I loved this conversation. As someone who would’ve described myself as ‘of the left’ not so long ago, I find it deeply shameful and upsetting that you haven’t been embraced by its members in your fight for democracy. And it speaks volumes. Thank you Charlie for your work - I loved your daily Bulwark episodes, reminding us that there is sanity out there, and I’m so glad to have discovered more of your work on Substack.
I’m new here & since 2016 started listening to the “Never Trumpers” which I’ve found we agree more than I thought. I was an independent until 2016 & considered myself center left. I had always dismissed Charlie as too far right & while there may be a laundry list of issues we will never agree on, I know without each other fighting to maintain our democracy it’s surely lost, & I’m willing to put those differences aside till we win the fight of our lives.
I think Democrats are better at policy & programs (FDR)that benefit average people, but without question are absolutely horrible at the game of politics. Messaging is non existent & they get sucked into the Chris LaCivita trap. Republicans have for decades been better at the game & it’s long since past time Democrats take the open book being offered by Republicans & study it.
Trump won’t go after Adam cuz he holds a special seething rage & venom specifically for women, & Liz Chaney had the temerity to go after the King. They’ve already said they’re going to investigate the investigators in an attempt to rewrite history & divert attention from the real damage being done by Trump’s dept. heads specifically picked to demolish the depts. they head for private equity to pick up the pieces at a profit. Thx
Became very concerned after hearing Musk during a interview say he takes ketamine around every other day. Have no idea how much he takes but I don’t think that is sustainable.
Charlie- you hit exactly how helpless and hopeless I HAVE felt. Knowing how damaged the guardrails were after the first Trump accident. Leaving behind a mangled mess of crumpled metal. The bulwarks held last time. But the systems failed us- the Republicans failed us. The courts failed us. The justice system failed us. It was then up to the people. Only to have them fail us too. So that’s exactly how I felt after the United Healthcare murder and sadly- after yet another school shooting. I didn’t realize how much faith I had in the American people until they trashed it.
I used to watch an adorable emu on Tik Tok, Emmanuel Todd Lopez. It was always hilarious when his owner would approach him and warn him not to choose violence. It would make me chuckle.
But America did that. They chose violence. Only this time it’s not funny, and I’m not chuckling.
I find it wildly ironic that people would expect us to CONTINUE to be the party of adults. CONTINUE to be the only ones that care about any of this. Why do we always have to be the responsible ones? And not because it’s not fair and we want to be able to let loose and have fun too. But more cynically- why do we have to care when no one else seems to? Why do we have to continue to do the right thing, uphold American values, and have basic human decency when America proved that doesn’t matter anymore?
They voted for violence. They chose violence. I don’t want anyone to expect me to care about the rule of law when we elected a literal criminal. I don’t want anyone to expect me to care about the economy when we keep electing people who trash it. Don’t expect me to care about our children when these same parents keep voting for people who prioritize the gun over the kids.
I’m tired of being the only side that cared. Because obviously that simply doesn’t matter anymore. 😞
Loved this. Especially the last 4.5 minutes. A lot of self-awareness; a lot of sobriety around the moment.
Sykes: "...there was that moment when, 'Oh sh-t, we succeeded not just in holding the media accountable, but in destroying the entire credibility of the fact-based media, and we are living in that universe now.'"
Heather Cox Richardson points out that in our history people in this country, since before the Revolution, people have been seeing "lights in the sky*, at times of unrest and stress.
Enjoyed the talk Charlie. You’ve both been incredibly brave and it’s hard to hear about the toll it’s taken on you personally and professionally (including $). All Ds I know appreciate and admire you.
Independent voter here, have voted for both Ds and Rs and have never aligned completely with either party, but now I vote 100% D because of the very points you guys addressed here, plus the overturning of Roe v Wade. I used to have the luxury to vote for anti-abortion candidates if I preferred their stances on other issues, but that's dead now. I look forward to more Kinzinger and Sykes discussions and appreciate both of you immensely.
When can we watch the kinzinger documentary in Maryland?
I don’t think I have ever seen Charlie Sykes smile before. Nice to see you!
I loved this conversation. As someone who would’ve described myself as ‘of the left’ not so long ago, I find it deeply shameful and upsetting that you haven’t been embraced by its members in your fight for democracy. And it speaks volumes. Thank you Charlie for your work - I loved your daily Bulwark episodes, reminding us that there is sanity out there, and I’m so glad to have discovered more of your work on Substack.
