The Contrarian Pod

After Senator Lindsey Graham’s death in July, his sister Darline Graham was appointed to fill the seat and is now campaigning for a full term.But, after her poor performance during a debate against Republican runoff challenger Rep. Ralph Norman, this Republican stronghold now sits on shaky ground.Dr. Annie Andrews, the Democrat in the race, believes that South Carolinians deserve better than MAGA no knothings and Republican extremists. Andrews’ background in pediatric medicine guides her views on freedom, gun violence, and healthcare affordability.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, Contrarian publisher Norm Eisen spoke with Adam Klasfeld, the Editor in Chief of All Rise News.First, Norm gave us an update on legal cases made possible by all you Contrarians! Then, Norm and Adam discussed Trump’s lavish vanity projects, checked in on Todd Blanche, and wondered what is up with the Natalie Harp situation.You can join us for Coffee with Contrarians, live, every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:15am eastern time on The Contrarian.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 on The Contrarian Pod, you’ll hear from two Florida nominees for the statewide ballot who exemplify the Big Tent coalition the Democrats are assembling this November.In an upset last night, democratic socialist candidate Angie Nixon won the nomination for Florida’s Senate seat, beating out Alex Vindman with more than 56% of the vote, Nixon’s win underscores the power of organizing.Nixon talked about how she’s preparing for her general election fight against incumbent Ashley Moody, the importance of Medicare for All, and about Cafe Resistance: her thriving bookstore, cafe, and community hub.That wasn’t the only big news out of Florida last night. Former Representative David Jolly [17:48] won the state’s gubernatorial primary and will be running against Trump toady Byron Daniels in the fall.Jolly is a capitalist, and a former Republican who now calls himself a proud Democrat, not a reluctant one.We talked about his vision for defusing the culture wars in Florida and his agenda for championing affordability and the middle class.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 on Coffee with the Contrarians, Contrarian senior editor Tim Dickinson sat down with special guest Juan Proaño, CEO of LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens.They talked about how ICE’s human rights abuses continue to escalate with recent deaths at the Delaney Detention Center in New Jersey, and how Todd Blanche is already a rubber stamp for Trump mere weeks into the job.You can join Coffee with Contrarians, live every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:15am eastern time 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

Earlier this month, the Secretary of Health and Human Services unveiled the first episode of a new program “that empowers families to make healthy eating practical, approachable, and affordable,” according to the HHS website.And no, there’s not any roadkill involved. Contrarian senior editor Tim Dickinson, culture columnist Meredith Blake and editor Meghan Houser discuss RFK’s foray into food media and what it tells us about the current administration’s food policy, Trump’s fascination with media coverage, and what the deal is with seed oils. 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

Economist and Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress Jared Bernstein is back with Let’s Do Lunch! Jared sat down with Devesh Kodnani, an economist working on his PhD at MIT, where he also works with the Institute for Work and Employment Research. He focuses on how to make jobs good and work better for people.This week, they answered all your questions on progressive economic policy, the July jobs report, and whether Trump’s tariff refunds will impact American consumers.You can join Let’s Do Lunch live every other Tuesday at Noon ET 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

On Coffee with Contrarians earlier this week, April Ryan chatted with former U.S. Attorney, and friend of the Contrarian, Joyce Vance. They looked at how President Trump is using National Parks Funding for his own personal vanity projects and why, on the 1 year anniversary of the National Guard Deployment to Washington, D.C., we absolutely can't forget about the Epstein Files.You can join Coffee with Contrarians live every Monday, Wedbesday, and Thursday at 9:15 AM Eastern.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

