Since Jan. 20, this column and The Contrarian have been clear-eyed that Donald Trump is not merely a rhetorical autocrat; he actually wants to be a dictator. But if all dimensions of our society wake up and assert peaceful, lawful, vigorous pro-democracy power in opposition, his autocratic push can be defeated and democracy reinforced. This week’s events culminating in Trump’s Oval Office U-turn on Mamdani were an inflection point in that opposition. They were a sign that we are headed for a democracy U-turn of the kind that many nations have achieved in ousting authoritarianism.
The most dramatic evidence of democracy’s resilience and Trump’s dictatorial frustration was his getting steamrolled on the bill requiring the release of the government’s Epstein files, including those relating to Trump. He has for months fought the disclosure of these files and the remainder of his administration’s materials about the child rape and sex trafficking ring run by his long-time associate Jeffrey Epstein. Trump went so far as to privately lobby or publicly attack the handful of Republicans who originally joined all Democrats in the House in forcing a vote on a bill to release the files.
He ultimately failed—and abysmally so, with the bill passing both houses of Congress with just one vote against it (the execrable Rep. Clay Higgins). It was a sign of just how potent the Epstein scandal is and how politically shaky the president is at the moment.
Trump’s lack of strongman cred was further revealed when, in the span of 24 hours, we went from wondering whether Trump’s allies would block consideration of the bill in the Senate to unanimous consent to pass the legislation as soon as it arrived from the House. That was an indication of Trump’s weakness, sure, but credit where credit is due: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer read the room and pounced on the opportunity to move the bill.
We’ll cover in the weeks ahead both what we expect to happen with implementation of the document disclosure under the bill—and how my litigation colleagues and I are going to prevent Trump and his administration from cheating by holding back documents, or parts of documents, that are inconvenient for them. The latter includes our parallel federal litigation to force disclosure that you Contrarians support through your paid subscriptions.
But the signs of Trump’s weakness did not stop there. We saw an unhinged tantrum from him that can be explained by his own feelings of inadequacy. It came after members of Congress cut a video telling service members that they should not follow illegal orders.
Trump went haywire threatening the six members of the House and Senate who cut the video, all veterans: Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, Rep. Chris DeLuzio of Pennsylvania, Rep. Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania. He called the video “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL” and called the lawmakers “traitors” who “should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL.”
A video by members of Congress urging that the law be followed hardly amounts to sedition. But, given Trump’s other bizarre and baseless criminal investigations, we need to take his threats seriously. This whole controversy shows just how unhinged he has become with his continued losses. And it appears that more defeats are ahead for Trump in his wave of unfounded revenge prosecutions. Perhaps most notable are the problems afflicting the charges against James Comey, which we covered on Legal Fight Club on the Contrarian YouTube channel:
Those were capped off when it emerged that the supremely unqualified acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Lindsey Halligan, might have failed to properly present the final indictment to the grand jury in the Comey case. The revenge prosecution against Comey now appears to be circling the drain.
All across the nation, judges have been doing their jobs, as have defense attorneys, the media, and other stakeholders—including you Contrarians. Your paid subscriptions have made it possible for me and my pro-democracy colleagues to file legal briefs challenging the Comey prosecution and to work on over 200 other legal cases and matters, criminal and civil alike. As I was writing this column, we just notched another win, with a California federal court allowing us to intervene to defend Prop. 50’s creation of five new pro-democracy congressional districts against Trump administration and GOP attacks.
But it’s not just legal matters that are unsettling Trump. Compounding his struggles is his historic unpopularity. His favorability ratings are in the 30s and 40s in poll after poll, lower than all presidents at this point in their tenure.
Perhaps that explains his change of tone on New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. After months of viciously savaging Mamdani as a “communist” who would devastate the city, Trump cordially welcomed him to the White House and lavished praise on him, declaring “We agree on a lot more than I would have thought.” Who would have imagined that this week would feature Trump handling Mamdani with kid gloves and his long-time ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) with boxing gloves. Tellingly, as The New York Times noted, “Mr. Mamdani’s allies on the left were cautiously optimistic about the meeting, hoping that he might have prevented some attacks on the city. Mr. Trump’s Republican allies were less positive. Some of them said they disagreed with the president’s approach and wished he had been more confrontational about Mr. Mamdani’s criticism of Israel.”
