Explore every episode of the podcast To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Why the GOP Meltdown is Going to Get Worse | 10 Nov 2026 | 00:48:22 | |
What does the future hold for Donald Trump and the Republican Party after the midterm election setback? Political analyst Nicholas Grossman joins Charlie to examine the political consequences of Trump's approach to governing, why his administration appears more likely to double down than change course, and what this could mean for the Republican Party heading into 2028. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| What Does a Defeated Trump Do Next? | 07 Nov 2026 | 00:49:31 | |
After the midterm wave, Bloomberg Opinion columnist Timothy O’Brien, author of TrumpNation, joins Charlie to discuss how a cornered Trump may respond, why corporate America and Silicon Valley are bracing for subpoenas, why the big Republican spending didn’t work, how moderate Democrats powered the win, and what it means for the 2028 race. Note: This episode was recorded minutes before President Trump named Stephen Miller as his new Chief of Staff. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| A Blue Tsunami Hits Red America | 04 Nov 2026 | 00:42:20 | |
The day after America sent a devastating rebuke of Donald J. Trump, I break down the shocking wins in deep-red states, the rise of new Democrat leaders like James Talarico, Jon Ossoff, and Annie Andrews, and the question facing Republicans: will they keep falling in line behind Trump, or finally have the backbone to stand up to him? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Breaking Down the Races. Blue Tsunami, Blue Trickle, or ... | 03 Nov 2026 | 01:11:09 | |
On Election Day, Charlie Sykes and political historian Brian Rosenwald of the University of Pennsylvania give you an hour-by-hour guide to election night. They cover when the polls close, the Senate and governor’s races that could signal a wave, how to read the results as they come in at different points of the night, and Rosenwald’s final predictions for the House, Senate and Governorships. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| A Blue Wave is Likely. But Can Trump Overturn the Results? | 31 Oct 2026 | 00:45:25 | |
Three days before the midterms, Harry Litman of the Talking Feds podcast joins Charlie to discuss how far the Trump administration could go to interfere with the election, the court battles over certification, record early voting, the pundit fixation on Alaska, and the races to watch from Texas to Kansas to Georgia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Federal Judges are Sounding the Alarm. Will We Listen? | 29 Oct 2026 | 00:46:22 | |
Retired federal judge Jeremy Fogel of the Article III Coalition joins Charlie to discuss threats against judges, DOJ’s challenge in Alaska, the “creeping” defiance of court orders, Supreme Court term limits and court packing, and what happens to the republic when one of the three branches is under attack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Is MAGA's Cruelty and Corruption Finally Backfiring? | 27 Oct 2026 | 00:49:37 | |
As Trump and the Republicans make their closing arguments, New York Times columnist David French joins Charlie to discuss the backlash to the Ramaswamy ad, whether Texas is really in play, the DOJ’s Alaska lawsuit, Pete Hegseth’s reported Senate ambitions, and how corruption could shape the vote. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Could Vivek's Disgusting Ad be an Election Turning Point? | 24 Oct 2026 | 00:43:07 | |
Ten days before the midterms, journalist Tara Palmeri (The Red Letter, The Tara Palmeri Show) joins me to unpack the backlash over the Ramaswamy ad targeting Amy Acton. Plus, GOP insiders are bracing for a wipeout, their search for fall guys and the art of the grift continues with Jared Kushner’s Middle East slush fund. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Trump's October Gimmicks: Lousy Politics, Worse Economics | 22 Oct 2026 | 00:50:13 | |
Less than two weeks before the midterms, economist Justin Wolfers (University of Michigan, Platypus Economics) joins Charlie to explain why consumer sentiment is at a record low, how tariffs and immigration crackdowns eroded trust in Trump’s economy, and why October giveaways may not work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Trump vs. Everyone. MAGA Begins to Eat Its Own | 20 Oct 2026 | 00:51:10 | |
Two weeks before the midterms, the host of the Fast Politics podcast, Molly Jong-Fast joins Charlie to unpack Trump’s Putin pivot, Elon Musk’s election spending, the White House infighting, and the post-election chaos that lies ahead. Plus: what Democrats do with power, and the rising stars to watch for 2028. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Trump's Ukraine Betrayal: Is MAGA Finally Falling Apart? | 17 Oct 2026 | 00:52:58 | |
