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To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes — News Commentary
To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

You are not the crazy ones.

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Copyright: © Charlie Sykes

Latest Episodes:

Tim O'Brien: Trump is a Chaos Agent in a Chaotic World Oct 18, 2025

Show notes

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 constitutional soul.

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Tom Nichols: Free Press, JD Vance, and the MAGA Right Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

Charlie Sykes welcomes Atlantic writer Tom Nichols for a conversation about the Pentagon’s unprecedented expulsion of the press and what it means for democracy and transparency. They also unpack the MAGA movement’s growing hostility toward free speech, Trump’s chaotic foreign policy moves, and JD Vance’s defense of young right-wing bigots.

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Rob Hart: Chicago Under Siege Oct 14, 2025

Show notes

Charlie Sykes turns his attention from the Middle East to the Midwest, where escalating ICE raids, federal court battles, and National Guard deployments have put Chicago at the center of a national storm. WBBM anchor Rob Hart joins to break down the reality on the ground—what’s true, what’s political theater, and how local leaders like J.B. Pritzker and Brandon Johnson are navigating the crisis.

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David French: Trump’s Expanding Power Oct 12, 2025

Show notes

Charlie Sykes is joined by David French to unpack a week of alarming developments — from Trump’s threatened invocation of the Insurrection Act and deployment of troops to Chicago, to the stunning announcement of a Qatari military base on U.S. soil. Together, they explore how rhetoric, legality, and raw power collide in a presidency that continually tests constitutional limits. Amid escalating tensions at home and abroad, what happens when extraordinary powers become the new normal?

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Susan Glasser: TrumpSchmerz Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

New Yorker staff writer Susan Glasser joins Charlie Sykes to talk about what she calls “TrumpSchmerz” — the constant state of worry that hangs over America in the Trump era. They discuss the weaponization of government power, the collapse of political norms, and whether the country’s institutions or its people will stop the slide toward authoritarianism. It’s a conversation about inflection points, public fatigue, and the uneasy question of what America is willing to tolerate.

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Edward Luce: Western Democracy Under Siege Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

Charlie Sykes sits down with Financial Times U.S. National Editor Edward Luce to examine the accelerating retreat of Western liberalism and the fragility of democratic institutions in the Trump 2.0 era. They discuss Jane Goodall’s viral quip about “rocketing” world leaders into space, the performative nature of Trump’s domestic “wag the dog” tactics, and the escalating intimidation of judges across the country. Luce also critiques the Democratic Party’s reactive strategy and outlines why it must abandon its subtractive politics to meet the moment and build a winning coalition.

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Harry Litman: The Comey Indictment and the Insurrection Act Oct 05, 2025

Show notes

Charlie Sykes and former U.S. attorney Harry Litman unpack the escalating legal and constitutional crises of the Trump era. From the unprecedented ICE raid in Chicago to the flimsy indictment of James Comey, Litman explains why these actions strike at the core of the rule of law. The conversation also turns to the looming threat of the Insurrection Act and what it could mean for the future of the American experiment.

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Olivia Troye: The Enemy Within, Shutdowns, and Jane Goodall Oct 02, 2025

Show notes

Charlie Sykes and Olivia Troye take a journey through the week’s political turmoil — from Trump’s Oval Office trolling and the specter of a third term to the weaponization of ICE and the military’s role in domestic politics. Drawing on Olivia’s firsthand experiences inside the Trump administration, the two discuss how fear and intimidation reshape institutions and the lives of public servants. Amid the gloom, they pause to reflect on Jane Goodall’s passing, the lessons of courage she left behind, and the small ways people can still make a difference.

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Paul Rieckhoff: Grievance, Guns, and Power Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

Charlie Sykes sits down with Paul Rieckhoff, founder of Independent Veterans of America, for a wide-ranging conversation about America’s mass shooting crisis, the culture of grievance fueling extremism, and the dangerous consolidation of presidential power. Rieckhoff highlights the role of isolation and disconnection among young men, the failures of political leadership, and the urgent need for new role models. It's not all bad news though. The two also discuss the rise of independent veteran candidates as a possible antidote to partisan dysfunction.

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Nicholas Grossman: UN Escalators, NATO, and Free Speech Sep 28, 2025

Show notes

Charlie Sykes is joined by Nicholas Grossman to unpack another chaotic week in politics and foreign affairs. From Trump’s bizarre UN speech and a mysterious generals’ meeting to the flip-flop on Ukraine and the Comey indictment, they examine what these moments reveal about America’s democratic resilience and vulnerabilities. They also look at how Jimmy Kimmel’s unexpected comeback has sparked a national conversation about free speech and limits on political power.

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