To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

On Election Day, Charlie Sykes and political historian Brian Rosenwald of the University of Pennsylvania give you an hour-by-hour guide to election night. They cover when the polls close, the Senate and governor’s races that could signal a wave, how to read the results as they come in at different points of the night, and Rosenwald’s final predictions for the House, Senate and Governorships.

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Three days before the midterms, Harry Litman of the Talking Feds podcast joins Charlie to discuss how far the Trump administration could go to interfere with the election, the court battles over certification, record early voting, the pundit fixation on Alaska, and the races to watch from Texas to Kansas to Georgia.

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Retired federal judge Jeremy Fogel of the Article III Coalition joins Charlie to discuss threats against judges, DOJ’s challenge in Alaska, the “creeping” defiance of court orders, Supreme Court term limits and court packing, and what happens to the republic when one of the three branches is under attack.

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As Trump and the Republicans make their closing arguments, New York Times columnist David French joins Charlie to discuss the backlash to the Ramaswamy ad, whether Texas is really in play, the DOJ’s Alaska lawsuit, Pete Hegseth’s reported Senate ambitions, and how corruption could shape the vote.

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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. Plus, GOP insiders are bracing for a wipeout, their search for fall guys and the art of the grift continues with Jared Kushner’s Middle East slush fund.

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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 record low, how tariffs and immigration crackdowns eroded trust in Trump’s economy, and why October giveaways may not work.

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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 White House infighting, and the post-election chaos that lies ahead. Plus: what Democrats do with power, and the rising stars to watch for 2028.

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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.

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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 trillionaires like Musk is dangerous, and Trump’s latest moves on Ukraine. They also ask why so few Republicans will speak out against clear violations of the Constitution.

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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?

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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 historically corrupt administrations and the new rules of American politics approaching the midterms.

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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.

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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 Trump and their dangerous decades-long relationship that’s shaped recent history and threatens democracy.

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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.

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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 are called to do in the face of an all-powerful oligarchy and the unmasking of Trump’s true character.

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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.

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Topics discussed: cowardice in leadership • institutional weakness • political courage • Trump-era enablers • standing on principle

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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's shameful groveling to a communist dictator, and much more.

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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.

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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 against the Republican machine, the attack on voting rights, and the Trump effect on races throughout the country.

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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.

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