The Chuck ToddCast

Chuck Todd argues the Trump administration is in the political equivalent of a hole and can't stop digging, walking through a series of self-inflicted wounds that are damaging America's standing both at home and abroad. He reveals the administration is circulating a "trade for aid" package at the UN that would essentially privatize humanitarian assistance, a pretense to drop all foreign aid since the private sector obviously won't fill the gaps without extracting something in return — and warns that after the USAID cuts, other countries have already scaled back their own contributions, meaning America is effectively exporting heartlessness around the world and looking like assholes in the process. The administration's fight with the Pope perfectly captures this mentality: Mike Johnson is defending Trump's attacks on the pontiff by citing Catholic "just war doctrine," newly-converted JD Vance is lecturing the Pope on his own church's theology, and Chuck notes that elected Republicans know this is disastrous politics but are too afraid to say so publicly.  He closes with a reflection on hosting a panel for a new documentary about Hannah Arendt, arguing it's the perfect moment to revisit her work on totalitarianism. He notes Arendt was a Zionist who didn't want Israel to be a nationalist state, and applies that framework to the current moment: the backlash against Israel is really a backlash against Netanyahu, who has tried to manipulate every American president but only found his willing partner in Trump; October 7th galvanized Israeli society but hasn't made Bibi more popular at home; Israel now has only one major ally left in America, and Bibi is actively risking even that. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 06:00 The Trump administration can’t help but “stop digging” 06:45 Outside of his base, Trump isn’t able to persuade others 07:30 Administration circulating a “trade for aid” package at the UN 09:00 Administration wants the world to privatize humanitarian aid 10:00 After USAID cuts, other countries have scaled back their aid 10:45 State Dept official says it’s a pretense to drop all aid & privatize it 11:45 Private sector won’t fill in aid gaps without getting something in return 13:15 Trump is making America look like assholes to the rest of the world 14:00 We’re exporting heartlessness around the world 15:00 This mentality is perfectly captured in administration’s fight with the pope 16:15 Mike Johnson defends Trump’s attack on Pope, citing “just war doctrine” 17:30 The pope has been saying what a pope should say 18:45 Catholic church has a specific theology on “just war” 20:00 JD Vance is newly converted and wants to lecture the pope & church 21:15 Elected Republicans know this is bad politics but are afraid to go public 22:30 Trump’s threats to fire Jay Powell make it harder to confirm his successor 25:00 Maybe a strong independent mind like Jay Powell should run for president 26:45 Prior presidents worked to help their party in 2nd term, Trump doesn’t care 27:45 Trump may be president, but he’s not a true “party leader” 28:15 Chuck hosted panel for new documentary about Hannah Arendt 29:00 Great time to take a deep dive into Arendt’s work on totalitarianism 29:45 We aren’t living in a totalitarian state, but you can see how it can happen 31:30 Arrendt was a Zionist, but didn’t want Israel to be a nationalist state 33:00 Backlash to Israel is mostly backlash against Bibi. 34:00 Bibi has tried to manipulate presidents, only Trump didn’t push back 35:30 October 7th galvanized Israelis, but Bibi isn’t more popular 37:30 Israel now only has one ally in America, Bibi risking that alliance too 38:30 The only way Israel fixes this is with a new government 39:15 Support for Israel is degraded on the American left, the right could follow 42:00 Thoughts on the NBA play-in 44:45 Ask Chuck 45:00 Would Whitmer/Slotkin be as strong as Warnock/Ossoff as a ticket? 47:45 Why didn’t Trump take credit/victory lap over the Artemis mission? 51:45 Why are preemptive pardons allowed? 53:45 Thoughts on latest polling showing Thomas Massie doing well? 57:00 Thoughts on increased calls for expulsion of members of congress? 58:45 If Iran offers Obama’s deal, could that further isolate Trump from the world? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd argues the Trump administration is in the political equivalent of a hole and can't stop digging, walking through a series of self-inflicted wounds that are damaging America's standing both at home and abroad. He reveals the administration is circulating a "trade for aid" package at the UN that would essentially privatize humanitarian assistance, a pretense to drop all foreign aid since the private sector obviously won't fill the gaps without extracting something in return — and warns that after the USAID cuts, other countries have already scaled back their own contributions, meaning America is effectively exporting heartlessness around the world and looking like assholes in the process. The administration's fight with the Pope perfectly captures this mentality: Mike Johnson is defending Trump's attacks on the pontiff by citing Catholic "just war doctrine," newly-converted JD Vance is lecturing the Pope on his own church's theology, and Chuck notes that elected Republicans know this is disastrous politics but are too afraid to say so publicly. He closes with a reflection on hosting a panel for a new documentary about Hannah Arendt, arguing it's the perfect moment to revisit her work on totalitarianism. He notes Arendt was a Zionist who didn't want Israel to be a nationalist state, and applies that framework to the current moment: the backlash against Israel is really a backlash against Netanyahu, who has tried to manipulate every American president but only found his willing partner in Trump; October 7th galvanized Israeli society but hasn't made Bibi more popular at home; Israel now has only one major ally left in America, and Bibi is actively risking even that. Then, Gal Beckerman — author of the new book How to Be a Dissident — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a timely conversation about what it actually takes to resist authoritarianism, written explicitly for an American audience that he argues is now experiencing something abnormal and authoritarian for the first time. Beckerman, drawing on his years of reporting on historical resistance movements, identifies the qualities that successful dissidents across cultures and eras tend to share: the ability to step away from human conformity, a deep sense of pessimism that paradoxically motivates action, and a willingness to be reckless in ways that expose the cruelty of the system they're fighting — whether that's putting children in harm's way during the Birmingham civil rights protests, setting oneself on fire to prove a point, or Alexei Navalny choosing to return to Russia knowing he would likely lose his life. He explains why killing dissidents often backfires by making them immortal, why humor and satire are uniquely powerful tools that authorities have always tried to suppress (medieval rulers banned satire for a reason), and the simple question every dissident eventually faces: "Can I live with myself?" The conversation turns to what Beckerman sees happening in America right now. He praises the No Kings protests for ramping up demonstrations strategically and points to Minneapolis during ICE's occupation as a moment where ordinary Americans demonstrated genuine dissident behavior. Beckerman makes the provocative argument that the most effective dissidents tend to come from within the system rather than from outside it. He compares Hungary's recent overthrow of Orbán, which was made possible by years of civic organizing in rural areas building the sense of community needed to believe change was possible, with America's institutional capitulation under Trump. He argues Americans weren't prepared to act because they'd never faced this situation before, but that ICE's actions in Minneapolis genuinely woke many people up, They close with cautious optimism: Trump has shaken Americans out of complacency, voter turnout is at its highest in a century, the country has become more sophisticated about protest, and that most dissidents don't realize they've succeeded in the moment they're acting. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 06:00 The Trump administration can’t help but “stop digging” 06:45 Outside of his base, Trump isn’t able to persuade others 07:30 Administration circulating a “trade for aid” package at the UN 09:00 Administration wants the world to privatize humanitarian aid 10:00 After USAID cuts, other countries have scaled back their aid 10:45 State Dept official says it’s a pretense to drop all aid & privatize it 11:45 Private sector won’t fill in aid gaps without getting something in return 13:15 Trump is making America look like assholes to the rest of the world 14:00 We’re exporting heartlessness around the world 15:00 This mentality is perfectly captured in administration’s fight with the pope 16:15 Mike Johnson defends Trump’s attack on Pope, citing “just war doctrine” 17:30 The pope has been saying what a pope should say 18:45 Catholic church has a specific theology on “just war” 20:00 JD Vance is newly converted and wants to lecture the pope & church 21:15 Elected Republicans know this is bad politics but are afraid to go public 22:30 Trump’s threats to fire Jay Powell make it harder to confirm his successor 25:00 Maybe a strong independent mind like Jay Powell should run for president 26:45 Prior presidents worked to help their party in 2nd term, Trump doesn’t care 27:45 Trump may be president, but he’s not a true “party leader” 28:15 Chuck hosted panel for new documentary about Hannah Arendt 29:00 Great time to take a deep dive into Arendt’s work on totalitarianism 29:45 We aren’t living in a totalitarian state, but you can see how it can happen 31:30 Arrendt was a Zionist, but didn’t want Israel to be a nationalist state 33:00 Backlash to Israel is mostly backlash against Bibi. 34:00 Bibi has tried to manipulate presidents, only Trump didn’t push back 35:30 October 7th galvanized Israelis, but Bibi isn’t more popular 37:30 Israel now only has one ally in America, Bibi risking that alliance too 38:30 The only way Israel fixes this is with a new government 39:15 Support for Israel is degraded on the American left, the right could follow 43:30 Gal Beckerman joins the Chuck ToddCast45:15 The book is intended for an American audience45:45 Americans are experiencing something abnormal & authoritarian46:30 The conditions for a “normal life” are being impeded on in America47:00 We saw true dissidents in Minneapolis during ICE occupation48:30 Most people are hardwired to conform, Minneapolis didn’t49:00 Dissidents say “no” when their conscience is being violated50:00 The most simple question for dissidents is “Can I live with myself?”52:00 What made Soviet dissidents successful vs. modern Russians?53:30 Soviet Jews were oppressed, but also couldn’t leave54:15 Soviet Jews broadcast to the world that they were basically prisoners56:00 Orban’s fall in Hungary had been percolating for years57:00 Civic organizations in rural Hungary had been organizing58:00 The sense of community helped people think Orban could be defeated59:00 No Kings protests have been smart about ramping up demonstrations59:30 People can join No Kings for their preferred cause & find community1:01:00 Are the most effective dissidents the people who came from the system?1:01:45 Navalny in Russia was a creature of the establishment1:02:45 Liz Cheney didn’t work as a dissident since she wasn’t from Trump wing1:04:15 The qualities found in dissidents transcend cultures and eras1:05:30 Dissidents have to be able to step away from human conformity1:06:15 Pessimism is a common quality in dissidents1:07:45 If you think things will get better, it doesn’t motivate you to act1:09:00 The difference between fatalism and pessimism1:10:45 Humor and satire are a great way to speak to broader audiences1:12:00 The absurdity in satire cuts through1:13:30 Satire was pulled down by authorities during the middle ages1:14:00 Why is recklessness the mark of a successful dissident?1:15:00 Putting children in harms way in Birmingham showed cruelty of segregation1:16:15 People set themselves on fire to prove a point1:17:30 Navalny risked and ultimately lost his life by going back to Russia1:19:00 Killing dissidents can make them immortal, make them more powerful1:21:15 It’s important to understand what qualities make for a powerful dissident1:22:15 We’ve seen institutions and people capitulate in America1:23:00 Disney settling with Trump put a permanent stain on corporate owned media1:25:30 Americans weren’t prepared to act because they’ve never faced this situation1:26:15 ICE going to Minneapolis really woke up many Americans1:26:45 Being a citizen does demand hard choices sometimes1:29:45 Israeli society is organized around the idea that citizenship is active work1:30:30 The upside to the Trump era, is the highest voter turnout in a century1:32:00 Trump has shaken many Americans out of their sense of complacency1:33:00 America has become more sophisticated about protesting1:34:45 America wants change badly, they keep voting for it1:35:30 Change takes time and people are increasingly impatient1:37:30 What lesson do you hope people most learn from your book?1:40:15 Moral choices are a burden, but are also creative acts1:41:45 Most dissidents don’t know they are successful in the moment 1:43:45 Thoughts on the NBA play-in 1:46:30 Ask Chuck 1:46:45 Wou

Gal Beckerman — author of the new book How to Be a Dissident — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a timely conversation about what it actually takes to resist authoritarianism, written explicitly for an American audience that he argues is now experiencing something abnormal and authoritarian for the first time. Beckerman, drawing on his years of reporting on historical resistance movements, identifies the qualities that successful dissidents across cultures and eras tend to share: the ability to step away from human conformity, a deep sense of pessimism that paradoxically motivates action, and a willingness to be reckless in ways that expose the cruelty of the system they're fighting — whether that's putting children in harm's way during the Birmingham civil rights protests, setting oneself on fire to prove a point, or Alexei Navalny choosing to return to Russia knowing he would likely lose his life. He explains why killing dissidents often backfires by making them immortal, why humor and satire are uniquely powerful tools that authorities have always tried to suppress (medieval rulers banned satire for a reason), and the simple question every dissident eventually faces: "Can I live with myself?" The conversation turns to what Beckerman sees happening in America right now. He praises the No Kings protests for ramping up demonstrations strategically and points to Minneapolis during ICE's occupation as a moment where ordinary Americans demonstrated genuine dissident behavior. Beckerman makes the provocative argument that the most effective dissidents tend to come from within the system rather than from outside it. He compares Hungary's recent overthrow of Orbán, which was made possible by years of civic organizing in rural areas building the sense of community needed to believe change was possible, with America's institutional capitulation under Trump. He argues Americans weren't prepared to act because they'd never faced this situation before, but that ICE's actions in Minneapolis genuinely woke many people up, They close with cautious optimism: Trump has shaken Americans out of complacency, voter turnout is at its highest in a century, the country has become more sophisticated about protest, and that most dissidents don't realize they've succeeded in the moment they're acting. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Gal Beckerman joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:45 The book is intended for an American audience  02:15 Americans are experiencing something abnormal & authoritarian 03:00 The conditions for a “normal life” are being impeded on in America 03:30 We saw true dissidents in Minneapolis during ICE occupation 05:00 Most people are hardwired to conform, Minneapolis didn’t 05:30 Dissidents say “no” when their conscience is being violated 06:30 The most simple question for dissidents is “Can I live with myself?” 08:30 What made Soviet dissidents successful vs. modern Russians? 10:00 Soviet Jews were oppressed, but also couldn’t leave 10:45 Soviet Jews broadcast to the world that they were basically prisoners 12:30 Orban’s fall in Hungary had been percolating for years 13:30 Civic organizations in rural Hungary had been organizing 14:30 The sense of community helped people think Orban could be defeated 15:30 No Kings protests have been smart about ramping up demonstrations 16:00 People can join No Kings for their preferred cause & find community 17:30 Are the most effective dissidents the people who came from the system? 18:15 Navalny in Russia was a creature of the establishment 19:15 Liz Cheney didn’t work as a dissident since she wasn’t from Trump wing 20:45 The qualities found in dissidents transcend cultures and eras 22:00 Dissidents have to be able to step away from human conformity 22:45 Pessimism is a common quality in dissidents 24:15 If you think things will get better, it doesn’t motivate you to act 25:30 The difference between fatalism and pessimism 27:15 Humor and satire are a great way to speak to broader audiences 28:30 The absurdity in satire cuts through 30:00 Satire was pulled down by authorities during the middle ages 30:30 Why is recklessness the mark of a successful dissident? 31:30 Putting children in harms way in Birmingham showed cruelty of segregation 32:45 People set themselves on fire to prove a point 34:00 Navalny risked and ultimately lost his life by going back to Russia 35:30 Killing dissidents can make them immortal, make them more powerful 37:45 It’s important to understand what qualities make for a powerful dissident 38:45 We’ve seen institutions and people capitulate in America 39:30 Disney settling with Trump put a permanent stain on corporate owned media 42:00 Americans weren’t prepared to act because they’ve never faced this situation 42:45 ICE going to Minneapolis really woke up many Americans 43:15 Being a citizen does demand hard choices sometimes 46:15 Israeli society is organized around the idea that citizenship is active work 47:00 The upside to the Trump era, is the highest voter turnout in a century 48:30 Trump has shaken many Americans out of their sense of complacency 49:30 America has become more sophisticated about protesting  51:15 America wants change badly, they keep voting for it 52:00 Change takes time and people are increasingly impatient 54:00 What lesson do you hope people most learn from your book? 56:45 Moral choices are a burden, but are also creative acts 58:15 Most dissidents don’t know they are successful in the moment See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens on Tax Day — which the Trump team had planned as a political celebration showcasing bigger refunds, but which has instead become what he dubs the "One Big Beautiful BUST," with any gains from the tax cut completely eaten up by Trump's tariffs and the Iran war. Todd argues the economy isn't in recession but isn't good either, that voters simply won't feel the effects of Trump's tax cut, and that America now faces the genuine prospect of 1970s-style stagflation. H predicts we'll ultimately end up with an Iran deal that looks remarkably similar to the Obama deal Trump once ripped up, and notes that Trump's Jesus meme played terribly even with his own base — forcing him to backpedal with weak excuses — because when things are going well that kind of provocation gets a pass, but Trump is now squarely in the "bad gets worse" stage of his presidency where the coalition hasn't collapsed but the cracks are visibly widening.  He pivots to Viktor Orbán's decisive defeat in Hungary after 16 years in power, an election that featured massive voter turnout and was won by opposition leader Péter Magyar — an insider who gave Orbán's own voters a "permission slip" to leave by connecting democratic erosion directly to the bad economy. He argues America used to set the weather for democracy worldwide but hasn't been the leading model in 15 years, points to the mainstream party vote share in the UK falling below 40% as evidence of a broader cultural conservative backlash happening across democracies, and closes with a historically grounded warning: Hungary proves that political breakthroughs come from defectors within the system rather than outsiders challenging it, and history suggests real change rarely comes from merely tweaking the machinery — it comes from someone giving voters permission to abandon a failing project. Finally, Chuck provides a spin on the ToddCast Top 5 and instead lists the senate seats he ranks as 6th-10th most likely to flip and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.   Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:00 It’s Tax Day and Trump’s team planned on it being a boon  03:00 Bigger tax refunds eaten by Trump’s tariffs and Iran war 03:45 Tax day instead will be the One Big Beautiful BUST 04:30 Economy isn’t in recession, but it’s not good 05:15 If Trump didn’t impose tariffs & start war, today would be good for him 06:00 Facing the potential of stagflation for a decade like in the 70s 07:00 Voters won’t feel the effects of Trump’s tax cut 08:15 Economic conditions could go off a cliff if war doesn’t end 09:15 This period of Trump’s presidency will be viewed as when it ended 10:00 It’s clear we’ll get a deal with the Iranians similar to Obama’s deal 11:30 Trump’s jesus meme played terribly, even with his base 12:30 Trump backpedaled and came up with bad excuses for meme 13:45 Everybody has a line that Trump will eventually cross 15:00 If things were going well, the meme wouldn’t get the same backlash 16:15 Trump is in the “bad gets worse” stage of his presidency 18:15 Trump’s coalition hasn’t collapsed, but cracks are getting wider 18:45 Viktor Orban trounced in Hungarian elections after 16 years of rule 20:00 We assumed that America democracy set the weather for democracies 20:45 In the last 15 years, America’s democracy isn’t the leading model 22:00 Cultural conservative backlash happening in many democracies 23:00 Mainstream party vote share in UK has dropped below 40% 24:00 Center-left and center-right UK parties would lose to far left/right 24:45 Hungary’s election was decisive with mass voter turnout 25:30 Magyar was an insider, gave Orban voters permission slip to leave 26:15 Magyar connected democratic erosion to the bad economy 26:45 Vance tried to rescue Orban and that backfired horribly 27:15 How much Hungarian money didn’t American influencers receive? 28:30 America’s political system just vacillates and feels stuck 29:00 Hungary showed the breakthrough comes from defectors, not outsiders 30:15 History suggests that change doesn’t come from tweaking the system 35:30 ToddCast Not Top 5 - The next 5 senate seats most likely to flip 36:30 Political environment is highly favorable for Democrats 38:00 Top 5, NC, ME, OH, AK, NE 39:45 #6 Texas 40:30 #7 Michigan 43:30 #8 Georgia 44:00 #9 Iowa 45:45 #10 Montana 48:15 Ask Chuck 48:30 Are Republicans more in danger of fracturing than Democrats? 55:00 Was there a backroom deal for resignation of Swalwell & Gonzales? 56:30 Rubio’s shoes are the most “Veep” thing in Trump administration 1:00:00 How can CA Dems win over rural GOP voters in the state? 1:05:30 Best national and international news sources to stay informed? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens on Tax Day — which the Trump team had planned as a political celebration showcasing bigger refunds, but which has instead become what he dubs the "One Big Beautiful BUST," with any gains from the tax cut completely eaten up by Trump's tariffs and the Iran war. Todd argues the economy isn't in recession but isn't good either, that voters simply won't feel the effects of Trump's tax cut, and that America now faces the genuine prospect of 1970s-style stagflation. H predicts we'll ultimately end up with an Iran deal that looks remarkably similar to the Obama deal Trump once ripped up, and notes that Trump's Jesus meme played terribly even with his own base — forcing him to backpedal with weak excuses — because when things are going well that kind of provocation gets a pass, but Trump is now squarely in the "bad gets worse" stage of his presidency where the coalition hasn't collapsed but the cracks are visibly widening.  He pivots to Viktor Orbán's decisive defeat in Hungary after 16 years in power, an election that featured massive voter turnout and was won by opposition leader Péter Magyar — an insider who gave Orbán's own voters a "permission slip" to leave by connecting democratic erosion directly to the bad economy. He argues America used to set the weather for democracy worldwide but hasn't been the leading model in 15 years, points to the mainstream party vote share in the UK falling below 40% as evidence of a broader cultural conservative backlash happening across democracies, and closes with a historically grounded warning: Hungary proves that political breakthroughs come from defectors within the system rather than outsiders challenging it, and history suggests real change rarely comes from merely tweaking the machinery — it comes from someone giving voters permission to abandon a failing project. Then, Zach Wahls — the Iowa state senator, former minority leader, and U.S. Senate candidate who first went viral as a 19-year-old in 2011 for his moving speech defending his two moms before the Iowa legislature — joins the Chuck Toddcast to make the case that Democrats have a real shot at flipping statewide races in Iowa this cycle. Wahls explains how he realized at 13 that the GOP was targeting his own family, how he still considers marriage equality to be genuinely under threat today, and pushes back on the narrative that Iowa has abandoned its famous libertarian streak — noting that the vast majority of Iowans remain pro-choice and supportive of marriage equality even as the state has drifted red. He argues that Obama-Trump voters are plentiful in Iowa and that rural Iowa communities feel forgotten by the establishment — a dynamic Trump spoke to effectively in 2016 when the state was in a regional recession. Wahls points to the party's post-New Deal legacy of fighting for workers' rights, but he also reveals he wouldn't support Chuck Schumer for Senate leadership — a position that's apparently cost him, as Schumer-linked super PACs are now spending millions against him in the primary. The conversation turns to what Wahls sees as the defining issue of his campaign: the obscene influence of dark money in American politics. He reveals that a bipartisan Iowa bill to get money out of state politics was killed by lobbyists and GOP opposition, that he's received small-dollar donations from all 99 Iowa counties while refusing corporate PAC money, and that his anti-corruption message is genuinely resonating with voters who are exhausted by the current system. Wahls says he'll co-sponsor a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, discusses his openness to banning private equity from owning residential homes and responds to being labeled a "Sanders/Warren" candidate. Wahls pledges to lead by example on anti-corruption by serving only two terms if elected, shares concerns about state reliance on gambling revenue as a signal of voter economic anxiety, and closes with a deeply relatable observation every young parent will recognize: with a two-year-old at home, his monthly childcare bill now costs as much as his mortgage. Finally, Chuck provides a spin on the ToddCast Top 5 and instead lists the senate seats he ranks as 6th-10th most likely to flip and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:00 It’s Tax Day and Trump’s team planned on it being a boon  03:00 Bigger tax refunds eaten by Trump’s tariffs and Iran war 03:45 Tax day instead will be the One Big Beautiful BUST 04:30 Economy isn’t in recession, but it’s not good 05:15 If Trump didn’t impose tariffs & start war, today would be good for him 06:00 Facing the potential of stagflation for a decade like in the 70s 07:00 Voters won’t feel the effects of Trump’s tax cut 08:15 Economic conditions could go off a cliff if war doesn’t end 09:15 This period of Trump’s presidency will be viewed as when it ended 10:00 It’s clear we’ll get a deal with the Iranians similar to Obama’s deal 11:30 Trump’s jesus meme played terribly, even with his base 12:30 Trump backpedaled and came up with bad excuses for meme 13:45 Everybody has a line that Trump will eventually cross 15:00 If things were going well, the meme wouldn’t get the same backlash 16:15 Trump is in the “bad gets worse” stage of his presidency 18:15 Trump’s coalition hasn’t collapsed, but cracks are getting wider 18:45 Viktor Orban trounced in Hungarian elections after 16 years of rule 20:00 We assumed that America democracy set the weather for democracies 20:45 In the last 15 years, America’s democracy isn’t the leading model 22:00 Cultural conservative backlash happening in many democracies 23:00 Mainstream party vote share in UK has dropped below 40% 24:00 Center-left and center-right UK parties would lose to far left/right 24:45 Hungary’s election was decisive with mass voter turnout 25:30 Magyar was an insider, gave Orban voters permission slip to leave 26:15 Magyar connected democratic erosion to the bad economy 26:45 Vance tried to rescue Orban and that backfired horribly 27:15 How much Hungarian money didn’t American influencers receive? 28:30 America’s political system just vacillates and feels stuck 29:00 Hungary showed the breakthrough comes from defectors, not outsiders 30:15 History suggests that change doesn’t come from tweaking the system 36:00 Zach Wahls joins the Chuck ToddCast 38:00 Democrats have a real chance at flipping statewide Iowa races 40:00 Did you always know you were going to be in politics? 41:45 Realized at 13 years old the GOP was targeting his own family 42:45 Going viral in 2011 for speech defending his two moms 44:00 Gay marriage rights are still under threat today 45:30 Does Iowa’s famous libertarian streak still exist today? 46:45 Vast majority of Iowans are pro-choice and support marriage equality 48:00 There are a lot of Obama/Trump voters in Iowa 49:30 Union leadership in Iowa leans Dem, rank & file lean GOP 51:15 Rural Iowa communities feel forgotten by the establishment 52:00 Iowa was in a regional recession in 2016, Trump spoke to that 53:30 Why run as a Democrat vs. as an independent? 54:30 Since the New Deal, Democrats have fought for workers rights 55:00 Wouldn’t support Chuck Schumer for senate leadership 55:45 Schumer-linked Super PAC spending millions against him 57:00 How do you avoid being painted as focused on identity & not economics? 59:00 The impact of dark money has tainted American & Iowa politics 1:00:30 Bipartisan bill to get money out of politics in Iowa spiked by lobbyists & GOP 1:01:45 The money in politics has gotten obscene quickly in recent years 1:03:00 What would a campaign finance constitutional amendment look like? 1:04:30 Republican aligned PACs set to spend huge money in Iowa in the fall 1:05:15 Received small dollar donations from all 99 counties, no corporate PAC $ 1:06:15 Anti-corruption message is resonating with voters 1:07:30 Can you unilaterally disarm in the face of huge Republican spending? 1:08:30 Will co-sponsor amendment to overturn Citizen’s United 1:09:45 What did you learn from your stint in leadership in the legislature? 1:12:00 There was no clear strategic plan for Democrats to take back majority 1:13:00 There were basic organizational issues for Iowa Dems that needed to be fixed 1:13:45 Needed to rebuild relationships with organized labor 1:16:00 Stint in leadership doesn’t make him have more sympathy for Schumer 1:16:45 Democrats didn’t know what they were asking for during shutdown 1:17:30 If Democrats get the majority…do you work with Trump? 1:18:45 Have a responsibility to work across the aisle if it helps people 1:19:30 Open to banning private equity from owning homes, anti monopoly in meat 1:20:45 Price of fire trucks has tripled due to private equity buying up the manufacturing 1:22:30 Is the description of being the “Sanders/Warren” candidate a fair description? 1:25:00 Part-time legislatures don’t have the institutional knowledge of the lobbyists 1:26:30 Must lead by example on anti-corruption, will only serve two terms if elected 1:27:30 Thoughts on “vice taxes” & gambling to help state generate revenue? 1:30:30 High interest in gambling speaks to fear for economic future in voters 1:32:45 How has having a two year old affected your life & job? 1:33:30 Childcare costs as much as his mortgage with one child

Zach Wahls — the Iowa state senator, former minority leader, and U.S. Senate candidate who first went viral as a 19-year-old in 2011 for his moving speech defending his two moms before the Iowa legislature — joins the Chuck Toddcast to make the case that Democrats have a real shot at flipping statewide races in Iowa this cycle. Wahls explains how he realized at 13 that the GOP was targeting his own family, how he still considers marriage equality to be genuinely under threat today, and pushes back on the narrative that Iowa has abandoned its famous libertarian streak — noting that the vast majority of Iowans remain pro-choice and supportive of marriage equality even as the state has drifted red. He argues that Obama-Trump voters are plentiful in Iowa and that rural Iowa communities feel forgotten by the establishment — a dynamic Trump spoke to effectively in 2016 when the state was in a regional recession. Wahls points to the party's post-New Deal legacy of fighting for workers' rights, but he also reveals he wouldn't support Chuck Schumer for Senate leadership — a position that's apparently cost him, as Schumer-linked super PACs are now spending millions against him in the primary. The conversation turns to what Wahls sees as the defining issue of his campaign: the obscene influence of dark money in American politics. He reveals that a bipartisan Iowa bill to get money out of state politics was killed by lobbyists and GOP opposition, that he's received small-dollar donations from all 99 Iowa counties while refusing corporate PAC money, and that his anti-corruption message is genuinely resonating with voters who are exhausted by the current system. Wahls says he'll co-sponsor a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, discusses his openness to banning private equity from owning residential homes and responds to being labeled a "Sanders/Warren" candidate. Wahls pledges to lead by example on anti-corruption by serving only two terms if elected, shares concerns about state reliance on gambling revenue as a signal of voter economic anxiety, and closes with a deeply relatable observation every young parent will recognize: with a two-year-old at home, his monthly childcare bill now costs as much as his mortgage. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Zach Wahls joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 Democrats have a real chance at flipping statewide Iowa races 04:00 Did you always know you were going to be in politics? 05:45 Realized at 13 years old the GOP was targeting his own family 06:45 Going viral in 2011 for speech defending his two moms 08:00 Gay marriage rights are still under threat today 09:30 Does Iowa’s famous libertarian streak still exist today? 10:45 Vast majority of Iowans are pro-choice and support marriage equality 12:00 There are a lot of Obama/Trump voters in Iowa 13:30 Union leadership in Iowa leans Dem, rank & file lean GOP 15:15 Rural Iowa communities feel forgotten by the establishment 16:00 Iowa was in a regional recession in 2016, Trump spoke to that 17:30 Why run as a Democrat vs. as an independent? 18:30 Since the New Deal, Democrats have fought for workers rights 19:00 Wouldn’t support Chuck Schumer for senate leadership 19:45 Schumer-linked Super PAC spending millions against him 21:00 How do you avoid being painted as focused on identity & not economics? 23:00 The impact of dark money has tainted American & Iowa politics 24:30 Bipartisan bill to get money out of politics in Iowa spiked by lobbyists & GOP 25:45 The money in politics has gotten obscene quickly in recent years 27:00 What would a campaign finance constitutional amendment look like? 28:30 Republican aligned PACs set to spend huge money in Iowa in the fall 29:15 Received small dollar donations from all 99 counties, no corporate PAC $ 30:15 Anti-corruption message is resonating with voters 31:30 Can you unilaterally disarm in the face of huge Republican spending? 32:30 Will co-sponsor amendment to overturn Citizen’s United 33:45 What did you learn from your stint in leadership in the legislature? 36:00 There was no clear strategic plan for Democrats to take back majority 37:00 There were basic organizational issues for Iowa Dems that needed to be fixed 37:45 Needed to rebuild relationships with organized labor 40:00 Stint in leadership doesn’t make him have more sympathy for Schumer 40:45 Democrats didn’t know what they were asking for during shutdown 41:30 If Democrats get the majority…do you work with Trump? 42:45 Have a responsibility to work across the aisle if it helps people 43:30 Open to banning private equity from owning homes, anti monopoly in meat 44:45 Price of fire trucks has tripled due to private equity buying up the manufacturing 46:30 Is the description of being the “Sanders/Warren” candidate a fair description? 49:00 Part-time legislatures don’t have the institutional knowledge of the lobbyists 50:30 Must lead by example on anti-corruption, will only serve two terms if elected 51:30 Thoughts on “vice taxes” & gambling to help state generate revenue? 54:30 High interest in gambling speaks to fear for economic future in voters 56:45 How has having a two year old affected your life & job? 57:30 Childcare costs as much as his mortgage with one child See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with the unraveling of Trump's Iran peace talks and the president's threat of a naval blockade, breaking down why the administration has far less leverage than it's letting on, why Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz puts Trump in a corner with only two real choices—escalate or capitulate—and why markets have been dangerously complacent as the economic hit accelerates and consumer confidence sinks below COVID-era lows. From there, Chuck digs into the collapse of Eric Swalwell's career amid sexual abuse allegations and the bipartisan push to expel him along with three other members of Congress, the wide-open and underwhelming California governor's race left behind by a weak Democratic field and Tom Steyer's charmless self-promotion, the curious Roger Stone–Tulsi Gabbard connection and their shared Russia sympathies, and Trump's promise of preemptive pardons for White House staff—making the case for why Congress urgently needs a commission on the pardon power. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the Bay of Pigs debacle under John F. Kennedy and why that event still reverberates today, and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 04:00 Trump threatens naval blockade after Iran peace talks fall apart 05:00 Trump admin has less leverage in talks than they’re letting on 05:30 Trump’s stupid rhetoric is not harmless 06:00 Control over the Strait is biggest piece of leverage & Iran has it 07:00 Will Trump send in ground troops if he can’t get what he wants? 08:30 Trump only has two choices: Escalate or capitulate 09:30 If Trump’s lucky he can get the Obama nuclear deal, but that’s unlikely 10:45 Markets will likely panic, they’ve been too complacent so far 12:15 Trump is begging for deal to save face and the Iranians know it 13:15 Trump keeps declaring victory despite reality being the opposite 15:00 Trump doesn’t understand regime, thinks they’re transactional like him 16:00 Iran looking like past failed military operations like Vietnam & Iraq 18:00 Iran saw Libya give up nuclear ambitions & regime was toppled 20:00 Economic hit is happening, consumer confidence lower than COVID 21:30 As Iran talks fell apart, Trump & Rubio were attending UFC fight 23:00 Rubio knows better, but has fallen in line anyway 24:30 Eric Swalwell’s campaign falls apart after allegations of sexual abuse 25:30 Rumors of Swalwell’s behavior existed for years 27:00 Swalwell is only denying criminal behavior, not all the allegations 28:45 Swalwell is trying hard to say he’s not Bill Cosby… he’s Bill Clinton 29:30 Push to expel Swalwell & possibly 3 other members of congress 31:00 It’s politically convenient for leadership to agree to boot them all 33:00 Will congress hold their members to a higher standard than the POTUS? 35:00 It’s likely all four members will get expelled  35:45 California dems had been reluctantly rallying around Swalwell  37:00 Major Democrats passed on running for CA gov, leaving weak field 38:15 Hard to blame Newsom for not setting up an “heir apparent” 39:00 Tom Steyer has spent an insane amount of money to promote himself 40:00 You need to have charm in politics, and Steyer doesn’t have it 41:30 Should prominent California dems all endorse the same person? 43:30 Schiff, Padilla, Harris & Newsom may need to play kingmaker 45:00 Likely there will be two weak candidates heading into November 46:30 Stories coming out that Roger Stone saved Tulsi Gabbard 47:15 Both Stone & Gabbard have been pro-Russia… coincidence? 47:45 Trump promises preemptive pardons for WH staff 48:45 We need a congressional commission on pardons 53:45 ToddCast Time Machine - Too many huge historical events to choose from 55:45 April 1961 - Bay of Pigs 56:30 Nixon meets with Castro after Eisenhower refused to 58:00 There a back and forth over whether to embrace or shun Castro 58:30 Cold War tensions were very high when the Bay of Pigs happens 59:15 Bay of Pigs was a presidential approved operation before JFK took office 1:01:00 Kennedy’s hands were tied by his predecessor 1:01:45 The plan required air superiority, but Castro’s air force had survived 1:02:45 Castro arrests more than 100,000 suspected dissidents 1:04:30 Most of the participants are captured 1:05:00 Kennedy promised a free Havana that never transpired 1:05:45 Cuban Americans became reliable Republican voters under Reagan 1:07:15 Ask Chuck 1:07:30 Will congress ever vote against rebuilding military after president launches war? 1:12:00 Why is the market not really reacting to the Iran war? 1:14:30 As norms become tested, will congress every reassert its role? 1:20:45 Outside of your Top 5 senate flips, what are your 6-10? 1:25:45 Suggestions to fix the NBA 1:28:45 Does anyone use Camp David since Trump doesn’t? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with the unraveling of Trump's Iran peace talks and the president's threat of a naval blockade, breaking down why the administration has far less leverage than it's letting on, why Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz puts Trump in a corner with only two real choices—escalate or capitulate—and why markets have been dangerously complacent as the economic hit accelerates and consumer confidence sinks below COVID-era lows. From there, Chuck digs into the collapse of Eric Swalwell's career amid sexual abuse allegations and the bipartisan push to expel him along with three other members of Congress, the wide-open and underwhelming California governor's race left behind by a weak Democratic field and Tom Steyer's charmless self-promotion, the curious Roger Stone–Tulsi Gabbard connection and their shared Russia sympathies, and Trump's promise of preemptive pardons for White House staff—making the case for why Congress urgently needs a commission on the pardon power. Then, conservative talk radio host and Georgia political commentator Martha Zoller joins the Chuck ToddCast for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of politics in the Peach State and beyond. Martha and Chuck dig into why non-MAGA Republicans remain viable in Georgia, how Trump's influence has reshaped the GOP (and arguably handed Democrats two Senate seats), David Perdue's identity crisis between the Trump and Romney wings of the party, and the current landscape of Georgia's gubernatorial and Senate primaries—including why the governor's race may be Mike Collins' to lose and how Rick Jackson's entry has shaken things up. The conversation then broadens to the deeper fault lines running through American politics: the cultural divide between traditional and progressive family values, why millennials feel left behind, neither party's failure to address affordability, and how media saturation and the collapse of bipartisan relationships in Congress have made compromise feel like treason. Martha and Chuck also explore whether Brian Kemp has presidential ambitions, why it's still harder for Republican women to break through, Jon Ossoff's political strengths, and whether figures like Obama and Trump are really two sides of the same disruption-hungry coin. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the Bay of Pigs debacle under John F. Kennedy and why that event still reverberates today, and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 04:00 Trump threatens naval blockade after Iran peace talks fall apart 05:00 Trump admin has less leverage in talks than they’re letting on 05:30 Trump’s stupid rhetoric is not harmless 06:00 Control over the Strait is biggest piece of leverage & Iran has it 07:00 Will Trump send in ground troops if he can’t get what he wants? 08:30 Trump only has two choices: Escalate or capitulate 09:30 If Trump’s lucky he can get the Obama nuclear deal, but that’s unlikely 10:45 Markets will likely panic, they’ve been too complacent so far 12:15 Trump is begging for deal to save face and the Iranians know it 13:15 Trump keeps declaring victory despite reality being the opposite 15:00 Trump doesn’t understand regime, thinks they’re transactional like him 16:00 Iran looking like past failed military operations like Vietnam & Iraq 18:00 Iran saw Libya give up nuclear ambitions & regime was toppled 20:00 Economic hit is happening, consumer confidence lower than COVID 21:30 As Iran talks fell apart, Trump & Rubio were attending UFC fight 23:00 Rubio knows better, but has fallen in line anyway 24:30 Eric Swalwell’s campaign falls apart after allegations of sexual abuse 25:30 Rumors of Swalwell’s behavior existed for years 27:00 Swalwell is only denying criminal behavior, not all the allegations 28:45 Swalwell is trying hard to say he’s not Bill Cosby… he’s Bill Clinton 29:30 Push to expel Swalwell & possibly 3 other members of congress 31:00 It’s politically convenient for leadership to agree to boot them all 33:00 Will congress hold their members to a higher standard than the POTUS? 35:00 It’s likely all four members will get expelled  35:45 California dems had been reluctantly rallying around Swalwell  37:00 Major Democrats passed on running for CA gov, leaving weak field 38:15 Hard to blame Newsom for not setting up an “heir apparent” 39:00 Tom Steyer has spent an insane amount of money to promote himself 40:00 You need to have charm in politics, and Steyer doesn’t have it 41:30 Should prominent California dems all endorse the same person? 43:30 Schiff, Padilla, Harris & Newsom may need to play kingmaker 45:00 Likely there will be two weak candidates heading into November 46:30 Stories coming out that Roger Stone saved Tulsi Gabbard 47:15 Both Stone & Gabbard have been pro-Russia… coincidence? 47:45 Trump promises preemptive pardons for WH staff 48:45 We need a congressional commission on pardons 55:30 Martha Zoller joins the Chuck ToddCast57:30 There’s a lot of diversity under the umbrellas of the two parties58:15 Non-MAGA Republicans are still viable in Georgia59:45 Georgia Democrats used a legal, mail-in voting loophole1:00:45 Trump is the reason there are two Democratic GA senators1:01:45 Thoughts on David Perdue trying to primary Brian Kemp?1:03:45 Perdue lost identity being caught between Trump & Romney wings1:05:00 Trump has been an MRI for Republican politics1:06:15 Trump wasn’t loyal to David Perdue1:07:15 Margins in statewide Georgia races are close1:09:00 With Roe gone, has it made it harder to court Republican voters?1:10:15 Abortion pills are most common method, have 7% complication rate1:12:30 What is the one major dividing line in American politics?1:13:45 Independents are disaffected by both parties1:14:30 Dividing line is traditional family values vs progressive ones1:15:45 Millennials aren’t having kids and feel like life has passed them by1:16:15 Neither party is offering affordability solutions1:17:30 Shutdown fights are stupid and wasteful1:19:15 People view people in the other party as a caricature1:20:00 Compromise with the other party is treated as treason1:21:30 Congress doesn’t stay in DC & build bipartisan relationships1:23:30 Media exposure makes it harder to campaign for office1:25:45 Many Republicans learned how to run from Newt Gingrich tapes1:27:00 Jon Ossoff’s youth & good looks are a political asset1:28:15 Ossoff is not as progressive as his consultants make him sound1:29:30 State of the Georgia Republican primary?1:31:00 Race is Mike Collins race to lose1:32:45 Rick Jackson’s entry has upended the governor's race1:34:15 Kemp is focused on getting Derek Dooley across the finish line1:35:15 Former governors hate working in the senate1:38:00 The case for state legislatures electing senators1:40:00 State legislators engage in the most corruption due to lack of coverage1:41:15 Kelly Loeffler lost her political identity quickly after taking office1:42:15 Is Brian Kemp going to run for president?1:44:30 MTG says Republican party doesn’t make it easier for women to run1:46:15 It’s harder for women to get traction in politics, easier for Dems1:48:30 Have we crossed a line in how ugly our politics has become?1:50:00 Voters wanted disruption, Obama & Trump two sides of same coin1:52:00 Obama moderated in order to fit in1:54:45 Trump couldn’t fake grace over deaths of Rob Reiner or Robert Mueller1:57:30 Polling is less reliable than ever 2:02:45 ToddCast Time Machine - Too many huge historical events to choose from2:04:45 April 1961 - Bay of Pigs2:05:30 Nixon meets with Castro after Eisenhower refused to2:07:00 There a back and forth over whether to embrace or shun Castro2:07:30 Cold War tensions were very high when the Bay of Pigs happens2:08:15 Bay of Pigs was a presidential approved operation before JFK took office2:10:00 Kennedy’s hands were tied by his predecessor2:10:45 The plan required air superiority, but Castro’s air force had survived2:11:45 Castro arrests more than 100,000 suspected dissidents2:13:30 Most of the participants are captured2:14:00 Kennedy promised a free Havana that never transpired2:14:45 Cuban Americans became reliable Republican voters under Reagan2:16:15 Ask Chuck2:16:30 Will congress ever vote against rebuilding military after president launches war?2:21:00 Why is the market not really reacting to the Iran war?2:23:30 As norms become tested, will congress every reassert its role?2:29:45 Outside of your Top 5 senate flips, what are your 6-10?2:34:45 Suggestions to fix the NBA2:37:45 Does anyone use Camp David since Trump doesn’t? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Conservative talk radio host and Georgia political commentator Martha Zoller joins the Chuck ToddCast for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of politics in the Peach State and beyond. Martha and Chuck dig into why non-MAGA Republicans remain viable in Georgia, how Trump's influence has reshaped the GOP (and arguably handed Democrats two Senate seats), David Perdue's identity crisis between the Trump and Romney wings of the party, and the current landscape of Georgia's gubernatorial and Senate primaries—including why the governor's race may be Mike Collins' to lose and how Rick Jackson's entry has shaken things up. The conversation then broadens to the deeper fault lines running through American politics: the cultural divide between traditional and progressive family values, why millennials feel left behind, neither party's failure to address affordability, and how media saturation and the collapse of bipartisan relationships in Congress have made compromise feel like treason. Martha and Chuck also explore whether Brian Kemp has presidential ambitions, why it's still harder for Republican women to break through, Jon Ossoff's political strengths, and whether figures like Obama and Trump are really two sides of the same disruption-hungry coin. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Martha Zoller joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 There’s a lot of diversity under the umbrellas of the two parties 02:45 Non-MAGA Republicans are still viable in Georgia 04:15 Georgia Democrats used a legal, mail-in voting loophole 05:15 Trump is the reason there are two Democratic GA senators 06:15 Thoughts on David Perdue trying to primary Brian Kemp? 08:15 Perdue lost identity being caught between Trump & Romney wings 09:30 Trump has been an MRI for Republican politics 10:45 Trump wasn’t loyal to David Perdue 11:45 Margins in statewide Georgia races are close 13:30 With Roe gone, has it made it harder to court Republican voters? 14:45 Abortion pills are most common method, have 7% complication rate 17:00 What is the one major dividing line in American politics? 18:15 Independents are disaffected by both parties 19:00 Dividing line is traditional family values vs progressive ones 20:15 Millennials aren’t having kids and feel like life has passed them by 20:45 Neither party is offering affordability solutions 22:00 Shutdown fights are stupid and wasteful 23:45 People view people in the other party as a caricature 24:30 Compromise with the other party is treated as treason 26:00 Congress doesn’t stay in DC & build bipartisan relationships 28:00 Media exposure makes it harder to campaign for office 30:15 Many Republicans learned how to run from Newt Gingrich tapes 31:30 Jon Ossoff’s youth & good looks are a political asset 32:45 Ossoff is not as progressive as his consultants make him sound 34:00 State of the Georgia Republican primary? 35:30 Race is Mike Collins race to lose 37:15 Rick Jackson’s entry has upended the governor's race 38:45 Kemp is focused on getting Derek Dooley across the finish line 39:45 Former governors hate working in the senate 42:30 The case for state legislatures electing senators 44:30 State legislators engage in the most corruption due to lack of coverage 45:45 Kelly Loeffler lost her political identity quickly after taking office 46:45 Is Brian Kemp going to run for president? 49:00 MTG says Republican party doesn’t make it easier for women to run 50:45 It’s harder for women to get traction in politics, easier for Dems 53:00 Have we crossed a line in how ugly our politics has become? 54:30 Voters wanted disruption, Obama & Trump two sides of same coin 56:30 Obama moderated in order to fit in 59:15 Trump couldn’t fake grace over deaths of Rob Reiner or Robert Mueller 1:02:00 Polling is less reliable than ever See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd unleashes a fierce indictment of Trump's Iran war, walking through a series of devastating prophetic quotes from Trump's own 2016 Republican rivals, now supporters — Lindsey Graham calling his foreign policy "gibberish," Marco Rubio warning that turning the nuclear codes over to an erratic individual "wouldn't end well," Ted Cruz suggesting Trump could "nuke Denmark," and Nikki Haley raising alarms about his "irresponsible behavior" — all of which now look less like campaign rhetoric and more like haunting predictions of exactly the moment America finds itself in. He argues that whether you're a hawk or a dove on Iran, Donald Trump has failed you: he's pissed away American prestige and trust around the world, the Strait of Hormuz is now effectively in Iranian hands, the United States doesn't even know who it's negotiating with given uncertainty about the Ayatollah's status, and Trump is so desperate to escape the war he started that he was bizarrely celebrating a "ceasefire and joint venture with Iran" — a phrase that captures just how thoroughly this is turning into a massive humiliation for the United States.  He notes that Netanyahu spent years trying to drag America into a war with Iran and finally found his sucker in Trump, that no advisor had the guts to challenge him before the strikes began, and that Obama's old foreign policy doctrine of "don't do stupid shit" has been violated in spectacular fashion. He flags an absurd new development — Trumpworld is now threatening the Vatican because the Pope spoke against the war, a politically idiotic move given how many Catholics live in swing states — and reiterates that success in the conflict would require ground troops Trump refuses to commit, meaning the damage is done and markets will take a long time to recover. Todd argues that the United States has become an erratic and unreliable ally to every country in the world, that the only nation benefiting from Trump's presidency is Russia. He closes on a political note: Democrats massively overperformed again in recent elections, including a shocking blowout in Wisconsin, the war is accelerating the GOP's problems heading into the midterms, and Republicans who distance themselves from Trump now will be very glad they did by 2028 — because the current political climate is pointing toward a massive blue wave. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:30 Trump was celebrating the ceasefire & joint venture with Iran?? 01:00 This is turning into a massive humiliation for the United States 02:00 Trump’s biggest GOP supporters sounded the alarm on him in 2016 02:45 We have pissed away American prestige and trust around the world 04:00 In May 2016, Lindsey Graham said Trump’s foreign policy is jibberish 05:15 March 2016, Rubio said Trump was the opposite of what America stands for 05:45 Rubio warned about turning over nuclear codes to an erratic individual 06:30 Rubio warned that electing Trump “wouldn’t end well” 07:30 If you’re a hawk or dove on Iran, Donald Trump has failed you* 08:00 In 2016, Ted Cruz warned that Trump could “nuke Denmark” 09:30 In 2016, Nikki Haley also warned about Trump’s “irresponsible behavior” 10:30 Netanyahu tried to drag U.S. into war for years, found a sucker in Trump 11:15 No Trump advisor had the guts to challenge Trump on Iran before war 11:45 Obama’s strategy was “Don’t do stupid shit” - This war is “stupid shit” 12:30 Trump is desperate to get out of war, willing to take any deal 15:00 The Strait is now in the hands of the Iranians 15:30 We don’t know the state of the Ayatollah…who are we negotiating with? 16:30 The Pope spoke against the war, now Trumpworld threatening the Vatican 17:15 There are a lot of Catholics in swing states, picking fight w/pope is idiotic 18:30 Success requires ground troops & Trump doesn’t want to do that 20:00 The damage has been done, it will take time for markets to recover 21:15 The U.S. has become an erratic and unreliable ally 22:15 Trump gravitates toward being sold the best possible outcome 24:00 The word of the United States used to mean something 25:00 Trump has made our relationship with every country worse 26:30 The mistake people make is thinking they can control Trump 27:30 The next president will have to fix or apologize for things Trump did 29:30 Only one country is benefitting from Trump’s presidency…Russia 30:45 Rubio’s quote “this won’t end well” will live in infamy 31:15 Democrats massively overperformed again in recent elections 32:00 Wisconsin election was a shocking blowout for the Democrats 32:30 War is accelerating GOP’s problems heading into midterms 33:15 Republicans that distance from Trump will be glad they did by 2028 34:45 Current political climate portends a massive blue wave 40:00 Ask Chuck 40:15 What is being missed that will bite us in the future? 46:00 What’s the most “Veep” thing you’ve seen in DC? 49:30 Why haven’t Democrats tapped into talk radio like Republicans have? 55:00 Didn’t mention Washington state in one party drought Top 5 list? 58:30 If the war ends, can Republicans run on the economy in 2026? 1:01:30 Forcing ownership changes if sports teams underperform? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd unleashes a fierce indictment of Trump's Iran war, walking through a series of devastating prophetic quotes from Trump's own 2016 Republican rivals, now supporters — Lindsey Graham calling his foreign policy "gibberish," Marco Rubio warning that turning the nuclear codes over to an erratic individual "wouldn't end well," Ted Cruz suggesting Trump could "nuke Denmark," and Nikki Haley raising alarms about his "irresponsible behavior" — all of which now look less like campaign rhetoric and more like haunting predictions of exactly the moment America finds itself in. He argues that whether you're a hawk or a dove on Iran, Donald Trump has failed you: he's pissed away American prestige and trust around the world, the Strait of Hormuz is now effectively in Iranian hands, the United States doesn't even know who it's negotiating with given uncertainty about the Ayatollah's status, and Trump is so desperate to escape the war he started that he was bizarrely celebrating a "ceasefire and joint venture with Iran" — a phrase that captures just how thoroughly this is turning into a massive humiliation for the United States.  He notes that Netanyahu spent years trying to drag America into a war with Iran and finally found his sucker in Trump, that no advisor had the guts to challenge him before the strikes began, and that Obama's old foreign policy doctrine of "don't do stupid shit" has been violated in spectacular fashion. He flags an absurd new development — Trumpworld is now threatening the Vatican because the Pope spoke against the war, a politically idiotic move given how many Catholics live in swing states — and reiterates that success in the conflict would require ground troops Trump refuses to commit, meaning the damage is done and markets will take a long time to recover. Todd argues that the United States has become an erratic and unreliable ally to every country in the world, that the only nation benefiting from Trump's presidency is Russia. He closes on a political note: Democrats massively overperformed again in recent elections, including a shocking blowout in Wisconsin, the war is accelerating the GOP's problems heading into the midterms, and Republicans who distance themselves from Trump now will be very glad they did by 2028 — because the current political climate is pointing toward a massive blue wave. Pulitzer Prize finalist and historian Megan Kate Nelson — author of the new book The Westerners: Mythmaking and Belonging on the American Frontier — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a fascinating conversation about how the story of the American West we all grew up with is largely a myth, and what the real history reveals about who actually built the country. Nelson explains that the dominant narrative was essentially invented by historian Frederick Jackson Turner in 1893, who argued the American creed was rooted in conquest and expansion — a framing that conveniently allowed white Americans to rally around westward expansion as a unifying project while papering over the uncomfortable realities of slavery and the brutal treatment of indigenous peoples. She walks through her seven central characters whose stories reclaim that history: Sacagawea (who wasn't actually famous until the 20th century), biracial fur trader Jim Beckwourth, Hispana saloon owner María Gertrudis Barceló (whose Santa Fe establishment inspired the modern Vegas casino), gold miner and newspaperman Ovando Hollister (who believed in human equality and later moved to Salt Lake City to agitate against the Mormons), Northern Cheyenne chief Little Wolf, Canadian immigrant rancher Ella Watson, and Chinese immigrant Polly Bemis. Nelson reveals the most surprising research findings — including how digitized old Colorado newspapers helped her discover stories that had been lost for generations — and discusses how Hollywood created and popularized the caricatures of the West that still dominate pop culture today. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:30 Trump was celebrating the ceasefire & joint venture with Iran?? 01:00 This is turning into a massive humiliation for the United States 02:00 Trump’s biggest GOP supporters sounded the alarm on him in 2016 02:45 We have pissed away American prestige and trust around the world 04:00 In May 2016, Lindsey Graham said Trump’s foreign policy is jibberish 05:15 March 2016, Rubio said Trump was the opposite of what America stands for 05:45 Rubio warned about turning over nuclear codes to an erratic individual 06:30 Rubio warned that electing Trump “wouldn’t end well” 07:30 If you’re a hawk or dove on Iran, Donald Trump has failed you* 08:00 In 2016, Ted Cruz warned that Trump could “nuke Denmark” 09:30 In 2016, Nikki Haley also warned about Trump’s “irresponsible behavior” 10:30 Netanyahu tried to drag U.S. into war for years, found a sucker in Trump 11:15 No Trump advisor had the guts to challenge Trump on Iran before war 11:45 Obama’s strategy was “Don’t do stupid shit” - This war is “stupid shit” 12:30 Trump is desperate to get out of war, willing to take any deal 15:00 The Strait is now in the hands of the Iranians 15:30 We don’t know the state of the Ayatollah…who are we negotiating with? 16:30 The Pope spoke against the war, now Trumpworld threatening the Vatican 17:15 There are a lot of Catholics in swing states, picking fight w/pope is idiotic 18:30 Success requires ground troops & Trump doesn’t want to do that 20:00 The damage has been done, it will take time for markets to recover 21:15 The U.S. has become an erratic and unreliable ally 22:15 Trump gravitates toward being sold the best possible outcome 24:00 The word of the United States used to mean something 25:00 Trump has made our relationship with every country worse 26:30 The mistake people make is thinking they can control Trump 27:30 The next president will have to fix or apologize for things Trump did 29:30 Only one country is benefitting from Trump’s presidency…Russia 30:45 Rubio’s quote “this won’t end well” will live in infamy 31:15 Democrats massively overperformed again in recent elections 32:00 Wisconsin election was a shocking blowout for the Democrats 32:30 War is accelerating GOP’s problems heading into midterms 33:15 Republicans that distance from Trump will be glad they did by 2028 34:45 Current political climate portends a massive blue wave 41:45 Megan Kate Nelson joins the Chuck ToddCast 43:15 What got you interested in the topic for The Westerners? 45:30 People still have a very entrenched idea of what the west is 46:45 The portrayal of the west has been improved in pop culture 48:30 Frederick Jackson Turner created the “myth” of the west 50:00 Turner argued the American creed was based on conquest & expansion 51:45 Turner’s narrative became the standard telling of American history 52:45 Western expansion papered over uncomfortable 19th century history 53:30 White Americans could rally around the west & avoid slavery 54:45 How did you get your research on the subjects of The Westerners? 55:30 Sacagawea wasn’t famous until the 20th century 56:15 Lewis & Clark was a core piece of context for the book 57:30 Most unique source material you found that filled in gaps? 1:00:45 Old local newspapers from Colorado were digitized, allowing discovery 1:02:00 Hollywood created and popularized caricatures of the west 1:03:00 Fears and hopes for the new “Little House on the Prairie" reboot? 1:04:45 How much did Laura Ingalls Wilder book create their own mythology? 1:05:45 White settlers received a great deal of help from the federal government 1:06:45 Transcontinental railroad enables the explosion of the cattle industry 1:07:15 Military deployed to protect white settlers, annihilate the indigenous 1:08:30 Expansion wasn’t just an east-west story, it was also a north-south story 1:11:45 Vegas casinos inspired by Maria Barcelo’s Santa Fe saloon 1:14:15 The story of southern migration from Canada 1:16:15 Timeline of the book is most of the 19th century 1:17:00 Role of Chinese workers/immigrants in the story of the west 1:18:45 Chinese workers came on a false promise, were trapped in their labor 1:22:15 Impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act 1:23:45 The story of Ovando Hollister 1:25:45 Hollister believed in the equality of all people. Went from military to newspapers 1:27:30 Hollister moved to Salt Lake City & agitated against the Mormons 1:28:15 Stories of the Native Americans are finally being depicted better 1:29:00 The story of Little Wolf 1:30:45 Little Wolf was a great military strategist and leader for his people 1:33:45 Histories of the west were heavily shaded by original bias 1:34:45 Balancing objectivity with your personal bias when writing history 1:36:15 Connecting individual stories in history to larger movements & moments 1:37:15 How would improve school curriculum to honestly depict the west? 1:41:30 The west was fairly violent before law enforcement became normalized 1:42:30 Next project is the story of a Kiowa and Comanche raid on ranching town 1:45:00 Ask Chuck 1:45:15 What is being missed that will bite us in the future? 1:51:00 What’s the most “Veep” thing you’ve seen in DC? 1:54:30 Why haven’t Democrats tapped into talk radio like Republicans have? 2:00:

