Independent journalism is the only way for the middle class to gain their power back. The elites want to eliminate the middle class and vilify the poor, all while they grow richer and richer.
Thank you for standing up for your beliefs. I used to love the WaPo, but it's clear that billionaires should not be allowed to own journalistic media companies.
there's a huge, huge difference between ethics and authoritarianism. an independent reporting body who cannot be instructed by its owner to report on something a certain way, and who cannot be penalized by law for reporting the truth, is a crucial aspect of democracy.
Authoritarianism lies within ethics itself. And to think that the Washington post, or any, as you say journalistic media company, is an independent truth producer then you sorely misunderstand how things are in regard to corporate/financial governance over everything in this country, especially what you and I know as ‘news’ or journalism that’s mass produced. The whole things a sham anyways, wapo foxnews, democrat, republican. Special interest in , special interest out.
Look up council of foreign relations and see how many past cabinet members belong to this little organization. Then look into the federal bank and jacket island 1937. Should make more sense.
But I’ll be damned if someone’s freedom of speech, or the ability to disseminate that speech (freedom of press) be hindered by shortsightedness because people like you don’t like the current administration. I wish we lived in a more intelligent society where bs could be spotted and laughed at for what it is, but there’s this thing called the Bible Belt, and unfortunately we have a long way to go before fox news is just another sitcom, and wapo is the funny papers.
None of that stuff is real. Like I said to the Columbia journalism review, I fear for journalism in general.
One of the biggest problems America has is the fetishizing of the freedom of speech. It's been fetishized to the point where it is at the tipping point of meaninglessness.
Also, in a capitalist society, what you are thinking about in terms of ethics doesn’t exist because ethics infers human interface whereas what we have are corporate/government entities that are not bound by your ethics, so yeah we can say how terrible ‘they’ are( I’m sure you have a list) but these entities operate in the system they created and uphold through lobbying and such, so it’s messed up the way they do fo sho, but can’t blame a capitalist pig for gorging now can we.
Billionaires seem to do a better job than wall street at owning news companies who run them absolutely into the ground. Except for Lion King. That was cool.
What we actually need is subscriber funded media of quality.
Calling out FOX News as the biggest routine *purveyor* of mis- and dis-information is also crucial. FOX News--and its lesser imitators like Newsmax, OANN, etc.--are precisely why Trump and GOP influencers *do* routinely lie and fabulize. Because RW media does not and will not call them out on their facts-free drivel. Until or unless FOX et al are forced to return to the Fairness Doctrine or tightened libel law, our democracy will not survive.
Murdoch lost his bid to revoke his family’s “irrevocable “ trust; now, upon his passing, the management of Fox will be shared among his four children, three of whom are not MAGA/Trump sycophants. Will be interesting.
What a relief - things are going to get crazy and I'm so delighted to be able to get Jennifer Rubin's commentary which I've missed since cancelling my WaPo subscription. I want to support real journalism so I'm directing my $$ previously spent on Wapo to this one and others with similar approach.
We do have a choice: National strike January 20th no work, no shopping except local small business, no inauguration, no TV , no social media, a day of service is recommended for those who can. Please join and pass the word. The time to use your voice is now.
Turn off the TV? Do not shop online? Do not use social media?
If thousands of us were doing this for the day, it would definitely be noticed. And it might be more popular than a work stoppage because we in the U.S. have an allergy to general strikes. We shouldn't but we do.
I like the idea. Maybe more than one day. I've seen arguments for not paying federal taxes, but that would hurt a lot of people, so maybe we give that a pass.
Count me in. It's Dr. King's holiday, so already a good day for service, too.
I have also heard making this weekly in some form, and I like that too. Gold Star mothers went on a one-day-per-week hunger strike during uthe Iraq War, and many of us joined them. I would really like to do something like this, too.
Ms. Rubin, I've been reading your WAPO column for many years and have agreed with them almost 100%. Your departure from the WAPO is their loss. Your opening statement in this new venture is music to my ears, and I look forward to more of the same.