Jessica Killin is running for Colorado’s 5th district, which encompasses Colorado Springs. Like many in the district, Killin is a military veteran, and she has also served in leadership roles on Capitol Hill and at the White House.She’s up against Republican incumbent Jeff Crank, who Killin argues is more interested in serving Trump than his constituents. We talked about her priorities for the district, which has never elected a Democrat, and why she thinks she can flip the seat.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 DOJ dismissed its Reflecting Pool “vandalism” case against Olympic Canoeist Davey Hearn. Then, Todd Blanche announced that he officially axed Trump’s $1.8 billion anti-weaponization slush fund, as part of Blanche’s bid to become attorney general.Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Contrarian senior editor Tim Dickinson talked about the Administration’s mishandling of these two issues and the broader implications of Blanche’s nomination for the justice system. They also talked about the wildfires raging in the West, the threat climate change poses to the environment and the economy.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 DOJ dismissed its Reflecting Pool “vandalism” case against Olympic Canoeist Davey Hearn. Then, Todd Blanche announced that he officially axed Trump’s $1.8 billion anti-weaponization slush fund, as part of Blanche’s bid to become attorney general.Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Contrarian senior editor Tim Dickinson talked about the Administration’s mishandling of these two issues and the broader implications of Blanche’s nomination for the justice system. They also talked about the wildfires raging in the West, the threat climate change poses to the environment and the economy.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

Contrarian senior editor Tim Dickinson sat down with Epstein survivors Lara Blume McGee and Sharlene Rochard, about their pursuit for accountability for the Epstein sex trafficking ring. The pair were in D.C. advocating against the attorney general nomination of Todd Blanche whom they accuse of a coverup of the Epstein Files.And, April Ryan chatted with Ashley Etienne [09:39] about her recent op-ed on how the Black vote powers Democrats but how those voters don’t receive much in return.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 of Wednesday afternoon, a Senate judiciary committee vote to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination to become Attorney General is scheduled for Thursday, July 30. Contrarian senior editor Tim Dickinson sat down with Senator Jacky Rosen from Nevada to talk about why Blanche’s mishandling of the release of the Epstein Files and connection to Trump’s $1.776 billion slush fund make him unfit to lead the justice department.Senator Rosen’s also shared her recent legislative moves to demand FEMA assistance for wildfire prevention, highlight the Iran war’s costs for Nevadans, oppose presidential pardons for Ghislaine Maxwell, and fight for strengthened DACA protections.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 this week’s Let’s Do Lunch, Economist and Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, Jared Bernstein sat down with with Neale Mahoney. Neale runs the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.They answered questions on private healthcare markets, what factors are driving up the cost of your groceries, and what Trump’s economic harms look like as real numbersYou can catch the Let’s Do Lunch live every other Tuesday at Noon et 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

On The Tea with April Ryan, April caught up with Charles Blow. Charles is a journalist, author, and former New York Times columnistThey talked about Trump walking back his threat to subpoena the Times, how Georgia is raising the stakes for the midterms, and unpacked how Black Americans constantly struggle against political oppression and racially-targeted violence.You can catch the Tea with April Ryan, live Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30pm 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

On Coffee with Contrarians earlier this week, publisher Norm Eisen chatted with New York Times Politics Reporter Maggie Haberman about her latest book, Regime Change, co-authored with fellow White House reporter Jonathan Swan.Regime Change is an inside look at Trump’s second term, his willingness to use power unlike any other president in American history, and how four years out of office built up his desire to surround himself with loyal supporters who would allow him to smash norms and wield that power.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 earlier this week, I caught up with Juan Proaño and former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance.Juan, you might remember, is the head of LULAC, the nation’s oldest and most important Hispanic civil rights organization. We got on-the-ground ICE updates from Maine and Texas, upcoming elections in Arizona and how DOGE failed us yet again with its cuts in food safety regulation and the spread of cyclospora.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 earlier this week, our publisher Norm Eisen chatted with Brian Tyler Cohen. He’s the host of the No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen YouTube show and podcast, where he’s chatted with guests like Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and so many more.He’s out with his second book, The Day After, How to Wield Power in a Post-Trump World, which looks at the GOP’s effective way of abusing power and the Democrats’ opportunity to actually step up and fight back to protect democracy. Norm and Brian also react to Blanche and Clayton’s tense congressional hearings on Wednesday, and they push back against Trump’s latest false election interference claims.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 this week’s Let’s Do Lunch, economist and Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, Jared Bernstein, chatted with Aya Ibrahim. She’s a Senior Fellow for Economic and National Security at the AI Now Institute and a Visiting Senior Fellow at the Century Foundation.After renewed strikes on Iran this week, Jared and Aya discussed their potential impacts on the U.S. domestic economy. They later delved into the June jobs report, looking at how AI is affecting the job market for young people and the administrative workforce.You can get your own questions answered about the economy every other Tuesday at Noon ET by following us on Bluesky and 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