Trump’s Mamdani flip-flop and his allies’ dismay and disarray (including his erstwhile partner Greene’s announcement that she’s resigning from Congress in January) doesn’t mean that the danger is past. Trump is wreaking vast harm, and we can expect that to continue. For example, instead of honestly acknowledging our nation’s affordability and healthcare crises, he’s pushing propaganda and trying to tell the American people that things are more affordable or shift the blame on healthcare when everyone can see that’s baloney. That’s a recipe for disaster, and so is doubling down on his corruption by pushing ahead on the unfounded prosecution of Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James and others.
But the terrifying dictatorial momentum of Jan. 20 is weakened and this week, starting with the votes on the Epstein files, will I think be remembered as an important juncture on the long road back to restoring democracy.
We covered it all here at the Contrarian. Just see for yourself in my weekly roundup:
ICE Invasion
‘It’s as if Jesus Is Locked Up in Broadview’
Tim Dickinson interviewed the Rev. Michael Woolf, who last week was violently arrested by the Illinois State Police while demonstrating against ‘torture’ at Chicagoland’s ICE facility.
Dispatch from Chicago: the Border Patrol has left town, but what if they return?
Lorraine Forte reported on the Customs and Border Protection agents leaving Chicago just as failure, embarrassment, and winter set in–while many residents are left in fear of what will happen when they return. “I’m not the only Chicagoan concerned about what might happen … as the campaign for next year’s midterm elections starts in earnest.”
North Carolina: the latest “Border State” battleground
The Contrarian’s own Ciera Stone reported on the newest target of immigration overreach: North Carolina, where local grassroots leaders are rising to the occasion as federal agents terrorize neighborhoods.
Shutdown Aftermath & Economic Shocks
Senate Republicans added insult to injury in the bill to end the shutdown
Austin Sarat analyzed the callow, deeply irresponsible allocation of funds in the bill that reopened the government that provided not a penny to protect affordable healthcare—but did include a provision that could let senators claim $500,000+ if their phone records were subpoenaed in the investigation into Jan. 6, 2021.
We do not want to go back to sham health insurance plans and denials
Norm Ornstein wrote on what’s at stake if the Affordable Care Act loses all power, as healthcare remains top of mind for many with premiums set to skyrocket. “Obamacare isn’t perfect, but it’s better than what we had—and what the GOP proposes.”
A program that helps keep women- and minority-owned businesses afloat is on the ropes
Jaime Lodge wrote on the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, and how repeated setbacks from the Trump administration are threatening the economy writ large.“When small businesses like mine win federal contracts, the jobs—and the dollars—stay in the community instead of going to non-local workers hired by larger firms.”
Elections Essentials
Two People Have Figured Out How to Win Pivotal Elections [podcast]
On the podcast this week, Jen Rubin spoke with Swing Left’s Yasmin Radjy and Tennessee state Rep. Aftyn Behn about the upcoming midterm elections, winning strategies, and what’s at stake. “The numbers themselves tell a really, really powerful story.”
The GOP Isn’t Being Subtle About Rigging the 2026 Midterms
Tianna Mays of Democracy Defenders Action wrote on the GOP’s blatant racial gerrymandering attempts across multiple states, and how its suit against California—a state that lawfully voted for its proposed redistricting—is a smoking gun in the Republican Party’s hypocritical hands.
Resistance & Resisters
The Calculus of Climate Change
Roberto Valadez wrote on COP30, where, despite the conspicuous absence of high-level U.S. leadership, climate champions remain undeterred in confronting our most global challenge. “Our climate crisis may already be the largest economic opportunity of the 21st century.”
Swalwell Could be a Worthy Successor to Newsom
Ahead of Eric Swalwell’s declaration as a California gubernatorial candidate, Jen Rubin wrote on the representative who has emerged as one of Trump’s fiercest critics and who might already be a “rising star” in the race—and by extension, national party leadership. “As important as the California governor’s race may be for the state itself, the race also has huge implications for 2026, 2028, and beyond.”
America’s love for Jesse Jackson comes pouring out
April Ryan gave us a tribute to the icon now resting in a Chicago area hospital, as political, religious and civil rights leaders reach out to celebrate his legacy. “Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told me, ‘I continue to draw strength from Rev. Jackson.’”
The Contrarian covers the Democracy Movement
This week we saw protests in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Georgia, the Philippines, and more. Get help organizing from Indivisible, find protests in your area at mobilize.us, and send us your protest photos at submit@contrariannews.org.
This Guy Again…
The House must vote to release the Epstein files
Rachel Foster argued that the choice before Congress is clear: release the rest of the Epstein files, or keep protecting those who committed sex crimes against at least 1,000 victims. “The number of files that have been released may sound large to a layperson, but it barely scratches the surface of what exists. What remains sealed are the documents that show how Epstein built and maintained his network.”
