February 4: The zone is being flooded by design! To help you parse through what matters, we have pieces by and with Norm Ornstein, Rep. Dan Goldman, Ilan Goldenberg, Senator Andy Kim, Jason Furman
I am really disappointed with The Contrarian. As soon as I saw Jen Rubin's name on it, that very first day, I signed up and paid for a subscription. However, I don't want to watch a bunch of video interviews. I like to read, or perhaps - maybe - listen to an article read by an AI voice while I do something else. Reading is quiet and quick. A video demands that it be watched, and I don't have the interest, the time, or the patience to do that. There's also a lot of silly laughing and giggling, which is irritating. So, Jen - I read your WaPo columns for years, even as a liberal, I subscribed to your podcast, and I immediately signed up for this substack, paid for it, and have generally been a longtime supporter. But I'm not going to stick around much longer if it's going to be primarily video interviews. If I'm in the minority, then you won't miss me anyway.
I prefer to read than listen. I've been told there is a way to read a transcript but haven't figured it out. BUT there is no way Jen could write 3 stories a day. She's doing amazing work, and how about it you give some grace as we/they get this fine tuned. I don't have a better source of written news, read wapo, NYT, Atlantic, guardian and propublica daily. This is the best. Sorry to see you go if thats what you need to do. Seems to me the works is on fire and I can be inconvenienced by a few videos.
Thanks Alexa! We are indeed a work in progress and are figuring this out together. We're not yet a month old, so all of your feedback is a part of our process. We're working to find the ideal balance of content and ways of delivering it to our community--so are very grateful for your patience. Alexa, in terms of reading the transcript, if you're on a Desktop, you can hover over the video at the bottom right, and there is a small icon that looks like a sheet of paper. If you are on an iPhone, clicking on the three little dots on the screen should enable you to read instead of listen.
What you call a "transcript" here is just a series of written boxes that scroll up and disappear as the conversation moves on. That is not a "transcript." Most of us came here to re-discover the pleasure of the uncensored written word. Most of us are also probably from a generation where reading was central to understanding. I have listened to a few podcasts and they neither hold my attention or focus. They allow me the illusion of thinking I am reading for understanding, when all I'm doing is just giving myself a little background noise as I move about the room. It's not the same thing as studying a written article.
I realize some people want podcasts. I think most of us don't. I hope you will take this into consideration.
Thanks for your response. I'm a phone reader not a desktop reader. Might there be a way to attach a transcript of videos to the video as but does? Can't talk you enough for your work on all our behalf.
Many of them do offer an attached transcript. But we'll speak with Substack to see if we can make those transcripts more obvious and accessible. Thanks again!
Actually, there were time periods when Jen wrote two or three stories for a day, every day, for WaPo. I think it was 2015 & '16, when Dumpy first ran for president. Maybe it was during his first reign. Every one of them was pointed and insightful, and I was amazed. Besides, there are several people in this venture together - Norm Eisen and Jen, plus their guests. I don't think it's asking to much to have short pieces to read - and I don't mean following the bouncing ball as they speak.
They're providing a variety! Personally I'm trying to figure out how to get the articles read to me so I can take them in when I can't sit and read. We need all the formats! Thanks!
It's attitudes like yours that contributes to our America's and the world's present predicament. We can't always get exactly what we want. We should look at the big picture and decide if our personal interest is more important. If it is, vote trump. If not, vote Harris. Same with Contrarian. If there is some superficial aspect of it you don't like, ignore it and enjoy what you do like. I don't like the videos either. So, I don't watch them. I do like the news articles, however, so I read them. If my opinion disagrees with yours, then please ignore it. I'm not that learned, anyway.
Like you, I would rather read than listen to podcasts or watch video interviews. So I simply click on the place that says "transcript", & I can read the conversations.
I prefer reading to listening to a podcast or watching a video. But here, the transcript is a full transcript that displays throughout the video -- at least it does on my computer. I can scroll through the transcript independently of the pace of the video. Moreover, a gray overlay moves in step with transcript, but if you move your cursor over the transcript, the gray overlay moves with the cursor; when you click on the gray overlay, the video immediately advances to the corresponding place. So, I don't see the problem that appears to bother others. Watch if you want to watch. Listen if you want to listen. Read if you want to read. Or do a bit of both reading and watching (or listening) by using the gray overlay to go to only the parts of the video you want to watch or listen to.
