Today, we remember Alexei Navalny, a courageous advocate for justice and democracy. His unwavering commitment to fighting corruption and standing up for the rights of the oppressed has inspired countless individuals around the world.
Though he faced immense challenges and adversity, Alexei's spirit and determination never wavered. He stood as a beacon of hope for many, reminding us all of the importance of speaking out against injustice.
As we honor his memory, let us carry forward his legacy by continuing to advocate for freedom, truth, and the values he held dear. May his courage inspire us to stand up for what is right, and may his family find solace in the love and support of those who share in their grief.
Rest in peace, Alexei. Your fight will not be forgotten.
Let’s not forget his words! “The politics of authoritarian country is structured in a very primitive way, you are either for the regime or against it. All other political options have been completely obliterated” Alexei Navalny, Patriot
Thank you for those words on such a great man and such a loss to this world. May we have just an oz of his strength. Thank you Mary and again Thank you Jen
Thank you, Mary. I would also like to recommend that people read "Patriot", Navalny's memoir published by his wife. It is written in his voice as he tells his story with candid personal reflections - that means it is not ponderous and very readable. It helped me get a sense of the man behind the headlines and it also provides great information about the recent regimes in Russia and the evil Putin.
WOW, WOW, WOW! While everything that is coming our way from the Contrarian is so helpful and insightful, this conversation between Jen and Ambassador Rice entrenches in me the hope first ignited this morning in Jen's conversation with Heather Cox Richardson that this whole mess and trauma we are experiencing really could yield a nation actually functioning according to its espoused ideals. Endless thanks to all at The Contrarian!
The late Steve Jobs used to say "“A players attract A players. B players attract C players.” We have to really take that down several notches for this Trump Administration. When you start out as a criminal D player, the kind of people you attract might otherwise be filling prisons.
Thanks Jen for the interview with Ambassador Rice. She is such an amazing and smart woman. She definitely didn't sugarcoat anything. We need more people like her to be as blunt as possible and to keep on being blunt.
Now, if the amazing Susan Rice and about 250 or more of her fellow, former leaders would band together to express their outrage, I would be very happy.
This interview is great and makes some important points, but what I'd really like to see is an interview with any of the numerous Republican members of congress explaining why they are so scared to stand up for what they previously claimed was essential. Is the need to remain in power so important that what is done with that power doesn't matter?
It's quite simple: most of them were already enrolled in the MAGA cult before they were elected, and the older ones have to risk being primaried by the wealthiest man on Earth. And that's it...
For me, THE main cause of what is happening today is the fact that non-MAGA media, journalists, and politicians have not paid attention to the radical transformation the GOP went through in the last decade. WHY is it that today's GOP is doing EVERYTHING that Putin always wanted and what goes directly against the vital interests of both the US and Europe? We don't know, Rice repeats, after so many other journalists and politicians said the same.
We DO know. For years already, Trump was manipulated by America's neofascist ideologues. What those people actively want is the END of democracy and the installation of fascism not just in the US but all over the world. And they are real ideologues, which means: they are passionate about saving humanity.
Who are these ideologues? Patrick Deneen, Curtis Yarvin, Kevin Roberts and his new Heritage Foundation.
Who has been reading their work and admiring it for years and years already? Elon Musk, Peter Thiel (who bought Vance's Senate seat), and other tech billionaires.
America's neofascists (again, including Trump advisor Steve Bannon) have literally been meeting, in-person, with Europe's neofascists and... Alexander Dugin, Putin's palace ideologue. They have been plotting strategies to END DEMOCRACY IN THE WEST and install fascism everywhere, because they sincerely believe that democracy will never lead to world peace or a thriving society, only fascism can achieve such a goal. Obviously, they cannot use the word fascism, so they call it "post-liberalism" or "illiberalism" and then present it as the pinacle of democracy - as Vance did in Munich (he didn't invent this idea, Dugin did).
How could you argue that fascism is the highest form of democracy?
Democracy is defined as the constitutional separation of the three branches of government, each being independent. That means: the beating heart of a democracy is Congress, the legislative branch. It writes bills, decides what taxes to raise and what to fund or what agencies to create or close down. The job of the executive branch of government (Congress) is to "faithfully execute" so implement the bills passed by Congress. It does NOT have the legal power to ignore existing law or create new legislation (through executive orders) and it does not have the legal power to end funding or close entire agencies.
The third branch, the judiciary, has to enforce the law, treating everyone equally before the law.
Neofascists argue that this system doesn't work. The president is elected by the people and therefore, all power of all branches of government should be "bundled" into the power of the executive, with Congress and the courts playing a merely "advisory role" (or in the case of Congress, as Bannon recently argued in an interview with the WSJ, being reduced to writing the legal fine print of what the executive decides to do). "Fasces" in Latin means "bundle". Ending the separation of the three branches of government IS the very definition of fascism.
