The Contrarian Pod

This Saturday, people from all over the country will gather in Montgomery, Alabama to protest the Supreme Court’s decision in Callais v. Louisiana and the continued dismantling of the Voting Rights Act.LaTosha Brown is the Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter, and she spoke with Jen Rubin about how organizers and activists have come together to fight back in this historic moment, and why this decision is bigger than just redistricting in the 2026 Midterms.And, voting rights and election law expert Rick Hasen [20:25] looked at the fallout in elections in Louisiana and Virginia, and why the Supreme Court’s conflicting rulings on voting rights cases have created an electoral kerfuffle.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Not even two weeks have passed since the Supreme Court’s decision in Callais v. Louisiana, and we are already seeing massive fallout. The Virginia Supreme Court threw out results of an election where 3 million people voted. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry suspended a primary election, already in progress. Tennessee and Florida have already passed new congressional maps that eliminate Black and Brown majority districts, and other states, like South Carolina and Alabama, are fighting to join them.Ari Berman is the national voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones, and joined Contrarian editor Tim Dickinson to discuss how SCOTUS has gutted the Voting Rights Act and what to expect.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Hi, this is April Ryan, contributor at The Contrarian. Jen Rubin is out today, but we still have another edition of the Contrarian Podcast! On the Tea with April Ryan, April sat down with Maya Wiley. She’s President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. They talked about the Supreme Court’s awful decision in Callais v. Louisiana and the racist, discriminatory gerrymandering we’re already seeing in states like Tennessee.The Tea with April Ryan is every Thursday at 5pm eastern at ContrarianNews.orgThe Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Contrarian Editor Tim Dickinson got the chance this week to speak with two candidates running in the Democratic Primary for Montana’s 1st Congressional District, Sam Forstag and Ryan Busse.Sam Forstag is a former smokejumper and union leader. Tim and Sam talked about his belief that housing, healthcare, and other necessities should be accessible for all working people. He also talked about how the wealthy are able to take advantage when we aren’t able to rally around common political ground. And, Ryan Busse [16:20] is a former gun executive turned whistleblower, as well as a former Democratic candidate for governor. He spoke about his advocacy for universal health care and the importance of Democrats busting Fox News stereotypes.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Jared Bernstein, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, is here for his Let’s do Lunch series to answer all of your questions about the economy. This week, he’s joined by Heather Long. She’s Chief Economist at the Navy Federal Credit Union. They discussed why the stock market continues to rise despite increasing inflation and anemic job growth, and why high gas prices will ripple through the economy for a long time.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Last Tuesday, Kevin Warsh, the nominee for Federal Reserve Chair, testified in front of the Senate Banking Committee. His responses to basic questions facts such as “did Donald Trump lose the 2020 election?” left many worried about how he would manage the independence of the Fed if appointed.Justin Wolfers, Professor of Public Policy and Economics at the University of Michigan, joins Jen to give his take on the importance of Fed independence and removing conflicts of interest. Additionally, Wolfers recognizes how uncertain Trump has made investors and consumers as a result of his many wars waged across the globe.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

The Supreme Court essentially nullified the last remaining provision of the Voting Rights Act in a 6-3 decision. The ruling in the case of Louisiana v. Callais opens the door to racially-motivated gerrymandering at Jim Crow levels, and overturns one of the biggest landmark civil rights laws in U.S. history.Leah Litman is a professor of law at the University of Michigan, she’s also cohost of the Strict Scrutiny podcast. She spoke with Contrarian contributor Katie Phang about the ramifications of the Callais decision and why this was a gigantic step back for fair voting rights.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