Pulitzer Prize finalist and historian Megan Kate Nelson — author of the new book The Westerners: Mythmaking and Belonging on the American Frontier — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a fascinating conversation about how the story of the American West we all grew up with is largely a myth, and what the real history reveals about who actually built the country. Nelson explains that the dominant narrative was essentially invented by historian Frederick Jackson Turner in 1893, who argued the American creed was rooted in conquest and expansion — a framing that conveniently allowed white Americans to rally around westward expansion as a unifying project while papering over the uncomfortable realities of slavery and the brutal treatment of indigenous peoples. She walks through her seven central characters whose stories reclaim that history: Sacagawea (who wasn't actually famous until the 20th century), biracial fur trader Jim Beckwourth, Hispana saloon owner María Gertrudis Barceló (whose Santa Fe establishment inspired the modern Vegas casino), gold miner and newspaperman Ovando Hollister (who believed in human equality and later moved to Salt Lake City to agitate against the Mormons), Northern Cheyenne chief Little Wolf, Canadian immigrant rancher Ella Watson, and Chinese immigrant Polly Bemis. Nelson reveals the most surprising research findings — including how digitized old Colorado newspapers helped her discover stories that had been lost for generations — and discusses how Hollywood created and popularized the caricatures of the West that still dominate pop culture today. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Megan Kate Nelson joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 What got you interested in the topic for The Westerners? 03:45 People still have a very entrenched idea of what the west is 05:00 The portrayal of the west has been improved in pop culture 06:45 Frederick Jackson Turner created the “myth” of the west 08:15 Turner argued the American creed was based on conquest & expansion 10:00 Turner’s narrative became the standard telling of American history 11:00 Western expansion papered over uncomfortable 19th century history 11:45 White Americans could rally around the west & avoid slavery 13:00 How did you get your research on the subjects of The Westerners? 13:45 Sacagawea wasn’t famous until the 20th century 14:30 Lewis & Clark was a core piece of context for the book 15:45 Most unique source material you found that filled in gaps? 19:00 Old local newspapers from Colorado were digitized, allowing discovery 20:15 Hollywood created and popularized caricatures of the west 21:15 Fears and hopes for the new “Little House on the Prairie" reboot? 23:00 How much did Laura Ingalls Wilder book create their own mythology? 24:00 White settlers received a great deal of help from the federal government 25:00 Transcontinental railroad enables the explosion of the cattle industry 25:30 Military deployed to protect white settlers, annihilate the indigenous  26:45 Expansion wasn’t just an east-west story, it was also a north-south story 30:00 Vegas casinos inspired by Maria Barcelo’s Santa Fe saloon 32:30 The story of southern migration from Canada  34:30 Timeline of the book is most of the 19th century 35:15 Role of Chinese workers/immigrants in the story of the west 37:00 Chinese workers came on a false promise, were trapped in their labor 40:30 Impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act 42:00 The story of Ovando Hollister 44:00 Hollister believed in the equality of all people. Went from military to newspapers 45:45 Hollister moved to Salt Lake City & agitated against the Mormons 46:30 Stories of the Native Americans are finally being depicted better 47:15 The story of Little Wolf 49:00 Little Wolf was a great military strategist and leader for his people 52:00 Histories of the west were heavily shaded by original bias 53:00 Balancing objectivity with your personal bias when writing history 54:30 Connecting individual stories in history to larger movements & moments 55:30 How would improve school curriculum to honestly depict the west? 59:45 The west was fairly violent before law enforcement became normalized 1:00:45 Next project is the story of a Kiowa and Comanche raid on ranching town See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd predicts Trump will look for an offramp after his shocking "civilization will die" threat, noting that even in an era where people are numb to Trump's rhetoric, this particular statement genuinely rattled supporters and critics alike — yet only two elected Republicans have expressed even mild discomfort, which he calls unacceptable when a sitting president is openly threatening a war crime and behaving, in his words, like a terrorist thug. He then unpacks a blockbuster New York Times report detailing how Trump was talked into the Iran war, revealing that only two people in the entire decision-making process thought it was a good idea: Trump himself and Benjamin Netanyahu. The Times piece shows that Trump's own advisors tried to steer him away from the conflict, that JD Vance was privately against it, and that Netanyahu — who has spent years trying to get an American president to fight Iran on Israel's behalf, only to be rebuffed by Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Biden finally found his willing partner in Trump.. He then pivots to JD Vance campaigning in Europe on behalf of Hungarian dictator Viktor Orbán while trashing America's European allies — effectively siding with Putin in the Hungarian election and betraying the values America was founded on — and predicts it will be a generation before the U.S. is trusted on the world stage again. He closes with sharp analysis of the Virginia redistricting referendum, which he says is hurting Governor Abigail Spanberger politically by labeling her as "partisan" in ways she didn't earn, noting that Democrats would have picked up 2-3 Virginia seats without the aggressive redistricting push and that independent voters — already exhausted by partisan garbage — may punish Democrats for fighting fire with fire. Finally, he gives his ToddCast Top 5 states most likely to end their 4 term one-party drought in the 2026 elections, and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.   Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:45 Trump will look for offramp after threatening civilizational destruction 01:30 People are numb to Trump, but this statement still shocked people 03:00 Only two elected Republicans have expressed discomfort  05:30 When the president threatens a war crime, leaders need to speak out 06:45 Trump is behaving like a terrorist thug 08:00 Everybody saw Trump’s comment, even supporters are uncomfortable 09:15 NYT reporters release piece explaining how Trump was talked into war 10:45 Only two people thought war was a good idea: Trump & Netanyahu 12:00 Iran wanted to assassinate Trump, there’s personal animosity here 12:45 This war has NOT been in the best interest of the United States 13:30 Advisors to Trump tried to steer him away from war 14:30 NYT piece will make Trump nuts over “leaks” 16:00 Vance shown as against the war in the NYT piece 17:00 Trump is on an island over the war, even amongst his staff 18:00 Netanyahu made it sound like regime change would be easy 18:30 Bibi wanted a U.S. president to go to war for years, they all said no 19:15 Clinton, Bush, Obama and Biden all rebuffed Netanyahu 21:15 Biden shouted down Bibi as a liar 22:00 Bibi finally found a president willing to acquiesce in Trump 22:45 Bibi’s power in Israel comes from fear of the Iranians 23:45 This story will poison Israel’s reputation with the American public 25:30 NYT story should be more explosive, but Trump’s rhetoric stole headlines 27:00 Trump is advocating war crimes even if he doesn’t commit one 27:45 Trump has not brainwashed the public into thinking war is a good idea 28:45 Vance is campaigning on behalf of Hungarian dictator Viktor Orban 29:45 Vance is in Europe trashing America’s European allies 30:30 The U.S. is siding with Putin in Hungarian election, betraying our values 31:15 It’ll be a generation before America is trusted again on the world stage 33:45 America fought for independence against autocratic rule 35:00 Can Trump get a deal to open the Strait without embarrassing the U.S.? 36:00 Redistricting referendum in VA has hurt Abigail Spanberger politically 37:00 Yes on redistricting will win, but margins are narrow 39:15 Independent voters don’t like the partisan garbage, Dems could lose them 41:00 Spanberger is getting labeled as “partisan” in all the wrong ways 41:45 Democrats would have picked up 2-3 seats without redistricting 43:15 Voters will tire of either party governing in a too partisan manner 49:00 New episode of the “Dynastic” podcast available! 51:15 ToddCast Top 5 states that could end their 4 term one party droughts 53:15 #1 Iowa 53:45 #2 Ohio 56:00 #3 Georgia 57:45 #4 Alabama 1:00:00 #5 Texas 1:02:00 Honorable mentions 1:03:15 Ask Chuck 1:03:30 What would campaigning look like if the electoral college was abolished? 1:07:00 Is there any chance Republicans will find a way to remove Trump from office? 1:09:15 What’s with Hegseth ousting top generals? Are Geneva Conventions defunct? 1:11:30 Why haven’t Dems taken steps in court over War Powers? 1:14:00 Are all hopes of a two-state solution dead? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd predicts Trump will look for an offramp after his shocking "civilization will die" threat, noting that even in an era where people are numb to Trump's rhetoric, this particular statement genuinely rattled supporters and critics alike — yet only two elected Republicans have expressed even mild discomfort, which he calls unacceptable when a sitting president is openly threatening a war crime and behaving, in his words, like a terrorist thug. He then unpacks a blockbuster New York Times report detailing how Trump was talked into the Iran war, revealing that only two people in the entire decision-making process thought it was a good idea: Trump himself and Benjamin Netanyahu. The Times piece shows that Trump's own advisors tried to steer him away from the conflict, that JD Vance was privately against it, and that Netanyahu — who has spent years trying to get an American president to fight Iran on Israel's behalf, only to be rebuffed by Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Biden finally found his willing partner in Trump.. He then pivots to JD Vance campaigning in Europe on behalf of Hungarian dictator Viktor Orbán while trashing America's European allies — effectively siding with Putin in the Hungarian election and betraying the values America was founded on — and predicts it will be a generation before the U.S. is trusted on the world stage again. He closes with sharp analysis of the Virginia redistricting referendum, which he says is hurting Governor Abigail Spanberger politically by labeling her as "partisan" in ways she didn't earn, noting that Democrats would have picked up 2-3 Virginia seats without the aggressive redistricting push and that independent voters — already exhausted by partisan garbage — may punish Democrats for fighting fire with fire. Then, Lauren Gustus — executive editor of The Salt Lake Tribune — joins the Chuck Toddcast ahead of Local News Day on April 9th to discuss how a legacy daily newspaper completely reimagined itself as a nonprofit and is now taking its paywall down entirely in May, betting that free access and a members-based support model is the path to long-term sustainability. Gustus walks through the Tribune's fascinating history: the newspaper once had a 50-person desk dedicated just to youth sports, was heavily supported by the Huntsman family, had a joint operating agreement with the Deseret News, and — like so many local papers — eventually became a target for private equity firms. She explains how the Tribune transitioned to its nonprofit structure, acquired the Moab Times and retained those subscribers, created unique member benefits that require a paid subscription, and is now experimenting with how to serve Utah as both a statewide and hyper-local paper. She emphasizes that local news consumers are incredibly engaged and curious, that reporters need to understand their audience before doing the work, and that there has to be a genuine public service aspect to local journalism or the whole model falls apart. The conversation turns to the specific challenges of covering Utah — a state where the intersection of faith, business, and politics is uniquely intense. Gustus explains that the Tribune's reporters covering the LDS church are themselves LDS members, which she argues allows them to report honestly and with context rather than creating conflict of interest concerns. She notes that Utah politics is often described as divisive but more polite than elsewhere, and suggests that the state's tradition of mission service creates a more worldly electorate than outsiders assume. On the editorial page, Gustus says the Tribune still sends questionnaires to political candidates because voters need information, not instruction on how to vote, and reveals that the paper receives dozens of Trump op-ed submissions but declines to run them. She discusses the messy ongoing redistricting war in Utah, the potential opportunity created by the Nexstar/Tegna merger consolidating local TV news, and makes the case that the Tribune's model — nonprofit structure, reader engagement, statewide ambition, and free access — is fundamentally repeatable in other markets across the country, which is exactly the kind of story Local News Day is designed to amplify. Finally, he gives his ToddCast Top 5 states most likely to end their 4 term one-party drought in the 2026 elections, and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:45 Trump will look for offramp after threatening civilizational destruction 01:30 People are numb to Trump, but this statement still shocked people 03:00 Only two elected Republicans have expressed discomfort  05:30 When the president threatens a war crime, leaders need to speak out 06:45 Trump is behaving like a terrorist thug 08:00 Everybody saw Trump’s comment, even supporters are uncomfortable 09:15 NYT reporters release piece explaining how Trump was talked into war 10:45 Only two people thought war was a good idea: Trump & Netanyahu 12:00 Iran wanted to assassinate Trump, there’s personal animosity here 12:45 This war has NOT been in the best interest of the United States 13:30 Advisors to Trump tried to steer him away from war 14:30 NYT piece will make Trump nuts over “leaks” 16:00 Vance shown as against the war in the NYT piece 17:00 Trump is on an island over the war, even amongst his staff 18:00 Netanyahu made it sound like regime change would be easy 18:30 Bibi wanted a U.S. president to go to war for years, they all said no 19:15 Clinton, Bush, Obama and Biden all rebuffed Netanyahu 21:15 Biden shouted down Bibi as a liar 22:00 Bibi finally found a president willing to acquiesce in Trump 22:45 Bibi’s power in Israel comes from fear of the Iranians 23:45 This story will poison Israel’s reputation with the American public 25:30 NYT story should be more explosive, but Trump’s rhetoric stole headlines 27:00 Trump is advocating war crimes even if he doesn’t commit one 27:45 Trump has not brainwashed the public into thinking war is a good idea 28:45 Vance is campaigning on behalf of Hungarian dictator Viktor Orban 29:45 Vance is in Europe trashing America’s European allies 30:30 The U.S. is siding with Putin in Hungarian election, betraying our values 31:15 It’ll be a generation before America is trusted again on the world stage 33:45 America fought for independence against autocratic rule 35:00 Can Trump get a deal to open the Strait without embarrassing the U.S.? 36:00 Redistricting referendum in VA has hurt Abigail Spanberger politically 37:00 Yes on redistricting will win, but margins are narrow 39:15 Independent voters don’t like the partisan garbage, Dems could lose them 41:00 Spanberger is getting labeled as “partisan” in all the wrong ways 41:45 Democrats would have picked up 2-3 seats without redistricting 43:15 Voters will tire of either party governing in a too partisan manner 50:00 Lauren Gustus joins the Chuck ToddCast 52:30 SL Tribune is a legacy publication that’s been reimagined 53:30 The Tribune used to have a 50 person desk for youth sports 55:00 Huntsman family was a massive booster of the Tribune 55:45 Transitioning the Tribune to a nonprofit model 57:30 In May, the Tribune will be taking down their paywall 59:30 Private Equity bought newspapers in order to obtain their real estate 1:00:45 Tribune had a joint operating agreement with Deseret News 1:02:30 Local news has to constantly pivot between revenue sources 1:04:30 How many hybrid funding models were considered? 1:05:45 Acquired the Moab Times & subscribers kept paying 1:06:30 Creating unique member benefits that require a paid subscription 1:08:00 Local news consumers are incredibly engaged and curious 1:09:15 Reporters need to understand the audience before doing the work 1:11:15 There has to be a public service aspect to local journalism 1:14:30 Has local advertising gotten harder, easier or just different? 1:17:30 Are there different models for relationships with reporters? 1:18:30 Independent contractor/freelancer model hasn’t caught on in SLC 1:20:30 Stories should be tailored to the platform if resources allow 1:22:45 Instagram isn’t monetizable, but good for reaching a subscriber base 1:24:30 What model have you chosen for your editorial page? 1:26:00 Tribune still sends questionnaires to political candidates 1:26:45 Voters need info, don’t need to be told how to vote 1:28:30 Trib receives dozens of Trump Op-Eds, doesn’t run them 1:29:00 How do you cover the LDS church? 1:30:30 Tribune team covering the church are LDS members, but still report honestly 1:32:00 Intersectionality of faith, business and politics is huge in Salt Lake City 1:33:30 Utah politics is seen as divisive but more polite… is that true? 1:34:00 Mission service creates a more worldly electorate in Utah 1:36:00 The redistricting war in Utah has been incredibly messy 1:37:45 Nexstar/Tegna merger will consolidate TV news, is that an opportunity for you? 1:39:00 Tribune strives to be a statewide & local paper for all of Utah 1:41:30 Tribune model is repeatable 1:42:00 Plans for Local News Day on April 9th? 1:42:30 New episode of the “Dynastic” podcast available! 1:44:45 ToddCast Top 5 states that could end their 4 term one party droughts 1:46:45 #1 Iowa 1:47:15 #2 Ohio 1:49:30 #3 Georgia 1:51:15 #4 Alabama 1:53:30

Lauren Gustus — executive editor of The Salt Lake Tribune — joins the Chuck Toddcast ahead of Local News Day on April 9th to discuss how a legacy daily newspaper completely reimagined itself as a nonprofit and is now taking its paywall down entirely in May, betting that free access and a members-based support model is the path to long-term sustainability. Gustus walks through the Tribune's fascinating history: the newspaper once had a 50-person desk dedicated just to youth sports, was heavily supported by the Huntsman family, had a joint operating agreement with the Deseret News, and — like so many local papers — eventually became a target for private equity firms. She explains how the Tribune transitioned to its nonprofit structure, acquired the Moab Times and retained those subscribers, created unique member benefits that require a paid subscription, and is now experimenting with how to serve Utah as both a statewide and hyper-local paper. She emphasizes that local news consumers are incredibly engaged and curious, that reporters need to understand their audience before doing the work, and that there has to be a genuine public service aspect to local journalism or the whole model falls apart. The conversation turns to the specific challenges of covering Utah — a state where the intersection of faith, business, and politics is uniquely intense. Gustus explains that the Tribune's reporters covering the LDS church are themselves LDS members, which she argues allows them to report honestly and with context rather than creating conflict of interest concerns. She notes that Utah politics is often described as divisive but more polite than elsewhere, and suggests that the state's tradition of mission service creates a more worldly electorate than outsiders assume. On the editorial page, Gustus says the Tribune still sends questionnaires to political candidates because voters need information, not instruction on how to vote, and reveals that the paper receives dozens of Trump op-ed submissions but declines to run them. She discusses the messy ongoing redistricting war in Utah, the potential opportunity created by the Nexstar/Tegna merger consolidating local TV news, and makes the case that the Tribune's model — nonprofit structure, reader engagement, statewide ambition, and free access — is fundamentally repeatable in other markets across the country, which is exactly the kind of story Local News Day is designed to amplify. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Lauren Gustus joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:30 SL Tribune is a legacy publication that’s been reimagined 03:30 The Tribune used to have a 50 person desk for youth sports 05:00 Huntsman family was a massive booster of the Tribune 05:45 Transitioning the Tribune to a nonprofit model 07:30 In May, the Tribune will be taking down their paywall 09:30 Private Equity bought newspapers in order to obtain their real estate 10:45 Tribune had a joint operating agreement with Deseret News 12:30 Local news has to constantly pivot between revenue sources 14:30 How many hybrid funding models were considered? 15:45 Acquired the Moab Times & subscribers kept paying 16:30 Creating unique member benefits that require a paid subscription 18:00 Local news consumers are incredibly engaged and curious 19:15 Reporters need to understand the audience before doing the work 21:15 There has to be a public service aspect to local journalism 24:30 Has local advertising gotten harder, easier or just different? 27:30 Are there different models for relationships with reporters? 28:30 Independent contractor/freelancer model hasn’t caught on in SLC 30:30 Stories should be tailored to the platform if resources allow 32:45 Instagram isn’t monetizable, but good for reaching a subscriber base 34:30 What model have you chosen for your editorial page? 36:00 Tribune still sends questionnaires to political candidates 36:45 Voters need info, don’t need to be told how to vote 38:30 Trib receives dozens of Trump Op-Eds, doesn’t run them 39:00 How do you cover the LDS church?  40:30 Tribune team covering the church are LDS members, but still report honestly 42:00 Intersectionality of faith, business and politics is huge in Salt Lake City 43:30 Utah politics is seen as divisive but more polite… is that true? 44:00 Mission service creates a more worldly electorate in Utah 46:00 The redistricting war in Utah has been incredibly messy 47:45 Nexstar/Tegna merger will consolidate TV news, is that an opportunity for you? 49:00 Tribune strives to be a statewide & local paper for all of Utah 51:30 Tribune model is repeatable 52:00 Plans for Local News Day on April 9th? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this special episode of the ToddCast, Chuck Todd delivers a chilling monologue in response to Trump's Truth Social post warning that "a civilization will die" — a phrase Chuck asks listeners to sit with, because a sitting American president is now openly threatening the annihilation of an entire civilization and getting almost no pushback for it. He notes the ominous context: Defense Secretary Hegseth has purged the top ranks of the military, potentially clearing the way for orders that career officers might otherwise resist, and Trump's post is filled with the kind of contradictions that suggest a president who has lost both strategic focus and emotional control. He says it wouldn't shock him if Trump has privately inquired about using a tactical nuclear weapon and warns that with Trump you don't have to take him literally, but you absolutely have to take him seriously. He argues that America has abdicated its leadership role in ways that are now creating more problems than they solve, that Trump is handing the Iranian regime massive propaganda wins by threatening civilizational destruction. He closes with a stark binary: either Trump commits an irredeemable atrocity that will stain America's reputation for generations, or he does what he always does when cornered — he "TACOs" (Trump Always Chickens Out). Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction - Trump warns “a civilization will die” 00:45 Sit with that… A president is threatening an entire civilization 01:15 Trump talks tough, but isn’t really a “tough guy” 02:00 Hegseth purged top military leaders… clearing the way? 03:00 Trump’s Truth Social post is filled with contradictions 03:45 Trump gets no pushback, this is a scary moment 04:15 He probably thinks “Truman dropped bomb, now Japan is an ally” 05:00 Wouldn’t be shocking if Trump inquired about dropping tactical nuke 05:30 You don’t have to take him literally, but do take him somewhat seriously 06:15 White House tells AFP a nuclear bomb isn’t being considered 06:45 U.S. has abdicated leadership, causing more problems than solving 07:45 Trump is bragging that Venezuela is a success… it isn’t  08:45 Trump is handing propaganda wins to the Iranian regime 09:30 This is on us as Americans, Trump told us who he was before election 10:30 Elected Republicans still refuse & are afraid to criticize Trump 11:45 Either Trump commits an irredeemable atrocity… or he TACOs 13:00 The regime killed its own people for protesting…you think they’re afraid? Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special edition of "Dynastic", legendary Dodgers announcer Jaime Jarrin joins Chuck Todd and J.A. Adande to discuss his favorite games, the rise of FernandoMania, his relationship with Vin Scully, and the controversial move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. Please FOLLOW for upcoming episodes. Follow the show on our social accounts: https://www.twitter.com/dynasticpod/ https://www.instagram.com/dynasticpod/ https://www.facebook.com/DynasticPod https://www.tiktok.com/@dynastic.pod   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with the harrowing story of two F-15 operators who went missing over Iran and had to be extracted by U.S. Special Forces — a dramatic rescue the administration is now using to obscure the larger failures of a war that is clearly not going well, starting with the fact that Defense Secretary Hegseth's description of "uncontested airspace" was demonstrably false and raises the most important question nobody in the Pentagon wants to answer: why did we need a rescue mission in the first place? He catalogs a weekend of Trump's unraveling: a Truth Social post telling Iran to "open the f****n strait, you crazy bastards," a seemingly deliberate insult to Muslims with a sarcastic "praise be to allah" reference, and an unhinged Easter morning rant that Todd challenges Evangelicals to defend — all while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed after three weeks of empty threats, energy expert Daniel Yergin has called this the worst energy disruption in history, and control of the strait now gives Iran more leverage than a nuclear weapon ever would. Todd warns that the world economy is far more interconnected than during the 1970s oil shocks and that even if the war stopped today, it would take a year to restore supply chains to normal. He highlights Republican Senator John Curtis of Utah challenging the very premise of the war and drawing a direct parallel to Vietnam's gradual escalation, notes that Congress has just three weeks until the 60-day War Powers clause kicks in, and excoriates lawmakers for doing nothing while Trump threatens Iranian infrastructure in ways that could constitute war crimes under the Geneva Convention — a framework Pete Hegseth clearly doesn't care about. He closes with a quick dissection of Trump's executive order on college sports, which he dismisses as a glorified press release with no enforcement mechanism, no controlling legal authority, and zero chance of surviving legal challenges — just another document designed to generate talking points from an administration so unpopular the public won't even side with them on an issue where there's genuine bipartisan frustration. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the beginning and end of America’s participation in the Civil War & World War 1, and argues that the underlying disagreements of both conflicts have never been resolved. He also takes listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and weighs in on the latest in sports. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:15 Check out Chuck’s sports podcast “Dynastic”! 04:30 Moderating debate “Is gambling is the new pornography?” 05:30 Trump silent after F-15 operator was missing in Iran 06:15 Fear was an American pilot captured by the regime 06:45 U.S. Special forces able to extract both F-15 operators 07:30 Success of rescue being used to obscure Trump’s failures 08:15 Hegseth’s description of “uncontested airspace” was false 09:00 Most important question… Why did we need rescue in the first place? 09:45 Things are not going well in this war 10:15 Hegseth has not been telling the public the truth 11:30 Congress would normally provide oversight, but they’ve been neutered 12:30 Trump posts “Open the f****n strait, you crazy bastards” 13:30 Trump seemingly insults muslims with “Praise be to allah” in post 14:00 Trump posts rant on Easter morning… How can Evangelicals defend this? 15:00 After 3 weeks of threats, the Strait of Hormuz is still closed 15:45 Trump tries to jawbone markets on Sundays, but they might not be listening 16:30 If Trump walks away with Strait in Iranian control, he sets the world back 17:30 Energy expert Daniel Jurgen calls this worst energy disruption ever 19:00 Control of the strait gives Iran more power than having a nuke 19:45 The world economy is far more interconnected than during 70’s shocks 20:15 If the war stopped today, it’d take a year to get supply chains back to normal 21:15 Congress is doing nothing here, and they’ll pay the price at the ballot box 22:30 Republican Sen. John Curtis challenges the premise of the war 23:30 We have 3 weeks until 60 day War Powers clause kicks in 24:30 Curtis argued Vietnam started as small operation, then expanded 25:30 Trump threatens infrastructure, could be potential war crime 26:15 Hegseth doesn’t care about human rights or Geneva Convention 27:15 Trump has treated NATO allies terribly, doesn’t deserve their help 28:15 Trump is not a reliable ally to anyone, we’re here because of him 29:00 75 years of American leadership didn’t alienate allies like Trump 29:45 Congress needs to get off its ass and do its job 31:45 Trump issues executive order on college sports 33:30 Trump’s order is basically a list of suggestions/press release 34:30 Order says if schools abuse NIL, could ban them from federal grants 35:45 Courts have struck down basically every NCAA rule before them 37:00 White House wants to apply pressure on the big schools 38:30 Document is a wish list sent to NCAA, no enforcement mechanism 39:45 Administration is so unpopular, public won’t side with them on this order 41:00 Order will face all kinds of legal hurdles, only gives WH talking points 41:45 Trump has no controlling legal authority here 46:45 ToddCast Time Machine  47:00 Many American wars started/ended this week in history  48:15 We’re good at marking the beginning/end of wars, but not resolving them  49:00 Appomattox was a clean ending to the Civil War  49:45 The fighting stopped, but the argument for the war wasn’t resolved  50:15 Birthright citizenship added via 14th amendment  50:45 Citizenship rights were denied to black Americans  51:45 U.S. formally entered WW1  52:15 Hard to celebrate Armistice Day when WW2 happens 20 years later  52:45 European powers drew new maps but didn’t settle claims & conflicts  53:30 Middle East turmoil is direct result of Europeans redrawing maps  54:30 Wars aren’t chapters…they are arguments  55:30 The arguments of the Civil War & WW1 are still unresolved  56:30 Ask Chuck  56:45 What are your thoughts on ranked choice voting?  1:03:00 Correction on the location of Stetson’s law school  1:03:45 What current sports player or manager would do well in politics?  1:09:30 Has Congress’s inaction over Trump’s Iran war created a precedent?  1:13:00 Is relegation structurally possible in the NBA to avoid tanking?  1:16:45 Sports reaction See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with the harrowing story of two F-15 operators who went missing over Iran and had to be extracted by U.S. Special Forces — a dramatic rescue the administration is now using to obscure the larger failures of a war that is clearly not going well, starting with the fact that Defense Secretary Hegseth's description of "uncontested airspace" was demonstrably false and raises the most important question nobody in the Pentagon wants to answer: why did we need a rescue mission in the first place? He catalogs a weekend of Trump's unraveling: a Truth Social post telling Iran to "open the f****n strait, you crazy bastards," a seemingly deliberate insult to Muslims with a sarcastic "praise be to allah" reference, and an unhinged Easter morning rant that Todd challenges Evangelicals to defend — all while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed after three weeks of empty threats, energy expert Daniel Yergin has called this the worst energy disruption in history, and control of the strait now gives Iran more leverage than a nuclear weapon ever would. Todd warns that the world economy is far more interconnected than during the 1970s oil shocks and that even if the war stopped today, it would take a year to restore supply chains to normal. He highlights Republican Senator John Curtis of Utah challenging the very premise of the war and drawing a direct parallel to Vietnam's gradual escalation, notes that Congress has just three weeks until the 60-day War Powers clause kicks in, and excoriates lawmakers for doing nothing while Trump threatens Iranian infrastructure in ways that could constitute war crimes under the Geneva Convention — a framework Pete Hegseth clearly doesn't care about. He closes with a quick dissection of Trump's executive order on college sports, which he dismisses as a glorified press release with no enforcement mechanism, no controlling legal authority, and zero chance of surviving legal challenges — just another document designed to generate talking points from an administration so unpopular the public won't even side with them on an issue where there's genuine bipartisan frustration. Then, Mike Pesca — the veteran journalist, podcaster, and host of The Gist — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation that covers everything from the structural reforms American democracy desperately needs to why the NBA regular season is unwatchable. They dig into the emergence of the "never Trump media" ecosystem and argue that both parties have become fundamentally reactionary, with internal debates in each reduced to full resistance versus compromise. They make the case that partisan primaries are the single biggest driver of hyperpartisanship, that competitive districts would produce more reasonable candidates and debate which reforms could actually break the cycle. They note that if California's jungle primary produces a Republican governor, Democrats will reform the system within a year, and that with so many big-name Democrats in the crowded field, at least one major candidate needs to drop out before they cannibalize each other. The conversation shifts to what Democrats should do if they control Congress. Pesca argues that Democrats can't brand themselves as the alternative to the "do nothing GOP" and then do nothing themselves — a child tax credit expansion is something Democrats and JD Vance could theoretically agree on, and being seen as on the side of the consumer is both good policy and great politics. They zero in on surveillance pricing as the issue ripe for bipartisan action: airlines using your personal data to gouge you is gross and bills are already moving in state legislatures to ban digital price tags, though Chuck notes there are legitimate upsides to dynamic pricing based on supply and demand that shouldn't be thrown out with the bathwater. They discuss how consumer advocacy once gave news media enormous credibility and trust, how the public feels big tech has too much control over everything, and how creating a caucus of independents in the Senate could serve as a powerful fulcrum — since independent candidates shouldn't have to choose between Trump and Schumer to be effective. The episode closes with a surprisingly passionate sports segment where they agree that March Madness exposes how unwatchable the NBA regular season has become, that tanking and load management are destroying competitive integrity, and that urgency — the thing college basketball's single-elimination format delivers in abundance — is what creates truly great sports. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the beginning and end of America’s participation in the Civil War & World War 1, and argues that the underlying disagreements of both conflicts have never been resolved. He also takes listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and weighs in on the latest in sports. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:15 Check out Chuck’s sports podcast “Dynastic”! 04:30 Moderating debate “Is gambling is the new pornography?” 05:30 Trump silent after F-15 operator was missing in Iran 06:15 Fear was an American pilot captured by the regime 06:45 U.S. Special forces able to extract both F-15 operators 07:30 Success of rescue being used to obscure Trump’s failures 08:15 Hegseth’s description of “uncontested airspace” was false 09:00 Most important question… Why did we need rescue in the first place? 09:45 Things are not going well in this war 10:15 Hegseth has not been telling the public the truth 11:30 Congress would normally provide oversight, but they’ve been neutered 12:30 Trump posts “Open the f****n strait, you crazy bastards” 13:30 Trump seemingly insults muslims with “Praise be to allah” in post 14:00 Trump posts rant on Easter morning… How can Evangelicals defend this? 15:00 After 3 weeks of threats, the Strait of Hormuz is still closed 15:45 Trump tries to jawbone markets on Sundays, but they might not be listening 16:30 If Trump walks away with Strait in Iranian control, he sets the world back 17:30 Energy expert Daniel Jurgen calls this worst energy disruption ever 19:00 Control of the strait gives Iran more power than having a nuke 19:45 The world economy is far more interconnected than during 70’s shocks 20:15 If the war stopped today, it’d take a year to get supply chains back to normal 21:15 Congress is doing nothing here, and they’ll pay the price at the ballot box 22:30 Republican Sen. John Curtis challenges the premise of the war 23:30 We have 3 weeks until 60 day War Powers clause kicks in 24:30 Curtis argued Vietnam started as small operation, then expanded 25:30 Trump threatens infrastructure, could be potential war crime 26:15 Hegseth doesn’t care about human rights or Geneva Convention 27:15 Trump has treated NATO allies terribly, doesn’t deserve their help 28:15 Trump is not a reliable ally to anyone, we’re here because of him 29:00 75 years of American leadership didn’t alienate allies like Trump 29:45 Congress needs to get off its ass and do its job 31:45 Trump issues executive order on college sports 33:30 Trump’s order is basically a list of suggestions/press release 34:30 Order says if schools abuse NIL, could ban them from federal grants 35:45 Courts have struck down basically every NCAA rule before them 37:00 White House wants to apply pressure on the big schools 38:30 Document is a wish list sent to NCAA, no enforcement mechanism 39:45 Administration is so unpopular, public won’t side with them on this order 41:00 Order will face all kinds of legal hurdles, only gives WH talking points 41:45 Trump has no controlling legal authority here 47:15 Mike Pesca joins the Chuck ToddCast 49:15 The emergence of the never Trump media 50:15 Both parties have become reactionary 51:30 Prior to the civil war, leaders just papered over the divides 52:30 Debate in both parties is full resistance vs. compromise 53:45 Virginia would go 8-3 Democrat without partisan redistricting 54:45 Competitive districts will create more reasonable candidates 57:00 Partisan primaries are the biggest driver of our hyperpartisanship 57:45 Mobile voting would be a game changer for voter participation 58:45 All-party primaries are a better alternative 1:00:30 Is there a viable path for independent candidates to win? 1:01:15 Dem brand is so toxic in Nebraska, only an independent can be viable 1:02:00 Ranked choice voting is further down the list of good reforms 1:02:45 Ranked choice makes explaining results difficult on election night 1:03:45 Louisiana had the best version of the jungle primary 1:04:45 Louisiana changed their system just to beat Bill Cassidy 1:06:00 If jungle primary in CA produces a Republican, reforms come in a year 1:07:00 One of the Democratic CA governor candidates has to go 1:08:15 Surprising how many big name candidates passed on CA gov race 1:09:15 Kash Patel might hand Eric Swalwell the nomination by leaking file 1:10:00 Gavin Newsom doesn’t have an heir apparent 1:11:15 With control of congress, should Dems try to pass legislation with Trump? 1:12:15 Child tax credit is something Dems & JD Vance could agree on 1:13:30 Democrats can’t be an alternative to “do nothing GOP”, then do nothing 1:14:45 Dems will do investigations, but not much else will get done 1:15:30 Trump officials won’t answer subpoenas, busines

