But the vote to keep the government open, to me, is a pivotal point. If it's true the vote to keep the government open was the lesser of two evils - then the evils we face have been defined. Pretending this is normal should be over. So, all national leaders should be engaged in protecting our country. Especially Republican MoCs but literally all MoCs must become true leaders. So I wrote to all three of my MoCs in the same vein. But this was my post to Susan Collins' website:
I accept that the vote to keep the government open could be the lesser of two evils.
If your vote was for the lesser of two evils, then as a national leader, you need to be seen, be engaged informing voters, and identify clear paths to fighting this assault on our 250 year history.
But the biggest issues for Republican members of Congress is your reluctance to uphold your role in our constitution. To be an independent branch of government, to protect your power of the purse, and to provide oversight of the administrative branch of government. Republican Senators and Representatives are not doing their job.
The Trump administration, including those confirmed to high level positions, have proven they do not respect or follow the U.S. constitution.
Are Republican members of Congress not responding out of fear or agreement?
It's time to make it clear why you keep voting to sustain this administration. Trump has clearly stated his intent and his disregard for the law and American citizens. And clearly against a democratic, peaceful world order.
If you are afraid of Trump - make it clear and either join the opposition or step down.
If you agree with Trump - make it clear so we know exactly who you are.
If you want to save our democracy - do it now. TIME IS RUNNING OUT!!
Thank you, Adam and Jen. This was exactly what I needed to hear today. This all doesn't depend on me. Adam said, "Take that burden off your shoulder and take a deep breath and stay engaged." I will be at my next Tesla Dealer Protest on Saturday.
Thank you, Ted, and others who are out protesting Tesla, Doge "slash and burn" locations and the offices of political reps who are not vigorously defending our democracy.
Pictures of those nationwide protests are important too. The more they are circulated on social media (including Substack) and conventional media, the more people will take heart and join the cause.
(As one Substack author said, take the photos from behind crowds of people to protect their identities unless you know they don't mind going public.)
Thanks again for protesting, Ted! Every effort counts. And Adam is right that it's not on any one person's shoulders. We do what we can and if you imagine a million other people doing the same thing, you can appreciate what a powerful wave is created by the individual efforts of people all across this country.
Our freedom is worth this fight. If we don't quit, we will win.
You know, how about a transcript?!? I had to sit here for 11 effin' minutes reading closed captions, while I could have read the transcript in probably 2 or 3 minutes!
Please respect your readers' limited time and get those transcripts out.
You are not the only one. I've wondered for quite a while how this is a difficulty :) There are actually 2 transcript options; one to the left of the video [which can be paused while you read] and one just below which will open the entire chat transcript.
PS my bad. I meant to the right of the video screen. I wish Jen would send a picture of these options to illustrate. I find it annoying that The Contrarian staff does not respond or clarify reader issues and leaves it to us to explain.
Completely agree with this sentiment and it would make it easier to absorb a lot of what is posted on this stack. Unlike many, I prefer to read rather than listen. It takes far less time for me and does not involve stupid ear buds.
People have posted over and over again that there are multiple ways to get the transcripts. Stop complaining and Google it if you can't actually see it where everyone else does.
If Chris Murphy doesn’t run in 2028, Adam Kinzinger certainly could. He makes as much sense as anyone on Our Side, always has good zingers AND articles/comments. Appreciate this, Jen! Thanks!
That is what former congressman Adam Kinzinger called Mahmoud Khalil, whom the Trump administration is trying to deport despite there being nothing criminal in his record which is required to deport a green card holder.
"Abhorrent".
Other authors in the never-Trump space use this term to describe Khalil.
Now I am very grateful for the courage of former Republicans like Kinzinger to call Trump out on this and similar issues.
Nonetheless, I would like to ask him and others what specifically has Khalil has done to earn him this tag? Did he engage in violence? Did he raise funds for Hamas? I have found no credible source that says he did.
No, I think Kinzinger et. al are belying the courage they display in opposing Trump in order to retain viability, if possible, in Republican politics. It is "popularism" plain and simple. Popularism of a cowardly form.
