Former Pennsylvania Congressman Conor Lamb joins Charlie Sykes for a wide-ranging conversation on the challenges facing the Democratic Party. They discuss how Democrats can regain credibility on crime, counter Trump’s “law and order” narrative, and present a clear vision to voters. Lamb also weighs in on gerrymandering, the state of the 2026 midterms, foreign policy under Trump, and the curious case of Senator John Fetterman.

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Charlie Sykes sits down with Andor creator Tony Gilroy for a conversation about the show's record-breaking Emmy nominations, its historical inspirations, and its unintentional political resonance. Gilroy discusses drawing from centuries of rebellion and authoritarian playbooks, the banality of evil, and why some institutions willingly surrender to power. They also explore the moral tradeoffs within resistance movements—and why the lessons of history still feel so urgent today.

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Charlie Sykes and Harry Litman break down the sweeping politicization of the FBI and Department of Justice under Donald Trump, from purging veteran agents to elevating January 6 rioters into senior roles. They explore the administration’s push to rewrite history, weaponize investigations against political opponents, and erode the rule of law. With Congress cowering and the courts wavering, they ask whether America’s institutions can hold the line.

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Charlie Sykes welcomes Jessica Riedl of the Manhattan Institute for a conversation on the state of the U.S. economy under Trump 2.0. They cover everything from fantasy math in drug pricing claims to the White House’s assault on economic data, growing authoritarian tendencies, and the chaos of tariff policy. Plus, they dig into the gerrymandering arms race—and whether defending democracy now means playing just as dirty.

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Charlie Sykes speaks with investigative journalist Tara Palmeri about her years-long coverage of the Jeffrey Epstein case and her deeply personal reporting on the survivors. Palmeri recounts her work on the Broken: Jeffrey Epstein podcast and shares chilling insights into the power networks that enabled Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to evade justice for so long

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Charlie Sykes welcomes Tom Nichols to talk about Trump’s gilded ambitions—from redesigning the White House to purging the military of disloyalty. They unpack the political theater behind the Smithsonian’s historical revisions, the moral collapse of Senate confirmations, and the erosion of democratic norms under MAGA pressure.

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Charlie Sykes welcomes former congressman Adam Kinzinger to discuss the Trump-Epstein saga, congressional cowardice, and the erosion of democratic norms. They discuss Trump's obsession with loyalty, the Senate’s institutional decay, and why even Harvard is caving to pressure. From enemies lists to media capitulation, Kinzinger argues this is the defining test of our generation—and we’re failing it.

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Charlie Sykes and historian Julian Zelizer tackle the political storm surrounding Donald Trump and the Epstein files, exploring why this controversy has stuck and what it reveals about the MAGA base. They examine the broader collapse of institutional resistance—from the GOP’s silence to media capitulation—and question just how far Trump might go to protect himself. The conversation also touches on Netanyahu’s crumbling international standing, Trump’s shifting tone on Putin, and the enduring power of satire in resisting authoritarianism.

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Jim Acosta joins Charlie Sykes for a sobering conversation about Donald Trump’s explosive treason accusations against Barack Obama and what they signal about his desperation over the Epstein case. They explore how Trump’s old tricks—conspiracy theories, culture wars, and media manipulation—may be losing their power, and why this moment feels different. From Ghislaine Maxwell to media complicity, the episode unpacks the dangerous collision of scandal, politics, and truth in a high-stakes summer drama.

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Charlie Sykes sits down with former Montana Governor and RNC Chair Marc Racicot to discuss "Our Republican Legacy," a new initiative aimed at restoring the GOP’s foundational principles of character, constitutionalism, and limited government. Racicot offers a candid assessment of the current political landscape, acknowledging the uphill battle while defending the idea that the Republican Party can and must return to its roots.

