The Contrarian Pod

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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