I see a few people have recommended the transcript icon at the bottom of the video. Better for just plain reading is the "transcript" button, which you can find below the video, below the title. Look at the line of icons that (left-to-right) starts with the "like" button, the "transcript" button is on the right next to the "share" button. The transcripts are accurate and easy to read, formatted almost like a regular written column.
(Anticipating the complaints I get almost every time I point out this--inexplicably seldom-noticed--feature: people have responded that it is not accessible on their phone. I don't see the appeal of reading any text longer than a paragraph on a phone screen, but whatever. Can't please everyone.)
I agree. I want to read. I do not want videos. I do like the comments mechanism here. Hope some of the really witty commenters from Jen's wapo column come here. I miss them.
A large contingent of people keep banging on about how DOGE isn't an official government agency, its minions aren't government workers, that what they are doing is unconstitutional and illegal, and yet damned little is being done to resist their efforts, which are clearly a real and present danger to the country. We need some immediate action. Somebody please, enforce the laws!
ironic isn't it, that FBI agents who resist the non-government DOGE'ers who are firing governmental workers are then fired/put on administrative leave by the same non-governmental people who are illegally making a conquest of protected databases, websites, payment systems. Of all people, can't an FBI official simply say, you can't legally fire me, then proceed to arrest, handcuff and take the lawbreakers off to some detention center from whence they will be arraigned and offered a hearing date? What about Mr. Muck himself? Why doesn't a law-person take custody of him and let him plead his own case to get out of jail????
Deluge the Congress-critters with phone calls, emails, cards, and letters. Clog the switchboards and jam the servers. Remind our "dear" legislators that they serve at the will of the people - not Trump, not Musk, and not the lobbyists in spite of Citizens United. Hammer 'em.
Is anything in his shock awe attack working? 47 blinked during his tariff showdown with Canada and Mexico. What did he get…. a fentanyl czar and some troops at the border. Sunday night stocks were tanking. Monday morning he pulled back. Musks buyout offer was so poorly done it caused employees to stay and fight. He offered the buyout to understaffed control towers during the crash emergency. Trump had to withdraw his stop order on grants. His press conference to blame the crash on DEI was so embarrassing my local Utah channel cut it off. Musks raid on usaid is facing increasing challenges. His firing of IGs was illegal. His firing of fbi agents is facing a law suit.
Its more accurate to say 47s new presidency is shockingly awful!!!
At the very least, his minions are wreaking havoc on the parts of the government that actually do things, shuttering some of them, demoralizing others, removing citizen access to information that it our right to access.
So, yes, to the extent that his goal is to destroy the state and remake it on his terms, "he's" accomplished a lot in 2+ weeks.
And the Canadian troops at the border are ones that had already been agreed to by President Biden & Trudeau. Trump was boasting about a mythical victory that had already been accomplished by Biden!
At least there's a significant push-back on all of his hare-brained executive orders and it's going to get stronger. There will be more and more challenges to them.
2 Lawsuits were filed today on behalf of the FBI Association. the first includes Co-counsel NORM EISEN!:
Whoa ... Norm, another Class Action:
OMG Norm, I count 7 Counts in the Complaint. Case; 1:25-cv-00328.
Let me put the case number in case some readers are active enough to actually put the pleading on a large digital flat screen. I was able to cook dinner on a skillet & look at your 7 Counts.
Norm, I absolutely love COUNT 4 the Mandamus relief but, my personal favorite is COUNT 7 for the INTENTIONAL Violation of Privacy -- Good one! That worked for me in CA's Northern District Constitution but, I admit I had major help from California's EXPRESS Right of privacy spelled in our State Constitution. Hat tips to your Co-counsel: Margaret M. Donovan & Christopher Mattei & others.
*****
Class Action:
Spot On Team, captioned: "Employees & Agents of the FBI vs DOJ & Actor in a supporting role, James McHenry".
Case: 1:25-cv-00323. Filed in federal court District of Columbia.
FBI Agent's Association alleges "vigilante action" ... "thus, placing themselves and their families in immediate danger of retribution by their now pardoned and at large J6 convicted felons".