On Coffee with Contrarians this week, Jen and Norm sat down with Randi Weingarten, president of AFT.The discussed the weekend’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, why the White House is more concerned with building a ballroom than protecting schoolchildren and improving Americans’ lives, and ahead of May Day Strong this Friday, why unions are paramount to preserving democracy and reducing income inequality.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Lebanon is caught in the crossfires of two different wars: U.S and Israel’s war with Iran and Israel’s war with Hezbollah. Thousands of people have been killed, with over a thousand more wounded. Over a million people are internally displaced. Hundreds of Lebanese villages and communities have been reduced to rubble, destroying places of worship, generational homes, and priceless family memorabilia.Even with a ceasefire in place, people continue to suffer.David Wood is the Senior Analyst for Lebanon at International Crisis Group, and spoke to Jen from Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, to talk about the humanitarian crisis in the country.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Trump’s war in Iran has given Big Oil a windfall of profits, even though they don’t get their oil from the Middle East, they’ve been able to jack up prices.Jen spoke with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) who introduced a Big Oil Windfall Profits Tax that would take that excess profit and return it back to the taxpayers. In honor of Earth Day, they also talked about the damage the Trump administration has done to the planet, how Citizens United opened the door to domination of our politics by the fossil fuel industry, and the latest in the war with Iran.Joe Kerr [20:33] is a Democrat running in California’s 40th Congressional District. He faces not one, but two Republican incumbents who are trying to outMAGA each other in a primary due to Prop 50 redistricting.Joe is very different. He is a working-class, lifelong firefighter who’s been involved in causes that affect unions and an advocate of needed reforms for ICE.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

We’re now 7 weeks into Trump’s war with Iran. And despite Trump’s claims the Strait of Hormuz is now in American hands and an American victory is near, behind closed doors, Trump seems more focused on delaying a resolution and blaming it on Iran.Steve Cook, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and Jen talked about the enduring impact of Trump’s war of choice, how China is learning lessons on what not to do, and why Europe can no longer look at the U.S. as a reliable partner.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Earlier this week, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) spoke on the Senate floor in support of a War Powers Resolution, he and fellow Democrats want to stop Trump’s disastrous war of choice in Iran.Once again, Republicans caved and gave Donald Trump a blank check.Jen spoke with Sen. Murphy about Republicans failing to carry out their constitutional obligations, the future of the war, the future of NATO, and the absurdity of sending someone like Jared Kushner or Steve Witkoff to negotiate a peace deal with Iran.Jen also spoke with social-media star and activist Carlos Eduardo Espina [19:15] about the pivotal Senate race in Texas, how Carlos was able to bring in 400,000 new voters in the Democratic primary, and why voters are looking for candidates who can define a new vision for American politics.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Jen and Norm spoke with pollster G. Elliott Morris who writes the substack Strength in Numbers, a valuable resource with Eliott’s own polling plus analysis of other polls in the news cycle.The trio discussed Trump’s war in Iran and how Americans are feeling about the ceasefire deal that was signed, the polling around California’s next governor after former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s resignation from Congress, and the likelihood of a blue wave during the Midterms.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

You might have seen the news that Hungarians democratically ousted dictator Viktor Orbán after 16 years in power.Tim Mak is the founder of the wonderful substack The Counteroffensive, which covers life on the ground from regions like Ukraine and Hungary. Jen and Tim talked about the reactions he saw in Budapest and the many questions that still linger: where does Orbán and alt right authoritarianism go from here? Will results like this ripple to the U.S.? And how will Hungary recover from almost two decades of dictatorship?And, what exactly, is Donald Trump’s problem with The Pope?Last weekend, reports emerged out of Italy alleging that the Pentagon attempted to bully the Vatican into supporting Trump’s war on Iran.Catholic scholar Christopher Hale [20:26] and Jen looked at Trump’s latest obsession and why MAGA pretends to act as religious crusaders, and why Pope Leo felt compelled to speak up.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

We are facing the brink of disaster, a war of potentially calamitous proportions, fueled by Donald Trump’s paranoia, religious fervor, and ego after his threat to destroy an entire civilization. This is the language of genocide, and we should all take it seriously whether or not he carries it out.And, while Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is currently filling Pam Bondi’s former role, it’s not clear who’s going to get the full-time job.Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Jen discussed the potentially catastrophic disaster in Iran, the current status of the Justice Department, the controversy around FBI Director Kash Patel and the likelihood he might be pushed out the door, and why we are once again learning the harsh lesson about fossil fuel dependence. The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

