To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

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 Kirk broke. The conversation touches on the rise of political violence, the collapse of civic norms, and the spread of postmodern thinking on the right. Rauch explains how truth is being replaced by narrative, why patrimonialism defines Donald...

Charlie Sykes sits down with historian and journalist Garrett Graff to examine his recent warning that America has entered a dangerous slide toward authoritarianism. From federal occupations of U.S. cities and extrajudicial killings abroad to the intimidation of business leaders and the hollowing out of Congress, Graff argues the guardrails of democracy are collapsing. They talk about whether the...

Charlie Sykes sits down with Paula Kerger, the longest-serving president and CEO of PBS, to discuss the unprecedented defunding of public broadcasting. Kerger explains how the loss of federal support threatens hundreds of local stations, particularly in rural communities, and why this moment is a critical test for the future of public media. They also discuss the stakes for children’s programming,...

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 long-secret files. They examine the political maneuvering in Congress, the surprising alliances forming around transparency, and the intense pressure victims face in speaking out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Australia to emboldening China and Russia, Frum explains how short-sighted vanity and corruption are leaving the United States increasingly isolated. The conversation also covers Trump’s entanglement with the Epstein story, the misuse of tariffs...

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 devoted following, pushed the GOP further right, and influenced both rhetoric and policy despite his openly racist views. The conversation explores why Fuentes’ rise matters, how mainstream figures have failed to contain him, and what this mean...

Charlie Sykes speaks with Sarah McLaughlin, senior scholar at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, about her new book Authoritarians in the Academy . They explore how foreign governments and domestic pressures alike are eroding free expression on U.S. campuses, from disinviting speakers to surveilling international students. McLaughlin warns that universities face a crisis of value...

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 dig into why conservative groups like Turning Point USA are outpacing Democrats in building infrastructure and community for Gen Z, and how online influencers from Charlie Kirk to Nick Fuentes are shaping the landscape. The conversation als...

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 expansion of visa surveillance. He warns that these actions aren’t isolated but part of a broader campaign of intimidation and authoritarian drift. Sykes argues that if the government can weaponize its powers against critics and outsiders,...

Charlie Sykes sits down with journalist Chris Cillizza to unpack his "rubber band theory" of American democracy and how Trump-era politics may stretch institutions beyond repair. The two also debate Gavin Newsom’s political future, Elon Musk’s latest pivots, and why the Epstein files refuse to fade from the headlines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Ukraine on edge. Wittes shares his own surreal run-in with the Secret Service after chalking a Ukrainian flag outside the Russian embassy, and together they trace how symbolism, appeasement, and bad faith are reshaping U.S. foreign policy. The...

Former Pennsylvania Congressman Conor Lamb joins Charlie Sykes for a wide-ranging conversation on the challenges facing the Democratic Party. They discuss how Democrats can regain credibility on crime, counter Trump’s “law and order” narrative, and present a clear vision to voters. Lamb also weighs in on gerrymandering, the state of the 2026 midterms, foreign policy under Trump, and the curious ca...

Charlie Sykes sits down with Andor creator Tony Gilroy for a conversation about the show's record-breaking Emmy nominations, its historical inspirations, and its unintentional political resonance. Gilroy discusses drawing from centuries of rebellion and authoritarian playbooks, the banality of evil, and why some institutions willingly surrender to power. They also explore the moral tradeoffs withi...

Charlie Sykes and Harry Litman break down the sweeping politicization of the FBI and Department of Justice under Donald Trump, from purging veteran agents to elevating January 6 rioters into senior roles. They explore the administration’s push to rewrite history, weaponize investigations against political opponents, and erode the rule of law. With Congress cowering and the courts wavering, they as...

Charlie Sykes welcomes Jessica Riedl of the Manhattan Institute for a conversation on the state of the U.S. economy under Trump 2.0. They cover everything from fantasy math in drug pricing claims to the White House’s assault on economic data, growing authoritarian tendencies, and the chaos of tariff policy. Plus, they dig into the gerrymandering arms race—and whether defending democracy now means...

Charlie Sykes speaks with investigative journalist Tara Palmeri about her years-long coverage of the Jeffrey Epstein case and her deeply personal reporting on the survivors. Palmeri recounts her work on the Broken: Jeffrey Epstein podcast and shares chilling insights into the power networks that enabled Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to evade justice for so long Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

Charlie Sykes welcomes Tom Nichols to talk about Trump’s gilded ambitions—from redesigning the White House to purging the military of disloyalty. They unpack the political theater behind the Smithsonian’s historical revisions, the moral collapse of Senate confirmations, and the erosion of democratic norms under MAGA pressure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlie Sykes welcomes former congressman Adam Kinzinger to discuss the Trump-Epstein saga, congressional cowardice, and the erosion of democratic norms. They discuss Trump's obsession with loyalty, the Senate’s institutional decay, and why even Harvard is caving to pressure. From enemies lists to media capitulation, Kinzinger argues this is the defining test of our generation—and we’re failing i...

Charlie Sykes and historian Julian Zelizer tackle the political storm surrounding Donald Trump and the Epstein files, exploring why this controversy has stuck and what it reveals about the MAGA base. They examine the broader collapse of institutional resistance—from the GOP’s silence to media capitulation—and question just how far Trump might go to protect himself. The conversation also touches on...

Jim Acosta joins Charlie Sykes for a sobering conversation about Donald Trump’s explosive treason accusations against Barack Obama and what they signal about his desperation over the Epstein case. They explore how Trump’s old tricks—conspiracy theories, culture wars, and media manipulation—may be losing their power, and why this moment feels different. From Ghislaine Maxwell to media complicity, t...

Charlie Sykes sits down with former Montana Governor and RNC Chair Marc Racicot to discuss "Our Republican Legacy," a new initiative aimed at restoring the GOP’s foundational principles of character, constitutionalism, and limited government. Racicot offers a candid assessment of the current political landscape, acknowledging the uphill battle while defending the idea that the Republican Party can...

Charlie Sykes is joined by chess grandmaster and democracy advocate Garry Kasparov to explore how creeping authoritarianism could take hold in the United States. Kasparov warns that fear, normalization of abuses, and erosion of democratic institutions are already pushing America down a dangerous path. Together, they examine the historical patterns of autocratic power, the unique risks posed by Don...

Charlie Sykes welcomes David French for a sweeping conversation on MAGA’s unraveling over the Epstein files, Trump’s shaky pivot on Ukraine, and the deeper cultural meaning behind the new Superman film. They examine the growing fractures in Trump’s base, the danger of embedding loyalists in the judiciary, and why even MAGA can turn on its own. With sharp insights and some well-earned skepticism, F...

Charlie Sykes is joined by veteran journalist and Substack writer Terry Moran for a bracing conversation on Trump’s unraveling Epstein strategy, the deep contradictions within the MAGA worldview, and the terrifying normalization of state-sponsored cruelty. From “Alligator Alcatraz” to 50% tariffs on Brazil, the two dissect how branding, conspiracy, and authoritarian impulses are reshaping American...

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum joins Charlie Sykes from Warsaw to examine the alarming rise of authoritarian tactics in the U.S., from the militarization of federal agencies to the normalization of political cruelty. They discuss the Trump administration’s embrace of spectacle, the breakdown of truth, and the erosion of institutional guardrails. Applebaum warns that what once seem...