The Contrarian Pod

On Coffee with Contrarians, Jen Rubin and Norm Eisen chatted with Ben Sheehan, Civics Expert and author of the book, “What Does the Constitution Actually Say?”

You might have seen his constitutional explainers for The Contrarian, making an issue in the news or a statute of the Constitution easy to understand.

The trio talked about why understanding the Constitution is more important than ever and about “Civics Made Easy,” a show Ben hosts which just had its second season premiere on PBS.

You can join Coffee With Contrarians. Live every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday...

With only 20 days ahead of the midterm elections, Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King from the Drum Major Institute discussed the importance of building Black and Brown political power, and fighting legislative oppression at the ballot box on the Tea with April Ryan.

“Our daughter just turned 18 in May. This is the first election that she’s able to vote in. Her generation is the first generation since the end of Reconstruction that have progressively lost rights since the day that they were born. She and her peers in this election, where they’re able to vot...

On Coffee with Contrarians, Jen Rubin and Norm Eisen chatted with Mike Zamore, National Director of Policy and Government Affairs at the ACLU. They discussed the ACLU’s new report on Trump’s mass deportation agenda, titled “76 Ways Mass Deportation is Breaking Our Democracy.”

They also discussed how the ACLU is working to safeguard mail-in voting against the administration’s potential threats to the midterm elections.

You can join Coffee with Contrarians live every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 9:15 AM Eastern time.

The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you...

On Coffee with Contrarians, special guest hosts Maria Cardona and Juan Proaño took the episode to Texas, and chatted with congressional candidate Johnny Garcia in San Antonio and Representative Ramón Romero Jr. from Fort Worth.

They talked about what it will take to win back the Latino vote in Texas, Trump’s campaign stop in San Antonio, and why the latest incidents of ICE brutality are a bipartisan issue.

You can join Coffee with Contrarians live every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 9:15 AM Eastern time.

The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your...

On Coffee with Contrarians Jen Rubin, Norm Eisen and April Ryan discussed Trump’s abhorrent comments about sacrificing Los Angeles and San Diego in the war with Iran.

April also talked about her new book, “Notes on a Blacklash” and reflected on the time a Housing and Urban Development official in the Trump Administration referred to her as “Miss Piggy”

You can join Coffee With Contrarians. Live every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 9:15 AM Eastern time.

The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics...

Contrarian Editor in chief Jen Rubin sat down with author Jennifer Weiss Wolf. Jennifer is the executive director of the Birnbaum Women’s Leadership Center at NYU School of Law and she’s out with a new book: When in Menopause: A User’s Manual and Citizen’s Guide.

You might have seen in the news that Congress, and government health agencies are suddenly very interested in menopause and hormone therapy. But this is not a new conversation: doctors have been pushing for more attention on menopause for decades. Jen and Jennifer discussed why advocating for women’s health g...

Contrarian senior editor Tim Dickinson spoke with two candidates hoping to flip tough House seats in the November midterms, Bob Brooks in Pennsylvania and Chaz Molder in Tennessee.

Brooks is a firefighter and union leader in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. He brings a working class perspective that’s a big contrast to incumbent Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie.

And Chaz Molder is no stranger to winning tough races. He’s served two terms as mayor of Columbia, Tennessee, in a region that has consistently voted for Trump.

Tim and Chaz talked about the pushback agains...

On Coffee with Contrarians, Jen Rubin and Norm Eisen chatted with Adrienne Elrod, Democratic political strategist.

The trio talked about Trump’s latest commercial, which not only could be the world’s worst campaign ad, but also possibly violates the Hatch Act, and the key Senate races they’re tracking ahead of the November midterms.

You can join Coffee With Contrarians. Live every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 9:15 AM Eastern time.

The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day ag...

Contrarian senior editor Tim Dickinson chatted with Sarah Mehta, a deputy director of the ACLU and an expert in immigration policy.

They discussed the Trump Administration’s practice of deporting vulnerable asylum seekers to third countries — where they have no cultural ties, no right to long term residence, and could be subject to abuse, or worse illegally sent back to the home counties that they fled from.

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...

On Coffee with Contrarians, Jen Rubin and Norm Eisen chatted with Ben Wikler, a political organizer and the former chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin

The trio discussed yet another Trump legal L this week: a federal judge’s block on his press ban against MS NOW, POLITICO, and CNN. Then, they dived into all things midterms, Ben’s top races to watch in November and how communities can stand up to corporate tax breaks for data centers at the ballot box.

You can join Coffee With Contrarians. Live every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 9...