The constant references and invocation of white Christian nationalism are unmistakable in the rhetoric of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump. Announcing intentions to commit genocide, wiping out civilizations, allusions to apocalypse, these are not accidental references.Robert P. Jones is the president of the Public Religion Research Institute, and is one of the premier thinkers about white Christian nationalism. Jen and Robby discussed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s religious rhetoric, the dangers of Trump’s refrigerator-magnet style theology, and more.And, law professor and former United States Attorney Joyce Vance [19:55] and Jen looked at the consequences of the disastrous war in Iran after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, the small group of Republicans, slowly, but finally, saying enough is enough, and why the upcoming midterms are absolutely critical to stopping Donald Trump.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

We are facing the brink of disaster, a war of potentially calamitous proportions, fueled by Donald Trump’s paranoia, religious fervor, and ego after his threat to destroy an entire civilization. This is the language of genocide, and we should all take it seriously whether or not he carries it out.And, while Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is currently filling Pam Bondi’s former role, it’s not clear who’s going to get the full-time job.Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Jen discussed the potentially catastrophic disaster in Iran, the current status of the Justice Department, the controversy around FBI Director Kash Patel and the likelihood he might be pushed out the door, and why we are once again learning the harsh lesson about fossil fuel dependence. The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

You might have seen the news that Pam Bondi is on her way back home after being replaced as Attorney General. The move came after disastrous Congressional hearings, failed attempts at prosecution of Trump’s enemies, and an embarrassing display at the Supreme Court on Wednesday.While it’s easy to celebrate her ouster, the American justice system isn’t back to normal.Andrew Weissman, former lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel’s Office and General Counsel for the FBI, and Jen talked about the necessary steps to reinstate public trust in the DOJ, the importance of re-establishing judicial independence and integrity, and why we must reckon with this administration’s crimes instead of ignoring them.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Today was a big day at the Supreme Court.SCOTUS heard arguments this morning on Trump v. Barbara, the case involving birthright citizenship. At issue is not only the 14th Amendment, but also a century-old settled case that if you’re born here, you’re a citizen, period.On Coffee with Contrarians, Jen spoke with veteran court reporter Adam Klasfield and Juan Proaño, the head of LULAC, the nation’s oldest Hispanic civil rights organization. Juan shared the story of ‘Barbara’ and many immigrant mothers he works with who risked their own safety to fight back against Trump’s order. And, Norm Eisen [32:18] joined Jen shortly after leaving the Supreme Court to share his impressions of the argument and of Donald Trump, who sat two rows in front of him at the Court.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Jen spoke with Dennis Ross, former Ambassador and Middle East negotiator, who has decades of experience in the region under presidents of both parties.They discussed the current status of the war, what Iran still has left, the future of Iran’s nuclear capabilities and why the essence of good statecraft is marrying your objectives and your means:“That means you think through your objectives and you think about not only your means, but who else has means that you can mobilize to help achieve your objective. When you don’t define a clear objective, it’s not a surprise that you haven’t thought through the means that you need.”The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

The Trump administration continues to weaponize the legal system to attempt to suppress voting.Jen caught up with Janai Nelson, the President and Director-Counsel of the Legal Defense Fund, and one of the country’s premier civil rights attorneys.They discussed how MAGA plans to install voter ID laws, why Janai calls the SAVE Act the ‘Stop All Voters Everywhere Act’, and a very weird argument from Justice Roberts at the Supreme Court about a voting conspiracy theory.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

The Trump administration continues to weaponize the legal system to attempt to suppress voting.Jen caught up with Janai Nelson, the President and Director-Counsel of the Legal Defense Fund, and one of the country’s premier civil rights attorneys.They discussed how MAGA plans to install voter ID laws, why Janai calls the SAVE Act the ‘Stop All Voters Everywhere Act’, and a very weird argument from Justice Roberts at the Supreme Court about a voting conspiracy theory.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

For decades, American presidents have steered clear of all-out war against Iran. They know Iran would retaliate, cutting off oil, bombarding our Gulf state allies.We’re now in a quagmire, oil prices are going sky-high, and our Gulf allies are under assault.Senator Chris Coons from Delaware has been in multiple classified briefings regarding Iran and we talked about what Trump doesn’t know, how we got to where we are, how we get out of it, and what this means for the American economy and our national security.And on Coffee with the Contrarians, we caught up with Katie Phang [20:29]. We talked about Iran, Pam Bondi’s sham hearing and the latest in the Epstein Files.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