If Kinzinger or anyone else can point to incidents where Khalil engaged in violence or raised funds for Hamas, I am willing to retract all of the above.
Of course, Kinzinger is right to maintain that even if Khalil's views were abhorrent or despicable, they are still entitled to First Amendment rights.
By using these words, KInzinger and others enable the Fox News view of the world to be the gold standard, regardless of what the truth is.
Let's compare him to Bernie Sanders and AOC. Though these congresspeople are careful not to endorse violent protest or Hamas support, they do not feel the need to preface their remarks with words like "despicable" or "abhorrent". Are they, therefore, despicable?
A similar incident was the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. I did wish that some of these folks would avoid provocative displays that looked bad on TV. I myself participated in a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020. It was as peaceful as any protest I've ever been in.
But the Fox lens succeeds in calling these protests "riots". There were some riots back then but not all of the protests were riots. In general, equating protests and riots is a calling card of the GOP today. It's false. And by the way, "Black Lives Matter" is not the same as "Defund the Police", which was truly a self-defeating slogan. Do we seriously want to raise a banner that says "Black Lives Don't Matter"? If not, don't call them despicable. We don't need to do that.
Liberal Democrats, of which I am one, are in a coalition with Never Trump Republicans. I think it is self-defeating to use "despicable" or "abhorrent". You don't need these terms to establish your bona fides with your never-Trump base. They open wounds in the coalition we need to build.
Thank you, for Congressman, for doing what you do, and please take this criticism in the spirit with which I intend it. Think about what I've said.
The fight against Trump is not moderates vs liberals. That has never been the point.
Attacking Schumer and fellow Dems takes the focus off the GOP and causes the public at large to think all this bad stuff happening is because of 'certain Dems' rather than Trump and Musk, and the GOP.
That was the point I was making. Those most vocal to speak out against their fellow Dems are typically the liberals and progressives and I do not think anyone can disagree with that.
That is kind of their thing, which they are proud of, but it can at times undermine the nominee if they are not super liberal in a nationwide contest.
Based on what Schumer discovered about Trump and Musk's plans during shutdown, he felt he had no other option than to do what he did.
Some simply disagree and feel passionately about that.
However, he had been fully willing to fight up until that point, so I do not agree that this is about those who are "willing to fight" and those who are not.
It is about how one weighs the harm each approach might cause.
It is kind of insulting to those who simply felt Schumer had no choice to say they did not want to fight and/or are lazy.
Tempers may be high right now, but I do not think anyone had ill intent and certainly not Adam or Jen, they are passionate about what they believe is the right thing - I get that.
BTW - I admire Adam and Jen a lot and I do not mean to be a bee in anyone's bonnet.
I do not mind people disagreeing with me (maybe I am weird that way) in that I am not offended when they do, so I assume others are like me and do not mind people like me who express alternative opinions or may get some things wrong (and I am not afraid to be wrong). I thought The Contrarian was where one could be a bit contrary about stuff - no harm no foul. I did not mean for anyone to get upset and did not assume it would offend anyone if I debated an issue from an opposing view.
I am hearing tonight that Schumer had to cancel some engagements regrading his book due to security issues and threats.
Seriously, now...do you think MAGA is mad he passed the CR? I do not think it is them.
The other day, I started to tell a story about when our house had mice, but decided it was not quite analogous for the situation, and removed it, although it popped into my head.
Now, this situation with Dems and Schumer 'seems' to fit a bit better. Once again, it is simply my point of view, if you disagree (just say so in a comment).
When I lived in AZ, we, on occasion, got mice in our home, and so I got a have-a-hart trap to do catch and release (I wore a mask and gloves because we did get stories on the local news about the deadly virus up in the 4 corners area).
One night, I caught 2 at one time and I heard a lot of squeaking and tussling about and banging in the cage. When I went in to check I saw that one mouse had killed the other out of panic, fear, and rage regarding being trapped.
I think Dems feel trapped and are lashing out. Sure, you may be mad and disagree, but there is nothing to be gained by making Schumer the target of rage when it is the GOP and Trump and Musk, that have set this trap for all of us. There is nothing to be gained by beating each other up over which escape plan is the best one, but we do need to discuss.