Mike Pesca — the veteran journalist, podcaster, and host of The Gist — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation that covers everything from the structural reforms American democracy desperately needs to why the NBA regular season is unwatchable. They dig into the emergence of the "never Trump media" ecosystem and argue that both parties have become fundamentally reactionary, with internal debates in each reduced to full resistance versus compromise. They make the case that partisan primaries are the single biggest driver of hyperpartisanship, that competitive districts would produce more reasonable candidates and debate which reforms could actually break the cycle. They note that if California's jungle primary produces a Republican governor, Democrats will reform the system within a year, and that with so many big-name Democrats in the crowded field, at least one major candidate needs to drop out before they cannibalize each other. The conversation shifts to what Democrats should do if they control Congress. Pesca argues that Democrats can't brand themselves as the alternative to the "do nothing GOP" and then do nothing themselves — a child tax credit expansion is something Democrats and JD Vance could theoretically agree on, and being seen as on the side of the consumer is both good policy and great politics. They zero in on surveillance pricing as the issue ripe for bipartisan action: airlines using your personal data to gouge you is gross and bills are already moving in state legislatures to ban digital price tags, though Chuck notes there are legitimate upsides to dynamic pricing based on supply and demand that shouldn't be thrown out with the bathwater. They discuss how consumer advocacy once gave news media enormous credibility and trust, how the public feels big tech has too much control over everything, and how creating a caucus of independents in the Senate could serve as a powerful fulcrum — since independent candidates shouldn't have to choose between Trump and Schumer to be effective. The episode closes with a surprisingly passionate sports segment where they agree that March Madness exposes how unwatchable the NBA regular season has become, that tanking and load management are destroying competitive integrity, and that urgency — the thing college basketball's single-elimination format delivers in abundance — is what creates truly great sports. Timeline: 00:00 Mike Pesca joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 The emergence of the never Trump media 03:00 Both parties have become reactionary  04:15 Prior to the civil war, leaders just papered over the divides 05:15 Debate in both parties is full resistance vs. compromise 06:30 Virginia would go 8-3 Democrat without partisan redistricting 07:30 Competitive districts will create more reasonable candidates 09:45 Partisan primaries are the biggest driver of our hyperpartisanship 10:30 Mobile voting would be a game changer for voter participation 11:30 All-party primaries are a better alternative 13:15 Is there a viable path for independent candidates to win? 14:00 Dem brand is so toxic in Nebraska, only an independent can be viable 14:45 Ranked choice voting is further down the list of good reforms 15:30 Ranked choice makes explaining results difficult on election night 16:30 Louisiana had the best version of the jungle primary 17:30 Louisiana changed their system just to beat Bill Cassidy 18:45 If jungle primary in CA produces a Republican, reforms come in a year 19:45 One of the Democratic CA governor candidates has to go 21:00 Surprising how many big name candidates passed on CA gov race 22:00 Kash Patel might hand Eric Swalwell the nomination by leaking file 22:45 Gavin Newsom doesn’t have an heir apparent  24:00 With control of congress, should Dems try to pass legislation with Trump? 25:00 Child tax credit is something Dems & JD Vance could agree on 26:15 Democrats can’t be an alternative to “do nothing GOP”, then do nothing 27:30 Dems will do investigations, but not much else will get done 28:15 Trump officials won’t answer subpoenas, business leaders will have to 29:00 With power in congress, Democrats will likely target big tech 31:00 Surveillance pricing needs to be regulated 33:00 Bills in many legislatures to ban digital price tags in stores 33:45 There are upsides to dynamic pricing, it’s not all bad 34:45 Airlines using your data against you to gouge you is gross 35:30 Floating price based on supply vs. demand is fine 37:00 Being seen as being on the side of the consumer is good politics 38:00 Consumer advocacy gave news media credibility and trust 39:30 The public feels like big tech has too much control of everything 41:00 Creating a caucus of independents could be a fulcrum in the senate 42:15 Independents shouldn’t have to choose between Trump & Schumer 44:15 We are in desperate need of reform, and the constitution is difficult to amend 46:00 March Madness reminds you that the NBA regular season sucks 47:15 NBA players don’t try hard in the regular season & tanking is terrible 49:30 Long playoff series in the NBA are great 51:00 A shorter 1st round 5 game series injects some randomness into the playoffs 53:15 DC could be a great NBA market, but the Wizards are awful 55:00 NBA draft lottery needs some modification to address tanking 55:30 “Load management” also needs to be addressed 58:30 Urgency is what creates great competitive sports Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Mike Pesca joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 The emergence of the never Trump media 03:00 Both parties have become reactionary  04:15 Prior to the civil war, leaders just papered over the divides 05:15 Debate in both parties is full resistance vs. compromise 06:30 Virginia would go 8-3 Democrat without partisan redistricting 07:30 Competitive districts will create more reasonable candidates 09:45 Partisan primaries are the biggest driver of our hyperpartisanship 10:30 Mobile voting would be a game changer for voter participation 11:30 All-party primaries are a better alternative 13:15 Is there a viable path for independent candidates to win? 14:00 Dem brand is so toxic in Nebraska, only an independent can be viable 14:45 Ranked choice voting is further down the list of good reforms 15:30 Ranked choice makes explaining results difficult on election night 16:30 Louisiana had the best version of the jungle primary 17:30 Louisiana changed their system just to beat Bill Cassidy 18:45 If jungle primary in CA produces a Republican, reforms come in a year 19:45 One of the Democratic CA governor candidates has to go 21:00 Surprising how many big name candidates passed on CA gov race 22:00 Kash Patel might hand Eric Swalwell the nomination by leaking file 22:45 Gavin Newsom doesn’t have an heir apparent  24:00 With control of congress, should Dems try to pass legislation with Trump? 25:00 Child tax credit is something Dems & JD Vance could agree on 26:15 Democrats can’t be an alternative to “do nothing GOP”, then do nothing 27:30 Dems will do investigations, but not much else will get done 28:15 Trump officials won’t answer subpoenas, business leaders will have to 29:00 With power in congress, Democrats will likely target big tech 31:00 Surveillance pricing needs to be regulated 33:00 Bills in many legislatures to ban digital price tags in stores 33:45 There are upsides to dynamic pricing, it’s not all bad 34:45 Airlines using your data against you to gouge you is gross 35:30 Floating price based on supply vs. demand is fine 37:00 Being seen as being on the side of the consumer is good politics 38:00 Consumer advocacy gave news media credibility and trust 39:30 The public feels like big tech has too much control of everything 41:00 Creating a caucus of independents could be a fulcrum in the senate 42:15 Independents shouldn’t have to choose between Trump & Schumer 44:15 We are in desperate need of reform, and the constitution is difficult to amend 46:00 March Madness reminds you that the NBA regular season sucks 47:15 NBA players don’t try hard in the regular season & tanking is terrible 49:30 Long playoff series in the NBA are great 51:00 A shorter 1st round 5 game series injects some randomness into the playoffs 53:15 DC could be a great NBA market, but the Wizards are awful 55:00 NBA draft lottery needs some modification to address tanking 55:30 “Load management” also needs to be addressed 58:30 Urgency is what creates great competitive sports See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd reacts to the breaking news that Trump has fired Attorney General Pam Bondi — the second Cabinet member ousted in a month after Kristi Noem — and warns that what should alarm Americans isn't Bondi's departure but what comes next. He explains that like Jeff Sessions before her, Bondi apparently had lines she wouldn't cross: Trump grew frustrated that she hadn't prosecuted enough of his political enemies and was dissatisfied with her handling of the Epstein files. He traces Bondi's complicated history with Trump back to 2013, when she received fraud complaints against Trump University as Florida's attorney general, then dropped the investigation after a Trump PAC donated to her campaign — a transactional relationship that defined her entire arc. He argues that Trump doesn't believe in an independent justice system and never has, that he doesn't care about the law but only about loyalty, and that Bondi — a former Democrat who grew up in politics and was once a mostly by-the-book prosecutor in Tampa — has now destroyed her reputation with everyone by serving a president who discards people the moment they become inconvenient. With Trump's former personal criminal defense attorney Todd Blanche now installed as acting AG and Lee Zeldin reportedly under consideration as permanent replacement, Todd warns the DOJ could get far worse. He closes by turning to the Iran war's cascading energy crisis, which he says will be the worst the world has ever seen with Russia and China as the primary beneficiaries, and lays out the impossible bind: the U.S. will likely have to deploy ground troops to secure the Strait of Hormuz, but there will be disasters whether Trump commits those forces or simply walks away. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the Ask Chuck segment. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.   Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:15 Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi 04:15 There were things Bondi wasn’t comfortable doing, like Jeff Sessions 05:30 Trump doesn’t believe in an independent justice system 06:30 Trump wants the DOJ to serve his own ends 07:45 Trump doesn’t care about the law, he cares about loyalty 09:00 Bondi used to be a Democrat, grew up in the world of politics 10:30 Bondi used to be a mostly by the book prosecutor in Tampa 12:00 In 2013, Bondi received fraud complaints against Trump University 12:30 Trump PAC donated to Bondi, the she dropped the lawsuit 13:15 Like Bill Barr, there were lines Bondi wouldn’t cross 14:15 Bondi has hurt her reputation with everyone by working for Trump 15:15 Bondi’s firing should concern everyone. DOJ could get far worse  16:00 Energy crisis due to Iran will be the worst ever. Russia & China benefit 17:30 We’re going to have to use ground troops to secure Strait of Hormuz 18:15 There will be disasters if Trump just leaves, and disasters with ground troops 23:15 Ask Chuck See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd reacts to the breaking news that Trump has fired Attorney General Pam Bondi — the second Cabinet member ousted in a month after Kristi Noem — and warns that what should alarm Americans isn't Bondi's departure but what comes next. He explains that like Jeff Sessions before her, Bondi apparently had lines she wouldn't cross: Trump grew frustrated that she hadn't prosecuted enough of his political enemies and was dissatisfied with her handling of the Epstein files. He traces Bondi's complicated history with Trump back to 2013, when she received fraud complaints against Trump University as Florida's attorney general, then dropped the investigation after a Trump PAC donated to her campaign — a transactional relationship that defined her entire arc. He argues that Trump doesn't believe in an independent justice system and never has, that he doesn't care about the law but only about loyalty, and that Bondi — a former Democrat who grew up in politics and was once a mostly by-the-book prosecutor in Tampa — has now destroyed her reputation with everyone by serving a president who discards people the moment they become inconvenient. With Trump's former personal criminal defense attorney Todd Blanche now installed as acting AG and Lee Zeldin reportedly under consideration as permanent replacement, Todd warns the DOJ could get far worse. He closes by turning to the Iran war's cascading energy crisis, which he says will be the worst the world has ever seen with Russia and China as the primary beneficiaries, and lays out the impossible bind: the U.S. will likely have to deploy ground troops to secure the Strait of Hormuz, but there will be disasters whether Trump commits those forces or simply walks away. Then, Eyck Freymann — Hoover Fellow at Stanford University and author of the new book Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a riveting conversation about the world's most dangerous geopolitical flashpoint at a moment when America is stretched dangerously thin by the Iran war. Freymann argues that the remainder of Trump's term represents a unique window of opportunity for Xi Jinping to move on Taiwan, not necessarily through a dramatic amphibious invasion — which Taiwan's geography makes incredibly difficult and which would result in the U.S. destroying China's navy and air force in a high-intensity conflict — but through coercion, quarantine, or political manipulation designed to change Taiwan's orientation without firing a shot. He explains that Taiwan is more than a strategic asset for China: it's a democratic success story that represents a shining alternative to CCP rule, making it the lynchpin of Xi's "national rejuvenation" project. Freymann unpacks Xi's recent purges of top military leaders as a sign that he now has full control of the PLA, notes that Western intelligence agencies have struggled to penetrate China's inner circle, and warns that Xi may issue direct threats to Taiwan during their 2028 election — a pattern of coercion that the U.S. must develop tools to deter. The conversation turns to what a realistic defense strategy looks like — and what the Iran war is teaching Beijing in real time. Freymann pushes back on war games that show China winning, arguing they aren't a crystal ball and that the U.S. retains significant advantages in cyber warfare and conventional naval power. But he warns that China is more likely to pursue a "quarantine" rather than a full blockade — a semantic distinction with enormous legal and strategic implications, since a blockade would turn the entire world against China while a quarantine creates more ambiguity. He notes that China is carefully studying both Russia's failures in Ukraine and America's struggles in Iran to learn what not to do. His bottom line: in the best-case scenario, we're headed for another cold war — but China doesn't actually want to fight the United States because the risks are far too high, and the American public, already exhausted by Iran, has zero appetite for another conflict. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the Ask Chuck segment. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:15 Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi 04:15 There were things Bondi wasn’t comfortable doing, like Jeff Sessions 05:30 Trump doesn’t believe in an independent justice system 06:30 Trump wants the DOJ to serve his own ends 07:45 Trump doesn’t care about the law, he cares about loyalty 09:00 Bondi used to be a Democrat, grew up in the world of politics 10:30 Bondi used to be a mostly by the book prosecutor in Tampa 12:00 In 2013, Bondi received fraud complaints against Trump University 12:30 Trump PAC donated to Bondi, the she dropped the lawsuit 13:15 Like Bill Barr, there were lines Bondi wouldn’t cross 14:15 Bondi has hurt her reputation with everyone by working for Trump 15:15 Bondi’s firing should concern everyone. DOJ could get far worse  16:00 Energy crisis due to Iran will be the worst ever. Russia & China benefit 17:30 We’re going to have to use ground troops to secure Strait of Hormuz 18:15 There will be disasters if Trump just leaves, and disasters with ground troops 24:30 Eyck Freymann joins The Chuck ToddCast 26:30 What is the strategy for defending Taiwan? 27:15 The U.S. has a long-standing “One China” policy 28:15 The goal is to let the Taiwan situation get resolved peacefully 29:45 What’s the practical reason the Chinese want Taiwan so badly? 30:15 Taiwan is a democratic success story, shining alternative to CCP 31:15 Taiwan’s geography makes an invasion incredibly difficult 32:45 If China can take Taiwan, other dominoes in the region could fall 33:30 Taiwan is a “nice to have” not “need to have” for China 35:00 China’s project is “national rejuvenation”, Taiwan is lynchpin of that 36:30 U.S. stretched thin, best chance for China is while Trump is president? 37:45 Remainder of Trump’s term is unique opportunity for Xi 40:15 How should we read Xi’s purges of top military leaders? 41:45 Xi Jinping doesn’t give many interviews, remains an enigma 44:30 Western intelligence agencies have struggled to penetrate China 46:15 Xi is in full control of the PLA after the military purges 47:15 The last thing you want to be in CCP is the rumored successor to Xi 48:30 Xi may issue threats to Taiwan during their 2028 election 51:00 How does the U.S. deter coercion of Taiwan by China? 52:15 War games showing China wins more often are not a crystal ball for reality 53:00 A high intensity war would result in the U.S. destroying PLA navy & air force 53:45 U.S. has advantage over China in cyber warfare 55:15 U.S. can stabilize the situation by responding proportionally 56:30 China thinks they can win a PR war, change Taiwan politically in their favor 58:00 American public has no appetite for war, Iran war unpopular from Day 1 59:30 Could Taiwanese who want independence just flee the country? 1:01:45 Occupying Taipei would make Kabul & Mosul look like child’s play 1:02:45 A blockade of Taiwan is Plan B, not Plan A 1:04:00 A blockade would turn the entire world against China 1:04:45 China more likely to “quarantine” Taiwan than blockade 1:06:30 China has grown a middle class that will demand services & stability 1:08:00 China’s economic ties to other countries create their own deterrence 1:10:30 China is 1/3rd of world manufacturing, in every global supply chain 1:12:15 Some version of TPP is coming back because we don’t have a choice 1:14:00 In the best case scenario, we’re headed for another cold war 1:16:30 Invading via the Taiwan strait is incredibly difficult 1:17:30 Chinese military is untested, could they “test” somewhere else? 1:18:15 China is taking lessons from Russia in Ukraine & U.S. in Iran 1:19:30 China doesn’t want to fight the U.S. - It’s far too risky  1:22:00 Ask Chuck See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eyck Freymann — Hoover Fellow at Stanford University and author of the new book Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a riveting conversation about the world's most dangerous geopolitical flashpoint at a moment when America is stretched dangerously thin by the Iran war. Freymann argues that the remainder of Trump's term represents a unique window of opportunity for Xi Jinping to move on Taiwan, not necessarily through a dramatic amphibious invasion — which Taiwan's geography makes incredibly difficult and which would result in the U.S. destroying China's navy and air force in a high-intensity conflict — but through coercion, quarantine, or political manipulation designed to change Taiwan's orientation without firing a shot. He explains that Taiwan is more than a strategic asset for China: it's a democratic success story that represents a shining alternative to CCP rule, making it the lynchpin of Xi's "national rejuvenation" project. Freymann unpacks Xi's recent purges of top military leaders as a sign that he now has full control of the PLA, notes that Western intelligence agencies have struggled to penetrate China's inner circle, and warns that Xi may issue direct threats to Taiwan during their 2028 election — a pattern of coercion that the U.S. must develop tools to deter. The conversation turns to what a realistic defense strategy looks like — and what the Iran war is teaching Beijing in real time. Freymann pushes back on war games that show China winning, arguing they aren't a crystal ball and that the U.S. retains significant advantages in cyber warfare and conventional naval power. But he warns that China is more likely to pursue a "quarantine" rather than a full blockade — a semantic distinction with enormous legal and strategic implications, since a blockade would turn the entire world against China while a quarantine creates more ambiguity. He notes that China is carefully studying both Russia's failures in Ukraine and America's struggles in Iran to learn what not to do. His bottom line: in the best-case scenario, we're headed for another cold war — but China doesn't actually want to fight the United States because the risks are far too high, and the American public, already exhausted by Iran, has zero appetite for another conflict. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Eyck Freymann joins The Chuck ToddCast 02:00 What is the strategy for defending Taiwan? 02:45 The U.S. has a long-standing “One China” policy 03:45 The goal is to let the Taiwan situation get resolved peacefully 05:15 What’s the practical reason the Chinese want Taiwan so badly? 05:45 Taiwan is a democratic success story, shining alternative to CCP 06:45 Taiwan’s geography makes an invasion incredibly difficult 08:15 If China can take Taiwan, other dominoes in the region could fall 09:00 Taiwan is a “nice to have” not “need to have” for China 10:30 China’s project is “national rejuvenation”, Taiwan is lynchpin of that 12:00 U.S. stretched thin, best chance for China is while Trump is president? 13:15 Remainder of Trump’s term is unique opportunity for Xi 15:45 How should we read Xi’s purges of top military leaders? 17:15 Xi Jinping doesn’t give many interviews, remains an enigma 20:00 Western intelligence agencies have struggled to penetrate China 21:45 Xi is in full control of the PLA after the military purges 22:45 The last thing you want to be in CCP is the rumored successor to Xi 24:00 Xi may issue threats to Taiwan during their 2028 election 26:30 How does the U.S. deter coercion of Taiwan by China? 27:45 War games showing China wins more often are not a crystal ball for reality 28:30 A high intensity war would result in the U.S. destroying PLA navy & air force 29:15 U.S. has advantage over China in cyber warfare 30:45 U.S. can stabilize the situation by responding proportionally 32:00 China thinks they can win a PR war, change Taiwan politically in their favor 33:30 American public has no appetite for war, Iran war unpopular from Day 1 35:00 Could Taiwanese who want independence just flee the country? 37:15 Occupying Taipei would make Kabul & Mosul look like child’s play 38:15 A blockade of Taiwan is Plan B, not Plan A 39:30 A blockade would turn the entire world against China 40:15 China more likely to “quarantine” Taiwan than blockade 42:00 China has grown a middle class that will demand services & stability 43:30 China’s economic ties to other countries create their own deterrence 46:00 China is 1/3rd of world manufacturing, in every global supply chain 47:45 Some version of TPP is coming back because we don’t have a choice 49:30 In the best case scenario, we’re headed for another cold war 52:00 Invading via the Taiwan strait is incredibly difficult 53:00 Chinese military is untested, could they “test” somewhere else? 53:45 China is taking lessons from Russia in Ukraine & U.S. in Iran 55:00 China doesn’t want to fight the U.S. - It’s far too risky Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd delivers a devastating week-by-week timeline of Trump's increasingly incoherent Iran war messaging that reads like a case study in presidential self-entrapment. He reports that military movements on the ground suggest escalation even as Trump's rhetoric promises de-escalation, that Defense Secretary Hegseth was allegedly looking into investments in defense stocks before the war began, that Pam Bondi's DOJ has been quietly dropping huge numbers of white-collar cases, and that in the middle of a war, Trump has proposed building a massive skyscraper Trump library in Miami — all while reports emerge that the president is simply getting bored with the conflict. He warns that the second and third-order effects of the war haven't landed yet but will hit hard in the next four to six weeks, that markets look calmer than they should given the geopolitical reality. He also flags that Trump's poll numbers are lower than ever and the political environment is so favorable for Democrats they should win both chambers without even needing redistricting help, and closes with the emergence of a new but manageable COVID variant dubbed "Cicada" — a reminder that we can no longer rely on HHS to provide normal, common-sense public health guidance when the country needs it most. Finally Chuck updates his ToddCast Top 5 Republican senate seats most likely to turn blue in the midterm elections and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:15 Trump’s rhetoric over the war is confusing. Keeps saying it’s almost over 02:45 Military movements suggest we’re about to escalate the war 03:15 Trump is trying to balance the war with the markets 04:45 Week 1 Trump tried to project a sense of control, and says war will be short 05:30 In Week 2, Trump proposes something like a Marshall Plan for Iran 06:15 In Week 3, Trump promises that Iran is seeking a deal 07:00 Week 4, Trump proposes a pause on strikes to calm markets 07:45 Now Trump says talks are happening, but also issues threats to infrastructure 08:30 Trump’s social posts are frontrunning the Pentagon briefings 09:15 Trump knows he’s boxed himself in, put himself in impossible situation 10:30 Trump is clearly manipulating the markets with his social posts 11:45 Hegseth was allegedly looking into investments in defense stocks before war 13:30 Pam Bondi’s DOJ has been dropping huge numbers of white-collar cases 15:30 During a war, Trump proposes a huge skyscraper Trump library in Miami 17:15 Reports are that Trump is getting bored with the war 18:00 Trump’s poll numbers are lower than ever, Dems should win both houses 19:00 Political environment is so favorable for Dems, they don’t need redistricting 21:00 Markets look calmer than they should considering geopolitical concerns 22:00 2nd & 3rd effects of the war haven’t landed yet 23:30 The effects of the war are likely to hit hard in the next 4-6 weeks 24:30 Trump treated NATO allies terribly, then gets mad they won’t bail him out 25:30 If Trump walks away, he hands Iran more leverage of Strait of Hormuz 26:45 Eventually the markets & traders will have to accept reality 27:30 Trump cares most about his financial allies that pay him personally 29:30 The Gulf states thought they could manipulate Trump, but he’s erratic 30:15 Gulf states are probably having buyer’s remorse 31:30 War is accelerating green energy transition, China set to benefit most 32:45 War has strengthened Russia & China, weakened the United States 34:30 New but manageable COVID variant has emerged, the Cicada variant 36:00 We can’t rely on HHS to give us normal common sense health advice 40:00 Don’t forget Local News Day on April 9th! 40:45 ToddCast Top 5 Republican senate seats most likely to turn blue 42:15 The political environment for Republicans is terrible 43:15 May will be the month where we see if Republicans break with Trump 44:30 #1 North Carolina 46:00 #2 Maine 48:00 #3 Ohio 50:45 #4 Alaska 52:00 #5 Nebraska 57:45 Ask Chuck 58:00 What is going on with all the alien talk from government officials lately? 1:01:45 Is it possible to play by the old rules when both parties feel fight is existential? 1:05:15 Why don’t journalists more directly call out obvious lies?   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd delivers a devastating week-by-week timeline of Trump's increasingly incoherent Iran war messaging that reads like a case study in presidential self-entrapment. He reports that military movements on the ground suggest escalation even as Trump's rhetoric promises de-escalation, that Defense Secretary Hegseth was allegedly looking into investments in defense stocks before the war began, that Pam Bondi's DOJ has been quietly dropping huge numbers of white-collar cases, and that in the middle of a war, Trump has proposed building a massive skyscraper Trump library in Miami — all while reports emerge that the president is simply getting bored with the conflict. He warns that the second and third-order effects of the war haven't landed yet but will hit hard in the next four to six weeks, that markets look calmer than they should given the geopolitical reality. He also flags that Trump's poll numbers are lower than ever and the political environment is so favorable for Democrats they should win both chambers without even needing redistricting help, and closes with the emergence of a new but manageable COVID variant dubbed "Cicada" — a reminder that we can no longer rely on HHS to provide normal, common-sense public health guidance when the country needs it most. Then, Vanan Murugesan — executive director of Sahan Journal, Minnesota's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to covering immigrants and communities of color — joins the Chuck Toddcast ahead of Local News Day on April 9th to discuss a dimension of the local news crisis that rarely gets attention: community news deserts. Murugesan explains that even in Minnesota — a state with relatively strong local news — immigrant stories were consistently missed or covered with biased narratives by mainstream outlets. He draws a vivid analogy: mainstream news organizations are like Target, offering broad coverage for a general audience, while immigrant outlets are specialty stores that reflect the specific realities of their communities.  The conversation turns to the business of sustaining community journalism in a fractured media landscape. Murugesan argues that the ideal model is 50 to 70 percent reader-funded through a combination of subscribers and donors, noting that audience size isn't the ultimate goal — who the audience is can matter as much as how large it is. He explains that immigrant newsrooms actually have an advantage because they don't follow the conservative, cautious practices of legacy media — they're willing to experiment with video, social media, and syndication partnerships that allow them to overindex their audience relative to their size. They discuss why  local service journalism — helping people navigate schools, immigration processes, and government services — isn't always sexy but is incredibly useful, while insisting that the joyful parts of the immigrant experience need to be better covered alongside the hardship. Finally Chuck updates his ToddCast Top 5 Republican senate seats most likely to turn blue in the midterm elections and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:15 Trump’s rhetoric over the war is confusing. Keeps saying it’s almost over 02:45 Military movements suggest we’re about to escalate the war 03:15 Trump is trying to balance the war with the markets 04:45 Week 1 Trump tried to project a sense of control, and says war will be short 05:30 In Week 2, Trump proposes something like a Marshall Plan for Iran 06:15 In Week 3, Trump promises that Iran is seeking a deal 07:00 Week 4, Trump proposes a pause on strikes to calm markets 07:45 Now Trump says talks are happening, but also issues threats to infrastructure 08:30 Trump’s social posts are frontrunning the Pentagon briefings 09:15 Trump knows he’s boxed himself in, put himself in impossible situation 10:30 Trump is clearly manipulating the markets with his social posts 11:45 Hegseth was allegedly looking into investments in defense stocks before war 13:30 Pam Bondi’s DOJ has been dropping huge numbers of white-collar cases 15:30 During a war, Trump proposes a huge skyscraper Trump library in Miami 17:15 Reports are that Trump is getting bored with the war 18:00 Trump’s poll numbers are lower than ever, Dems should win both houses 19:00 Political environment is so favorable for Dems, they don’t need redistricting 21:00 Markets look calmer than they should considering geopolitical concerns 22:00 2nd & 3rd effects of the war haven’t landed yet 23:30 The effects of the war are likely to hit hard in the next 4-6 weeks 24:30 Trump treated NATO allies terribly, then gets mad they won’t bail him out 25:30 If Trump walks away, he hands Iran more leverage of Strait of Hormuz 26:45 Eventually the markets & traders will have to accept reality 27:30 Trump cares most about his financial allies that pay him personally 29:30 The Gulf states thought they could manipulate Trump, but he’s erratic 30:15 Gulf states are probably having buyer’s remorse 31:30 War is accelerating green energy transition, China set to benefit most 32:45 War has strengthened Russia & China, weakened the United States 34:30 New but manageable COVID variant has emerged, the Cicada variant 36:00 We can’t rely on HHS to give us normal common sense health advice 42:00 Vanan Murugesan (Sahan Journal) joins the Chuck ToddCast 44:00 There are both local news deserts, and community news deserts 45:00 How would you describe the Sahan Journal and its mission? 46:00 Minnesota has great local news, but immigrant stories were missed 48:30 Immigrant media was created to reflect realities of their audience 50:30 Immigrants truly want to understand the place they’re living in 52:00 Mainstream outlets are like Target, immigrant outlets are specialty stores 54:00 How do you decide when a community needs a full time reporter? 55:00 Sahan publishes in English to serve all Minnesotans 57:00 Addressing immigrant issues can uplift the entire community 58:30 Why not publish in multiple languages? Is it a resource issue? 59:30 Sahan added a spanish language version 1:00:30 Insisted on using a spanish speaking human for translations 1:01:30 Digital tools allow for pretty good translation 1:04:30 What works about the nonprofit model? Could you see going for-profit? 1:05:30 Sustainability is the ultimate goal regardless of profit model 1:07:15 Generating revenue from subscribers + donors is the ideal model 1:08:45 Washington Post has become beholden to Jeff Bezos 1:10:45 Ideally, 50-70% reader funded is the business model 1:11:30 Audience size isn’t the ultimate panacea 1:12:30 Who the audience is can matter as much as the size of it 1:14:30 Craigslist destroyed the business model for local newspapers 1:17:00 Newsrooms tend to be conservative and cautious trying new models 1:20:30 Immigrant newsrooms due well to not follow national media practices 1:23:00 Media is fracturing, but the barrier to entry is getting lower 1:25:00 Able to overindex audience by using video & social media 1:26:00 Are you able to syndicate any of your work to other outlets? 1:27:30 Finding stories they can collaborate on with other outlets 1:28:30 Local service journalism isn’t always sexy but is incredibly useful 1:29:30 What type of service journalism do you produce? 1:30:45 The joyful part of the immigrant experience needs to be better covered 1:32:00 Trying to balance what the audience wants with what they need 1:33:45 Celebrating Local News Day on April 9th 1:34:15 Don’t forget Local News Day on April 9th! 1:35:00 ToddCast Top 5 Republican senate seats most likely to turn blue 1:36:30 The political environment for Republicans is terrible 1:37:30 May will be the month where we see if Republicans break with Trump 1:38:45 #1 North Carolina 1:40:15 #2 Maine 1:42:15 #3 Ohio 1:45:00 #4 Alaska 1:46:15 #5 Nebraska 1:52:00 Ask Chuck 1:52:15 What is going on with all the alien talk from government officials lately? 1:56:00 Is it possible to play by the old rules when both parties feel fight is existential? 1:59:30 Why don’t journalists more directly call out obvious lies?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vanan Murugesan — executive director of Sahan Journal, Minnesota's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to covering immigrants and communities of color — joins the Chuck Toddcast ahead of Local News Day on April 9th to discuss a dimension of the local news crisis that rarely gets attention: community news deserts. Murugesan explains that even in Minnesota — a state with relatively strong local news — immigrant stories were consistently missed or covered with biased narratives by mainstream outlets. He draws a vivid analogy: mainstream news organizations are like Target, offering broad coverage for a general audience, while immigrant outlets are specialty stores that reflect the specific realities of their communities.  The conversation turns to the business of sustaining community journalism in a fractured media landscape. Murugesan argues that the ideal model is 50 to 70 percent reader-funded through a combination of subscribers and donors, noting that audience size isn't the ultimate goal — who the audience is can matter as much as how large it is. He explains that immigrant newsrooms actually have an advantage because they don't follow the conservative, cautious practices of legacy media — they're willing to experiment with video, social media, and syndication partnerships that allow them to overindex their audience relative to their size. They discuss why  local service journalism — helping people navigate schools, immigration processes, and government services — isn't always sexy but is incredibly useful, while insisting that the joyful parts of the immigrant experience need to be better covered alongside the hardship. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Vanan Murugesan (Sahan Journal) joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 There are both local news deserts, and community news deserts 03:00 How would you describe the Sahan Journal and its mission? 04:00 Minnesota has great local news, but immigrant stories were missed 06:30 Immigrant media was created to reflect realities of their audience 08:30 Immigrants truly want to understand the place they’re living in 10:00 Mainstream outlets are like Target, immigrant outlets are specialty stores 12:00 How do you decide when a community needs a full time reporter? 13:00 Sahan publishes in English to serve all Minnesotans  15:00 Addressing immigrant issues can uplift the entire community 16:30 Why not publish in multiple languages? Is it a resource issue? 17:30 Sahan added a spanish language version 18:30 Insisted on using a spanish speaking human for translations 19:30 Digital tools allow for pretty good translation 22:30 What works about the nonprofit model? Could you see going for-profit? 23:30 Sustainability is the ultimate goal regardless of profit model 25:15 Generating revenue from subscribers + donors is the ideal model 26:45 Washington Post has become beholden to Jeff Bezos 28:45 Ideally, 50-70% reader funded is the business model 29:30 Audience size isn’t the ultimate panacea 30:30 Who the audience is can matter as much as the size of it 32:30 Craigslist destroyed the business model for local newspapers 35:00 Newsrooms tend to be conservative and cautious trying new models 38:30 Immigrant newsrooms due well to not follow national media practices 41:00 Media is fracturing, but the barrier to entry is getting lower 43:00 Able to overindex audience by using video & social media 44:00 Are you able to syndicate any of your work to other outlets? 45:30 Finding stories they can collaborate on with other outlets 46:30 Local service journalism isn’t always sexy but is incredibly useful 47:30 What type of service journalism do you produce? 48:45 The joyful part of the immigrant experience needs to be better covered 50:00 Trying to balance what the audience wants with what they need 51:45 Celebrating Local News Day on April 9th See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd asks the most uncomfortable question in American politics: is the country's current dysfunction a problem that can be resolved at the ballot box, or are we living through a pre-Civil War style pressure buildup where fundamental divisions keep getting papered over rather than addressed? He draws a striking parallel between today's hyperpartisan era — where both parties are simultaneously fighting each other and tearing themselves apart internally — and the post-Jackson period of American politics, when the country flipped back and forth between parties without ever resolving the underlying wound of slavery. He traces the arc from the Compromise of 1850, when Millard Fillmore believed he'd saved the republic, through the repeal of the Missouri Compromise that led to Bleeding Kansas, to James Buchanan handing Abraham Lincoln a country already on fire — and asks whether modern America can heal its divides without mass violence. He closes with Lincoln's insight that you couldn't solve the divide by managing it — but insists it doesn't have to take a hot civil war to resolve America's fractures, even if it increasingly feels like the country still isn't ready to do the hard work of actually turning the page. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the creation of NATO in 1949 and asks whether an alliance built on stability and values can survive a transactional president like Donald Trump, and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Reaction to March Madness 03:15 Nats are 2-1!  6:45 Trump orders TSA workers to be paid via executive order  7:45 Both parties are fighting each other, and also infighting  8:45 The house has the hardliners, the senate has the compromisers  9:15 Is the country ready to move on from dysfunction & hyperpartisanship?  11:30 For the 21st century, the country has flipped back & forth between parties  12:15 Similarities to the post-Jackson era of American politics  14:30 Problems and divisions were left unresolved  16:00 The wound over slavery was never healed, pressure kept building  17:00 Fillmore offered the compromise of 1850, thought he saved the republic  18:45 The Missouri Compromise was repealed, led to conflict in Kansas  20:30 Buchanon handed Lincoln a country already on fire  21:15 Can modern America heal its divides without mass violence?  22:15 8 million turned out for No Kings protests  23:45 CPAC was completely different universe compared to No Kings  25:00 Trump’s poll numbers are tanking on multiple issues  25:45 Democrats brand is still worse than Republicans in polls  26:30 We don’t seem to have the leaders we need to turn the page  27:15 The economy is a mess and it’s almost entirely Trump’s fault  28:15 The GOP hasn’t finished its own internal reckoning  29:30 It feels like America still isn’t ready to turn the page yet  30:30 The two parties have two fundamentally different visions for America  33:00 Will 2026 be a paradigm shift, or yet another pendulum swing?  34:00 Lincoln understood you couldn’t solve the divide by managing it  37:00 It doesn’t have to take a hot civil war to solve America’s divides 42:30 California’s governor race still shaping up 44:15 ToddCast Time Machine April 4th 1949 45:00 12 countries met to create the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 46:15 League of Nations didn’t have any binding enforcement mechanisms 47:15 Breakthrough came via the Vandenberg Resolution 48:15 Article 5 allowed constitutional discretion, made ratification possible 49:30 In 1955, West Germany was admitted, but it was uncomfortable 50:15 NATO has a simple purpose, deter the Soviet Union 50:45 NATO continued to grow eastward 53:00 Trump believes NATO should do whatever he wants them to 53:30 Trump has made NATO believe America’s help is conditional 54:30 Can an alliance built on certainty function in this era? 55:45 What happens to Ukraine portends whether NATO can survive 56:00 Ask Chuck 56:15 Why has job creation stopped being part of our political discourse? 1:00:15 What other points of leverage like the Strait of Hormuz exist in the world? 1:02:15 Trump conflates political asylum with insane asylums? 1:03:15 Democrats' problem less about leaders & instead poor messaging? 1:06:30 A 2/3rds vote in the senate as a check on the pardon power? 1:08:00 Will attorney John Morgan run for governor? 1:04:30 Thoughts of putting all parties on the same primary ballot?   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd asks the most uncomfortable question in American politics: is the country's current dysfunction a problem that can be resolved at the ballot box, or are we living through a pre-Civil War style pressure buildup where fundamental divisions keep getting papered over rather than addressed? He draws a striking parallel between today's hyperpartisan era — where both parties are simultaneously fighting each other and tearing themselves apart internally — and the post-Jackson period of American politics, when the country flipped back and forth between parties without ever resolving the underlying wound of slavery. He traces the arc from the Compromise of 1850, when Millard Fillmore believed he'd saved the republic, through the repeal of the Missouri Compromise that led to Bleeding Kansas, to James Buchanan handing Abraham Lincoln a country already on fire — and asks whether modern America can heal its divides without mass violence. He closes with Lincoln's insight that you couldn't solve the divide by managing it — but insists it doesn't have to take a hot civil war to resolve America's fractures, even if it increasingly feels like the country still isn't ready to do the hard work of actually turning the page. Then, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan — the moderate Democrat, former tech entrepreneur, and Harvard-educated candidate for California governor — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a policy-dense conversation about what's wrong with California governance and how to fix it. Mahan argues that California has enormous resources but isn't delivering better results, and that the best form of resistance to Trumpism isn't performative opposition but good governance that actually improves people's lives. He walks through his record in San Jose — where he prioritized basic dignified shelter over expensive permanent housing and is now leading the state in reducing unsheltered homelessness — and makes the case that expensive housing is fundamentally a public policy failure driven by environmental review processes that needlessly slow construction. On AI, Mahan notes that Silicon Valley's libertarian tech culture has historically disengaged from civic life, but warns that AI is coming fast and California has both the responsibility and the opportunity to set guardrails that could become the national standard — particularly around transparency in government data use and serious law enforcement around data violations. The conversation gets politically candid as they navigate the tensions within the Democratic Party. Mahan argues that California Democrats can't blame anyone else for the state's governance failures, that every year revenue goes up faster than population growth yet outcomes get worse, and that highly organized interest groups end up wielding a veto over meaningful change. He opposes the proposed California billionaire wealth tax — not because he's defending billionaires, he insists, but because taxing the ultra-wealthy needs to happen at the federal level to avoid driving companies out of state — and disagrees with Newsom's handling of Proposition 36, arguing the state should force people into either treatment or jail rather than allowing open drug markets. On California's jungle primary, Mahan dismisses concerns about two Republican candidates advancing as overblown, pushes back on the idea he should run as an independent, and contends that Democrats need to update their platform and make government actually work rather than relying on "resistance warrior" posturing.  Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the creation of NATO in 1949 and asks whether an alliance built on stability and values can survive a transactional president like Donald Trump, and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Reaction to March Madness 03:15 Nats are 2-1!  08:45 Trump orders TSA workers to be paid via executive order 09:45 Both parties are fighting each other, and also infighting 10:45 The house has the hardliners, the senate has the compromisers 11:15 Is the country ready to move on from dysfunction & hyperpartisanship? 13:30 For the 21st century, the country has flipped back & forth between parties 14:15 Similarities to the post-Jackson era of American politics 16:30 Problems and divisions were left unresolved 18:00 The wound over slavery was never healed, pressure kept building 19:00 Fillmore offered the compromise of 1850, thought he saved the republic 20:45 The Missouri Compromise was repealed, led to conflict in Kansas 22:30 Buchanon handed Lincoln a country already on fire 23:15 Can modern America heal its divides without mass violence? 24:15 8 million turned out for No Kings protests 25:45 CPAC was completely different universe compared to No Kings  27:00 Trump’s poll numbers are tanking on multiple issues 27:45 Democrats brand is still worse than Republicans in polls 28:30 We don’t seem to have the leaders we need to turn the page 29:15 The economy is a mess and it’s almost entirely Trump’s fault 30:15 The GOP hasn’t finished its own internal reckoning 31:30 It feels like America still isn’t ready to turn the page yet 32:30 The two parties have two fundamentally different visions for America 35:00 Will 2026 be a paradigm shift, or yet another pendulum swing? 36:00 Lincoln understood you couldn’t solve the divide by managing it 39:00 It doesn’t have to take a hot civil war to solve America’s divides 47:00 Mayor Matt Mahan (San Jose) joins the Chuck ToddCast 48:30 What got you into politics and made you want to run for mayor? 50:30 What are the other Dems in the race missing that you can bring? 51:45 California has a lot of resources but isn’t delivering better results 53:00 San Jose become the place where Palo Alto workers actually live 54:30 Why has San Jose lacked a real urban center? 55:45 Tech sector is very libertarian & didn’t really engage the community 58:15 Concerns that AI is coming quickly & can do both good and harm 59:45 If California puts guardrails on AI, that could become national standard 1:01:00 Government has responsibility to be transparent about AI data use 1:02:30 California has to create framework for AI security, regulation & transparency 1:03:15 The unknown of AI has created fear amongst the American public 1:04:30 The lack of trust in AI is because social media has been such a negative 1:06:00 There needs to be serious law enforcement around data violations 1:07:15 Media literacy & critical thinking need to be taught in public schools 1:08:45 What are you getting right in tackling homelessness in San Jose? 1:09:45 Prioritized basic dignified shelter over expensive permanent housing 1:11:00 San Jose is leading California in solving homelessness 1:12:00 California hasn’t built enough shelter or treatment facilities 1:13:00 Expensive housing is a public policy failure 1:13:45 Why does environmental review have to slow down construction? 1:15:00 Environmental impacts go far beyond just clean air & water 1:15:45 Technology can drastically speed up environmental review 1:17:00 Infill construction permits should be approved/denied in 30 days 1:18:30 Are tenant protection laws sufficient to protect ADU renters? 1:20:00 22% of new housing built in San Jose is ADUs 1:20:30 Are taxes too high in California? 1:21:15 California has one of the most progressive tax structures in the country 1:21:45 Gas tax is one of California’s most regressive, EV owners need to pay 1:23:15 A per vehicle flat fee for both gas & EVs makes the most sense 1:25:00 Every year revenue goes up faster than population w/ worse outcomes 1:26:15 What has Newsom gotten right & wrong? 1:28:30 Disagreed with Newsom on Prop 36 & force either treatment or jail 1:29:30 Highly organized interests end up getting a veto over change 1:31:30 Best form of resistance to Trumpism is good governance 1:32:30 The math problem for Democrats in California’s jungle primary 1:33:15 The concern over two GOP candidates winning is overblown 1:36:15 Voters are skeptical of both parties, why not run as an independent? 1:38:00 Democrats need to update the party platform & make government work 1:39:30 Voters frustrated with Trump gravitate towards “resistance warriors” 1:41:00 California Democrats can’t blame anyone else for California’s governance 1:41:30 Better ways to make tax code fairer than proposed billionaire wealth tax 1:42:30 Taxing the ultra wealthy needs to be done at the federal level 1:43:15 Opposing CA wealth tax isn’t defending billionaires   1:45:45 California’s governor race still shaping up 1:47:30 ToddCast Time Machine April 4th 1949 1:48:15 12 countries met to create the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 1:49:30 League of Nations didn’t have any binding enforcement mechanisms 1:50:30 Breakthrough came via the Vandenberg Resolution 1:51:30 Article 5 allowed constitutional discretion, made ratification possible 1:52:45 In 1955, West Germany was admitted, but it was uncomfortable 1:53:30 NATO has a simple purpose, deter the Soviet Union 1:54:00 NATO continued to grow eastward 1:56:15 Trump believes NATO should do whatever he wants them to 1:56:45 Trump has made NATO believe America’s help is conditional 1:57:45 Can an alliance built on certainty function in this era? 1:59:00 What happens to Ukraine portends whether NATO can survive