Unfortunately, this interview doesn't address any of this. I'm truly afraid that if all that the media and politicians do, in times like these, is to simply show that what MAGA does is not democratic, MAGA will always be one step ahead of us. We need to urgently and publicly address the root cause of the problem, which is the fact that the US has now been taken over by AMERICANS who SHARE Putin's and Xi's political ideology 100%.
That is why they dismantle USAID (a key pro-democracy propaganda tool). This is why they negotiate with Putin without even including Ukraine and Europe and give him all that he wants. This is why they try to fire all civil servants; they are all nonpartisan, which means that they will continue to follow the constitutional independence of Congress, exactly what fascism rejects. This is not about "loyalty to Trump" (Trump is merely their clown-in-chief); it's about loyalty to a fascist ideology and, therefore, accepting to ignore the Constitution and follow what your own direct superior asks you to do instead.
Finally, if you read what neofascists write (both the Russian and Western ones), racism is actually NOT at the heart of neofascist ideology. It's one of the things that makes neofascism new. Of course, they need racists to win elections so they'll happily empower racists. But what they actually believe is that only imposing fundamentalist Christian cultural values will save America. You don't need to be of any particular color of skin to agree with that. This is why more people of color than ever before voted for MAGA in 2024. The fight against DEI is NOT the typical white supremacist attack here. DEI stands mostly for imposing fluid GENDER concepts onto a population of uneducated Americans who don't have the intellectual and emotional tools to adopt those concepts - at least, that's the DEI part that they all believe we should get rid of because they don't benefit anyone, in their eyes.
CONCLUSION: I love The Contrarian and have tremendous respect and admiration for Susan Rice, but this interview shows that even the best journalists and politicians are NOT getting it. We urgently need you to research neofascism in the US and then openly address the REAL arguments they use to defend it. Only when we do that can we refute those arguments and beat them. If not, we'll always be one step behind, stuck in helpless outrage, with no real understanding of what is happening. YES WE CAN!!
Memory of Alexei Navalny
Today, we remember Alexei Navalny, a courageous advocate for justice and democracy. His unwavering commitment to fighting corruption and standing up for the rights of the oppressed has inspired countless individuals around the world.
Though he faced immense challenges and adversity, Alexei's spirit and determination never wavered. He stood as a beacon of hope for many, reminding us all of the importance of speaking out against injustice.
As we honor his memory, let us carry forward his legacy by continuing to advocate for freedom, truth, and the values he held dear. May his courage inspire us to stand up for what is right, and may his family find solace in the love and support of those who share in their grief.
Rest in peace, Alexei. Your fight will not be forgotten.
Let’s not forget his words! “The politics of authoritarian country is structured in a very primitive way, you are either for the regime or against it. All other political options have been completely obliterated” Alexei Navalny, Patriot
Thank you for those words on such a great man and such a loss to this world. May we have just an oz of his strength. Thank you Mary and again Thank you Jen
Thank you, Mary. I would also like to recommend that people read "Patriot", Navalny's memoir published by his wife. It is written in his voice as he tells his story with candid personal reflections - that means it is not ponderous and very readable. It helped me get a sense of the man behind the headlines and it also provides great information about the recent regimes in Russia and the evil Putin.
Jennifer Rubin: You and Norm Eisen are doing such good and important work with the Contrarian. Thank you.
Just plant a bunch of windmills, wind turbines, whatever else, on that fuckers golf courses in Ireland and Scotland. Do it now.
Make the golfers putt through a windmill. Like mini golf.
Loved this video. Both Jen Rubin and Susan Rice did great. Telling it like it is. Good questions great answers!
Wow! Amazing commentary. Both of you hit it out of the park!
WOW, WOW, WOW! While everything that is coming our way from the Contrarian is so helpful and insightful, this conversation between Jen and Ambassador Rice entrenches in me the hope first ignited this morning in Jen's conversation with Heather Cox Richardson that this whole mess and trauma we are experiencing really could yield a nation actually functioning according to its espoused ideals. Endless thanks to all at The Contrarian!
The late Steve Jobs used to say "“A players attract A players. B players attract C players.” We have to really take that down several notches for this Trump Administration. When you start out as a criminal D player, the kind of people you attract might otherwise be filling prisons.
I just have to ask- what do you think Steve Jobs’ reaction to Tim Cook sliming on into the broligarchy would be?
Thanks Jen for the interview with Ambassador Rice. She is such an amazing and smart woman. She definitely didn't sugarcoat anything. We need more people like her to be as blunt as possible and to keep on being blunt.
Now, if the amazing Susan Rice and about 250 or more of her fellow, former leaders would band together to express their outrage, I would be very happy.
This interview is great and makes some important points, but what I'd really like to see is an interview with any of the numerous Republican members of congress explaining why they are so scared to stand up for what they previously claimed was essential. Is the need to remain in power so important that what is done with that power doesn't matter?
Read Dana Milbank’s book, “ The Destructionists: The Twenty-Five Year Crack-Up of the Republican Party.”
