To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

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To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Charlie Sykes

135 episodes

3 days ago

You are not the crazy ones.

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News Commentary

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You are not the crazy ones.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...

News Commentary

Episodes (20/135)

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

A Blockade Is Just a Fancy Word for an Act of War

Charlie speaks with TTC regular Tom Nichols, The Atlantic writer and retired professor at the U.S. Naval War College, about Trump wagging the dog in Venezuela and his continued attacks on director Rob Reiner.

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3 days ago

46 minutes 3 seconds

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Trump’s Despicable New Low

Charlie speaks with former US Attorney Harry Litman about the beloved director Rob Reiner and Trump's response to his murder, Admiral Holsey who retired after overseeing the military boat strikes, and some of the latest court decisions. Litman also explains why there's no area of greater corruption than Trump's use of the pardon power.

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5 days ago

45 minutes 38 seconds

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

We Are Not as Bloodthirsty as Stephen Miller Wants Us to Be

But we are also not as good as we thought we were before the Trump era, according to David French, a New York Times opinion columnist. He argues that Stephen Miller is miscalculating, and that it's possible to awaken the country's sleeping conscience.

In this episode, he and Charlie also discuss the Indiana Senate's rejection of Trump's redistricting bill, the upcoming Supreme Court decision on tariffs, and the "vibe shift."

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1 week ago

46 minutes 40 seconds

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

No, Trump Is Not Going to Fire Them

Charlie speaks with Rachael Bade, political reporter and host of The Huddle, who says the constant rumors about Trump planning to fire his cabinet members are utterly unsubstantiated. They also discuss the affordability "hoax,” Nancy Mace, and what Trump expects in return for a pardon.

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1 week ago

40 minutes 38 seconds

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Special Episode: Pam Bondi Might Be Coming After You

We recently learned that AG Pam Bondi had issued an 8-page memo that orders the FBI to “compile a list of groups or entities engaging in acts that may constitute domestic terrorism". It's now becoming clear that is not just an aggressive memo, it creates a secret domestic terror list Congress never approved. In this short, special episode, Charlie explain more.

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1 week ago

11 minutes 6 seconds

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Is Donald Trump the Real Speaker of the House?

In this episode, Charlie speaks with Charlie Dent, former Congressman from Pennsylvania and National Co-Chair of Our Republican Legacy. Together, they're trying to figure out whether Speaker Mike Johnson has a problem with women, what’s next for health care legislation, and just how much weaker Congress can get.

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1 week ago

47 minutes 56 seconds

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

The Fog of Spin

In this solo episode, Charlie answers readers' questions about RFK Jr., the murderous boat strikes, the ranking of stupidity among cabinet members, and how it's all connected to our children's education. As a bonus, he also talks about his dogs.

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2 weeks ago

52 minutes 25 seconds

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Ed Luce: Xenophobia, Murder on the High Seas, and Europe's Moment of Truth

In this episode, Charlie speaks with Ed Luce, US national editor and a columnist for the Financial Times. They discuss Trump's latest racist comments, the US military murderous boat strikes, and the decision that Europe has to make soon on whether to seize Russian assets and turn them over to Ukraine. Also, are we finally starting to imagine a post-Trump world?

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2 weeks ago

46 minutes 15 seconds

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Paul Rieckhoff: Trump, War Crimes, and the Afghan Betrayal

Charlie Sykes sits down with veteran advocate and Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff for a conversation about the escalating crises surrounding Donald Trump’s cabinet, the alleged “kill them all” order, and the looming threat of war with Venezuela. Rieckhoff breaks down the moral and national-security fallout of Trump’s shutdown of Afghan visas, arguing that America’s treatment of its wartime allies will shape our future on every battlefield. He also highlights the growing independent movement among veterans through Independent Americans (https://IndependentAmericans.us) and Independent Veterans of America (https://IndependentVeteransofAmerica.org), where new leaders are stepping up to challenge the political extremes.

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2 weeks ago

47 minutes 49 seconds

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Tom Nichols: Black Friday Blues

Charlie Sykes and Tom Nichols unpack a chaotic stretch in American politics that includes Trump’s fixation on loyalty, his escalating rhetoric, and his increasingly erratic behavior. They discuss the fallout from Trump’s attack on Sen. Mark Kelly, the strain inside the Pentagon, and the surreal spectacle of a president intervening in Hollywood sequels. From GOP dysfunction to Ukraine negotiations, they explore how an aging, insular Trump world is colliding with real-world crises—and why it all feels so much more dangerous this time around.

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3 weeks ago

56 minutes 2 seconds

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Michael Scherer: Inside RFK Jr.’s Rise

Charlie Sykes speaks with The Atlantic’s Michael Scherer about his in-depth cover story on Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now one of the most influential—and divisive—figures shaping American science policy. Scherer discusses Kennedy’s complicated personal history, his fraught relationship with scientific institutions, and his unexpected alliance with Donald Trump. The conversation explores what Kennedy’s ascent reveals about a country losing trust in expertise—and why understanding him matters, even for his critics.

