Latino voters next year. Trump’s plan is a literal war on immigrant communities and families across the US.
For months I’ve been talking about how abortion and treason are two new colossal 2024 problems for a party which has lost the popular vote in 7 of the last 8 Presidential elections, and lost the popular vote in the last 4 Presidential elections by 51%-46%. It’s possible now I will have to amend that formulation to be abortion, treason and mass deportation.
The GOP’s Ongoing Betrayal Of The Country - The rancid Tuberville blockade of now over 400 DOD appointments has to be understood as only one part of what appears to be a coordinated campaign to undermine the United States and our democracy in a time of rising global instability and challenge. Right now Republicans are:Blocking over 400 Pentagon appointees, weakening our military and encouraging our adversaries to challenge us across the world./
Blocking over 60 State Department appointments, including 37 Ambassadorships and the Ambassadors to Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. Makes is far harder to achieve diplomatic solutions to our global challenges.
Fighting additional aid to Ukraine, once again appeasing Putin and enabling Ukrainian genocide; and holding aid to Isreal hostage. In recent days Trump has also made it clear he intends to withdraw from NATO and dismantle the most successful military alliance in history if he comes to power.
Elevating Insurrectionists including a man who was the one of the primary architects of the Republican Party’s effort to overturn the 2020 Presidential election and end American democracy to the Speaker’s Chair.
It’s all a reminder of why we cannot let them win.
Keep working hard all. We have work to do, but feel good about where we are as we head into 2024 - Simon
For years we've heard from the Trump campaign that the 2020 election was stolen via an elaborate scheme of coordinated voter fraud. On today's show, we speak with Ken Block, author of "Disproven: My Unbiased Search for Voter Fraud for the Trump Campaign." Block shares his experiences as a data analyst tasked by the Trump campaign to investigate claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Throughout the discussion, Block details his rigorous process of vetting various allegations, revealing the baselessness of the claims and the internal dynamics among Trump's legal team. He also discusses the broader implications of election denialism and the troubling divide in media coverage. This episode provides a deep dive into the chaotic aftermath of the 2020 election and the challenges of combating misinformation within political and media landscapes.
Our friend Rick Wilson joins the show for his unique take on the keys to sending Trump back to his golden toilet in November. What are the 3 reasons why Rick is much more optimistic - and why we all should feel that way? And what is it about Trump Derangement Syndrome that just won't go away? When they tell you who they are, believe them -- and how Kristi Noem bragging about killing her dog is a symbol of a much grosser rot in MAGAworld. How do we make sure RFK Jr. doesn't spoil the election? And what will Rick and The Lincoln Project be doing to take the fight to Trump? Listen to Rick's pod, The Enemies List, wherever you get your podcasts. And check out Rick's Substack at https://therickwilson.substack.com/.
Simon Rosenberg looks at the stark contrast over the past few weeks between President Biden and Donald Trump. "Biden governs and leads, on hard things, big things, on the things that matter to all of us." And Donald Trump? He naps through his criminal prosecution.
Brian Daitzman examines the tensions between democratic nations and authoritarian regimes, as the global landscape resembles the prelude to World War II. He writes, "These two opposing blocs—the new Axis and Allies— are poised on the brink of global conflict. The critical question remains: what will ignite this confrontation?"