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The Contrarian

@contrariannews.org
139K followers 144 following 5.7K posts

Unflinching journalism in defense of democracy. contrarian.substack.com

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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 34m
Something special is happening across the country right now. @rufusgifford.bsky.social tells us what he’s watching ⬇️
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Norm Eisen @normeisen.bsky.social · 2h
From accelerating Epstein file disclosures to reinstating illegally fired U.S. Attorney Roger Rogoff, DDF & DDA scored 5 major court wins this week A microcosm of how we're holding this administration accountable Full list in my weekly column @ContrarianNews.org 👇 -TN
contrariannews.org
We Object! DOJ’s Latest Attack on our Heroic Federal Judges
Publisher’s Roundup 87
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 18h
Friendly reminder: This mess was created by Republicans. Abandoning ship won’t make us forget their role in Trump’s corruption. @alsobrooks.senate.gov
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 20h
Norm is on a roll in the ongoing fight against the Trump administration’s corruption—and it’s thanks to YOU, Contrarians! @normeisen.bsky.social
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 21h
"Morello believes that at this point, it may not be his generation that leads our way out of the current global chaos. But that doesn’t slow down his commitment to the work."
contrariannews.org
Tom Morello Is Still Raging
With his first solo rock album and the superstar “Power to the People” concert, the incendiary guitarist and activist ha
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Norm Eisen @normeisen.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Thank you @barackobama.bsky.social for calling on the legal profession to step up to protect elections Our democracy needs you! If you are a lawyer with some time to give, join the good fight w/ @wetheaction.bsky.social👇
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 23h
Read our first edition, and subscribe so you don't miss the next one: www.contrariannews.org
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 23h
Welcome to The Culture Clash newsletter! You'll find exclusive interviews, deep dives on what is happening across the cultural sphere, and recommendations for what to read, watch, and listen to next.
contrariannews.org
NEW! Catch Up On Culture With Me
Exclusive interviews, deep dives, and recommendations, delivered to your inbox every other week.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 02/10/2026
Gov. Hochul explains: “In what world would the police learn from the victim that she had been literally been gang raped’ and that she believed ‘100 percent’ she had been raped and not elevate those allegations to the district attorney” Read Jen’s jolt for more :
contrariannews.org
The Trump Economy Stinks
And New York Gov. Hochul shows true leadership.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 02/10/2026
Governor Kathy Hotchul has renamed Letitia James, the NY State AG, to serve as special prosecutor to investigate Jane Doe’s Allegations against Cornell University and the Seven men she alleges raped her.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 02/10/2026
Read this & more in Jen Rubin's Daily jolt: @jenrubin.bsky.social
contrariannews.org
The Trump Economy Stinks
And New York Gov. Hochul shows true leadership.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 02/10/2026
U.S. nonfarm payrolls added only 29,000 jobs, well below expectations, in September while unemployment rose to 4.2 percent. Good luck to Republicans spinning this away. (Image by @byheatherlong.bsky.social)
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 02/10/2026
More here:
contrariannews.org
Next on the Docket: Dismantling Democracy
The Supreme Court is enabling Trump’s corruption while also doing the kind of institutional damage that will long outlast him.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 02/10/2026
As a result of that decision, state legislatures initiated unprecedented mid-cycle redistricting that produced even more partisan and racial gerrymandering than did the actual 2020 redistricting cycle. All of which, SCOTUS has since affirmed, is just fine.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 02/10/2026
The Supreme Court will have had a hand in any potential gap between voters’ preferences and election results. In April, the Court’s Republican appointees nullified what remained of the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v. Callais.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 02/10/2026
Polling suggests that voters in the upcoming midterms prefer the Democratic Party by pretty significant margins. Despite that data, there is considerable uncertainty about whether Democrats will gain control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. 🧵
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 02/10/2026
Chief Justice John Roberts’s plan to degrade Black voting rights was apparent even before his confirmation to the Supreme Court. @jenrubin.bsky.social spoke with journalists @ariberman.bsky.social and @pemalevy.bsky.social on the issue:
contrariannews.org
Black Voting Power Is Being Dismantled. Is It Too Late to Stop Its Erosion?
