56 Comments

OMGoodness, YOU ARE BACK and this was the BEST podcast I have heard since you left the Bulwark. I still love those guys, love Sam Stein and JVL especially, but I missed this kind of thinking. Had to subscribe right after my second listen to your first pod with David French. So good. Can't wait for more.

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My Substack is showing me your subscription in British pounds: do you know what that’s about? I like prince harry but … well actually maybe he’d be better than so many others we have. And he saw combat.

subscription plans for "To the Contrary."

- Annual: £65/year (£5.42/month)

- Monthly: £7/month

- Founding Member: £/year

PS my villa in The Bronx is west of the atlantic

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Charlie, I must admit that some days I mostly look at your dog pictures and only skim your wonderful writing.

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Perfectly rational choice!

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Thank you so much, I have missed you. Tim is a nice young man but he just cannot compare to you. I am looking forward to reading your thoughts and now watching/listening to your podcast.

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Excellent podcast- thank you Charlie!

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Tim Miller is doing a great job hosting the Bulwalk but I missed you Charlie. Looking forward to the new podcast ❤️

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Dear Charlie,

The dog pictures really DO help center us and keep us sane .

We all love Augie .

What I am going to say is with love and in one spirit with Augie.

He likes his treats too much .

He likes his food too much. Consequently, there is too much of Augie.

I also like my treats too much and my food is out of proportion so to speak .

Consequently, there is too much of me.

My cardiologist has yet another test scheduled.

I eat to console myself.

I lost my little companion in consolation three months ago.

His name was Twinky because of his color and oval shape as a puppy.

I lost him to "congestive heart failure."

Forgive me please, grieving clouds one's judgement.

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thank you

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Why don't some Democratic governors or mayors send police to arrest Musk invaders on trespassing or other charges...stuff that aren't federal crimes and can't be pardoned by Trump.

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Dear Charlie - I have been following you since the beginning of the Trumpster Fire in 2016. You have been a source of valuable information, reasuurance, honesty and positive ideas. An honest to goodness therapist in all this. So excited to have another opportunity through your next podcast (I listened to you daily on the Bulwark). You help me and so many others focus on being part of the solution and not dwelling on the infinite reasons to throw in the towel. You have dogs too. Anyone who can add dogs to the mix has my joyful support.

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Two of my favorite people on a podcast! Gee, I wonder what they’ll find to chat about?

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All there is to say is “ thank God for Dogs”

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Good work Mr. Charlie.

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Charlie - love the familiar guests but two recommendations.

1. Find as many good TECH reporters as you can for the pod to help us understand Silicon Valley and what they want with this country’s data. Ask Kara Swisher which tech reporters (Wired is doing a heck of a job reporting now on DOGE) to invite.

2. The other guest/s request is find interesting Gen Z people (start with Congressman Maxwell Frost). Many of your listeners/substack members are, shall we say, probably of a bit more of a vintage age. Challenge yourself and us to try to understand what this generation is all about. We screwed up a lot of stuff they need to deal with and their approach is to blow it all up and fiddle while they watch Elon download the entire data set of the US government.

So in short - please add tech and Gen Z to the regular rotation. I look forward to you challenging and be challenged by people you don’t usually have long form conversations with. Look up Casey Newton (Kara protege) and Kyla Scanlon. Good luck on this new endeavor. Happy to be a paid member of your start-up.

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You definitely were telling the truth when you hinted/promised the first guest would be one of our favorites. David is certainly one of mine and looking forward to it!

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Thrilled on your podcast return. It's been a long year, Charlie. I have missed your sensitive, entertaining and always informative interviews. Great news in these dark times.

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That was a grim two minutes.

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