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan — the moderate Democrat, former tech entrepreneur, and Harvard-educated candidate for California governor — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a policy-dense conversation about what's wrong with California governance and how to fix it. Mahan argues that California has enormous resources but isn't delivering better results, and that the best form of resistance to Trumpism isn't performative opposition but good governance that actually improves people's lives. He walks through his record in San Jose — where he prioritized basic dignified shelter over expensive permanent housing and is now leading the state in reducing unsheltered homelessness — and makes the case that expensive housing is fundamentally a public policy failure driven by environmental review processes that needlessly slow construction. On AI, Mahan notes that Silicon Valley's libertarian tech culture has historically disengaged from civic life, but warns that AI is coming fast and California has both the responsibility and the opportunity to set guardrails that could become the national standard — particularly around transparency in government data use and serious law enforcement around data violations. The conversation gets politically candid as they navigate the tensions within the Democratic Party. Mahan argues that California Democrats can't blame anyone else for the state's governance failures, that every year revenue goes up faster than population growth yet outcomes get worse, and that highly organized interest groups end up wielding a veto over meaningful change. He opposes the proposed California billionaire wealth tax — not because he's defending billionaires, he insists, but because taxing the ultra-wealthy needs to happen at the federal level to avoid driving companies out of state — and disagrees with Newsom's handling of Proposition 36, arguing the state should force people into either treatment or jail rather than allowing open drug markets. On California's jungle primary, Mahan dismisses concerns about two Republican candidates advancing as overblown, pushes back on the idea he should run as an independent, and contends that Democrats need to update their platform and make government actually work rather than relying on "resistance warrior" posturing.  Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Mayor Matt Mahan joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 What got you into politics and made you want to run for mayor? 03:30 What are the other Dems in the race missing that you can bring? 04:45 California has a lot of resources but isn’t delivering better results 06:00 San Jose become the place where Palo Alto workers actually live 07:30 Why has San Jose lacked a real urban center? 08:45 Tech sector is very libertarian & didn’t really engage the community 11:15 Concerns that AI is coming quickly & can do both good and harm 12:45 If California puts guardrails on AI, that could become national standard 14:00 Government has responsibility to be transparent about AI data use 15:30 California has to create framework for AI security, regulation & transparency 16:15 The unknown of AI has created fear amongst the American public 17:30 The lack of trust in AI is because social media has been such a negative 19:00 There needs to be serious law enforcement around data violations 20:15 Media literacy & critical thinking need to be taught in public schools 21:45 What are you getting right in tackling homelessness in San Jose? 22:45 Prioritized basic dignified shelter over expensive permanent housing 24:00 San Jose is leading California in solving homelessness 25:00 California hasn’t built enough shelter or treatment facilities 26:00 Expensive housing is a public policy failure 26:45 Why does environmental review have to slow down construction? 28:00 Environmental impacts go far beyond just clean air & water 28:45 Technology can drastically speed up environmental review 30:00 Infill construction permits should be approved/denied in 30 days 31:30 Are tenant protection laws sufficient to protect ADU renters? 33:00 22% of new housing built in San Jose is ADUs 33:30 Are taxes too high in California? 34:15 California has one of the most progressive tax structures in the country 34:45 Gas tax is one of California’s most regressive, EV owners need to pay 36:15 A per vehicle flat fee for both gas & EVs makes the most sense 38:00 Every year revenue goes up faster than population w/ worse outcomes 39:15 What has Newsom gotten right & wrong? 41:30 Disagreed with Newsom on Prop 36 & force either treatment or jail 42:30 Highly organized interests end up getting a veto over change 44:30 Best form of resistance to Trumpism is good governance 45:30 The math problem for Democrats in California’s jungle primary 46:15 The concern over two GOP candidates winning is overblown 49:15 Voters are skeptical of both parties, why not run as an independent? 51:00 Democrats need to update the party platform & make government work 52:30 Voters frustrated with Trump gravitate towards “resistance warriors” 54:00 California Democrats can’t blame anyone else for California’s governance 54:30 Better ways to make tax code fairer than proposed billionaire wealth tax 55:30 Taxing the ultra wealthy needs to be done at the federal level 56:15 Opposing CA wealth tax isn’t defending billionaires See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd reveals that Trump's planned visit to Beijing on May 14th and 15th may function as a de facto deadline for wrapping up the Iran war, noting that Trump wants to end the conflict more than the Iranian regime does — a devastating negotiating position — and that his own voters are being hit hardest by soaring gas prices since they drive more than the average American, while lawmakers in compact D.C. remain insulated from the pain. He unpacks the Gulf states' precarious calculus: the Saudis and Emiratis are terrified Trump will retreat and leave Iran with leverage, knowing that once the U.S. leaves the region it isn't coming back anytime soon, but they also have significant business leverage over Trump and his family that complicates every decision. He then pivots to what should be a triumphant moment for Democrats — they've flipped 30 Republican seats since Trump took office without losing a single one, won two government shutdowns, and are operating in the best political climate in years — but finds a party that feels leaderless, with Chuck Schumer at the center of the dysfunction. He reports that some Senate Democrats want Schumer to step aside, that he's become paranoid about leaks and tells different caucus members what they want to hear (a tactic known internally as "getting Schumed"), He closes with a sharp critique of Democrats in Virginia who are advocating for indefensible partisan redistricting — arguing that the Democratic brand still has lower favorability than both the GOP and MAGA brands, that the Democratic base is smaller than the Republican base and therefore needs moderates to win, and that deploying the same gerrymandering tactics they claim to oppose is exactly the kind of hypocrisy that keeps voters from trusting the party. Then, Maryland Congressman Johnny Olszewski — the author of the Pardon Integrity Act, a proposed constitutional amendment that would give Congress the power to reject presidential pardons with a two-thirds supermajority vote — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a frank conversation about fixing a broken democracy and what Democrats should prioritize if they retake the House. Olszewski argues that the presidential pardon is the biggest loophole between democracy and autocracy, a power straight out of a monarchy that the founders failed to adequately check, and notes that Congress actually tried to curb pardon authority after Nixon but the effort stalled. His amendment, which is structured like a veto override and has already attracted Republican co-sponsor Don Bacon, would allow 20 House members and five senators to initiate a review process with 60 days to nullify a pardon. Olszewski is careful to spread the blame across parties — calling Trump's 1,600 pardons in 2025 alone "exceptionally egregious" but acknowledges that Biden’s preemptive pardons were a bad thing — and says nobody in Congress actually thinks the proposal is a bad idea. The conversation broadens into a sobering assessment of congressional dysfunction and the state of American democracy. Olszewski describes the current Congress as one of the least productive ever, with both parties proposing unpassable messaging bills rather than legislating, and warns that partisan redistricting combined with partisan primaries creates a vicious cycle where the Republicans most willing to compromise are the ones most likely to lose their primaries. On Democratic strategy, Olszewski argues that if impeachable offenses exist they should be pursued but the party must focus on voters' needs, that Hakeem Jeffries should center his speakership on affordability if Democrats retake the House, and that Congress needs to come together to ban bipartisan gerrymandering. He insists that repairing democracy transcends partisan politics — the country needs people to believe in the institution of Congress again, and that requires restraints not just on this president but on all future ones. Finally, Chuck proposes a major change to the NCAA basketball tournament… an expanded, 96 team playoff that would benefit both athletics and academics, celebrates the start of the MLB season, and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 3:00 We may have a new deadline for Trump to wrap up the Iran war 3:30 Trump to visit Beijing on May 14th & 15th 4:45 Trump wants to end the war more than the Iranian regime 6:15 Trump voters drive more, gas prices will impact them more 7:30 Lawmakers are insulated from gas prices since D.C. is compact 8:45 Saudis and Emirates afraid Trump will retreat & leave Iran with leverage 9:45 Gulf states know that once the U.S. leaves they aren’t coming back soon 11:15 Saudis and Emirates have business leverage over Trump & his family 12:00 Trump will have to weigh business vs. political interests 13:00 Ground forces still being deployed to the region 14:00 Democrats in great political climate, but party feels rudderless & leaderless 14:45 Dems have flipped 30 Republican seats since Trump took office, lost none 15:30 Democrats have ushered in two government shutdowns & winning both 17:00 ICE’s abuses drove Dems to shutdown, the public largely supports them 17:45 Deploying ICE to airports is a dumb political move by Trump 19:15 Markwayne Mullin seems open to getting rid of ICE masking 21:15 The traveling public needs to be insulated from these political fights 22:30 Democrats should make the deal, but Chuck Schumer struggling to lead 23:15 Senate Democrats want Schumer to step aside as leader 26:00 Brian Schatz could be potential replacement, but expressed support for Schumer 28:30 Many longtime establishment senators have rallied behind Schumer 29:30 Schumer seems paranoid of leaks, and doesn’t share enough information 31:00 Confusion between senate Dems over whether there was deal to end shutdown 32:15 Schumer trying to appease everyone, telling them what they want to hear 33:00 The tactic is known as “Getting Schumed” 35:00 Schumer seems to have lost his fastball & is always looking over his shoulder 36:15 Schumer has become the stand-in for the establishment 37:45 Schumer can’t be seen as fighting the progressives and losing 40:00 Abigail Spanberger didn’t run as a partisan, forced into partisan redistricting 41:45 Partisan redistricting results in the election of partisan hacks 44:45 Dem base is smaller than GOP base, Dems need to win moderates 45:45 Dems in Virginia are advocating for indefensible partisan redistricting 46:45 Democratic brand still has lower favorability than GOP & MAGA   53:00 Chuck’s proposal for the NCAA basketball tournament 54:15 Big East is closer to the A10 than the other power conferences 55:15 People say they love cinderellas in the Final Four, then don’t watch 56:30 Applications surge to mid-majors that advanced far in tournament 58:30 Schools were able to get higher quality students & faculty 59:00 Success in athletics leads to success in academics 59:30 Expand the tournament to 96 teams 1:00:45 96 teams is still less than 1/3rd of potential schools 1:02:15 Expanded tournament would be a net positive for higher education 1:03:45 Four regions, 24 teams per region - 2 teams seeded 9-16 1:06:30 You get more basketball, and a better chance for midmajors 1:08:45 Everybody would make more money, & it’d be more fan friendly 1:11:00 The best teams would still advance 1:13:30 It’s opening day in Major League Baseball 1:15:30 Most intriguing MLB teams 1:18:45 MLB dark horses 1:20:00 Ask Chuck 1:20:15 Why didn’t you include 1858 Lincoln v Douglas in Top 5 Illinois campaigns? 1:22:15 If we don’t get oil from the Strait of Hormuz, why have our gas prices gone up? 1:24:00 How can we rebalance focus from national to local politics? 1:29:30 Was Kristi Noem’s DHS PR campaign in service of a presidential run? 1:33:00 Do you think Trump will invade Iran with boots on the ground? 1:35:45 Who is advising the president on potential outcomes, intel seems degraded? 1:42:45 Could Democrats benefit from putting forward a “contract with America” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd reveals that Trump's planned visit to Beijing on May 14th and 15th may function as a de facto deadline for wrapping up the Iran war, noting that Trump wants to end the conflict more than the Iranian regime does — a devastating negotiating position — and that his own voters are being hit hardest by soaring gas prices since they drive more than the average American, while lawmakers in compact D.C. remain insulated from the pain. He unpacks the Gulf states' precarious calculus: the Saudis and Emiratis are terrified Trump will retreat and leave Iran with leverage, knowing that once the U.S. leaves the region it isn't coming back anytime soon, but they also have significant business leverage over Trump and his family that complicates every decision. He then pivots to what should be a triumphant moment for Democrats — they've flipped 30 Republican seats since Trump took office without losing a single one, won two government shutdowns, and are operating in the best political climate in years — but finds a party that feels leaderless, with Chuck Schumer at the center of the dysfunction. He reports that some Senate Democrats want Schumer to step aside, that he's become paranoid about leaks and tells different caucus members what they want to hear (a tactic known internally as "getting Schumed"), He closes with a sharp critique of Democrats in Virginia who are advocating for indefensible partisan redistricting — arguing that the Democratic brand still has lower favorability than both the GOP and MAGA brands, that the Democratic base is smaller than the Republican base and therefore needs moderates to win, and that deploying the same gerrymandering tactics they claim to oppose is exactly the kind of hypocrisy that keeps voters from trusting the party. Then, Maryland Congressman Johnny Olszewski — the author of the Pardon Integrity Act, a proposed constitutional amendment that would give Congress the power to reject presidential pardons with a two-thirds supermajority vote — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a frank conversation about fixing a broken democracy and what Democrats should prioritize if they retake the House. Olszewski argues that the presidential pardon is the biggest loophole between democracy and autocracy, a power straight out of a monarchy that the founders failed to adequately check, and notes that Congress actually tried to curb pardon authority after Nixon but the effort stalled. His amendment, which is structured like a veto override and has already attracted Republican co-sponsor Don Bacon, would allow 20 House members and five senators to initiate a review process with 60 days to nullify a pardon. Olszewski is careful to spread the blame across parties — calling Trump's 1,600 pardons in 2025 alone "exceptionally egregious" but acknowledges that Biden’s preemptive pardons were a bad thing — and says nobody in Congress actually thinks the proposal is a bad idea. The conversation broadens into a sobering assessment of congressional dysfunction and the state of American democracy. Olszewski describes the current Congress as one of the least productive ever, with both parties proposing unpassable messaging bills rather than legislating, and warns that partisan redistricting combined with partisan primaries creates a vicious cycle where the Republicans most willing to compromise are the ones most likely to lose their primaries. On Democratic strategy, Olszewski argues that if impeachable offenses exist they should be pursued but the party must focus on voters' needs, that Hakeem Jeffries should center his speakership on affordability if Democrats retake the House, and that Congress needs to come together to ban bipartisan gerrymandering. He insists that repairing democracy transcends partisan politics — the country needs people to believe in the institution of Congress again, and that requires restraints not just on this president but on all future ones. Finally, Chuck proposes a major change to the NCAA basketball tournament… an expanded, 96 team playoff that would benefit both athletics and academics, celebrates the start of the MLB season, and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 07:30 We may have a new deadline for Trump to wrap up the Iran war 08:00 Trump to visit Beijing on May 14th & 15th 09:15 Trump wants to end the war more than the Iranian regime 10:45 Trump voters drive more, gas prices will impact them more 12:00 Lawmakers are insulated from gas prices since D.C. is compact 13:15 Saudis and Emirates afraid Trump will retreat & leave Iran with leverage 14:15 Gulf states know that once the U.S. leaves they aren’t coming back soon 15:45 Saudis and Emirates have business leverage over Trump & his family 16:30 Trump will have to weigh business vs. political interests 17:30 Ground forces still being deployed to the region 18:30 Democrats in great political climate, but party feels rudderless & leaderless 19:15 Dems have flipped 30 Republican seats since Trump took office, lost none 20:00 Democrats have ushered in two government shutdowns & winning both 21:30 ICE’s abuses drove Dems to shutdown, the public largely supports them  22:15 Deploying ICE to airports is a dumb political move by Trump 23:45 Markwayne Mullin seems open to getting rid of ICE masking 25:45 The traveling public needs to be insulated from these political fights 27:00 Democrats should make the deal, but Chuck Schumer struggling to lead 27:45 Senate Democrats want Schumer to step aside as leader 30:30 Brian Schatz could be potential replacement, but expressed support for Schumer 33:00 Many longtime establishment senators have rallied behind Schumer 34:00 Schumer seems paranoid of leaks, and doesn’t share enough information 35:30 Confusion between senate Dems over whether there was deal to end shutdown 36:45 Schumer trying to appease everyone, telling them what they want to hear 37:30 The tactic is known as “Getting Schumed” 39:30 Schumer seems to have lost his fastball & is always looking over his shoulder 40:45 Schumer has become the stand-in for the establishment 42:15 Schumer can’t be seen as fighting the progressives and losing 44:30 Abigail Spanberger didn’t run as a partisan, forced into partisan redistricting 46:15 Partisan redistricting results in the election of partisan hacks 49:15 Dem base is smaller than GOP base, Dems need to win moderates 50:15 Dems in Virginia are advocating for indefensible partisan redistricting 51:15 Democratic brand still has lower favorability than GOP & MAGA 57:30 Rep. Johnny Olszewski joins the Chuck ToddCast 58:45 Pardon clause is biggest loophole between democracy & autocracy 1:00:30 Do you have more Republicans on board with the pardon amendment? 1:01:15 Pardon amendment is structured like a veto override 1:01:45 Trump’s pardons are exceptionally egregious 1:02:15 Biden’s preemptive pardons for family members were also terrible 1:04:00 Pardon power is a loophole right out of a monarchy 1:05:00 Congress wanted to curb pardon power after Nixon, but it stalled 1:06:45 We need people to believe in the institution of congress again 1:08:00 Should a pardon board be created similar to those at the state level? 1:10:00 What’s the strategy for getting the pardon amendment passed? 1:10:45 Nobody in congress thinks the proposal is a bad idea 1:13:00 We haven’t passed a meaningful amendment since JFK assassination 1:13:45 Repairing the democracy transcends partisan politics 1:15:00 What should Democrats prioritize if they retake the house majority? 1:15:45 If impeachable offenses exist, pursue them, but focus on voters’ needs 1:18:00 The current congress is one of the least productive ever 1:20:30 Both parties propose unpassable messaging bills 1:22:15 The minority is rarely treated well by the majority 1:24:30 Democrats can compromise on policy but not core values 1:25:30 Depending on the members, there may be space for compromise 1:26:00 R’s willing to compromise are most likely to lose their primary 1:26:45 Partisan redistricting + partisan elections leads to bad outcomes 1:30:00 Seriously concerned about certification of the 2028 election 1:31:00 Worried that Speaker Johnson will mess with the 2026 result? 1:33:30 Government has resources to make lives better if not for partisanship 1:36:00 Congress has passed almost no meaningful legislation 1:38:15 Congress needs to come together and ban bipartisan gerrymandering 1:40:30 No appetite in congress for uncapping size of house, talk of rank choice voting 1:41:45 If Hakeem Jeffries becomes speaker, he needs to focus on affordability 1:42:45 The numbers aren’t there to advance an impeachment inquiry 1:44:30 We need restraints on this president and future presidents 1:45:00 Thoughts on Wes Moore running for president? 1:46:00 What’s “electability” going to mean in 2028?   1:50:00 Chuck’s proposal for the NCAA basketball tournament 1:51:15 Big East is closer to the A10 than the other power conferences 1:52:15 People say they love cinderellas in the Final Four, then don’t watch 1:53:30 Applications surge to mid-majors that advanced far in tournament 1:55:30 Schools were able to get higher quality students & faculty 1:56:00 Success in athletics leads to success in academics 1:56:30 Expand the tournament to 96 teams 1:57:45 96 teams is still less than 1/3rd of potential schoo

Maryland Congressman Johnny Olszewski — the author of the Pardon Integrity Act, a proposed constitutional amendment that would give Congress the power to reject presidential pardons with a two-thirds supermajority vote — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a frank conversation about fixing a broken democracy and what Democrats should prioritize if they retake the House. Olszewski argues that the presidential pardon is the biggest loophole between democracy and autocracy, a power straight out of a monarchy that the founders failed to adequately check, and notes that Congress actually tried to curb pardon authority after Nixon but the effort stalled. His amendment, which is structured like a veto override and has already attracted Republican co-sponsor Don Bacon, would allow 20 House members and five senators to initiate a review process with 60 days to nullify a pardon. Olszewski is careful to spread the blame across parties — calling Trump's 1,600 pardons in 2025 alone "exceptionally egregious" but acknowledges that Biden’s preemptive pardons were a bad thing — and says nobody in Congress actually thinks the proposal is a bad idea. The conversation broadens into a sobering assessment of congressional dysfunction and the state of American democracy. Olszewski describes the current Congress as one of the least productive ever, with both parties proposing unpassable messaging bills rather than legislating, and warns that partisan redistricting combined with partisan primaries creates a vicious cycle where the Republicans most willing to compromise are the ones most likely to lose their primaries. On Democratic strategy, Olszewski argues that if impeachable offenses exist they should be pursued but the party must focus on voters' needs, that Hakeem Jeffries should center his speakership on affordability if Democrats retake the House, and that Congress needs to come together to ban bipartisan gerrymandering. He insists that repairing democracy transcends partisan politics — the country needs people to believe in the institution of Congress again, and that requires restraints not just on this president but on all future ones. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Rep. Johnny Olszewski joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:15 Pardon clause is biggest loophole between democracy & autocracy 03:00 Do you have more Republicans on board with the pardon amendment? 03:45 Pardon amendment is structured like a veto override 04:15 Trump’s pardons are exceptionally egregious 04:45 Biden’s preemptive pardons for family members were also terrible 06:30 Pardon power is a loophole right out of a monarchy 07:30 Congress wanted to curb pardon power after Nixon, but it stalled 09:15 We need people to believe in the institution of congress again 10:30 Should a pardon board be created similar to those at the state level? 12:30 What’s the strategy for getting the pardon amendment passed? 13:15 Nobody in congress thinks the proposal is a bad idea 15:30 We haven’t passed a meaningful amendment since JFK assassination 16:15 Repairing the democracy transcends partisan politics 17:30 What should Democrats prioritize if they retake the house majority? 18:15 If impeachable offenses exist, pursue them, but focus on voters’ needs 20:30 The current congress is one of the least productive ever 23:00 Both parties propose unpassable messaging bills 24:45 The minority is rarely treated well by the majority 27:00 Democrats can compromise on policy but not core values 28:00 Depending on the members, there may be space for compromise 28:30 R’s willing to compromise are most likely to lose their primary 29:15 Partisan redistricting + partisan elections leads to bad outcomes 32:30 Seriously concerned about certification of the 2028 election 33:30 Worried that Speaker Johnson will mess with the 2026 result? 36:00 Government has resources to make lives better if not for partisanship 38:30 Congress has passed almost no meaningful legislation 40:45 Congress needs to come together and ban bipartisan gerrymandering 43:00 No appetite in congress for uncapping size of house, talk of rank choice voting 44:15 If Hakeem Jeffries becomes speaker, he needs to focus on affordability 45:15 The numbers aren’t there to advance an impeachment inquiry 47:00 We need restraints on this president and future presidents 47:30 Thoughts on Wes Moore running for president? 48:30 What’s “electability” going to mean in 2028? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens by announcing the launch of "Dynastic," his new sports history podcast with J.A. Adande, before turning to what may be the most consequential inflection point of the Iran war: Trump is running out of patience and actively searching for an off-ramp, but every path forward carries serious risks and his definition of victory keeps shifting by the day. Chuck warns that the U.S. continues to send more troops for potential escalation even as the military acknowledges it has achieved its strategic objectives but can only do so much — the regime has plenty of loyalists and will not go away quietly, meaning the war has now become fundamentally about perception rather than territory. He flags General Mattis's warning that Iran will claim control over the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. retreats, that Gulf states are already hedging their security partnerships and leaning toward China, and that standing with America has become politically toxic in allied countries — a direct consequence of Trump choosing to weaken alliances before launching a war that required them. At home, the picture is equally grim: support for Trump among independents has cratered into the low 20s, the MAGA brand has become more toxic with voters than the generic Republican brand, nobody in Trump's orbit wants to own this war, and Chuck warns that while Trump has always bounced back from political crises, this time may be different — the war could be the death knell for the MAGA movement itself, because Trump hollowed out the expertise around him, surrounded himself with sycophants, and now finds both sides stuck in a conflict where retreat looks like defeat and escalation looks like madness. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 statewide incumbents most likely to lose reelection in 2026, and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:45 Launching the "Dynastic" sports history podcast with J.A. Adande! 09:00 Trump is running out of patience, looking for off-ramp in Iran 10:15 Trump’s definition of victory keeps changing 11:00 Every path forward in Iran carries risks 11:30 We continue to send more troops for potential escalation 12:45 Iran will have a say over who can travel through the Strait of Hormuz 13:15 Gen. Mattis believes Iran will claim control over Strait if U.S. retreats 16:00 The military has had strategic victory, but can only do so much 16:45 Regime has plenty of loyalists and will not go away quietly 18:00 Both sides are stuck, so now the war becomes about perception 18:45 Gulf states could hedge their security partnerships, lean to China 19:30 Trump hollowed out expertise & surrounded himself with sycophants 20:30 Nobody in Trump’s orbit want to own this war 21:30 Standing with the U.S. is politically unpopular in allied countries 23:00 Trump chose to weaken America’s alliance prior to launching war 23:45 War is increasingly unpopular at home 25:00 Support for Trump among independents is in the low 20’s 26:30 The MAGA brand is now more toxic with voters than Republican brand 27:30 War could be the death knell for the MAGA brand 28:45 Trump has always bounced back, but he may not be able to this time 35:30 ToddCast Top 5 statewide incumbents most likely to lose in 2026 36:45 #1 John Cornyn 38:15 #2 Dan McKee 40:30 #3 Bill Cassidy 43:00 #4 Susan Collins 47:00 #5 Pete Ricketts 48:15 Ask Chuck 48:30 John Hickenlooper is out. Has another state had so many 1-term dropouts? 52:45 Would Hilary Clinton have won the presidency if the nominee in a different year? 56:30 Any pop culture quotes that you love that carry weight politically? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens by announcing the launch of "Dynastic," his new sports history podcast with J.A. Adande, before turning to what may be the most consequential inflection point of the Iran war: Trump is running out of patience and actively searching for an off-ramp, but every path forward carries serious risks and his definition of victory keeps shifting by the day. Chuck warns that the U.S. continues to send more troops for potential escalation even as the military acknowledges it has achieved its strategic objectives but can only do so much — the regime has plenty of loyalists and will not go away quietly, meaning the war has now become fundamentally about perception rather than territory. He flags General Mattis's warning that Iran will claim control over the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. retreats, that Gulf states are already hedging their security partnerships and leaning toward China, and that standing with America has become politically toxic in allied countries — a direct consequence of Trump choosing to weaken alliances before launching a war that required them. At home, the picture is equally grim: support for Trump among independents has cratered into the low 20s, the MAGA brand has become more toxic with voters than the generic Republican brand, nobody in Trump's orbit wants to own this war, and Chuck warns that while Trump has always bounced back from political crises, this time may be different — the war could be the death knell for the MAGA movement itself, because Trump hollowed out the expertise around him, surrounded himself with sycophants, and now finds both sides stuck in a conflict where retreat looks like defeat and escalation looks like madness. Then, Warwick Sabin — president and CEO of Deep South Today, the nonprofit news network that includes the Pulitzer Prize-winning Mississippi Today, New Orleans' Verite News, and Lafayette's The Current — joins the Chuck Toddcast to discuss what may be the most promising model for saving local journalism in America. Sabin, a former three-term Arkansas state legislator and publisher of the Oxford American magazine, explains how he's building a network of nonprofit newsrooms across the Deep South from scratch, starting with Mississippi Today — the first nonprofit newsroom in Mississippi, now the largest in the state — and expanding into Louisiana and soon Arkansas. He describes the wholesale implosion of the old newspaper model, using the Jackson Clarion-Ledger's decline as a case study, and argues that the nonprofit approach has a critical advantage: starting fresh means avoiding the crushing legacy costs that buried traditional papers, and all revenue gets reinvested directly into the news product. They make the case that service journalism — covering schools, local government, youth sports — is what creates the trust and audience that makes the "sexy" investigative work possible, pointing to the fact that local journalists in his network helped exonerate a man on death row in Mississippi. The conversation turns to what makes local journalism viable and essential in 2026 and beyond. Sabin argues that human connection to journalists will be the defining differentiator in the age of AI — people won't trust reporters who aren't part of their local community — while acknowledging that AI tools can make reporting dramatically more efficient. He discusses using local and youth sports as a community bonding agent in an era where it's one of the few areas where communities can avoid politics, notes that Mississippi produces terrific writers who need platforms, and emphasizes that having video and audio components is now critical for any news operation. They explore the potential for rebuilding a national network of nonprofit newspapers, discuss which communities are ripe for expansion and make the case that local journalism should be treated as a civic institution deserving of public-private partnership. Sabin's model is free to access, civic-minded, and designed to help citizens survive and thrive in their communities — exactly what Local News Day on April 9th is designed to champion. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 statewide incumbents most likely to lose reelection in 2026, and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:45 Launching the "Dynastic" sports history podcast with J.A. Adande! 09:00 Trump is running out of patience, looking for off-ramp in Iran 10:15 Trump’s definition of victory keeps changing 11:00 Every path forward in Iran carries risks 11:30 We continue to send more troops for potential escalation 12:45 Iran will have a say over who can travel through the Strait of Hormuz 13:15 Gen. Mattis believes Iran will claim control over Strait if U.S. retreats 16:00 The military has had strategic victory, but can only do so much 16:45 Regime has plenty of loyalists and will not go away quietly 18:00 Both sides are stuck, so now the war becomes about perception 18:45 Gulf states could hedge their security partnerships, lean to China 19:30 Trump hollowed out expertise & surrounded himself with sycophants 20:30 Nobody in Trump’s orbit want to own this war 21:30 Standing with the U.S. is politically unpopular in allied countries 23:00 Trump chose to weaken America’s alliance prior to launching war 23:45 War is increasingly unpopular at home 25:00 Support for Trump among independents is in the low 20’s 26:30 The MAGA brand is now more toxic with voters than Republican brand 27:30 War could be the death knell for the MAGA brand 28:45 Trump has always bounced back, but he may not be able to this time 37:00 Warwick Sabin joins the Chuck ToddCast 38:30 Creating the first nonprofit newsroom in Mississippi 41:30 What went wrong with the Jackson Clarion-Ledger? 43:30 There’s been a wholesale implosion of the old newspaper model 45:00 Potential for rebuilding a national network of newspapers? 46:15 In small markets, newspapers have to be hyper efficient 48:15 Service journalism is what creates the opportunity for “sexy” journalism 49:15 Local journalists exonerated a man on death row in Mississippi 50:15 Using local and youth sports as a community bond 52:00 Local sports is the one area where communities can avoid politics 53:30 Mississippi produces terrific writers 54:30 Having a video/audio component for reporting is critical 56:00 Human connection to journalists will be important in age of AI 58:00 People won’t trust journalists that aren’t part of their local community 59:45 AI tools can make reporting easier and more efficient 1:01:15 What does a community need to have to become part of your network? 1:02:30 Arkansas Democrat Gazette weathered the storm better than most 1:04:30 Arkansas is in need of a local news network 1:05:45 Bill Clinton’s election kept Walmart’s headquarters in Arkansas 1:08:00 Northwest Arkansas produced some of America’s biggest companies 1:11:00 How much do you factor in local resources when launching a new paper? 1:13:00 What other places have you looked at to expand the network? 1:15:00 Model is doing civic minded journalism that is free to access 1:16:00 Starting from scratch, avoiding legacy costs is a huge boon 1:18:30 All the revenue they generate gets invested back into the news product 1:20:00 Newspapers & local journalism are a civic institution 1:22:00 Local journalism should be a public/private partnership 1:23:00 It is incredibly difficult to deliver straight news in smaller communities 1:23:45 What do you hope to get out of Local News Day? 1:26:30 Local journalism can help citizens survive and thrive in their communities 1:27:30 Is print dead, or is there a viable path for it? 1:29:15 What has the gutting of local & public radio meant for Mississippi?  1:33:00 ToddCast Top 5 statewide incumbents most likely to lose in 2026 1:34:15 #1 John Cornyn 1:35:45 #2 Dan McKee 1:38:00 #3 Bill Cassidy 1:40:30 #4 Susan Collins 1:44:30 #5 Pete Ricketts 1:45:45 Ask Chuck 1:46:00 John Hickenlooper is out. Has another state had so many 1-term dropouts? 1:50:15 Would Hilary Clinton have won the presidency if the nominee in a different year? 1:54:00 Any pop culture quotes that you love that carry weight politically? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warwick Sabin — president and CEO of Deep South Today, the nonprofit news network that includes the Pulitzer Prize-winning Mississippi Today, New Orleans' Verite News, and Lafayette's The Current — joins the Chuck Toddcast to discuss what may be the most promising model for saving local journalism in America. Sabin, a former three-term Arkansas state legislator and publisher of the Oxford American magazine, explains how he's building a network of nonprofit newsrooms across the Deep South from scratch, starting with Mississippi Today — the first nonprofit newsroom in Mississippi, now the largest in the state — and expanding into Louisiana and soon Arkansas. He describes the wholesale implosion of the old newspaper model, using the Jackson Clarion-Ledger's decline as a case study, and argues that the nonprofit approach has a critical advantage: starting fresh means avoiding the crushing legacy costs that buried traditional papers, and all revenue gets reinvested directly into the news product. They make the case that service journalism — covering schools, local government, youth sports — is what creates the trust and audience that makes the "sexy" investigative work possible, pointing to the fact that local journalists in his network helped exonerate a man on death row in Mississippi. The conversation turns to what makes local journalism viable and essential in 2026 and beyond. Sabin argues that human connection to journalists will be the defining differentiator in the age of AI — people won't trust reporters who aren't part of their local community — while acknowledging that AI tools can make reporting dramatically more efficient. He discusses using local and youth sports as a community bonding agent in an era where it's one of the few areas where communities can avoid politics, notes that Mississippi produces terrific writers who need platforms, and emphasizes that having video and audio components is now critical for any news operation. They explore the potential for rebuilding a national network of nonprofit newspapers, discuss which communities are ripe for expansion and make the case that local journalism should be treated as a civic institution deserving of public-private partnership. Sabin's model is free to access, civic-minded, and designed to help citizens survive and thrive in their communities — exactly what Local News Day on April 9th is designed to champion. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Warwick Sabin joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 Creating the first nonprofit newsroom in Mississippi 04:30 What went wrong with the Jackson Clarion-Ledger? 06:30 There’s been a wholesale implosion of the old newspaper model 08:00 Potential for rebuilding a national network of newspapers? 09:15 In small markets, newspapers have to be hyper efficient 11:15 Service journalism is what creates the opportunity for “sexy” journalism 12:15 Local journalists exonerated a man on death row in Mississippi 13:15 Using local and youth sports as a community bond 15:00 Local sports is the one area where communities can avoid politics 16:30 Mississippi produces terrific writers 17:30 Having a video/audio component for reporting is critical 19:00 Human connection to journalists will be important in age of AI 21:00 People won’t trust journalists that aren’t part of their local community 22:45 AI tools can make reporting easier and more efficient 24:15 What does a community need to have to become part of your network? 25:30 Arkansas Democrat Gazette weathered the storm better than most 27:30 Arkansas is in need of a local news network  28:45 Bill Clinton’s election kept Walmart’s headquarters in Arkansas 31:00 Northwest Arkansas produced some of America’s biggest companies 34:00 How much do you factor in local resources when launching a new paper? 36:00 What other places have you looked at to expand the network? 38:00 Model is doing civic minded journalism that is free to access 39:00 Starting from scratch, avoiding legacy costs is a huge boon 41:30 All the revenue they generate gets invested back into the news product 43:00 Newspapers & local journalism are a civic institution 45:00 Local journalism should be a public/private partnership 46:00 It is incredibly difficult to deliver straight news in smaller communities 46:45 What do you hope to get out of Local News Day? 49:30 Local journalism can help citizens survive and thrive in their communities 50:30 Is print dead, or is there a viable path for it? 52:15 What has the gutting of local & public radio meant for Mississippi? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the premiere episode of "Dynastic," Chuck Todd and J.A. Adande tell the full history of the Los Angeles Dodgers, from their Brooklyn beginnings, to Jackie Robinson breaking the MLB color barrier, to Kirk Gibson’s World Series heroics, and the Shohei Ohtani era. They examine all the front-office decisions and key turning points that turned the Dodgers into a baseball dynasty. Please FOLLOW for upcoming episodes. Follow the show on our social accounts: https://www.twitter.com/dynasticpod/ https://www.instagram.com/dynasticpod/ https://www.facebook.com/DynasticPod https://www.tiktok.com/@dynastic.pod   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with the two stories dominating the weekend: the Iran war's cascading economic consequences and Trump's vile celebration of Robert Mueller's death. On Iran, Chuck warns that rising energy costs with oil above $100 a barrel are not politically neutral — they function as a tax on existence that directly breaches the contract Trump's own voters signed up for — and that Trump is visibly panicking about gas prices because they disproportionately hurt his base. He argues that killing the Ayatollah was never going to topple the regime because the Iranian leadership doesn't operate as rational actors who can be deterred by suffering, that Trump made the same catastrophic miscalculation Putin made in Ukraine by assuming it would be easy, and that nobody in Trump's orbit will deliver bad news because there is now a North Korea-level sycophancy around the president. He then turns to Trump's Truth Social post celebrating the death of Mueller — a Bronze Star combat veteran, 12-year FBI director, and lifelong public servant who died at 81 from Parkinson's disease — in which Trump wrote "Good, I'm glad he's dead." Chuck notes that even Fox News' Brit Hume tweeted that this is why people don't merely oppose Trump but actively hate him. He argues that character matters in politics more than any policy position, and that Trump is fundamentally incapable of showing grace or knowing when to shut up He revisits the Mueller investigation itself, arguing that the real failure wasn't the probe's legal conclusions — which confirmed Russia took action to help elect Trump and that the campaign expected to benefit from stolen information — but that there were no consequences, and that Trump's refusal to acknowledge Russian help was never about innocence but about protecting the legitimacy of his presidency, with the entire GOP going along because copping to it would have been politically fatal. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the nuclear meltdown incident at Three Mile Island and argues that it derailed a massive transition to nuclear energy that could have led to energy independence and potentially avoided multiple wars in the middle east. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 04:15 Launching a new sports history podcast on Tuesday! 08:30 Noosphere interview with Joseph Allbriton 09:45 Providing local news services to the Washington D.C. area 11:30 Bezos didn’t live in DC, didn’t understand WaPo’s mission  12:45 The war in Iran is impacting everything. Everything else is downstream 13:15 Rising energy costs are not politically neutral, a tax on existing 14:15 Rising costs is a breach of the contract Trump voters signed up for 15:45 Iranian regime isn’t going to fight as rational actors, suffering doesn’t deter them 17:00 Killing the Ayatollah was never going to topple the regime 17:45 Nobody will give Trump bad news, he only hears what he wants to hear 19:00 There is a North Korea level of sycophancy around Trump 20:00 Trump made same mistake Putin made in Ukraine… thought it’d be easy 21:15 Trump alienated America’s allies, they want no part of his war 22:00 America is isolated and alone, but really need help from allies 23:45 Trump is finding out the hard way why other presidents didn’t hit Iran 25:15 Trump vacillates on his positions & messaging from day to day 26:15 Trump is panicking about gas prices, affects his voters the most 28:00 Trump celebrates Robert Mueller’s death in Truth Social post 29:45 The levels Trump will stoop to are truly sad 30:30 Brit Hume tweets “This is why people don’t just oppose Trump, they hate him” 31:15 Trump is incapable of ever showing grace or knowing when to shut up 32:15 Character matters in politics more than a policy position 33:15 Failure of Mueller investigation was no consequences for Russian meddling 34:30 Mueller report confirmed that Russia took action to help elect Trump 35:15 Wikileaks releases were very well curated & required American knowledge 37:30 Collusion wasn’t the crime, it was that Trump put himself above the country 39:15 Copping to Russian help would have delegitimized Trump, so GOP went along 40:30 People in Trump’s orbit were fine with Russian meddling since it helped them 41:30 Bob Mueller lived a life of public service, did not deserve Trump’s vile words 42:45 Trump’s supporters were mad about people mocking Charlie Kirk’s death 47:30 ToddCast Time Machine - March 28th, 1979 - Three Mile Island 48:30 It was the fear, not the details that defined the story of Three Mile Island 49:15 In the 60’s and 70’s the U.S. was rapidly building nuclear power plants 50:15 Operators at Three Mile Island acted logically, but warning system was flawed 52:30 Event happened near population center, which increased the panic 53:30 Jimmy Carter shown visiting site in protective gear, which shifted the psychology 55:45 US stopped building a nuclear future, and was dependent on foreign oil 56:45 Nuclear industry tried to recover in the 80s… then Chernobyl happened 58:15 Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima all failed for different reasons 59:00 Without Three Mile Island, America’s energy system could look very different 1:01:00 Three Mile Island became a symbol of doubt in nuclear energy 1:01:45 Could we have avoided multiple wars in the Middle East? 1:02:00 Ask Chuck 1:02:15 Is Trump’s vilification of political opponents more extreme than other presidents? 1:11:00 Can you recommend some books on James Garfield? 1:13:15 What issues can Democrats moderate on to appeal to independent voters? 1:16:45 Why are Republicans so much better than Democrats at messaging? 1:20:00 Any organizations to help TSA agents affected by shutdown?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with the two stories dominating the weekend: the Iran war's cascading economic consequences and Trump's vile celebration of Robert Mueller's death. On Iran, Chuck warns that rising energy costs with oil above $100 a barrel are not politically neutral — they function as a tax on existence that directly breaches the contract Trump's own voters signed up for — and that Trump is visibly panicking about gas prices because they disproportionately hurt his base. He argues that killing the Ayatollah was never going to topple the regime because the Iranian leadership doesn't operate as rational actors who can be deterred by suffering, that Trump made the same catastrophic miscalculation Putin made in Ukraine by assuming it would be easy, and that nobody in Trump's orbit will deliver bad news because there is now a North Korea-level sycophancy around the president. He then turns to Trump's Truth Social post celebrating the death of Mueller — a Bronze Star combat veteran, 12-year FBI director, and lifelong public servant who died at 81 from Parkinson's disease — in which Trump wrote "Good, I'm glad he's dead." Chuck notes that even Fox News' Brit Hume tweeted that this is why people don't merely oppose Trump but actively hate him. He argues that character matters in politics more than any policy position, and that Trump is fundamentally incapable of showing grace or knowing when to shut up He revisits the Mueller investigation itself, arguing that the real failure wasn't the probe's legal conclusions — which confirmed Russia took action to help elect Trump and that the campaign expected to benefit from stolen information — but that there were no consequences, and that Trump's refusal to acknowledge Russian help was never about innocence but about protecting the legitimacy of his presidency, with the entire GOP going along because copping to it would have been politically fatal. Suzanne Kianpour — the Emmy-nominated journalist, Semafor columnist, and Iran specialist who joins the Chuck Toddcast for an extraordinarily personal and deeply informed conversation about what's actually happening inside Iran as the war enters its third week. Kianpour paints a picture of a country where people are terrified and staying home, where Persian New Year will not be a celebration, and where the fabric of the regime is visibly falling apart — yet there was no pre-war effort by the U.S. to organize a viable opposition, meaning the question of who replaces the regime remains dangerously unanswered. She examines whether President Pezeshkian could serve as a transitional figure, notes that the former foreign minister has gone conspicuously quiet, discusses the role of Reza Pahlavi and the women's movement, and reveals that sources inside Iran believe the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, may already be dead. Kianpour delivers the stark bottom line: the regime wins simply by staying intact, and without boots on the ground or a coordinated opposition, air and naval power alone cannot finish the job. The conversation broadens into a candid assessment of the geopolitical landscape that complicates any clean resolution. Kianpour argues that the U.S. lost the moral high ground when Trump ripped up the Obama nuclear deal a deal she defends as strategically sound even if imperfect — and that Western media has become so reflexively anti-Trump that some outlets almost want the war to fail, which is inadvertently helping the Iranian regime win the information war. She notes that Gulf states were supportive when they thought the strikes would work quickly but are now distancing themselves, that China — which brokered the Iran-Saudi détente — may end up playing the key diplomatic role. Kianpour offers a striking vision of what could emerge from the ashes: a future Iran and Israel could be close allies and co-leaders of a thriving Middle East, tut she cautions that geopolitical forgiveness must be part of any post-regime transition. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the nuclear meltdown incident at Three Mile Island and argues that it derailed a massive transition to nuclear energy that could have led to energy independence and potentially avoided multiple wars in the middle east. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 04:15 Launching a new sports history podcast on Tuesday! 08:30 Noosphere interview with Joseph Allbriton 09:45 Providing local news services to the Washington D.C. area 11:30 Bezos didn’t live in DC, didn’t understand WaPo’s mission  12:45 The war in Iran is impacting everything. Everything else is downstream 13:15 Rising energy costs are not politically neutral, a tax on existing 14:15 Rising costs is a breach of the contract Trump voters signed up for 15:45 Iranian regime isn’t going to fight as rational actors, suffering doesn’t deter them 17:00 Killing the Ayatollah was never going to topple the regime 17:45 Nobody will give Trump bad news, he only hears what he wants to hear 19:00 There is a North Korea level of sycophancy around Trump 20:00 Trump made same mistake Putin made in Ukraine… thought it’d be easy 21:15 Trump alienated America’s allies, they want no part of his war 22:00 America is isolated and alone, but really need help from allies 23:45 Trump is finding out the hard way why other presidents didn’t hit Iran 25:15 Trump vacillates on his positions & messaging from day to day 26:15 Trump is panicking about gas prices, affects his voters the most 28:00 Trump celebrates Robert Mueller’s death in Truth Social post 29:45 The levels Trump will stoop to are truly sad 30:30 Brit Hume tweets “This is why people don’t just oppose Trump, they hate him” 31:15 Trump is incapable of ever showing grace or knowing when to shut up 32:15 Character matters in politics more than a policy position 33:15 Failure of Mueller investigation was no consequences for Russian meddling 34:30 Mueller report confirmed that Russia took action to help elect Trump 35:15 Wikileaks releases were very well curated & required American knowledge 37:30 Collusion wasn’t the crime, it was that Trump put himself above the country 39:15 Copping to Russian help would have delegitimized Trump, so GOP went along 40:30 People in Trump’s orbit were fine with Russian meddling since it helped them 41:30 Bob Mueller lived a life of public service, did not deserve Trump’s vile words 42:45 Trump’s supporters were mad about people mocking Charlie Kirk’s death 48:45 Suzanne Kianpour joins the Chuck ToddCast 50:30 What Sparked the Protests in Iran 52:15 Suzanne's background in Iran, how she became a conflict journalist 56:15 Reporting on the Iran nuclear deal 58:15 Could the Regime Have Fallen on Its Own? 1:00:45 People in Iran are afraid and are staying at home 1:02:45 Persian New Year will not be a celebration this year 1:05:15 Can the Regime Survive? What Would Change It? 1:07:15 There was no pre-war effort to organize opposition 1:10:15 Pahlavi and the Women's Movement 1:13:15 President Pazeshkian as a potential transitional figure 1:16:00 Former foreign minister has gone quiet 1:17:45 Regime wins if it stays intact 1:19:15 Was the Obama Deal naive or strategic? 1:20:45 U.S. lost moral high ground after Trump ripped up the deal 1:22:45 Western and European media is so anti-Trump that they almost want him to fail 1:25:15 The Iranian regime is winning the information war 1:28:15 Joe Kent's resignation is being framed as a "wartime defection" 1:30:00 Air and naval power alone can't guarantee safe passage in Strait of Hormuz 1:31:30 Gulf states were supportive when they thought it would work, now they're distancing 1:34:00 China's Role China brokered the Iran-Saudi détente and may play a diplomatic role 1:36:15 Social media broke the regime’s control over the Iranian public 1:38:45 The fabric of the regime is now visibly falling apart 1:41:00 Israel wanted to permanently eliminate Iran's proxy war capability post-October 7 1:43:15 A future Iran and Israel could be close allies and co-leaders of a thriving Middle East 1:46:00 Geopolitical forgiveness has to be part of any post-regime transition 1:48:30 Conflict will back into intelligence and covert operations after the kinetic phase 1:49:45 Sources inside Iran believe the new Supreme Leader may already be dead 1:53:15 Where to find Suzanne’s work   1:54:30 ToddCast Time Machine - March 28th, 1979 - Three Mile Island 1:55:30 It was the fear, not the details that defined the story of Three Mile Island 1:56:15 In the 60’s and 70’s the U.S. was rapidly building nuclear power plants 1:57:15 Operators at Three Mile Island acted logically, but warning system was flawed 1:59:30 Event happened near population center, which increased the panic 2:00:30 Jimmy Carter shown visiting site in protective gear, which shifted the psychology 2:02:45 US stopped building a nuclear future, and was dependent on foreign oil 2:03:45 Nuclear industry tried to recover in the 80s… then Chernobyl happened 2:05:15 Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima all failed for different reasons 2:06:00 Without Three Mile Island, America’s energy system could look very different 2:08:00 Three Mile Island became a symbol of doubt in nuclear energy 2:08:45 Could we have avoided multiple wars in the Middle East? 2:09:00 Ask Chuck 2:09

