Contrarians' Day Afternoon Roundup
February 17: Featuring Jen Rubin in conversation with Heather Cox Richardson and with HW Brands, April Ryan, the New Deal Descendants, Ted Widmer--plus a special presidential reel
Happy Presidents’ Contrarians’ Day! This morning was filled with content honoring the national leaders who actually deserve this day of respect. Please enjoy, and don’t forget to tune in from 2-3 Eastern for some great LIVE chat with Jen Rubin, Norm Eisen, and special guests
Some Presidents Deserve to be Honored
I’m old enough to remember when we had Lincoln’s Birthday and Washington’s Birthday as separate holidays. They were combined into the bland “Presidents’ Day” in 1971. It was an unfortunate choice—not merely because we lost a day off from school and work. The average person today may not even know which presidents we are celebrating…
Jen Rubin and Heather Cox Richardson on the broken promise of presidential integrity
On this Presidents’ Day, or Contrarians’ Day as we’re calling it, Jen Rubin and Heather Cox Richardson discuss how the once taken-for-granted principles of presidential honesty and integrity—mythologized since George Washington and the cherry tree—became eroded in recent decades by cynical (Republican) politics to a present in which the president and hi…
Discontent and the disconnect of Presidents' Day
By April Ryan
This Presidents' Day, there is a tug-of-war of ideas over presidential politics, financial shifts, mass federal firings, and the open debate as to who is American and how they show up authentically in this country.
All of the above overshadow the intent of this day: to pay reverence to the nation's first president, George Washington, and those who followed.
Trump’s Project 2025 is a disaster. Here’s what must replace it.
By James Roosevelt Jr., Henry Scott Wallace and June Hopkins
As 'New Deal' descendants, we know economic security for Americans is key to stopping power-hungry oligarchs from endangering our republic.
President Musk
On this Presidents’—or as we’re calling it, Contrarians’—Day, The Contrarian presents a brief, 100% accurate revue of all those who have occupied the halls of executive power. Here’s hoping our current leader decides to see if there’s life on Mars.
Trump's influence on the economy from a historical perspective
On this very special Presidents’ Day — or Contrarians’ Day as we like to call it — Jen Rubin and H.W. Brands discuss how Trump poses a major threat to the peace and prosperity of the post-WW2 order.
Remembering the Real Presidents of Presidents’ Day
For most Americans, Presidents’ Day is little more than a mid-winter sales bonanza, a chance to buy discounted appliances with long names, like the GE Profile™ Opal™ Nugget Ice Maker + Side Tank, or the bObsweep Dustin Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum and Mop with 100-Day Dock.
Thanks for being with us! See you at 2:00 for the Substack Live show! Don’t miss it…
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My celebration of Contrarions Day today in DC - protesting on the Mall with thousands of others. Let our voices be heard!
"If we are to have another (Civil War) , I predict that the dividing line will not be the Mason and Dixon line, but between patriotism and intelligence on one side, and superstition, ambition, and ignorance on the other." President Ulysses S. Grant