To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Epizody

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  Trump Tried to Rewire Society. Trump Failed. 25.07.2026 51min

  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.
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  An Administration Without Grown-Ups 23.07.2026 57min

  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.
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  Do Democrats Have a Plan? 21.07.2026 39min

  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.
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  Killing Baby Hitler 18.07.2026 41min

  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.
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  Is Trump Creating the Pretext for Another Coup? 16.07.2026 46min

  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.
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  "Our Democracy Cannot Survive a Presidency for Sale" 14.07.2026 47min

  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.
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  The Bill for Trump’s Vanity Presidency 11.07.2026 54min

  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.
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  Are We at War With Iran Again? 08.07.2026 42min

  Retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling served as commanding general of the U.S. Army in Europe during the Obama administration. He's also the author of “If I Don’t Return: A Father’s Wartime Journal.” In this episode, he and Charlie discuss the conflict with Iran, Trump insulting our NATO allies, Ukraine's struggles, and Pete Hegseth's unusual leadership style. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Is America Capable of Renewal? 07.07.2026 48min

  Legal analyst and Talking Feds host Harry Litman joins Charlie to talk about the state of American democracy 250 years after independence, recent Supreme Court decisions and their implications, and Trump's unparalleled corruption. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Rerun: How to Be a Dissident 04.07.2026 48min

  For the 4th July we're re-running Charlie's conversation with Gal Beckerman, a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of the book, “How to Be a Dissident.” The two walk through Gal’s book which outlines the simple but difficult steps anyone can take to avoid falling mistakenly in line with a political system that’s going off the rails. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Corruption. Immigration, Abortion and The Broken Brains of MAGA 02.07.2026 51min

  On today’s episode of “To the Contrary,” Charlie welcomes back journalist and author of “The Red Letter,” Tara Palmeri. They discuss Trump’s obsession with image leading up to the 4th of July holiday, immigration and Palmeri’s recent interview with Congresswoman, Kat Cammack.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  “Trump Is Entering a Dark Season” 30.06.2026 47min

  Peter Wehner, a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a senior fellow at the Trinity Forum, joins Charlie to talk about Trump's recent Supreme Court wins and losses, Trump's state fair fiasco, and the consequences of cultural degradation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trump Is Sabotaging the American Idea 27.06.2026 52min

  Jamil Smith is a columnist at The Guardian and a lecturer at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. In this episode, he joins Charlie to discuss what America's upcoming 250th birthday means to them, the latest Supreme Court decisions and their implications, and Trump's obsession with voter suppression. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  "Trump's Key Policies Are Fundamentally Anti-Libertarian" 25.06.2026 47min

  Peter Suderman is the features editor for Reason, a free market libertarian magazine. In this episode he joins Charlie to discuss the decline of libertarian influence in the Republican Party, the relationship between government power and corporate influence, and the rise of progressive candidates following the recent elections in New York. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Donald Trump's Megalomania 20.06.2026 50min

  Sofia Kinzinger was a WH staffer under Trump during his first term. In this episode, she talks to Charlie about what it was like, and about her journey and political awakening. They also discuss JD Vance's book launch and the future of the Republican Party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trump’s Deal Is an Abject Surrender 18.06.2026 48min

  Ed Luce from the Financial Times joins Charlie to discuss the deal with Iran, the Netanyahu-Trump fallout, and Elon Musk's obsession with Britain.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  America Gave Up on Its Own History 16.06.2026 47min

  Yoni Appelbaum, historian and deputy executive editor at The Atlantic, joins Charlie to go over what we know — and don't know — about the deal with Iran and what it all means for US interests in the region. They also discuss Appelbaum's latest article, in which he argues that the US has lost the ability to agree on a shared national story and, as a result, has largely stopped trying to tell one — in schools, universities, and public life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trump’s ‘Sitzkrieg’ in Iran 13.06.2026 57min

  Atlantic writer Tom Nichols joins Charlie to catch up on Trump's zigzagging on Iran, discuss Elon Musk's new status as a trillionaire, and unpack the absurdity of Pete Hegseth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Alternative Universe of Grief 11.06.2026 45min

  In this special To the Contrary episode, Charlie sits down with Danielle Crittenden, whose daughter Miranda died suddenly two years ago. Crittenden recently published Dispatches from Grief: A Mother's Journey Through the Unthinkable. They discuss life after loss, how to talk about grief, and the awkward moments that arise when you tell others you've lost someone you love. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Ferrets Running Around in Trump’s Brain 09.06.2026 44min

  Legal analyst and Talking Feds host, Harry Litman, joins Charlie to dissect Trump's brief interview with Meet the Press, his legal battles over the slush fund, and the DOJ declaration that Trump has the right to bulldoze the Statue of Liberty.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.