Dear Contrarian staff: Jen said yesterday that staff would be getting lots of time off at year end. Spoiled and selfish readers like me will be cast adrift! :) I have always wondered why news and opinion outlets don't turn Editorial over to interns during this time--give some young people or guest writers a chance to fill the void and keep us spoiled and selfish readers satisfied in between the top 10 lists. Eternally grateful for all you do anyway... and still want more!
We love having Contrarians as passionate as us! We still have some goodies for you until the end of the year...maybe even in Substack notes or socials? Hmmm. :) Happy holidays, let's get ready for 2026!
The Contrarian is such a wonderful departure from the noise of every day media. From Coffee with the Contrarians to the precious pets of the week there’s something for everyone and every day I am reminded of what’s really worth supporting and defending. Nothing is better than finding a quiet corner reading and commenting on the well written columns and Jen’s extraordinary interviews. Thanks Contrarians for making this a great year of real and factual journalism! I wish you all a wonderful holiday season.
Currently, I am in the process of reading Joyce's book "Giving Up Is Unforgivable." So far I'm about 1/3 through and I am impressed with Joyce's recipes for defending democracy.
However, what I am increasingly upset about is the fact, that NO ONE, not you Jen and Norm, nor anyone else at the Contrarian or any other publication one can read with expectations of fairness, is willing to report or discuss the subject of the Dominion voting machine company having been bought by a company owned by a right wing owner.
Very curious is the fact that Dominion sued Faux Spews over their allegations of cheating on the Dominion machines, for which they won $700 million or so. Only to turn around just a few months later to sell to a company that can't be too far off the Faux Spews path.
Is there no one in this country interested in the possible ramifications this sale may have on the outcome of the 2026 US senate and house elections, as well as all the state governorships and state senate and house votes on the line?
Sorry for harping on this subject repeatedly, but I am utterly mystified by the complete lack of interest in this very serious matter.
Aside from all that, I do wish everyone at The Contrarian Happy Holidays.
Thanks for the reminder to ‘enjoy the hell out of the last 2 weeks of the year!’ And thank you 3 for all you do to keep us informed, with compassion and humor and of course intelligence 🙏🏼
Thank you for the immense amount of work you have put into defending democracy! There have been many concrete victories in 2026, a testament to your dedication.
But please be aware of many other moral or courage victories that are more difficult to measure. Your work has calmed one of my biggest fears entering 2025, the underlying threat of the federal government declaring martial law and using it to deny a federal election in 2026. The "nutters" running Trump's administration wanted to try martial law ever since they lost the 2020 election. First, they wanted to bait the public into a violent response when they invaded our cities with ICE storm troopers. Once your work in the courts stopped that maligned action, they turned to the fishing boat murders in the Caribbean, which they hoped to use as a catalyst to declare war on Venezuela or Colombia, and use that as the last step for their declaration of martial law. But we have stopped that as well.
And now my fears are calmed that we can handle this illegal "putsch". Please rest and enjoy the warmth of the season gained by gathering with friends and families as we celebrate the winter solstice!
May I suggest that they have not stopped at all in marching toward martial law sometime closer to the midterms in September or October? In fact he is ratcheting up unlawful action in Venezuela and expanding truly violent arrests and seizures of innocent US citizens even as well as children plus forceful detention for months of immigrants who are about on time to become lawful! This is ALL the responsibility of Trump! Please, let us all step up our protection of these hardworking individuals wherever possible without exposing ourselves to arrest, and intensively to protest legally their arrest or seizure!
Even if extension of subsidies gets a retroactive pass in January, people will have already had to pay the higher premiums, and that won't make them happy. Johnson would have been better off dealing with it prior to year-end. as much as I hate it for enrollees, I kind of like he is this stupid.
The gentleman who ran the state required annual test on my car said he has received his new health care bill, it is 5X the amount he has been paying. He is in his fifties, says he can no longer afford health insurance.
