Greetings everyone. Sharing a terrific discussion I had yesterday with Norm Eisen and April Ryan over at The Contrarian. Even though it’s now a day old we touch on all the issues we are still talking about today - Greater MAGA’s big loss in Hungary, the humiliation of Trump’s failed war, the shocking inflation numbers we got on Friday, our strong electoral performances in Georgia and Wisconsin last week, and Trump’s all night addled posting on Sunday night, which included that post of him as Jesus and ongoing attacks on Pope Leo.
If you are looking for a meaty, in-depth discussion of our current moment dive into this one when you can. These Coffee with the Contrarians get togethers are always some of the most informed and interesting conversations in our growing pro-democracy media family.
Here’s the NYT article Norm references about a new Hollywood coalition he’s helped build to fight the Paramount purchase of Warner Brothers.
Here’s a bit more on April Ryan, who was filling in for Jen Rubin, and always brings great insights into the daily Trumpian clownshow:
Political analyst April Ryan is an author and speaker, former White House Correspondent, and the host of her popular podcast The Tea with April.
Her 2015 award-winning book, The Presidency in Black and White, provides a behind-the-scenes look at race relations from a White House lens, her beat since 1997. Her 2016 book, At Mama’s Knee: Mothers and Race in Black and White examines race relations through the lessons and wisdom that mothers have given their children. She was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for outstanding literary work by a debut author.
April is also the author of Under Fire: Reporting from the Front Lines of the Trump White House. Her 2022 book, Black Women Will Save the World, celebrates Black women’s unprecedented role in upholding democracy (University of Southern California, 2025).
April now is part of the great team of our friends at The Contrarian.
Related Hopium commentary and analysis:
Enjoy this lively conversation with two great warriors in our fight and keep working hard all. We have a country to save and an election to win, together! - Simon