Ari Berman and Pema Levy explain how the country arrived at this point and what can be done to avoid paying a greater po
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 02/10/2026
The threat of AI is no longer something of the future. It is here now, and it’s up to our leaders to respond.
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Norm Eisen @normeisen.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
To everyone who's stood by my friend Davey Hearn: he's so grateful & so are we Davey says if it can happen to him, it can happen to anybody, & you showed up like you knew it @democracydefendersfund.org, @washlitgroup.bsky.social & Steptoe are proud to stand w/ him & w/ you Davey on GMA👇 -TN
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 02/10/2026
NEWS: The September jobs report is in — and it's ugly. 29,000 jobs added, well below the 80,000 expected. Unemployment up to 4.2%. Wages growing at their slowest pace in 5 years. And inflation is outpacing every dollar of those gains — sitting at 3.4%
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 02/10/2026
Culture writer Meredith Blake goes deeper:
contrariannews.org
‘Primetime’ Revisits a Tawdry Turning Point in TV History
‘To Catch a Predator” reflected an era of extreme sensationalism that we’re still reckoning with today
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 02/10/2026
A more skeptical take is that "To Catch a Predator" turned vigilante justice into bottom-feeding entertainment, relying on ethically dubious tactics to entrap a handful of unfortunate losers, while the Jeffrey Epsteins of the world remained free.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 02/10/2026
There’s a newly released movie named Primetime, where actor Robert Pattinson takes on the role of Chris Hansen to explore the extremely mixed legacy of the once popular show, “To Catch a Predator”
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 02/10/2026
Tom the Dancing Bug: L’il Lucky Duckette: “The poor little duck who’s rich in luck.” By Ruben Bolling
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 02/10/2026
Since returning to office, Trump has followed a familiar pattern among autocrats — attack the arts.
contrariannews.org
Undaunted Arts in D.C.
🚨32 Days to the Midterms🚨
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Laura Murphy was the ACLU Legislative Director in D.C. for 17 years. Now, she’s LIVE with April Ryan to discuss voting rights challenges & later, Senator Alsobrooks joins the show! Tune in: open.substack.com/live-stream/...
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Go deeper:
contrariannews.org
7 Governor Races to Watch
How a Blue Wave could expand Democratic governing power.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Oregon Outlook: Lean D The emerging competition in Oregon reveals that even a deep blue state is not immune from the anti-incumbent fervor of 2026. Gov. Tina Kotek, who has been in state politics for two decades finds herself in an uphill fight against Deceivingly extreme Sen. Christine Drazan.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Nevada Outlook: Toss Up Dems have a chance to beat a GOP incumbent. Aaron Ford, the state’s AG and former senate majority leader, is running as the “make-stuff-cost-less Governor,” against incumbent Joe Lombardo, a Trumpy former Vegas area sheriff best known for a record-setting veto streak.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Texas Outlook: Likely R Motivated by defending public education, Gina Hinojosa is a former civil rights lawyer and school board member running against incumbent Greg Abbott, who is campaigning with MAGA bigot Bo French. Gina joined The Contrarian to discuss:
contrariannews.org
Coffee with Contrarians ft. Maria Cardona, Gina Hinojosa, and Juan Proaño
Why Greg Abbott isn’t right for Texas, another ICE shooting in Houston, and reaching out to MAGA moms
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Wisconsin Outlook: Tossup Dem candidate, David Crowley is running on what he calls “Badger Basics”, focused on the issue of affordability. His challenger, Rep. Tom Tiffany, repeatedly enables the War in Iran and backs Trump’s trade war with Canada.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Ohio Outlook: Tossup Dr. Amy Acton is a former Director of the Ohio Department of Health who became a statewide figure when she led the state through the Covid pandemic. She is up against Vivek Ramaswamy, a billionaire who Trump has referred to as “something SPECIAL” Jen spoke with Dr. Acton:
contrariannews.org
Ohioans Want Change. Billionaires Won't Help.
