Talkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other

Charlie Sykes - From Reagan Republicans to RFK Jr.: How the Right Lost Its Mind (Again)

Listen Later

In this episode, host Corey Nathan sits down with Charlie Sykes, a prominent conservative commentator, former talk radio host, and founder of The Bulwark, who's currently writing and podcasting on his excellent Substack To the Contrary. Known for his sharp political insights and willingness to challenge the current trajectory of the Republican Party, Charlie discusses the erosion of democratic norms, the transformation of conservatism, and what the future holds for both parties.

📌 What We Discuss
  • How the Republican Party shifted from traditional conservatism to a Trump-dominated movement.
  • Why democracy faces real threats in the U.S. and globally.
  • The importance of character in political leadership and why many conservatives abandoned this principle.
  • Whether a pro-democracy coalition can hold back extremism in both parties.
  • Charlie's thoughts on how we can have better political conversations without dehumanizing each other.
    • ⏳ Episode Highlights

    🔹 [00:01:00] Charlie’s Journey: From influential conservative talk radio host to political outcast in the Trump era.

    🔹 [00:05:00] The Evolution of Trumpism: Why Trump 2.0 is even more dangerous than his first presidency.
    🔹 [00:12:00] Engaging With Trump Supporters: Is it possible to change minds, or should we focus on mobilizing pro-democracy voters?
    🔹 [00:22:00] The Republican Party’s Transformation: How the far-right fringe became the mainstream.
    🔹 [00:35:00] Can Democrats Avoid the Same Mistakes? Learning from the GOP's takeover by extremists.
    🔹 [00:47:00] America’s Role in the World: Why the U.S. is no longer seen as the leader of the free world.
    🔹 [01:02:00] Building Bridges Across Differences: The importance of assuming goodwill and finding shared values.

    💬 Featured Quotes

    "I’d rather be right than Marco Rubio right now." – Charlie Sykes

    "The Republican Party had multiple off-ramps to reject Trumpism, and they took none of them." – Charlie Sykes
    "We are living through history, and we don’t have the luxury of indifference." – Charlie Sykes
    "The challenge isn’t just about talking politics—it’s about figuring out how to get through this without killing each other." – Corey Nathan

    📚 Resources Mentioned
    • Charlie Sykes’ Substack Newsletter: To the Contrary
    • Charlie’s 2018 book: How the Right Lost Its Mind
    • The Identity Trap by Yascha Mounk
      • 📣 Call to Action

      If you found this conversation insightful, please:

      ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform.
      ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics
      ✅ Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/politicsandreligion
      ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion

      🔗 Connect With Us on Social Media

      @coreysnathan:

      • Bluesky
      • LinkedIn
      • Instagram
      • Threads
      • Facebook
      • Substack

        • Our Sponsors

        • Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com
        • Prolux Autogroup: www.proluxautogroup.com or www.granadahillsairporttransportation.com

          • Let’s keep talking politics and religion—with gentleness and respect. 🎙️💡

          ...more
          View all episodesView all episodes
          Download on the App Store
          Talkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each OtherBy Scan Media, LLC
          • 4.8
          • 4.8
          • 4.8
          • 4.8
          • 4.8

          4.8

          148 ratings

          More shows like Talkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other

          View all
          Conversations with Bill Kristol by Bill Kristol

          Conversations with Bill Kristol

          2,009 Listeners

          The Good Fight by Yascha Mounk

          The Good Fight

          904 Listeners

          The Atlantic Interview by The Atlantic

          The Atlantic Interview

          2,129 Listeners

          Interesting Times with Ross Douthat by New York Times Opinion

          Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

          7,052 Listeners

          The Bulwark Podcast by The Bulwark

          The Bulwark Podcast

          12,253 Listeners

          Hacks On Tap by Vox Media

          Hacks On Tap

          8,044 Listeners

          The Mona Charen Show by The Bulwark

          The Mona Charen Show

          1,341 Listeners

          The Dispatch Podcast by The Dispatch

          The Dispatch Podcast

          3,309 Listeners

          Kelly Corrigan Wonders by Kelly Corrigan

          Kelly Corrigan Wonders

          3,334 Listeners

          The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

          The Ezra Klein Show

          16,035 Listeners

          The Lincoln Project by The Lincoln Project

          The Lincoln Project

          9,184 Listeners

          The Focus Group Podcast by The Bulwark

          The Focus Group Podcast

          2,549 Listeners

          George Conway Explains It All (To Sarah Longwell) by The Bulwark

          George Conway Explains It All (To Sarah Longwell)

          3,495 Listeners

          The Opinions by The New York Times Opinion

          The Opinions

          546 Listeners

          To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes by Charlie Sykes

          To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

          726 Listeners