The Contrarian Pod

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

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