I’m new here & since 2016 started listening to the “Never Trumpers” which I’ve found we agree more than I thought. I was an independent until 2016 & considered myself center left. I had always dismissed Charlie as too far right & while there may be a laundry list of issues we will never agree on, I know without each other fighting to maintain our democracy it’s surely lost, & I’m willing to put those differences aside till we win the fight of our lives.
I think Democrats are better at policy & programs (FDR)that benefit average people, but without question are absolutely horrible at the game of politics. Messaging is non existent & they get sucked into the Chris LaCivita trap. Republicans have for decades been better at the game & it’s long since past time Democrats take the open book being offered by Republicans & study it.
Trump won’t go after Adam cuz he holds a special seething rage & venom specifically for women, & Liz Chaney had the temerity to go after the King. They’ve already said they’re going to investigate the investigators in an attempt to rewrite history & divert attention from the real damage being done by Trump’s dept. heads specifically picked to demolish the depts. they head for private equity to pick up the pieces at a profit. Thx
Became very concerned after hearing Musk during a interview say he takes ketamine around every other day. Have no idea how much he takes but I don’t think that is sustainable.
Charlie- you hit exactly how helpless and hopeless I HAVE felt. Knowing how damaged the guardrails were after the first Trump accident. Leaving behind a mangled mess of crumpled metal. The bulwarks held last time. But the systems failed us- the Republicans failed us. The courts failed us. The justice system failed us. It was then up to the people. Only to have them fail us too. So that’s exactly how I felt after the United Healthcare murder and sadly- after yet another school shooting. I didn’t realize how much faith I had in the American people until they trashed it.
I used to watch an adorable emu on Tik Tok, Emmanuel Todd Lopez. It was always hilarious when his owner would approach him and warn him not to choose violence. It would make me chuckle.
But America did that. They chose violence. Only this time it’s not funny, and I’m not chuckling.
I find it wildly ironic that people would expect us to CONTINUE to be the party of adults. CONTINUE to be the only ones that care about any of this. Why do we always have to be the responsible ones? And not because it’s not fair and we want to be able to let loose and have fun too. But more cynically- why do we have to care when no one else seems to? Why do we have to continue to do the right thing, uphold American values, and have basic human decency when America proved that doesn’t matter anymore?
They voted for violence. They chose violence. I don’t want anyone to expect me to care about the rule of law when we elected a literal criminal. I don’t want anyone to expect me to care about the economy when we keep electing people who trash it. Don’t expect me to care about our children when these same parents keep voting for people who prioritize the gun over the kids.
I’m tired of being the only side that cared. Because obviously that simply doesn’t matter anymore. 😞
"Does (Johnson) read to them from Deuteronomy or something?" Oh Charlie, this was hilarious!!!
Loved this. Especially the last 4.5 minutes. A lot of self-awareness; a lot of sobriety around the moment.
Sykes: "...there was that moment when, 'Oh sh-t, we succeeded not just in holding the media accountable, but in destroying the entire credibility of the fact-based media, and we are living in that universe now.'"
Please. I’m begging both of you. Do these duo shows every month. No, every two weeks. Just. Please. Thank you very much.
Just as fear breeds fear; strength breeds strength. Therefore, continue to stay strong as it provides strength to millions of others!
Heather Cox Richardson points out that in our history people in this country, since before the Revolution, people have been seeing "lights in the sky*, at times of unrest and stress.
Enjoyed the talk Charlie. You’ve both been incredibly brave and it’s hard to hear about the toll it’s taken on you personally and professionally (including $). All Ds I know appreciate and admire you.
Independent voter here, have voted for both Ds and Rs and have never aligned completely with either party, but now I vote 100% D because of the very points you guys addressed here, plus the overturning of Roe v Wade. I used to have the luxury to vote for anti-abortion candidates if I preferred their stances on other issues, but that's dead now. I look forward to more Kinzinger and Sykes discussions and appreciate both of you immensely.
Wisconsinite here. Great discussion.
Charlie and Adam, this Democrat is happy to have you as partners! Don’t stop! We’ve got your backs!
Thank you to you both. I lean center-left but truly appreciate your conservative take. I do feel that we are all in this together.