Charlie Sykes

Milwaukee

Contributor at MSNBC

Freelance Journalist at Freelance

Founder and Writer at To the Contrary

Author, Substack newsletter “To the Contrary.” Dog owner, grandfather. MSNBC. Still Never Trump. https://t.co/W264eBcve2

Articles

The Day After

5 days ago | charliesykes.substack.com | Charlie Sykes

Let’s get this out of the way first: I was wrong. Trump didn’t blink this time. And so The United States has joined the war against Iran. What happens next, only God knows. But I have some questions. Happy Sunday. Trying to stay sane through the chaos? You’ve come to the right place. To the Contrary is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Democrats have regrets about confirming Kristi Noem to Trump's Cabinet. If only they'd been warned.

5 days ago | msnbc.com | Charlie Sykes

If only they had been warned. On Wednesday, NBC News’ Sahil Kapur reported that some Democratic senators now say they regret voting to confirm Kristi Noem as secretary of homeland security. As a reminder, seven of them did: Sens. Tim Kaine, Andy Kim, Elissa Slotkin, Gary Peters, Maggie Hassan, Jeanne Shaheen and John Fetterman. “I’m very disappointed. I’m very disappointed in her,” Kaine told NBC News. “If I were voting on her today, I definitely wouldn’t vote for her.”But why the long faces just now?
Senate Democrats have regrets about Kristi Noem. If only someone had warned them.

5 days ago | flipboard.com | Charlie Sykes

7 hours agoDonald Trump brings America into Israel’s war on Iran. President Donald Trump claimed during his 2024 campaign for president that America had fought “no wars” during his first presidency, and that he was the first president in 72 years who could say that. This was not, strictly speaking, true. In his …
Why Trump Blinked

1 week ago | charliesykes.substack.com | Charlie Sykes

Welcome back to the land of confusion. As if we ever left. Donald Trump continues to flout the law and seems confused about the Declaration of Independence. Meanwhile masked federal agents continue to make arrests and our war against Iran is on hold — for “two weeks”. Happy Friday. This is not a drill. This is the story of our lifetime and the challenge of our generation. If you think the fight for sanity, democracy, and the rule of law is worth it, please consider supporting us.
To the Contrary

1 week ago | charliesykes.substack.com | Charlie Sykes

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Olivia Troye: The Fear Is The Point

1 week ago | charliesykes.substack.com | Charlie Sykes

On today’s “To the Contrary” Podcast, I’m joined by Olivia Troye, former Homeland Security advisor to Mike Pence. She shares her firsthand experience observing immigration court and the chilling tactics now being employed by ICE. We discuss the erosion of due process, the rise of politically motivated enforcement, and the broader consequences of fear-based governance under Donald Trump. Troye offers a sobering warning about what happens when law enforcement becomes a weapon.
Olivia Troye: Fear as a Feature - To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes (podcast)

1 week ago | listennotes.com | Charlie Sykes

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Olivia Troye, former Homeland Security advisor to Mike Pence, joins Charlie Sykes to share her firsthand experience observing immigration court and the chilling tactics now being employed by ICE. They discuss the erosion of due process, the rise of politically motivated enforcement, and the broader consequences of fear-based governance under Donald Trump.
The Ugly Politics of Trump's War

1 week ago | charliesykes.substack.com | Charlie Sykes

There’s the fog of war. And then there is this: An escalating conflict in the Mideast that may or may not involve nuclear weapons and regime change; and may or may not involve the United States, whose policy is now expressed through blustery and marginally incoherent threats on social media. This morning, at a new flag pole installation on the White House South lawn, Trump was asked what he meant by demanding “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER”. His answer:"Very simple -- unconditional surrender.
Ten Years of Trump

1 week ago | charliesykes.substack.com | Charlie Sykes

After shilling for Putin and humiliating himself at the G-7, Donald Trump left early to let the actual leaders of the free world confer on their own. Meanwhile he flip-flopped on his latest deportation TACO; even as dreams of bombing Iran danced in his head. And it’s only Tuesday. No billionaires. No oligarchs. Just our band of brothers and sisters standing athwart the madness, saying “You Can’t be Serious.” To the Contrary is a reader-supported publication.
Ryan Lizza: Ten Years of Donald Trump - To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes (podcast)

1 week ago | listennotes.com | Charlie Sykes

ABOUT THIS EPISODE On the 10th anniversary of Trump’s infamous escalator ride, Charlie Sykes and Ryan Lizza reflect on a decade that has radically transformed American politics, media, and civic norms. From the reshaping of both political parties to the growing threat of political violence and institutional collapse, they explore how the Trump era has become the gravitational force around which everything now orbits. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.