Charlie Sykes sits down with political scientist and writer from The Atlantic, Tom Nichols, as they discuss midterms and possible battleground states to look out for, Trump's latest actions in Ukraine, and the motives of the current administration before election day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Oligarchs, Intimidation, and a Silent GOP: Kinzinger Sounds the Alarm | 14 Oct 2026 | 00:42:22 | |
Three weeks before the 2026 midterms, Charlie Sykes talks with former Congressman Adam Kinzinger about where the race really stands, how the political spending of trillionaires like Musk is dangerous, and Trump’s latest moves on Ukraine. They also ask why so few Republicans will speak out against clear violations of the Constitution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Unbearable Lightness of Marco Rubio | 13 Oct 2026 | 00:48:07 | |
Three weeks before the 2026 midterms, Charlie and Daniel Drezner dig into Trump’s Russia dealings, Marco Rubio’s rebrand, and what’s really driving the race for Congress. Is the blue wave real, or are Democrats headed for another heartbreak? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| David Frum: America is Playing Russian Roulette | 09 Oct 2026 | 00:54:04 | |
On today’s episode, Charlie sits down with journalist, David Frum to discuss the US’s status in the world economy, how the Trump administration compares to other historically corrupt administrations and the new rules of American politics approaching the midterms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| After the Midterms, What is Trump Capable Of? | 08 Oct 2026 | 00:38:48 | |
On today’s episode, Charlie flies solo to dive into Thom Thillis’ recent debate gone wrong with Stephanie Ruhle, Trump’s publicly funded PSA video, the importance of staying vigilant against misinformation as citizens and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How Russia Won | 06 Oct 2026 | 00:48:12 | |
On today’s episode, Charlie sits down with journalist and author, David Corn about the long-standing influence of Russia on American politics, Putin’s long-game with Trump and their dangerous decades-long relationship that’s shaped recent history and threatens democracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Pete Hegseth: The Music Man Meets Mussolini | 03 Oct 2026 | 00:54:19 | |
On today's episode, Charlie Sykes sits down with author and journalist, Jonathan Rauch to discuss a potpourri of topics, from Pete Hegseth’s recent War Department speech, AI advancement and risks and the moral dilemmas surrounding the death penalty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How Tyranny Rises. And Falls. | 01 Oct 2026 | 00:39:24 | |
On today’s episode, Charlie is joined by author and historian, Timothy Snyder. Charlie and Timothy discuss the relevance of Timothy’s book, “On Tyranny,” what citizens are called to do in the face of an all-powerful oligarchy and the unmasking of Trump’s true character. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Weisberg: Profiles in Cowardice. The Story of Eight Trump-era Quislings | 29 Sep 2026 | 00:45:26 | |
Why do powerful people fold when it matters most? Charlie Sykes sits down with journalist and author Jacob Weisberg to discuss his explosive new book, Profiles in Cowardice — a deep dive into eight influential figures who chose silence, self-interest, and appeasement over standing up to Trump. Weisberg unpacks what separates courage from cowardice, why institutions built to check power so often buckle under pressure, and how fear and neediness can undo even the wealthiest and most powerful people in America. It's a candid conversation about principle, complicity, and what it really costs to say no. 🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on news, politics, and the state of American democracy. Topics discussed: cowardice in leadership • institutional weakness • political courage • Trump-era enablers • standing on principle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How China Humiliated Trump | 26 Sep 2026 | 00:46:39 | |
Susan Glasser, author of "Letter from Trump's Washington" in The New Yorker joins Charlie to discuss Trump breaking the law again, the GOP's midterm panic, the President's shameful groveling to a communist dictator, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Tech Overlords and Wannabe Dictators | 24 Sep 2026 | 00:42:26 | |
Paulina Borsook predicted Silicon Valley's authoritarian turn back in the 1990s — we revisit her book "Cyberselfish" and how eerily right she was. Then I break down Trump's controversial statements at the United Nations, his attack on the First Ammendment, and what it all means for American democracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Can Doug Jones Turn Alabama Blue (Again)? | 22 Sep 2026 | 00:36:56 | |
Is there a secret formula for Democratic victories in deep red states? Former Alabama Senator and current candidate for Governor, Doug Jones joins me to discuss his fight against the Republican machine, the attack on voting rights, and the Trump effect on races throughout the country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 10 Years of the Trump Nightmare | 19 Sep 2026 | 00:45:26 | |
