PODCAST

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Charlie Sykes

You are not the crazy ones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

news news commentary

All Episodes

50:01

Terry Moran: Patriotism, Power, and a Perilous Moment

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/11/23

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

44:28

Susan Glasser: Lame-Duck is Just Another Word for...

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/11/19

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

44:32

Matt Bennett: Lessons Democrats Can’t Ignore

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/11/18

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. Hosted on Acast. See

48:17

The Streisand Effect Cover-Up

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/11/16

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

47:09

Harry Litman: The Epstein Files Fallout

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/11/13

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. Hosted on Acast. See

48:34

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

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/11/11

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. Hosted on

42:22

Adam Kinzinger: The Last Republican

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/11/09

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

47:19

Jonathan Rauch: SCOTUS, the Blue Wave and the Future...

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/11/06

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

44:18

Daniel Drezner: Baseball, Billionaires and the...

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/11/04

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

46:04

Simon Bazelon: Deciding to Win

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/11/02

Charlie Sykes talks with Simon Bazelon, lead author of Deciding to Win, a new report urging Democrats to refocus on economic and public safety issues. Bazelon argues that since 2012, highly educated donors and advocacy groups have pushed the party away from the bread-and-butter concerns of working-class voters. The conversation explores how Democrats lost touch with moderates, what lessons can be learned from past realignments, and why winning elections begins with listening to voters again. Hosted

52:36

Ben Wittes: Who Is The Administrator of DOGE?

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/10/30

Charlie Sykes talks with Lawfare’s Ben Wittes about the erosion of congressional power, Donald Trump’s attempts to reshape the civil service, and the growing danger of a one-man government. They unpack Trump’s $230 million claim against U.S. taxpayers, the ethical chaos inside the Justice Department, and how judges are grappling with lies from the federal government. Wittes also shares the story behind his viral “Who Is the Administrator of Doge?” hat and an unlikely night of Ukrainian lounge music

44:58

Anne Applebaum: Americans Are Not Angry Enough Yet

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/10/28

Charlie Sykes is joined by historian and journalist Anne Applebaum to discuss the accelerating erosion of democratic norms in the United States. They explore how corruption, institutional fragility, and authoritarian habits are reshaping American politics, and why complacency is our greatest danger. Applebaum warns that the midterms may determine whether America still has the will to defend its democracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

43:14

Justin Wolfers: The Erosion of Democratic Institutions

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/10/26

Economist Justin Wolfers joins Charlie Sykes to unpack the puzzling disconnect between Wall Street’s optimism and Main Street’s uncertainty, and what that says about America’s economic direction. They dive into Trump’s tariffs, Argentina’s bailout, and how “crony capitalism” tilts the playing field toward big corporations. Wolfers also reflects on his recent Boyer Lecture, arguing that the erosion of democratic institutions pose the greatest threat to long-term prosperity. Hosted on Acast. See

43:48

Adam Kinzinger: Trump Tales a Wrecking Ball to the...

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/10/23

Charlie Sykes and Adam Kinzinger take stock of another chaotic week in American politics, from Donald Trump’s demand for $230 million in taxpayer money and his controversial White House renovations, to Speaker Mike Johnson’s embrace of Trump’s culture-war theatrics. They also discuss the rise of the “No Kings” movement, the corporate backlash over Jimmy Kimmel’s firing, and what it all says about the state of the GOP. Plus, Kinzinger offers a bold idea for ending the war in Ukraine Hosted on Acast

30:39

Jim Acosta: No Kings and Trump's AI Jet

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/10/21

Charlie Sykes and Jim Acosta unpack the massive “No Kings” rallies, Trump’s inflammatory AI video targeting protesters, and the unsettling normalization of authoritarian behavior from the Oval Office. They discuss the divide between Trump’s rhetoric and reality, the media’s response to his attacks, and how both parties face a long road ahead in defending democratic norms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

44:23

Tim O'Brien: Trump is a Chaos Agent in a Chaotic World

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/10/18

Charlie Sykes sits down with Bloomberg Opinion’s Tim O’Brien to talk about the chaos and consequences of Donald Trump’s second term. From the “No Kings” rallies and the weaponization of the IRS to fears of a politicized military, they examine how America’s democratic institutions are holding up—or falling apart. They also talk about whether a new resistance movement is finally taking shape in a nation struggling to remember its constitutional soul. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more

51:00

Tom Nichols: Free Press, JD Vance, and the MAGA Right

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/10/16

Charlie Sykes welcomes Atlantic writer Tom Nichols for a conversation about the Pentagon’s unprecedented expulsion of the press and what it means for democracy and transparency. They also unpack the MAGA movement’s growing hostility toward free speech, Trump’s chaotic foreign policy moves, and JD Vance’s defense of young right-wing bigots. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

40:44

Rob Hart: Chicago Under Siege

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/10/14

Charlie Sykes turns his attention from the Middle East to the Midwest, where escalating ICE raids, federal court battles, and National Guard deployments have put Chicago at the center of a national storm. WBBM anchor Rob Hart joins to break down the reality on the ground—what’s true, what’s political theater, and how local leaders like J.B. Pritzker and Brandon Johnson are navigating the crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

47:18

David French: Trump’s Expanding Power

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/10/12

Charlie Sykes is joined by David French to unpack a week of alarming developments — from Trump’s threatened invocation of the Insurrection Act and deployment of troops to Chicago, to the stunning announcement of a Qatari military base on U.S. soil. Together, they explore how rhetoric, legality, and raw power collide in a presidency that continually tests constitutional limits. Amid escalating tensions at home and abroad, what happens when extraordinary powers become the new normal? Hosted on Acast

40:26

Susan Glasser: TrumpSchmerz

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ·

2025/10/09

New Yorker staff writer Susan Glasser joins Charlie Sykes to talk about what she calls “TrumpSchmerz” — the constant state of worry that hangs over America in the Trump era. They discuss the weaponization of government power, the collapse of political norms, and whether the country’s institutions or its people will stop the slide toward authoritarianism. It’s a conversation about inflection points, public fatigue, and the uneasy question of what America is willing to tolerate. Hosted on Acast. See

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