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Artwork for To The Contrary

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
Venezuela
Epstein Files
Tariffs
China
United States
Supreme Court
American Democracy
Authoritarianism
U.S. Foreign Policy

You are not the crazy ones.

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PublishesDailyEpisodes186Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryNewsPolitics

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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 dissect King Charles' historic address to Congress and Trump's feud with the pope.

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The Atlantic's Anne Applebaum joins Charlie to discuss the fallout from the White House Correspondents' dinner, Victor Orbán's defeat, and why Trump wants to talk about his ballroom and his triumph arch rather than Iran.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.c... more

Economist Justin Wolfers joins Charlie to rage about Trump's Fed chair nominee. They also discuss the importance of Fed independence, prediction markets, and private credit markets.

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Former Congressman and now children’s book author, Adam Kinzinger, joins Charlie to discuss gerrymandering, the state of Congress, and what should the next President do to make sure there isn't another Trump-style presidency in the future.

Hosted o... more

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Recent Guests

Justin Wolfers
Economist from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
Episode: “Kevin Warsh, You’re a Disgrace”
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
Sarah McLaughlin
Staff at FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression)
Foundation for Individual Rights in Expression
Episode: The Strangest Week (Plus the Attack on Free Speech)
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
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”
Phillips O\'Brien
Historian and professor of strategic studies
University of St Andrews
Episode: “There’s No National Interest With Trump, Just Personal”
Adam Kinzinger
Former U.S. Representative, guest on the episode
Episode: Is Trump TACOing on Iran?

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 States22 days 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 States2 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 States3 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
#25
United States/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts
#142
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#23
Canada/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts
#42
United Kingdom/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts
#150
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#40
Australia/News/News Commentary

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Trump's War Blunder
Q: Will the GOP or Congress take meaningful action to check presidential power, such as pardons?
The host is skeptical, noting historical examples and arguing that institutional checks like Congress have often been weak or inert in constraining presidential overreach.
Trump's War Blunder
Q: Is there a real concern about insider trading related to war announcements?
Yes, the host discusses potential insider trading, noting unusual market moves ahead of announcements and suggesting a troubling pattern of profiteering within administration circles.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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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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1. The Next Level
2. The Illegal News with Sarah Longwell
3. The Bulwark Podcast
4. The Mona Charen Show
5. The David Frum Show

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To The Contrary launched a year ago and published 186 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. Justin Wolfers
2. Richard Stengel
3. Ian Bassin
4. Sarah McLaughlin
5. Scott MacFarlane
6. Sarah Fitzpatrick
7. Mark Hertling
8. Phillips O\'Brien

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