It’s crunch time. Today, I’ll try to connect a few disparate stories into a single narrative: Democrats need to aggressively push the “It’s the Corruption, Stupid - and it’s hurting you and it’s destroying America” angle.

First, looks like Thomas Massie is taking the lead and showing Democrats what they should be doing:

Good on him. And this should be just the start. These people need to be held accountable and the voting public needs to know that it’s happening. Maybe Dems let Massie tale the lead because it’s got more street cred when a Republican brings the heat, but that’s no excuse. got that, Schmer and Jeffries? No? didn’t think so.

Next, Republicans know they're in troubled when one of their own true beleivers comes out against Trump on immigration:

My god! Maria Elvira Salazar (“Elvira”? I must admit I kind of like that middle name) is stronger and more blunt on immigration that many Democrats. Yeah - she’s desperate because she’s in a tight battle in a district in which she should be kicking butt.

Back to Rep. Massie leading the way. It seems as if he and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna have secured enough commitments to successfully vote for a discharge petition on the Epstein Files:

It’s amazing to me (and strongly dispiriting) how Democrats are unable to come up with a message and then focus like a laser on that message consistently over time. The Epstein Affair is not just perhaps the most sordid, disgusting and crime-riddled abuse scandal in our nation’s history, it’s political gold. And yet Republicans find it so easy to convince Democrats to take their eye off the ball at a moment’s notice for some other distraction. And we need a Republican to show us how to actually hit the pitch (excuse my baseball analogies of “eyes off the ball” and “hit the pitch”).

Which brings me to the other slam dunk issue of this campaign cycle: data centers. Of course, this topic is being flubbed by Democratic “centrists” and their consultants:

A recent NBC News poll shows roughly 70% of people are against datacenters, including 81% of Democrats, 71% of Independents and even 57% - a solid majority - of Republicans. C’mon Democrats! this issue has been gift wrapped and placed under your tree by Santa. Stop equivocating. Connect it to AI and tech bros and billionaires and the Epstein Class and inequality and gas prices and even what’s for lunch today. It’s. Not. that. Hard.

Next, because it wouldn’t be right to omit our Senate institutionalists:

Are you f*^king kidding me? I got nothing on this except don’t let the door hit you on the way out, Senator.

Finally, an anecdotal story that is confirmed by a recent CDC Report as well. I’m at a medical conference in Boston. I had dinner with a group last night and sat next to someone from the Netherlands. I asked how things were in his country and what the political environment was there. His response? To paraphrase, “We are wealthier than we’ve ever been but people are not happy. Something is not right.”

Now, check out this report from the CDC:

The article (and survey) tends to focus on physical health issues that cause fatigue. However, I’d argue a big contributing factor is the exhaustion and anxiety people feel from struggling to keep their heads above water in a country where the wealthiest coast while everyone else has to contend with the laws of the jungle just to consistently put food on the table and fill up their vehicles with gas.

There’s so much more but that’s enough for now. The upshot? There may not be a better political environment for Democrats to destroy their opposition. But they won’t get there by equivocating and playing it safe simply because they already have a lead in the “generic candidate” polls.

It’s time to put the pedal to the metal. Double and triple down on corruption and how the lack of accountability for it hurts regular people every single day.

I’ll end with the Democrat who seems to be doing it best, focused like a laser:

The Grateful Dead - Out in the Cold Rain and Snow