The Contrarian
@contrariannews.org
Unflinching journalism in defense of democracy. https://contrarian.substack.com/
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The Contrarian
@contrariannews.org
· Jan 13
The Contrarian | Substack
Unflinching journalism in defense of democracy. Click to read The Contrarian, a Substack publication. Launched 13 hours ago.
contrarian.substack.com
Welcome to The Contrarian, a new media outlet not owned by anybody
You won’t find cozy alliances, half-measures, or false equivalences here. We bend the knee to no one, vigorously challenge unchecked authority and champion transparency and accountability
Join our venture at contrarian.substack.com
You won’t find cozy alliances, half-measures, or false equivalences here. We bend the knee to no one, vigorously challenge unchecked authority and champion transparency and accountability
Join our venture at contrarian.substack.com
The 8 Senate Dems who caved on affordable healthcare:
Fetterman-PA (reelection in 28)
Cortez Masto-NV (reelection in 28)
Hassan-NH (reelection in 28)
Rosen-NV (reelection in 30)
Kaine-VA (reelection in 30)
King-ME (reelection in 30)
Durbin-IL (retiring)
Shaheen-NH (retiring)
Fetterman-PA (reelection in 28)
Cortez Masto-NV (reelection in 28)
Hassan-NH (reelection in 28)
Rosen-NV (reelection in 30)
Kaine-VA (reelection in 30)
King-ME (reelection in 30)
Durbin-IL (retiring)
Shaheen-NH (retiring)
November 10, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The 8 Senate Dems who caved on affordable healthcare:
Fetterman-PA (reelection in 28)
Cortez Masto-NV (reelection in 28)
Hassan-NH (reelection in 28)
Rosen-NV (reelection in 30)
Kaine-VA (reelection in 30)
King-ME (reelection in 30)
Durbin-IL (retiring)
Shaheen-NH (retiring)
Fetterman-PA (reelection in 28)
Cortez Masto-NV (reelection in 28)
Hassan-NH (reelection in 28)
Rosen-NV (reelection in 30)
Kaine-VA (reelection in 30)
King-ME (reelection in 30)
Durbin-IL (retiring)
Shaheen-NH (retiring)
Not sure why a group of Senate Dems caved last night? We're talking about it right now on Coffee with the Contrarians LIVE! Tune in
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/77247
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/77247
November 10, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Not sure why a group of Senate Dems caved last night? We're talking about it right now on Coffee with the Contrarians LIVE! Tune in
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/77247
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/77247
Coffee with the Contrarians goes LIVE at 9:15 a.m. ET with April Ryan and Juan Proaño!
We’re talking last night’s Senate vote — if dems were going to cave, why now and not 40 days ago? And where is Chuck Schumer in all of this?
Join us on Substack.
We’re talking last night’s Senate vote — if dems were going to cave, why now and not 40 days ago? And where is Chuck Schumer in all of this?
Join us on Substack.
November 10, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Coffee with the Contrarians goes LIVE at 9:15 a.m. ET with April Ryan and Juan Proaño!
We’re talking last night’s Senate vote — if dems were going to cave, why now and not 40 days ago? And where is Chuck Schumer in all of this?
Join us on Substack.
We’re talking last night’s Senate vote — if dems were going to cave, why now and not 40 days ago? And where is Chuck Schumer in all of this?
Join us on Substack.
Trump’s lap dogs in uniform have made one thing clear: the rule of law means nothing to them. Jen Rubin explains.
Lawless Enforcement
The feds are out of control
contrarian.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Trump’s lap dogs in uniform have made one thing clear: the rule of law means nothing to them. Jen Rubin explains.
Reposted by The Contrarian
Not seen a single House D or potential 2028 D support this. They must be the D's who want a future.
November 10, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Not seen a single House D or potential 2028 D support this. They must be the D's who want a future.
Reposted by The Contrarian
This really is curious. Retiring sens who have no political skin in the game drawing their colleagues into a deal that will make the base furious
Durbin - Retiring
Peters - Retiring
Shaheen - Retiring
Peters - Retiring
Shaheen - Retiring
November 9, 2025 at 11:45 PM
This really is curious. Retiring sens who have no political skin in the game drawing their colleagues into a deal that will make the base furious
Reposted by The Contrarian
Democratic cavers brought a rubber chicken to a knife fight
November 10, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Democratic cavers brought a rubber chicken to a knife fight
Watch here: open.substack.com/live-stream/...