On Coffee with Contrarians earlier today, Jen Rubin and Norm Eisen chatted with Tom Malinowski, Former New Jersey Congressman, speechwriter for President Bill Clinton, and diplomat in the Obama administration.

This week is the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, putting foreign policy at the forefront of today’s news. The trio reacted to Trump’s antagonistic address to allies at the UN General Assembly, particularly his possible threat against Iran, and his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. They also tackled the escalating costs from the Iran War and why we should make a pl...

On Let’s do Lunch, economist and Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress Jared Bernstein answered your burning economics questions with Ernie Tedeschi, Chief Economist at Stripe. Tedeschi is the former Director of Economics at Yale’s Budget Lab, and Former Chief Economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisors under President Joe Biden.

The two discussed how the constantly increasing diesel prices, which just hit a new high, are rippling through the economy. They also consider how tariffs may affect midterm outcomes and unpack the reality behind rising interest rates.

You can...

We have a special edition of the Tea with April Ryan for you today, April took a trip to the annual Congressional Black Caucus conference in DC and chatted with Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) and Rep. Angie Nixon (D-FL) from the Convention Center.

She also had the chance to sit down with Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) to discuss the upcoming midterms and what he wants to see Democrats fight for if they take over Congress.

You can join The Tea with April Ryan, live every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30pm ET.

The Contrarian...

On the Tea with April Ryan, April chatted with vote.org CEO Andrea Hailey. Vote.org helped 8.3 million people vote in 2024 and lets voters check their registration status, find polling locations, and see what’s on the ballot.

April and Andrea talked about the importance of making a concrete plan — and even backup plan — to vote, why 18 year olds are registering to vote in droves, and a recent Supreme Court decision protecting mail-in voting from federal limits.

You can join The Tea with April Ryan, live every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30pm ET.

The Co...

Contrarian senior editor Tim Dickinson got the chance to sit down with three House candidates who are all fighting to flip swing districts across the midwest: Jake Johnson in Minnesota, Christina Hines in Michigan and Mitchell Berman in Wisconsin.

They share strong lived experience in their communities – as a teacher, a prosecutor, and a nurse – that informs their platforms to fight for working class Americans ignored by the Trump administration.

We talked about their backstories, why they’re running, what makes their districts unique, and the drumbeat of this election: affordability, affordability, affordability

The Co...

On Coffee with Contrarians earlier this week, editor in chief Jennifer Rubin caught up with independent journalist Jim Acosta.

They recapped night one of Trump-a-Palooza and Senator John Fetterman’s (D-PA) cameo at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, why a voting backup plan is so crucial, and the ongoing destruction of CBS’ “60 Minutes” from within.

You can join Coffee with Contrarians, live every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:15am eastern time.

The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every da...

Contrarian senior editor Tim Dickinson got the chance to catch up with Ezra Levin. Ezra is the co-founder of Indivisible, one of the leading organizations behind the No Kings events, which have opposed the Trump Administration’s abuses of power through mass peaceful protest and mobilization efforts

He gave us a sneak peak at the next big No Kings action for October 17, a nationwide early voting campaign to boost early turnout and build resistance against a possible authoritarian takeover of the midterm elections.

The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring yo...

On this week’s Let’s do Lunch, economist and Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress Jared Bernstein answered your economics questions with Kyla Scanlon.

She’s a contributing columnist for the New York Times opinion page and Foreign Policy, runs her own economics substack which is one of our favorite reads, and is currently working on her second book.

They talked about the recent jobs report, whether gas prices will ever come down, and the current state of the vibes-cession

You can join Let’s do Lunch with Jared and other re...

On the Tea with April Ryan, April chatted with Florida congresswoman Angie Nixon. Angie is running for Senate in the Midterms against MAGA-endorsed Senator Ashley Moody.

They discussed seeking justice for Pierre Damas Bel and Haitians who’ve lost legal residency protections under TPS, and Rep. Nixon’s history of fighting Florida’s attempts at undemocratic redistricting through protest.

You can join The Tea with April Ryan, live every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30pm ET at ContrarianNews.org

The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices...

Contrarian senior editor Tim Dickinson got the chance to sit down with Troy Jackson. He’s running for Senate in Maine against faux republican moderate Susan Collins, who perpetually voices concern about Trump’s agenda, and then quietly enables it.

Troy Jackson may be new to the Maine Senate race, you might remember he got the nomination after Graham Platner was forced out, but he’s been fighting for everyday people for decades. He’s a former logger, and previous president of the Maine State Senate.

The two talked about how Trump’s failed tariffs and Iran W...