Hello Contrarian. I'm rooting for you because a. I respect Jennifer and b. It's clear that alternative sources of journalism/facts/commentary are one of the most important kinds of new infrastructure we have to put in place (given the current climate of domination by Fox and the myriad sources of misinformation). Here's an idea I'd like to contribute. After a discussion with a pessimistic friend today (who reported his view that the "democrats" need to get off their ***** and "grow a set", etc. and oppose what the orange man, his personal Elon, and other minions are up to). As I often do in conversations with this person, I'm pointing out a few of the facts I've gleaned about those who ARE actively and fiercely opposing. And then I realized... for every article on the front page of the Big Newspapers that include the name T r >>>, there SHOULD be at least one article about the nonprofits, the partnerships and think tanks, the individuals (A.G.'s in various states, influencers with large followings of different kinds) and everyone else who IS stepping up to actively and fiercely oppose. The reporting has been imbalanced in this way since 2015 and is one of the reasons T r >>> got elected the first time. News agencies seem more attracted to reporting the details of the horror show than they are attracted to vividly telling the stories of everyone who's fighting AGAINST the horror show. This is my suggestion for the Contrarian. Dedicate a portion -- a large portion -- of your reporting to those who are finding the solution, waging the fight. We cannot just wade in the excrement being generated by this "administration"... we must talk about those who are putting up obstacles, fighting with everything they've got to stop the madness. Why? Because this will provide the desperately aforementioned balance, will encourage those of us who are looking for hope and trying to decide on our own courses of action, direct resources and support to the efforts that others might choose to get behind or lend a hand to, and many other very good reasons. In other words: The Contrarian can Help to Steal the goddamn limelight. Perhaps having someone in every state and every major city — even in rural areas and RED STATES (perhaps especially) to help report the Good News (not because it's good news, but because it's a legitimate and essential part of the actual story. Thank you.
That's a great idea, and we'd love to showcase and support the good news--not necessarily the cheery news, but the news about those who are pushing back, resisting, and finding innovative ways to support one another and reject small-minded demagoguery. Please share it when you see it or learn of it happening, especially those of you in states where it's less expected. It's extraordinary how many people are out there trying to do their part. I'll bring this to the team. Thanks Meriah!
Thanks for your note Domenica. I will be on the lookout for stories that may be of interest yet tucked away out of the national limelight. I agree... "cheery news" is not what I have in mind. If I had a staff I'd hook up with someone in every state and major city -- also in smaller cities, especially in red states -- to have them watching out for these kinds of stories and create a pipeline for them to reach a wider audience. Short of that... I'll be watching and making connections as best I can. I have also made a beginning effort on Facebook with a group called FORTIFY: Positive Activism for Safeguarding Our Nation. Its explicit purpose is to encourage people to wake up and participate in the opposition, by offering specific actions they can take, and to report the activities and the press coverage of the opposition. Consider yourself invited. (p.s I started this group in 2017 and ended up with 436 members. I restarted it with some changes 2 days ago and we have added another 23 members since then. I'm shooting for 10 million :)
I hope Schiff and Padilla are too busy coming up with plan to counteract all these illegalities because I’ve sent a number of messages to them both, plus my House rep, and have not received a single response, even an auto-generated one. Or maybe it’s their aids who are too busy? I’m wishing Schatz, Kim, and Murphy were my Senators right now. They’re doing something!
And what about his helpers. Are they properly security cleared employees? Almost definitely not as we know the emperor moves around his staff constantly.
I think this round-up is a good development. It was a preview into the day’s new content with a good summary and flow. But I agree with other commenters here, I don’t want to watch videos. I really want to read the news here. I understand this is a new venture, it takes time to figure out and I’ll take as many trusted news sources as I can get. But please, fewer videos.
I’d like to know if I have grounds to Sue the US Government for exposing my confidential information at the USTreasury Department to Elon Musk without my written permission. Also President Donald Trump for allowing a person unknown to me , no matter how special an employee he may think Mr Musk is, the opportunity to have access to my information for whatever he may choose to use it. I have also contacted my governor, Mr. Shapiro concerning this matter,searching for an answer for I believe my rights are being denied and laws are being broken. I need some peace in this matter. Thank you for listening and answering me.
Well it seems like a job way above me but Nancy Pelosi bought up the same issue on an interview today so I may contact her office. Thank you for your comment.
Jen and Norm: thank you so much for your evening wrap-up...it always gives me hope that there is still sanity out there and that our Democracy/democracy will somehow survive.
I "real" the Contrarian every day, morning and night...and can now just skim the legacy press.
