Shows / To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
You are not the crazy ones.
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Episodes
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
The Intellectuals of the MAGA movement
Laura K. Field, the author of the new book "Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right," joins Charlie to explain why we should pay attention to the new…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Trump's America Becomes the Neighborhood Bully
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum joins Charlie from Poland to discuss the troubling start to 2026 with Trump's actions in Venezuela. Hosted on…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
2025 in Review: Tom Nichols
Charlie and The Atlantic’s Tom Nichols reflect on the upheavals of 2025 and debate whether Trump really has three more years in office — or only one, if…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
2025 in Review: Matt Lewis
Charlie invites Matt Lewis, author of Filthy Rich Politicians and Too Dumb to Fail, to look back at the year. They also look ahead and ask how the next…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
2025 in Review: Susan Glasser
Charlie and The New Yorker writer Susan Glasser summarize the year for TTC listeners: The erosion of guardrails, the collapse of institutions, and the…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Trump's Coverup, Bari's Blunder
In this episode, Charlie speaks with former GOP political strategist Lucy Caldwell. They discuss the botched release of the Epstein files, Bari Weiss's…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Every Red State Is Going to Have a Trump Airport Soon
Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger came on TTC to talk about Trump's insistence on marking his territory everywhere -- from the Kennedy Center to the…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Simon Bazelon: Deciding to Win
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…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Ben Wittes: Who Is The Administrator of DOGE?
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…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Anne Applebaum: Americans Are Not Angry Enough Yet
Charlie Sykes is joined by historian and journalist Anne Applebaum to discuss the accelerating erosion of democratic norms in the United States. They explore…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Justin Wolfers: The Erosion of Democratic Institutions
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…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Adam Kinzinger: Trump Tales a Wrecking Ball to the White House
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…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Jim Acosta: No Kings and Trump's AI Jet
Charlie Sykes and Jim Acosta unpack the massive “No Kings” rallies, Trump’s inflammatory AI video targeting protesters, and the unsettling normalization of…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Tim O'Brien: Trump is a Chaos Agent in a Chaotic World
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”…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Tom Nichols: Free Press, JD Vance, and the MAGA Right
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…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Rob Hart: Chicago Under Siege
Charlie Sykes turns his attention from the Middle East to the Midwest, where escalating ICE raids, federal court battles, and National Guard deployments have…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
David French: Trump’s Expanding Power
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…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Susan Glasser: TrumpSchmerz
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…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Edward Luce: Western Democracy Under Siege
Charlie Sykes sits down with Financial Times U.S. National Editor Edward Luce to examine the accelerating retreat of Western liberalism and the fragility of…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Harry Litman: The Comey Indictment and the Insurrection Act
Charlie Sykes and former U.S. attorney Harry Litman unpack the escalating legal and constitutional crises of the Trump era. From the unprecedented ICE raid in…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Olivia Troye: The Enemy Within, Shutdowns, and Jane Goodall
Charlie Sykes and Olivia Troye take a journey through the week’s political turmoil — from Trump’s Oval Office trolling and the specter of a third term to the…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Paul Rieckhoff: Grievance, Guns, and Power
Charlie Sykes sits down with Paul Rieckhoff, founder of Independent Veterans of America, for a wide-ranging conversation about America’s mass shooting crisis…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Nicholas Grossman: UN Escalators, NATO, and Free Speech
Charlie Sykes is joined by Nicholas Grossman to unpack another chaotic week in politics and foreign affairs. From Trump’s bizarre UN speech and a mysterious…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
David French: Free Speech, Cancel Culture, and the Kimmel Moment
Charlie Sykes welcomes David French back to the podcast to unpack the fallout from Jimmy Kimmel’s viral monologue and Donald Trump’s failed attempt to cancel…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Julian Zelizer: Power and Punishment
Charlie Sykes and historian Julian Zelizer take a hard look at a whirlwind week of political intimidation, weaponized investigations, and the GOP’s muted…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Daniel Drezner: Trump 2.0, Free Speech, and Foreign Policy Failures
Charlie Sykes talks with Daniel Drezner, academic dean and distinguished professor at Tufts University’s Fletcher School, to discuss the evolution of Trump…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Adam Kinzinger: Free Speech Under Siege
Charlie Sykes is joined by former Congressman Adam Kinzinger to unpack the mounting threats to free speech in America. They examine Donald Trump’s escalating…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Tom Nichols: Into Darkness
Charlie Sykes and Tom Nichols return to “the gloom” for a conversation about political violence, creeping authoritarianism, and the weaponization of tragedy…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Garry Kasparov: Putin, Poland, and the Peril of American Democracy
Former world chess champion and democracy activist Garry Kasparov joins Charlie Sykes to discuss Russia’s escalating war, including the deliberate drone strike…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Jonathan Rauch: The Rise of the Woke Right
Charlie Sykes is joined by Jonathan Rauch of the Brookings Institution and The Atlantic for a conversation recorded just as news of the shooting of Charlie…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Garrett Graff: America Tips Into Fascism
Charlie Sykes sits down with historian and journalist Garrett Graff to examine his recent warning that America has entered a dangerous slide toward…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Paula Kerger: PBS is Not Going Anywhere
Charlie Sykes sits down with Paula Kerger, the longest-serving president and CEO of PBS, to discuss the unprecedented defunding of public broadcasting. Kerger…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Tara Palmeri: A Pivotal Week in the Epstein Cover-up
Tara Palmeri and Charlie Sykes discuss a pivotal week in the Jeffrey Epstein case, as dozens of survivors gathered on Capitol Hill demanding the release of…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
David Frum: Trump’s Costly Failures
Charlie Sykes sits down with David Frum of The Atlantic to unpack the mounting costs of Donald Trump’s foreign policy decisions. From alienating India and…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Ali Breland: Nick Fuentes and the Far Right’s Rising Influence
Charlie Sykes is joined by Ali Breland of The Atlantic to discuss his recent article, America’s Next Top Racist. They examine how Nick Fuentes has built a…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Sarah McLaughlin: Authoritarians in the Academy
Charlie Sykes speaks with Sarah McLaughlin, senior scholar at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, about her new book Authoritarians in the…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Zee Cohen-Sanchez: Beating Charlie Kirk at his Own Game
Charlie Sykes sits down with organizer Zee Cohen-Sanchez, founder of National Ground Game, to talk about the fight for young voters on America’s campuses. They…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
What Makes You Think They Won’t Come for You?
Charlie Sykes unpacks a week of extraordinary events—from the FBI raid on John Bolton’s home to Trump’s humiliating summit with Vladimir Putin and the alarming…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Chris Cillizza: The Rubber Band Theory
Charlie Sykes sits down with journalist Chris Cillizza to unpack his "rubber band theory" of American democracy and how Trump-era politics may stretch…
- To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Ben Wittes: Five Alarm Fires
Charlie Sykes and Lawfare’s Ben Wittes unpack the fallout from Donald Trump’s Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin, a meeting that left America humiliated and…