For decades, American presidents have steered clear of all-out war against Iran. They know Iran would retaliate, cutting off oil, bombarding our Gulf state allies.We’re now in a quagmire, oil prices are going sky-high, and our Gulf allies are under assault.Senator Chris Coons from Delaware has been in multiple classified briefings regarding Iran and we talked about what Trump doesn’t know, how we got to where we are, how we get out of it, and what this means for the American economy and our national security.And on Coffee with the Contrarians, we caught up with Katie Phang [20:29]. We talked about Iran, Pam Bondi’s sham hearing and the latest in the Epstein Files.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Tuesday was primary day in Illinois, with races for Senate, Governor, and in the Chicago-area alone, four competitive house races.There was also lots and lots of interest from dark money groups.Jen and Norm had a chance to talk about all of that with pollster and political analyst Simon Rosenberg on Coffee with the Contrarians. Simon shared his thoughts on what individual races could mean for the Midterms, alongside the continued influence of dark money, the impact of the war, and the SAVE Act.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Jen caught up with one of our favorite guests on The Contrarian pod, Jeremy Ben-Ami. He’s the president of J Street, a center-left group that is pro-peace, pro-democracy, pro-Israel.They talked about Trump’s disastrous war in the Middle East, AIPAC’s meddling in Democratic primaries with dark money, and the ‘SAVE Act,’ a voter suppression bill that should be more aptly titled the Jim Crow Act.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Back in 2011, a 19-year-old named Zach Wahls went viral after defending his “untraditional” family in the Iowa House of Representatives. Ever since, Wahls has fought for Iowa families and workers in the Iowa State Senate.Now, Wahls is running for U.S. Senate in Iowa.Jen talked with Zach about the most important issues of his campaign: tackling the Trump Administration’s corruption, how government can support Iowa farmers, and the importance of ending a useless war in Iran.Last November, ProPublica exposed a $220 million DHS advertisement contract that handed money to Kristi Noem’s own friends. Last week, Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO) publicly questioned Noem about the funds at a Judiciary Committee hearing. The next day, Noem was fired as Homeland Security Secretary.Rep. Neguse and Jen [26:06] looked at Noem’s involvement in the scandal and why Americans still deserve complete transparency and accountability around the $220 million contract, which might just be the tip of the iceberg of misappropriated funds in the Trump Administration.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Jared Bernstein is here today with his Let’s do Lunch series! This week, he talks with Neil Mahoney, who runs the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, to answer questions from our substack subscribers on everything you might want to know in the world of Economics. As you can imagine, we got a ton of questions about the economic impact of Trump’s war with Iran, the effects on the cost of oil, the disruption in trade and the Strait of Hormuz, and lots moreThe Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Trump’s unconstitutional, reckless war continues.Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, prolific author, State Department veteran, and former diplomat joined Jen to try to answer some of the most pressing questions when it comes to Trump’s war: What was Bibi Netanyahu’s motivation?Why did previous presidents not go to war? What’s the outcome for the United States and the future for the Middle East?The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Donald Trump has launched a unilateral, unconstitutional and reckless war against Iran that has inflamed the entire region.He also wants more money to pay for it. Even with over $900 billion for the Defense Department, he wants more.Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and I talked about how this reckless and unnecessary war, and why wee shouldn’t give another dime to the Trump administration to pay for it.And on Coffee with the Contrarians, political data analyst and pollster G Elliot Morris [20:48] swung by to explain why Democrats prevailed in Texas, why turnout was so high, and the coalitions Democrats will need to construct in order to be victorious in the upcoming Midterms.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Last night’s elections in Texas, North Carolina, and Arkansas were on every level a big night for Democrats. They won where they needed to, and they have a shot at flipping a Senate seat in Texas.Simon Rosenberg, election guru, author, and creator of Hopium Chronicles, talked with Jen about the Democrats’ huge night, not only in Texas, but across the Senate landscape.We also looked at how Republicans’ constant kowtowing to Trump and failed gambles at redistricting could change the outcome of pivotal Congressional races in the Midterms.And on the Tea with April Ryan, April chatted with election strategist Terrance Woodbury [27:33]. They looked at the voting power of the Black community in the South and why Black men are the new swing voters.