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Charlie Sykes CHARLIE SYKES EDITOR-AT-LARGE, THE BULWARK Quick Summary Life in Brief Former conservative radio host and Wisconsin Hometown: Seattle, WA Republican kingmaker who gained national prominence as a leading voice in the Never Trump Current Residence: Mequon, WI movement and created the Bulwark website as a messaging arm for like-minded conservatives Education: • BA, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, • Love for journalism and politics heavily influenced 1975 by his father • Self-described “recovering liberal” who criticizes Family: both political parties for inflexibility and for • Married to Janet Riordan alienating those who reject status quo • Three children, two grandchildren • As conservative radio host, cultivated significant influence in Wisconsin GOP politics – quickly Work History: becoming a go-to stop for Republican candidates; • Editor-at-Large, The Bulwark, 2019- drew significant attention to issues like school Present choice • Host, The Daily Standard, 2018 • Became national figure after refusing to support • Contributing editor, The Weekly Donald Trump Standard • Co-founded the Bulwark with Bill Kristol, which • Contributor, NBC/MSNBC, 2016-present has become a leading mouthpiece of the Never • Host, Indivisible WNYC, 2017 Trump conservative movement • Editor-in-Chief, Right Wisconsin • Considers himself a “political orphan” in the era of • Radio show host, WTMJ, 1999-2016 Trump after exile from conservative movement • Radio host, WISN, 1989-93 whose political identity has changed many times • PR for Dave Schulz, Milwaukee County but whose conservative principles have stayed Executive, 1988-89 the same • Editor-in-Chief, Milwaukee Magazine, 1984-88 Approach and Motivations • Managing editor, Milwaukee Magazine, 1983 Outspoken proponent of traditional conservative • Staff writer, Cleveland Magazine, 1982 policies and defender of principles over partisan • Reporter, The Milwaukee Journal, 1976- consensus 82 • Journalist, The Northeast Post, 1975-76 • Beliefs rooted principles of liberty, free markets, limited government, constitutionalism, and the Past and Present Board and Advisory defense of American institutions at home and Roles: abroad • Member, Knight Commission on Trust, • Describes himself as conservative contrarian, Media & Democracy voicing opposition against consensus and status • National Advisory Committee, quo if it deviates from conservative principles Democracy Fund • Board Member, Stand Up Republic Personal responsibility on issues like education • Favors self-reliance over government intervention • Often applied to education policy, where he supports policies empowering parents to make school choices for their children PEOPLE RESEARCH SERVICE 1 CHARLIE SYKES EDITOR-AT-LARGE, THE BULWARK Policy Positions and Areas of Focus • Supported Gov. Walker’s push to weaken Outspoken on education policy, and public employee union bargaining power in conservative principles like privacy and 2011 and provided platform for critics of personal liberty unions to express views Reforming Secondary & Higher Education – Critiques emphasis on political correctness Core Communities and prioritizing self-esteem over knowledge “Never Trump” Conservatives – Conservative • Believes a key problem with education is figures who refuse to support Donald Trump that holistic learning and personal feelings • Features several Weekly Standard are given precedence over rigorous colleagues including Bill Kristol, John academics Podhoretz and PJ O’Rourke, on the Bulwark • Contends education system is too resistant website and podcasts to criticism and reform • Tim Miller, former communications director • Argues campus diversity doesn’t extend to for Jeb Bush and anti-Trump PAC advisor, is intellectual or political diversity a contributor to the Bulwark and frequent • Fervent proponent of school choice; major guest on his podcast role in public awareness campaign in 2006 • Rick Wilson, GOP media consultant, is a resulting in Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle friend and frequent Bulwark podcast guest reversing his opinion and supporting it Wisconsin Republicans – Close ties to Erosion of Privacy – Wrote book arguing majority of influential Wisconsin Republicans freedom from unauthorized intrusion is at risk prior to 2016 election • Believes right to privacy is being diminished • Wisconsin GOP consultant Deb Jordahl by technological change, government and knows him as a radio host and through his business intrusion, and oversharing volunteer work with local charities • Particularly critical of media invasiveness • Frequently had Paul Ryan on his radio show and infringing personal privacy rights and viewed him as the future of the GOP until his refusal to condemn President Trump Never Trump Conservatism – Leading voice • Considers Reince Priebus, a Kenosha in movement of conservatives allied against native, a friend but has been critical of his Trump support for Donald Trump • Believes traditional conservative principles • Considers Gov. Scott Walker to be a friend have been eroded by conservative leaders and influences his policy; was one of his and media elevating hard-liners with fringe most vocal supporters during recall election views (birthers, xenophobes, and alternative- and union fight reality media); views President Trump as Wisconsin Journalists – Lifelong ties starting extension of this with father through his career as a beat • Uses the Bulwark platform to highlight other reporter and radio show host in Wisconsin like-minded voices on the right to critique • Bill Lueders is a longtime friend who wrote Trump policies and abandonment of for the Isthmus and Milwaukee Magazine conservatism by the GOP • Joel McNally, former columnist and colleague at the Milwaukee Journal, Public Employee Unions – Gave significant considers him a friend airtime to Gov. Walker during union battle • Critical of teachers’ unions for being too political; focused more on fundraising than issues relevant to education 1 PEOPLE RESEARCH SERVICE 2 CHARLIE SYKES EDITOR-AT-LARGE, THE BULWARK u Core Communities Cont. Financial Disclosures and Donations Wisconsin Education Community – Allies in Donates seldomly to GOP candidates and PACs school choice advocacy • Radio pundit and communications consultant Wisconsin - Governor Mikel Holt worked with him to produce an ad • $500 – Friends of Scott Walker (R-WI) in support of school choice • Worked closely with members of the Bradley Federal – Select WI candidates Foundation at the time, who pushed for • $500 – Ron Johnson for Senate (R-WI) vouchers • $250 – Ribble for Congress (R-WI) • Frequently discussed school choice on his show with several local Milwaukee city and Federal - PAC county officials and members of the school • $250 – Swift Boat Vets & POWs for Truth board Selected Publications Media Appearances Wrote books about conservative policies and Since 2016, provides commentary critical of education; has focused his work at the Republican members of Congress, conservative Bulwark on criticizing GOP in Trump era media, and President Trump Books – Often critical of higher education, Television – Often is the conservative voice on lack of personal responsibility, and culture of cable news providing perspectives contrary to dependency ones asserted by GOP establishment • How the Right Lost Its Mind, 2017 • MSNBC – Meet the Press, spoke alongside • A Nation of Moochers: America’s Addiction to columnist George Will about how the definition Getting Something for Nothing, 2012 of patriotism has changed in the GOP, May • The End of Privacy: The Attack on Personal 2019 Rights at Home, at Work, On-Line, and in • CNN – Reliable Sources: Criticized Court, 1999 conservative media for abandoning • Dumbing Down Our Kids: Why American conservative principles to embrace President Children Feel Good About Themselves but Trump, September 2017 Can’t Read, Write, or Add, 1995 • A Nation of Victims: The Decay of the Print/Online – Discusses how conservative American Character, 1992 principles no longer align with Republican • Profscam: Professors and the Demise of party, and conservative media’s role in the rise Higher Education,1988 of Donald Trump • NYTimes Magazine: In an interview, spoke Articles – Critical of President Trump and the about how President has changed the GOP future of the GOP and exposed vulnerabilities of the party, August • “The Problem with Joe Walsh,” The Bulwark, 2017 September 2019 • Politico: Discussed his long history in • “What’s the Endgame of Trumpism?”, Wisconsin politics and the conflicts he RealClearPolicy, February 2019 experienced questioning support for Donald • “Donald Trump’s Crab Bucket Moral Trump, August 2016 Universe,” The Weekly Standard, May 2018 • “A Guide for Frustrated Conservatives in the Age of Trump,” NBC News, October 2017 • “Charlie Sykes on Where the Right Went Wrong,” New York Times, December 2016 PEOPLE RESEARCH SERVICE 3 K CHARLIE SYKES EDITOR-AT-LARGE, THE BULWARK Speaking Engagements Info From Formative Years Frequently speaks about future of Father’s career, love for politics, and conservatism post-Trump and media false- contrarian self-identity were profoundly hoods influential to development of his own career and political identity Academic Institutions • Raised in liberal household and originally • Speaker on overcoming partisan politics, identified as a Democrat University of Wisconsin-Parkside, March • Father, Jay Sykes, was biggest inspiration 2019 and influence. Described father as a • Panelist at event hosted by the Annenberg contrarian Democrat; modeled his contrarian
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