Now that we’ve had a few days to savor Tuesday’s sweeping reaffirmation of democracy, it’s time to use the extra spring in our step to get back to the hard work that delivered victory. You Contrarians have been a key part of that, including because your paid subscriptions have powered my more than 200 legal cases and matters holding autocracy back. In fact, thanks to you, we were in court on Tuesday protecting ballots from being thrown out in New Jersey.
There’s so much more for you and all of us to do if we want to be celebrating in November 2026 like we did this week. That starts with blue states learning the lesson of California’s Prop 50 redistricting triumph: aggressively redistrict now to get out in front of the additional seats that the Roberts Court, Donald Trump, and MAGA will likely attempt to steal. Even more fundamentally, it also means continuing to grow the democracy movement’s massive, peaceful, diverse mobilization to oppose any attempted electoral theft.
In the wake of Tuesday, I found myself thinking about the Roberts Court’s coming Louisiana v. Callais decision—and how we must prepare now. Argued last month, the case asks whether congressional districts can be drawn to give fair representation to minority voters. In other words, whether fixing a discriminatory map can itself be labeled “racial gerrymandering.”
If the court accepts that twisted logic, it would effectively outlaw the Voting Rights Act’s Section 2—the core protection since 1965 against racially discriminatory maps. We got into what that would mean in the south and across the country on our Contrarian YouTube show Legal Fight Club with two great leaders, Cliff Albright of Black Voters Matter Fund and Lauren Groh-Wargo of Fair Fight Action:
As my guests explained, a ruling gutting Section 2 would effectively reset map protections to pre-1965 Jim Crow levels, seriously threatening all progress made toward fair representation for Black voters and other voters of color. For decades, Section 2 has protected voters in both parties as courts have struck down discriminatory maps drawn by both Republicans and Democrats.
The collapse of Section 2 wouldn’t just hit Louisiana. It would instantly give a green light to red states to redraw congressional maps with fewer guardrails—just one year before the election. Combined with ongoing mid-decade gerrymandering in places like Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina, with other red states possibly following suit, gutting Section 2 could help Republicans achieve through manipulation what they would not accomplish through free and fair voting: an unfair but impregnable House majority.
Unfortunately, the blueprint already exists. Several Republican-controlled state legislatures, largely in the South, have telegraphed which districts they will eliminate if Section 2 disappears. This could allow them to cement one-party control of the U.S. House for a generation, regardless of how the public votes. These are not abstractions; these are real communities losing real representation. Up to 30% of the Congressional Black Caucus and 11% of the Hispanic Caucus would lose their seats. The gravity of this cannot be overstated.
Who can doubt looking at the Roberts Court’s decades-long whittling away of the Voting Rights Act that the decision will be bad? The question is how bad.
That will depend in part on when the court makes its decision. If it decides this year, the fix is in. That’s because a case of this kind normally would wait until 2026, possibly even until the end of the term, when the court delivers its blockbuster opinions. If we get a decision here in a matter of weeks or months, that will show that the court is in cahoots with Southern states to give them the time to redraw maps for 2026.
Conversely, if the court follows its normal course, we’re still not expecting anything particularly good, but at least we’d be able to have a normal election in 2026.
This uncertain reality means that blue states must redraw maps aggressively before the court rules because Republicans already are doing that. On the pro-democracy side of the ledger, Virginia is racing ahead and likely poised to add seats. Illinois and Maryland are weighing next steps (with Maryland Governor Wes Moore intensifying efforts this week), but weighing is not enough. Democrats there and in other blue states must act.
But all that is only the beginning of the work. We need to contest from the grassroots to the treetops the illegitimate conduct and the possible theft of these seats in the South to limit the damage there. We need to invest in a large public education campaign so people are aware of what’s at stake. We need to build on the existing and successful 2025 mass mobilization efforts to make these issues the focus of massive peaceful protest throughout the country. And we must be ready to vigorously litigate bad maps in the court of law and the court of public opinion.
All of that effort in the court of law and of public opinion is where you come in, Contrarians. Because we are owned by nobody, all profits go to power pro-democracy litigation efforts. We have fought this theft of congressional seats at every turn, including supporting the defense of those brave legislators who fled Texas to sound the alarm on Trump’s attempted power grab—setting up the national debate and, ultimately, California’s Prop 50 win.
In that and every key battle we’ve fought this year, you Contrarians have been central to our success. This fight will be no exception. We’ve been making loud noise since January, and we must keep it up on this Callais issue and on all our efforts to protect our democracy heading into 2026.
A Blue Tsunami
Jen Rubin wrote on the reverberating significance of Tuesday’s Democratic sweep. “The people have spoken….A bold repudiation of MAGA politics has taken hold.”
Split Screen: In 2025 election-night visuals, a lot of hope
Azza Cohen explored how the raw, authentic photos of Tuesday’s Democratic victors capture the very hope their campaigns ran on, in a celebration-worthy alignment of media and messaging. “Sometimes, the visuals of hope are as simple as representing your constituents and yourself with authenticity and vulnerability.”
The message from New Jersey: Democracy is alive and well
Tom Malinowski wrote on Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill as both a great candidate for her state and a great national bellwether. “The message New Jersey has sent is clear. Democracy is alive and well in America. Voters still embrace good candidates who speak to their concerns. There is a limit to what they will tolerate from Trump.”
Mitch Landrieu joined Jen to explore Tuesday’s blue wave in the wider context of the Democrat’s campaigning and policy strategy, which proved the value of in-touch candidates and simple, resonant messaging. “We’re one team, one fight.”