Trump’s Epstein call is coming from inside the house
Josh Levs wrote on the failures in coverage of the latest Epstein Files dispatch. “This isn’t a story of Democrats vs. Republicans. It isn’t even just a story of Trump loyalists against other Republicans who want the files released. It’s a situation Trump brought on himself.”
Haven’t we seen enough? Senator Alsobrooks on the Epstein files & RFK. Jr’s incompetence
April Ryan sat down with Sen. Angela Alsobrooks to unpack what comes next for the Epstein files, RFK Jr. ‘s failures as HHS secretary, and the power voters hold heading into next year’s midterms. “These women deserve justice—that’s all they’ve ever been asking for.”
Media Makers & Fakers
From “fake news” to “quiet, piggy”: the dark evolution of a decade-long war on truth
Jeff Nesbit drew a clear, sobering trendline from the first Trump administration’s attempts to discredit the message of responsible reporting to Trump’s more recent, baldly authoritarian attempts to dehumanize the messengers. “When Trump calls journalists, in this case women, ‘insubordinate’ and ‘piggy,’ it’s not just crude disrespect—it’s a loud warning.”
Please don’t fall for Marjorie Taylor Greene’s convenient rebrand
Carron J. Phillips has not been convinced by Marjorie Taylor Greene’s recent gestures at empathy, arguing that doing the “bare minimum” isn’t proof of rehabilitation. “A few sensible remarks and a new sullen tone do not suffice to suggest that Greene’s actions reflect any genuine progress.”
Split screen: ‘MySafeSpace’ and the collapse of whitehouse.gov
Azza Cohen dissected the Trump administration’s consistent embrace of racist, sexist, and conspiratorial views in its online presence—the official White House website included. “The goal is not to entertain. It is to confuse. To degrade. To turn the government’s own communication apparatus into an arm of political bullying.”
Megyn Kelly was a #MeToo profiteer, not a hero
Apropos of Megyn Kelly’s latest showing of her true colors—by trying to minimize Jeffrey Epstein’s predation—Meredith Blake took a look at the cynically opportunistic arc of Kelly’s career, a decade after she was celebrated as an “unlikely feminist hero.”
Culture, Cartoons & Fun Stuff
This week, our cartoonists cast a gimlet eye on double standards (Nick Anderson), inadequate cover-ups (Michael de Adder), seeing no evil (Ruben Bolling), obvious bribes (RJ Matson), and more fresh deplorability from the world of our would-be king.
Pear-almond cake and French apple cake
Jamie Schler offered up two simple and traditional French cakes this week in honor of the Thanksgiving season. The first is a pear-almond cake that is “delicately flavored with almond and a hint of dark rum. The second is a French apple cake–the epitome of French home baking: simple, rustic, and homey, yet somehow quite elegant.
This week’s Pet of the Week is the lovely Gary. He is a 5-month-old poodle who loves to chew up everything (especially shoes). Good boy, Gary!
That’s it for now, Contrarians—another amazing week of content. We will see you at 9:15 a.m. ET on Monday for Coffee with the Contrarians on Substack. In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend. Warmly, Norm
I’m outraged about the Putin-Witkoff “Peace” deal. HCR and Timothy Snyder give great insight. It would be devastating for Ukraine and democracy if Zelensky signs it.
I don't think that the Felon has had any power that has not been supplied to him by the far more nefarious and ultimately dangerous cadre of his handlers--Vought, Miller, Thiel, Bessant--who are using JustaDick Vance as their not-very-effective Manchurian Candidate, whom they expect to take over the begilded-with-plastic Oval Office in the not too distant future. There is where the risk exists. Why do I say that? Because the Felon is clearly losing his marbles and even the people around him are well aware that his galloping dementia can be disguised for only so long. Moreover, the ONLY thing he is truly interested in is money and The Grift and as long as they let him get on with taking bribes and enriching himself, along with the Wormtongue whispers about how he deserves the Peace Prize, which flatters his rapidly diminishing brain, they will have carte blanche to run the show. Sure, there are "loyalists" such as his Stepford Wives Noem and Bondi and all the rest of the harem of botoxed ex-"Beauty Queens." But I suspect they take their actual orders from Miller and Vought. The group that is truly keeping him propped up on his plastic throne is SCOTUS. And until we can figure out a way to get their arses on the hot seat (and the Epstein disclosures might indeed do that for at least three of them) we are disempowered. They have to be made to understand that their compliance with fascists will have consequences from which they are not immune.