It's quite simple: most of them were already enrolled in the MAGA cult before they were elected, and the older ones have to risk being primaried by the wealthiest man on Earth. And that's it...
I would also like to hear the answer to those questions from the Republicans. If they would come clean they could either be ousted or helped.
Excellent piece. Thank you.
Diverse, inclusive, equanimous, accessible. Huh. What a concept.
Jennifer,
This interaction with Ambassador Rice is outstanding. We need to continue to find ways to give Susan’s passion voice.
Thank You
After listening to Jen and Rubin's discussion I am beginning to think we have a Manchurian Candidate in the White House. My goodness!
It certainly seems so
For me, THE main cause of what is happening today is the fact that non-MAGA media, journalists, and politicians have not paid attention to the radical transformation the GOP went through in the last decade. WHY is it that today's GOP is doing EVERYTHING that Putin always wanted and what goes directly against the vital interests of both the US and Europe? We don't know, Rice repeats, after so many other journalists and politicians said the same.
We DO know. For years already, Trump was manipulated by America's neofascist ideologues. What those people actively want is the END of democracy and the installation of fascism not just in the US but all over the world. And they are real ideologues, which means: they are passionate about saving humanity.
Who are these ideologues? Patrick Deneen, Curtis Yarvin, Kevin Roberts and his new Heritage Foundation.
Who has been reading their work and admiring it for years and years already? Elon Musk, Peter Thiel (who bought Vance's Senate seat), and other tech billionaires.
America's neofascists (again, including Trump advisor Steve Bannon) have literally been meeting, in-person, with Europe's neofascists and... Alexander Dugin, Putin's palace ideologue. They have been plotting strategies to END DEMOCRACY IN THE WEST and install fascism everywhere, because they sincerely believe that democracy will never lead to world peace or a thriving society, only fascism can achieve such a goal. Obviously, they cannot use the word fascism, so they call it "post-liberalism" or "illiberalism" and then present it as the pinacle of democracy - as Vance did in Munich (he didn't invent this idea, Dugin did).
How could you argue that fascism is the highest form of democracy?
Democracy is defined as the constitutional separation of the three branches of government, each being independent. That means: the beating heart of a democracy is Congress, the legislative branch. It writes bills, decides what taxes to raise and what to fund or what agencies to create or close down. The job of the executive branch of government (Congress) is to "faithfully execute" so implement the bills passed by Congress. It does NOT have the legal power to ignore existing law or create new legislation (through executive orders) and it does not have the legal power to end funding or close entire agencies.
The third branch, the judiciary, has to enforce the law, treating everyone equally before the law.
Neofascists argue that this system doesn't work. The president is elected by the people and therefore, all power of all branches of government should be "bundled" into the power of the executive, with Congress and the courts playing a merely "advisory role" (or in the case of Congress, as Bannon recently argued in an interview with the WSJ, being reduced to writing the legal fine print of what the executive decides to do). "Fasces" in Latin means "bundle". Ending the separation of the three branches of government IS the very definition of fascism.
Unfortunately, this interview doesn't address any of this. I'm truly afraid that if all that the media and politicians do, in times like these, is to simply show that what MAGA does is not democratic, MAGA will always be one step ahead of us. We need to urgently and publicly address the root cause of the problem, which is the fact that the US has now been taken over by AMERICANS who SHARE Putin's and Xi's political ideology 100%.
That is why they dismantle USAID (a key pro-democracy propaganda tool). This is why they negotiate with Putin without even including Ukraine and Europe and give him all that he wants. This is why they try to fire all civil servants; they are all nonpartisan, which means that they will continue to follow the constitutional independence of Congress, exactly what fascism rejects. This is not about "loyalty to Trump" (Trump is merely their clown-in-chief); it's about loyalty to a fascist ideology and, therefore, accepting to ignore the Constitution and follow what your own direct superior asks you to do instead.
Finally, if you read what neofascists write (both the Russian and Western ones), racism is actually NOT at the heart of neofascist ideology. It's one of the things that makes neofascism new. Of course, they need racists to win elections so they'll happily empower racists. But what they actually believe is that only imposing fundamentalist Christian cultural values will save America. You don't need to be of any particular color of skin to agree with that. This is why more people of color than ever before voted for MAGA in 2024. The fight against DEI is NOT the typical white supremacist attack here. DEI stands mostly for imposing fluid GENDER concepts onto a population of uneducated Americans who don't have the intellectual and emotional tools to adopt those concepts - at least, that's the DEI part that they all believe we should get rid of because they don't benefit anyone, in their eyes.
CONCLUSION: I love The Contrarian and have tremendous respect and admiration for Susan Rice, but this interview shows that even the best journalists and politicians are NOT getting it. We urgently need you to research neofascism in the US and then openly address the REAL arguments they use to defend it. Only when we do that can we refute those arguments and beat them. If not, we'll always be one step behind, stuck in helpless outrage, with no real understanding of what is happening. YES WE CAN!!
Susan Rice for President!