To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Charlie Sykes sits down with political scientist and writer from The Atlantic, Tom Nichols, as they discuss midterms and possible battleground states to look out for, Trump's latest actions in Ukraine, and the motives of the current administration before election day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three weeks before the 2026 midterms, Charlie and Daniel Drezner dig into Trump’s Russia dealings, Marco Rubio’s rebrand, and what’s really driving the race for Congress. Is the blue wave real, or are Democrats headed for another heartbreak? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, Charlie flies solo to dive into Thom Thillis’ recent debate gone wrong with Stephanie Ruhle, Trump’s publicly funded PSA video, the importance of staying vigilant against misinformation as citizens and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode, Charlie Sykes sits down with author and journalist, Jonathan Rauch to discuss a potpourri of topics, from Pete Hegseth’s recent War Department speech, AI advancement and risks and the moral dilemmas surrounding the death penalty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do powerful people fold when it matters most? Charlie Sykes sits down with journalist and author Jacob Weisberg to discuss his explosive new book, Profiles in Cowardice — a deep dive into eight influential figures who chose silence, self-interest, and appeasement over standing up to Trump.Weisberg unpacks what separates courage from cowardice, why institutions built to check power so often buckle under pressure, and how fear and neediness can undo even the wealthiest and most powerful people in America. It's a candid conversation about principle, complicity, and what it really costs to say no.🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on news, politics, and the state of American democracy.Topics discussed: cowardice in leadership • institutional weakness • political courage • Trump-era enablers • standing on principle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paulina Borsook predicted Silicon Valley's authoritarian turn back in the 1990s — we revisit her book "Cyberselfish" and how eerily right she was. Then I break down Trump's controversial statements at the United Nations, his attack on the First Ammendment, and what it all means for American democracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlie flies solo this episode to break down the biggest headlines in current events, dig into where the midterms actually stand right now, and get personal about the toll — both individual and societal — of a decade shaped by Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

World renowned tech journalist Kara Swisher joins Charlie to explore the complex issues surrounding AI development, the role of regulation, and the global implications. 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.