The next day, mid-morning, I took the surviving mouse to a field to let him loose and within a few seconds of watching him run and bounce down the hill (quite an energetic murderer) a large owl swooped down and picked him right up, mid-bounce. The first word that popped into my head was:
Karma
Then I simply wondered if I should also take some lesson from it. Maybe what I was doing was not really so kind in the scheme of things. I do not really know.
Good story, and I agree that many dems are attacking dem senators out of the rage of feeling trapped! It isn’t helpful to act like animals. It’s gross.
The House and Senate dems agreed to say no and the house stuck their necks out, then Chuck Schumer did not have their backs. I got an email from Indivisible today saying call you senators and ask them to have Chuck Schumer resign. I had to ask one of my senators to resign as well. Duplicitous Dick Durban. No way am I voting for that hack again. I would rather write in my nephew the chef. He is still too young, but he has his priorities right.
To further explain my position in what I said to you earlier, if Schumer had made this decision earlier and informed the House, how would it have changed their behavior or their ability to be able to do anything? It would not have changed a thing, so I do not see how some of them can claim to be "betrayed" The House, as far as I can tell did not go out on a limb or do anything different based on Schumer's earlier agreement based in incomplete information. The "vilification" seems intentionally overblown into extreme rhetoric.
Actually based on the timeline and the difference between how the Senate and House works, that is not an accurate description, in my view.
Schumer did not find out about Musk and Trump's plan until roughly the last day leading up to the vote. He was told that Mush and Trump had planned to use the shutdown to do even more damage, but at a faster pace by simply never reopening most of government and furloughing most employees - permanently (thus they may have no legal recourse to get they jobs back) but I am not a lawyer, so I do not know, but such a furlough under a shut down does not seem illegal.
The new info was a game changer in his assessment of how best to move forward, so it was not like he intended or planed to go against the agreed upon plan with the House.
The House has the luxury in that it operates via a simple majority, as well. So they could all vote no, and not be blamed for a shutdown nor could they impact whatever plan Musk and Trump had in mind no matter what they do. They have no options.
Although the GOP have both Houses of Congress, and thus, the Dems have no power, in the Senate the Dems can control what gets to the floor, via filibuster, and that is all.
Schumer knew that one solution for his dilemma, was to let it get to the floor and then let most all vote no. The final vote was 54 to 46 (or something like that) and the GOP have 53 members I think, so once it got to the floor the GOP did not need any Dem votes at all to pass it. I'm not sure who voted with them in the end, etc.
So, a rock and a hard place, but not betrayal because the situation on the ground had changed.
To further explain my position in what I said to you earlier, if Schumer had made this decision earlier and informed the House, how would it have changed their behavior (votes) or their ability to be able to do anything? The GOP do not need their votes. It would not have changed a thing, so I do not see how some of them can claim to be "betrayed" The House, as far as I can tell did not go out on a limb or do anything different based on Schumer's earlier agreement based in incomplete information. The "vilification" seems intentionally overblown into extreme rhetoric.
Great interview! Good advice on staying engaged and finding like minded teammates that believe in the bigger picture of democracy. We must continue to fight for democracy despite Schumer.
Democrats need a new leader .. Schumer must go. Democrats need to provide us with the same scripts the MAGAs have to post on FB. Neither AOC or Bernie are the next leaders…they are part of the reason we ARE in this position
But the vote to keep the government open, to me, is a pivotal point. If it's true the vote to keep the government open was the lesser of two evils - then the evils we face have been defined. Pretending this is normal should be over. So, all national leaders should be engaged in protecting our country. Especially Republican MoCs but literally all MoCs must become true leaders. So I wrote to all three of my MoCs in the same vein. But this was my post to Susan Collins' website:
I accept that the vote to keep the government open could be the lesser of two evils.
If your vote was for the lesser of two evils, then as a national leader, you need to be seen, be engaged informing voters, and identify clear paths to fighting this assault on our 250 year history.