Drop the paywall. This is not a time for selective access to content about the resistence. Surely enough paying subcribers like myself can carry those who can't afford yet another Substack subscription. I'm up to "some hundreds" per year now and thinking about pruning out the sap-wood, so to speak. I've been disappointed as well with all the "live" stuff and not enough carefully curated , edited and attributed written material. I don't frequent Substack to "catch the live stuff". I'm not looking for a social media site, but the kind of writing that Substack was developed to support. The chats, direct messages, 'live feeds', podcast links are all about "brand", not good writing. Keep it clean, Contrarians!!!
Thanks, Just Sayin'. We agree, which is why there is no paywall at the moment. Our content is available to all subscribers as we build the community. You can personally turn off the chat and live feeds--they're not merely about branding, they're also an effort to reach those who are less inclined or less capable of reading. Our feeling is that they, too, should have access to content about the resistance! (If anybody is unable to open content, please contact us at info@contrariannews.org)
So Musk and his minions are now into the VA records. To all you veterans out there, like me, how do you like knowing that the billionaire oligarch who is cozy with the Chinese government, now has access to all your hipa data and can trade with anyone who will give him and tRump financial gain?
I am really disappointed with The Contrarian. As soon as I saw Jen Rubin's name on it, that very first day, I signed up and paid for a subscription. However, I don't want to watch a bunch of video interviews. I like to read, or perhaps - maybe - listen to an article read by an AI voice while I do something else. Reading is quiet and quick. A video demands that it be watched, and I don't have the interest, the time, or the patience to do that. There's also a lot of silly laughing and giggling, which is irritating. So, Jen - I read your WaPo columns for years, even as a liberal, I subscribed to your podcast, and I immediately signed up for this substack, paid for it, and have generally been a longtime supporter. But I'm not going to stick around much longer if it's going to be primarily video interviews. If I'm in the minority, then you won't miss me anyway.
I prefer to read than listen. I've been told there is a way to read a transcript but haven't figured it out. BUT there is no way Jen could write 3 stories a day. She's doing amazing work, and how about it you give some grace as we/they get this fine tuned. I don't have a better source of written news, read wapo, NYT, Atlantic, guardian and propublica daily. This is the best. Sorry to see you go if thats what you need to do. Seems to me the works is on fire and I can be inconvenienced by a few videos.
Thanks Alexa! We are indeed a work in progress and are figuring this out together. We're not yet a month old, so all of your feedback is a part of our process. We're working to find the ideal balance of content and ways of delivering it to our community--so are very grateful for your patience. Alexa, in terms of reading the transcript, if you're on a Desktop, you can hover over the video at the bottom right, and there is a small icon that looks like a sheet of paper. If you are on an iPhone, clicking on the three little dots on the screen should enable you to read instead of listen.
What you call a "transcript" here is just a series of written boxes that scroll up and disappear as the conversation moves on. That is not a "transcript." Most of us came here to re-discover the pleasure of the uncensored written word. Most of us are also probably from a generation where reading was central to understanding. I have listened to a few podcasts and they neither hold my attention or focus. They allow me the illusion of thinking I am reading for understanding, when all I'm doing is just giving myself a little background noise as I move about the room. It's not the same thing as studying a written article.
I realize some people want podcasts. I think most of us don't. I hope you will take this into consideration.
Thanks for your response. I'm a phone reader not a desktop reader. Might there be a way to attach a transcript of videos to the video as but does? Can't talk you enough for your work on all our behalf.
Many of them do offer an attached transcript. But we'll speak with Substack to see if we can make those transcripts more obvious and accessible. Thanks again!
Find out how The Atlantic does it, perhaps? They have transcript below any talking heads vids.
Actually, there were time periods when Jen wrote two or three stories for a day, every day, for WaPo. I think it was 2015 & '16, when Dumpy first ran for president. Maybe it was during his first reign. Every one of them was pointed and insightful, and I was amazed. Besides, there are several people in this venture together - Norm Eisen and Jen, plus their guests. I don't think it's asking to much to have short pieces to read - and I don't mean following the bouncing ball as they speak.
A 'read the text' option is offered. Look for it.
What are you reading on? A computer? I read on my phone and while it's possible it's right there I don't see it.
They're providing a variety! Personally I'm trying to figure out how to get the articles read to me so I can take them in when I can't sit and read. We need all the formats! Thanks!
