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To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Ryan Lizza: 100 Days of Trump 2.0
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Charlie Sykes is joined by journalist Ryan Lizza to unpack the first 100 days of Trump's second term and why much of the political media is failing to meet the moment. They discuss Lizza’s dramatic exit from Politico, the dangers of corporate media under pressure, and why journalists — and citizens — must rethink how they cover and confront this new era. Plus, they explore the chilling implications of government weaponization, surveillance, and the slow erosion of democratic norms.
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Why Trump's ICE Strategy Backfired
51:24|Mike Pesca, host of The Gist, joins Charlie to unpack how the administration’s “chaos is a ladder” approach to immigration enforcement is failing. Public perception is shifting and ICE is increasingly viewed as the problem, not the protesters.
Money, Lies, God, and State Sponsored Murder
46:44|Katherine Stewart, journalist and author of the book Money, Lies, and God joins Charlie to process the killing of Alex Pretti and share insights from her work on the New Right.
The Violent Occupation of an American City
44:14|New York Times Opinion writer David French joins Charlie to discuss the rising tensions in Minneapolis and Trump's newly formed "Board of Peace."
MAGA Jesus Versus the Real Jesus
50:33|Peter Wehner, a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a senior fellow at the Trinity Forum, joins Charlie to discuss the latest DHS video and why many evangelical pastors are not standing up to Trump.
Revisiting the Nuremberg Trials
01:04:35|Charlie invites Joe Klein, political commentator and author of Primary Colors, to discuss the 1961 film Judgment at Nuremberg and the 2025 film Nuremberg, and why they resonate today. They also talk about some of the latest news, their political trajectories, and their disagreements.
DHS to White Supremacists: We’ve Got Your Backs
50:49|Olivia Troye, a former DHS official who served under Trump during his first term, joins Charlie to talk about the week’s news and what’s been worrying her lately, including the dangers of DHS messaging on social media.
Trump’s Authoritarian Playbook
43:19|Jonathan Rauch, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and contributing writer at The Atlantic, joins Charlie to explain why he thinks Trump is following a European authoritarian playbook.
Blue Screen of Hypocrisy
49:17|Miles Taylor, a former DHS official during Trump's first term, joins Charlie to dissect the administration's response to the ICE killing of Nicole Renee Good in Minneapolis.
Nobody Is Coming to Save Us
55:24|In this episode, Charlie answers your questions about the ICE killing in Minneapolis, the Donroe Doctrine, and the psychological and physical burdens of living under Trumpism.