Thanks for starting The Contrarian. As you think through the topics to cover, please give consideration to the intersection of the American workplace and the rise of authoritarianism in the social/political spheres. It's hard to fully understand the latter without a good understanding of the former, and (imho) there's very little out there to help folks grasp not just the link between their work lives and their civic lives, but how the workplace can be among the most relevant fronts for resistance in the months/years to come. In any event, thank you again; the display of courage in 'leaving home' and starting something new is much needed and appreciated.
So glad to see this. We need brave voices in journalism. Thanks for helping build out, in my opinion, what will be an 'anchor brand' of empirical truth journalism alternative sources. We have all been clamoring for this. Will share far and wide!
Welcome to the fight. Substack is already brimming with anti-authoritarian content, but I welcome the visibility that comes with your high-profile launch. Also, I like the name you chose - it kinda reclaims "contrarian" for the left and center, after the right has had presumptive ownership of it lately.
I love that you’re here and I’m excited to read and see your articles in podcasts. I hope some of what you report on is intricately intertwined with information of how we can fight Project 2025.
Independent journalism is the only way for the middle class to gain their power back. The elites want to eliminate the middle class and vilify the poor, all while they grow richer and richer.
Thank you for standing up for your beliefs. I used to love the WaPo, but it's clear that billionaires should not be allowed to own journalistic media companies.
Yes. The oligarchs want to MAKE the middle-class poor and then vilify the 95% who are not them. They need to be metaphorically run out on a rail.
Literally might be best.
She must have meant literally. Metaphorically won't do a thing!
"Independent journalism is the only way for the middle class to gain their power back."
So no power for the poor? They don't deserve it?
Agree.
Billionaires should nit be allowed. Period.
Not!!! Old fingers.
‘Should not be allowed to own’? Talk about authoritarian…
there's a huge, huge difference between ethics and authoritarianism. an independent reporting body who cannot be instructed by its owner to report on something a certain way, and who cannot be penalized by law for reporting the truth, is a crucial aspect of democracy.
Authoritarianism lies within ethics itself. And to think that the Washington post, or any, as you say journalistic media company, is an independent truth producer then you sorely misunderstand how things are in regard to corporate/financial governance over everything in this country, especially what you and I know as ‘news’ or journalism that’s mass produced. The whole things a sham anyways, wapo foxnews, democrat, republican. Special interest in , special interest out.
Look up council of foreign relations and see how many past cabinet members belong to this little organization. Then look into the federal bank and jacket island 1937. Should make more sense.
But I’ll be damned if someone’s freedom of speech, or the ability to disseminate that speech (freedom of press) be hindered by shortsightedness because people like you don’t like the current administration. I wish we lived in a more intelligent society where bs could be spotted and laughed at for what it is, but there’s this thing called the Bible Belt, and unfortunately we have a long way to go before fox news is just another sitcom, and wapo is the funny papers.
None of that stuff is real. Like I said to the Columbia journalism review, I fear for journalism in general.
Sorry if this is a repeated reply
One of the biggest problems America has is the fetishizing of the freedom of speech. It's been fetishized to the point where it is at the tipping point of meaninglessness.
Also, in a capitalist society, what you are thinking about in terms of ethics doesn’t exist because ethics infers human interface whereas what we have are corporate/government entities that are not bound by your ethics, so yeah we can say how terrible ‘they’ are( I’m sure you have a list) but these entities operate in the system they created and uphold through lobbying and such, so it’s messed up the way they do fo sho, but can’t blame a capitalist pig for gorging now can we.
Billionaires seem to do a better job than wall street at owning news companies who run them absolutely into the ground. Except for Lion King. That was cool.
What we actually need is subscriber funded media of quality.
Helo Substack!
Thank you!!! I am so grateful you are doing this!
Seconded! "Unflinching journalism in defense of democracy" is a great tagline. Take heart that government workers like me will undermine Trump like we did during his first term. Disinformation is the biggest danger to our democracy: https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/trump-musk-and-zuckerberg-fan-the
Hope you can stay the course under the onslaught of the DOGE purge team. Thank you for fighting the good fight from within the system!