After Graham Platner’s exit from the Senate race in Maine, Democrats are scrambling to figure out who will face off against Republican incumbent Susan Collins.The upcoming state Convention provides a second chance for Maine voters to make their voices heard — something many Mainers felt they didn’t get the first time around with Platner.Former Clinton press secretary Joe Lockhart, who now votes in Maine, spoke with us about how the Washington consultant class shaped the Platner fiasco, and how Maine can still capitalize on the progressive enthusiasm stirred up by Platner’s campaign.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

It’s been a week, and we had a lot to talk through. That’s why we’re bringing you all a special episode today. It’s a double feature!On Thursday’s Coffee with Contrarians, April Ryan got to speak with Maya Wiley. She is the President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. After that, she sat down with Rep. Al Green (D-TX) on The Tea.Assaults on Justice proved to be a recurring theme this week.Between Todd Blanche’s upcoming Senate hearings and ICE killing a man on his way to work, it’s becoming clearer every day that Americans cannot put their trust in the Department of Justice.The Tea with April Ryan is live every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30pm ET at ContrarianNews.org.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 Tuesday’s episode of The Tea with April Ryan, April spoke with Lisa Rice, President and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance.While discussing the worsening housing affordability crisis, Lisa revealed that DOGE has all but destroyed fair housing grants, jeopardizing the lives of already vulnerable people, all in the name of being “anti-DEI.”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 Monday’s Coffee with Contrarians, our publisher Norm Eisen chatted with independent journalist and contributor Katie Phang, on everything from the chaotic July 4th celebrations in DC to what happened with Team USA. During their chat, the two previewed Trump’s trip to the NATO summit, analyzed the white nationalist march in Washington, D.C., and discussed the latest in World Cup drama.Coffee with Contrarians is live every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:15am ET at ContrarianNews.org.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

Ahead of this weekend’s Independence Day celebrations, April Ryan discussed the dichotomy of America with Professor Eddie Glaude, who teaches African American studies and religion at Princeton.The two examined the contradictions between America’s “hope and freedom!” self-proclamations, ‘pull yourself up by the bootstraps’ mentality, and the country’s legacy of racism.Professor Glaude asks, will the US be a beacon of freedom or a white republic? It cannot be both.The Tea with April Ryan is live every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30pm ET at ContrarianNews.org.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

Yesterday was jam packed with SCOTUS’ final case decisions of the season: trans athletes in sports, campaign finance, and birthright citizenship. To make sense of what exactly these decisions were and their likely implications, April spoke to Janai Nelson, President and Director-Counsel of the Legal Defense Fund, on The Tea. The Legal Defense Fund is one of the strongest legal organizations in the country fighting for racial justice.The pair broke down the highly anticipated birthright citizenship case that ended in both a 6-3 and 5-4 decision. They also reviewed the court’s decision to uphold state-wide bans on transgender athletes participating in sports, voting rights, and the need for SCOTUS reform. The Tea with April Ryan is live every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30pm ET at ContrarianNews.org.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 today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to restrict birthright citizenship is unconstitutional.This means that the court has upheld the 14th amendment and reaffirmed that Trump can’t just take a pen and change the Constitution. Our Publisher Norm Eisen led this litigation alongside the ACLU and was on the steps of SCOTUS when the decision came down.While we protected birthright citizenship today, the fight is far from over. In fact, America has encountered many attempts to overturn rights in an age of progress.To kickstart a week of commemorating America 250, Contrarian senior editor Tim Dickinson sat down with Kevin Kruse [06:55], Professor of History at Princeton University, to analyze MAGA’s desire to erase history in order to control the future.Professor Kruse dives into historical examples of this, from the retaliatory rise of the Klu Klux Klan to the ‘70s social upheaval. And yet, the “nostalgia” these right wingers chase doesn’t actually correspond to a real point in 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