Going Live at 9 pm ET. Are you pissed ?? Join @timdickinson.bsky.social and me!
November 10, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Watch here: open.substack.com/live-stream/...
BREAKING: A group of Senate Democrats, along with Republican leaders, have struck a deal that could reopen the government.
@jenrubin.bsky.social and @timdickinson.bsky.social unpack what’s in it — and what happens next. LIVE now on Substack.
open.substack.com/live-stream/...
@jenrubin.bsky.social and @timdickinson.bsky.social unpack what’s in it — and what happens next. LIVE now on Substack.
open.substack.com/live-stream/...
November 10, 2025 at 2:03 AM
BREAKING: A group of Senate Democrats, along with Republican leaders, have struck a deal that could reopen the government.
@jenrubin.bsky.social and @timdickinson.bsky.social unpack what’s in it — and what happens next. LIVE now on Substack.
open.substack.com/live-stream/...
@jenrubin.bsky.social and @timdickinson.bsky.social unpack what’s in it — and what happens next. LIVE now on Substack.
open.substack.com/live-stream/...
Project 2025 becomes more real every day.
Activist and Emmy-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph unpacks it all on the The Tea with April Ryan. You can watch it now on Substack.
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/the-tea-wapril-ryan-ft-mayor-barbara
Activist and Emmy-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph unpacks it all on the The Tea with April Ryan. You can watch it now on Substack.
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/the-tea-wapril-ryan-ft-mayor-barbara
November 8, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Project 2025 becomes more real every day.
Activist and Emmy-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph unpacks it all on the The Tea with April Ryan. You can watch it now on Substack.
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/the-tea-wapril-ryan-ft-mayor-barbara
Activist and Emmy-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph unpacks it all on the The Tea with April Ryan. You can watch it now on Substack.
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/the-tea-wapril-ryan-ft-mayor-barbara
“Today’s recipe celebrates all the wonderful Election Day wins—wins that made me cry with happiness (and relief),” writes Marissa Rothkopf Bates in her latest.
Celebration Biscuits
Taylor ham and cheese biscuits are a wonderful way to savor a mighty election win.
contrarian.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:15 PM
“Today’s recipe celebrates all the wonderful Election Day wins—wins that made me cry with happiness (and relief),” writes Marissa Rothkopf Bates in her latest.
Meet our pets of the week: Riff and Perchik!
Contrarian Pets of the Week
Meet Riff and Perchik!
contrarian.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Meet our pets of the week: Riff and Perchik!
Meredith Blake shares a few TV and movie picks to keep you entertained this weekend.
The Week in Culture: A Forgotten President, 'The Last Republican,' and Sad Scandinavians
Plus a new series from Vince Gilligan and breaking Miss Piggy news
contrarian.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Meredith Blake shares a few TV and movie picks to keep you entertained this weekend.
“He even brought—what are these feelings?—hope and optimism to New York City and to those around the country paying attention to his race. Both are in short supply.” @shalisemyoung.bsky.social on Zohran Mamdani.
Zohran Mamdani ran a campaign that left no one out
Standing tall in both his identity and his beliefs, the New York mayor-elect resonated with his constituents.
contrarian.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:24 PM
“He even brought—what are these feelings?—hope and optimism to New York City and to those around the country paying attention to his race. Both are in short supply.” @shalisemyoung.bsky.social on Zohran Mamdani.
"Trump is doing acts of war on a daily basis."
@benwikler.bsky.social
@benwikler.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 8:35 PM
"Trump is doing acts of war on a daily basis."
@benwikler.bsky.social
@benwikler.bsky.social
The MAGA veil keeps thinning.
MAGA’s Mask-Off Moment
What the Nick Fuentes fiasco reveals about modern conservatism
contrarian.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:44 PM
The MAGA veil keeps thinning.
Trump’s foreign policy is driving away our European allies. Tim Mack explains how.
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/europe-has-lost-faith-in-america
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/europe-has-lost-faith-in-america
Europe Has Lost Faith in America: Where in the World is Tim Mak?
