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To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Charlie Sykes
Donald Trump
Republican Party
Trump Administration
Elon Musk
Ukraine
Democratic Party
Vladimir Putin
Iran
Russia
ICE
NATO
China
Venezuela
United States
Epstein Files
Tariffs
Supreme Court
American Democracy
Authoritarianism
U.S. Foreign Policy

You are not the crazy ones.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesDailyEpisodes194Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsNews CommentaryPolitics

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Artwork for To The Contrary

Latest Episodes

Nicholas Grossman, editor of Arc Digital and professor of international relations at the University of Illinois, joins Charlie to discuss the new levels of corruption Trump and his family have descended into. They also discuss Trump's visit to China,... more

Tim O'Brien, Senior Executive Editor at Bloomberg Opinion, joins Charlie to discuss the President's recent China visit, the poor state of American democracy, and Trump's golden phone scam. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio... more

David Frum of The Atlantic joins Charlie to discuss Trump's China visit, his ignorance on oil and the global economy, and the Democrats' missteps heading into the midterms. The conversation also turns personal: Frum reflects on loss and his wife's ne... more

On today’s episode, Charlie welcomes 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 mistake... more

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Recent Guests

Tim O'Brien
Senior Executive Editor Bloomberg Opinion and author of Trump Nation, The Art of Being Donald
Bloomberg News/Bloomberg Opinion
Episode: The Ozymandias Phase of the Trump Presidency
Gal Beckerman
Author of How to Be a Dissident, staff writer at The Atlantic
The Atlantic
Episode: How to Be a Dissident
Greg Lukianoff
President of FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression)
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
Episode: From Comey to Kimmel: Trump’s War on Free Speech
Richard Stengel
Former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy; author of Information Wars
Former Obama administration; Time Magazine
Episode: How Trump Took a Hatchet to America’s “Shining City”
Ian Bassin
Co-founder and executive director of Protect Democracy
Protect Democracy
Episode: The Coalition We Need to Beat Trump: Lessons From Hungary
Scott MacFarlane
Senior journalist and former CBS News correspondent
MeidasTouch / Substack
Episode: “January 6th Reshaped My View of Legacy Media”
Sarah Fitzpatrick
Staff writer at The Atlantic, national security and DOJ expert
The Atlantic
Episode: Yes, the Epstein Files Are Going to Rock the Midterms
David French
Guest, political commentator and author
National Review and other outlets
Episode: Trump's Easter Purge
Mark Hertling
Lieutenant General Retired, author of If I Don't Return, A Father's Wartime Journal
United States Army
Episode: “The Military Has Been a Little Bit Confused”

Host

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

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1k ratings
  • Trump Plan

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CapeGirlx
    United Statesa month 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 States3 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 States3 months ago
  • Riverside

    Also, if only it would correct the grammar.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NDRRRRRNND
    United States3 months ago
  • Katherine Stewart

    A great discussion. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sktspring
    United States4 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
#151
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#20
Canada/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts
#43
United Kingdom/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts
#164
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#31
Italy/News/News Commentary

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Trump‘s DOJ: From Bad to Worse
Q: Why are the January 6 seditious conspiracy convictions being revisited, and what does that imply for accountability?
Litman notes that revisiting those convictions could undermine the historical record and the accountability framework for those actions, suggesting a coordinated effort to minimize the severity of the insurrection and its consequences.
Trump‘s DOJ: From Bad to Worse
Q: What is the significance of the Presidential Records Act in the current DOJ discussions?
Litman explains that the Act protects presidential documents from being destroyed at the president's whim, and that attempts to override or ignore it conflict with long-standing constitutional principles, creating a dangerous precedent if not challenged.

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 Mona Charen Show

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To The Contrary launched a year ago and published 194 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. Tim O'Brien
2. Gal Beckerman
3. Greg Lukianoff
4. Richard Stengel
5. Ian Bassin
6. Scott MacFarlane
7. Sarah Fitzpatrick
8. David French

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