Dr. Amy Acton Answers the Call for Ohio Governor
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Georgia Outlook: Tossup Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Atlanta mayor is running on a message of affordability for Georgians. She is up against a billionaire healthcare CEO running on a vague platform that includes using ‘AI to eliminate wasteful spending.” Watch April’s interview with Bottoms’:
open.substack.com
The Tea w/ April Ryan ft. Jamal Bryant & Keisha Lance Bottoms
A recording from The Tea w/ April Ryan 08/21
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Florida Outlook: Likely R Trump is becoming a liability, even in the land of Mar-a-Lago. This Governor race between David Jolly and Trump-hypeman, Byron Donalds may prove to be closer than expected: Tim spoke with David Jolly about the race:
open.substack.com
Going for Governor: David Jolly Pursues a Post-DeSantis Florida
The Democratic nominee is focused on Florida's future, not refereeing the Democratic Party.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Governors offer a crucial line of defense as our democracy strains against the unstable authoritarian impulses of President Donald Trump. Keep reading to learn about 7 governor races to watch ahead of the midterms: 🧵
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
“The ideological clowns are out. The patriotic cowboys are in, with testosterone testing on top.” It’s hard to believe Pete Hegseth prepares such idiotic phrases in advance. Jen writes more: www.contrariannews.org/p/hegseths-d… @jenrubin.bsky.social
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Laura Murphy spent 17 years as Director of the ACLU's Washington Legislative Office. She joins @aprildryan.bsky.social on The Tea today to discuss the latest voting rights challenges. Watch LIVE at 5:30pm ET: open.substack.com/live-stream/...
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Trump spent millions of taxpayer dollars to run his campaign ads. Here’s how Rep. Bennie Thompson is responding: @benniethompson.bsky.social
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Read the list here:
contrariannews.org
7 Governor Races to Watch
How a Blue Wave could expand Democratic governing power.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
In several states, Democrats also have a chance to bust up GOP trifectas — meaning states where one party holds the governorship and both chambers of the legislature — ending the MAGA stranglehold on state government.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Governors can also move the needle on vital priorities from reproductive rights to data center regulation and healthcare access. Particularly in the South, winning governor seats is a prerequisite to unwinding the racist redistricting enabled by the Supreme Court’s execrable Callais decision.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Why does electing Democratic governors matter? State chief executives offer a crucial line of defense as our democracy strains against the unstable authoritarian impulses of President Donald Trump.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
If the 2026 midterms develop into a Blue Wave, Democrats not only have an opportunity to capture Congress, but to expand their capacity to govern in states across the nation.🧵
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Support these legal WINS against Trump's corruption! Subscribe to The Contrarian now: www.contrariannews.org/subscribe
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Tim Dickinson took a deep dive into the Governor races shaping up to be most notable during this election season. Here are the 7 races to watch closely: @timdickinson.bsky.social
contrariannews.org
7 Governor Races to Watch
How a Blue Wave could expand Democratic governing power.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
“Here’s a lot of vulnerability. Here’s also a beautiful love story, an awful criminal story, a violent story, a traumatizing story”, Salman Rushdie tells the Contrarian about his upcoming documentary, which details his recovery from his 2022 assassination attempt.
contrarian.substack.com
Why Salman Rushdie Wants to ‘Get on With It’
The author talks about a new documentary chronicling his recovery from an assassination attempt in 2022, and his many ye
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Americans are paying the price for Trump’s reckless Iran War. Josh Turek explains what it means for Iowans ⬇️ @joshturek4iowa.bsky.social
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
The Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration can keep deporting people to countries they are not from, with as little as 24 hours heads up before their flight, and the court decided this secretly.
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Norm Eisen @normeisen.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
BREAKING: Davey Hearn reflecting pool prosecution dismissed WITH PREJUDICE That means the case cannot be brought again  Huge victory for Davey, for us at @democracydefendersfund.org & our legal team colleagues Washington Litigation Group and Steptoe--& for rule of law More to follow!
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 01/10/2026
Schmitt’s Slam Dunk by Michael de Adder
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