To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Hitler, Stalin, Kim Un Jong Same playbook different Dictator.

I genuinely enjoy Charlie’s show and usually find both the conversations and the guests insightful. David Frum is the exception. I stopped listening to Frum’s own podcast—one I initially liked—after repeated comments that minimized the genocide in Gaza. People can hold different views, but repeatedly glossing over mass civilian suffering crossed a line for me & I chose to walk away. Frum appears on several podcasts I otherwise enjoy, and while I already find his smug, know-it-all tone grating, today’s appearance was particularly egregious. “As you know, I’m Canadian…”—followed by patronizing remarks about Canada—was absurd. Living in the US while occasionally dipping back into Canada does not make you an authority on Canadian public sentiment. When Charlie incredulously asked whether Canadians are genuinely fearing a US “invasion” (we’re not), Frum missed the point entirely. The anxiety here is driven by punitive economic measures and political volatility—not fantasies of tanks rolling north. Yes, this has prompted a long-overdue reckoning about defence and sovereignty (as we’re seeing across Europe as well), but to flatly answer “No” to whether Canada could stand a chance if invaded was both offensive and profoundly unpatriotic. The episode then deteriorated further, with Frum making reckless assumptions—casting Lutnick as an innocent caught in the emails, implying only “poor” girls are victims of child sexual abuse/trafficking, and posturing as an Epstein expert despite massive unknowns. It was speculative, and frankly disturbing. Why this man is treated as a serious moral authority—let alone hero-worshipped—baffles me.

doesn’t mean you’re not still a lame republican who wishes a Bush was still president.

Also, if only it would correct the grammar.

A great discussion. Thank you.