Jen Rubin and Heather Cox Richardson in conversation (19 minutes)

The above video comes from a brand new group of fairly well known writers and commentators

Welcome to the Contrarian

Join our new pro-democracy media outlet!

Norman Eisen Jan 21

Democracy faces an unprecedented threat from an authoritarian movement built on lies and contempt for the rule of law. The first and most critical defense of democracy—a robust, independent free press—has been missing in action. Corporate and billionaire media owners have shied away from confrontation, engaged in false equivalence, and sought to curry favor with Donald Trump. It is hardly surprising that readers and viewers are fleeing from these outlets. Americans need an alternative.

The Contrarian is that alternative: unflinching, unapologetic, and unwavering in its commitment to truth-telling. The Contrarian contributors may not agree on all issues (and, in fact, enjoy lively debate), but we share an unequivocal determination to defend our fundamental freedoms and the values essential to a pluralistic democracy.

However, we cannot do this alone! We need all of you to join us, to form a community of democracy defenders, not simply to read and listen to what we put out but to join the conversation, contribute ideas, share experiences, help source exciting new voices, and break through the bubble that insulates so much of established politics and media.

We will platform some of the brightest minds and keenest experts—legal scholars, historians, civil rights leaders, political activists, creatives, policymakers, and journalists—to deliver the unvarnished truth, make sense of the chaos, and help formulate a response to defeat the noxious threat we face today. And we will lift up voices that speak to wider audiences, ones not served by corporate media pablum.

Join us! We are so excited to embark on this journey with all of you. 

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As you may have heard, former Washington Post writer Jen Rubin has joined with Norm Eisen to start up a new substack presence that as you can see above that sets some high goals in an era that we expect to see some form of censorship or intimidation from the current administration.

Standing up to a government that tolerates little criticism is not going to be an easy task. It will take men and women of fortitude and courage. We will need multitudes of outlets to stem the constant barrage of lies, disinformation, misinformation and simply bad policy that we expect to spew from the administration.

Were it only the administration that was the fount of disinformation that would be a formidable battle. But on much of the corporatized media has lined up with them as have the extremely wealthy, corporations of all types and politicians more than willing to sell their souls in order to curry the favor of Trump.

In the last category we have the Iowa delegation to congress who have been totally humiliated by the administration in a show of power and subordination. What the administration has done to Joni Ernst in making her grovel in the service of securing her vote for Pete Hegseth should make every Iowan determined to kick her to the curb and fast.

Watching MAGA politicians including Grandpa Chuck pretending that Stinky Pants pardoning of criminals who attacked this country on January 6th, 2021 is not a big deal should make any America want to puke.

So we wish the folks at the Contrarian well. They are needed in the battle for America’s soul.