On the Tea with April Ryan, April sat down with Esosa Osa, the Founder and CEO of Onyx Impact.They looked at the recent SCOTUS ruling allowing Trump to strip Temporary Protected Status from millions of legal immigrants and how Trump derailed a bipartisan bill in Congress that hoped to make housing affordable.Plus, Esosa unveiled the backstory of Onyx Impact’s new digital assistant, Aisha.AI, supported by clean energy and designed to remove bias against the Black community.You can join The Tea with April Ryan, live twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30pm 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

On Coffee with Contrarians, contributor and independent journalist Katie Phang sat down with political pollster, analyst and organizer extraordinaire Simon Rosenberg.They looked at what last night’s primary results in New York could mean for the Midterms, the Senate’s vote on a War Powers Resolution, and Trump’s allegedly deteriorating health.Coffee with Contrarians is live every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 9:15 AM ET.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, Contrarian Publisher Norm Eisen sat down with former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance on Coffee with Contrarians. They talked about Trump’s reflecting pool disaster, the almost $1.8 billion slush fund, and MAGA’s current plan to disrupt the midterms.Coffee with Contrarians is live every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 9:15 AM ET.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, Contrarian publisher Norm Eisen sat down with Senator Mark Warner from Virginia. They talked about how Trump’s pivot to a sycophantic, unqualified nominee for Director of National Intelligence puts national security at risk.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

Yesterday, Trump and Vance virtually signed an agreement to end the blockade of Iranian ports, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and start 60 days of nuclear negotiations. Contrarian Publisher Norm Eisen sat down with the Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) to talk about the so-called “framework” of a peace deal and Todd Blanche’s nomination as Attorney General.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 this week’s Let’s Do Lunch, economist and Senior Fellow at Center for American Progress Jared Bernstein chatted with Jason Furman, economist and former chair at the Council of Economic Advisers under the Obama administration. Jared and Jason answered all of your burning questions on the economy and went over inflation numbers, oil prices, social security, and the debut of the world’s first trillionaire.You can get your own questions answered about the economy every other Tuesday at 12pm ET by following us on Bluesky and 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

Something a little different today, a roundtable with Contrarian editors Tim Dickinson, Meghan Houser, and culture columnist Meredith Blake.The trio talked about the implosion at 60 Minutes, the trouble with billionaire control of CBS, and even a bit about the Knicks — and how Trump’s visit killed the vibes.Also, this week is The Contrarian’s first-ever Membership Drive, so now is a great time to join for 25% off.You’ll get our bold, independent journalism, AND support hundreds of legal cases and matters that Contrarians are fighting in court to stop the Trump regime’s chaos. It’s all 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

Something a little different today, a roundtable with Contrarian editors Tim Dickinson, Meghan Houser, and culture columnist Meredith Blake.The trio talked about the implosion at 60 Minutes, the trouble with billionaire control of CBS, and even a bit about the Knicks — and how Trump’s visit killed the vibes.Also, this week is The Contrarian’s first-ever Membership Drive, so now is a great time to join for 25% off.You’ll get our bold, independent journalism, AND support hundreds of legal cases and matters that Contrarians are fighting in court to stop the Trump regime’s chaos. It’s all 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

Something a little different today, a roundtable with Contrarian editors Tim Dickinson, Meghan Houser, and culture columnist Meredith Blake.The trio talked about the implosion at 60 Minutes, the trouble with billionaire control of CBS, and even a bit about the Knicks — and how Trump’s visit killed the vibes.Also, this week is The Contrarian’s first-ever Membership Drive, so now is a great time to join for 25% off.You’ll get our bold, independent journalism, AND support hundreds of legal cases and matters that Contrarians are fighting in court to stop the Trump regime’s chaos. It’s all 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

On the Tea with April Ryan, independent journalist Jim Acosta looked at Trump’s continued attacks on journalism and how Bari Weiss’ takeover of CBS News has led to irreparable damage to the once storied newsroom. Plus, Isaiah Martin [20:33], former Democratic candidate in Texas turned content creator, came on to talk about the election landscape in his home state of Texas and why Dems need to use the GOP’s tactics against 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

