Contrarian | Wing's World

In the Department of Guiding Lights, there’s the North Star (see my piece on Heather Cox Richardson); the twinkly path-markers known as The Contrarian, and several more which offer both inspiration and guidance to folks like us. (Watch this space!)

But sometimes—these times!—you just need a freakin’ spotlight. Meet Marc Elias and Democracy Docket.

Marc Elias in 2024 (photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

According to Ken Vogel of The New York Times, “Elias has arguably done more than any single person outside government to shape the Democratic Party and the rules under which all campaigns and elections in the United States are conducted.” (October 30, 2024, as quoted by Wikipedia.org)

Marc’s political bio is far too voluminous for me to sum up here; please check out Wikipedia or Democracy Docket itself for all the details of presidents and almost-presidents he’s worked for, trials he’s worked on, resistance fighters he’s supported.

What matters to me now, and what I hope (assume? since you’re reading this) matters to you is: his law firm has taken the Trump administration (regime) to court dozens of times…and of the cases already decided, Elias Law Group is 23 and 0.

That’s 23 wins for Elias’ democracy warriors; 23 LOSSES for Trump.

Here’s Marc, describing one of those victories:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCBc3dIEYxA

A fighter who springs to action when democracy is threatened, like if Batman wore a suit & tie? That’s who I want on my side, heading into the scariest electoral period in our country’s history since 1860.

Marc? That you? (image courtesy Wikimedia)

I’m not a lawyer; don’t want to be. But I DO want to fight to keep the Trump regime’s mitts off my election data. I do want to keep their ICE thugs from intimidating my neighbors at the polls. I want the rule of law back.

That’s why I support Democracy Docket with a small subscription. I hope you’ll consider doing the same. Marc & Co left behind their lucrative former law careers to fight for us. The least we can do is be Robin to their Batman.

The past couple of posts, I’ve referred to people I read or listen to as navigational aids, or sources of power to charge myself from. Enough with the mixed metaphors! Let’s go with “guiding lights” for these choppy American waters.

The Contrarian is a biggie. Do you know these folks?

Norm Eisen (formerly Obama’s Ethics Czar, lead counsel on the first Trump impeachment trial…etc) [courtesy Wikimedia]

In January 2025, Norm Eisen–CNN analyst, former ambassador to the Czech Republic, the list of roles goes on & on, click here for more–joined forces with a Washington Post journalist, Jennifer Rubin, who had quit the WaPo following its Trumpian purge by owner Jeff Bezos. Together, Norm and Jen created The Contrarian, on Substack. Meet Jen:

Since I’ve never been a WaPo reader, I didn’t know that Jen Rubin had started life as a conservative Republican. By the time I started listening to her, following Trump’s second inauguration, she sounded just like me: alarmed, pissed off, and raring to fight fascism. Does that sound like you too? You’ll love Jen. With a journalist’s razor-sharp vision, she not only distills what’s at stake, she lets readers know how to help fight for our democracy.

The Contrarian boasts other frequent contributors, like Joyce Vance, whose Civil Discourse Substack I’ve written about before (and will again). But the other regular “talking head” these days is April Ryan, MSNOW contributor and longtime member of the White House Press Corps. Compared to the rather staid, pearl-wearing Jen Rubin April’s a trip:

Together, these folks keep me updated and full of juice to stay involved. They bring humor and joy (“Contrarian Pet of the Week”); they bring hope –especially “Norm & Katie’s Legal Fight Club” with former prosecutor and current independent journalist Katie Phang. They even offer merch!

BEST OF ALL (notice I saved this for last): all paid subscriptions to The Contrarian (you CAN read & listen for free…but should you??) go to fund Lawyer Norm as he takes on the Trump Regime in case after case after case (all Ws so far, by the way). It brings me special pride to know that I am helping the fight in such a LITERAL way.

Join me?