To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Could Vivek's Disgusting Ad be an Election Turning Point?

#11 trending · News Commentary

Ten days before the midterms, journalist Tara Palmeri (The Red Letter, The Tara Palmeri Show) joins me to unpack the backlash over the Ramaswamy ad targeting Amy Acton. P

Oct 24
43 min

Trump's October Gimmicks: Lousy Politics, Worse Economics

Less than two weeks before the midterms, economist Justin Wolfers (University of Michigan, Platypus Economics) joins Charlie to explain why consumer sentiment is at a rec

Oct 22
50 min

Trump vs. Everyone. MAGA Begins to Eat Its Own

Two weeks before the midterms, the host of the Fast Politics podcast, Molly Jong-Fast joins Charlie to unpack Trump’s Putin pivot, Elon Musk’s election spending, the Whit

Oct 20
51 min

Trump's Ukraine Betrayal: Is MAGA Finally Falling Apart?

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, Tru

Oct 17
52 min

Oligarchs, Intimidation, and a Silent GOP: Kinzinger Sounds the Alarm

Three weeks before the 2026 midterms, Charlie Sykes talks with former Congressman Adam Kinzinger about where the race really stands, how the political spending of trillio

Oct 14
42 min

The Unbearable Lightness of Marco Rubio

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.

Oct 13
48 min

David Frum: America is Playing Russian Roulette

On today’s episode, Charlie sits down with journalist, David Frum to discuss the US’s status in the world economy, how the Trump administration compares to other historic

Oct 9
54 min

After the Midterms, What is Trump Capable Of?

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 stay

Oct 8
38 min

How Russia Won

On today’s episode, Charlie sits down with journalist and author, David Corn about the long-standing influence of Russia on American politics, Putin’s long-game with Trum

Oct 6
48 min

Pete Hegseth: The Music Man Meets Mussolini

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,

Oct 3
54 min

How Tyranny Rises. And Falls.

On today’s episode, Charlie is joined by author and historian, Timothy Snyder. Charlie and Timothy discuss the relevance of Timothy’s book, “On Tyranny,” what citizens ar

Oct 1
39 min

Weisberg: Profiles in Cowardice. The Story of Eight Trump-era Quislings

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 Cowardi

Sep 29
45 min

How China Humiliated Trump

Susan Glasser, author of "Letter from Trump's Washington" in The New Yorker joins Charlie to discuss Trump breaking the law again, the GOP's midterm panic, the President'

Sep 26
46 min

Tech Overlords and Wannabe Dictators

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

Sep 24
42 min

Can Doug Jones Turn Alabama Blue (Again)?

Is there a secret formula for Democratic victories in deep red states? Former Alabama Senator and current candidate for Governor, Doug Jones joins me to discuss his fight

Sep 22
36 min

10 Years of the Trump Nightmare

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 to

Sep 19
45 min

Trump Lost His Popularity Before He Consolidated His Power

Founder of Protect Democracy and winner of the MacArthur genius grant, Ian Bassin joins Charlie for a wide-ranging discussion about important reads, how technology shapes

Sep 17
39 min

Swisher: AI Could Kill Us. So, Why Give the Tech Oligarchs a Pass?

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

Sep 15
42 min

How the Democrats Can Win a Super Majority

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 o

Sep 12
50 min

Avlon: I Was There...Trump Wasn't

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 2

Sep 10
52 min

Chart trend

Position in the News Commentary chart (US), last 90 days.

#1#53#104JulAugSepOct

all-time peak

days in the top 10 since Feb 2025

Chart positions

Where To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 25, 2026).

#125 ▲ 64 News US

#24 ▲ 7 News Commentary US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

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, today’s appearance was particularly egregious. “As you know, I’m Canadian…”—followed by patronizing remarks about Canada—was absurd. Living in the US while occasionally dipping back into Canada does not make you an authority on Canadian public sentiment. When Charlie incredulously asked whether Canadians are genuinely fearing a US “invasion” (we’re not), Frum missed the point entirely. The anxiety here is driven by punitive economic measures and political volatility—not fantasies of tanks rolling north. Yes, this has prompted a long-overdue reckoning about defence and sovereignty (as we’re seeing across Europe as well), but to flatly answer “No” to whether Canada could stand a chance if invaded was both offensive and profoundly unpatriotic. The episode then deteriorated further, with Frum making reckless assumptions—casting Lutnick as an innocent caught in the emails, implying only “poor” girls are victims of child sexual abuse/trafficking, and posturing as an Epstein expert despite massive unknowns. It was speculative, and frankly disturbing. Why this man is treated as a serious moral authority—let alone hero-worshipped—baffles me.

Nav Saint · Feb 2026

Adore Charlie and love the podcast, but can you please fix the audio. Too often it sounds like Charlie is whispering and his guest is screaming or vice versa. Having to keep adjusting the volume to hear one speaker and avoid your ear drums getting blown out by the other gets old. Levels need to be equalized in post.

Waybackward · Oct 2025

Charlie is one of the reasons I starting listening to podcasts. I was so sad to see him leave the daily Bulwark podcast and now I’m over the moon to have him bad in my podcast feed. Interviews are top notch and his ability to discuss day to day (or minute to minute at this point) topics with his guests are worth the listen! I subscribe to the substack, but I’m so happy to have him back in my ear. 5 Stars all the way!!! Thank you, Charlie!

JStephanCole · Mar 2025

Fantastic insight and nuance delivered with a dry wit and a delicate sprinkling of profanity. Perfection.

McCainJarhead · Feb 2025

I am always interested in Charlie Sykes’ commentary on current political events but the sound quality of this podcast is horrible- too loud, then too soft, unpredictably. Sounds just like it would if you were relying on your low quality laptop mic and moving a little when you speak. I’m unsubscribing because it’s just too annoying to try to listen to.

Huldena · Feb 2025

I have stopped watching Charlie because of his negativity towards a person he gives no credit to for the amazing career he has had and the lives he has saved …. Covid was a terrible time-a pandemic that was unknown and every new bit of knowledge was updated as were the recommendations. Science isnt politics….and he didn’t have the power to make the restrictions-it was the president. He was working with a pathological president and he became the scapegoat. Feeding into that scapegoating is beneath Charlie. Pleading the 5th as his lawyers wanted was to save him from the republicans who were out to get him. Go after them-they are despicable! Peter was stellar in his talk about Dr Fauci. My husband is an ID specialist and we lived the pandemic by the minute, the lack of supplies, the horrendous deaths. People died and more would have died if you put kids together in schools and people in the workplace. Yes it was a difficult time but it was a killer disease-if you weren’t affected by it, lucky you. But real People We’re Lost, parents, siblings, children and friends. Do better Charlie.

Fatigued citizen · Aug 2026

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