Talkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other

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

2025-03-16

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 sh...

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

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