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Donald Trump has taken us to war with Iran.He didn’t have congressional authorization. He didn’t conduct a national debate. He didn’t even tell us a precise reason for the war, how long it will last or what it will cost.So what are service members putting their life on the line for?Jen spoke with two lawmakers, Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), who have a lot to say about the subject.Despite Trump’s claims, Sen. Andy Kim says he hasn’t seen any proof of imminent threat from Iran. Rep. Adam Smith [17:56] walked Jen through the possible outcomes of the war, the potential for this to spin out of control, and the fact that this was entirely avoidable simply by continuing down a diplomatic path.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Two events happened recently that left us scratching our heads.First, the Supreme Court struck down Donald Trump’s illegal tariffs. Secondly, Trump had a State of the Union address that felt more like an out-of-body experience than decipherable policy.To help us decipher both, Jen spoke with Justin Wolfers, he’s a renowned economist, professor at the University of Michigan, and one of our favorite people to talk with at The Contrarian.The two discussed the decision on tariffs, and what the new rate of 10% (or maybe it’s now 15%?) actually means for the economy. They also look at Trump’s claims on job growth and what sectors are actually hiring.Justin also shares some career news and shares his thoughts on the anti-immigrant racism and rhetoric that now seems acceptable in American politics.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Last night was Trump’s first State of the Union address since his return to office. It was dreadful, rambling, embarrassing, vicious, insulting, disgraceful, and filled with lies. He used the speech to further divide Americans to hide his own miserable record.On this morning’s Coffee with the Contrarians, Norm Eisen and Jen Rubin chatted with Reverend Paul Raushenbush. In addition to being a Baptist minister, he’s the president and CEO of the Interfaith Alliance, an organization dedicated to protecting faith and freedom, respecting individual rights, and fighting back against the co-opting of religion from the right.We talked about Trump’s speech, Paul’s appearance on the National Mall at the Alternative State of the Union, and why the faith community is a critical part of a broad pro-democracy coalition.Coffee with the Contrarians is live every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday at 9:15 am eastern on The Contrarian substack.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Tom Malinowski, friend of The Contrarian, former congressman and State Department official, recently lost his bid for the 11th Congressional District in New Jersey. He was defeated in a way that should disturb all of us.AIPAC has become a source of dark money, and while it used to be a bipartisan organization, it’s now being funded heavily by Republican billionaires.Tom and Jen discussed the danger that poses to our democracy, the possibility of airstrikes in Iran and why Trump’s so-called “Board of Peace” is just another scam.Though Tom didn’t win his primary race, there are other great candidates that are willing to stand up against this authoritarian takeover.Sarah Trone Garriott [29:35] is running for Iowa’s 3rd district. She’s a former hospital chaplain who wants to fight back against rising costs, restrictions in healthcare, and funding cuts to SNAP. We also talked about the concerning spread of religious nationalism in America and how we can push back against the weaponization of faith.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump’s tariffs are illegal. The majority of the justices agreed that the power of tariffs lies with Congress, not the President’s.Friend of The Contrarian and SCOTUS expert Steve Vladeck joins Jen to break down the Court’s decision. The looming question now is how exactly the government is meant to refund the money it earned from the tariffs. Steve also explains what the decision portends for Trump’s future chances in SCOTUS. On the Tea with April Ryan, Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson spoke with April about the Congressional Black Caucus and its work in defending SNAP benefits. Rep. Thompson is also the ranking member on the Homeland Security Committee, which oversees ICE and Border Patrol.And, the next No Kings Day protest is coming up on March 28th. Let’s make this the largest peaceful protest in American history. A special pre-order of Contrarian merch is up until this Sunday so you can support our work in style.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Jen spoke with correspondent Katie Phang during this morning’s Coffee with the Contrarians about the civil rights legacy Jesse Jackson left behind, why the SAVE Act is a very real threat to voting rights, and why the midterms are a crucial opportunity to stop the slide toward authoritarianism. And, the next No Kings Day protest is coming up on March 28th. Let’s make this the largest peaceful protest in American history. A special pre-order of Contrarian merch is up until this Sunday so you can support our work in style.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