Suzanne Kianpour — the Emmy-nominated journalist, Semafor columnist, and Iran specialist who joins the Chuck Toddcast for an extraordinarily personal and deeply informed conversation about what's actually happening inside Iran as the war enters its third week. Kianpour paints a picture of a country where people are terrified and staying home, where Persian New Year will not be a celebration, and where the fabric of the regime is visibly falling apart — yet there was no pre-war effort by the U.S. to organize a viable opposition, meaning the question of who replaces the regime remains dangerously unanswered. She examines whether President Pezeshkian could serve as a transitional figure, notes that the former foreign minister has gone conspicuously quiet, discusses the role of Reza Pahlavi and the women's movement, and reveals that sources inside Iran believe the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, may already be dead. Kianpour delivers the stark bottom line: the regime wins simply by staying intact, and without boots on the ground or a coordinated opposition, air and naval power alone cannot finish the job. The conversation broadens into a candid assessment of the geopolitical landscape that complicates any clean resolution. Kianpour argues that the U.S. lost the moral high ground when Trump ripped up the Obama nuclear deal a deal she defends as strategically sound even if imperfect — and that Western media has become so reflexively anti-Trump that some outlets almost want the war to fail, which is inadvertently helping the Iranian regime win the information war. She notes that Gulf states were supportive when they thought the strikes would work quickly but are now distancing themselves, that China — which brokered the Iran-Saudi détente — may end up playing the key diplomatic role. Kianpour offers a striking vision of what could emerge from the ashes: a future Iran and Israel could be close allies and co-leaders of a thriving Middle East, tut she cautions that geopolitical forgiveness must be part of any post-regime transition. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Suzanne Kianpour joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:45 What Sparked the Protests in Iran 03:30  Suzanne's background in Iran, how she became a conflict journalist 07:30 Reporting on the Iran nuclear deal 09:30 Could the Regime Have Fallen on Its Own?  12:00 People in Iran are afraid and are staying at home 14:00 Persian New Year will not be a celebration this year. 16:30 Can the Regime Survive? What Would Change It?  18:30 There was no pre-war effort to organize opposition.  21:30 Pahlavi and the Women's Movement  24:30 President Pazeshkian as a potential transitional figure 27:15 Former foreign minister has gone quiet.  29:00 Regime wins if it stays intact 30:30 Was the Obama Deal naive or strategic?  32:00 U.S. lost moral high ground after Trump ripped up the deal 34:00 Western and European media is so anti-Trump that they almost want him to fail  36:30 The Iranian regime is winning the information war.  39:30 Joe Kent's resignation is being framed as a "wartime defection"  41:15 Air and naval power alone can't guarantee safe passage in Strait of Hormuz 42:45 Gulf states were supportive when they thought it would work,  now they're distancing  45:15 China's Role China brokered the Iran-Saudi détente and may play a diplomatic role  47:30 Social media broke the regime’s control over the Iranian public 50:00 The fabric of the regime is now visibly falling apart. 52:15 Israel wanted to permanently eliminate Iran's proxy war capability post-October 7. 54:30 A future Iran and Israel could be close allies and co-leaders of a thriving Middle East 57:15 Geopolitical forgiveness has to be part of any post-regime transition 59:45 Conflict will back into intelligence and covert operations after the kinetic phase.  1:01:00 Sources inside Iran believe the new Supreme Leader may already be dead y. 1:04:30 Where to find Suzanne’s work See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd digs into the wreckage of the Illinois primary — where more than $50 million in outside money from crypto, AI, and AIPAC-linked groups flooded Democratic races — and asks what it means for the future of American democracy when PACs and outside groups are far outspending the actual campaigns they're trying to influence. He credits Stratton for being able to overcome the massive crypto onslaught — a rare and significant defeat for an industry that has been buying influence across both parties — but warns that her victory required a billionaire governor's financial backing to counteract billionaire-funded opposition, which only underscores the problem. He traces the rot back to McCain-Feingold, arguing that the landmark campaign finance law inadvertently weakened the parties by decentralizing money, which in turn decentralized accountability — and that the Supreme Court's subsequent decisions let the situation spiral completely out of control. He calls out Chuck Schumer directly for caving to crypto money and pressuring his caucus to go along, notes that campaign finance reform feels like an unwinnable issue because the people who benefit from the current system are the ones who'd have to change it, He closes with a broader observation: with money deciding which candidates are viable before voters even weigh in, and with the country having produced three consecutive one-term presidents, American politics is likely to remain deeply unstable for years to come. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00: Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:15: AI & Pac money dominates the Illinois Primary 05:30: Campaign finance reform feels like an “unwinnable issue” 08:30 McCain-Feingold weakened the parties  11:00 Chuck Schumer caves to huge crypto money 12:30 Illinois primary became Ground Zero for Donor-Centered Politics  15:15 Juliana Stratton was able to overcome massive crypto donors. 16:45: Decentralizing money decentralized accountability 18:15 Money decides which candidates are viable 21:45 Should Democrats find their own billionaire? 26:30 U.S. politics likely to remain unstable, with multiple 1 term presidents 33:00 Ask Chuck 33:15 Would National Press Club membership be good for young journalists? 37:15 When did America actually become a country? 40:30 Is it worth contacting reps who already agree with you? 44:30 Thoughts on Mississippi as a potential Democratic opportunity? 48:45 Viability of the National Popular Vote Compact? 55:30 Will congress ever address daylight savings time? 58:45 NCAA tournament picks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd digs into the wreckage of the Illinois primary — where more than $50 million in outside money from crypto, AI, and AIPAC-linked groups flooded Democratic races — and asks what it means for the future of American democracy when PACs and outside groups are far outspending the actual campaigns they're trying to influence. He credits Stratton for being able to overcome the massive crypto onslaught — a rare and significant defeat for an industry that has been buying influence across both parties — but warns that her victory required a billionaire governor's financial backing to counteract billionaire-funded opposition, which only underscores the problem. He traces the rot back to McCain-Feingold, arguing that the landmark campaign finance law inadvertently weakened the parties by decentralizing money, which in turn decentralized accountability — and that the Supreme Court's subsequent decisions let the situation spiral completely out of control. He calls out Chuck Schumer directly for caving to crypto money and pressuring his caucus to go along, notes that campaign finance reform feels like an unwinnable issue because the people who benefit from the current system are the ones who'd have to change it, He closes with a broader observation: with money deciding which candidates are viable before voters even weigh in, and with the country having produced three consecutive one-term presidents, American politics is likely to remain deeply unstable for years to come. Former Oklahoma Congressman and now president of Americans for Responsible Innovation Brad Carson joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation about why AI may be the most consequential policy issue nobody in Washington is seriously addressing. They discuss why  Americans are uniquely pessimistic about AI compared to the rest of the world, and for good reason: huge AI money is pouring into races like the Illinois Senate primary where outside groups and PACs are far outspending actual campaigns, Elon Musk's Grok chatbot adopted a "MechaHitler" persona and is now integrated at the Pentagon, we have virtually no visibility into what's happening inside AI labs or how these systems are being deployed, and the same technology that could deliver incredible medical breakthroughs could also be used to develop bioweapons. Carson argues that immunizing tech companies with Section 230 was a massive mistake — the law passed before anyone understood how the technology would evolve — and that recommendation algorithms effectively make platforms publishers, meaning the Supreme Court has fundamentally misinterpreted the First Amendment when it comes to tech regulation.  He makes the case that state-level regulation may be the more immediate solution given congressional dysfunction and warns that surveillance pricing — where companies like the Washington Post reportedly examined subscribers' credit reports when setting prices — seems blatantly unconstitutional. They contend that consumer protection for AI would be a winning political message for either party, that the electrical grid alone will need a trillion dollars in investment to support AI's energy demands, and that letting the private sector roll out this technology without guardrails is an enormous risk.  Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00: Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:15: AI & Pac money dominates the Illinois Primary 05:30: Campaign finance reform feels like an “unwinnable issue” 08:30 McCain-Feingold weakened the parties  11:00 Chuck Schumer caves to huge crypto money 12:30 Illinois primary became Ground Zero for Donor-Centered Politics  15:15 Juliana Stratton was able to overcome massive crypto donors. 16:45: Decentralizing money decentralized accountability 18:15 Money decides which candidates are viable 21:45 Should Democrats find their own billionaire? 26:30 U.S. politics likely to remain unstable, with multiple 1 term presidents 36:00 Rep. Brad Carson joins the Chuck ToddCast 38:30 Americans are uniquely pessimistic about AI 39:30 What is Americans for Responsible Innovation & who funds it? 41:15 Anthropic believes that AI needs reasonable guardrails 41:45 Huge AI money pouring into Illinois primary races 42:45 Outside groups & PACs are far outspending actual campaigns 44:15 Money is destroying democracy, SCOTUS let it get out of hand 45:45 Immunizing tech companies with Section 230 was a huge mistake 47:00 Courts need to develop common law for regulating tech 48:15 Recommendation algorithms make tech platforms a publisher 49:15 SCOTUS misinterpreted 1st amendment when regulating tech 50:15 Sec. 230 passed before knowing how the tech would evolve 51:30 State level regulation may be the more immediate solution 52:30 How do you determine which candidates to support? 54:00 The tech isn’t unpopular, it’s how it has interacted with U.S. politics 55:00 We know social media is bad for us, but can’t quit it 56:15 Congressional leadership has stood in the way of regulation 57:30 What’s a safer way to roll out AI regulation in a broken political system? 58:45 There are certain safeguards that must be built into AI models 59:30 Grok took on a “MechaHitler” persona & is integrated at the Pentagon 1:01:15 Letting the private sector roll out AI without regulation is a huge risk 1:02:00 We have no visibility into AI labs or how it’s being deployed 1:03:30 AI can be used for incredible medical advances… or bioweapons 1:05:30 Ron DeSantis is proposing an “AI Bill of Rights” in Florida 1:06:15 Surveillance pricing seems incredibly unconstitutional and illegal 1:07:00 Washington Post looked at subscribers’ credit reports when pricing 1:08:30 People deserve to know if AI is evaluating them when applying for jobs 1:10:00 We haven’t had enough debate around the AI issue 1:10:45 Who can be a trusted voice to lead the debate? 1:12:15 Consumer protection for AI would be a winning political message 1:14:30 Fear of AI job displacement & rising electricity prices at the forefront 1:15:45 The electrical grid will need a trillion dollars invested into it 1:17:15 The difference between Oklahoma Democrats & national ones? 1:19:45 The tribes have become the check on Republicans in Oklahoma 1:21:45 Ossoff & Buttigieg are two potential ‘28 Dems that stand out 1:22:45 Dems need to attack Trump for lying to base, rather than attack his voters 1:24:00 How did you like being the president of Tulsa University? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Oklahoma Congressman and now president of Americans for Responsible Innovation Brad Carson joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation about why AI may be the most consequential policy issue nobody in Washington is seriously addressing. They discuss why  Americans are uniquely pessimistic about AI compared to the rest of the world, and for good reason: huge AI money is pouring into races like the Illinois Senate primary where outside groups and PACs are far outspending actual campaigns, Elon Musk's Grok chatbot adopted a "MechaHitler" persona and is now integrated at the Pentagon, we have virtually no visibility into what's happening inside AI labs or how these systems are being deployed, and the same technology that could deliver incredible medical breakthroughs could also be used to develop bioweapons. Carson argues that immunizing tech companies with Section 230 was a massive mistake — the law passed before anyone understood how the technology would evolve — and that recommendation algorithms effectively make platforms publishers, meaning the Supreme Court has fundamentally misinterpreted the First Amendment when it comes to tech regulation.    He makes the case that state-level regulation may be the more immediate solution given congressional dysfunction and warns that surveillance pricing — where companies like the Washington Post reportedly examined subscribers' credit reports when setting prices — seems blatantly unconstitutional. They contend that consumer protection for AI would be a winning political message for either party, that the electrical grid alone will need a trillion dollars in investment to support AI's energy demands, and that letting the private sector roll out this technology without guardrails is an enormous risk.    Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Rep. Brad Carson joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:30 Americans are uniquely pessimistic about AI 03:30 What is Americans for Responsible Innovation & who funds it? 05:15 Anthropic believes that AI needs reasonable guardrails 05:45 Huge AI money pouring into Illinois primary races 06:45 Outside groups & PACs are far outspending actual campaigns 08:15 Money is destroying democracy, SCOTUS let it get out of hand 09:45 Immunizing tech companies with Section 230 was a huge mistake 11:00 Courts need to develop common law for regulating tech 12:15 Recommendation algorithms make tech platforms a publisher 13:15 SCOTUS misinterpreted 1st amendment when regulating tech 14:15 Sec. 230 passed before knowing how the tech would evolve 15:30 State level regulation may be the more immediate solution 16:30 How do you determine which candidates to support? 18:00 The tech isn’t unpopular, it’s how it has interacted with U.S. politics 19:00 We know social media is bad for us, but can’t quit it 20:15 Congressional leadership has stood in the way of regulation 21:30 What’s a safer way to roll out AI regulation in a broken political system? 22:45 There are certain safeguards that must be built into AI models 23:30 Grok took on a “MechaHitler” persona & is integrated at the Pentagon 25:15 Letting the private sector roll out AI without regulation is a huge risk 26:00 We have no visibility into AI labs or how it’s being deployed 27:30 AI can be used for incredible medical advances… or bioweapons 29:30 Ron DeSantis is proposing an “AI Bill of Rights” in Florida 30:15 Surveillance pricing seems incredibly unconstitutional and illegal 31:00 Washington Post looked at subscribers’ credit reports when pricing 32:30 People deserve to know if AI is evaluating them when applying for jobs 34:00 We haven’t had enough debate around the AI issue 34:45 Who can be a trusted voice to lead the debate? 36:15 Consumer protection for AI would be a winning political message 38:30 Fear of AI job displacement & rising electricity prices at the forefront 39:45 The electrical grid will need a trillion dollars invested into it 41:15 The difference between Oklahoma Democrats & national ones? 43:45 The tribes have become the check on Republicans in Oklahoma 45:45 Ossoff & Buttigieg are two potential ‘28 Dems that stand out 46:45 Dems need to attack Trump for lying to base, rather than attack his voters 48:00 How did you like being the president of Tulsa University? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with the bluntest assessment yet of the Iran war as it enters its third week: America's position as leader of the free world is unraveling in real time, the risk of mission creep is enormous, and we are now seeing exactly why every previous president chose not to attack Iran. Trump is ranting and begging allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. He notes that Trump is even angling for a joint operation with China to police the strait — a surreal proposition given the broader geopolitical rivalry — and that Trump is learning the hard way why you don't alienate allies before starting a war that requires their help. The Director of Counterterrorism has resigned over the conflict, DNI Tulsi Gabbard is performing rhetorical contortions to signal she doesn't believe in the war while keeping her job, and the administration has entered what Chuck calls the "cover your ass" stage. He argues that Trump's coalition has been fracturing for six months, that America is demonstrably less secure today than before the strikes began, and that this war — which has confirmed to the world that America is truly alone — could ultimately prove more damaging than Vietnam or Iraq. He closes by noting softening poll numbers for Republicans like Lindsey Graham and Vivek Ramaswamy, and that Maine Governor Janet Mills has gone sharply negative against progressive challenger Graham Platner in their Senate primary — a sign that the vetting process is heating up in ways that will ultimately be healthy for the party. Finally, Chuck lists his ToddCast Top 5 statewide campaigns from the state of Illinois and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 05:00 Iran war keeps getting worse for Trump, risk of mission creep is high 05:15 America’s place as “Leader of the Free World” is unraveling  06:00 The military part is going well, the diplomatic part is a disaster 06:45 We’re seeing the reasons previous presidents didn’t attack Iran 07:30 Director of Counterterrorism resigns over the war 09:00 Trump is either not getting the truth or being told what he wants to hear 10:00 Gabbard argues Trump has mandate despite not getting 50% of the vote 11:00 Gabbard says only Trump can determine what is an "imminent threat” 11:45 Gabbard wants she signal she doesn’t believe in war, but keep her job 12:45 We’re in the “cover your ass” stage of the war 15:30 Many MAGA true believers like Joe Kent & MTG wanted no more wars 18:00 If you can’t serve the president, resigning is the right thing to do 18:45 We’re less secure today than before the war started 19:30 Trump’s coalition has been fracturing for six months 21:30 Trump’s ranting and begging for help with the Strait of Hormuz 23:00 Strait of Hormuz has always been the Iranian regime’s leverage 24:00 Securing the strait requires boots on the ground 24:45 Trump is learning the hard way why you don’t alienate allies 26:30 If the regime stays in place, it’ll look like Trump retreated 27:30 This war has been confirmation that America is alone 29:15 This war could be more damaging that Vietnam or Iraq 2 30:00 We need real diplomacy and there hasn’t been any of it 30:45 Trump angling for joint operation with China which is… weird 31:15 Trump wants a way out, but boxed himself in 32:30 We’re starting to see softening support for other elected Republicans 33:15 Polls show Lindsey Graham & Vivek Ramaswamy’s support way down 34:30 Janet Mills decides to go sharply negative against Graham Platner 36:45 The vetting in the primary will be healthy for the Democrats 41:15 Abortion may take a backseat to economy, but could affect midterms 43:00 ToddCast Top 5 statewide races in Illinois 44:00 Illinois has produced 2 presidents and sent 4 governors to prison 45:45 #1 Obama’s 2004 senate campaign 51:15 #2 1992 senate campaign 54:15 1960 presidential Kennedy v Nixon 57:15 1984 Simon vs. Percy 59:45 1986 Democratic primary chaos 1:03:15 Honorable mentions 1:05:15 Ask Chuck 1:05:30 Are we normalizing the denigration of female journalists by Trump? 1:09:45 Why do politics feel so much harder now, and we can’t find agreement? 1:11:45 How much did gutting State Dept. lead to evacuation debacle in middle east? 1:15:30 Did Spanberger tee up a wave in the next election with gun control legislation? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with the bluntest assessment yet of the Iran war as it enters its third week: America's position as leader of the free world is unraveling in real time, the risk of mission creep is enormous, and we are now seeing exactly why every previous president chose not to attack Iran. Trump is ranting and begging allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. He notes that Trump is even angling for a joint operation with China to police the strait — a surreal proposition given the broader geopolitical rivalry — and that Trump is learning the hard way why you don't alienate allies before starting a war that requires their help. The Director of Counterterrorism has resigned over the conflict, DNI Tulsi Gabbard is performing rhetorical contortions to signal she doesn't believe in the war while keeping her job, and the administration has entered what Chuck calls the "cover your ass" stage. He argues that Trump's coalition has been fracturing for six months, that America is demonstrably less secure today than before the strikes began, and that this war — which has confirmed to the world that America is truly alone — could ultimately prove more damaging than Vietnam or Iraq. He closes by noting softening poll numbers for Republicans like Lindsey Graham and Vivek Ramaswamy, and that Maine Governor Janet Mills has gone sharply negative against progressive challenger Graham Platner in their Senate primary — a sign that the vetting process is heating up in ways that will ultimately be healthy for the party. Then, Amy Littlefield — investigative reporter for The Nation and author of the new book Killers of Roe: My Investigation into the Mysterious Death of Abortion Rights — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a fascinating deep dive into the decades-long campaign that dismantled abortion rights in America, framed through the lens of an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery where the killers turn out to be the people you least suspect. Littlefield reveals that the death of Roe was not a single blow but death by a thousand stab wounds from multiple suspects: a Catholic hospital system that now controls one in six beds in America with reproductive care restrictions, an evangelical movement that amassed enormous political power in the Reagan era, a Democratic Party that was deeply complicit — the Hyde Amendment passed through a Democratic-majority Congress and real women died as a result — and operatives like Leonard Leo, who hand-delivered Trump a list of Supreme Court justices guaranteed to overturn Roe. Littlefield argues that anti-abortion activists brilliantly copied the playbook of the civil rights movement, that fighting against something is inherently more galvanizing than defending something, and that reproductive rights groups like Planned Parenthood and NARAL were constantly outflanked by a more organized, more disciplined opposition that understood single-issue voters could be leveraged for outsized political power. The conversation turns to the future of reproductive rights in a post-Dobbs America — and the picture is more complicated than either side admits. Littlefield points out that the number of abortions has actually increased since the Dobbs decision, that anti-abortion ballot initiatives consistently lose even in conservative areas, and that there's 80% public support that could be leveraged if the movement reframed its message around freedom rather than choice and connected reproductive rights to economic concerns. But she warns that anti-abortion activists aren't done: they want birth control and IVF outlawed next, and anti-women political movements are gaining momentum globally.  Finally, Chuck lists his ToddCast Top 5 statewide campaigns from the state of Illinois and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 05:00 Iran war keeps getting worse for Trump, risk of mission creep is high 05:15 America’s place as “Leader of the Free World” is unraveling  06:00 The military part is going well, the diplomatic part is a disaster 06:45 We’re seeing the reasons previous presidents didn’t attack Iran 07:30 Director of Counterterrorism resigns over the war 09:00 Trump is either not getting the truth or being told what he wants to hear 10:00 Gabbard argues Trump has mandate despite not getting 50% of the vote 11:00 Gabbard says only Trump can determine what is an "imminent threat” 11:45 Gabbard wants she signal she doesn’t believe in war, but keep her job 12:45 We’re in the “cover your ass” stage of the war 15:30 Many MAGA true believers like Joe Kent & MTG wanted no more wars 18:00 If you can’t serve the president, resigning is the right thing to do 18:45 We’re less secure today than before the war started 19:30 Trump’s coalition has been fracturing for six months 21:30 Trump’s ranting and begging for help with the Strait of Hormuz 23:00 Strait of Hormuz has always been the Iranian regime’s leverage 24:00 Securing the strait requires boots on the ground 24:45 Trump is learning the hard way why you don’t alienate allies 26:30 If the regime stays in place, it’ll look like Trump retreated 27:30 This war has been confirmation that America is alone 29:15 This war could be more damaging that Vietnam or Iraq 2 30:00 We need real diplomacy and there hasn’t been any of it 30:45 Trump angling for joint operation with China which is… weird 31:15 Trump wants a way out, but boxed himself in 32:30 We’re starting to see softening support for other elected Republicans 33:15 Polls show Lindsey Graham & Vivek Ramaswamy’s support way down 34:30 Janet Mills decides to go sharply negative against Graham Platner 36:45 The vetting in the primary will be healthy for the Democrats 41:30 Amy Littlefield joins the Chuck ToddCast 43:00 Why did you choose the murder mystery framing for this book? 44:15 1 in 6 beds is in a Catholic hospital that have reproductive care restrictions 45:45 Agatha Christie’s style was an inspiration for the book 48:45 We know the political side of the story, wanted to tell the activist story 50:15 Getting the Roe v. Wade decision required a strong grassroots movement 50:45 The Catholic church has a strong organizational operation 52:00 Reproductive rights wasn’t a left vs. right issue in the 70s and 80s 54:15 Democrats have been complicit in the erosion of reproductive rights 55:15 The Hyde Amendment got through a Democratic majority congress 56:15 Evangelicals amassed huge political power in the Reagan era 57:00 Ronald Reagan flipped his position on abortion during his presidency 58:45 Abortion and guns are the two single-issue voting issues 59:30 Republicans extracted huge power out of single issue voters 1:00:45 People are willing to compromise other values for anti-abortion position 1:01:30 Anti-abortion activists know they don’t have majority support 1:03:00 Was “choice” the worst word they could pick? Why not frame it as freedom? 1:05:45 Examining the first deaths after the passage of Hyde amendment 1:06:30 Why didn’t deaths due to the Hyde amendment galvanize voters? 1:09:00 Justices didn’t want 5-4 on Roe so they came up with convoluted argument 1:10:00 A flawed legal rationale isn’t why Roe fell 1:11:30 The abortion rights fight has always been in the states 1:13:15 The debate has been over codifying Roe or codifying a right 1:15:15 Repealing the Hyde amendment was biggest win in years for abortion rights 1:17:00 Planned Parenthood has had an oversized role in defending abortion rights 1:17:45 Would there be a Federalist Society without Roe? 1:18:30 Leonard Leo handed Donald Trump the names of justices that would overturn Roe 1:19:45 Anti-abortion activists copied the playbook of the civil rights movement 1:21:15 Is there anybody on the pro-abortion rights side that deserves blame for Dobbs 1:22:30 Reproductive rights groups like PP and NARAL were constantly outflanked 1:23:30 Fighting against something is more galvanizing than defending something 1:25:00 Anti-abortion ballot initiatives consistently lose, even in conservative areas 1:27:30 Conservatives have laid claim to the words “freedom” and “patriot” 1:29:45 Does the codification of abortion rights happen by the 2030s? 1:31:45 Reproductive rights aren’t talked about in an economic framing 1:33:30 Can abortion rights movement draft off heavy support for birth control? 1:34:00 Anti-abortion activists want to see birth control and IVF outlawed 1:36:00 Will activists go to congress for an answer or will it be a long campaign? 1:37:00 Number of abortions has gone up since the Dobbs decision 1:39:00 Death of Roe was death by a thousand stab wounds from many suspects 1:41:00 Anti-abortion and anti-women political movements are gaining momentum 1:42:15 Republican women look uncomfortable with position they’ve been put in 1:44:15 People sharing their stories with abortion is incredibly important 1:47:00 Abortion may take a backseat to economy, but could affect midterms 1:48:45 ToddCast Top 5 statewide races in Illinois 1:49:45 Illinois has produced 2 presidents and sent 4 governors to prison 1:51:30 #1 Barack Obama’s 2004 senate campaign 1:57:00 #2 1992 senate campaign 2:00:00 1960 United States presidential election 2:03:00 1984 Paul Simon vs. Charles H. Percy 2:05:30 1986 Democratic primary chaos 2:09:00 Honorable me

Amy Littlefield — investigative reporter for The Nation and author of the new book Killers of Roe: My Investigation into the Mysterious Death of Abortion Rights — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a fascinating deep dive into the decades-long campaign that dismantled abortion rights in America, framed through the lens of an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery where the killers turn out to be the people you least suspect. Littlefield reveals that the death of Roe was not a single blow but death by a thousand stab wounds from multiple suspects: a Catholic hospital system that now controls one in six beds in America with reproductive care restrictions, an evangelical movement that amassed enormous political power in the Reagan era, a Democratic Party that was deeply complicit — the Hyde Amendment passed through a Democratic-majority Congress and real women died as a result — and operatives like Leonard Leo, who hand-delivered Trump a list of Supreme Court justices guaranteed to overturn Roe. Littlefield argues that anti-abortion activists brilliantly copied the playbook of the civil rights movement, that fighting against something is inherently more galvanizing than defending something, and that reproductive rights groups like Planned Parenthood and NARAL were constantly outflanked by a more organized, more disciplined opposition that understood single-issue voters could be leveraged for outsized political power. The conversation turns to the future of reproductive rights in a post-Dobbs America — and the picture is more complicated than either side admits. Littlefield points out that the number of abortions has actually increased since the Dobbs decision, that anti-abortion ballot initiatives consistently lose even in conservative areas, and that there's 80% public support that could be leveraged if the movement reframed its message around freedom rather than choice and connected reproductive rights to economic concerns. But she warns that anti-abortion activists aren't done: they want birth control and IVF outlawed next, and anti-women political movements are gaining momentum globally.  Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Amy Littlefield joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 Why did you choose the murder mystery framing for this book? 02:45 1 in 6 beds is in a Catholic hospital that have reproductive care restrictions 04:15 Agatha Christie’s style was an inspiration for the book 07:15 We know the political side of the story, wanted to tell the activist story 08:45 Getting the Roe decision required a strong grassroots movement 09:15 The Catholic church has a strong organizational operation 10:30 Reproductive rights wasn’t a left vs. right issue in the 70s and 80s 12:45 Democrats have been complicit in the erosion of reproductive rights 13:45 The Hyde amendment got through a Democratic majority congress 14:45 Evangelicals amassed huge political power in the Reagan era 15:30 Reagan flipped his position on abortion during his presidency 17:15 Abortion and guns are the two single-issue voting issues 18:00 Republicans extracted huge power out of single issue voters 19:15 People are willing to compromise other values for anti-abortion position 20:00 Anti-abortion activists know they don’t have majority support 21:30 Was “choice” the worst word they could pick? Why not frame it as freedom? 24:15 Examining the first deaths after the passage of Hyde amendment 25:00 Why didn’t deaths due to the Hyde amendment galvanize voters? 27:30 Justices didn’t want 5-4 on Roe so they came up with convoluted argument 28:30 A flawed legal rationale isn’t why Roe fell 30:00 The abortion rights fight has always been in the states 31:45 The debate has been over codifying Roe or codifying a right 33:45 Repealing the Hyde amendment was biggest win in years for abortion rights 35:30 Planned Parenthood has had an oversized role in defending abortion rights 36:15 Would there be a Federalist Society without Roe? 37:00 Leonard Leo handed Trump the names of justices that would overturn Roe 38:15 Anti-abortion activists copied the playbook of the civil rights movement 39:45 Is there anybody on the pro-abortion rights side that deserves blame for Dobbs? 41:00 Reproductive rights groups like PP and NARAL were constantly outflanked 42:00 Fighting against something is more galvanizing than defending something 43:30 Anti-abortion ballot initiatives consistently lose, even in conservative areas 46:00 Conservatives have laid claim to the words “freedom” and “patriot” 48:15 Does the codification of abortion rights happen by the 2030s? 50:15 Reproductive rights aren’t talked about in an economic framing 52:00 Can abortion rights movement draft off heavy support for birth control? 52:30 Anti-abortion activists want to see birth control and IVF outlawed 54:30 Will activists go to congress for an answer or will it be a long campaign? 55:30 Number of abortions has gone up since the Dobbs decision 57:30 Death of Roe was death by a thousand stab wounds from many suspects 59:30 Anti-abortion and anti-women political movements are gaining momentum 1:00:45 Republican women look uncomfortable with position they’ve been put in 1:02:45 People sharing their stories with abortion is incredibly important See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd delivers a sweeping analysis of how the Iran war is metastasizing into an economic, military, and constitutional crisis all at once — warning that the Strait of Hormuz, the most important waterway in the world through which roughly a fifth of global oil supply flows, is Iran's ultimate point of leverage and one Trump catastrophically failed to account for. He argues that Trump mistakenly assumed the Iranian regime would be as transactional as he is and would capitulate the way Venezuela did, but Iran has no intention of walking away from its ability to make the strait dangerous to navigate — which is all it takes to send energy markets into chaos, threaten the tourism and banking economies of Gulf states, and risk the economic collapse of nuclear-armed Pakistan through energy shortages. He calls Pete Hegseth a "Baghdad Bob"-style propagandist presiding over the administration's grotesque "memeification" of war, then turns to what he calls FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's declaration of war on press freedom — Carr threatened Saturday to revoke broadcast licenses over Iran war coverage the administration deems unfavorable, drawing immediate condemnation from Democrats, free speech groups, and even some Republicans who called it "authoritarian" and "unconstitutional." Chuck warns that while courts will likely block Carr's most extreme threats, the mere act of launching investigations creates a chilling effect not dissimilar to how broadcasting works in Russia.  He closes by acknowledging that the Iranian regime needs to go, but that Trump's disastrous decision to lift oil sanctions on Russia has only strengthened Moscow's position, and that the war has dramatically increased the likelihood of terrorist attacks against Americans  Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the creation of standardized time, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and gives his advice for building your NCAA tournament bracket.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 04:15 The Iran War will impact nearly everything 05:00 Military, war has been a route but it’s become asymmetrical 05:45 The Strait of Hormuz is the most important waterway in the world 06:45 Trump mistakenly assumed Iranian regime would be transactional like him 08:00 Shutting the strait is Iran’s biggest point of deterrence 09:00 Shutting the strait can massively damage the world economy 09:45 Trump miscalculated Iran would capitulate like Venezuela 12:00 The strait is Iran’s leverage, they aren’t going to walk away from it 12:45 Trump talks a big game, but Iran can extract a huge price on the west 14:15 Pete Hegseth has become a “Baghdad Bob” style propagandist 15:30 Asymmetrical warfare is how America won the Revolutionary War 16:45 All Iran has to do is make the Strait of Hormuz dangerous to navigate 17:30 Reagan had to intervene in the Gulf in the 80s to secure shipping routes 18:15 Convoy protection missions rarely stay small 19:15 If keeping shipping lanes open is the goal, the timeline & operation expands 20:00 Gulf states has become tourism & banking hubs, that’s being threatened 21:15 War is both an economic and “image” blow to the gulf states 22:30 Energy shortages risk the economic collapse of nuclear armed Pakistan 23:30 Trump made a disastrous decision to lift oil sanctions on Russia 24:00 War in Iran is strengthening Russia’s position in the Ukraine war 24:45 Energy prices affect the entire economy. Will raise inflation in America 25:30 This war is a major economic gamble 26:30 FCC Chair declares war on freedom of the press 27:15 Carr threatens to pull broadcast licenses over unfavorable war coverage 28:15 Carr’s threats aren’t dissimilar to how broadcasting works in Russia 30:00 FCC just launching investigations can put pressure on networks 31:15 ABC settling with Trump was a massive mistake 32:30 Project 2025 proposed “broadcast regulation” similar to this 33:45 Administration’s “memeification” of war is gross & embarrassing 35:00 War has increased likelihood of terrorist attacks against American 35:30 American Jews & Muslims have had to spend millions on security 36:15 Administration hiding terrorism reports should scare us* 37:45 The courts will stop Brendan Carr from violating press freedom 38:45 Administration owes the people an explanation 39:30 The Iranian regime needs to go, but war has serious costs 46:00 Illinois primary livestream with DDHQ & Chris Cillizza on Tuesday 47:15 ToddCast Time Machine - When time back standardized 48:00 March 19, 1918 Congress passes the Standard Time Act 48:45 Local time standards were a problem with development of railroads 49:30 Coordinating trains wasn’t just difficult, it was dangerous 50:00 Sanford Fleming proposed dividing globe into timezones 50:30 Railroads imposed standardized times before government did 52:00 Train crash near Tipton, Ohio showed issues with timekeeping 53:15 Railroad safety become dependant on pocketwatches 54:00 Daylight savings time is adopted during WW1 54:45 World War required standardized time to coordinate 55:15 Congress formalized standard time after entering WW1 56:15 Daylight savings time was eliminated, but returns in WW2 56:45 Congress passes the Uniform Time Act in 1966 57:30 States can opt out of the Uniform Time Act 59:00 World clocks are now synchronized via atomic clocks 1:00:00 Ask Chuck 1:00:15 Are the Democrats walking into a trap by elevating Graham Platner? 1:07:15 The Perfect Neighbor told a gripping story via bodycam footage 1:10:00 How do you feel about Trump claiming credit for you becoming independent? 1:15:00 NCAA bracket advice See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd delivers a sweeping analysis of how the Iran war is metastasizing into an economic, military, and constitutional crisis all at once — warning that the Strait of Hormuz, the most important waterway in the world through which roughly a fifth of global oil supply flows, is Iran's ultimate point of leverage and one Trump catastrophically failed to account for. He argues that Trump mistakenly assumed the Iranian regime would be as transactional as he is and would capitulate the way Venezuela did, but Iran has no intention of walking away from its ability to make the strait dangerous to navigate — which is all it takes to send energy markets into chaos, threaten the tourism and banking economies of Gulf states, and risk the economic collapse of nuclear-armed Pakistan through energy shortages. He calls Pete Hegseth a "Baghdad Bob"-style propagandist presiding over the administration's grotesque "memeification" of war, then turns to what he calls FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's declaration of war on press freedom — Carr threatened Saturday to revoke broadcast licenses over Iran war coverage the administration deems unfavorable, drawing immediate condemnation from Democrats, free speech groups, and even some Republicans who called it "authoritarian" and "unconstitutional." Chuck warns that while courts will likely block Carr's most extreme threats, the mere act of launching investigations creates a chilling effect not dissimilar to how broadcasting works in Russia.  He closes by acknowledging that the Iranian regime needs to go, but that Trump's disastrous decision to lift oil sanctions on Russia has only strengthened Moscow's position, and that the war has dramatically increased the likelihood of terrorist attacks against Americans  Then, Faiz Shakir — Bernie Sanders' 2020 campaign manager, former DNC chair candidate, and executive director of the progressive media organization More Perfect Union — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a bracingly honest conversation about what's wrong with the Democratic Party and what it would take to fix it. Shakir diagnoses a party that is functionally leaderless, with its top figures stuck in a "play dead" mentality while the Democratic brand polls worse than the Republican brand even as Trump's corruption grows more brazen by the day. He argues that Trump — like Biden before him — is finger-wagging at voters on the economy rather than addressing affordability, and that Democrats are blowing the opportunity to capitalize because they're terrible at picking fights and allergic to friction. Shakir is particularly scathing on the party's relationship with big tech and corporate power: He holds up Bernie Sanders' AI data center moratorium as the kind of fight Democrats should be waging, and Lina Khan's FTC tenure as the model of mission-driven disruption. The conversation then turns to the future of the party and how to build a lasting majority. Shakir argues that the right candidate could move 7% of the electorate from right to left, that if Sanders were younger he'd likely win in 2028, and that Sanders has more credibility than AOC because he represents a rural state — though he praises both AOC's national appeal and Ro Khanna's political intelligence. He insists Democrats need to fight a class-based economic justice campaign, stop punishing candidates who aren't perfectly aligned on social issues, and recognize that "independent" doesn't mean centrist — younger voters are disillusioned with both parties and hungry for a working-class-first agenda. Shakir offers a detailed vision for DNC reform: fund state parties based on merit and metrics, move Nevada to first on the primary calendar because Vegas politics would orient the party toward working-class concerns, add Michigan and North Carolina to the early window,and invest in sun belt opportunities He closes by noting that James Talarico channeled Bernie's message with a religious-based framing, and that Democratic voters always gravitate toward outsiders — the party just needs to let them run. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the creation of standardized time, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and gives his advice for building your NCAA tournament bracket.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 05:30 The Iran War will impact nearly everything 06:15 Military, war has been a route but it’s become asymmetrical 07:00 The Strait of Hormuz is the most important waterway in the world 08:00 Trump mistakenly assumed Iranian regime would be transactional like him 09:15 Shutting the strait is Iran’s biggest point of deterrence 10:15 Shutting the strait can massively damage the world economy 11:00 Trump miscalculated Iran would capitulate like Venezuela 13:15 The strait is Iran’s leverage, they aren’t going to walk away from it 14:00 Trump talks a big game, but Iran can extract a huge price on the west 15:30 Pete Hegseth has become a “Baghdad Bob” style propagandist 16:45 Asymmetrical warfare is how America won the Revolutionary War 18:00 All Iran has to do is make the Strait of Hormuz dangerous to navigate 18:45 Reagan had to intervene in the Gulf in the 80s to secure shipping routes 19:30 Convoy protection missions rarely stay small 20:30 If keeping shipping lanes open is the goal, the timeline & operation expands 21:15 Gulf states has become tourism & banking hubs, that’s being threatened 22:30 War is both an economic and “image” blow to the gulf states 23:45 Energy shortages risk the economic collapse of nuclear armed Pakistan 24:45 Trump made a disastrous decision to lift oil sanctions on Russia 25:15 War in Iran is strengthening Russia’s position in the Ukraine war 26:00 Energy prices affect the entire economy. Will raise inflation in America 26:45 This war is a major economic gamble 27:45 FCC Chair declares war on freedom of the press 28:30 Carr threatens to pull broadcast licenses over unfavorable war coverage 29:30 Carr’s threats aren’t dissimilar to how broadcasting works in Russia 31:15 FCC just launching investigations can put pressure on networks 32:30 ABC settling with Trump was a massive mistake 33:45 Project 2025 proposed “broadcast regulation” similar to this 35:00 Administration’s “memeification” of war is gross & embarrassing 36:15 War has increased likelihood of terrorist attacks against American 36:45 American Jews & Muslims have had to spend millions on security 37:30 Administration hiding terrorism reports should scare us* 39:00 The courts will stop Brendan Carr from violating press freedom 40:00 Administration owes the people an explanation 40:45 The Iranian regime needs to go, but war has serious costs 47:30 Faiz Shakir joins the Chuck ToddCast 49:15 Democratic party seems leaderless 49:45 Would you run again for DNC chair? 51:15 Leaders of the party have a bit of a “play dead” mentality 52:00 Democratic brand is still in worse shape than Republican brand 53:15 Trump having billionaires at inauguration was foreshadowing 53:45 Trump’s corruption is incredibly brazen 54:45 It’s obvious Trump doesn’t care about affordability 55:45 Trump, like Biden, is finger wagging at voters on the economy 57:00 Vance sold himself as an anti-interventionalist populist 57:45 Vance has had to completely go against his political identity 58:30 Trump’s corruption has totally undermined Vance 1:00:00 Trump’s argument of "imminent threat” from Iran is nonsense 1:01:30 Chuck Schumer told his caucus to “suck it up” on crypto 1:03:00 The public is far ahead of politicians in being skeptical of AI 1:03:45 Very little is being offered by AI that would improve lives of working class 1:04:30 Every candidate in Illinois senate race basically has a big tech sponsor 1:05:45 Democratic party is terrible at picking fights and don’t like friction 1:06:30 Bernie Sanders AI data center moratorium reflects the public sentiment 1:07:15 Democrats are so heady on policy they let their politics suffer 1:08:30 There’s a movement of independent candidates, but winning matters 1:09:15 Independents are offering a different, working class first agenda 1:10:30 Democrats punish candidates who aren’t perfectly aligned on social issues 1:12:00 Bernie Sanders is stronger candidate in a general election than a primary 1:13:00 The right candidate could move 7% of the electorate from right to left 1:14:45 If Sanders were younger and could run in 2028, he’d likely win 1:15:45 Sanders has more credibility than AOC because he’s from rural state 1:16:30 Democrats need to fight a class based, economic justice campaign 1:18:45 How would you make changes at the DNC? 1:20:00 How should Democrats approach secondary races in MT & NE? 1:21:30 Younger voters are disillusioned with both parties, are independent minded 1:22:15 Independent does not mean centrist 1:23:15 State by state redistricting will eventually need national overhaul 1:25:00 Democrats “adult in the room” status has helped them in some places 1:26:15 Democrats have been viewed as the status quo party 1:27:00 Who is the heir apparent to Bernie? 1:27:30 Bernie respects the national appeal of AOC 1:29:15 Ro Khanna is incredibly smart and calculating 1:30:00 Politics has become an entertainment industry as much as policy 1:31:45 Voters want a disrupter with goals that a