But the biggest issues for Republican members of Congress is your reluctance to uphold your role in our constitution. To be an independent branch of government, to protect your power of the purse, and to provide oversight of the administrative branch of government. Republican Senators and Representatives are not doing their job.
The Trump administration, including those confirmed to high level positions, have proven they do not respect or follow the U.S. constitution.
Are Republican members of Congress not responding out of fear or agreement?
It's time to make it clear why you keep voting to sustain this administration. Trump has clearly stated his intent and his disregard for the law and American citizens. And clearly against a democratic, peaceful world order.
If you are afraid of Trump - make it clear and either join the opposition or step down.
If you agree with Trump - make it clear so we know exactly who you are.
If you want to save our democracy - do it now. TIME IS RUNNING OUT!!
Finally, someone who understands what could be worse!
It's time for Pelosi to jerk Schumer's chain like she did Biden's.
Well and succinctly stated.
Trolll Alert, dont feed the Trolls..
?
You really do not understand the consequences of defeating the CR.
She has less influence these days
Thank you, Adam and Jen. This was exactly what I needed to hear today. This all doesn't depend on me. Adam said, "Take that burden off your shoulder and take a deep breath and stay engaged." I will be at my next Tesla Dealer Protest on Saturday.
Thank you, Ted, and others who are out protesting Tesla, Doge "slash and burn" locations and the offices of political reps who are not vigorously defending our democracy.
Pictures of those nationwide protests are important too. The more they are circulated on social media (including Substack) and conventional media, the more people will take heart and join the cause.
(As one Substack author said, take the photos from behind crowds of people to protect their identities unless you know they don't mind going public.)
Thanks again for protesting, Ted! Every effort counts. And Adam is right that it's not on any one person's shoulders. We do what we can and if you imagine a million other people doing the same thing, you can appreciate what a powerful wave is created by the individual efforts of people all across this country.
Our freedom is worth this fight. If we don't quit, we will win.
Thanks! Going to my first protest at the office of Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) on Friday. Adam just gave me an idea for the sign's slogan!
Change leaders! Time to fight.
You know, how about a transcript?!? I had to sit here for 11 effin' minutes reading closed captions, while I could have read the transcript in probably 2 or 3 minutes!
Please respect your readers' limited time and get those transcripts out.
On a computer desktop/laptop you may find a transcript option. Not always on a phone.
Although I generally prefer to read, I have found that I get through the videos by listening while I am getting chores done.
Couldn’t do that if I tried to read everything I wanted to read.
Everyone has a preference as to how they want to receive their information. Don’t condemn one group because they prefer a way that you do not.
There’s enough strife in the US without making this an us vs. them issue.
There is a button that clearly says 'transcript' on it. Am I the only one that can see it?
You are not the only one. I've wondered for quite a while how this is a difficulty :) There are actually 2 transcript options; one to the left of the video [which can be paused while you read] and one just below which will open the entire chat transcript.
PS my bad. I meant to the right of the video screen. I wish Jen would send a picture of these options to illustrate. I find it annoying that The Contrarian staff does not respond or clarify reader issues and leaves it to us to explain.
Completely agree with this sentiment and it would make it easier to absorb a lot of what is posted on this stack. Unlike many, I prefer to read rather than listen. It takes far less time for me and does not involve stupid ear buds.
Completely agree!
People have posted over and over again that there are multiple ways to get the transcripts. Stop complaining and Google it if you can't actually see it where everyone else does.
Pure snark response.
If Chris Murphy doesn’t run in 2028, Adam Kinzinger certainly could. He makes as much sense as anyone on Our Side, always has good zingers AND articles/comments. Appreciate this, Jen! Thanks!
Chris Murphy has been an outspoken critic.
Yes!
Jen, thank you. That was excellent and I will look up Adam Kinzinger's substack. I'd also like to hear from Chris Murphy.
Come on over!
Great interview.
Please bring Sheldon Whitehouse.
"Despicable."
That is what former congressman Adam Kinzinger called Mahmoud Khalil, whom the Trump administration is trying to deport despite there being nothing criminal in his record which is required to deport a green card holder.
"Abhorrent".