We face the constant scourge of white supremacy under this regime.April Ryan got the chance to speak with one of the icons of the civil rights movement, Dr. Bernice King.She’s the youngest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King, and is CEO of the King Center, which is dedicated to upholding Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy.Dr. King spoke with April about the crucial work of the center, why freedom must be fought for in every generation, and the special challenges presented during this regime.While white supremacy isn’t new in the United States, the Trump administration’s willingness to openly reference white supremacist dogma, imagery, and phrases is troubling.For example, last October, the Homeland Security account on X posted a single word: “remigrate.” Remigration is a white supremacist concept of forcible, mass deportation of non-whites as a tool of ethnic cleansing.Jen spoke with Bill Braniff [29:35], the Executive Director of the Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab to explain how constant dog whistles motivates Neo-Nazis and extremists to act on their hateful ideology, and how we can fight back.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

This week, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi embarrassed herself, her beloved leader, and the rule of law in front of the House Judiciary Committee. Refusing to answer a single question about the Epstein files or ICE’s deadly occupation directly, Bondi not only disrespected the congressional process of oversight, but completely disregarded the voices of the Epstein survivors who were sitting just a few feet behind her. She did not look at them once.U.S. Senator Van Hollen spoke with Jen about Bondi’s disgraceful dodging during questioning and how the DOJ is monitoring the activity of lawmakers researching the Epstein files.Also this week, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Trump to discuss the U.S.’s negotiations with Iran regarding its nuclear program. This meeting comes two weeks after Trump threatened Iran with a “far worse” strike if a deal cannot be made.Jeremy Ben-Ami [21:37], the President of pro-peace, pro-democracy PAC J-Street, joined Jen from Tel Aviv to discuss what Trump’s posturing against Iran may mean for the future of its nuclear weapons. The two also discussed the role of AIPAC in American elections, with the most recent example being in the New Jersey special primary and how the super-PAC no longer represents the best for Jewish Americans.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Last week, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the federal government’s policy of keeping thousands of people in detention centers without offering them a chance for bond hearings. This decision goes against years of legal precedent with, according to Politico, 360 judges rejecting the detention strategy in over 3,000 cases.Jen spoke with Latino activist and non-profit director Carlos Eduardo Espina about the court ruling and the impact it will have on detainees, and why Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance was bigger than football.And, since Trump has regained office, 27 Dems have been elected and flipped a seat where no Dems have been elected before. What is going on in red states?Jess Piper [23:03], Executive Director for grassroots fundraising organization Blue Missouri, spoke with Jen about how the Trump Administration has never fought for rural voters’ best interests.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has had a successful first term and is now running for re-election. He’s also out with a new book, Where We Keep the Light. It talks about his journey as a politician and the horrible arson attack on his family last Passover.Just a few days ago, a Pennsylvania man was arrested after threatening Gov. Shapiro’s family with stalking and violence. Despite the threats and acts of violence, the Governor is still committed to a career in public service.Jen spoke with Gov. Shapiro about his new book, his views on Israel, the worrying attempts to nationalize and rig elections, and the need to end all ICE operations immediately.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) joins Jen Rubin to discuss all of the ways House Democrats are rising up and pushing back against Trump’s autocratic attempt to manipulate the 2026 midterms.Leader Jeffries and Jen also discuss Democrats’ demands to reform ICE—including mandated body cameras and the removal of face masks—and the DOJ’s abominable handling of the Epstein files.And, Emmy-award winning independent journalist Georgia Fort [20:32] was one of four black journalists recently arrested after live-streaming an anti-ICE demonstration at a St. Paul, Minnesota, church.April Ryan spoke with Georgia about the horrendous assault on a free press and why independent journalism has never been more important.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

We just saw the end of a very brief government shutdown forced by Democrats, who fought back against funding DHS without real restraints on ICE and Customs and Border Patrol.Jen spoke with Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress and former Biden Administration official, to discuss the shutdown, the future of ICE, and what Democrats need to do to preserve our democracy.And, with the midterm elections and a potential blue wave coming up quickly, some members of the GOP realize there’s only one way for them to survive: Cheat.Lauren Groh-Wargo [22:11], CEO of voting rights non-profit Fair Fight Action, talked about the FBI’s recent raid seizing ballots, voting rolls and election records in Fulton County, Georgia and why we must have fight back against authoritarian overreach.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Last week, the Department of Justice released more than 3 million documents and images from the Epstein files. Many powerful, notable people were named, like Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Prince Andrew.But, what one thing that might have flown under the radar is the vast number of wealthy sports leaders in the files: like the owner of the New York Giants, the Washington Commanders’ majority owner, and the owner of the New England Patriots.Pablo Torre and Jen discussed the systemic failure of holding powerful figures in America accountable, and also discussed the lackluster anticipation of the Winter Olympics and the cultural significance of Bad Bunny‘s upcoming Super Bowl performance.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

