Episodes

  • Tony Gilroy: Andor, Authoritarianism, and the Resistance

    Tony Gilroy: Andor, Authoritarianism, and the Resistance
    Aug 12 2025
    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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    40 mins
  • Harry Litman: The DOJ Turned Upside Down

    Harry Litman: The DOJ Turned Upside Down
    Aug 10 2025
    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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    36 mins
  • Jessica Riedl: The Last Fiscal Conservative

    Jessica Riedl: The Last Fiscal Conservative
    Aug 7 2025
    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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    35 mins
  • Tara Palmeri: Epstein, Maxwell, and the Survivors' Fight for Justice

    Tara Palmeri: Epstein, Maxwell, and the Survivors' Fight for Justice
    Aug 5 2025
    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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    50 mins
  • Tom Nichols: The Gilded Presidency

    Tom Nichols: The Gilded Presidency
    Aug 3 2025
    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.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    49 mins
  • Adam Kinzinger: Epstein, Enemies Lists, and the Collapse of Courage

    Adam Kinzinger: Epstein, Enemies Lists, and the Collapse of Courage
    Jul 31 2025
    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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    44 mins
  • Julian Zelizer: Where Is The Rest of the Resistance?

    Julian Zelizer: Where Is The Rest of the Resistance?
    Jul 29 2025
    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.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    42 mins
  • Jim Acosta: Trump, Epstein, and the Politics of Distraction

    Jim Acosta: Trump, Epstein, and the Politics of Distraction
    Jul 24 2025
    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.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    44 mins