To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

In this episode, Charlie answers your questions about the ICE killing in Minneapolis, the Donroe Doctrine, and the psychological and physical burdens of living under Trumpism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 right intellectuals and the seductive nature of their ideas. Field is a nonresident fellow in the Governance Studies program at Brookings Institution. She holds a Ph. D. in political theory and public law from the University of Texa...

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

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 Democrats retake the House in 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 president can fix the culture and repair the harm done by Trump. (Hint: it’s going to be extremely hard.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlie and The New Yorker writer Susan Glasser summarize the year for TTC listeners: The erosion of guardrails, the collapse of institutions, and the differences between 2025 and the first year of Trump 1.0, 2017. They also ask: what the hell is the point of Congress anymore? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Charlie speaks with former GOP political strategist Lucy Caldwell. They discuss the botched release of the Epstein files, Bari Weiss's decision to spike a 60 Minutes segment, MAGA infighting, the problem with RFK, Jr., and a heated Senate race in Maine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger came on TTC to talk about Trump's insistence on marking his territory everywhere -- from the Kennedy Center to the Presidential walk of fame, where he installed new plaques mocking Biden and Obama.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

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...

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

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

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

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

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?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...

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 warti...

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,...

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’...

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. M...

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 in...

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 rea...

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.

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 Trum...

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 He...