It's attitudes like yours that contributes to our America's and the world's present predicament. We can't always get exactly what we want. We should look at the big picture and decide if our personal interest is more important. If it is, vote trump. If not, vote Harris. Same with Contrarian. If there is some superficial aspect of it you don't like, ignore it and enjoy what you do like. I don't like the videos either. So, I don't watch them. I do like the news articles, however, so I read them. If my opinion disagrees with yours, then please ignore it. I'm not that learned, anyway.
Like you, I would rather read than listen to podcasts or watch video interviews. So I simply click on the place that says "transcript", & I can read the conversations.
Hope this helps.
I prefer reading to listening to a podcast or watching a video. But here, the transcript is a full transcript that displays throughout the video -- at least it does on my computer. I can scroll through the transcript independently of the pace of the video. Moreover, a gray overlay moves in step with transcript, but if you move your cursor over the transcript, the gray overlay moves with the cursor; when you click on the gray overlay, the video immediately advances to the corresponding place. So, I don't see the problem that appears to bother others. Watch if you want to watch. Listen if you want to listen. Read if you want to read. Or do a bit of both reading and watching (or listening) by using the gray overlay to go to only the parts of the video you want to watch or listen to.
I see a few people have recommended the transcript icon at the bottom of the video. Better for just plain reading is the "transcript" button, which you can find below the video, below the title. Look at the line of icons that (left-to-right) starts with the "like" button, the "transcript" button is on the right next to the "share" button. The transcripts are accurate and easy to read, formatted almost like a regular written column.
(Anticipating the complaints I get almost every time I point out this--inexplicably seldom-noticed--feature: people have responded that it is not accessible on their phone. I don't see the appeal of reading any text longer than a paragraph on a phone screen, but whatever. Can't please everyone.)
I agree. I want to read. I do not want videos. I do like the comments mechanism here. Hope some of the really witty commenters from Jen's wapo column come here. I miss them.
A large contingent of people keep banging on about how DOGE isn't an official government agency, its minions aren't government workers, that what they are doing is unconstitutional and illegal, and yet damned little is being done to resist their efforts, which are clearly a real and present danger to the country. We need some immediate action. Somebody please, enforce the laws!
ironic isn't it, that FBI agents who resist the non-government DOGE'ers who are firing governmental workers are then fired/put on administrative leave by the same non-governmental people who are illegally making a conquest of protected databases, websites, payment systems. Of all people, can't an FBI official simply say, you can't legally fire me, then proceed to arrest, handcuff and take the lawbreakers off to some detention center from whence they will be arraigned and offered a hearing date? What about Mr. Muck himself? Why doesn't a law-person take custody of him and let him plead his own case to get out of jail????
I'm for waterboarding
It's up to us the Governed to lead the way.
Block the DOGE building these algorithmnic vermin are living in and cut all the electricity.
Drive them out of DC. Don't pay a dime in taxes until DOGE and Musk are history.
Technically, an good idea.
Afraid it must be us, but I know I need help in finding those ways. It has been hard and slow so far. 🤕
Deluge the Congress-critters with phone calls, emails, cards, and letters. Clog the switchboards and jam the servers. Remind our "dear" legislators that they serve at the will of the people - not Trump, not Musk, and not the lobbyists in spite of Citizens United. Hammer 'em.
I'm certain I persuaded Sens Cruz and Cornyn, God, I'm fucked.
King Shitzenpantz may be trying to foment violence or a civil war so he can declare martial law and suspend Congress and elections.
Stop the coup.
Hakeem Jeffries can identify about 20 House Republicans who possibly could flip. Three are Cuban Americans from Miami. Here's a letter from a MAGAT, my rep, who represents a majority Dem district. https://files.constantcontact.com/1849eea4801/cd2e90be-43c8-4171-b3c6-a357621f7db9.pdf?_gl=1*uo1jgf*_ga*MDMwMjhjMzctZTFlNy00YzExLWE3NTEtZGUxMmY1OGY0YjEw*_ga_14T5LGLSQ3*MTczNzc0NTk1My4zLjEuMTczNzc0Njg2Ny44LjAuMA..
Please identify all these reps and interview them. Pressure them.
