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
Don't miss this episode! It was back room intrigue, behind the curtain strategy, and life imitating high school. The guys talk about what GOP primary contenders can do to shift their numbers and who they should attack - and what shifts they're already seeing in the electorates attitudes that bode well for President Biden...and so much more!
Stuart Stevens explains why Biden is in a stronger position than Trump. Ask yourself, are there a lot of new customers who want to buy what Trump's selling?
Strategist and data guru Michael Podhorzer joins the guys for a deep dive and some fascinating alternative ways to view the race and numbers heading into 2024. Think Trump has the GOP vote wrapped up? Believe Biden is losing Gen Z? This conversation will make you question everything - in the best of ways.
Longtime "Reliable Sources" host and author Brian Stelter joins the show with a sneak preview of his new book "Network of Lies" - and you guessed it - it's all about FOX's descent into a propaganda machine. The inside info Brian finds has to be read to be believed. Does Fox's former chief propagandist believe his own rhetoric? Why Brian thinks Tucker has talked himself into it. And behind-the-scenes after Joe Biden's win in 2020 at FOX -- why everyone was whispering the truth while shouting the lie.