Calling out FOX News as the biggest routine *purveyor* of mis- and dis-information is also crucial. FOX News--and its lesser imitators like Newsmax, OANN, etc.--are precisely why Trump and GOP influencers *do* routinely lie and fabulize. Because RW media does not and will not call them out on their facts-free drivel. Until or unless FOX et al are forced to return to the Fairness Doctrine or tightened libel law, our democracy will not survive.
Murdoch lost his bid to revoke his family’s “irrevocable “ trust; now, upon his passing, the management of Fox will be shared among his four children, three of whom are not MAGA/Trump sycophants. Will be interesting.
What a relief - things are going to get crazy and I'm so delighted to be able to get Jennifer Rubin's commentary which I've missed since cancelling my WaPo subscription. I want to support real journalism so I'm directing my $$ previously spent on Wapo to this one and others with similar approach.
We do have a choice: National strike January 20th no work, no shopping except local small business, no inauguration, no TV , no social media, a day of service is recommended for those who can. Please join and pass the word. The time to use your voice is now.
Given that it's already a holiday, I don't see how a work strike would be effect. I'd say use Jan. 20 to celebrate MLK Day. https://bsky.app/profile/wags1680.bsky.social/post/3ldd6yctx7k2b
Turn off the TV? Do not shop online? Do not use social media?
If thousands of us were doing this for the day, it would definitely be noticed. And it might be more popular than a work stoppage because we in the U.S. have an allergy to general strikes. We shouldn't but we do.
I have already decided to stop my online shopping habit on 1/20. Will be prepping for a pleasure trip on Monday morning.
FB black out.
I like the idea. Maybe more than one day. I've seen arguments for not paying federal taxes, but that would hurt a lot of people, so maybe we give that a pass.
Not paying taxes is against the law and they would love an excuse to go after us for that rather than for our real grievances.
Count me in. It's Dr. King's holiday, so already a good day for service, too.
I have also heard making this weekly in some form, and I like that too. Gold Star mothers went on a one-day-per-week hunger strike during uthe Iraq War, and many of us joined them. I would really like to do something like this, too.
And what, exactly, will that accomplish?
Resistance.
the feeling that at least one person even if it's just you remembers what's up...
Maybe not grocery shopping?
Thank you! I was a regular reader of Ms. Rubin who cancelled his wapo subscription. I am thrilled to find her here.
Ms. Rubin, I've been reading your WAPO column for many years and have agreed with them almost 100%. Your departure from the WAPO is their loss. Your opening statement in this new venture is music to my ears, and I look forward to more of the same.
Just subscribed, on the basis of your name alone, Jennifer Rubin. I wish you all the luck; you already have all the brains and heart!
Thank you for standing up for Democracy.
Thanks for starting The Contrarian. As you think through the topics to cover, please give consideration to the intersection of the American workplace and the rise of authoritarianism in the social/political spheres. It's hard to fully understand the latter without a good understanding of the former, and (imho) there's very little out there to help folks grasp not just the link between their work lives and their civic lives, but how the workplace can be among the most relevant fronts for resistance in the months/years to come. In any event, thank you again; the display of courage in 'leaving home' and starting something new is much needed and appreciated.
Is Ann going to join you? That'll boost your subscription tally.
Lets go! BTW this comments section is way better than the degraded version at the WAPO.
I will probably subscribe . Just want to take a test spin
Come on in, the water's warm! :)
So glad to see this. We need brave voices in journalism. Thanks for helping build out, in my opinion, what will be an 'anchor brand' of empirical truth journalism alternative sources. We have all been clamoring for this. Will share far and wide!
Welcome to the fight. Substack is already brimming with anti-authoritarian content, but I welcome the visibility that comes with your high-profile launch. Also, I like the name you chose - it kinda reclaims "contrarian" for the left and center, after the right has had presumptive ownership of it lately.
Yeah! When people ask me why I still wear my Harris-Walz pin, I explain it's 'cause I'm in the resistance.
I love that you’re here and I’m excited to read and see your articles in podcasts. I hope some of what you report on is intricately intertwined with information of how we can fight Project 2025.
Former journalist looking forward to this. Congratulations