On Coffee with Contrarians, Contrarian publisher Norm Eisen chatted with Skye Perryman, the President and CEO of Democracy Forward.

The two updated us on recent court cases they’ve partnered on, the protests at East Potomac golf course, and Skye’s new book! It’s called: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times, which Hillary Clinton called, “A manual for people who are tired of wringing their hands and are ready to roll up their sleeves.”

Coffee with Contrarians is live every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:15am eastern at ContrarianNews.org

The Contrarian is owned by nobody...

On the Tea with April Ryan, April chatted with LaTosha Brown, the co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund

They talked about the bigger meaning of Friday’s March on Washington, the importance of mobilizing Black voters ahead of the midterms.

You can join The Tea with April Ryan, live every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30pm ET.

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.

On Coffee with Contrarians this morning, Contrarian publisher Norm Eisen chatted with Juan Proaño, the CEO of LULAC. The League of United Latin American Citizens is the largest and oldest Hispanic and Latin-American civil rights organization in the US.

Norm and Juan reflected on the iconic Dolly Parton’s life and legacy. Then, the two revealed how the pending merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. will have real life implications, not just in media and politics, but on the lives of ordinary citizens. They also gave us a sneak preview of the March on Washington, taking pla...

After Senator Lindsey Graham’s death in July, his sister Darline Graham was appointed to fill the seat and is now campaigning for a full term.

But, after her poor performance during a debate against Republican runoff challenger Rep. Ralph Norman, this Republican stronghold now sits on shaky ground.

Dr. Annie Andrews, the Democrat in the race, believes that South Carolinians deserve better than MAGA no knothings and Republican extremists. Andrews’ background in pediatric medicine guides her views on freedom, gun violence, and healthcare affordability.

The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subs...

On Coffee with Contrarians this week, Contrarian publisher Norm Eisen spoke with Adam Klasfeld, the Editor in Chief of All Rise News.

First, Norm gave us an update on legal cases made possible by all you Contrarians! Then, Norm and Adam discussed Trump’s lavish vanity projects, checked in on Todd Blanche, and wondered what is up with the Natalie Harp situation.

You can join us for Coffee with Contrarians, live, every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:15am eastern time on The Contrarian.

The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us...

Today on The Contrarian Pod, you’ll hear from two Florida nominees for the statewide ballot who exemplify the Big Tent coalition the Democrats are assembling this November.

In an upset last night, democratic socialist candidate Angie Nixon won the nomination for Florida’s Senate seat, beating out Alex Vindman with more than 56% of the vote, Nixon’s win underscores the power of organizing.

Nixon talked about how she’s preparing for her general election fight against incumbent Ashley Moody, the importance of Medicare for All, and about Cafe Resistance: her thriving bookstore, cafe, and communit...

Earlier this week on Coffee with the Contrarians, Contrarian senior editor Tim Dickinson sat down with special guest Juan Proaño, CEO of LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens.

They talked about how ICE’s human rights abuses continue to escalate with recent deaths at the Delaney Detention Center in New Jersey, and how Todd Blanche is already a rubber stamp for Trump mere weeks into the job.

You can join Coffee with Contrarians, live every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:15am eastern time at ContrarianNews.org

The Contrarian is owned by...

Earlier this month, the Secretary of Health and Human Services unveiled the first episode of a new program “that empowers families to make healthy eating practical, approachable, and affordable,” according to the HHS website.

And no, there’s not any roadkill involved.

Contrarian senior editor Tim Dickinson, culture columnist Meredith Blake and editor Meghan Houser discuss RFK’s foray into food media and what it tells us about the current administration’s food policy, Trump’s fascination with media coverage, and what the deal is with seed oils.

The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your...

Economist and Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress Jared Bernstein is back with Let’s Do Lunch!

Jared sat down with Devesh Kodnani, an economist working on his PhD at MIT, where he also works with the Institute for Work and Employment Research. He focuses on how to make jobs good and work better for people.

This week, they answered all your questions on progressive economic policy, the July jobs report, and whether Trump’s tariff refunds will impact American consumers.

You can join Let’s Do Lunch live every other Tuesda...

On Coffee with Contrarians earlier this week, April Ryan chatted with former U.S. Attorney, and friend of the Contrarian, Joyce Vance. They looked at how President Trump is using National Parks Funding for his own personal vanity projects and why, on the 1 year anniversary of the National Guard Deployment to Washington, D.C., we absolutely can't forget about the Epstein Files.

You can join Coffee with Contrarians live every Monday, Wedbesday, and Thursday at 9:15 AM Eastern.

The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics...