Charlie flies solo this episode to break down the biggest headlines in current events, dig into where the midterms actually stand right now, and get personal about the toll — both individual and societal — of a decade shaped by Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Trump Lost His Popularity Before He Consolidated His Power | 17 Sep 2026 | 00:39:36 | |
Founder of Protect Democracy and winner of the MacArthur genius grant, Ian Bassin joins Charlie for a wide-ranging discussion about important reads, how technology shapes society, post-Trump America, and the weird new FBI rule about bestiality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Swisher: AI Could Kill Us. So, Why Give the Tech Oligarchs a Pass? | 15 Sep 2026 | 00:42:57 | |
World renowned tech journalist Kara Swisher joins Charlie to explore the complex issues surrounding AI development, the role of regulation, and the global implications. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How the Democrats Can Win a Super Majority | 12 Sep 2026 | 00:50:03 | |
Author of Kill Switch and Supermajority, Adam Jentleson joins Charlie for a deep dive into what it will take for Democrats to win and keep power, the weird machinations of John Fetterman, and who would make the strongest candidate to beat back whoever is Trump's successor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Avlon: I Was There...Trump Wasn't | 10 Sep 2026 | 00:52:46 | |
John Avlon — journalist, author, and political commentator — joins Charlie to reflect on the lessons of 9/11 as its 25th anniversary approaches, break down the emerging 2028 Democratic field, and unpack Trump's strange fixation on movie-villain imagery. A conversation about memory, politics, and power you won't want to miss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| O’Brien: Trump is Making America Weak Again | 05 Sep 2026 | 00:41:24 | |
Professor of Strategic Studies and host of The Phillips's Newsletter Podcast, Phillips O'Brien joins Charlie to talk about Trump's strange love for Russia, the decline of U.S. influence in Europe, and the Donald's infatuation with building monuments to himself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| An Independent Miracle in Montana? | 03 Sep 2026 | 00:40:00 | |
Former University of Montana President and Green Beret Seth Bodnar is running for Senate as an Independent. He joins Charlie to talk about Hegseth's military purge, Canadian tariffs, and why neither party is what America needs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Wolfers: Stupid Trade Wars and Gangster Government | 01 Sep 2026 | 00:46:44 | |
Economist Justin Wolfers joins Charlie to break down Trump's trade war with Canada, the controversial oil deal with Venezuela, and concerns over politicizing the U.S. Census Bureau. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Auchincloss: Impeach Hegseth First | 29 Aug 2026 | 00:35:29 | |
Congressman Jake Auchincloss joins Charlie to discuss a wide array of topics, including the future of the Democratic Party, how they can become the party of ideas again, and which MAGA disciples face a reckoning after the November elections. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The AI Backlash is Real...and Trump Isn't Happy About It | 27 Aug 2026 | 00:46:17 | |
Author of Doomsday Scenario blog and former editor of Politico Magazine, Garrett Graff joins Charlie to talk about the emerging battle against AI data centers, the current political landscape, and Trump's weak sauce threat against Canada to change the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Generalissimo Trump’s New Endless War | 25 Aug 2026 | 01:01:03 | |
Charlie talks about yet another war Trump has started that no Americans wanted and author, historian and elections expert, Brian Rosenwald joins him to break down where all the important midterm races stand. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Tom Nichols: The Trump Tribe Thinks This Will Go On Forever | 22 Aug 2026 | 00:47:13 | |
The Atlantic's Tom Nichols joins Charlie to talk about the frightening delusions of the Trump team, his human binky Natalie Harp, and Congress shirking its most basic responsibilities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Don't Normalize This | 20 Aug 2026 | 00:53:54 | |
Charlie goes solo today to discuss Trump cozying up to another despot, pumping the brakes on data centers and who the hell is Natalie Harp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Blanche Proves He Is Trump's Toady. As If There Was Any Doubt. | 18 Aug 2026 | 00:46:17 | |
Harry Litman, host of the Talking Feds podcast, joins Charlie to talk about Trump's continued warping of reality, Blanche showing the era of DOJ impartiality is over, and the possibility the Republicans in Congress will refuse to seat a newly elected Democratic member on January 3rd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ed Luce: We Are at Peak Denial | 15 Aug 2026 | 00:43:29 | |