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3 weeks ago

45 minutes 50 seconds

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Terry Moran: Patriotism, Power, and a Perilous Moment

Charlie Sykes and journalist Terry Moran examine a week that showcased two starkly different Americas—from Dick Cheney’s solemn, apolitical funeral to the president’s public calls for executing political opponents. They discuss the escalating authoritarian rhetoric, the Ukraine “surrender plan,” the White House’s embrace of MBS, and the alarming signals around a possible conflict with Venezuela. Moran argues that beneath Trump’s projection of confidence lies a democracy under strain, institutions under pressure, and a country struggling to remember what normal governance looks like.

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4 weeks ago

50 minutes 1 second

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Susan Glasser: Lame-Duck is Just Another Word for Nothing Left to Lose

Charlie Sykes and Susan Glasser break down a stunning Oval Office moment in which Donald Trump defended Mohammed bin Salman and derided a reporter for asking about Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. They explore Trump’s escalating attacks on the press, the gold-plated symbolism of his Oval Office, and the deepening corruption and impunity shaping his presidency. Plus, growing fractures inside MAGA world including Marjorie Taylor Greene’s unexpected revolt, and what these shifts reveal about a movement in turmoil.

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1 month ago

44 minutes 28 seconds

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Matt Bennett: Lessons Democrats Can’t Ignore

Charlie Sykes sits down with Third Way’s Matt Bennett to break down why Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s New York City victory is not a roadmap for Democrats in swing states. Bennett argues that national Democrats must prioritize persuasion over ideological purity—and avoid language and policies that alienate working-class voters. Centrists like Mikey Sherrill, Abigail Spanberger, and others offer a more realistic path to defeating Donald Trump and winning elections that matter.

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1 month ago

44 minutes 32 seconds

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

The Streisand Effect Cover-Up

Charlie Sykes breaks down why Donald Trump appears increasingly panicked over the Epstein files—and why the attempted cover-up is only making the story bigger. In a solo Q&A episode, he tackles subscriber questions on everything from GOP fractures to the role of the military, free speech, pardons, and the future of accountability.

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1 month ago

48 minutes 17 seconds

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Harry Litman: The Epstein Files Fallout

Charlie Sykes and legal analyst Harry Litman break down why the newly released Epstein files have Donald Trump and his allies unusually on edge. They discuss the political stakes behind the looming House vote on releasing the full Epstein cache, as well as Trump's sweeping pardons and efforts to rewrite the narrative of January 6th. The conversation also explores recent legal pushback against Trump-era overreach and the shifting public sentiment revealed in the latest elections.

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1 month ago

47 minutes 9 seconds

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Nicholas Grossman: No, The Dems Did Not Win The Shutdown

Charlie Sykes talks with political scientist Nicholas Grossman about the Democrats’ sudden surrender after weeks of holding the line against Trump’s budget demands. They break down why the timing baffled strategists, what the fold reveals about the party’s “normal democracy mindset,” and how it may reshape Democratic leadership. The conversation also explores Trump’s latest wave of pardons, the Heritage Foundation’s hard-right turn, and rising fears of another performative foreign war.

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1 month ago

48 minutes 34 seconds

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Adam Kinzinger: The Last Republican

Charlie Sykes sits down with former Congressman Adam Kinzinger to discuss his new documentary The Last Republican and the personal and political fallout from his stand against Donald Trump. Kinzinger reflects on January 6th, his deep contempt for Kevin McCarthy’s capitulation, and how small acts of cowardice reshaped the GOP. The conversation also turns to the future of both parties, the shifting Hispanic vote, and why authenticity—not ideology—may be the Democrats’ key to winning back America.

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1 month ago

42 minutes 22 seconds

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Jonathan Rauch: SCOTUS, the Blue Wave and the Future of Democracy

Charlie Sykes and Jonathan Rauch dissect a surprising Supreme Court challenge to Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff powers and what it could mean for the limits of presidential authority. They also break down the recent “blue wave” election results, the shifting loyalties of younger and minority voters, and the growing ideological fractures inside the Republican Party. The conversation explores whether America’s political institutions can withstand another round of authoritarian temptation—and whether either party is ready for what comes next.

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1 month ago

47 minutes 19 seconds

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Daniel Drezner: Baseball, Billionaires and the Breakdown of the GOP

Charlie Sykes is joined by political scientist Daniel Drezner for a wide-ranging conversation that begins with baseball’s most thrilling World Series in years and ends with America’s political curveballs. They unpack Trump’s Great Gatsby–style party amid a government shutdown, the pardoning of a crypto billionaire, and the GOP’s flirtation with extremist rhetoric. Along the way, they tackle corruption, creeping authoritarianism, and the vanishing line between populism and privilege in Trump’s second term.

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1 month ago

44 minutes 18 seconds