How to Keep Up the Fight
It feels like America isn’t taking the idea of a third Trump term seriously—that’s terrifying.
Carron J. Phillips wrote on Trump’s heavily hinted third-term ambitions, arguing that we ignore them at our grave peril. “Mistakenly assuming that an inevitable ‘return to norm’ is on the horizon is a big reason why we’re here.”
Democrats have the momentum. They can’t stop now.
Norm Ornstein gave us the good news—that with Tuesday’s big wins, Trump and his fellow Republicans are finally in a difficult political place—while cautioning Democrats not to take their eyes off the immediate prize: the safeguarding of affordable healthcare through the shutdown. “I expect serious bipartisan negotiations very soon.”
The fight against authoritarianism isn’t over after election night
On the Contrarian Podcast this week, Sen. Jeff Merkley reflected on Tuesday’s victories in the face of Trump’s growing authoritarian streak and attacks on struggling families, while Massachusetts AG Andrea Campbell discussed the lawsuit to keep SNAP running. “Families lose, billionaires win.”
The Contrarian covers the Democracy Movement
This week we covered protests everywhere from Maine, to New Zealand, to outside the Broadview ICE facility in Chicago. We also saw participatory democracy in action with the strong voter turnouts nationwide this Tuesday! Get help organizing from Indivisible, find protests in your area at mobilize.us, and send us your protest photos at submit@contrariannews.org.
Trump’s Star Plummets
Most Americans Are Seeing the Dangers of Trump’s Authoritarianism
Robert P. Jones wrote on the new American Values Survey from Public Religion Research Institute, which shows that most Americans don’t, in fact, want a dictator—and they see one in the making. “While Republicans and white evangelicals may be ‘determined to have a king over us,’ far more of us are united in seeing Trump as a fundamental threat to the future of American democracy.”
A MIA president in a hungry America
Austin Sarat and Steve Kramer wrote on Trump’s blatant abdication of responsibility—and care—in the face of the hunger crisis of withheld SNAP funds. “Silly dances, adoring crowds, endless golfing, ballrooms—it all seems more like an episode of ‘Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous’ than the preoccupations of an allegedly populist president.”
A declining president travels abroad
Shalise Manza Young analyzed Trump’s visible decline both at home and abroad, which was on all-too-full display during his trip to Asia last month. “For someone who claims he is a strong man, he looked feeble. And confused. And weak.”
A Speaker for the Ages
The Unshakeable Legacy of Nancy Pelosi: Lynn Sweet & Jen Rubin Commemorate The Titan of Congress
Lynn Sweet joined Jen Rubin to reflect on Nancy Pelosi’s unequalled career in Congress across over 35 years of serving as a champion for San Francisco—and America at large. “Nancy Pelosi the Fighter, Nancy Pelosi the Strategist.”
Reflections from Pelosi’s Former Comms Director: Ashley Etienne Shares Her Story
Ashley Etienne, former communications director and senior advisor to Nancy Pelosi, joined Jen to reflect on Pelosi’s legislative legacy. “Work for Nancy Pelosi? I want to BE Nancy Pelosi!”
A True Tour de Force: Susan Page on the Impressive Impact of Nancy Pelosi
Susan Page, author of the biography Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power, reflected on her subject’s trailblazing career. “She was all about the business of getting things done, and enlisting the power of women was part of that.”
Cruelty on Display & On Trial
Tim Dickinson wrote on what the Nick Fuentes fiasco—by which Tucker Carlson welcomed the white supremacist onto his streaming show with open arms, to the tune of 17 million views—reveals about modern conservatism. “2025 is proving—in more grotesque turns by the day—that the old norms no longer apply.”
Dispatch from Chicago: Broadview detention center’s dirty secrets are now out in the open
Lorraine Forte gave us a deeply reported look at the appalling reality of filthy conditions at the Broadview ICE detention facility, which were aired in federal court in Chicago this week.
Democrats fight to feed Americans: Attorney General Andrea Campbell on SNAP Case
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell joined Jen to explain the successful lawsuit brought by Democratic AGs and governors against the Trump Admin over SNAP funding. “This has never happened in the history of the program.”
States will decide who loses coverage under the new Medicaid rules
Jared Bernstein and Hannah Katch wrote on the evolving future of Medicaid, which now lies in state capitals—where governors and legislatures must decide whether to be kind or cruel to those in need. “The fallout from states’ choices will belong to them, and those that make the wrong choices will bear the consequences.”
Culture, Cartoons & Fun Stuff
This week our cartoonists covered the administration’s “let them eat cake” vibes, from the Gatsby party (‘They were careless people’, Michael de Adder), to some things no one wanted to swallow (His head on a platter, Nick Anderson; Eau de Trump, RJ Matson), to Trump’s own just desserts (The five stages of grievance, RJ Matson). Tom the Dancing Bug, meanwhile, showed us “Letters Home from the Second Civil War.”
Why We’re All Obsessed with ‘Rumours’
Meredith Blake spoke with music journalist Alan Light, author of a new book looking at the enduring appeal of Fleetwood Mac’s biggest, messiest album. Rumours? No, that’s all true.
What a week! History will look back on Tuesday as a turning point, and we covered that and so much more. Both that stellar content and my pro-democracy legal action were made possible by your paid subscriptions. We look forward to seeing you on Coffee with the Contrarians on Monday morning at 9:15 AM ET. In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend. Warmly, Norm
OK, you guys in Maryland, Illinois, and Virginia. Time to step up the pressure on your legislators to redistrict. We worked hard in California for Prop 50- and won. Now it’s your turn!
Go for it! 💙🇺🇸
The American people must vote in overwhelming numbers!!!!!