One of the most important steps to fight back against this authoritarian takeover in our government will be to take back Congress. Without Maine, Democrats won’t be able to take back the Senate. After years of seeing Sen. Susan Collins fail to step up to Donald Trump, Maine Governor Janet Mills is determined to put her experience as a public servant to use. And, Cait Conley [20:10] is a congressional candidate for New York’s 17th district which covers the Hudson Valley. She’s a blue collar worker, combat veteran, and is challenging Trump lapdog Mike Lawler. Jen and Cait talked about the needs going unaddressed in her district and the importance of restoring checks and balances.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

As part of Wednesday morning’s Coffee with the Contrarians, Norm Eisen and Jen Rubin caught up with Jim Acosta.Jim’s celebrating his one year anniversary in independent media, and if you look at the current state of legacy media, it's never been more important to have voices like his.We talked about what’s going on with the DHS appropriations funding bill, what the Trump Administration is trying to do to Alex Pretti and others who are peacefully demonstrating, and how we can collectively meet the moment.Coffee with the Contrarians is live, every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:15am eastern on The Contrarian substack.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

As we’ve seen in Minnesota and elsewhere, The Department of Homeland Security has violently weaponized ICE against the American people. Enough is enough.Jen spoke with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) to discuss how Democrats in Capitol Hill can step up and fight back against a proposed DHS funding bill, and why accountability is paramount moving forward to protect Americans.And, reporter Katie Phang [21:30] is on the ground in Minneapolis, and gave a firsthand account of everything she’s seen in the Twin Cities during a special edition of Coffee with the Contrarians.Coffee with the Contrarians is live, every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:15am eastern on The Contrarian substack.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

Greenland, Iceland, whatever Trump is the name of the country has been spared from U.S. invasion — at least for now. What hasn’t been spared is the quickly deteriorating relationships with NATO allies. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Jen discuss NATO’s future, Trump’s submissiveness towards Russia, and the Democrats’ dilemma over an impending DHS appropriations bill. The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

As a part of this morning’s Coffee with the Contrarians, political commentator Maria Cardona joined Jen to discuss the latest in Minnesota. She’s a veteran of democratic campaigns and administrations, and shared what she’s hearing from residents now afraid to go out of their homes, and why Latino Trump voters now feel betrayed.And, Reverend Paul Raushenbush [17:25] is the President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. It’s an organization that aims to protect faith and freedom by respecting individual rights and fight back against the co-opting of religion from the right. Jen and Rev. Raushenbush discussed how vital community, non-violent resistance, and hope can be when we fight autocracy — no matter your religious affiliation.Coffee with the Contrarians is live every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 9:15am Eastern on The Contrarian substack.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe

The Department of Justice is suffering from a wave of resignations. Departing attorneys and legal counsel are reportedly done with the bogus lawsuits and abuse of civil rights laws in Minnesota and elsewhere. To make matters worse, the DOJ is pushing for an investigation into Renee Good while rejecting pleas to look into Jonathan Ross.Stacey Young is a former DOJ Civil Rights attorney and is now the Executive Director of Justice Connection. It’s a network of DOJ alumni who are now standing up for the rule of law and protecting former colleagues that are being targeted by this administration.Stacey and Jen talked about what’s happening in Minnesota, the consequences of a prejudiced justice department, and the possibilities for state prosecution for crimes that were federally pardoned.And, April Ryan had the chance to chat with Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan [24:37]. They talked about how officials and faith leaders in the state are fighting back and why the Trump regime’s actions have nothing to do with keeping people in Minnesota safe.The Tea with April Ryan is live every Thursday at 5pm Eastern on The Contrarian substack.The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day against the Trump chaos machine. Join us on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrariannews.org/subscribe