Faiz Shakir — Bernie Sanders' 2020 campaign manager, former DNC chair candidate, and executive director of the progressive media organization More Perfect Union — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a bracingly honest conversation about what's wrong with the Democratic Party and what it would take to fix it. Shakir diagnoses a party that is functionally leaderless, with its top figures stuck in a "play dead" mentality while the Democratic brand polls worse than the Republican brand even as Trump's corruption grows more brazen by the day. He argues that Trump — like Biden before him — is finger-wagging at voters on the economy rather than addressing affordability, and that Democrats are blowing the opportunity to capitalize because they're terrible at picking fights and allergic to friction. Shakir is particularly scathing on the party's relationship with big tech and corporate power: He holds up Bernie Sanders' AI data center moratorium as the kind of fight Democrats should be waging, and Lina Khan's FTC tenure as the model of mission-driven disruption. The conversation then turns to the future of the party and how to build a lasting majority. Shakir argues that the right candidate could move 7% of the electorate from right to left, that if Sanders were younger he'd likely win in 2028, and that Sanders has more credibility than AOC because he represents a rural state — though he praises both AOC's national appeal and Ro Khanna's political intelligence. He insists Democrats need to fight a class-based economic justice campaign, stop punishing candidates who aren't perfectly aligned on social issues, and recognize that "independent" doesn't mean centrist — younger voters are disillusioned with both parties and hungry for a working-class-first agenda. Shakir offers a detailed vision for DNC reform: fund state parties based on merit and metrics, move Nevada to first on the primary calendar because Vegas politics would orient the party toward working-class concerns, add Michigan and North Carolina to the early window,and invest in sun belt opportunities He closes by noting that James Talarico channeled Bernie's message with a religious-based framing, and that Democratic voters always gravitate toward outsiders — the party just needs to let them run.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Faiz Shakir joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:45 Democratic party seems leaderless 02:15 Would you run again for DNC chair? 03:45 Leaders of the party have a bit of a “play dead” mentality 04:30 Democratic brand is still in worse shape than Republican brand 05:45 Trump having billionaires at inauguration was foreshadowing 06:15 Trump’s corruption is incredibly brazen 07:15 It’s obvious Trump doesn’t care about affordability 08:15 Trump, like Biden, is finger wagging at voters on the economy 09:30 Vance sold himself as an anti-interventionalist populist  10:15 Vance has had to completely go against his political identity 11:00 Trump’s corruption has totally undermined Vance 12:30 Trump’s argument of "imminent threat” from Iran is nonsense 14:00 Chuck Schumer told his caucus to “suck it up” on crypto  15:30 The public is far ahead of politicians in being skeptical of AI 16:15 Very little is being offered by AI that would improve lives of working class 17:00 Every candidate in Illinois senate race basically has a big tech sponsor 18:15 Democratic party is terrible at picking fights and don’t like friction 19:00 Bernie Sanders AI data center moratorium reflects the public sentiment 19:45 Democrats are so heady on policy they let their politics suffer 21:00 There’s a movement of independent candidates, but winning matters 21:45 Independents are offering a different, working class first agenda 23:00 Democrats punish candidates who aren’t perfectly aligned on social issues 24:30 Bernie Sanders is stronger candidate in a general election than a primary 25:30 The right candidate could move 7% of the electorate from right to left 27:15 If Sanders were younger and could run in 2028, he’d likely win 28:15 Sanders has more credibility than AOC because he’s from rural state 29:00 Democrats need to fight a class based, economic justice campaign 31:15 How would you make changes at the DNC? 32:30 How should Democrats approach secondary races in MT & NE? 34:00 Younger voters are disillusioned with both parties, are independent minded 34:45 Independent does not mean centrist 35:45 State by state redistricting will eventually need national overhaul 37:30 Democrats “adult in the room” status has helped them in some places 38:45 Democrats have been viewed as the status quo party 39:30 Who is the heir apparent to Bernie? 40:00 Bernie respects the national appeal of AOC 41:45 Ro Khanna is incredibly smart and calculating 42:30 Politics has become an entertainment industry as much as policy 44:15 Voters want a disrupter with goals that are attainable 45:00 Lina Khan had a sense of imagination at the FTC 46:15 Mission driven disruption is associated with the progressive wing 47:15 Gavin Newsom has become the anti-Trump Democratic candidate 48:00 Newsom fighting the wealth tax is probably hurting himself with base 49:00 Rahm Emmanuel will struggle to overcome his political baggage 49:45 Democrats have surrendered on education as a national issue 50:30 Democrats should be offering year round schooling with new curriculum 51:15 Democrats should propose public service jobs with good pay & benefits 53:00 Nevada is the ideal first state for Democratic primary calendar 54:00 Vegas politics would orient Democrats to working class concerns 54:30 Michigan & NC should be in the first four for Democrats 55:45 Iowa & NH were battlegrounds because of first in nation status 58:30 DNC needs to give state parties money based on merit & metrics 59:45 Democrats have to find somewhere in sun belt to invest in 1:01:15 Mississippi could be best value in the south for Dems 1:02:00 Mississippi has a strong labor base to be courted 1:03:15 More debate between Talarico & Crockett would have been good for party 1:03:45 Talarico channeled Bernie’s message with a religious based framing 1:05:15 If Talarico or Platner win senate race, they’re serious 2028 candidates 1:06:30 Democratic voters always like an outsider in their presidential candidates 1:08:00 What is More Perfect Union and where can people find your work? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with a grim inventory of an administration besieged on every front as the Iran war enters its twelfth day with no exit strategy in sight. He then pivots to the SAVE Act — the Republican voting bill that has 50 Senate votes but faces a filibuster John Thune admits he likely can't break. He walks through the details that go well beyond simple voter ID: the bill requires documentary proof of citizenship to register, treats women who change their name through marriage as first-time voters, and Trump is demanding additions including a near-total ban on mail-in voting — turning what polls show is an 80%-popular concept into a toxic package that could disenfranchise millions. He notes that John Cornyn flipped his filibuster position to chase Trump's Texas endorsement, warns that if Republicans nuke the filibuster and Democrats later win the Senate they won't restore it, and argues that Republicans are essentially writing legislation to make Trump's false fraud claims real — while Trump is already setting up the SAVE Act's inevitable failure as his preemptive excuse for midterm losses that have nothing to do with voting rules and everything to do with an unpopular war, a tanking economy, and a completely unserious leader running the Pentagon. Ultimately, he argues that partisan changes to voting rule destroy trust in democracy, whether it be the SAVE Act, or Democrats efforts to pass HR1. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and celebrates the start of March Madness.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 04:30 There’s no easy way for Trump to get out of Iran 05:30 It’s become clear US responsible for bombing Iranian school 06:15 FBI warns California law enforcement of threat of Iranian drone strikes 07:15 The fallout from the war is complicated & Trump can’t just turn it off 08:30 Drone attack that killed US soldiers far more serious than initially reported 09:15 Republicans in congress are demoralized & don’t know what to run on 10:45 Pentagon bars press for publishing “unflattering” photos of Pete Hegseth 12:00 We have a serious war and a completely unserious leader of the Pentagon 12:45 Republican senators knew Hegseth was unqualified & confirmed him anyway 14:15 It’s important to explain the details of the Republican SAVE Act 15:00 John Cornyn flipped position on the filibuster to try to earn Trump endorsement 15:30 Republicans likely don’t have the votes to kill the filibuster 16:15 Contrasting and comparing Democrats HR1 vs Republicans SAVE Act 18:15 SAVE Act requires proof of citizenship to vote 19:00 Trump wants a total ban on mail in voting and all voting on one day 20:00 If GOP kills filibuster & Dems win senate, Dems won’t restore it 20:45 If passed in a partisan vote, SAVE Act would delegitimize democracy 21:45 If rules change based on who’s in power, the public will lose faith in process 23:30 We’re seeing a collision of two partisan visions over who gets to vote 24:30 SAVE Act makes voter registration a “show your papers” event 25:30 There’s a massive gap between bill passed in house & what Trump wants 26:00 Trump is demanding a bill loaded with culture war items 27:30 If Republicans jam through the SAVE Act, it could juice Democratic turnout 29:00 Voter ID isn’t controversial with the public 29:45 There’s 80% support for proof of citizenship when registering to vote 30:15 Republicans believe it should be harder to vote, Dems think it should be easier 31:30 Trump is taking popular ideas and packaging them in a bill that is toxic 32:30 Stability in a democracy doesn’t come from a 51% majority 33:45 34k people in Arizona were barred from state elections, but had federal carve out 35:00 Almost no voter fraud has actually been found 36:00 If you change name or get married, SAVE Act treats you as first time voter 37:30 America already makes life harder on women, SAVE Act makes it worse 38:15 The SAVE Act goes WELL beyond voter ID 39:00 Republicans are writing a bill to make Trump’s b******t real 39:45 Trump will blame failure to pass SAVE Act for election losses in midterms 41:00 SAVE Act would disenfranchise or add barriers for millions of voters 42:00 Individual citizens have no constitutional right to vote 42:45 State constitutions provide voting guarantees, SAVE Act contradicts that 44:15 Changes to voting rules need bipartisan public consensus 50:00 Ask Chuck 50:15 How is the psyche of the American people able to handle constant crisis? 55:30 Are the war and Epstein files just distracting from importance of midterms? 59:00 Have larger sums of money started to become irrelevant in elections? 1:03:00 At what point does fundraising advantage stop matter? 1:07:15 Chances of false flag blamed on Iran to provide pretext to mess with elections? 1:13:00 Thanks for giving me hope while feeling like we’re living through fall of Rome 1:16:30 How can a future president reverse course on tariffs? 1:19:00 Thoughts on March Madness See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with a grim inventory of an administration besieged on every front as the Iran war enters its twelfth day with no exit strategy in sight. He then pivots to the SAVE Act — the Republican voting bill that has 50 Senate votes but faces a filibuster John Thune admits he likely can't break. He walks through the details that go well beyond simple voter ID: the bill requires documentary proof of citizenship to register, treats women who change their name through marriage as first-time voters, and Trump is demanding additions including a near-total ban on mail-in voting — turning what polls show is an 80%-popular concept into a toxic package that could disenfranchise millions. He notes that John Cornyn flipped his filibuster position to chase Trump's Texas endorsement, warns that if Republicans nuke the filibuster and Democrats later win the Senate they won't restore it, and argues that Republicans are essentially writing legislation to make Trump's false fraud claims real — while Trump is already setting up the SAVE Act's inevitable failure as his preemptive excuse for midterm losses that have nothing to do with voting rules and everything to do with an unpopular war, a tanking economy, and a completely unserious leader running the Pentagon. Ultimately, he argues that partisan changes to voting rule destroy trust in democracy, whether it be the SAVE Act, or Democrats efforts to pass HR1. Then, Fiona Hill — who served on the National Security Council under three presidents and became a household name during Trump's first impeachment — joins the Chuck ToddCast for a deeply alarming assessment of the Iran war now entering its second week, with Operation Epic Fury having metastasized into a multi-front conflict spanning nine countries, oil prices surging past $100 a barrel, and hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded across the Middle East. Hill dismantles the geopolitical chessboard with surgical precision, explaining that while there is no formal alliance between Russia and Iran and that the relationship is deeply transactional, with Iran having provided Russia with Shahed drones and helped build a drone factory. She argues that China is letting the U.S. "rope-a-dope" itself, sitting back alongside Russia to watch America bleed resources and credibility in yet another Middle Eastern quagmire. She flags the glaring double standard in the administration's diplomacy: envoy Steve Witkoff refused to take the Iranians at their word during nuclear negotiations in Geneva but accepted Russian assurances at face value. The conversation turns existential as Hill warns that Trump's adventurism — which never faced serious consequences through Venezuela or the June 2025 strikes that made Iran look like a paper tiger — has now collided with reality. Trump saw the opportunity to kill Khamenei and took it, hoping for either a popular uprising or a pliant successor, but none of those hopes have materialized. Hill calls it an Afghanistan-and-Iraq-level jam with even less global credibility.. They raise the chilling question of whether Xi Jinping might prioritize seizing Taiwan while America is overextended, observes that NORAD doesn't function without Canada and the Nordic countries that Trump has alienated, warns that the damage to America's reputation will last decades, and notes that individual U.S. states are already setting up their own diplomatic representation with foreign countries to fill the vacuum. They close with a striking contrast: unlike Russians, Americans can still vote their way out of tyranny — but the window in which that remains true may be narrowing, as we are likely entering a post-American empire period. Finally, he answers listeners’ question in the “Ask Chuck” segment and celebrates the start of March Madness.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 04:30 There’s no easy way for Trump to get out of Iran 05:30 It’s become clear US responsible for bombing Iranian school 06:15 FBI warns California law enforcement of threat of Iranian drone strikes 07:15 The fallout from the war is complicated & Trump can’t just turn it off 08:30 Drone attack that killed US soldiers far more serious than initially reported 09:15 Republicans in congress are demoralized & don’t know what to run on 10:45 Pentagon bars press for publishing “unflattering” photos of Pete Hegseth 12:00 We have a serious war and a completely unserious leader of the Pentagon 12:45 Republican senators knew Hegseth was unqualified & confirmed him anyway 14:15 It’s important to explain the details of the Republican SAVE Act 15:00 John Cornyn flipped position on the filibuster to try to earn Trump endorsement 15:30 Republicans likely don’t have the votes to kill the filibuster 16:15 Contrasting and comparing Democrats HR1 vs Republicans SAVE Act 18:15 SAVE Act requires proof of citizenship to vote 19:00 Trump wants a total ban on mail in voting and all voting on one day 20:00 If GOP kills filibuster & Dems win senate, Dems won’t restore it 20:45 If passed in a partisan vote, SAVE Act would delegitimize democracy 21:45 If rules change based on who’s in power, the public will lose faith in process 23:30 We’re seeing a collision of two partisan visions over who gets to vote 24:30 SAVE Act makes voter registration a “show your papers” event 25:30 There’s a massive gap between bill passed in house & what Trump wants 26:00 Trump is demanding a bill loaded with culture war items 27:30 If Republicans jam through the SAVE Act, it could juice Democratic turnout 29:00 Voter ID isn’t controversial with the public 29:45 There’s 80% support for proof of citizenship when registering to vote 30:15 Republicans believe it should be harder to vote, Dems think it should be easier 31:30 Trump is taking popular ideas and packaging them in a bill that is toxic 32:30 Stability in a democracy doesn’t come from a 51% majority 33:45 34k people in Arizona were barred from state elections, but had federal carve out 35:00 Almost no voter fraud has actually been found 36:00 If you change name or get married, SAVE Act treats you as first time voter 37:30 America already makes life harder on women, SAVE Act makes it worse 38:15 The SAVE Act goes WELL beyond voter ID 39:00 Republicans are writing a bill to make Trump’s b******t real 39:45 Trump will blame failure to pass SAVE Act for election losses in midterms 41:00 SAVE Act would disenfranchise or add barriers for millions of voters 42:00 Individual citizens have no constitutional right to vote 42:45 State constitutions provide voting guarantees, SAVE Act contradicts that 44:15 Changes to voting rules need bipartisan public consensus 50:15 Fiona Hill joins the Chuck ToddCast 51:30 There is no formal alliance between Russia and Iran 52:15 Historically, Russia and Iran clashed over territory 54:00 Iran provided Russia with Shahed drones & helped build factory 54:45 Trump views his relationship with Russia & Putin in a vacuum 55:45 Iran’s relationship with China & Russia is very transactional 56:30 Iran sees itself as a civilization, not just a country 58:15 China is letting the U.S. “rope a dope” itself 59:30 China doesn’t do favors without a cost 1:00:15 Witkoff didn’t take Iranians at their word but did with Russia 1:00:45 China & Russia are sitting back and watching what happens in Iran 1:01:45 Special military operations often become quagmires 1:03:00 Trump hasn’t thought about the knock-on consequences in Iran 1:05:15 Administration thinks they can figure it out as they go 1:06:00 Trump’s adventurism never had serious consequences until now 1:07:45 9/11 shaped the frame for American thinking for 25 years 1:08:45 Do you buy that MBS pushed Trump into striking Iran? 1:09:45 The Chinese didn’t see unintended effects of war in Ukraine 1:10:45 Russia has 20x casualty rate in Ukraine that USSR had in Afghanistan 1:12:45 The Israelis are clear that they want regime change 1:13:00 Outside of eliminating the nuclear program… What's the rest of our aim? 1:14:30 Without regime change, Iranian and Venezuelan people will turn on Trump 1:15:30 There’s a large Iranian population is many countries 1:16:00 Trump is in a Afghanistan/Iraq level jam with no plan 1:16:45 Gutting of national security council effects on Trump’s planning 1:18:00 We’ve lost grip of our political system, congress has abdicated 1:19:15 High oil prices could be a boon to Russia, but shipping is an issue 1:21:30 Putin doesn’t want to end the war in Ukraine unless its on his terms 1:22:15 Ukraine has been an incredibly tough fighting force 1:23:00 The rich & powerful forget that the other 8 billion people have agency 1:24:30 Ukraine won’t have a peace imposed on it by outsiders 1:25:15 Trump assumes everyone else is as transactional as he is 1:26:15 Khamenei is a religious leader, his killing has religious implications 1:29:15 Asymmetrical war feels unwinnable 1:31:30 The damage to America’s reputation in the world will last decades 1:32:30 NORAD doesn’t work without Canada & Nordic countries 1:35:00 How can a future president try to fix the damage with allies? 1:36:00 Individual states are setting up representation with foreign countries 1:38:00 If you’re Xi, do you prioritize seizing Taiwan while Trump’s in office? 1:39:45 We’re likely in a post-Americ

Fiona Hill — who served on the National Security Council under three presidents and became a household name during Trump's first impeachment — joins the Chuck ToddCast for a deeply alarming assessment of the Iran war now entering its second week, with Operation Epic Fury having metastasized into a multi-front conflict spanning nine countries, oil prices surging past $100 a barrel, and hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded across the Middle East. Hill dismantles the geopolitical chessboard with surgical precision, explaining that while there is no formal alliance between Russia and Iran and that the relationship is deeply transactional, with Iran having provided Russia with Shahed drones and helped build a drone factory. She argues that China is letting the U.S. "rope-a-dope" itself, sitting back alongside Russia to watch America bleed resources and credibility in yet another Middle Eastern quagmire. She flags the glaring double standard in the administration's diplomacy: envoy Steve Witkoff refused to take the Iranians at their word during nuclear negotiations in Geneva but accepted Russian assurances at face value. The conversation turns existential as Hill warns that Trump's adventurism — which never faced serious consequences through Venezuela or the June 2025 strikes that made Iran look like a paper tiger — has now collided with reality. Trump saw the opportunity to kill Khamenei and took it, hoping for either a popular uprising or a pliant successor, but none of those hopes have materialized. Hill calls it an Afghanistan-and-Iraq-level jam with even less global credibility.. They raise the chilling question of whether Xi Jinping might prioritize seizing Taiwan while America is overextended, observes that NORAD doesn't function without Canada and the Nordic countries that Trump has alienated, warns that the damage to America's reputation will last decades, and notes that individual U.S. states are already setting up their own diplomatic representation with foreign countries to fill the vacuum. They close with a striking contrast: unlike Russians, Americans can still vote their way out of tyranny — but the window in which that remains true may be narrowing, as we are likely entering a post-American empire period.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Fiona Hill joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:15 There is no formal alliance between Russia and Iran 02:00 Historically, Russia and Iran clashed over territory 03:45 Iran provided Russia with Shahed drones & helped build factory 04:30 Trump views his relationship with Russia & Putin in a vacuum 05:30 Iran’s relationship with China & Russia is very transactional 06:15 Iran sees itself as a civilization, not just a country 08:00 China is letting the U.S. “rope a dope” itself 09:15 China doesn’t do favors without a cost 10:00 Witkoff didn’t take Iranians at their word but did with Russia 10:30 China & Russia are sitting back and watching what happens in Iran 11:30 Special military operations often become quagmires 12:45 Trump hasn’t thought about the knock-on consequences in Iran 15:00 Administration thinks they can figure it out as they go 15:45 Trump’s adventurism never had serious consequences until now 17:30 9/11 shaped the frame for American thinking for 25 years 18:30 Do you buy that MBS pushed Trump into striking Iran? 19:30 The Chinese didn’t see unintended effects of war in Ukraine 20:30 Russia has 20x casualty rate in Ukraine that USSR had in Afghanistan 22:30 The Israelis are clear that they want regime change 22:45 Outside of eliminating the nuclear program… What's the rest of our aim? 24:15 Without regime change, Iranian and Venezuelan people will turn on Trump 25:15 There’s a large Iranian population is many countries 25:45 Trump is in a Afghanistan/Iraq level jam with no plan 26:30 Gutting of national security council effects on Trump’s planning 27:45 We’ve lost grip of our political system, congress has abdicated 29:00 High oil prices could be a boon to Russia, but shipping is an issue 31:15 Putin doesn’t want to end the war in Ukraine unless its on his terms 32:00 Ukraine has been an incredibly tough fighting force 32:45 The rich & powerful forget that the other 8 billion people have agency 34:15 Ukraine won’t have a peace imposed on it by outsiders 35:00 Trump assumes everyone else is as transactional as he is 36:00 Khamenei is a religious leader, his killing has religious implications 39:00 Asymmetrical war feels unwinnable 41:15 The damage to America’s reputation in the world will last decades 42:15 NORAD doesn’t work without Canada & Nordic countries 44:45 How can a future president try to fix the damage with allies? 45:45 Individual states are setting up representation with foreign countries 47:45 If you’re Xi, do you prioritize seizing Taiwan while Trump’s in office? 49:30 We’re likely in a post-American empire period 50:15 Is there any heir apparent to Putin? 52:30 Next leader of Russia will likely keep the same system in place 54:00 Unlike Russians, Americans can still vote their way out of tyranny See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd surveys a political landscape where multiple crises are converging on the Trump administration simultaneously — and none of them are going well. The Iran war, which Chuck reiterates is a war of choice, appears to be devouring Trump's presidency: the administration burned through nearly $6 billion in munitions in just two days, is sending contradictory messages of reassurance and escalation that appear designed to manipulate markets, and seems to be operating entirely by the seat of its pants. He warns that asymmetric warfare has never gone well for the United States, that energy markets are in turmoil as Iran deliberately tries to inflict economic pain, that the threat of stagflation and energy shortages is very real, and that Trump's threat to use the Fed to shape oil markets has alarmed economists.  He argues that if Trump could undo the war he would — but this won't be Venezuela 2.0, because there's no opposition on the ground to coordinate with, you can't change a regime without boots on the ground that Trump won't commit, and if the regime simply survives, that counts as victory for Iran. Meanwhile, Trump naively buys Putin's claim that Russia isn't helping Iran with targeting, and that new polling shows a majority of Americans oppose the war — with MAGA influencers notably against it even as older rank-and-file supporters stick with Trump. Beyond Iran, Chuck hits the Ticketmaster settlement as proof that Trump talks a big populist game but the lobbyists always win, warns that a partial DHS shutdown risks snarling air travel and punishing the flying public while ICE has already been funded, and cautions Democrats not to overplay their hand on the shutdown. Finally, on the day of the Mississippi primaries, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 All-Time statewide races in Mississippi and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast   Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:30 Despite runoff, Dems shouldn’t get hopes up for MTG’s district 01:30 Bennie Thompson survives primary challenge in Mississippi 07:15 War of choice in Iran could devour Trump’s presidency 08:00 Administration messaging appears to be manipulating markets 09:30 We got both a message of reassurance and escalation on Monday 10:30 Administration seems to be operating by the seat of their pants 12:00 Administration has eroded trust in institutions for years 13:00 Eventually markets will stop reacting to government statements 13:30 Administration burned through nearly $6B in munitions in two days 14:30 Asymmetric warfare has never gone well for the United States 15:15 Energy markets are in turmoil, Iran wants to create economic pain 16:00 Threat of stagflation & energy shortages are very real 16:45 Trump threatens to use the fed to shape oil markets, alarming economists 17:30 Partial shutdown of DHS agents risks snarling air travel 18:30 When do Dems declare victory on partial shutdown? Noem was fired 19:45 ICE has already been funded. Shutdown punishes the flying public 20:30 Democrats need to be careful not to overplay their hand in shutdown 21:00 If Trump could undo the war, he would. It won’t be Venezuela 2.0 22:15 We’ve always paid to rebuild countries we’ve bombed 23:00 If the regime survives, that’s victory for Iran 24:15 Can’t change regime without boots on the ground, which Trump won’t do 25:15 There’s no opposition on the ground to coordinate with 26:00 Trump buys story from Putin that Russia isn’t assisting Iran w/targeting 26:45 U.S. using up munitions headed to Ukraine is best case for Russia 28:00 DOJ agrees to incredibly friendly settlement with Ticketmaster 28:45 Live Nation lobbyists went straight to Trump, then deal is cut 29:15 Trump talks a big game on populism, but the lobbyists always win 30:45 Young independents hate corporate power & Trump sides with corporations 31:30 New polling shows majority of Americans are against war with Iran 32:15 Older voters continue to be strongest supporters of Trump & war 33:00 MAGA influencers are against war, but rank & file support Trump 37:45 Take action on April 9th to support local news 38:15 ToddCast Top 5 All-Time Mississippi statewide campaigns 42:45 #1 1959 gubernatorial 44:45 #2 1978 senate race 46:15 #3 1978 gubernatorial 47:45 #4 1999 gubernatorial 49:45 #5 2014 senate Republican primary 52:15 Honorable mentions 55:15 Ask Chuck 55:30 Do you have a Top 5 list coming for New Jersey? 58:45 How do we keep getting into wars without declaration from congress? 1:02:15 What will it take for the U.S. to rebuild trust on the world stage? 1:05:45 Will abortion become an issue in 2028 or has Dobbs taken it off the table? 1:09:15 Should Democrats break norms to prevent authoritarianism? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd surveys a political landscape where multiple crises are converging on the Trump administration simultaneously — and none of them are going well. The Iran war, which Chuck reiterates is a war of choice, appears to be devouring Trump's presidency: the administration burned through nearly $6 billion in munitions in just two days, is sending contradictory messages of reassurance and escalation that appear designed to manipulate markets, and seems to be operating entirely by the seat of its pants. He warns that asymmetric warfare has never gone well for the United States, that energy markets are in turmoil as Iran deliberately tries to inflict economic pain, that the threat of stagflation and energy shortages is very real, and that Trump's threat to use the Fed to shape oil markets has alarmed economists.  He argues that if Trump could undo the war he would — but this won't be Venezuela 2.0, because there's no opposition on the ground to coordinate with, you can't change a regime without boots on the ground that Trump won't commit, and if the regime simply survives, that counts as victory for Iran. Meanwhile, Trump naively buys Putin's claim that Russia isn't helping Iran with targeting, and that new polling shows a majority of Americans oppose the war — with MAGA influencers notably against it even as older rank-and-file supporters stick with Trump. Beyond Iran, Chuck  hits the Ticketmaster settlement as proof that Trump talks a big populist game but the lobbyists always win, warns that a partial DHS shutdown risks snarling air travel and punishing the flying public while ICE has already been funded, and cautions Democrats not to overplay their hand on the shutdown. Then, John Adams, editor of the Montana Free Press, joins the Chuck Toddcast to make the case that local journalism has been in crisis — and that saving it might be one of the most important things Americans can do for their democracy. Adams is on the show to promote Local News Day on April 9th, a nationwide effort involving 700 local newsrooms aimed not at fundraising but at spreading awareness. He traces the origin story of the Montana Free Press back to his appearance in the documentary "Dark Money", a story about outside money quietly trying to buy Montana politics at the local level with zero disclosure — and the journalists best positioned to expose it were losing their jobs. Adams argues the economics of local news changed drastically as advertising revenue collapsed and audiences became hypnotized by social media and smartphones, but that the need and appetite for local reporting never went away. The conversation turns to the deeper consequences of local news deserts: the loss of trusted community voices created a vacuum that bred distrust in the national press, because people no longer had local "character references" — journalists they knew and saw at the grocery store — to anchor their understanding of how media works. Adams warns that the rise of AI-generated misinformation makes reliable local sources more important than ever, noting that while younger people tend to be savvier at spotting junk online, older generations are particularly vulnerable. They close by noting that strong local news doesn't just serve democracy — it helps local businesses target customers, creating an economic ecosystem that benefits everyone — and that journalism ultimately has to reach enough people to really matter, which is exactly what Local News Day at localnewsday.org is designed to help make possible. Finally, on the day of the Mississippi primaries, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 All-Time statewide races in Mississippi and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:30 Despite runoff, Dems shouldn’t get hopes up for MTG’s district 01:30 Bennie Thompson survives primary challenge in Mississippi 07:15 War of choice in Iran could devour Trump’s presidency 08:00 Administration messaging appears to be manipulating markets 09:30 We got both a message of reassurance and escalation on Monday 10:30 Administration seems to be operating by the seat of their pants 12:00 Administration has eroded trust in institutions for years 13:00 Eventually markets will stop reacting to government statements 13:30 Administration burned through nearly $6B in munitions in two days 14:30 Asymmetric warfare has never gone well for the United States 15:15 Energy markets are in turmoil, Iran wants to create economic pain 16:00 Threat of stagflation & energy shortages are very real 16:45 Trump threatens to use the fed to shape oil markets, alarming economists 17:30 Partial shutdown of DHS agents risks snarling air travel 18:30 When do Dems declare victory on partial shutdown? Noem was fired 19:45 ICE has already been funded. Shutdown punishes the flying public 20:30 Democrats need to be careful not to overplay their hand in shutdown 21:00 If Trump could undo the war, he would. It won’t be Venezuela 2.0 22:15 We’ve always paid to rebuild countries we’ve bombed 23:00 If the regime survives, that’s victory for Iran 24:15 Can’t change regime without boots on the ground, which Trump won’t do 25:15 There’s no opposition on the ground to coordinate with 26:00 Trump buys story from Putin that Russia isn’t assisting Iran w/targeting 26:45 U.S. using up munitions headed to Ukraine is best case for Russia 28:00 DOJ agrees to incredibly friendly settlement with Ticketmaster 28:45 Live Nation lobbyists went straight to Trump, then deal is cut 29:15 Trump talks a big game on populism, but the lobbyists always win 30:45 Young independents hate corporate power & Trump sides with corporations 31:30 New polling shows majority of Americans are against war with Iran 32:15 Older voters continue to be strongest supporters of Trump & war 33:00 MAGA influencers are against war, but rank & file support Trump 42:30 John Adams (Montana Free Press) joins the Chuck ToddCast 43:15 The importance of local news & purpose of Local News Day, April 9th 45:45 Why create Local News Day? 46:45 The crisis with local news isn’t new, been happening for years 48:00 It’s easier to get international news than news from your community 49:00 The need and appetite for local news has never gone away 50:15 Local news has become en vogue like a local craft beer 52:15 People embrace their local identity 54:45 Origin story of the Montana Free Press 55:15 “Dark Money” documentary about fight against Montana copper barons 57:30 Big outside money was trying to buy Montana politics at the local level 59:45 None of the outside money was disclosed 1:00:30 John lost his reporting job during the 2015 legislative session 1:02:30 Three of the most experienced local journalists were jobless 1:03:00 MFP founded on principle that local journalism is essential as a nonprofit 1:04:45 Economics of local news changed drastically, made newspapers expensive 1:06:30 Audiences are highly distracted by social media & smartphones 1:08:00 We need good new sources of information to combat misinfo from AI 1:09:15 Younger people are savvier online, older generations struggle with AI 1:11:00 It’s easier to trust local news sources because they’re in your community 1:11:45 Journalists have to almost “sell” their info for people to see it 1:14:00 It’s important to report on what your audience cares about 1:15:30 AP reporter in Montana was attacked and then the reporter was doxxed 1:17:45 Loss of local news character references created distrust in national press 1:19:00 Importance of local “service journalism” 1:22:30 Recreating the equivalent of morning drive news radio as a podcast 1:23:15 Using google trends questions to help inform your journalism 1:24:30 Algorithms only give people what they want, not what they need to know 1:25:15 Local news at its best reflects what the community cares about 1:26:15 Localnewsday.org is where people can find ways to help & connect 1:28:00 The better local news does, the better local businesses can target customers 1:29:00 700 local newsrooms are taking part in Local News Day 1:30:00 Goal of Local News Day isn’t to raise money, it’s to spread awareness 1:33:00 Journalism has to reach enough people to really matter 1:35:00 Take action on April 9th to support local news 1:35:30 ToddCast Top 5 All-Time Mississippi statewide campaigns 1:40:00 #1 1959 gubernatorial 1:42:00 #2 1978 senate race 1:43:30 #3 1978 gubernatorial 1:45:00 #4 1999 gubernatorial 1:47:00 #5 2014 senate Republican primary 1:49:30 Honorable mentions 1:52:30 Ask Chuck 1:52:45 Do you have a Top 5 list coming for New Jersey? 1:56:00 How do we keep getting into wars without declaration from congress? 1:59:30 What will it take for the U.S. to rebuild trust on the world stage? 2:03:00 Will abortion become an issue in 2028 or has Dobbs taken it off the table? 2:06:30 Should Democrats break norms to prevent authoritarianism? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interview Only w/ John Adams - Bringing Local News Back From The Brink John Adams, editor of the Montana Free Press, joins the Chuck Toddcast to make the case that local journalism has been in crisis — and that saving it might be one of the most important things Americans can do for their democracy. Adams is on the show to promote Local News Day on April 9th, a nationwide effort involving 700 local newsrooms aimed not at fundraising but at spreading awareness. He traces the origin story of the Montana Free Press back to his appearance in the documentary "Dark Money", a story about outside money quietly trying to buy Montana politics at the local level with zero disclosure — and the journalists best positioned to expose it were losing their jobs. Adams argues the economics of local news changed drastically as advertising revenue collapsed and audiences became hypnotized by social media and smartphones, but that the need and appetite for local reporting never went away. The conversation turns to the deeper consequences of local news deserts: the loss of trusted community voices created a vacuum that bred distrust in the national press, because people no longer had local "character references" — journalists they knew and saw at the grocery store — to anchor their understanding of how media works. Adams warns that the rise of AI-generated misinformation makes reliable local sources more important than ever, noting that while younger people tend to be savvier at spotting junk online, older generations are particularly vulnerable. They close by noting that strong local news doesn't just serve democracy — it helps local businesses target customers, creating an economic ecosystem that benefits everyone — and that journalism ultimately has to reach enough people to really matter, which is exactly what Local News Day at localnewsday.org is designed to help make possible. Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 John Adams (Montana Free Press) joins the Chuck ToddCast 00:45 The importance of local news & purpose of Local News Day, April 9th 03:15 Why create Local News Day? 04:15 The crisis with local news isn’t new, been happening for years 05:30 It’s easier to get international news than news from your community 06:30 The need and appetite for local news has never gone away 07:45 Local news has become en vogue like a local craft beer 09:45 People embrace their local identity 12:15 Origin story of the Montana Free Press 12:45 “Dark Money” documentary about fight against Montana copper barons 15:00 Big outside money was trying to buy Montana politics at the local level 17:15 None of the outside money was disclosed 18:00 John lost his reporting job during the 2015 legislative session 20:00 Three of the most experienced local journalists were jobless 20:30 MFP founded on principle that local journalism is essential as a nonprofit 22:15 Economics of local news changed drastically, made newspapers expensive 24:00 Audiences are highly distracted by social media & smartphones 25:30 We need good new sources of information to combat misinfo from AI 26:45 Younger people are savvier online, older generations struggle with AI 28:30 It’s easier to trust local news sources because they’re in your community 29:15 Journalists have to almost “sell” their info for people to see it 31:30 It’s important to report on what your audience cares about 33:00 AP reporter in Montana was attacked and then the reporter was doxxed 35:15 Loss of local news character references created distrust in national press 36:30 Importance of local “service journalism” 40:00 Recreating the equivalent of morning drive news radio as a podcast 40:45 Using google trends questions to help inform your journalism 42:00 Algorithms only give people what they want, not what they need to know 42:45 Local news at its best reflects what the community cares about 43:45 Localnewsday.org is where people can find ways to help & connect 45:30 The better local news does, the better local businesses can target customers 46:30 700 local newsrooms are taking part in Local News Day 47:30 Goal of Local News Day isn’t to raise money, it’s to spread awareness 50:30 Journalism has to reach enough people to really matter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens the episode with a blunt assessment: it's starting to feel like the beginning of the end of Donald Trump's presidency. From an open-ended war in Iran to a cratering stock market, Trump finds himself sinking deeper into what Chuck calls "presidential quicksand," with every show of strength only revealing more weakness. Chuck breaks down the staggering early costs of the Iran conflict — over 1,000 casualties and $6 billion spent in just one week — and asks the question no one in Washington seems willing to answer: does anyone actually have an exit strategy? On the economy, the latest jobs report is sending ominous signals. With slow growth, rising prices, and tariff uncertainty dominating the economic discourse, Chuck makes the case that the swing voters who put Trump back in the White House for his perceived economic expertise are the first ones who'll walk away when their wallets take the hit. Corporate America is also starting to find its backbone. From Anthropic refusing to strip safety guardrails to Netflix walking away from a bad deal, Chuck sees a telling pattern: companies are pushing back on a president who looks weak. Finally, Chuck takes an illuminating detour into his "Time Machine" segment, tracing how communication technology has permanently reshaped the American presidency, from Alexander Graham Bell’s first phone call, to FDR's fireside chats, all the way to Trump’s constant social media use. Plus, Chuck answers listener questions touching subjects like the potential similarities between Pearl Harbor and Trump’s Iran strikes, NIL in college sports, what's really going on with Democrats’ reactions to politicians like John Fetterman straying from the party line, and James Talarico’s bid for Congress.   Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or AmericanFinancing.net/TheChuckToddCast   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 7:00 Trump's presidency entering "presidential quicksand" 9:00 Iran war: an expensive political disaster 11:00 Trump has no strategic endgame in Iran 12:00 Why regime change in Iran won't work 15:00 Trump's market collapse & terrible jobs report 19:00 Swing voters abandoning Trump 21:00 Supreme Court striking down Trump's tariffs 23:00 Corporate America pushing back: Anthropic, Netflix, small businesses 32:00 Republican label becoming a liability 36:00 Montana: Daines retirement stuns state 39:00 Trump no longer an outsider, now seen as the establishment 43:00 Biden/Afghanistan parallel: one bad moment can permanently crater approval ratings 57:00 Time Machine: how technology transformed the presidency 59:00 Lincoln's telegraph, FDR's fireside chats, and the evolution of presidential communication 1:09:00 How communication technology reshaped corporate leadership 1:11:00 Technology's role in weakening Congress 1:13:00 Ask Chuck: Iran vs. Pearl Harbor comparison 1:15:00 Trump's inane college football roundtable 1:31:00 Fetterman & Sinema: Democrats' narrowing ideology 1:36:00 Question about changing county borders 1:40:00 Talarico's congressional bid 1:42:00 World Baseball Classic See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens the episode with a blunt assessment: it's starting to feel like the beginning of the end of Donald Trump's presidency. From an open-ended war in Iran to a cratering stock market, Trump finds himself sinking deeper into what Chuck calls "presidential quicksand," with every show of strength only revealing more weakness. Chuck breaks down the staggering early costs of the Iran conflict — over 1,000 casualties and $6 billion spent in just one week — and asks the question no one in Washington seems willing to answer: does anyone actually have an exit strategy? On the economy, the latest jobs report is sending ominous signals. With slow growth, rising prices, and tariff uncertainty dominating the economic discourse, Chuck makes the case that the swing voters who put Trump back in the White House for his perceived economic expertise are the first ones who'll walk away when their wallets take the hit. Corporate America is also starting to find its backbone. From Anthropic refusing to strip safety guardrails to Netflix walking away from a bad deal, Chuck sees a telling pattern: companies are pushing back on a president who looks weak. Legendary documentarian Ken Burns joins the Chuck Toddcast for a sweeping conversation about American history, the craft of telling it honestly, and why historical perspective has never mattered more than it does right now. Burns addresses head-on the criticism that his work is "woke," arguing that his documentaries have a perspective but it's not left versus right — he wants to call balls and strikes, and the truth shouldn't be something people fear. He offers a striking defense of nuance, noting that the Republican Party has been the most successful political party on earth and that his life's work has been about making films about both the U.S. and "us" — the complicated, contradictory people who built and continue to shape the country. Burns discusses his latest project on the American Revolution, which he insists he didn't intentionally time to the 250th anniversary, and reveals he's also working on a film about Reconstruction and potentially a documentary on the Cold War. He walks through his rigorous process for evaluating source material, the challenge of needing great actors to bring the founders to life, and how those founders were obsessively focused on virtue — creating something genuinely new in human history while writing a Constitution brilliant enough to endure centuries but unable to foresee Congress voluntarily abdicating its own power. The conversation takes a fascinating philosophical turn as they explore the recurring patterns of American history: the manufacture of fear as a tool for authoritarians, the repeated failure of using government to force social change, and the way religion has been wielded as a cudgel by governments despite the founders being explicitly against a national religion. Burns offers a revealing window into his methodology, explaining that you need 25 to 30 years of distance before you can responsibly cover a historical subject, and that Trump's presidency has effectively constipated the scholarship on the Obama era because the two will be forever intertwined in history. He notes that views on Vietnam's legacy shifted vastly over decades, and that the passage of time is essential for triangulating toward truth — take historians for their knowledge, not always their perspective. Finally, Chuck takes an illuminating detour into his "Time Machine" segment, tracing how communication technology has permanently reshaped the American presidency, from Alexander Graham Bell’s first phone call, to FDR's fireside chats, all the way to Trump’s constant social media use. Plus, Chuck answers listener questions touching subjects like the potential similarities between Pearl Harbor and Trump’s Iran strikes, NIL in college sports, what's really going on with Democrats’ reactions to politicians like John Fetterman straying from the party line, and James Talarico’s bid for Congress.   Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or AmericanFinancing.net/TheChuckToddCast   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 7:00 Trump's presidency entering "presidential quicksand" 9:00 Iran war: an expensive political disaster 11:00 Trump has no strategic endgame in Iran 12:00 Why regime change in Iran won't work 15:00 Trump's market collapse & terrible jobs report 19:00 Swing voters abandoning Trump 21:00 Supreme Court striking down Trump's tariffs 23:00 Corporate America pushing back: Anthropic, Netflix, small businesses 32:00 Republican label becoming a liability 36:00 Montana: Daines retirement stuns state 39:00 Trump no longer an outsider, now seen as the establishment 43:00 Biden/Afghanistan parallel: one bad moment can permanently crater approval ratings 57:00 Ken Burns joins the Chuck ToddCast 58:45 Having historical perspective is incredibly important 1:00:30 American Revolution one of the most important events in history 1:01:00 Criticism of his documentary as being "woke" 1:02:15 The Republican party has been the most successful party on earth 1:04:00 Ken's documentaries have a perspective, but it's not left vs. right 1:07:00 The author's politics matter when consuming historical books 1:08:15 People want historical events to match their worldview 1:09:30 The process for evaluating source material for his documentaries 1:11:45 The founders were incredibly focused on virtue 1:13:15 The American experiment was something new in human history 1:15:30 Constitution is a brilliant document, didn't foresee congress abdicating 1:21:00 The manufacture of fear empowers authoritarians 1:25:30 Using government as instrument of social change 1:26:45 Prohibition was going to happen with or without the Spanish Flu pandemic 1:29:30 Forcing social change via government was never going to work well 1:31:30 We don't teach the history of religion out of fear 1:41:00 Founders were explicitly against a national religion 1:44:00 The story of America's progress & transformation is incredible 1:45:15 Most recent past events that Burns is comfortable covering? 1:47:15 Trump & Obama will be intertwined in history 1:48:30 Views on the legacy of Vietnam changed vastly over the decades 1:51:15 It's good to take historians for their knowledge, not always their perspective 1:52:15 Potentially producing a documentary about the Cold War 1:54:45 We've had 3 straight one-term presidents, never happened in 20th century 1:56:15 After the USSR dissolved, Republicans made Bill Clinton the enemy 1:58:45 Race is a part of telling every historical American story 2:00:00 Killer Angels is Ken's favorite historical fiction 2:03:15 How should we celebrate America 250? 2:05:15 Yellowstone covers many facets of the American experience 2:06:45 Simplifying complex history is the behavior of authoritarians 2:09:00 Thoroughly enjoy doing the hard work of making documentaries 2:12:00 Time Machine: how technology transformed the presidency 2:14:00 Lincoln's telegraph, FDR's fireside chats, and the evolution of presidential communication 2:24:00 How communication technology reshaped corporate leadership 2:26:00 Technology's role in weakening Congress 2:28:00 Ask Chuck: Iran vs. Pearl Harbor comparison 2:30:00 Trump's inane college football roundtable 2:46:00 Fetterman & Sinema: Democrats' narrowing ideology 2:51:00 Question about changing county borders 2:55:00 Talarico's congressional bid 2:57:00 World Baseball Classic See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Legendary documentarian Ken Burns joins the Chuck Toddcast for a sweeping conversation about American history, the craft of telling it honestly, and why historical perspective has never mattered more than it does right now. Burns addresses head-on the criticism that his work is "woke," arguing that his documentaries have a perspective but it's not left versus right — he wants to call balls and strikes, and the truth shouldn't be something people fear. He offers a striking defense of nuance, noting that the Republican Party has been the most successful political party on earth and that his life's work has been about making films about both the U.S. and "us" — the complicated, contradictory people who built and continue to shape the country. Burns discusses his latest project on the American Revolution, which he insists he didn't intentionally time to the 250th anniversary, and reveals he's also working on a film about Reconstruction and potentially a documentary on the Cold War. He walks through his rigorous process for evaluating source material, the challenge of needing great actors to bring the founders to life, and how those founders were obsessively focused on virtue — creating something genuinely new in human history while writing a Constitution brilliant enough to endure centuries but unable to foresee Congress voluntarily abdicating its own power. The conversation takes a fascinating philosophical turn as they explore the recurring patterns of American history: the manufacture of fear as a tool for authoritarians, the repeated failure of using government to force social change, and the way religion has been wielded as a cudgel by governments despite the founders being explicitly against a national religion. Burns offers a revealing window into his methodology, explaining that you need 25 to 30 years of distance before you can responsibly cover a historical subject, and that Trump's presidency has effectively constipated the scholarship on the Obama era because the two will be forever intertwined in history. He notes that views on Vietnam's legacy shifted vastly over decades, and that the passage of time is essential for triangulating toward truth — take historians for their knowledge, not always their perspective.    Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or AmericanFinancing.net/TheChuckToddCast   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Ken Burns joins the Chuck ToddCast 00:45 No shortage of American history topics to cover 01:45 Having historical perspective is incredibly important 03:30 American revolution one of the most important events in history 04:00 Criticism of his documentary as being “woke”, fearful of the truth 05:15 The Republican party has been the most successful party on earth 06:15 Making films about the U.S. and also “Us” 07:00 Ken’s documentaries have a perspective, but it’s not left vs. right 07:45 You want to call “ball & strikes” 09:15 Making a film about the Reconstruction period 10:00 The author’s politics matter when consuming historical books 11:15 People want historical events to match their worldview 12:30 The process for evaluating source material for his documentaries 14:45 The founders were incredibly focused on virtue 15:30 Needed great actors to bring the founders to life 16:15 The American experiment was something new in human history 17:00 Didn’t mean to time “The American Revolution” release on 250th  18:30 Constitution is a brilliant document, didn’t foresee congress abdicating 20:30 The manufacture of fear empowers authoritarians 22:30 There’s so many historical items with which to tell the story 25:00 Using government as instrument of social change 26:15 Prohibition was going to happen with or without the Spanish Flu pandemic 29:00 Forcing social change via government was never going to work well 31:00 We don’t teach the history of religion out of fear 32:45 Deism became the religious choice of many of the founders 33:15 Religion has been used as a cudgel by governments 34:00 Founders were explicitly against a national religion 37:00 The story of America’s progress & transformation is incredible 38:15 What’s the most recent past events that you’re comfortable covering? 39:15 Trump’s presidency has constipated the scholarship on Obama era 40:15 Trump & Obama will be intertwined in history 41:00 You need 25-30 years to pass before covering a historical subject 41:30 Views on the legacy of Vietnam changed vastly over the decades 42:30 Using the passage of time to triangulate 44:15 It’s good to take historians for their knowledge, not always their perspective 45:15 Potentially producing a documentary about the Cold War 47:45 We’ve had 3 straight one-term presidents, never happened in 20th century 49:15 After the USSR dissolved, Republicans made Bill Clinton the enemy 50:30 When will you tackle your first 21st century event? 51:45 Race is a part of telling every historical American story 53:00 Killer Angels is Ken’s favorite historical fiction 54:00 Any interest in producing dramatized history? 55:00 God is the greatest dramatist 56:15 How should we celebrate America 250? 57:00 Washington was incredibly rich and risked it all 58:15 Yellowstone covers many facets of the American experience 59:45 Simplifying complex history is the behavior of authoritarians 1:02:00 Thoroughly enjoy doing the hard work of making documentaries See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd delivers a blistering assessment of Trump's Iran war, arguing that the conflict has gone sideways in virtually every way imaginable — and that the lack of consequences for Trump's past norm-breaking gave him a false sense of impunity that led him here. Todd traces the logic: Iran looked like a paper tiger after the limited strikes in 2025, Trump saw the opportunity to kill Khamenei and took it, hoping for either a popular uprising or a pliant regime insider to step forward — but none of those hopes have materialized. Instead, the forces that wanted to overthrow the regime have gone underground, the CIA is now arming and training Kurds in what Chuck bluntly asks amounts to deliberately triggering a civil war, Iran has inflicted real damage on multiple Gulf states, and stranded Americans were told by the State Department they were on their own because the administration made no evacuation plan whatsoever. He zeroes in on the damning timeline: if the administration had time to move an armada into position, they had time to warn American citizens. He flags that passing a war supplemental will be a brutal vote for GOP members, that JD Vance now has to defend a war antithetical to his entire political identity, and pivots to the Texas runoff noting that James Talarico's biggest vulnerability is being more progressive than his nice-guy persona suggests, but that demeanor may be his superpower in a cycle where voters are exhausted by bomb-throwers. Finally, he reacts to the breaking news that Montana senator Steve Daines retired minutes before the filing deadline and argues that Republicans will be forced to defend what was a safe seat, and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.   Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or AmericanFinancing.net/TheChuckToddCast   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:45 Trump’s war with Iran is not going well for him politically 02:30 Multiple countries have been dragged into a piece of the war 03:30 Lack of consequences for past actions gave Trump sense of impunity 04:45 Iran looked like a paper tiger after strikes in June 2025 05:30 Trump saw the opportunity to kill Khamenei and took it 07:30 Trump hoped for an uprising or a pliant member of the regime 08:45 None of those hopes have materialized  09:30 Forces that wanted to overthrow regime went underground 10:30 The CIA is arming and training Kurds to overthrow the regime 11:45 Are we TRYING to trigger a civil war??? 12:30 Regime change won’t come nearly as easy as Trump thought 13:15 Iran has inflicted damage to multiple gulf states 14:45 You can’t discount Trump’s business relationship as factors for war 16:00 Kushner involved in negotiations and has serious conflicts of interest 17:15 The administration is trying to use Israel as a shield 18:15 Administration made no plan to evacuate stranded Americans 19:00 Clearly was no imminent threat from Iran 20:30 If they had time to move the armada, they had time to warn Americans 21:30 The Iranians weren’t surprised that we were going to attack 22:30 Trump promised Iranian protestors “Help is on the way” - Took 40 days 23:00 State department told stranded Americans they were on their own 24:30 They put thought into the war itself, but not for the consequences 26:30 What’s Plan C? Hoping for a civil war? 27:15 This is Iraq on steroids and we have less credibility globally 28:30 Cost of providing stability in the region is politically unpopular 29:30 It’s a lot easier to start a war than to finish one 30:45 George H.W. Bush had a clean war with Iraq and voters punished him 32:00 When you’re under 80% support with your own party, you’re in trouble 33:30 Trump isn’t an isolationist, he’s a unilateralist. Do what he says 34:45 Passing a supplemental bill for war funding will be tough vote for GOP 36:30 J.D. Vance has to defend a war that’s antithetical to his political identity 37:30 Trump will endorse in Texas primary and expects the other to drop out 38:15 What will Trump offer Paxton to drop out early? 40:45 Republicans can’t win primary without Trump & he’s general election baggage 41:30 Talarico’s biggest vulnerability is he’s more progressive than his persona 42:15 Demeanor goes a long way in politics, could be Talarico’s superpower 45:00 Good for the Dems brand that first nominee (Talarico) isn’t a bomb thrower 53:30 Montana senator Steve Daines announces retirement 54:15 Retirement will put Montana senate seat into play 54:45 Will this put pressure on Jon Tester to come out of retirement? 55:15 Montana will now be a key cog in campaign 2026 56:30 Potential that transplants could turn Montana into Colorado politically 57:30 Republicans will be favored, but it will require work & money 59:00 Democrats have had success in Montana in midterm years 59:30 This week just keeps getting worse for Republicans 1:00:30 Ask Chuck 1:01:00 Do reliably red/blue states get less investment from the federal government? 1:06:45 Could Trump try to trigger NATO’s Article V over Iran? 1:15:30 Will Texas AG runoff produce even more radical anti-trans rhetoric & policy? 1:18:30 My son thinks voting is useless. How do we teach the new generation it matters? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd delivers a blistering assessment of Trump's Iran war, arguing that the conflict has gone sideways in virtually every way imaginable — and that the lack of consequences for Trump's past norm-breaking gave him a false sense of impunity that led him here. Todd traces the logic: Iran looked like a paper tiger after the limited strikes in 2025, Trump saw the opportunity to kill Khamenei and took it, hoping for either a popular uprising or a pliant regime insider to step forward — but none of those hopes have materialized. Instead, the forces that wanted to overthrow the regime have gone underground, the CIA is now arming and training Kurds in what Chuck bluntly asks amounts to deliberately triggering a civil war, Iran has inflicted real damage on multiple Gulf states, and stranded Americans were told by the State Department they were on their own because the administration made no evacuation plan whatsoever. He zeroes in on the damning timeline: if the administration had time to move an armada into position, they had time to warn American citizens. He flags that passing a war supplemental will be a brutal vote for GOP members, that JD Vance now has to defend a war antithetical to his entire political identity, and pivots to the Texas runoff noting that James Talarico's biggest vulnerability is being more progressive than his nice-guy persona suggests, but that demeanor may be his superpower in a cycle where voters are exhausted by bomb-throwers. Political commentator Chris Cillizza — who co-hosted the live Texas primary night coverage with Chuck— rejoins the show to dissect the aftermath of the Texas results and the broader 2026 landscape. With Jasmine Crockett having conceded to James Talarico and the Paxton-Cornyn race headed to a runoff that's essentially a coin flip, Todd and Cillizza dig into what Talarico's victory really means: he dominated in counties Bernie Sanders won, Latino voters broke decisively his way, and his ground game should terrify Republicans — but they caution against mistaking someone who is temperamentally moderate and perceived as "nice" for being politically moderate. They argue that Texas Democrats, having lost for so long, were desperate for something new, and that constant losing has made electability matter more than ideology — Democrats had to vote with their heads, not their hearts. They assess Crockett's future (great political athlete, bad campaign infrastructure, potential to compete for Ted Cruz's seat someday), debate whether Democrats should meddle in the GOP runoff to boost Paxton, and note that Talarico’s floor is around 47-48% — meaning Texas is genuinely in play. The conversation then expands to the national map and the broader forces shaping 2026. They unpack Kamala Harris's late endorsement of Crockett — which came too late to matter and reinforces the same knock Biden got about indecisiveness — and Gavin Newsom's conspicuous shift on Israel in front of a liberal audience. They contrast that with the authenticity of politicians like Bernie Sanders and early-career JD Vance, noting that Vance has now lost his anti-interventionist identity after backing the Iran war while the administration's narrative spinning on the conflict is "an absolute mess." Looking ahead, they agree that the perception of the economy in June will be what drives the midterms, that the war will consume the administration — especially given the embarrassing lack of an evacuation plan for Americans in the Middle East, Trump's biggest critique of Biden — and that prediction markets now give Democrats a 45% chance of winning the Senate. They close by surveying pickup opportunities in Alaska, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas, flagging independent candidates in the Midwest who know they can't win as Democrats, and declaring that 2026 will be the clearest preview yet of how 2028 plays out. Finally, he reacts to the breaking news that Montana senator Steve Daines retired minutes before the filing deadline and argues that Republicans will be forced to defend what was a safe seat, and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.   Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or AmericanFinancing.net/TheChuckToddCast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:45 Trump’s war with Iran is not going well for him politically 02:30 Multiple countries have been dragged into a piece of the war 03:30 Lack of consequences for past actions gave Trump sense of impunity 04:45 Iran looked like a paper tiger after strikes in June 2025 05:30 Trump saw the opportunity to kill Khamenei and took it 07:30 Trump hoped for an uprising or a pliant member of the regime 08:45 None of those hopes have materialized  09:30 Forces that wanted to overthrow regime went underground 10:30 The CIA is arming and training Kurds to overthrow the regime 11:45 Are we TRYING to trigger a civil war??? 12:30 Regime change won’t come nearly as easy as Trump thought 13:15 Iran has inflicted damage to multiple gulf states 14:45 You can’t discount Trump’s business relationship as factors for war 16:00 Kushner involved in negotiations and has serious conflicts of interest 17:15 The administration is trying to use Israel as a shield 18:15 Administration made no plan to evacuate stranded Americans 19:00 Clearly was no imminent threat from Iran 20:30 If they had time to move the armada, they had time to warn Americans 21:30 The Iranians weren’t surprised that we were going to attack 22:30 Trump promised Iranian protestors “Help is on the way” - Took 40 days 23:00 State department told stranded Americans they were on their own 24:30 They put thought into the war itself, but not for the consequences 26:30 What’s Plan C? Hoping for a civil war? 27:15 This is Iraq on steroids and we have less credibility globally 28:30 Cost of providing stability in the region is politically unpopular 29:30 It’s a lot easier to start a war than to finish one 30:45 George H.W. Bush had a clean war with Iraq and voters punished him 32:00 When you’re under 80% support with your own party, you’re in trouble 33:30 Trump isn’t an isolationist, he’s a unilateralist. Do what he says 34:45 Passing a supplemental bill for war funding will be tough vote for GOP 36:30 J.D. Vance has to defend a war that’s antithetical to his political identity 37:30 Trump will endorse in Texas primary and expects the other to drop out 38:15 What will Trump offer Paxton to drop out early? 40:45 Republicans can’t win primary without Trump & he’s general election baggage 41:30 Talarico’s biggest vulnerability is he’s more progressive than his persona 42:15 Demeanor goes a long way in politics, could be Talarico’s superpower 45:00 Good for the Dems brand that first nominee (Talarico) isn’t a bomb thrower 53:30 Chris Cillizza joins the Chuck ToddCast 55:00 Jasmine Crockett concedes race to James Talarico 55:45 Race between Paxton & Cornyn essentially a wash 56:30 Big question is “Can Cornyn get to 50%” 57:15 Public is getting tired with the bomb throwers in politics 59:15 Talarico did well in counties that Bernie Sanders won 1:00:15 Texas Dems have been losing forever, desperate for “new” 1:02:00 Don’t mistake politically & temperamentally “moderate” 1:02:45 Being perceived as “nice” goes a long way 1:04:00 Online Dems are mad, but many want a change in tone 1:05:30 If Platner beats Mills by 15, Talarico data point feels like outlier 1:06:15 Have constant Dem losses in TX made “electability” more important? 1:07:15 Dems in Texas have to vote with their head and not their heart 1:09:00 Crockett is a great political athlete with bad campaign infrastructure 1:10:00 Talarico had a great ground game, should scare Republicans 1:11:15 Crockett could compete for Ted Cruz’s senate seat 1:12:00 Unlikely this is the last we hear from Crockett in politics 1:13:00 Crockett did well where she was well known 1:14:00 Kamala Harris endorsement came too late for Crockett 1:15:00 Harris shows herself to be incredibly risk averse 1:17:45 We’ll get the full story on the late endorsement in six months 1:18:30 Harris shares the same knock Biden got… can’t make decisions 1:19:15 Newsom signals shift on Israel in front of a very liberal audience 1:20:30 Newsom just pandering? Or is it a genuine flip 1:22:00 Gavin Newsom is a politician to his core 1:23:30 Newsom looked like he was desperate to find traction 1:24:00 Trump didn’t change, the moment came to him 1:25:00 Tariffs are terrible politics, but Trump’s liked them for decades 1:25:30 Bernie Sanders has been the most authentic politician for years 1:26:45 Sanders and Ron Paul ended up voting together many times 1:28:15 Vance lost the anti-interventionist part of his identity after Iran war 1:30:00 The spinning for a narrative for the war is an absolute mess 1:31:30 The perception of the economy in June will be what affects midterms 1:32:45 War will consume the administration 1:33:30 Administration had no plan to evacuate Americans from middle east 1:34:30 Trump’s big critique of Biden was the Afghan

