To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.