Is anything in his shock awe attack working? 47 blinked during his tariff showdown with Canada and Mexico. What did he get…. a fentanyl czar and some troops at the border. Sunday night stocks were tanking. Monday morning he pulled back. Musks buyout offer was so poorly done it caused employees to stay and fight. He offered the buyout to understaffed control towers during the crash emergency. Trump had to withdraw his stop order on grants. His press conference to blame the crash on DEI was so embarrassing my local Utah channel cut it off. Musks raid on usaid is facing increasing challenges. His firing of IGs was illegal. His firing of fbi agents is facing a law suit.
Its more accurate to say 47s new presidency is shockingly awful!!!
At the very least, his minions are wreaking havoc on the parts of the government that actually do things, shuttering some of them, demoralizing others, removing citizen access to information that it our right to access.
So, yes, to the extent that his goal is to destroy the state and remake it on his terms, "he's" accomplished a lot in 2+ weeks.
The 20k employees taking the buyout is actually a massive underperform.. He is paying people to leave who are already leaving
And the Canadian troops at the border are ones that had already been agreed to by President Biden & Trudeau. Trump was boasting about a mythical victory that had already been accomplished by Biden!
Same with Mexico, just saying. 47 got nothing
At least there's a significant push-back on all of his hare-brained executive orders and it's going to get stronger. There will be more and more challenges to them.
For The Contrarian Community:
2 Lawsuits were filed today on behalf of the FBI Association. the first includes Co-counsel NORM EISEN!:
Whoa ... Norm, another Class Action:
OMG Norm, I count 7 Counts in the Complaint. Case; 1:25-cv-00328.
Let me put the case number in case some readers are active enough to actually put the pleading on a large digital flat screen. I was able to cook dinner on a skillet & look at your 7 Counts.
Norm, I absolutely love COUNT 4 the Mandamus relief but, my personal favorite is COUNT 7 for the INTENTIONAL Violation of Privacy -- Good one! That worked for me in CA's Northern District Constitution but, I admit I had major help from California's EXPRESS Right of privacy spelled in our State Constitution. Hat tips to your Co-counsel: Margaret M. Donovan & Christopher Mattei & others.
*****
Class Action:
Spot On Team, captioned: "Employees & Agents of the FBI vs DOJ & Actor in a supporting role, James McHenry".
Case: 1:25-cv-00323. Filed in federal court District of Columbia.
FBI Agent's Association alleges "vigilante action" ... "thus, placing themselves and their families in immediate danger of retribution by their now pardoned and at large J6 convicted felons".
Hello Contrarian. I'm rooting for you because a. I respect Jennifer and b. It's clear that alternative sources of journalism/facts/commentary are one of the most important kinds of new infrastructure we have to put in place (given the current climate of domination by Fox and the myriad sources of misinformation). Here's an idea I'd like to contribute. After a discussion with a pessimistic friend today (who reported his view that the "democrats" need to get off their ***** and "grow a set", etc. and oppose what the orange man, his personal Elon, and other minions are up to). As I often do in conversations with this person, I'm pointing out a few of the facts I've gleaned about those who ARE actively and fiercely opposing. And then I realized... for every article on the front page of the Big Newspapers that include the name T r >>>, there SHOULD be at least one article about the nonprofits, the partnerships and think tanks, the individuals (A.G.'s in various states, influencers with large followings of different kinds) and everyone else who IS stepping up to actively and fiercely oppose. The reporting has been imbalanced in this way since 2015 and is one of the reasons T r >>> got elected the first time. News agencies seem more attracted to reporting the details of the horror show than they are attracted to vividly telling the stories of everyone who's fighting AGAINST the horror show. This is my suggestion for the Contrarian. Dedicate a portion -- a large portion -- of your reporting to those who are finding the solution, waging the fight. We cannot just wade in the excrement being generated by this "administration"... we must talk about those who are putting up obstacles, fighting with everything they've got to stop the madness. Why? Because this will provide the desperately aforementioned balance, will encourage those of us who are looking for hope and trying to decide on our own courses of action, direct resources and support to the efforts that others might choose to get behind or lend a hand to, and many other very good reasons. In other words: The Contrarian can Help to Steal the goddamn limelight. Perhaps having someone in every state and every major city — even in rural areas and RED STATES (perhaps especially) to help report the Good News (not because it's good news, but because it's a legitimate and essential part of the actual story. Thank you.
That's a great idea, and we'd love to showcase and support the good news--not necessarily the cheery news, but the news about those who are pushing back, resisting, and finding innovative ways to support one another and reject small-minded demagoguery. Please share it when you see it or learn of it happening, especially those of you in states where it's less expected. It's extraordinary how many people are out there trying to do their part. I'll bring this to the team. Thanks Meriah!
