To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Apr 12 2025 29 ep. 45 mins 240

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes Podcast artwork

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

Copy RSS

Subscribe on Podcast Addict

Amy McGarth & Denver Riggleman: Tariffs, Tyranny and Truth in the Barrel

Apr 12 2025 55 mins

Charlie Sykes is joined by Amy McGrath and Denver Riggleman for a candid conversation about national security, military norms, and the authoritarian threats posed by a second Trump term. They dive into the dangers of loyalty-driven purges, the collapse of soft power, and why some Americans still fall for bizarre conspiracy theories. With bourbon-fueled honesty and bipartisan grit,

Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes: "Fight" and the Price of Gaslighting

Apr 09 2025 49 mins

Charlie Sykes talks with Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, authors of Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House, to unpack their explosive behind-the-scenes reporting on the 2024 election. They discuss a Democratic Party in disarray, a media landscape accused of complicity, and the pivotal moments that helped reelect Donald Trump. From Biden’s final days to Harris’s up

Peter Wehner: Trump, Denial, and the Collapse of Civic Courage

Apr 07 2025 49 mins

Charlie Sykes is joined by Peter Wehner to unpack the global economic chaos unfolding under Donald Trump's leadership. They explore the psychological grip Trump holds on his supporters, the failures of institutions to push back, and the dangerous normalization of one-man rule. Together, they reflect on how fear, denial, and the collapse of civic courage have created a moment of rec

David French: Tariffs, Sycophants and Signal

Apr 05 2025 52 mins

Charlie Sykes is joined by David French for a wide-ranging conversation about the alarming trajectory of Trump’s second term—from potential appointments like Pete Hegseth and Kash Patel to the chaos of $6 trillion in new tariffs. They explore the rise of authoritarian instincts, the collapse of due process, and the moral rationalizations enabling Trump's grip on power. Plus: bi

Josh Kraushaar: Elon’s Flameout & the GOP Fallout

Apr 02 2025 45 mins

Charlie Sykes is joined by Josh Kraushaar to unpack the political aftershocks of Elon Musk’s failed $26 million intervention in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race. They dig into the GOP’s internal frustrations with Musk, the Trump administration’s growing disregard for due process, and the Democrats’ unexpected resurgence. Plus, the two discuss the rise of Cory Booker, the co

David Jolly: Taking Trump's Third Term Seriously

Mar 31 2025 44 mins

Charlie Sykes and former Congressman David Jolly explore the unsettling prospect of Donald Trump pursuing a third term and the broader implications for American democracy. They examine the collapse of congressional power, the growing influence of Elon Musk in Republican politics, and the corrosive impact of money on elections—including a $100 million Wisconsin Supreme Court race.

Jim Acosta: Greenshoots in the Fight for America

Mar 29 2025 42 mins

Charlie Sykes welcomes CNN veteran and Substack writer Jim Acosta for a weekend conversation on fear, power, and political pushback in the Trump era. They discuss the administration's performative authoritarianism, from mass deportations and censorship to threats against institutions and the judiciary—while also spotlighting signs of resistance, electoral shifts, and green shoots

Anne Applebaum: Signal and the Authoritarian Playbook

Mar 26 2025 46 mins

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Atlantic staff writer Anne Applebaum joins Charlie Sykes to unpack the shocking revelations of the "SignalGate" scandal—an alarming breach of national security and a window into the chaos of the second Trump administration. Applebaum explains how the use of unsecured messaging apps, bizarre bravado among senior officials, and a deep-seated hostil

Olivia Troye Has Entered the Chat

Mar 24 2025 49 mins

Charlie Sykes and national security expert Olivia Troye react to The Atlantic's bombshell report detailing how Trump administration officials accidentally included a journalist in a Signal group chat revealing real-time U.S. war plans. They also examine the chilling erosion of institutional norms—from the revocation of security clearances for dissenters to the shuttering of Voice

Tom Nichols: Why Are We Still Surprised?

Mar 23 2025 56 mins

Charlie Sykes is joined by Tom Nichols of The Atlantic to discuss the growing normalization of authoritarianism and the failure of America's institutions to push back. They cover everything from Trump’s war on the judiciary to Elon Musk’s growing influence, the alarming capitulations by law firms and universities, and Vladimir Putin's manipulation of global power dynamics. It