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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:

David Frum: The Grift, the Gaudiness, and the Guardrails May 17, 2025

Show notes

Charlie Sykes and David Frum discuss the staggering corruption and cluelessness behind Donald Trump’s acceptance of a $400 million Qatari jet—complete with a backstory of diplomatic white elephants and Vegas-style décor. They explore how Trump’s second term is shaping up to be less about governance and more about retirement planning, international grifting, and institutional erosion.

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Jim Acosta: Focus Like a Laser Beam on Trump's Corruption May 15, 2025

Show notes

Charlie Sykes is joined by Jim Acosta to break down Donald Trump’s latest scandal—accepting a luxury jet from Qatar—and what it says about the normalization of political corruption. From meme coins to constitutional crises, they explore how shamelessness has become a political strategy and why even Trump’s populist image may start to crack. The conversation also turns to Stephen Miller’s disturbing influence, RFK Jr.'s bizarre water sports, and the urgent need for moral clarity in American politics.

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Chris Cillizza: Planes, Ploys, and Popes May 13, 2025

Show notes

Charlie Sykes and Chris Cillizza discuss Donald Trump's economic U-turn with China, the murky $400 million jet from Qatar, and the crypto-fueled grift orbiting Trump's inner circle. They also discuss Biden’s awkward media tour, the troubling revelations about John Fetterman, and the stunning rise of an American pope as a global counterweight to Trumpism.

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Tom Nichols: The Anti-Expert Era May 11, 2025

Show notes

Charlie Sykes and Tom Nichols dive into what they call the “death of expertise,” confronting how America’s most influential institutions are now increasingly led by the unqualified and the absurd. They explore the geopolitical and moral implications of the first American pope, drawing parallels to John Paul II and the Cold War. Finally, they reflect on Donald Trump’s staggering corruption in plain sight, the collective numbness it’s fostered, and the growing sense that the resistance—both moral and institutional—may finally be coalescing.

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Katie Couric: Dolls, Alcatraz, and Narcissism May 08, 2025

Show notes

Katie Couric joins Charlie Sykes to unpack the psychological underpinnings of Donald Trump’s political appeal and the enablers around him. They explore the disconnect between populist rhetoric and billionaire influence, the crumbling state of local journalism, and why media coverage struggles to keep up with an administration governed by chaos. With stories of real-world consequences, they examine whether dignity, truth, or economic pain can still break through the political cult of personality.

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Susan Glasser: The Grift Presidency May 06, 2025

Show notes

Charlie Sykes and New Yorker columnist Susan Glasser examine the unprecedented scale and brazenness of corruption in Donald Trump's second term. From billion-dollar business deals and crypto coin pay-to-play schemes to dismantling oversight institutions, they outline how the machinery of government is being turned into a personal profit engine. With watchdogs removed, norms shattered, and accountability elusive, who’s left to stop it?

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Olivia Troye: Military Parades and Doll Rationing May 04, 2025

Show notes

Charlie Sykes is joined by former White House Homeland Security advisor Olivia Troye to unpack the surreal and sobering first 100 days of Trump’s return to power—from authoritarian impulses and economic meltdowns to doll rationing and military parades. They discuss how fringe figures like Laura Loomer are influencing national security decisions, the disturbing escalation of deportation policies, and the eerie complacency of American institutions. As the courts push back and allies rethink their trust in the U.S., the conversation turns to whether America is facing a generational crisis—or a historic one.

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Nicholas Grossman: Tariffs, Tyranny, and Tipping Points May 01, 2025

Show notes

Charlie Sykes is joined by Nicholas Grossman, editor of Arc Digital and political science professor, to dissect the first 100 days of Trump's second term—from the international backlash to his Canada rhetoric to the domestic fallout of authoritarian policies. They explore the growing cracks in public opinion, the danger of a politicized military, and the economic time bomb of Trump’s tariff regime. Plus, they discuss whether civil society—not Congress—holds the real key to stopping the administration’s most extreme ambitions.

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Ryan Lizza: 100 Days of Trump 2.0 Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

Charlie Sykes is joined by journalist Ryan Lizza to unpack the first 100 days of Trump's second term and why much of the political media is failing to meet the moment. They discuss Lizza’s dramatic exit from Politico, the dangers of corporate media under pressure, and why journalists — and citizens — must rethink how they cover and confront this new era. Plus, they explore the chilling implications of government weaponization, surveillance, and the slow erosion of democratic norms.

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Adam Kinzinger: Trump's Weakness Abroad, Corruption at Home Apr 27, 2025

Show notes

Charlie Sykes and Adam Kinzinger unpack Donald Trump's public humiliation by Vladimir Putin, his surrender on Ukraine, and the dangerous implications for America's standing in the world. They also dive into Trump's open market manipulation, the erosion of Congressional power, and why this political moment may be the most consequential in American history. Kinzinger argues it's time for Americans to decide: fight, flee, or acquiesce.

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