Ed Luce from the Financial Times joins Charlie to talk about today's political climate, the undeniable reality of global warming and the existential threat of AI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| It's Electability Stupid | 13 Aug 2026 | 00:42:04 | |
The co-founder of Third Way, Matt Bennett joins Charlie to talk about the DSA's stunning defeat in Wisconsin, their agenda to destroy the Democratic Party and why electability still matters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Peter Wehner: Trump Prefers Infamy to Irrelevance | 11 Aug 2026 | 00:50:37 | |
The Atlantic's Peter Wehner joins Charlie to talk about Trump's desperate attempts to remain relevant, his miscalculations about Iran, and MAGA's obsession with Anthony Fauci. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Anne Applebaum: “I Can’t Think of Anything More Corrupt” | 08 Aug 2026 | 00:45:33 | |
The Atlantic's Anne Applebaum joins Charlie to discuss Trump's sale of early access to Truth Social posts, his doubling down on the reflecting pool vandalism lie, and the Ceuta border crisis and how the far right has weaponized it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Trump's Banana Republic | 01 Aug 2026 | 00:51:55 | |
New York Times Opinion writer David French joins Charlie to discuss Trump's unprecedented corruption, the Todd Blanche Attorney General nomination now in limbo, and Anthony Fauci's Senate hearing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Trump Attacks a Female Journalist. The Press Looks Away. | 30 Jul 2026 | 00:43:56 | |
Tara Palmeri, host of The Tara Palmeri Show and author of the newsletter "The Red Letter," joins Charlie to unpack Trump's attack on Kaitlan Collins at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Todd Blanche's role in the Epstein cover-up, and Lindsey Graham's fraught legacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Does Trump Think AI Slop Makes Him Look Tough? | 28 Jul 2026 | 00:50:36 | |
Nicholas Grossman, editor of Arc Digital and professor of international relations at the University of Illinois, joins Charlie to discuss Trump's frenzied posting of AI slop about Iran, the bizarre White House Correspondents' Dinner, and the global implications of the newly announced Saudi nuclear deal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Trump Tried to Rewire Society. Trump Failed. | 25 Jul 2026 | 00:51:20 | |
Jonathan Rauch is a Brookings Institution Senior Fellow and a contributing writer at The Atlantic. In this episode, he joins Charlie to explain how the "postmodern right" thinks it can manipulate reality, how Trump's people thought they could change civil society — and why all of this is failing. They also discuss the continuing casualties from the war with Iran, Trump's obsession with numbers, and Lindsey Graham's legacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| An Administration Without Grown-Ups | 23 Jul 2026 | 00:57:33 | |
In this special solo episode, Charlie answers your questions about the latest crisis in US-Canada relations, Jay Clayton's confirmation hearing, and the US-Saudi nuclear deal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Do Democrats Have a Plan? | 21 Jul 2026 | 00:39:36 | |
Ben Wikler served as the chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin for six years. In this episode he joins Charlie to talk about his new book This Is the Plan: How to End America's Meltdown and Save Democracy. Inevitably, they also talk a lot about Wisconsin politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Killing Baby Hitler | 18 Jul 2026 | 00:41:08 | |
Michael Tomasky is the editor of The New Republic and author of a new book titled Killing Baby Hitler. It's part sci-fi thriller, part satire and even though it takes place in the future and the past, it tells us a lot about the present. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Is Trump Creating the Pretext for Another Coup? | 16 Jul 2026 | 00:46:06 | |
On today’s episode, Charlie welcomes back friend of the show and former US Representative, Adam Kinzinger. The two discuss Graham’s passing and his legacy in relation to Trump, Trump’s mysterious upcoming broadcast on Thursday and the latest on the Iran War. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| "Our Democracy Cannot Survive a Presidency for Sale" | 14 Jul 2026 | 00:47:27 | |
Justin Wolfers is a professor of economics at the University of Michigan and author of the Platypus Economics Substack. In this episode, he joins Charlie to discuss the economic and political implications of current global events, AI advancements, and Trump's corruption. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Bill for Trump’s Vanity Presidency | 11 Jul 2026 | 00:54:02 | |
Atlantic writer Tom Nichols joins Charlie to discuss the Maine Senate election fiasco, Trump's antics at the NATO summit, and the Administration looking for a plan C in Iran. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||