The Contrarian Pod

VoteHub’s head of data science Zachary Donnini is back with his final verdict on the 2026 midterms. With the election less than a week away, Zachary unpacked the data to share what he’s seeing in early voting numbers, how James Talarico’s chances look in Texas, and why control of the U.S. Senate could hang in the balance for weeks due to Alaska’s ballot counting methods.Plus, Zachary and Tim discuss how prediction markets factor into polling during this midterm election cycle.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

Virginia’s 5th district has been a Republican stronghold for 15 years. But voters have the chance to change that next week.Tom Perriello is the Democratic candidate in that district, and he held the seat from 2009 to 2011. Now, he’s running to get it back.Contrarian Senior Editor Tim Dickinson sat down with Tom to talk about what he sees as the biggest issues in the region: protecting rural Virginians while fighting corruption and monopolies in Washington.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 in chief Jen Rubin and publisher Norm Eisen chatted with pollster and data whiz Simon Rosenberg about what early turnout numbers look like and what that could mean for a blue wave in the Midterms.Plus, Jen sat down with David Crowley. He’s running for governor in Wisconsin against Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany.Sharing the most pressing issues he’s heard from voters on the ground, Crowley emphasizes why he sees the need to invest in rural communities, public schools, and infrastructure tailored to the state’s unique needs.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 Let’s do Lunch, economist and Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress Jared Bernstein answered your burning questions about economics with Claudia Sahm. She’s a macroeconomist who has worked at the Federal Reserve and the White House.They talked about some of the biggest econ issues of the day, how inflation keeps driving up the costs of housing, healthcare, and childcare, and why fallout from a potential AI bubble could trickle through the rest of the economy.You can join Let’s do Lunch and ask your own questions about economics and money every other Tuesday at Noon 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

April Ryan spoke with Representative Shomari Figures, one of only two Black representatives in Alabama, who is now fighting for his seat after redistricting in the state following the SCOTUS decision in Louisiana v. Callais.Like in many districts, affordability and healthcare are on voters’ minds, but Representatives Figures mentions that a key challenge will be getting voters to the polls in November.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