Thanks for your note Domenica. I will be on the lookout for stories that may be of interest yet tucked away out of the national limelight. I agree... "cheery news" is not what I have in mind. If I had a staff I'd hook up with someone in every state and major city -- also in smaller cities, especially in red states -- to have them watching out for these kinds of stories and create a pipeline for them to reach a wider audience. Short of that... I'll be watching and making connections as best I can. I have also made a beginning effort on Facebook with a group called FORTIFY: Positive Activism for Safeguarding Our Nation. Its explicit purpose is to encourage people to wake up and participate in the opposition, by offering specific actions they can take, and to report the activities and the press coverage of the opposition. Consider yourself invited. (p.s I started this group in 2017 and ended up with 436 members. I restarted it with some changes 2 days ago and we have added another 23 members since then. I'm shooting for 10 million :)
I contacted my two senators, Padilla and Schiff to send Mr. Musk to muck.
If Mr. Musk is indeed a government employee he is accountable to the same standards and oversight as any other operation,
His grab of Treasury sends him to jail.
Muck is a nice word too.
I hope Schiff and Padilla are too busy coming up with plan to counteract all these illegalities because I’ve sent a number of messages to them both, plus my House rep, and have not received a single response, even an auto-generated one. Or maybe it’s their aids who are too busy? I’m wishing Schatz, Kim, and Murphy were my Senators right now. They’re doing something!
And what about his helpers. Are they properly security cleared employees? Almost definitely not as we know the emperor moves around his staff constantly.
I think this round-up is a good development. It was a preview into the day’s new content with a good summary and flow. But I agree with other commenters here, I don’t want to watch videos. I really want to read the news here. I understand this is a new venture, it takes time to figure out and I’ll take as many trusted news sources as I can get. But please, fewer videos.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You are helping me stay sane!
Love the new email format with headlines and photos... much easier to scan and digest.
I’d like to know if I have grounds to Sue the US Government for exposing my confidential information at the USTreasury Department to Elon Musk without my written permission. Also President Donald Trump for allowing a person unknown to me , no matter how special an employee he may think Mr Musk is, the opportunity to have access to my information for whatever he may choose to use it. I have also contacted my governor, Mr. Shapiro concerning this matter,searching for an answer for I believe my rights are being denied and laws are being broken. I need some peace in this matter. Thank you for listening and answering me.
Potentially, but you might have to show tat your data was shared in order to gain standing?
Well it seems like a job way above me but Nancy Pelosi bought up the same issue on an interview today so I may contact her office. Thank you for your comment.
Keep on building, Team Contrarian!
It may feel like you are tripping and flailing now, but you two are off to a fantastic start!
Team Contrarian is zipping Zip; check the 2 class actions BELOW.
Jen and Norm: thank you so much for your evening wrap-up...it always gives me hope that there is still sanity out there and that our Democracy/democracy will somehow survive.
I "real" the Contrarian every day, morning and night...and can now just skim the legacy press.
Many thanks....
Drop the paywall. This is not a time for selective access to content about the resistence. Surely enough paying subcribers like myself can carry those who can't afford yet another Substack subscription. I'm up to "some hundreds" per year now and thinking about pruning out the sap-wood, so to speak. I've been disappointed as well with all the "live" stuff and not enough carefully curated , edited and attributed written material. I don't frequent Substack to "catch the live stuff". I'm not looking for a social media site, but the kind of writing that Substack was developed to support. The chats, direct messages, 'live feeds', podcast links are all about "brand", not good writing. Keep it clean, Contrarians!!!
Thanks, Just Sayin'. We agree, which is why there is no paywall at the moment. Our content is available to all subscribers as we build the community. You can personally turn off the chat and live feeds--they're not merely about branding, they're also an effort to reach those who are less inclined or less capable of reading. Our feeling is that they, too, should have access to content about the resistance! (If anybody is unable to open content, please contact us at info@contrariannews.org)
I think you can lurk on this site without paying.
So Musk and his minions are now into the VA records. To all you veterans out there, like me, how do you like knowing that the billionaire oligarch who is cozy with the Chinese government, now has access to all your hipa data and can trade with anyone who will give him and tRump financial gain?
It’s time to clean up on isle 47 !