Dear Contrarian staff: Jen said yesterday that staff would be getting lots of time off at year end. Spoiled and selfish readers like me will be cast adrift! :) I have always wondered why news and opinion outlets don't turn Editorial over to interns during this time--give some young people or guest writers a chance to fill the void and keep us spoiled and selfish readers satisfied in between the top 10 lists. Eternally grateful for all you do anyway... and still want more!
We love having Contrarians as passionate as us! We still have some goodies for you until the end of the year...maybe even in Substack notes or socials? Hmmm. :) Happy holidays, let's get ready for 2026!
The Contrarian is such a wonderful departure from the noise of every day media. From Coffee with the Contrarians to the precious pets of the week there’s something for everyone and every day I am reminded of what’s really worth supporting and defending. Nothing is better than finding a quiet corner reading and commenting on the well written columns and Jen’s extraordinary interviews. Thanks Contrarians for making this a great year of real and factual journalism! I wish you all a wonderful holiday season.
One of the highest compliments one could receive! Thank you, Michelle, for joining us on this journey. We could not do it without you.
Currently, I am in the process of reading Joyce's book "Giving Up Is Unforgivable." So far I'm about 1/3 through and I am impressed with Joyce's recipes for defending democracy.
However, what I am increasingly upset about is the fact, that NO ONE, not you Jen and Norm, nor anyone else at the Contrarian or any other publication one can read with expectations of fairness, is willing to report or discuss the subject of the Dominion voting machine company having been bought by a company owned by a right wing owner.
Very curious is the fact that Dominion sued Faux Spews over their allegations of cheating on the Dominion machines, for which they won $700 million or so. Only to turn around just a few months later to sell to a company that can't be too far off the Faux Spews path.
Is there no one in this country interested in the possible ramifications this sale may have on the outcome of the 2026 US senate and house elections, as well as all the state governorships and state senate and house votes on the line?
Sorry for harping on this subject repeatedly, but I am utterly mystified by the complete lack of interest in this very serious matter.
Aside from all that, I do wish everyone at The Contrarian Happy Holidays.
Thanks for all your hard work on behalf of all of us. Holiday Blessings.
Thanks for the reminder to ‘enjoy the hell out of the last 2 weeks of the year!’ And thank you 3 for all you do to keep us informed, with compassion and humor and of course intelligence 🙏🏼
Thank you for the immense amount of work you have put into defending democracy! There have been many concrete victories in 2026, a testament to your dedication.
But please be aware of many other moral or courage victories that are more difficult to measure. Your work has calmed one of my biggest fears entering 2025, the underlying threat of the federal government declaring martial law and using it to deny a federal election in 2026. The "nutters" running Trump's administration wanted to try martial law ever since they lost the 2020 election. First, they wanted to bait the public into a violent response when they invaded our cities with ICE storm troopers. Once your work in the courts stopped that maligned action, they turned to the fishing boat murders in the Caribbean, which they hoped to use as a catalyst to declare war on Venezuela or Colombia, and use that as the last step for their declaration of martial law. But we have stopped that as well.
And now my fears are calmed that we can handle this illegal "putsch". Please rest and enjoy the warmth of the season gained by gathering with friends and families as we celebrate the winter solstice!
May I suggest that they have not stopped at all in marching toward martial law sometime closer to the midterms in September or October? In fact he is ratcheting up unlawful action in Venezuela and expanding truly violent arrests and seizures of innocent US citizens even as well as children plus forceful detention for months of immigrants who are about on time to become lawful! This is ALL the responsibility of Trump! Please, let us all step up our protection of these hardworking individuals wherever possible without exposing ourselves to arrest, and intensively to protest legally their arrest or seizure!
Even if extension of subsidies gets a retroactive pass in January, people will have already had to pay the higher premiums, and that won't make them happy. Johnson would have been better off dealing with it prior to year-end. as much as I hate it for enrollees, I kind of like he is this stupid.
Pretext is right - it's all about oil !
The gentleman who ran the state required annual test on my car said he has received his new health care bill, it is 5X the amount he has been paying. He is in his fifties, says he can no longer afford health insurance.
The Washington Post reports that the military bonuses are actually being taken from money intended for their housing assistance: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/12/18/trump-military-housing-warrior-dividend