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Charlie Sykes is joined by chess grandmaster and democracy advocate Garry Kasparov to explore how creeping authoritarianism could take hold in the United States. Kasparov warns that fear, normalization of abuses, and erosion of democratic institutions are already pushing America down a dangerous path. Together, they examine the historical patterns of autocratic power, the unique risks posed by Donald Trump’s return to office, and what must be done to defend democracy before it’s too late.

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Charlie Sykes welcomes David French for a sweeping conversation on MAGA’s unraveling over the Epstein files, Trump’s shaky pivot on Ukraine, and the deeper cultural meaning behind the new Superman film. They examine the growing fractures in Trump’s base, the danger of embedding loyalists in the judiciary, and why even MAGA can turn on its own. With sharp insights and some well-earned skepticism, French unpacks the fragility of Trump’s recent moves and what they reveal about the future of the right.

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Charlie Sykes is joined by veteran journalist and Substack writer Terry Moran for a bracing conversation on Trump’s unraveling Epstein strategy, the deep contradictions within the MAGA worldview, and the terrifying normalization of state-sponsored cruelty. From “Alligator Alcatraz” to 50% tariffs on Brazil, the two dissect how branding, conspiracy, and authoritarian impulses are reshaping American politics. They also explore how legacy media is collapsing under corporate pressure—while independent platforms like this one become the new frontlines in the battle for truth.

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Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum joins Charlie Sykes from Warsaw to examine the alarming rise of authoritarian tactics in the U.S., from the militarization of federal agencies to the normalization of political cruelty. They discuss the Trump administration’s embrace of spectacle, the breakdown of truth, and the erosion of institutional guardrails. Applebaum warns that what once seemed unthinkable is now unfolding in broad daylight, and cautions that history shows how quickly democracy can vanish when we stop recognizing the danger.

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Economist Justin Wolfers joins Charlie Sykes to discuss Trump’s trade war revival, incoherent economic policymaking, and the human cost of political decisions. From tariffs on allies to Medicaid cuts in the latest budget, Wolfers breaks down the real-world impact with clarity, passion, and biting analogies. It’s a crash course in economics—and a warning about what happens when the rules of the game no longer apply.

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Charlie Sykes is joined by Judge Michael Luttig to reflect on the founding principles of American democracy—and how far we've strayed. Drawing from his powerful essay The Self-Evident Truths of Freedom and of Tyranny, Judge Luttig restates the moral and constitutional bedrock of the United States in a time of national uncertainty. It’s not a political polemic, but a patriotic reaffirmation of the values that have defined America for 249 years.

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Charlie Sykes welcomes Nicholas Grossman of Arc Digital for a wide-ranging conversation on the political unraveling of the Republican Party, including Senator Thom Tillis's defection and the cult of Trump. They explore the Supreme Court's role in enabling executive overreach and discuss how Trump's foreign policy blunders may ignite a new era of global nuclear proliferation

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Bloomberg's Tim O’Brien joins Charlie Sykes to unpack a whirlwind week in politics, from Trump’s business entanglements—including a dubious new mobile phone venture—to his rage-fueled media attacks after mixed intelligence on Iran. They explore how Trump’s blending of public power and private profit continues unchecked, and why it's reshaping the presidency in dangerous ways. Plus, the pair dive into the fallout from New York’s mayoral primary, growing Democratic fractures, and how the GOP is poised to weaponize progressive wins.

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Charlie Sykes and Susan Glasser break down the chaos of the current moment—from Trump's controversial strike on Iran to the media’s collective amnesia and the deepening crisis of national credibility. They explore the dangerous implications of conducting war in a post-truth era, where the commander-in-chief is often the most unreliable narrator. Plus, a look at the Democratic meltdown in New York and why political performance is outpacing pragmatism across both parties.

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Charlie Sykes is joined by Iraq War veteran and Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff for a sobering conversation on the U.S. bombing campaign against Iran and the implications of Donald Trump’s unilateral decision to launch it. They unpack the erosion of guardrails around war powers, the growing risks of domestic instability, and the unnerving absence of public debate. With both urgency and reflection, they challenge listeners to consider not just what’s happening—but what’s next.

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