Other authors in the never-Trump space use this term to describe Khalil.
Now I am very grateful for the courage of former Republicans like Kinzinger to call Trump out on this and similar issues.
Nonetheless, I would like to ask him and others what specifically has Khalil has done to earn him this tag? Did he engage in violence? Did he raise funds for Hamas? I have found no credible source that says he did.
No, I think Kinzinger et. al are belying the courage they display in opposing Trump in order to retain viability, if possible, in Republican politics. It is "popularism" plain and simple. Popularism of a cowardly form.
If Kinzinger or anyone else can point to incidents where Khalil engaged in violence or raised funds for Hamas, I am willing to retract all of the above.
Of course, Kinzinger is right to maintain that even if Khalil's views were abhorrent or despicable, they are still entitled to First Amendment rights.
By using these words, KInzinger and others enable the Fox News view of the world to be the gold standard, regardless of what the truth is.
Let's compare him to Bernie Sanders and AOC. Though these congresspeople are careful not to endorse violent protest or Hamas support, they do not feel the need to preface their remarks with words like "despicable" or "abhorrent". Are they, therefore, despicable?
A similar incident was the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. I did wish that some of these folks would avoid provocative displays that looked bad on TV. I myself participated in a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020. It was as peaceful as any protest I've ever been in.
But the Fox lens succeeds in calling these protests "riots". There were some riots back then but not all of the protests were riots. In general, equating protests and riots is a calling card of the GOP today. It's false. And by the way, "Black Lives Matter" is not the same as "Defund the Police", which was truly a self-defeating slogan. Do we seriously want to raise a banner that says "Black Lives Don't Matter"? If not, don't call them despicable. We don't need to do that.
Liberal Democrats, of which I am one, are in a coalition with Never Trump Republicans. I think it is self-defeating to use "despicable" or "abhorrent". You don't need these terms to establish your bona fides with your never-Trump base. They open wounds in the coalition we need to build.
Thank you, for Congressman, for doing what you do, and please take this criticism in the spirit with which I intend it. Think about what I've said.
We WILL fight for democracy IN SPITE OF SCHUMER! We need new leadership NOW. October is coming....
The fight against Trump is not moderates vs liberals. That has never been the point.
Attacking Schumer and fellow Dems takes the focus off the GOP and causes the public at large to think all this bad stuff happening is because of 'certain Dems' rather than Trump and Musk, and the GOP.
That was the point I was making. Those most vocal to speak out against their fellow Dems are typically the liberals and progressives and I do not think anyone can disagree with that.
That is kind of their thing, which they are proud of, but it can at times undermine the nominee if they are not super liberal in a nationwide contest.
Based on what Schumer discovered about Trump and Musk's plans during shutdown, he felt he had no other option than to do what he did.
Some simply disagree and feel passionately about that.
However, he had been fully willing to fight up until that point, so I do not agree that this is about those who are "willing to fight" and those who are not.
It is about how one weighs the harm each approach might cause.
It is kind of insulting to those who simply felt Schumer had no choice to say they did not want to fight and/or are lazy.
Tempers may be high right now, but I do not think anyone had ill intent and certainly not Adam or Jen, they are passionate about what they believe is the right thing - I get that.
BTW - I admire Adam and Jen a lot and I do not mean to be a bee in anyone's bonnet.
I do not mind people disagreeing with me (maybe I am weird that way) in that I am not offended when they do, so I assume others are like me and do not mind people like me who express alternative opinions or may get some things wrong (and I am not afraid to be wrong). I thought The Contrarian was where one could be a bit contrary about stuff - no harm no foul. I did not mean for anyone to get upset and did not assume it would offend anyone if I debated an issue from an opposing view.
I simply love debates and to argue a point.
I am hearing tonight that Schumer had to cancel some engagements regrading his book due to security issues and threats.
Seriously, now...do you think MAGA is mad he passed the CR? I do not think it is them.
The other day, I started to tell a story about when our house had mice, but decided it was not quite analogous for the situation, and removed it, although it popped into my head.
Now, this situation with Dems and Schumer 'seems' to fit a bit better. Once again, it is simply my point of view, if you disagree (just say so in a comment).