Jessica Killin is running for Colorado’s 5th district, which encompasses Colorado Springs. Like many in the district, Killin is a military veteran, and she has also served in leadership roles on Capitol Hill and at the White House.

She’s up against Republican incumbent Jeff Crank, who Killin argues is more interested in serving Trump than his constituents. We talked about her priorities for the district, which has never elected a Democrat, and why she thinks she can flip the seat.

The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the...

Last week, The DOJ dismissed its Reflecting Pool “vandalism” case against Olympic Canoeist Davey Hearn. Then, Todd Blanche announced that he officially axed Trump’s $1.8 billion anti-weaponization slush fund, as part of Blanche’s bid to become attorney general.

Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Contrarian senior editor Tim Dickinson talked about the Administration’s mishandling of these two issues and the broader implications of Blanche’s nomination for the justice system. They also talked about the wildfires raging in the West, the threat climate change poses to the environment and the economy.

The Contrarian is owned by...

Last week, The DOJ dismissed its Reflecting Pool “vandalism” case against Olympic Canoeist Davey Hearn. Then, Todd Blanche announced that he officially axed Trump’s $1.8 billion anti-weaponization slush fund, as part of Blanche’s bid to become attorney general.

Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Contrarian senior editor Tim Dickinson talked about the Administration’s mishandling of these two issues and the broader implications of Blanche’s nomination for the justice system. They also talked about the wildfires raging in the West, the threat climate change poses to the environment and the economy.

The Contrarian is owned by...

Contrarian senior editor Tim Dickinson sat down with Epstein survivors Lara Blume McGee and Sharlene Rochard, about their pursuit for accountability for the Epstein sex trafficking ring. The pair were in D.C. advocating against the attorney general nomination of Todd Blanche whom they accuse of a coverup of the Epstein Files.

And, April Ryan chatted with Ashley Etienne [09:39] about her recent op-ed on how the Black vote powers Democrats but how those voters don’t receive much in return.

The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest vo...

As of Wednesday afternoon, a Senate judiciary committee vote to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination to become Attorney General is scheduled for Thursday, July 30. Contrarian senior editor Tim Dickinson sat down with Senator Jacky Rosen from Nevada to talk about why Blanche’s mishandling of the release of the Epstein Files and connection to Trump’s $1.776 billion slush fund make him unfit to lead the justice department.

Senator Rosen’s also shared her recent legislative moves to demand FEMA assistance for wildfire prevention, highlight the Iran war’s costs for Nevadans, oppose presidential pardons for Ghislaine Maxwell, and fight...

On this week’s Let’s Do Lunch, Economist and Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, Jared Bernstein sat down with with Neale Mahoney. Neale runs the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.

They answered questions on private healthcare markets, what factors are driving up the cost of your groceries, and what Trump’s economic harms look like as real numbers

You can catch the Let’s Do Lunch live every other Tuesday at Noon et at ContrarianNews.org

The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the...

On The Tea with April Ryan, April caught up with Charles Blow. Charles is a journalist, author, and former New York Times columnist

They talked about Trump walking back his threat to subpoena the Times, how Georgia is raising the stakes for the midterms, and unpacked how Black Americans constantly struggle against political oppression and racially-targeted violence.

You can catch the Tea with April Ryan, live Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30pm eastern at ContrarianNews.org

The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics...

On Coffee with Contrarians earlier this week, publisher Norm Eisen chatted with New York Times Politics Reporter Maggie Haberman about her latest book, Regime Change, co-authored with fellow White House reporter Jonathan Swan.

Regime Change is an inside look at Trump’s second term, his willingness to use power unlike any other president in American history, and how four years out of office built up his desire to surround himself with loyal supporters who would allow him to smash norms and wield that power.

The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us br...

On Coffee with Contrarians earlier this week, I caught up with Juan Proaño and former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance.

Juan, you might remember, is the head of LULAC, the nation’s oldest and most important Hispanic civil rights organization. We got on-the-ground ICE updates from Maine and Texas, upcoming elections in Arizona and how DOGE failed us yet again with its cuts in food safety regulation and the spread of cyclospora.

The Contrarian is owned by nobody. Your paid subscription helps us bring you the brightest voices in politics & culture and fight every day aga...

On Coffee with Contrarians earlier this week, our publisher Norm Eisen chatted with Brian Tyler Cohen. He’s the host of the No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen YouTube show and podcast, where he’s chatted with guests like Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and so many more.

He’s out with his second book, The Day After, How to Wield Power in a Post-Trump World, which looks at the GOP’s effective way of abusing power and the Democrats’ opportunity to actually step up and fight back to protect democracy. Norm and Brian also react...