Political commentator Chris Cillizza — who co-hosted the live Texas primary night coverage with Chuck— rejoins the show to dissect the aftermath of the Texas results and the broader 2026 landscape. With Jasmine Crockett having conceded to James Talarico and the Paxton-Cornyn race headed to a runoff that's essentially a coin flip, Todd and Cillizza dig into what Talarico's victory really means: he dominated in counties Bernie Sanders won, Latino voters broke decisively his way, and his ground game should terrify Republicans — but they caution against mistaking someone who is temperamentally moderate and perceived as "nice" for being politically moderate. They argue that Texas Democrats, having lost for so long, were desperate for something new, and that constant losing has made electability matter more than ideology — Democrats had to vote with their heads, not their hearts. They assess Crockett's future (great political athlete, bad campaign infrastructure, potential to compete for Ted Cruz's seat someday), debate whether Democrats should meddle in the GOP runoff to boost Paxton, and note that Talarico’s floor is around 47-48% — meaning Texas is genuinely in play. The conversation then expands to the national map and the broader forces shaping 2026. They unpack Kamala Harris's late endorsement of Crockett — which came too late to matter and reinforces the same knock Biden got about indecisiveness — and Gavin Newsom's conspicuous shift on Israel in front of a liberal audience. They contrast that with the authenticity of politicians like Bernie Sanders and early-career JD Vance, noting that Vance has now lost his anti-interventionist identity after backing the Iran war while the administration's narrative spinning on the conflict is "an absolute mess." Looking ahead, they agree that the perception of the economy in June will be what drives the midterms, that the war will consume the administration — especially given the embarrassing lack of an evacuation plan for Americans in the Middle East, Trump's biggest critique of Biden — and that prediction markets now give Democrats a 45% chance of winning the Senate. They close by surveying pickup opportunities in Alaska, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas, flagging independent candidates in the Midwest who know they can't win as Democrats, and declaring that 2026 will be the clearest preview yet of how 2028 plays out.   Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or AmericanFinancing.net/TheChuckToddCast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chris Cillizza joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 Jasmine Crockett concedes race to James Talarico 02:15 Race between Paxton & Cornyn essentially a wash 03:00 Big question is “Can Cornyn get to 50%” 03:45 Public is getting tired with the bomb throwers in politics 05:45 Talarico did well in counties that Bernie Sanders won 06:45 Texas Dems have been losing forever, desperate for “new” 08:30 Don’t mistake politically & temperamentally “moderate” 09:15 Being perceived as “nice” goes a long way 10:30 Online Dems are mad, but many want a change in tone 12:00 If Platner beats Mills by 15, Talarico data point feels like outlier 12:45 Have constant Dem losses in TX made “electability” more important? 13:45 Dems in Texas have to vote with their head and not their heart 15:30 Crockett is a great political athlete with bad campaign infrastructure 16:30 Talarico had a great ground game, should scare Republicans 17:45 Crockett could compete for Ted Cruz’s senate seat 18:30 Unlikely this is the last we hear from Crockett in politics 19:30 Crockett did well where she was well known 20:30 Kamala Harris endorsement came too late for Crockett 21:30 Harris shows herself to be incredibly risk averse 24:15 We’ll get the full story on the late endorsement in six months 25:00 Harris shares the same knock Biden got… can’t make decisions 25:45 Newsom signals shift on Israel in front of a very liberal audience 27:00 Newsom just pandering? Or is it a genuine flip 28:30 Gavin Newsom is a politician to his core 30:00 Newsom looked like he was desperate to find traction 30:30 Trump didn’t change, the moment came to him 31:30 Tariffs are terrible politics, but Trump’s liked them for decades 32:00 Bernie Sanders has been the most authentic politician for years 33:15 Sanders and Ron Paul ended up voting together many times 34:45 Vance lost the anti-interventionist part of his identity after Iran war 36:30 The spinning for a narrative for the war is an absolute mess 38:00 The perception of the economy in June will be what affects midterms 39:15 War will consume the administration 40:00 Administration had no plan to evacuate Americans from middle east 41:00 Trump’s big critique of Biden was the Afghanistan withdrawal 43:30 Prediction markets have Dems chances of winning senate at 45% 46:15 How should Dems try to affect Texas runoff? 48:00 Meddling works and if Cornyn is the nominee Talarico loses 48:30 Talarico’s floor is around 47-48 49:00 How do Dems sort Alaska, Ohio, Texas and Iowa? 50:15 If Josh Turek is the nominee in Iowa, race could be interesting 51:30 2026 will give us a clue as to how 2028 will play out 53:00 If one of the independent candidate wins statewide it’s a BIG deal 55:30 Midwest independent candidates know they can’t run as Dems and win See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd breaks down the Texas primary results and finds a political landscape that should terrify the Republican establishment. Ken Paxton and John Cornyn are headed to a runoff on the GOP side, but the headline number is stunning: Democrats posted a higher overall vote total than Republicans in the Texas primary, a seismic signal in what has long been the country's biggest red state. He credits Talarico's viral Colbert moment with giving him a massive boost, notes that Latino voters broke decisively for Talarico over Jasmine Crockett — who ran an unconventional campaign and is unlikely to concede quickly — and argues that a Paxton vs. Talarico general election would genuinely put Texas in play. He walks through the strategic calculus: history favors Paxton in a runoff, Cornyn has outperformed polling but a Cornyn nomination would draw less national Democratic investment in the race, and Democrats should have the budget to compete in Texas regardless — because Texas is "nice to have" for Democrats but "must have" for Republicans, and if Democrats win even once there, it opens the floodgates. He also flags Dan Crenshaw losing after failing to secure Trump's endorsement, the razor-thin two-vote margin for the state senate campaign in North Carolina, and a broader pattern of bad developments piling up for the GOP — capped by Trump stoking voter skepticism with an unpopular Iran war. His verdict: this is the worst possible start to an election cycle for Republicans, because it's easy to start a war and very hard to end one. Finally, Chuck lists his ToddCast Top 5 All-Time Texas statewide elections and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or AmericanFinancing.net/TheChuckToddCast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Ken Paxton & John Cornyn headed to a runoff 02:30 Democrats had a higher vote total than Republicans in Texas primary 03:45 Talarico’s moment with Stephen Colbert gave him a huge boost 05:00 Several house races headed to a run off 07:00 Latino voters broke fairly decisively for Talarico 07:45 Crockett didn’t run a conventional campaign 08:30 Crockett is unlikely to concede quickly 10:00 We never got the full story on the Colbert moment 11:15 Fighter vs Uniter is the divide amongst Democrats 13:00 If Cornyn can stay ahead of Paxton, that will matter to Trump 14:30 Talarico being the nominee will make establishment Republicans nervous 16:00 History says it’s more likely that Paxton wins the runoff  18:00 Cornyn has outperformed the polling 18:30 With Paxton & Talarico as the nominees, Texas is in play  19:30 Do senate Democrats play in the Republican runoff? 20:30 If it’s Cornyn vs. Talarico, the national party won’t help Talarico as much 22:00 Will Dems spend on Alaska, Iowa and Nebraska? 23:15 Dems should have the budget to target Texas 24:00 Texas is “nice to have” for Dems, it’s “must have” for Republicans 25:30 If Democrats win once in Texas, it opens the door for more wins 26:45 Two vote margin for the state senate president in North Carolina 27:45 Dan Crenshaw didn’t get Trump endorsement and lost 29:15 Bad developments keep happening for the Republican party 30:15 Trump is only stoking voter skepticism with Iran war 31:30 It’s easy to start a war, it’s hard to end one 32:00 Worst possible start to an election cycle for the Republicans 41:30 ToddCast Top 5 All-Time statewide campaigns in Texas history 43:30 #5 2006 Governor’s race 49:00 #4 1994 Governor’s race 52:00 #3 1924 Governor’s race 55:30 #2 1962 special election for senate 1:00:15 #1 1948 Democratic senate primary 1:07:45 Honorable mentions 1:10:15 Ask Chuck 1:10:30 Take on Pete Hegseth’s briefing on the Iran war? What are the objectives? 1:16:45 Why is a war powers resolution needed? How can congress restrain Trump? 1:20:00 Will this war be better received if not launched during tax season? 1:24:30 Explaining complex political & world events to your kids? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd breaks down the Texas primary results and finds a political landscape that should terrify the Republican establishment. Ken Paxton and John Cornyn are headed to a runoff on the GOP side, but the headline number is stunning: Democrats posted a higher overall vote total than Republicans in the Texas primary, a seismic signal in what has long been the country's biggest red state. He credits Talarico's viral Colbert moment with giving him a massive boost, notes that Latino voters broke decisively for Talarico over Jasmine Crockett — who ran an unconventional campaign and is unlikely to concede quickly — and argues that a Paxton vs. Talarico general election would genuinely put Texas in play. He walks through the strategic calculus: history favors Paxton in a runoff, Cornyn has outperformed polling but a Cornyn nomination would draw less national Democratic investment in the race, and Democrats should have the budget to compete in Texas regardless — because Texas is "nice to have" for Democrats but "must have" for Republicans, and if Democrats win even once there, it opens the floodgates. He also flags Dan Crenshaw losing after failing to secure Trump's endorsement, the razor-thin two-vote margin for the state senate campaign in North Carolina, and a broader pattern of bad developments piling up for the GOP — capped by Trump stoking voter skepticism with an unpopular Iran war. His verdict: this is the worst possible start to an election cycle for Republicans, because it's easy to start a war and very hard to end one. Then, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Josh Seftel joins the Chuck Toddcast to discuss All the Empty Rooms, his devastating Netflix documentary short that chronicles the untouched bedrooms of children killed in school shootings since Sandy Hook. Seftel describes a country that has grown numb to over 100 school shootings just this year — where the reporting cycle moves on before victims' stories can truly be told — and explains how the simple, visceral act of standing in a dead child's bedroom forces viewers to feel something that statistics never could. He reveals that many parents have kept these rooms exactly as their children left them, preserving even the smell, creating what amounts to sacred spaces frozen in time.Chuck draws the parallel to the decision to show Emmett Till's open casket, and Seftel argues these painful stories must be told regardless of how uncomfortable they make us, because imagery can be more powerful than the spoken word. What makes the film's approach so striking — and so strategically effective — is what it leaves out. The word "gun" is never mentioned, a deliberate choice to avoid triggering the political reflexes that shut down conversation before it starts. And it's working: Seftel shares that a Second Amendment enthusiast changed his mind after seeing the photos of empty rooms, and even a Sandy Hook denier reached out after watching. The film's funders didn't want to make money — they wanted to make change — and Netflix's global distribution has given it a massive reach. Seftel says the conversation has to start with one simple question — "How do we keep kids safe at school?" — and that the film intentionally got better as it got shorter, stripping away prescription and polemic to let the silence of those rooms do the work. Finally, Chuck lists his ToddCast Top 5 All-Time Texas statewide elections and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or AmericanFinancing.net/TheChuckToddCast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Ken Paxton & John Cornyn headed to a runoff 02:30 Democrats had a higher vote total than Republicans in Texas primary 03:45 Talarico’s moment with Stephen Colbert gave him a huge boost 05:00 Several house races headed to a run off 07:00 Latino voters broke fairly decisively for Talarico 07:45 Crockett didn’t run a conventional campaign 08:30 Crockett is unlikely to concede quickly 10:00 We never got the full story on the Colbert moment 11:15 Fighter vs Uniter is the divide amongst Democrats 13:00 If Cornyn can stay ahead of Paxton, that will matter to Trump 14:30 Talarico being the nominee will make establishment Republicans nervous 16:00 History says it’s more likely that Paxton wins the runoff  18:00 Cornyn has outperformed the polling 18:30 With Paxton & Talarico as the nominees, Texas is in play  19:30 Do senate Democrats play in the Republican runoff? 20:30 If it’s Cornyn vs. Talarico, the national party won’t help Talarico as much 22:00 Will Dems spend on Alaska, Iowa and Nebraska? 23:15 Dems should have the budget to target Texas 24:00 Texas is “nice to have” for Dems, it’s “must have” for Republicans 25:30 If Democrats win once in Texas, it opens the door for more wins 26:45 Two vote margin for the state senate president in North Carolina 27:45 Dan Crenshaw didn’t get Trump endorsement and lost 29:15 Bad developments keep happening for the Republican party 30:15 Trump is only stoking voter skepticism with Iran war 31:30 It’s easy to start a war, it’s hard to end one 32:00 Worst possible start to an election cycle for the Republicans 42:00 Josh Seftel joins the Chuck ToddCast 43:45 People are surprised by the portrayal in “All the Empty Rooms” 44:15 Public has grown to accept over 100 school shootings a year 45:00 Seeing the empty rooms of victims forces you to feel something 46:30 Why has mass shooting frequency been accelerating? 48:00 Does media coverage of shootings plant the seed for more? 49:15 Says a lot about American psyche that True Crime is so popular 50:30 Focus of the doc is on victims, not the shooters 51:00 Asked parents of every child killed since Sandy Hook to film their room 54:00 Media that means to come back to tell victims stories aren’t able to 55:00 Stories must be told, regardless of how painful. Like Emmit Til 56:15 Many parents kept their slain children’s rooms untouched 57:15 Parents want to preserve the smell of their children 58:15 How did you compartmentalize when making this doc? 1:00:15 The hope of the doc is that everyone can feel the weight of the loss 1:01:30 People with the power to fix this problem need to see this doc 1:03:00 The word “Gun” is never mentioned, didn’t want to turn off viewers 1:04:45 Photos of empty rooms led 2A enthusiast to change his mind 1:05:30 Got an email from a Sandy Hook denier that watched the doc 1:07:30 The doc paints a 3D image of the victims, that gets missed normally 1:10:00 Parents choose to grieve & respond in different ways 1:12:00 Each family & parent has a different relationship with the empty room 1:13:45 Some families want to move, but can’t bring themselves to pack up room 1:15:30 Was it hard not to get prescriptive? 1:18:00 Conversation must start with “How do we keep kids safe at school?” 1:19:00 The film got better as it got shorter 1:20:00 Imagery can be more powerful than spoken word 1:21:15 Streaming on Netflix allows for far wider distribution 1:22:30 Funders for the doc didn’t want to make money, they wanted to make change 1:26:00 The topic wasn’t just powerful, it was visually powerful 1:31:45 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Josh Seftel 1:34:30 Texas senate race has a chance to become an all-timer 1:35:15 ToddCast Top 5 All-Time statewide campaigns in Texas history 1:37:15 #5 2006 Governor’s race 1:42:45 #4 1994 Governor’s race 1:45:45 #3 1924 Governor’s race 1:49:15 #2 1962 special election for senate 1:54:00 #1 1948 Democratic senate primary 2:01:30 Honorable mentions 2:04:00 Ask Chuck 2:04:15 Take on Pete Hegseth’s briefing on the Iran war? What are the objectives? 2:10:30 Why is a war powers resolution needed? How can congress restrain Trump? 2:13:45 Will this war be better received if not launched during tax season? 2:18:15 Explaining complex political & world events to your kids? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Josh Seftel joins the Chuck Toddcast to discuss All the Empty Rooms, his devastating Netflix documentary short that chronicles the untouched bedrooms of children killed in school shootings since Sandy Hook. Seftel describes a country that has grown numb to over 100 school shootings just this year — where the reporting cycle moves on before victims' stories can truly be told — and explains how the simple, visceral act of standing in a dead child's bedroom forces viewers to feel something that statistics never could. He reveals that many parents have kept these rooms exactly as their children left them, preserving even the smell, creating what amounts to sacred spaces frozen in time.Chuck draws the parallel to the decision to show Emmett Till's open casket, and Seftel argues these painful stories must be told regardless of how uncomfortable they make us, because imagery can be more powerful than the spoken word. What makes the film's approach so striking — and so strategically effective — is what it leaves out. The word "gun" is never mentioned, a deliberate choice to avoid triggering the political reflexes that shut down conversation before it starts. And it's working: Seftel shares that a Second Amendment enthusiast changed his mind after seeing the photos of empty rooms, and even a Sandy Hook denier reached out after watching. The film's funders didn't want to make money — they wanted to make change — and Netflix's global distribution has given it a massive reach. Seftel says the conversation has to start with one simple question — "How do we keep kids safe at school?" — and that the film intentionally got better as it got shorter, stripping away prescription and polemic to let the silence of those rooms do the work. Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or AmericanFinancing.net/TheChuckToddCast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Josh Seftel joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:45 People are surprised by the portrayal in “All the Empty Rooms” 02:15 Public has grown to accept over 100 school shootings a year 03:00 Seeing the empty rooms of victims forces you to feel something 04:30 Why has mass shooting frequency been accelerating? 06:00 Does media coverage of shootings plant the seed for more? 07:15 Says a lot about American psyche that True Crime is so popular 08:30 Focus of the doc is on victims, not the shooters 09:00 Asked parents of every child killed since Sandy Hook to film their room 12:00 Media that means to come back to tell victims stories aren’t able to 13:00 Stories must be told, regardless of how painful. Like Emmit Til  14:15 Many parents kept their slain children’s rooms untouched 15:15 Parents want to preserve the smell of their children 16:15 How did you compartmentalize when making this doc? 18:15 The hope of the doc is that everyone can feel the weight of the loss 19:30 People with the power to fix this problem need to see this doc 21:00 The word “Gun” is never mentioned, didn’t want to turn off viewers 22:45 Photos of empty rooms led 2A enthusiast to change his mind 23:30 Got an email from a Sandy Hook denier that watched the doc 25:30 The doc paints a 3D image of the victims, that gets missed normally 28:00 Parents choose to grieve & respond in different ways 30:00 Each family & parent has a different relationship with the empty room 31:45 Some families want to move, but can’t bring themselves to pack up room 33:30 Was it hard not to get prescriptive? 36:00 Conversation must start with “How do we keep kids safe at school?” 37:00 The film got better as it got shorter 38:00 Imagery can be more powerful than spoken word 39:15 Streaming on Netflix allows for far wider distribution  40:30 Funders for the doc didn’t want to make money, they wanted to make change 44:00 The topic wasn’t just powerful, it was visually powerful See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd delivers a searing assessment of a war he calls one of choice, not necessity. He argues that "ends justify the means" sums up everything about Trump's presidency, noting that the rationale for the war has shifted multiple times, there was no smoking gun incident to prompt the strikes, the administration's credibility with the public is extremely low, and Trump's own surrogates spent years warning that Democrats would start a war with Iran. He questions whether the U.S. got boxed in by Netanyahu and whether Trump is simply looking for his own Delcy Rodriguez-style compliant leader in Tehran, pointing out the absurdity of calling on Iran's military to surrender without clarifying to whom. He warns that regime change is a tall order that gives America enormous responsibility it isn't prepared for, that oil prices are set to soar with massive domestic political consequences, and that the prior cuts to Voice of America were a shortsighted mistake now that winning hearts and minds actually matters. He warns that if unilateral executive war-making becomes normalized, America will have fundamentally changed its republic. He closes by pivoting to the Texas primary, where Talarico appears to have momentum heading into election day, Trump has refused to endorse in the GOP race leaving Cornyn exposed, and total primary turnout will serve as a critical bellwether for November's midterms. Finally, ahead of the Texas primaries on Tuesday, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit Texas’s declaration of independence from Mexico & the unique forces that shaped the state’s “Lone Star” mentality. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or AmericanFinancing.net/TheChuckToddCast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 06:00 “Ends justify the means” sums up everything about Trump’s presidency 06:45 The administration’s credibility with the public is extremely low 07:30 Military sources are less likely to lie to reporters than political ones 08:30 The rationale for the war has changed multiple times 09:15 There was no smoking gun incident to prompt the war 10:30 Regime change is a tall order & gives us more responsibility 12:00 Trump has called for the Iranian military to surrender… but to whom? 12:45 Cuts to Voice of America was a shortsighted mistake 13:30 After massacre of protesters, there was a humanitarian case for strikes 15:00 Is Trump looking for his own Delcy Rodriguez in Iran? 15:30 Did the U.S. get boxed in by Netanyahu? 16:30 This a war of choice, not a war of necessity  17:15 Trump & surrogates warned for years that Dems would start a war with Iran 18:00 Trump has targeted two world leaders in less than a year 19:00 The administration has created a massive political problem 19:30 Trump has given up domestically, focused on foreign policy legacy 20:30 Trump doesn’t think about consequences beyond what’s good for him 21:15 This war will create an identity crisis for the Republican party 21:45 This has the potential to be incredibly good for the middle east 22:15 10/7 was the biggest strategic mistake Iran has ever made 23:30 Gulf states can’t keep their neutrality, MBS talked Trump into attacking 24:30 Iran’s proxies were more effective than their actual military 25:00 Israel is clearly the military power of the middle east 25:45 Oil prices likely to soar and will impact politics domestically 27:15 Trump probably cuts the deal if Iran completely capitulated 28:00 Iran was more forthcoming in negotiations than Russia is 29:15 Trump only chooses fights he knows he can dominate 30:00 Congress has itself to blame by not even bothering to vote 31:00 Will the American people decide that congress is optional 31:45 Contradiction between campaign rhetoric & governance should matter 32:45 If unilateral executive action becomes normal, we change our republic 34:15 Success overseas rarely translates to votes at the ballot box 35:30 Iraq & Afghanistan are still a mess twenty years after intervening 36:15 Talarico seems to have momentum prior to Texas primary 36:45 Trump refused to endorse in Texas 37:30 Dan Crenshaw is the only Republican in Texas without Trump’s support 38:30 Total turnout in Texas primary will be a bellwether for November 39:15 There are a lot of Cornyn/Talarico voters 48:00 ToddCast Time Machine - March 2nd 1836 48:45 Texas formally declares independence from Mexico 49:30 Independence declared in a small town, not a capital 50:45 There was a substantial population of Tejanos already in Texas 51:30 The revolution was multiethnic 52:00 Texas received exemptions for slavery under indentured structures 52:30 How the Alamo became a symbol 53:15 “Remember the Alamo” was a powerful rallying cry 54:30 Sam Houston eventually defeated the Mexican forces 55:00 From 1836-1845, Texas was an independent republic 56:00 The disputed border provided the pretext for war 56:30 Texas retained extraordinary autonomy compared to other states 58:00 Texas doesn’t just have an origin story, but an argument with its past 59:00 Ask Chuck 59:15 What is the political risk for Trump in not making war case to the public? 1:02:45 Why is the media so quick to jump onboard the administration’s framing? 1:07:00 How strong was the nuclear deal Obama struck with Iran? 1:11:30 Why aren’t drafters of the Articles of Confederation considered founding fathers? 1:15:00 Is Trump trying to elicit a “rally around the flag” effect to help the midterms? 1:18:30 Will Trump force through tariffs using a different emergency authority? 1:22:45 How was the career change from network to independent gone? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd delivers a searing assessment of a war he calls one of choice, not necessity. He argues that "ends justify the means" sums up everything about Trump's presidency, noting that the rationale for the war has shifted multiple times, there was no smoking gun incident to prompt the strikes, the administration's credibility with the public is extremely low, and Trump's own surrogates spent years warning that Democrats would start a war with Iran. He questions whether the U.S. got boxed in by Netanyahu and whether Trump is simply looking for his own Delcy Rodriguez-style compliant leader in Tehran, pointing out the absurdity of calling on Iran's military to surrender without clarifying to whom. He warns that regime change is a tall order that gives America enormous responsibility it isn't prepared for, that oil prices are set to soar with massive domestic political consequences, and that the prior cuts to Voice of America were a shortsighted mistake now that winning hearts and minds actually matters. He warns that if unilateral executive war-making becomes normalized, America will have fundamentally changed its republic. He closes by pivoting to the Texas primary, where Talarico appears to have momentum heading into election day, Trump has refused to endorse in the GOP race leaving Cornyn exposed, and total primary turnout will serve as a critical bellwether for November's midterms. Then, Rep. Sean Casten — the Illinois Democrat, clean energy entrepreneur, and scientist-turned-congressman who was inspired to run for office by Trump's first election — joins the Chuck ToddCast for a candid and wide-ranging conversation about what's broken in Congress and how to fix it. Casten pulls back the curtain on congressional dysfunction, describing a body increasingly populated by pundits and influencers rather than legislators, where televised hearings reward political theater over policymaking and cabinet secretaries like Scott Bessent feel they don't have to answer to Congress at all. He walks through his grilling of Bessent on the legality of the Venezuelan oil seizure — a moment where the Treasury Secretary had no good answer. Casten warns that congressional weakness is the single biggest issue plaguing the federal government. They debate Chuck’s long-standing position of uncapping the House of Representatives to bring the ratio down to 400-500,000 constituents per member, Casten pitches creating a block of 12 nationally elected senators to serve the national interest, and — most provocatively — stripping the Supreme Court of its self-granted power to set its own docket, a power Congress gave and can take away. He notes that Iceland copied America's government structure and eventually scrapped its senate. He closes by identifying income inequality, AI, and the changing job market as the seminal issues of 2028, warning that if Trump's own supporters prioritize economic concerns, the pitchforks will be coming out. Finally, ahead of the Texas primaries on Tuesday, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit Texas’s declaration of independence from Mexico & the unique forces that shaped the state’s “Lone Star” mentality. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or AmericanFinancing.net/TheChuckToddCast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 06:00 “Ends justify the means” sums up everything about Trump’s presidency 06:45 The administration’s credibility with the public is extremely low 07:30 Military sources are less likely to lie to reporters than political ones 08:30 The rationale for the war has changed multiple times 09:15 There was no smoking gun incident to prompt the war 10:30 Regime change is a tall order & gives us more responsibility 12:00 Trump has called for the Iranian military to surrender… but to whom? 12:45 Cuts to Voice of America was a shortsighted mistake 13:30 After massacre of protesters, there was a humanitarian case for strikes 15:00 Is Trump looking for his own Delcy Rodriguez in Iran? 15:30 Did the U.S. get boxed in by Netanyahu? 16:30 This a war of choice, not a war of necessity  17:15 Trump & surrogates warned for years that Dems would start a war with Iran 18:00 Trump has targeted two world leaders in less than a year 19:00 The administration has created a massive political problem 19:30 Trump has given up domestically, focused on foreign policy legacy 20:30 Trump doesn’t think about consequences beyond what’s good for him 21:15 This war will create an identity crisis for the Republican party 21:45 This has the potential to be incredibly good for the middle east 22:15 10/7 was the biggest strategic mistake Iran has ever made 23:30 Gulf states can’t keep their neutrality, MBS talked Trump into attacking 24:30 Iran’s proxies were more effective than their actual military 25:00 Israel is clearly the military power of the middle east 25:45 Oil prices likely to soar and will impact politics domestically 27:15 Trump probably cuts the deal if Iran completely capitulated 28:00 Iran was more forthcoming in negotiations than Russia is 29:15 Trump only chooses fights he knows he can dominate 30:00 Congress has itself to blame by not even bothering to vote 31:00 Will the American people decide that congress is optional 31:45 Contradiction between campaign rhetoric & governance should matter 32:45 If unilateral executive action becomes normal, we change our republic 34:15 Success overseas rarely translates to votes at the ballot box 35:30 Iraq & Afghanistan are still a mess twenty years after intervening 36:15 Talarico seems to have momentum prior to Texas primary 36:45 Trump refused to endorse in Texas 37:30 Dan Crenshaw is the only Republican in Texas without Trump’s support 38:30 Total turnout in Texas primary will be a bellwether for November 39:15 There are a lot of Cornyn/Talarico voters 49:00 Rep. Sean Casten joins the Chuck ToddCast 50:45 Leadership has hijacked congress 51:45 Congress increasingly has more pundits/influencers than legislators 52:30 Hearings being televised leads to more political theater 53:00 In the minority, all you can do is move public opinion 54:00 Grilling Scott Bessent on legality of Venezuelan oil seizure 55:15 Bessent is the adult behind the scenes, but not publicly 57:00 There was no way for Bessent to answer the question well 57:30 Administration has no authority to distribute Venezuelan oil 58:45 Rubio and Bessent didn’t coordinate their stories 1:00:00 Cabinet secretaries feel they don’t have to answer to congress 1:00:45 Trump was constrained in his first term, not in this term 1:02:00 Rubio will get blamed if foreign adventurism goes poorly 1:03:15 Loyalty is a one-way street with Trump 1:04:00 Congressional dysfunction is biggest issue with federal government 1:04:45 Why give up your job as CEO to run for congress? 1:05:45 Wanted to combat climate change as a member of congress 1:07:15 Trump’s election inspired many people to get off the sidelines 1:08:00 Congress rarely takes back its power, other branches grab more 1:09:15 American democracy only gets updated after major upheaval 1:11:45 What structural reforms to democracy would you like to work on? 1:13:00 Senate, electoral college and Supreme Court are holding us back 1:13:45 Create a block of 12 nationally elected senators to serve national interest 1:14:30 Congress can strip appellate jurisdiction from the Supreme Court 1:15:30 Congress gave SCOTUS power to set their own docket, can take it away 1:17:15 Without lifetime appointments, Trump probably fires Gorsuch & Barrett 1:18:15 SCOTUS justices are mostly partisan warriors 1:19:30 Iceland copied U.S. government structure, eventually scrapped senate 1:21:30 Size of the House of Representatives needs to be uncapped 1:24:30 400-500k constituents per congress member seems about right 1:26:15 What’s the appetite in congress for real structural reform? 1:27:45 New construction for a bigger congress is a solvable challenge 1:29:30 Members in less than safe seats incentivized to be in-district over D.C. 1:32:30 There’s value in being in-district and having the pulse of the community 1:33:15 Democratic party is viewed as poorly as Trump in polls 1:35:30 Do Democrats have a leadership problem or party brand problem? 1:36:15 Democratic voters punishing the party for not putting Trump away? 1:37:30 Biden had major legislative wins because he understood process 1:39:00 America needs a Churchill, fighter type in the Oval Office 1:40:30 Obama, Clinton and Carter weren’t on the radar 2-3 years before election 1:42:00 Do Democrats want a “fighter” or “uniter” as their next nominee? 1:44:15 Income inequality, AI & job market will be seminal issues in 2028 1:46:30 If Trump supporters prioritize economic concerns, pitchforks will be out 1:51:00 Congress has same proportion of “knuckleheads” as any workplace 1:53:30 ToddCast Time Machine - March 2nd 1836 1:54:15 Texas formally declares independence from Mexico 1:55:00 Independence declared in a small t

