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To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Charlie Sykes
Donald Trump
Republican Party
Trump Administration
Elon Musk
Ukraine
Democratic Party
Iran
Vladimir Putin
Russia
Ice
NATO
China
Venezuela
United States
Epstein Files
Tariffs
American Democracy
Supreme Court
Jeff Bezos
Authoritarianism

You are not the crazy ones.

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PublishesDailyEpisodes209Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPoliticsNews Commentary

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Artwork for To The Contrary

Latest Episodes

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 o... more

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 thei... more

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 in... more

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... more

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Recent Guests

Sofia Kinzinger
Substack writer, former White House staffer
Substack; former White House staff
Episode: Donald Trump's Megalomania
Ed Luce
Journalist from The Financial Times
Financial Times
Episode: Trump’s Deal Is an Abject Surrender
Yoni Appelbaum
Deputy Executive Editor, The Atlantic
The Atlantic
Episode: America Gave Up on Its Own History
Tom Nichols
Professor, Naval War College
Professor Tom Nichols
Episode: Trump’s ‘Sitzkrieg’ in Iran
Danielle Crittenden
Author of Dispatches from Grief
Author, Dispatches from Grief
Episode: The Alternative Universe of Grief
Jonathan Rauch
Contributor to The Atlantic and author
The Atlantic
Episode: "Trump Is Losing Power and It’s Making Him More Malicious"
Phillips O'Brien
The Atlantic contributor, American historian and professor of strategic studies at the University of St Andrews in Scotland
The Atlantic, University of St Andrews
Episode: It’s the Corruption, Stupid
Nicholas Grossman
Professor of international relations at the University of Illinois and editor of Arc Digital
University of Illinois / Arc Digital
Episode: Trump's Goon Squad Slush Fund
Gal Beckerman
Author of How to Be a Dissident, staff writer at The Atlantic
The Atlantic
Episode: How to Be a Dissident

Host

Charlie Sykes
Host with long-running experience in political commentary and media analysis.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Graham Planttner

    Maybe I’ll be proved wrong. But really Charlie? Graham has lived a real life that many of us have experienced full of mistakes. Stop wetting your bed. From my point of view you and your guest were unfairly making judgments on a person who has grown and confessed his bad decisions Honestly never miss an episode. Love ya Charlie. Forever fan

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LoriJNY
    United States25 days ago
  • Trump Plan

    Hitler, Stalin, Kim Un Jong Same playbook different Dictator.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CapeGirlx
    United States3 months ago
  • David Frum

    I genuinely enjoy Charlie’s show and usually find both the conversations and the guests insightful.

    David Frum is the exception.

    I stopped listening to Frum’s own podcast—one I initially liked—after repeated comments that minimized the genocide in Gaza. People can hold different views, but repeatedly glossing over mass civilian suffering crossed a line for me & I chose to walk away.

    Frum appears on several podcasts I otherwise enjoy, and while I already find his smug, know-it-all tone grating... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nav Saint
    United States4 months ago
  • Being anti trump…

    doesn’t mean you’re not still a lame republican who wishes a Bush was still president.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Just Some Dude 420
    United States5 months ago
  • Riverside

    Also, if only it would correct the grammar.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NDRRRRRNND
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some reviews note production and audio level issues.
Listeners praise the depth and rigor of conversations.
Fans value diverse, expert guests and candid, thoughtful analysis.
Critiques include strong partisan takes and occasional guest quality variance.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#23
United States/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts
#153
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#21
Canada/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts
#53
United Kingdom/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts
#153
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#32
Australia/News/News Commentary

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Can Trump Be Stopped? Actually, Yes.
Q: How do NDAs fit into the government's approach to whistleblowers and transparency?
NDAs are used as a tool of intimidation to suppress whistleblowing and to shield officials from exposing illegal or harmful actions, potentially enabling government overreach.
Can Trump Be Stopped? Actually, Yes.
Q: What is the broader strategic aim of the administration's intimidation tactics?
The aim is to silence criticism by making speaking out costly and dangerous, so that institutions and individuals think twice before challenging policy or reporting misconduct.
Anne Applebaum: Trump’s Authoritarian Aesthetics
Q: How does Orbán's defeat inform our understanding of authoritarianism in the current era?
Applebaum describes Orbán's campaign as a long, strenuous grassroots effort that used state capture tactics; his defeat demonstrates that organized opposition and institutional checks can, under the right conditions, unwind illiberal governance, though the transition is fragile and requires constant vigilance.
Anne Applebaum: Trump’s Authoritarian Aesthetics
Q: Your thoughts on the White House Correspondents Dinner fallout and the immediate pivot to the ballroom?
Applebaum explains that Trump's pivot to the ballroom reflects a broader authoritarian tactic: turning attention to grand symbols and personal branding to deflect from difficult policy questions, while amplifying post-truth dynamics that erode trust in media.
The Strangest Week (Plus the Attack on Free Speech)
Q: What are the biggest threats to free speech domestically right now?
A mix of regulatory overreach, from aggressive age-gating and identity verification to redefining ordinary or critical speech as terrorism, plus legal tools like SLAPs that coercively silence critics and export misuses of copyright or defamation law as tools of censorship.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About To The Contrary

What is To The Contrary about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show features sharp political analysis, with frequent dives into how media, politics, and policy intersect in modern America. Across recent episodes, discussions cover Trump-era dynamics, national security, foreign policy, and the evolving media landscape, often weighing civil institutions against partisan developments. Guests range from senior journalists to academics and former policymakers, offering rigorous context on governance, accountability, and the impact of leadership on democracy. A notable strength is the host's willingness to challenge prevailing narratives and to probe the ethical and strategic implications of high-stakes decisions, making it a strong fit for listeners who want serious, informed commentary on contemporary ... more

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2. The Illegal News with Sarah Longwell
3. The Bulwark Podcast
4. Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast
5. The Focus Group Podcast

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To The Contrary launched a year ago and published 209 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on To The Contrary?

Recent guests on To The Contrary include:

1. Sofia Kinzinger
2. Ed Luce
3. Yoni Appelbaum
4. Tom Nichols
5. Danielle Crittenden
6. Jonathan Rauch
7. Phillips O'Brien
8. Nicholas Grossman

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