"American guarantees and assurances are not as strong as they once were"
contrarian.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Trump’s foreign policy is driving away our European allies. Tim Mack explains how.
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/europe-has-lost-faith-in-america
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/europe-has-lost-faith-in-america
One reason everything’s still so expensive? This.
@jaredb-econ.bsky.social
@jaredb-econ.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 5:16 PM
One reason everything’s still so expensive? This.
@jaredb-econ.bsky.social
@jaredb-econ.bsky.social
@mitch-landrieu.bsky.social on why Tuesday’s blue wave happened: smart campaign strategy, in-touch candidates, and simple messaging that resonated.
His full conversation with Jen Rubin is up now.
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/the-secret-sauce-to-working-class
His full conversation with Jen Rubin is up now.
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/the-secret-sauce-to-working-class
The Secret Sauce to Working Class Support: Mitch Landrieu on Voting Demographics, Infrastructure, and Healthcare
"We're one team, one fight."
contrarian.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:10 PM
@mitch-landrieu.bsky.social on why Tuesday’s blue wave happened: smart campaign strategy, in-touch candidates, and simple messaging that resonated.
His full conversation with Jen Rubin is up now.
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/the-secret-sauce-to-working-class
His full conversation with Jen Rubin is up now.
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/the-secret-sauce-to-working-class
In this week’s Tom the Dancing Bug, Ruben Bolling delivers “Letters Home from the Second Civil War.”
Tom the Dancing Bug
Letters Home from the Second Civil War
contrarian.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:34 PM
In this week’s Tom the Dancing Bug, Ruben Bolling delivers “Letters Home from the Second Civil War.”
Yesterday on The Tea, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee joined April Ryan to discuss Nancy Pelosi’s impact — and to call out Trump’s tired intimidation tactics.
Her message? Oakland’s ready to push back. Watch the full interview on Substack.
contrarian.substack.com/p/the-tea-wa...
Her message? Oakland’s ready to push back. Watch the full interview on Substack.
contrarian.substack.com/p/the-tea-wa...
November 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Yesterday on The Tea, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee joined April Ryan to discuss Nancy Pelosi’s impact — and to call out Trump’s tired intimidation tactics.
Her message? Oakland’s ready to push back. Watch the full interview on Substack.
contrarian.substack.com/p/the-tea-wa...
Her message? Oakland’s ready to push back. Watch the full interview on Substack.
contrarian.substack.com/p/the-tea-wa...
Ashley Etienne, former communications director and senior advisor to Nancy Pelosi, joins Jen Rubin to reflect on Pelosi’s legislative legacy.
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/reflections-from-pelosis-former-comms
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/reflections-from-pelosis-former-comms
Reflections from Pelosi's Former Comms Director: Ashley Etienne Shares Her Story
"Work for Nancy Pelosi? I want to BE Nancy Pelosi!"
contrarian.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Ashley Etienne, former communications director and senior advisor to Nancy Pelosi, joins Jen Rubin to reflect on Pelosi’s legislative legacy.
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/reflections-from-pelosis-former-comms
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/reflections-from-pelosis-former-comms
“But when it comes to political daring, foresight, strategy, and undaunted grit, California Gov. Gavin Newsom beat Trump at his own game and changed the 2026 landscape.” Jen Rubin on this week’s Undaunted.
Undaunted Leaders
Many outstanding candidates, one daring governor
contrarian.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:24 PM
“But when it comes to political daring, foresight, strategy, and undaunted grit, California Gov. Gavin Newsom beat Trump at his own game and changed the 2026 landscape.” Jen Rubin on this week’s Undaunted.
The five stages of grievance — A cartoon by RJ Matson
The five stages of grievance
A cartoon by RJ Matson
contrarian.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:35 AM
The five stages of grievance — A cartoon by RJ Matson
If Democrats can keep beating the drum on kitchen-table issues like affordable healthcare and lowering the cost of living, more victories could be on the horizon in 2026 and 2028.
November 7, 2025 at 12:54 AM
If Democrats can keep beating the drum on kitchen-table issues like affordable healthcare and lowering the cost of living, more victories could be on the horizon in 2026 and 2028.