To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

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

Episodes

Ed Luce: Xenophobia, Murder on the High Seas, and Europe's Moment of Truth

December 4, 2025 • 46 mins

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....

Mark as Played

Paul Rieckhoff: Trump, War Crimes, and the Afghan Betrayal

December 2, 2025 • 47 mins
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 wartime allies will shape our future on ...

Mark as Played

Tom Nichols: Black Friday Blues

November 28, 2025 • 56 mins
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, they explore how an aging, insular...

Mark as Played

Michael Scherer: Inside RFK Jr.’s Rise

November 25, 2025 • 45 mins
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’s ascent reveals about a country los...

Mark as Played

Terry Moran: Patriotism, Power, and a Perilous Moment

November 23, 2025 • 50 mins
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. Moran argues that beneath Trump’s pr...

Mark as Played

Susan Glasser: Lame-Duck is Just Another Word for Nothing Left to Lose

November 19, 2025 • 44 mins
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 including Marjorie Taylor Greene’s un...

Mark as Played

Matt Bennett: Lessons Democrats Can’t Ignore

November 18, 2025 • 44 mins
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 realistic path to defeating Donald Tru...

Mark as Played

The Streisand Effect Cover-Up

November 16, 2025 • 48 mins
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 infor...

Mark as Played

Harry Litman: The Epstein Files Fallout

November 13, 2025 • 47 mins
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 Trump-era overreach and the shifting pu...

Mark as Played

Nicholas Grossman: No, The Dems Did Not Win The Shutdown

November 11, 2025 • 48 mins
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 Heritage Foundation’s hard-right turn...

Mark as Played

Adam Kinzinger: The Last Republican

November 9, 2025 • 42 mins
Charlie Sykes sits down with former Congressman Adam Kinzinger to discuss his new documentary The Last Republican and the personal and political fallout from his stand against Donald Trump. Kinzinger reflects on January 6th, his deep contempt for Kevin McCarthy’s capitulation, and how small acts of cowardice reshaped the GOP. The conversation also turns to the future of both parties, the shifting Hispanic vote, and why authenticity...

Mark as Played

Jonathan Rauch: SCOTUS, the Blue Wave and the Future of Democracy

November 6, 2025 • 47 mins
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 presidential authority. They also break down the recent “blue wave” election results, the shifting loyalties of younger and minority voters, and the growing ideological fractures inside the Republican Party. The conversation explores whether America’s political institutions ...

Mark as Played

Daniel Drezner: Baseball, Billionaires and the Breakdown of the GOP

November 4, 2025 • 44 mins
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 and ends with America’s political curveballs. They unpack Trump’s Great Gatsby–style party amid a government shutdown, the pardoning of a crypto billionaire, and the GOP’s flirtation with extremist rhetoric. Along the way, they tackle corruption, creeping authoritarianism, an...

Mark as Played

Simon Bazelon: Deciding to Win

November 2, 2025 • 46 mins
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 argues that since 2012, highly educated donors and advocacy groups have pushed the party away from the bread-and-butter concerns of working-class voters. The conversation explores how Democrats lost touch with moderates, what lessons can be learned from past realignments, and...

Mark as Played

Ben Wittes: Who Is The Administrator of DOGE?

October 30, 2025 • 52 mins
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 danger of a one-man government. They unpack Trump’s $230 million claim against U.S. taxpayers, the ethical chaos inside the Justice Department, and how judges are grappling with lies from the federal government. Wittes also shares the story behind his viral “Who Is the Adminis...

Mark as Played

Anne Applebaum: Americans Are Not Angry Enough Yet

October 28, 2025 • 44 mins
Charlie Sykes is joined by historian and journalist Anne Applebaum to discuss the accelerating erosion of democratic norms in the United States. They explore how corruption, institutional fragility, and authoritarian habits are reshaping American politics, and why complacency is our greatest danger. Applebaum warns that the midterms may determine whether America still has the will to defend its democracy.

Mark as Played

Justin Wolfers: The Erosion of Democratic Institutions

October 26, 2025 • 43 mins
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 about America’s economic direction. They dive into Trump’s tariffs, Argentina’s bailout, and how “crony capitalism” tilts the playing field toward big corporations. Wolfers also reflects on his recent Boyer Lecture, arguing that the erosion of democratic institutions pose th...

Mark as Played

Adam Kinzinger: Trump Tales a Wrecking Ball to the White House

October 23, 2025 • 43 mins
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 controversial White House renovations, to Speaker Mike Johnson’s embrace of Trump’s culture-war theatrics. They also discuss the rise of the “No Kings” movement, the corporate backlash over Jimmy Kimmel’s firing, and what it all says about the state of the GOP. Plus, Kinzing...

Mark as Played

Jim Acosta: No Kings and Trump's AI Jet

October 21, 2025 • 30 mins
Charlie Sykes and Jim Acosta unpack the massive “No Kings” rallies, Trump’s inflammatory AI video targeting protesters, and the unsettling normalization of authoritarian behavior from the Oval Office. They discuss the divide between Trump’s rhetoric and reality, the media’s response to his attacks, and how both parties face a long road ahead in defending democratic norms.

Hosted on Acast...

Mark as Played

Tim O'Brien: Trump is a Chaos Agent in a Chaotic World

October 18, 2025 • 44 mins
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” rallies and the weaponization of the IRS to fears of a politicized military, they examine how America’s democratic institutions are holding up—or falling apart. They also talk about whether a new resistance movement is finally taking shape in a nation struggling to remember its con...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Dateline NBC

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    Are You A Charlotte?

    Are You A Charlotte?

    In 1997, actress Kristin Davis’ life was forever changed when she took on the role of Charlotte York in Sex and the City. As we watched Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte navigate relationships in NYC, the show helped push once unacceptable conversation topics out of the shadows and altered the narrative around women and sex. We all saw ourselves in them as they searched for fulfillment in life, sex and friendships. Now, Kristin Davis wants to connect with you, the fans, and share untold stories and all the behind the scenes. Together, with Kristin and special guests, what will begin with Sex and the City will evolve into talks about themes that are still so relevant today. "Are you a Charlotte?" is much more than just rewatching this beloved show, it brings the past and the present together as we talk with heart, humor and of course some optimism.

    Stuff You Should Know

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    Crime Junkie

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

Explore

iHeart

Live Radio

Podcasts

Artist Radio

Exclusives

News

Features

Events

Contests

Photos

Information

About

Advertise

Blog

Brand Guidelines

Contest Guidelines

Subscription Offers

Jobs

Get the App

Automotive

Home

Mobile

Wearables

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.