The Contrarian Pod

The Contrarian
  • 4.9 (36)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Jen Rubin and Norm Eisen bring you the best of The Contrarian's unflinching journalism to defend democracy—truthful, not neutral. Listen for political and legal analysis, uncompromising interviews, and steps for actionable resistance in defense of democracy. contrarian.substack.com

  1. Talarico's Colbert Moment, MAGA Eats their Own and Previewing the Midterms

    1H AGO

    Talarico's Colbert Moment, MAGA Eats their Own and Previewing the Midterms

    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 contrarian.substack.com/subscribe

    32 min
  2. We Can Fight Back Against White Supremacy

    1D AGO

    We Can Fight Back Against White Supremacy

    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 contrarian.substack.com/subscribe

    51 min
  3. Pam Bondi's Epstein Cover-Up & How AIPAC Hurts Jewish Americans

    5D AGO

    Pam Bondi's Epstein Cover-Up & How AIPAC Hurts Jewish Americans

    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 contrarian.substack.com/subscribe

    38 min
  4. How Democrats Can Flip Back Latino and Rural Voters

    FEB 11

    How Democrats Can Flip Back Latino and Rural Voters

    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 contrarian.substack.com/subscribe

    36 min
  5. Gov. Josh Shapiro on ICE, Israel, Fair Elections and more

    FEB 10

    Gov. Josh Shapiro on ICE, Israel, Fair Elections and more

    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 contrarian.substack.com/subscribe

    18 min
  6. Rep. Jeffries on Reforming ICE. Georgia Fort's Disgraceful Arrest

    FEB 6

    Rep. Jeffries on Reforming ICE. Georgia Fort's Disgraceful Arrest

    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 contrarian.substack.com/subscribe

    47 min
  7. The Fight over DHS Funding & Protecting Fair Elections

    FEB 4

    The Fight over DHS Funding & Protecting Fair Elections

    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 contrarian.substack.com/subscribe

    38 min
  8. NFL Owners in the Epstein Files & Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Moment

    FEB 3

    NFL Owners in the Epstein Files & Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Moment

    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 contrarian.substack.com/subscribe

    24 min
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4.9
out of 5
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About

Jen Rubin and Norm Eisen bring you the best of The Contrarian's unflinching journalism to defend democracy—truthful, not neutral. Listen for political and legal analysis, uncompromising interviews, and steps for actionable resistance in defense of democracy. contrarian.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    The Contrarian
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    73
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Contrarian
  • Show Website
    The Contrarian Pod

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