On Coffee with Contrarians, publisher Norm Eisen, contributor Katie Phang, and political strategist Maria Cardona dicussed Scott Pelley’s firing from 60 Minutes and what the returns from California’s big primary night could foreshadow in the Midterms.Coffee with Contrarians is live every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:15am eastern every week 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

Catholic scholar Christopher Hale, publisher of the newsletter Letters From Leo, is one of the foremost writers on how Pope Leo XIV’s papacy intersects with politics and faith during the Trump presidency.He sat down with Contrarian editor Tim Dickinson to discuss Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical and why he chose to focus so much of it on the rapid rise of AI and the need to put humanity before technology.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

Contrarian editor Tim Dickinson chatted with Ezra Levin, the co-founder of Indivisible. Ezra shared the organization’s plans for action on June 14, commemorating the one year of the first No Kings Day protest, and why new tactics are paramount in the fight against authoritarianism.Levin and Tim also discuss the upcoming midterms and why James Talarico run against Ken Paxton is a once-in-a-generation opportunity in Texas.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

Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) newest book, Crisis of the Common Good: The Fight for Meaning and Connection in a Broken America explains that our obsession with Trump distracts us from fixing what was already broken in our society. Senator Murphy sat down with Contrarian contributor April Ryan to share why now was the time to write the book, how we rebuild community and his thoughts on a potential 2028 presidential run.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

Dan Pfeiffer needs no introduction in the world of politics. Jen sat down with the co-host of Pod Save America and former advisor to President Obama to discuss the upcoming Texas primary runoff, why the race for governor in California has been underwhelming, and what he thinks voters actually care about.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 the Tea with April Ryan, April sat down with Gov. Gavin Newsom from California and journalist Aaron Parnas.Gov. Newsom talked about how the economy is holding up after Trump’s choice to start a war with Iran, the rise of racism in politics and why ‘anti-woke is anti-black,’ and we even asked him if he was willing to spill a little tea on his plans for 2028.Aaron Parnas, as you might know, is a great journalist on TikTok and Substack, a real reporter’s reporter for the social media age. He talked about how he juggles parenthood and staying on the pulse of breaking news during this era of a 24/7 news cycle.The Tea with April Ryan is live, 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

Andrew Weissman served as the lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel’s Office and was General Counsel for the FBI. His latest book, Liar’s Kingdom: How to Stop Trump’s Deceit and Save America, lays out the blueprint to save our democracy.In it, Andrew points out how America’s political institutions have been exploited by rampant lying and dishonest politicians since the 2020 election. But, there is a way we can fight back, and he talks about it in this episode with journalist Katie Phang.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’s Callais ruling has created an electoral and racist mess. Representative Shomari Figures from Alabama’s 2nd District and I looked at what’s at stake in his home state, where a racially gerrymandered map is back under consideration. Alabama is also confusing voters through a series of last-minute special sessions, primary date changes, and attempts to throw out already cast primary votes. All of this aims to strip Black people of their voting power and revoke fair representation for all. April Ryan got the chance to sit down with Alabama’s Representative in the 7th district, Terri Sewell [20:15], to look back on the legacy of the civil rights movement, and how we revitalize it. Racists in power have been waiting for this moment to send America back to the Jim Crow era. But, that doesn’t mean we have to let 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

The Supreme Court’s Callais ruling has created an electoral and racist mess. Representative Shomari Figures from Alabama’s 2nd District and I looked at what’s at stake in his home state, where a racially gerrymandered map is back under consideration. Alabama is also confusing voters through a series of last-minute special sessions, primary date changes, and attempts to throw out already cast primary votes. All of this aims to strip Black people of their voting power and revoke fair representation for all. April Ryan got the chance to sit down with Alabama’s Representative in the 7th district, Terri Sewell [20:15], to look back on the legacy of the civil rights movement, and how we revitalize it. Racists in power have been waiting for this moment to send America back to the Jim Crow era. But, that doesn’t mean we have to let 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

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