When I lived in AZ, we, on occasion, got mice in our home, and so I got a have-a-hart trap to do catch and release (I wore a mask and gloves because we did get stories on the local news about the deadly virus up in the 4 corners area).
One night, I caught 2 at one time and I heard a lot of squeaking and tussling about and banging in the cage. When I went in to check I saw that one mouse had killed the other out of panic, fear, and rage regarding being trapped.
I think Dems feel trapped and are lashing out. Sure, you may be mad and disagree, but there is nothing to be gained by making Schumer the target of rage when it is the GOP and Trump and Musk, that have set this trap for all of us. There is nothing to be gained by beating each other up over which escape plan is the best one, but we do need to discuss.
The next day, mid-morning, I took the surviving mouse to a field to let him loose and within a few seconds of watching him run and bounce down the hill (quite an energetic murderer) a large owl swooped down and picked him right up, mid-bounce. The first word that popped into my head was:
Karma
Then I simply wondered if I should also take some lesson from it. Maybe what I was doing was not really so kind in the scheme of things. I do not really know.
Good story, and I agree that many dems are attacking dem senators out of the rage of feeling trapped! It isn’t helpful to act like animals. It’s gross.
The House and Senate dems agreed to say no and the house stuck their necks out, then Chuck Schumer did not have their backs. I got an email from Indivisible today saying call you senators and ask them to have Chuck Schumer resign. I had to ask one of my senators to resign as well. Duplicitous Dick Durban. No way am I voting for that hack again. I would rather write in my nephew the chef. He is still too young, but he has his priorities right.
To further explain my position in what I said to you earlier, if Schumer had made this decision earlier and informed the House, how would it have changed their behavior or their ability to be able to do anything? It would not have changed a thing, so I do not see how some of them can claim to be "betrayed" The House, as far as I can tell did not go out on a limb or do anything different based on Schumer's earlier agreement based in incomplete information. The "vilification" seems intentionally overblown into extreme rhetoric.
Actually based on the timeline and the difference between how the Senate and House works, that is not an accurate description, in my view.
Schumer did not find out about Musk and Trump's plan until roughly the last day leading up to the vote. He was told that Mush and Trump had planned to use the shutdown to do even more damage, but at a faster pace by simply never reopening most of government and furloughing most employees - permanently (thus they may have no legal recourse to get they jobs back) but I am not a lawyer, so I do not know, but such a furlough under a shut down does not seem illegal.
The new info was a game changer in his assessment of how best to move forward, so it was not like he intended or planed to go against the agreed upon plan with the House.
The House has the luxury in that it operates via a simple majority, as well. So they could all vote no, and not be blamed for a shutdown nor could they impact whatever plan Musk and Trump had in mind no matter what they do. They have no options.
Although the GOP have both Houses of Congress, and thus, the Dems have no power, in the Senate the Dems can control what gets to the floor, via filibuster, and that is all.
Schumer knew that one solution for his dilemma, was to let it get to the floor and then let most all vote no. The final vote was 54 to 46 (or something like that) and the GOP have 53 members I think, so once it got to the floor the GOP did not need any Dem votes at all to pass it. I'm not sure who voted with them in the end, etc.
So, a rock and a hard place, but not betrayal because the situation on the ground had changed.
To further explain my position in what I said to you earlier, if Schumer had made this decision earlier and informed the House, how would it have changed their behavior (votes) or their ability to be able to do anything? The GOP do not need their votes. It would not have changed a thing, so I do not see how some of them can claim to be "betrayed" The House, as far as I can tell did not go out on a limb or do anything different based on Schumer's earlier agreement based in incomplete information. The "vilification" seems intentionally overblown into extreme rhetoric.
Great interview! Good advice on staying engaged and finding like minded teammates that believe in the bigger picture of democracy. We must continue to fight for democracy despite Schumer.
Democrats need a new leader .. Schumer must go. Democrats need to provide us with the same scripts the MAGAs have to post on FB. Neither AOC or Bernie are the next leaders…they are part of the reason we ARE in this position