Rep. Sean Casten — the Illinois Democrat, clean energy entrepreneur, and scientist-turned-congressman who was inspired to run for office by Trump's first election — joins the Chuck ToddCast for a candid and wide-ranging conversation about what's broken in Congress and how to fix it. Casten pulls back the curtain on congressional dysfunction, describing a body increasingly populated by pundits and influencers rather than legislators, where televised hearings reward political theater over policymaking and cabinet secretaries like Scott Bessent feel they don't have to answer to Congress at all. He walks through his grilling of Bessent on the legality of the Venezuelan oil seizure — a moment where the Treasury Secretary had no good answer. Casten warns that congressional weakness is the single biggest issue plaguing the federal government. They debate Chuck’s long-standing position of uncapping the House of Representatives to bring the ratio down to 400-500,000 constituents per member, Casten pitches creating a block of 12 nationally elected senators to serve the national interest, and — most provocatively — stripping the Supreme Court of its self-granted power to set its own docket, a power Congress gave and can take away. He notes that Iceland copied America's government structure and eventually scrapped its senate. He closes by identifying income inequality, AI, and the changing job market as the seminal issues of 2028, warning that if Trump's own supporters prioritize economic concerns, the pitchforks will be coming out. Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or AmericanFinancing.net/TheChuckToddCast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Rep. Sean Casten joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:45 Leadership has hijacked congress 02:45 Congress increasingly has more pundits/influencers than legislators 03:30 Hearings being televised leads to more political theater 04:00 In the minority, all you can do is move public opinion 05:00 Grilling Scott Bessent on legality of Venezuelan oil seizure 06:15 Bessent is the adult behind the scenes, but not publicly 08:00 There was no way for Bessent to answer the question well 08:30 Administration has no authority to distribute Venezuelan oil 09:45 Rubio and Bessent didn’t coordinate their stories 11:00 Cabinet secretaries feel they don’t have to answer to congress 11:45 Trump was constrained in his first term, not in this term 13:00 Rubio will get blamed if foreign adventurism goes poorly 14:15 Loyalty is a one-way street with Trump 15:00 Congressional dysfunction is biggest issue with federal government 15:45 Why give up your job as CEO to run for congress? 16:45 Wanted to combat climate change as a member of congress 18:15 Trump’s election inspired many people to get off the sidelines 19:00 Congress rarely takes back its power, other branches grab more 20:15 American democracy only gets updated after major upheaval 22:45 What structural reforms to democracy would you like to work on? 24:00 Senate, electoral college and Supreme Court are holding us back 24:45 Create a block of 12 nationally elected senators to serve national interest 25:30 Congress can strip appellate jurisdiction from the Supreme Court 26:30 Congress gave SCOTUS power to set their own docket, can take it away 28:15 Without lifetime appointments, Trump probably fires Gorsuch & Barrett 29:15 SCOTUS justices are mostly partisan warriors 30:30 Iceland copied U.S. government structure, eventually scrapped senate 32:30 Size of the House of Representatives needs to be uncapped 35:30 400-500k constituents per congress member seems about right 37:15 What’s the appetite in congress for real structural reform? 38:45 New construction for a bigger congress is a solvable challenge 40:30 Members in less than safe seats incentivized to be in-district over D.C. 43:30 There’s value in being in-district and having the pulse of the community 44:15 Democratic party is viewed as poorly as Trump in polls 46:30 Do Democrats have a leadership problem or party brand problem? 47:15 Democratic voters punishing the party for not putting Trump away? 48:30 Biden had major legislative wins because he understood process 50:00 America needs a Churchill, fighter type in the Oval Office 51:30 Obama, Clinton and Carter weren’t on the radar 2-3 years before election 53:00 Do Democrats want a “fighter” or “uniter” as their next nominee? 55:15 Income inequality, AI & job market will be seminal issues in 2028 57:30 If Trump supporters prioritize economic concerns, pitchforks will be out 1:02:00 Congress has same proportion of “knuckleheads” as any workplace See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's episode is as urgent as it gets — Chuck Todd breaks down the seismic events of February 28, 2026, as the United States and Israel launched "Operation Epic Fury," a massive joint military strike against Iran targeting nuclear facilities, missile infrastructure, and senior regime leadership, including attempts on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei himself. Trump announced "major combat operations" in a prerecorded video, urging Iranians to "take over your government" — a sweeping regime-change ambition that stands in stunning contrast to his campaign promises to end foreign entanglements and never play the role of the world's police. Iran has already retaliated, firing missiles at U.S. military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE, with Houthi rebels in Yemen threatening to resume Red Sea shipping strikes and Hezbollah calling for regional unity against the U.S. and Israel. While a free Iran could indeed be transformational, the hard, inconvenient questions are piling up fast: What happens when the next terror attack comes in response? Who pays to rebuild Iran after we've bombed it — the same taxpayers already on the hook for Gaza and Venezuela? How does Congress respond to a president who, legal scholars argue, went to war without authorization, relying on a constitutionally dubious Article II justification even thinner than the case for Iraq? The strikes came hours after Oman's foreign minister reported "significant progress" in nuclear negotiations, making this a war of choice that blindsided America's own diplomatic efforts. Today's bombs may be the easy part — the next six months, as the law of unintended consequences takes hold across a destabilized Middle East, will be the real reckoning for a country that was told, repeatedly, it was done doing exactly this.   Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction - Trump strikes Iran with help from Israel 00:30 Trump campaigned against being the world’s police & war with Iran 01:45 A free Iran would be great and transformational for the world 03:30 There will a terror attack somewhere in response 04:45 Good luck explaining to taxpayers that we’re rebuilding Iran 05:15 Rebuilding Gaza, Venezuela and now Iran are our responsibility? 06:30 How will congress respond? 07:30 Trump went to war with less evidence than Bush in Iraq 09:00 The law of unintended consequences is in full effect 10:30 The Iranian regime is horrible, but Trump owes Americans an explanation 12:30 Trump ignored the constitution here, but congress has been impotent 14:00 Today is the easy part, the hard part is the next 6 months 16:15 What we’re doing is exactly what Trump said he’d never do 18:15 The country is tired of intervention around the world See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd unpacks the fallout from Trump's State of the Union address and previews what's shaping up to be a pivotal primary season. He argues that the speech wasn't designed to be coherent — it was engineered for social media moments and base solidification, with Trump drafting off the popularity of others like the Olympic hockey team rather than making a case to swing voters, and echoing Biden's mistake of trying to sell a country that doesn't feel it on the economy. He breaks down the JD Vance "fraud czar" announcement and the immediate move to suspend Medicaid funding to Minnesota as classic base-juicing, then pivots to a sharp analysis of the Iran standoff: Trump's base won't tolerate a prolonged war but might accept limited strikes, Iran knows this and could rope-a-dope the administration, and you can't air strike your way to regime change. He argues that Cuba on the brink of societal collapse with Cuban Americans eager to help rebuild — represents a far easier foreign policy win that Trump is inexplicably ignoring. He then turns to the Texas primaries, where Cornyn has trailed Paxton in every poll and likely can't win without a Trump endorsement, while the Crockett-Talarico Democratic race is showing Clinton-Sanders demographic splits with Crockett leading among groups more likely to actually vote. He notes that many of Chuck Schumer's recruited candidates nationally are already losing, and that the establishment is deeply unpopular this cycle — with a new poll showing insurgent Graham Platner crushing Janet Mills by 40 points as further proof that 2026 is shaping up as an anti-establishment wave. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and explains his beef with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:45 Initial fallout from Trump’s State of the Union speech 03:30 Trump’s focus is to solidify his base, not reach swing voters 04:45 Speech wasn’t coherent, it was meant for social media moments 05:30 Trump tried to draft on the popularity of others during speech 06:15 Like Biden, Trump tried to sell the country that the economy is working 08:15 Trump announced JD Vance as “fraud czar” 09:00 Vance announces they’ll suspend Medicaid funding to Minnesota 10:00 Trump isn’t politically nimble, but knows how to juice the base 11:00 Trump’s speech only played one note to his base 13:15 It’s tough to understand what Trump is up to with Iran 14:00 Trump’s base won’t accept a prolonged war with Iran, just limited strikes 14:45 Iran knows Trump’s base isn’t on board, could rope-a-dope him 16:30 You can’t air strike your way to regime change… so what’s the plan? 17:45 25% chance of regime change, 25% chance it strengthens regime 19:00 Trump’s impatience is one of his worst political instincts 20:00 Cuba is on the brink of societal/regime collapse 20:45 Cuban Americans would jump at opportunity to rebuild Cuba 22:00 Cuba is a much easier potential foreign policy victory for Trump 23:15 War with Iran could be a massive resource drain on the U.S. 23:45 Primary season about to kick off, starting with Texas 24:15 What happens in Dem primary, will affect GOP runoff 25:00 Cornyn has trailed Paxton in every poll 26:15 Cornyn can’t win without Trump’s endorsement 28:00 Divide between Talarico and Crockett has been fascinating 28:30 Bernie Sanders & AOC have stayed out of Texas primary 29:45 If 3rd candidate gets over 3 points, real chance of Dem runoff 30:45 Polling for Talarico/Crockett shows similar splits to Clinton/Sanders 31:30 Crockett ahead with demographic groups more likely to vote 32:45 Talarico is trying to tout his electability in the general 33:45 It’s hard to know whether Talarico or Crockett is more electable 36:45 If Talarico wins, it might force Trump off the fence & to back Cornyn 38:15 It will be hard for Dems to win in Texas, but it will be competitive 39:00 Many people are betting Talarico will be the next Pete Buttigieg 40:00 New poll shows Graham Platner beating Janet Mills by 40 points 41:45 Many candidates Chuck Schumer recruited are losing 43:00 The establishment is deeply unpopular this year See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd unpacks the fallout from Trump's State of the Union address and previews what's shaping up to be a pivotal primary season. He argues that the speech wasn't designed to be coherent — it was engineered for social media moments and base solidification, with Trump drafting off the popularity of others like the Olympic hockey team rather than making a case to swing voters, and echoing Biden's mistake of trying to sell a country that doesn't feel it on the economy. He breaks down the JD Vance "fraud czar" announcement and the immediate move to suspend Medicaid funding to Minnesota as classic base-juicing, then pivots to a sharp analysis of the Iran standoff: Trump's base won't tolerate a prolonged war but might accept limited strikes, Iran knows this and could rope-a-dope the administration, and you can't air strike your way to regime change. He argues that Cuba on the brink of societal collapse with Cuban Americans eager to help rebuild — represents a far easier foreign policy win that Trump is inexplicably ignoring. He then turns to the Texas primaries, where Cornyn has trailed Paxton in every poll and likely can't win without a Trump endorsement, while the Crockett-Talarico Democratic race is showing Clinton-Sanders demographic splits with Crockett leading among groups more likely to actually vote. He notes that many of Chuck Schumer's recruited candidates nationally are already losing, and that the establishment is deeply unpopular this cycle — with a new poll showing insurgent Graham Platner crushing Janet Mills by 40 points as further proof that 2026 is shaping up as an anti-establishment wave. Katherine Mangu-Ward — editor-in-chief of Reason magazine and author of the viral New York Times op-ed "Libertarians: We Told You So" — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a sharp, wide-ranging conversation about what the libertarian moment looks like when executive power has run amok. She opens with a disarming observation: Americans tend to discover their inner libertarian whenever they dislike the president — and notes that a version of her op-ed could have been written under Biden too. But the Trump era, she argues, has vindicated libertarian warnings in ways that should alarm everyone: warrantless ICE entries that have silenced the very conservatives who once championed the Fourth Amendment, tech CEO congressional hearings that were really about locking in corporate access to state power, and a cronyism so brazen it has paradoxically made citizens hate corporations more than the government enabling them.  The conversation takes a fascinating turn into policy territory rarely explored on political podcasts. Mangu-Ward engages seriously with the question of whether there's a libertarian case for nationalized healthcare. They also tackle Trump turning Democrats into free-trade activists, the risks of economic nationalism, why demands for safety net cuts fall far short of solving the budget problem, and the fine line between prediction markets and sportsbooks. Looking ahead to 2026, Mangu-Ward points to Arizona — a state that has always produced what she calls "mutant strains" of libertarianism — as the place to watch for whether libertarian-leaning candidates can finally break through at the ballot box. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and explains his beef with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 04:00 Initial fallout from Trump’s State of the Union speech 05:45 Trump’s focus is to solidify his base, not reach swing voters 07:00 Speech wasn’t coherent, it was meant for social media moments 07:45 Trump tried to draft on the popularity of others during speech 08:30 Like Biden, Trump tried to sell the country that the economy is working 10:30 Trump announced JD Vance as “fraud czar” 11:15 Vance announces they’ll suspend Medicaid funding to Minnesota 12:15 Trump isn’t politically nimble, but knows how to juice the base 13:15 Trump’s speech only played one note to his base 15:30 It’s tough to understand what Trump is up to with Iran 16:15 Trump’s base won’t accept a prolonged war with Iran, just limited strikes 17:00 Iran knows Trump’s base isn’t on board, could rope-a-dope him 18:45 You can’t air strike your way to regime change… so what’s the plan? 20:00 25% chance of regime change, 25% chance it strengthens regime 21:15 Trump’s impatience is one of his worst political instincts 22:15 Cuba is on the brink of societal/regime collapse 23:00 Cuban Americans would jump at opportunity to rebuild Cuba 24:15 Cuba is a much easier potential foreign policy victory for Trump 25:30 War with Iran could be a massive resource drain on the U.S.  26:00 Primary season about to kick off, starting with Texas 26:30 What happens in Dem primary, will affect GOP runoff 27:15 Cornyn has trailed Paxton in every poll 28:30 Cornyn can’t win without Trump’s endorsement 30:15 Divide between Talarico and Crockett has been fascinating 30:45 Bernie Sanders & AOC have stayed out of Texas primary 32:00 If 3rd candidate gets over 3 points, real chance of Dem runoff 33:00 Polling for Talarico/Crockett shows similar splits to Clinton/Sanders 33:45 Crockett ahead with demographic groups more likely to vote 35:00 Talarico is trying to tout his electability in the general 36:00 It’s hard to know whether Talarico or Crockett is more electable 39:00 If Talarico wins, it might force Trump off the fence & to back Cornyn 40:30 It will be hard for Dems to win in Texas, but it will be competitive 41:15 Many people are betting Talarico will be the next Pete Buttigieg 42:15 New poll shows Graham Platner beating Janet Mills by 40 points 44:00 Many candidates Chuck Schumer recruited are losing 45:15 The establishment is deeply unpopular this year 54:30 Katherine Mangu-Ward joins the Chuck ToddCast 55:30 We’re all more libertarian when we don’t like the president 56:15 Motivation for writing NYT op-ed “Libertarians: We Told You So” 58:00 Libertarian has been typically conservative in western U.S. 59:00 Kentucky has been sending most libertarians to congress 1:00:00 Different version of Op-ed could have been written under Biden 1:01:45 American elections recently haven’t given anyone a mandate 1:03:00 Supreme Court begged congress to do their job in tariff decision 1:04:30 Where are the conservatives now that warrantless entries are happening? 1:06:00 Trump has bullied out libertarians and unsupportive Republicans 1:08:15 Biggest worries about big tech are worries about the state 1:09:45 Don’t want big tech to enable state actions against individual rights 1:11:45 We might need a cultural sea change for congress to rein in big tech 1:13:15 Trump’s cronyism has made citizens hate only corporations, not government 1:14:00 Less government reduces opportunity for cronyism 1:16:00 Tech CEO hearings were CEOs trying to lock in their place 1:17:00 Market discipline does seem to be working in the AI space 1:18:30 Where is some government regulation acceptable for libertarians? 1:20:30 Trump has turned Democrats into free-trade activists 1:22:00 The risks of economic nationalism 1:24:30 Where do libertarians draw the line on the social safety net? 1:25:15 Demands for safety net cuts fall very short of solving budget problem 1:27:00 Student loan debt forgiveness would benefit higher earners 1:28:30 More people want government to have a larger role 1:30:45 Is there a libertarian argument for nationalized healthcare? 1:32:45 Regulation in healthcare & childcare have exploded costs 1:35:00 Market forces haven’t worked in healthcare pricing 1:36:30 We’re being lied to about pricing practices in healthcare 1:37:45 Should insurance be able to price based on preexisting conditions? 1:39:30 Catastrophic coverage is basically illegal now 1:40:45 We should just pay out of pocket for small, regular procedures 1:42:15 Charity or government subsidies should assist preexisting conditions 1:45:00 How would a libertarian clean up the prediction markets? 1:47:30 Not a major difference between prediction markets & sportsbooks 1:50:00 Will libertarians have a moment at the ballot box in 2026? 1:50:45 Arizona has always produced mutant strains of libertarian 1:54:00 Arizona has always been libertarian socially & economically 1:55:30 It’d be interesting to hear a libertarian proposal for healthcare 1:56:00 Ask Chuck 1:56:15 Will Republicans divert focus from anti-trans rhetoric to the economy? 1:59:00 Trump’s three part strategy to State of the Union? 2:02:45 Does America’s GDP actually translate to a higher standard of living? 2:05:30 How can Florida's government function without property tax? 2:09:30 After the TX & NC primaries, will GOP candidates distance from Trump? 2:12:45 Thoughts on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katherine Mangu-Ward — editor-in-chief of Reason magazine and author of the viral New York Times op-ed "Libertarians: We Told You So" — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a sharp, wide-ranging conversation about what the libertarian moment looks like when executive power has run amok. She opens with a disarming observation: Americans tend to discover their inner libertarian whenever they dislike the president — and notes that a version of her op-ed could have been written under Biden too. But the Trump era, she argues, has vindicated libertarian warnings in ways that should alarm everyone: warrantless ICE entries that have silenced the very conservatives who once championed the Fourth Amendment, tech CEO congressional hearings that were really about locking in corporate access to state power, and a cronyism so brazen it has paradoxically made citizens hate corporations more than the government enabling them.  The conversation takes a fascinating turn into policy territory rarely explored on political podcasts. Mangu-Ward engages seriously with the question of whether there's a libertarian case for nationalized healthcare. They also tackle Trump turning Democrats into free-trade activists, the risks of economic nationalism, why demands for safety net cuts fall far short of solving the budget problem, and the fine line between prediction markets and sportsbooks. Looking ahead to 2026, Mangu-Ward points to Arizona — a state that has always produced what she calls "mutant strains" of libertarianism — as the place to watch for whether libertarian-leaning candidates can finally break through at the ballot box. Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Katherine Mangu-Ward joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 We’re all more libertarian when we don’t like the president 01:45 Motivation for writing NYT op-ed “Libertarians: We Told You So” 03:30 Libertarian has been typically conservative in western U.S. 04:30 Kentucky has been sending most libertarians to congress 05:30 Different version of Op-ed could have been written under Biden 07:15 American elections recently haven’t given anyone a mandate 08:30 Supreme Court begged congress to do their job in tariff decision 10:00 Where are the conservatives now that warrantless entries are happening? 11:30 Trump has bullied out libertarians and unsupportive Republicans 13:45 Biggest worries about big tech are worries about the state 15:15 Don’t want big tech to enable state actions against individual rights 17:15 We might need a cultural sea change for congress to rein in big tech 18:45 Trump’s cronyism has made citizens hate only corporations, not government 19:30 Less government reduces opportunity for cronyism 21:30 Tech CEO hearings were CEOs trying to lock in their place 22:30 Market discipline does seem to be working in the AI space 24:00 Where is some government regulation acceptable for libertarians? 26:00 Trump has turned Democrats into free-trade activists 28:30 The risks of economic nationalism 30:00 Where do libertarians draw the line on the social safety net? 30:45 Demands for safety net cuts fall very short of solving budget problem 32:30 Student loan debt forgiveness would benefit higher earners 34:00 More people want government to have a larger role 36:15 Is there a libertarian argument for nationalized healthcare? 38:15 Regulation in healthcare & childcare have exploded costs 40:30 Market forces haven’t worked in healthcare pricing 42:00 We’re being lied to about pricing practices in healthcare 43:15 Should insurance be able to price based on preexisting conditions? 45:00 Catastrophic coverage is basically illegal now 46:15 We should just pay out of pocket for small, regular procedures 47:45 Charity or government subsidies should assist preexisting conditions 50:30 How would a libertarian clean up the prediction markets? 53:00 Not a major difference between prediction markets & sportsbooks 55:30 Will libertarians have a moment at the ballot box in 2026? 56:15 Arizona has always produced mutant strains of libertarian 59:30 Arizona has always been libertarian socially & economically See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode recorded immediately after Trump's record-breaking 108-minute State of the Union address, Chuck Todd argues that while Trump's base will love the "own the libs" moments — from trolling Democrats in the chamber to the raucous "USA" chants from Republicans — the speech was fundamentally a missed opportunity that did nothing to help the GOP heading into the midterms. He contends that Trump chose to be a party leader rather than a president, turning the address into something resembling an award show by packing it with medal presentations, the Olympic men's hockey team, honorees who deserved more dedicated recognition rather than being used as applause props in an already bloated speech. He argues that Trump's tone on the economy couldn't have been worse for Republicans: with his approval at 60% disapproval and the Supreme Court having just struck down his tariffs days earlier, Trump barely addressed voters' core concerns about costs and affordability, instead declaring a "turnaround for the ages" that doesn't match most Americans' lived experience. He notes Trump’s highlighting of Iran's ballistic missiles sounded like a pretext for war that won't play well with parts of his own base. He praises Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger's Democratic response as simple and effective — particularly her pointed questions about whether the president is actually working to make life more affordable — and argues she clearly won over independents. He closes with a bigger-picture observation: that there's a 60% majority coalition available on populist economic issues like protecting the safety net from cuts to fund tax breaks for the wealthy, but that Democrats still have a damaged brand despite Trump's terrible numbers, and that voters who thought they were getting first-term Trump are reckoning with something very different. Finally, Chuck presents his updated ToddCast Top 5 list of senate seats most likely to flip in the midterms and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 2:15 Trump’s base will love “own the libs” moments from SOTU 3:30 Most of Trump’s base was celebrating himself & animating his base 4:15 Trump’s tone on the economy couldn’t have been worse for GOP 5:30 Trump hid behind the glory of others, turned speech into award show 6:45 Awards are an incredible honor, deserved more time & recognition 8:30 Hopefully the recipients get dedicated events to honor them 9:00 Overloading the speech with awards felt a bit gimmicky 10:00 Trump mostly bit his tongue when addressing SCOTUS 10:30 Trump chose to be a party leader rather than president, trolled Dems 11:15 Spanberger’s response to SOTU was simple & effective 13:00 Spanberger definitely did better with independents than Trump 13:45 Trump’s proposal to make AI companies provide their power is a winner 14:15 Trump highlighting Iran’s ballistic missiles sounds like a pretext for war 15:30 Attacking Iran won’t play well with parts of Trump’s base 16:30 Trump didn’t talk about Venezuelan democracy, just oil 17:15 Trump’s still working with the Maduro regime 18:45 Are we trying to prevent Iranian nukes, or attempting regime change? 19:30 Trump claiming credit for getting Mexican cartel leader is a big faux pax 20:45 Allies feel like Trump will sell them out just so he can take credit 21:30 Trump didn’t address voters concerns on costs & the economy 22:45 Trump is better on the attack than defending his record 23:30 The speech didn’t give Republicans a boost for the midterms 24:30 Most Americans don’t support cutting safety net for tax cuts 26:30 There’s a 60% majority to be had on economic issues, not cultural ones 28:15 Voters keep picking the out party 29:30 There’s a majority coalition to be won with populist economic policy 31:30 This could be a moment for candidates to shed the party label 32:00 Democrats will have a strong midterm just being against Trump 32:45 Class politics could create a strong majority 34:30 Voters thought they’d get 1st term Trump, not what they’re getting 44:45 ToddCast Top senate seats most likely to flip in midterms 45:00 #1 North Carolina 46:45 #2 Maine 49:45 #3 Michigan 54:15 #4 Alaska 57:15 #5 Texas 1:02:30 Honorable mentions: South Dakota & Minnesota 1:07:30 Ask Chuck 1:07:45 Promoting tariffs & AI have to only be bad for Trump? 1:08:45 Can Republicans not endorsed by Trump win their primaries? 1:10:15 Will lifting pesticide bans cause MAHA voters to turn on Trump? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode recorded immediately after Trump's record-breaking 108-minute State of the Union address, Chuck Todd argues that while Trump's base will love the "own the libs" moments — from trolling Democrats in the chamber to the raucous "USA" chants from Republicans — the speech was fundamentally a missed opportunity that did nothing to help the GOP heading into the midterms. He contends that Trump chose to be a party leader rather than a president, turning the address into something resembling an award show by packing it with medal presentations, the Olympic men's hockey team, honorees who deserved more dedicated recognition rather than being used as applause props in an already bloated speech. He argues that Trump's tone on the economy couldn't have been worse for Republicans: with his approval at 60% disapproval and the Supreme Court having just struck down his tariffs days earlier, Trump barely addressed voters' core concerns about costs and affordability, instead declaring a "turnaround for the ages" that doesn't match most Americans' lived experience. He notes Trump’s highlighting of Iran's ballistic missiles sounded like a pretext for war that won't play well with parts of his own base. He praises Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger's Democratic response as simple and effective — particularly her pointed questions about whether the president is actually working to make life more affordable — and argues she clearly won over independents. He closes with a bigger-picture observation: that there's a 60% majority coalition available on populist economic issues like protecting the safety net from cuts to fund tax breaks for the wealthy, but that Democrats still have a damaged brand despite Trump's terrible numbers, and that voters who thought they were getting first-term Trump are reckoning with something very different. Then, Paul Auslander, President of SeaBridge Private Wealth, a division of SeaBridge Investment Advisors LLC joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the intersection of money, markets, and the current political moment. Auslander walks through how the political climate now factors directly into financial planning projections, noting that European indices doubled the S&P's performance last year as capital flows shift overseas, and that a growing number of wealthy clients are hedging by moving money out of the United States. He offers candid takes on the issues keeping investors up at night: the inevitability of Social Security cuts (though he argues simply pushing retirement age from 67 to 69 would stabilize the fund), the likely future of Social Security privatization, crypto's evolution from a technological revolution into a special interest that bought its own policy outcomes, and whether there's money to be made off bad Trump policies that are likely to be reversed. Auslander also explains why the bond market is a better barometer of economic health than the stock market, why private equity is sitting on mountains of sidelined capital, and why he remains cautiously bullish on 2026 — largely because AI is only in the "second inning" and massive disruption is still ahead. The conversation also ventures into territory financial planners don't usually discuss publicly. Auslander addresses whether the wealthy are worried the "pitchforks are coming for them," pointing to economic anxiety driving a spike in gun sales and a pop culture landscape that increasingly portrays corporations and the ultra-rich as villains. He breaks down the rise of family offices — private wealth management firms for the ultra-wealthy that take a long-term investment view — and explains why companies increasingly choose to stay private thanks to nearly unlimited private capital, rather than face the scrutiny of public markets. They also dig into the generational divide between investing and gambling, the casino-like nature of prediction markets, and the burden that post-Lehman Brothers insurance and regulatory requirements have placed on small businesses and regional banks that had nothing to do with the 2008 financial crisis. Auslander closes with a pointed message: that Fed independence and the rule of law are paramount to economic stability, and that centrism — not ideological extremism — remains the best way to run the country. Finally, Chuck presents his updated ToddCast Top 5 list of senate seats most likely to flip in the midterms and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:15 Trump’s base will love “own the libs” moments from SOTU 04:30 Most of Trump’s base was celebrating himself & animating his base 05:15 Trump’s tone on the economy couldn’t have been worse for GOP 06:30 Trump hid behind the glory of others, turned speech into award show 07:45 Awards are an incredible honor, deserved more time & recognition 09:30 Hopefully the recipients get dedicated events to honor them 10:00 Overloading the speech with awards felt a bit gimmicky 11:00 Trump mostly bit his tongue when addressing SCOTUS 11:30 Trump chose to be a party leader rather than president, trolled Dems 12:15 Spanberger’s response to SOTU was simple & effective 14:00 Spanberger definitely did better with independents than Trump 14:45 Trump’s proposal to make AI companies provide their power is a winner 15:15 Trump highlighting Iran’s ballistic missiles sounds like a pretext for war 16:30 Attacking Iran won’t play well with parts of Trump’s base 17:30 Trump didn’t talk about Venezuelan democracy, just oil 18:15 Trump’s still working with the Maduro regime 19:45 Are we trying to prevent Iranian nukes, or attempting regime change? 20:30 Trump claiming credit for getting Mexican cartel leader is a big faux pax 21:45 Allies feel like Trump will sell them out just so he can take credit 22:30 Trump didn’t address voters concerns on costs & the economy 23:45 Trump is better on the attack than defending his record 24:30 The speech didn’t give Republicans a boost for the midterms 25:30 Most Americans don’t support cutting safety net for tax cuts 27:30 There’s a 60% majority to be had on economic issues, not cultural ones 29:15 Voters keep picking the out party 30:30 There’s a majority coalition to be won with populist economic policy 32:30 This could be a moment for candidates to shed the party label 33:00 Democrats will have a strong midterm just being against Trump 33:45 Class politics could create a strong majority 35:30 Voters thought they’d get 1st term Trump, not what they’re getting 45:30 Paul Auslander joins the Chuck ToddCast 47:00 Paul’s origin story 48:15 Financial planning was mostly done by insurance companies in 70’s 49:00 Northerners move to FL for taxes & weather, but FL is pushing it socially 51:30 Fiduciary responsibility is the line of demarcation in financial planning 52:30 Factoring the political climate into financial planning projections 54:00 European index doubled the performance of the S&P last year 55:00 Tax policy is generally the biggest concern for investors 57:30 A cut to social security payments is bound to happen 58:30 If you push retirement from 67 to 69 the SS fund becomes healthy 1:00:45 Social security privatization likely to happen in the future 1:02:45 Money to be made off bad Trump policies that are likely to go away? 1:03:45 Crypto became a special interest & bought support for pro crypto policy 1:05:30 Crypto is a revolution that predates Trump & will outlast him 1:07:00 Lesson to be learned from rise then collapse in price of silver? 1:08:00 Central banks are buying silver, gold and assets 1:09:30 How many people are hedging by moving money out of the U.S.? 1:10:15 Europe is spending big money on arms & infrastructure 1:11:30 Definition of a “Family Office” 1:14:00 Family office investments are increasingly popular & take the long view 1:15:30 Are the investors/wealthy worried the pitchforks are coming for them? 1:17:00 Economic anxiety driving a spike in gun sales 1:18:30 Pop culture portrays corporations & wealthy as the villains 1:20:00 Private equity has a lot of money on the sideline, looking for investments 1:23:00 The burden of insurance requirements on small business 1:25:30 Small & regional banks paying for the sins of Lehman Brothers 1:26:30 Companies stay private due to near unlimited private capital 1:27:15 Do young people like investing… or do they just like gambling? 1:28:15 Thoughts on prediction markets? 1:29:30 There’s a casino like approach to certain markets 1:30:45 If the house flips, you could see money get withdrawn from markets 1:32:00 How do Trump’s relationships with world leaders affect projections? 1:33:15 The bond market is more indicative of economic health than stock market 1:34:15 Uncertainty will impact earnings 1:34:45 Why are you feeling bullish on 2026? 1:37:00 AI is only in the 2nd inning. Disruption is coming 1:40:00 Thom Tillis sounds like a different man now t

Paul Auslander, President of SeaBridge Private Wealth, a division of SeaBridge Investment Advisors LLC joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the intersection of money, markets, and the current political moment. Auslander walks through how the political climate now factors directly into financial planning projections, noting that European indices doubled the S&P's performance last year as capital flows shift overseas, and that a growing number of wealthy clients are hedging by moving money out of the United States. He offers candid takes on the issues keeping investors up at night: the inevitability of Social Security cuts (though he argues simply pushing retirement age from 67 to 69 would stabilize the fund), the likely future of Social Security privatization, crypto's evolution from a technological revolution into a special interest that bought its own policy outcomes, and whether there's money to be made off bad Trump policies that are likely to be reversed. Auslander also explains why the bond market is a better barometer of economic health than the stock market, why private equity is sitting on mountains of sidelined capital, and why he remains cautiously bullish on 2026 — largely because AI is only in the "second inning" and massive disruption is still ahead. The conversation also ventures into territory financial planners don't usually discuss publicly. Auslander addresses whether the wealthy are worried the "pitchforks are coming for them," pointing to economic anxiety driving a spike in gun sales and a pop culture landscape that increasingly portrays corporations and the ultra-rich as villains. He breaks down the rise of family offices — private wealth management firms for the ultra-wealthy that take a long-term investment view — and explains why companies increasingly choose to stay private thanks to nearly unlimited private capital, rather than face the scrutiny of public markets. They also dig into the generational divide between investing and gambling, the casino-like nature of prediction markets, and the burden that post-Lehman Brothers insurance and regulatory requirements have placed on small businesses and regional banks that had nothing to do with the 2008 financial crisis. Auslander closes with a pointed message: that Fed independence and the rule of law are paramount to economic stability, and that centrism — not ideological extremism — remains the best way to run the country. Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Paul Auslander joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 Paul’s origin story 02:45 Financial planning was mostly done by insurance companies in 70’s 03:30 Northerners move to FL for taxes & weather, but FL is pushing it socially 06:00 Fiduciary responsibility is the line of demarcation in financial planning 07:00 Factoring the political climate into financial planning projections 08:30 European index doubled the performance of the S&P last year 09:30 Tax policy is generally the biggest concern for investors 12:00 A cut to social security payments is bound to happen 13:00 If you push retirement from 67 to 69 the SS fund becomes healthy 15:15 Social security privatization likely to happen in the future 17:15 Money to be made off bad Trump policies that are likely to go away? 18:15 Crypto became a special interest & bought support for pro crypto policy 20:00 Crypto is a revolution that predates Trump & will outlast him 21:30 Lesson to be learned from rise then collapse in price of silver? 22:30 Central banks are buying silver, gold and assets 24:00 How many people are hedging by moving money out of the U.S.? 24:45 Europe is spending big money on arms & infrastructure 26:00 Definition of a “Family Office” 28:30 Family office investments are increasingly popular & take the long view 30:00 Are the investors/wealthy worried the pitchforks are coming for them? 31:30 Economic anxiety driving a spike in gun sales 33:00 Pop culture portrays corporations & wealthy as the villains 34:30 Private equity has a lot of money on the sideline, looking for investments 37:30 The burden of insurance requirements on small business 40:00 Small & regional banks paying for the sins of Lehman Brothers 41:00 Companies stay private due to near unlimited private capital  41:45 Do young people like investing… or do they just like gambling? 42:45 Thoughts on prediction markets? 44:00 There’s a casino like approach to certain markets 45:15 If the house flips, you could see money get withdrawn from markets 46:30 How do Trump’s relationships with world leaders affect projections? 47:45 The bond market is more indicative of economic health than stock market 48:45 Uncertainty will impact earnings 49:15 Why are you feeling bullish on 2026? 51:30 AI is only in the 2nd inning. Disruption is coming 54:30 Thom Tillis sounds like a different man now that he’s retiring 55:30 Centrism seems like the best way to run the country 57:30 AI won’t be replacing financial advisors anytime soon 59:45 What’s one question you want every presidential candidate to answer? 1:00:15 Fed independence and rule of law are paramount See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd argues that the United States is in an especially precarious moment of Trump's presidency — but that the guardrails of American democracy are proving they still exist. Todd breaks down the ruling's implications, noting that without tariff revenue the already ballooning U.S. budget deficit will accelerate, and that the coming chaos over refunds for billions in illegally collected duties will be a mess for businesses, consumers, and the trade deals that were negotiated under a now-invalidated framework. He highlights the emerging three distinct wings of the Supreme Court — with Gorsuch writing a pointed concurrence calling out his colleagues, Kavanaugh dissenting on foreign policy grounds, and the liberal justices joining Roberts on textual grounds — and argues the ruling reflects the public's own disapproval of Trump, which a new poll now places at 60% disapproval. He reserves his sharpest commentary for Trump's reaction: rather than pivot, the president attacked his own Supreme Court appointees for disloyalty and accused the Court of "foreign influence," a response Chuck calls a gift to Democrats and a sign that Trump is terrified dissent will become contagious among Republicans. Chuck also cautions that Democrats shouldn't celebrate too much — their brand remains damaged despite Trump's cratering numbers — and offers a counterintuitive observation: that Trump's greatest weakness isn't his authoritarian instincts but his laziness, arguing that his reliance on emergency powers is a shortcut to avoid the hard work of legislating. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the Reichstag fire & how Hitler was able to turn Germany’s democracy into a dictatorship through the use of emergency powers he was granted. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:45 We are in an especially precarious moment of Trump’s presidency 7:15 Supreme Court tariff ruling shows the guardrails still exist 8:00 Without tariffs, U.S. budget deficit will grow even faster 9:45 Trump plans on going down with the ship, may sink GOP 11:45 Courts ruling wasn’t surprising, tariff authority belongs to congress 13:15 Gorsuch called out his colleagues in his opinion 14:45 Kavanaugh’s dissent argued tariffs as a foreign policy issue 16:45 There are three distinct wings in this Supreme Court 18:30 Ruling reflects the public's disapproval of Trump 20:00 We saw tariff price spikes in Q4, ruling would help GOP 20:45 Trump’s response was to attack his own appointees for disloyalty 22:30 Trump lashed out, afraid dissent will become contagious 23:30 Trump accused SCOTUS of “foreign influence” 26:00 Trump is too lazy to become one of history’s worst autocrats 27:45 Trump’s laziness is his greatest weakness 29:15 Emergency powers are a shortcut to avoid legislating 30:45 Chaos is coming, people will want refunds for illegal tariffs 32:30 Consumption taxes put the burden on lower income people 34:00 Fallout from the ruling will be a mess for businesses 34:45 What will happen to trade deals that were cut based on illegal tariffs? 35:15 Trump has alienated every major ally the U.S. has 36:15 Trump is vulnerable to Republicans walking away from him 38:30 Trump reaction to tariffs was a gift to the Democrats 40:15 New poll shows Trump’s disapproval at 60% 41:45 Democrats brand still bad despite Trump’s terrible approval 52:30 ToddCast Time Machine - February 27th, 1933 53:00 Reichstag fire gave Hitler emergency powers 53:45 Germany’s economy had been devastated 55:00 In three years, Germany cycled through three unstable governments 56:00 German elites thought they could use Hitler’s popularity & manage him 57:00 Whether Nazi’s helped, or just exploited the fire is still debated 58:15 Reichstag Fire decree suspended civil liberties 59:30 Enabling Act allowed Hitler to legislate without parliamentary approval 1:00:15 The German dictatorship was created via constitutional rules 1:01:30 Emergency powers aren’t always authoritarian, it’s who uses them 1:02:30 Ask Chuck 1:02:45 Why does populism lead to antisemitism? 1:06:15 Is this the administration that’s run the most like a business? 1:11:30 Starting to see Republicans breaking with Trump? 1:13:30 What if the Constitutional Convention had not been held in summer? 1:16:30 Thoughts on Gallup ending presidential tracking, NJ-11 election? 1:23:30 Need for regulation on prediction markets 1:25:30 What’s going on with Virginia’s redistricting effort? 1:30:30 Does international diplomacy have a greater impact on the president's legacy? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd argues that the United States is in an especially precarious moment of Trump's presidency — but that the guardrails of American democracy are proving they still exist. Todd breaks down the ruling's implications, noting that without tariff revenue the already ballooning U.S. budget deficit will accelerate, and that the coming chaos over refunds for billions in illegally collected duties will be a mess for businesses, consumers, and the trade deals that were negotiated under a now-invalidated framework. He highlights the emerging three distinct wings of the Supreme Court — with Gorsuch writing a pointed concurrence calling out his colleagues, Kavanaugh dissenting on foreign policy grounds, and the liberal justices joining Roberts on textual grounds — and argues the ruling reflects the public's own disapproval of Trump, which a new poll now places at 60% disapproval. He reserves his sharpest commentary for Trump's reaction: rather than pivot, the president attacked his own Supreme Court appointees for disloyalty and accused the Court of "foreign influence," a response Chuck calls a gift to Democrats and a sign that Trump is terrified dissent will become contagious among Republicans. Chuck also cautions that Democrats shouldn't celebrate too much — their brand remains damaged despite Trump's cratering numbers — and offers a counterintuitive observation: that Trump's greatest weakness isn't his authoritarian instincts but his laziness, arguing that his reliance on emergency powers is a shortcut to avoid the hard work of legislating. Then, Emmy Award-winning director and Academy Award nominee Geeta Gandbhir joins the Chuck Toddcast to discuss her critically acclaimed Netflix documentary The Perfect Neighbor, which uses years of police bodycam footage to reconstruct the events leading to the 2023 fatal shooting of Ajike Owens by her neighbor Susan Lorincz in Ocala, Florida. Gandbhir reveals that Owens was a personal friend of her family — her sister-in-law's best friend — and that the film was never initially planned as a documentary; she and her partner went to Florida to support the family and keep the story in the news, fearing Lorincz would walk free under Florida's stand your ground laws. The Sundance Directing Award winner explains how the production team obtained the bodycam footage through the family's attorneys, Benjamin Crump and Anthony Thomas, and describes the rare experience of having not just the aftermath but years of "before" footage — creating a slow-building tension she compares to Blair Witch and Paranormal Activity. Gandbhir emphasizes that the film doesn't preach; it simply presents the chronology and lets the audience decide. The conversation goes deeper into the systemic failures the footage revealed: Lorincz was the only person in the neighborhood who repeatedly called police, yet officers saw her as a nuisance rather than a threat — her whiteness, Gandbhir argues, shielding her from scrutiny. Police never checked whether Lorincz owned a gun, and in other states, her pattern of behavior would have resulted in harassment charges long before the shooting. Gandbhir explains why the case resulted in a manslaughter conviction rather than a more serious charge, advocates for the eradication of stand your ground laws that exist in 38 states, and makes a compelling case that some police funding would be better directed toward social workers and mental health professionals. She also reflects on what the film has meant to Owens' four children and their family, the power of bodycam footage as both a tool for truth and a potential instrument of surveillance, and what a potential Academy Award would mean — not for herself, but as a platform to drive real change. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the Reichstag fire & how Hitler was able to turn Germany’s democracy into a dictatorship through the use of emergency powers he was granted. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:45 We are in an especially precarious moment of Trump’s presidency 08:30 Supreme Court tariff ruling shows the guardrails still exist 09:15 Without tariffs, U.S. budget deficit will grow even faster 11:00 Trump plans on going down with the ship, may sink GOP 13:00 Courts ruling wasn’t surprising, tariff authority belongs to congress 14:30 Gorsuch called out his colleagues in his opinion 16:00 Kavanaugh’s dissent argued tariffs as a foreign policy issue 18:00 There are three distinct wings in this Supreme Court 19:45 Ruling reflects the public's disapproval of Trump 21:15 We saw tariff price spikes in Q4, ruling would help GOP 22:00 Trump’s response was to attack his own appointees for disloyalty 23:45 Trump lashed out, afraid dissent will become contagious 24:45 Trump accused SCOTUS of “foreign influence” 27:15 Trump is too lazy to become one of history’s worst autocrats 29:00 Trump’s laziness is his greatest weakness 30:30 Emergency powers are a shortcut to avoid legislating 32:00 Chaos is coming, people will want refunds for illegal tariffs 33:45 Consumption taxes put the burden on lower income people 35:15 Fallout from the ruling will be a mess for businesses 36:00 What will happen to trade deals that were cut based on illegal tariffs? 36:30 Trump has alienated every major ally the U.S. has 37:30 Trump is vulnerable to Republicans walking away from him 39:45 Trump reaction to tariffs was a gift to the Democrats 41:30 New poll shows Trump’s disapproval at 60% 43:00 Democrats brand still bad despite Trump’s terrible approval 52:00 Geeta Gandbhir joins the Chuck ToddCast 52:45 “The Perfect Neighbor” isn’t a gun story, it’s a societal story 53:30 How important is a potential Academy Award for you? 54:15 Awards give you a platform to talk about issues & bring change 55:00 Film produced independently, then Netflix gave it a huge platform 56:00 How close did you follow this story in real time? 56:30 Ajike Owens was a personal friend of Geeta 57:45 There’s so much gun violence, individual stories don’t break through 58:45 The production team received body cam footage from family lawyers 1:00:00 We usually see the aftermath of shootings, rarely the before footage 1:01:45 Needed to understand chronology of body cam footage 1:03:00 Film’s tension building compared to Blair Witch & Paranormal Activity 1:03:45 Racial justice/tension movies can make for a difficult watch 1:04:45 Movie doesn’t preach, just shows the event & let’s audience decide 1:06:30 Footage portrayed a working class, striving community 1:08:00 Everyone knows the Susan Lorincz, “get off my lawn” type character 1:08:45 No understanding of why Susan Lorincz was so broken as a person 1:11:30 Lorincz was the only woman in the neighborhood that complained to police 1:12:15 This didn’t feel like manslaughter, it felt pre-meditated 1:13:00 Prosecutors felt a manslaughter charge would be easier to convict 1:13:30 Hope DeSantis understands the damage stand your ground laws cause 1:14:45 If there was no body camera footage, Susan could have walked 1:16:00 Police bodycams should be on at all times to prevent distortion of truth 1:16:45 Bodycam footage is a double edged sword, can be used for surveillance 1:17:30 Original footage included protests, funerals & B-roll of the neighborhood 1:19:15 Neighbors had a very visceral reaction to the film, but did find it therapeutic 1:20:45 Having body camera footage could have prevented historical race riots 1:22:15 The ultimate hope is to eradicate “stand your ground” laws 1:23:15 There’s power in telling a true story with unscripted footage 1:25:30 Ajike Owens was a bright young woman with a promising future 1:26:45 How are her children doing? 1:28:15 Watching the grief of the children was devastating & powerful 1:29:30 Family wanted the world to see their grief 1:30:00 Hope the film can inform police training 1:30:45 In other states, Susan would have been charged for nuisance or harassment 1:32:00 Some police funding would be better spent on social workers, psychiatrists etc 1:33:15 It felt like police didn’t know how to handle Susan 1:34:45 Police saw Susan as a nuisance, not a threat. Her whiteness protected her 1:36:30 Susan seemed to be a loner & clearly always miserable 1:37:30 Police never checked into whether Susan was a gun owner 1:38:30 What type of projects are you working on next? 1:39:45 Another documentary will be announced in a couple weeks 1:41:00 Telling the story in a visual medium reaches people who don’t read 1:43:00 Comedy and humor is a great way to teach 1:43:30 How do you use AI, what are you comfortable with, what will you fight? 1:47:15 ToddCast Time Machine - February 27th, 1933 1:47:45 Reichstag fire gave Hitler emergency powers 1:48:30 Germany’s economy had been devastated 1:49:45 In three years, Germany cycled through three unstable governments 1:50:45 German elites

Emmy Award-winning director and Academy Award nominee Geeta Gandbhir joins the Chuck Toddcast to discuss her critically acclaimed Netflix documentary The Perfect Neighbor, which uses years of police bodycam footage to reconstruct the events leading to the 2023 fatal shooting of Ajike Owens by her neighbor Susan Lorincz in Ocala, Florida. Gandbhir reveals that Owens was a personal friend of her family — her sister-in-law's best friend — and that the film was never initially planned as a documentary; she and her partner went to Florida to support the family and keep the story in the news, fearing Lorincz would walk free under Florida's stand your ground laws. The Sundance Directing Award winner explains how the production team obtained the bodycam footage through the family's attorneys, Benjamin Crump and Anthony Thomas, and describes the rare experience of having not just the aftermath but years of "before" footage — creating a slow-building tension she compares to Blair Witch and Paranormal Activity. Gandbhir emphasizes that the film doesn't preach; it simply presents the chronology and lets the audience decide. The conversation goes deeper into the systemic failures the footage revealed: Lorincz was the only person in the neighborhood who repeatedly called police, yet officers saw her as a nuisance rather than a threat — her whiteness, Gandbhir argues, shielding her from scrutiny. Police never checked whether Lorincz owned a gun, and in other states, her pattern of behavior would have resulted in harassment charges long before the shooting. Gandbhir explains why the case resulted in a manslaughter conviction rather than a more serious charge, advocates for the eradication of stand your ground laws that exist in 38 states, and makes a compelling case that some police funding would be better directed toward social workers and mental health professionals. She also reflects on what the film has meant to Owens' four children and their family, the power of bodycam footage as both a tool for truth and a potential instrument of surveillance, and what a potential Academy Award would mean — not for herself, but as a platform to drive real change. Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Geeta Gandbhir joins the Chuck ToddCast 00:45 “The Perfect Neighbor” isn’t a gun story, it’s a societal story 01:30 How important is a potential Academy Award for you? 02:15 Awards give you a platform to talk about issues & bring change 03:00 Film produced independently, then Netflix gave it a huge platform 04:00 How close did you follow this story in real time? 04:30 Ajike Owens was a personal friend of Geeta 05:45 There’s so much gun violence, individual stories don’t break through 06:45 The production team received body cam footage from family lawyers 08:00 We usually see the aftermath of shootings, rarely the before footage 09:45 Needed to understand chronology of body cam footage 11:00 Film’s tension building compared to Blair Witch & Paranormal Activity 11:45 Racial justice/tension movies can make for a difficult watch 12:45 Movie doesn’t preach, just shows the event & let’s audience decide 14:30 Footage portrayed a working class, striving community 16:00 Everyone knows the Susan Lorincz, “get off my lawn” type character 16:45 No understanding of why Susan Lorincz was so broken as a person 19:30 Lorincz was the only woman in the neighborhood that complained to police 20:15 This didn’t feel like manslaughter, it felt pre-meditated 21:00 Prosecutors felt a manslaughter charge would be easier to convict 21:30 Hope DeSantis understands the damage stand your ground laws cause 22:45 If there was no body camera footage, Susan could have walked 24:00 Police bodycams should be on at all times to prevent distortion of truth 24:45 Bodycam footage is a double edged sword, can be used for surveillance 25:30 Original footage included protests, funerals & B-roll of the neighborhood 27:15 Neighbors had a very visceral reaction to the film, but did find it therapeutic 28:45 Having body camera footage could have prevented historical race riots 30:15 The ultimate hope is to eradicate “stand your ground” laws 31:15 There’s power in telling a true story with unscripted footage 33:30 Ajike Owens was a bright young woman with a promising future 34:45 How are her children doing? 36:15 Watching the grief of the children was devastating & powerful 37:30 Family wanted the world to see their grief 38:00 Hope the film can inform police training 38:45 In other states, Susan would have been charged for nuisance or harassment 40:00 Some police funding would be better spent on social workers, psychiatrists etc 41:15 It felt like police didn’t know how to handle Susan 42:45 Police saw Susan as a nuisance, not a threat. Her whiteness protected her 44:30 Susan seemed to be a loner & clearly always miserable 45:30 Police never checked into whether Susan was a gun owner 46:30 What type of projects are you working on next? 47:45 Another documentary will be announced in a couple weeks 49:00 Telling the story in a visual medium reaches people who don’t read 51:00 Comedy and humor is a great way to teach 51:30 How do you use AI, what are you comfortable with, what will you fight? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this breaking-news episode recorded immediately after the Supreme Court's landmark 6-3 ruling striking down Trump's sweeping tariffs under IEEPA, Chuck Todd breaks down what he calls one of the most consequential decisions of the Trump era — and argues the Court did elected Republicans an enormous favor. Chief Justice Roberts, joined by Gorsuch, Barrett, and the three liberal justices, ruled that the 1977 emergency powers law "does not authorize the President to impose tariffs," leaving only Thomas, Alito, and Kavanaugh in dissent — a split Chuck argues should have been 9-0 given that the Constitution plainly gives Congress the power of the purse. He contends that the 6-3 margin is critical because it prevents Trump from framing the decision as a partisan attack, and gives congressional Republicans cover to move on from a policy that has devastated America's farm economy, spooked markets with uncertainty, and could now require the Treasury to refund an estimated $175 billion to importers. With Trump calling the ruling "a disgrace" and his State of the Union address just days away, Chuck notes the president has a lot of explaining to do — particularly since he could have sought tariff authority from Congress in the spring of 2025 when he had the political capital, but instead chose to go it alone through executive action. Trump, Chuck concludes, is a huge loser here, and the uncertainty is far from over. Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s intro - Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s tariffs 00:45 SCOTUS did elected Republicans a favor 02:00 Trump doesn’t have the votes in congress to enact tariffs 03:00 There’s a ton of uncertainty coming from this ruling 04:45 Trump has a lot of explain to do at State of the Union 06:00 Alito & Thomas always side with Trump, Kavanaugh mostly 06:45 Congress has power of purse, ruling should have been 9-0 09:00 Supreme Court has given Republicans cover 10:15 Tariffs have been devastating to America’s farm economy 11:45 Markets face a ton of uncertainty 12:30 6-3 ruling means it won’t be viewed as a partisan decision 13:00 Trump is a huge loser here 14:30 Trump could have gotten tariff authority from congress in Spring ‘25  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd tackles three fast-moving stories shaping the political landscape. First, he digs into the escalating Iran crisis, where the Trump administration has deployed two aircraft carriers, hundreds of fighter jets, and a dozen warships to the Middle East — what Todd calls military adventurism without the consent of Congress. With nuclear talks in Geneva producing no breakthrough and Trump advisers saying there's a 90% chance of kinetic action in the coming weeks, Todd warns that history says hot intervention is coming and that the U.S. may have gone too far to back down, while cautioning that any regime change scenario means America would own the outcome — a lesson the country should have learned from its disastrous track record in Iran. From there, he turns to the Texas Senate race, which he calls an all-timer, breaking down the volatile primaries on both sides: Ken Paxton leading despite millions spent by the GOP establishment to take him down, the tight Crockett-Talarico Democratic primary, and the explosive Colbert-CBS controversy — in which CBS lawyers blocked Colbert from airing a Talarico interview over FCC "equal time" threats, only for the resulting firestorm to generate millions more views on YouTube than it ever would have gotten on broadcast, making Jasmine Crockett the quiet loser in the saga. Todd closes with a sharp critique of crypto's financial coercion of the Democratic Party — pointing to Chuck Schumer reportedly urging Senate Democrats to get on crypto's side after the industry spent heavily to defeat Sherrod Brown — and a Potomac sewage dump that underscores how even basic governance has become hostage to political blame games. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 2:15 Are we about to go to war with Iran? 3:15 This is military adventurism without consent of congress 4:15 We’ve moved a massive amount of military assets to Middle East 5:30 It’s possible this is all posturing for negotiations 7:45 Does Trump have room to back down, or will it only escalate? 8:45 Will Trump want part of Iran’s oil business in order to back down? 9:15 History says hot military intervention is coming, best not miss 10:15 If we get involved in regime change then we own it 11:15 It feels like we’ve gone too far to back down 13:00 American interventions in Iran have gone terribly in the past 13:45 A democratic Iran would be amazing, but dictating outcomes is hard 14:15 The Texas senate race is becoming an all-timer 15:45 Polls have shown Crockett ahead of Talarico 16:15 Establishment GOP feels Paxton is unelectable 17:00 Millions have been spent by GOP to beat Paxton, he’s still leading 18:30 Paxton’s numbers have gotten worse in general, not benefiting Cornyn 19:15 Both Talarico & Crockett lead Paxton in recent polls 19:45 Democrats are getting help from GOP softening up their nominee 21:45 What’s the path for Coryn to get to 50% + 1? 23:15 Colbert interview with Talarico yanked by CBS due to FCC threats 23:45 The controversy generated millions more views than it would have 25:15 What the “equal time rule” actually states 26:15 Don’t know if either side, Colbert or CBS is giving the full story 27:15 Jasmine Crockett is the loser here 29:15 The unanswered questions from the Colbert controversy persist 31:45 This controversy has been a massive boon for Talarico 33:30 Chuck Schumer begging senate Dems to get to crypto’s side 34:15 This goes beyond lobbying, this is financial coercion 35:00 Crypto used their money to defeat & make example of Sherrod Brown 36:45 Big money is threatening dissent in politics 38:45 Schumer is saying when opponent has enough money, you must appease 39:30 Trump only wants to point fingers over sewage dump in Potomac 40:45 We can’t deal with disaster only based on politics 41:45 Can we stop the blame game and just fix the problem? 42:45 Lack of local coverage from WaPo has been a glaring issue 51:45 George Conway makes a persuasive argument for impeachment 54:15 History will be kinder if we use the constitution to throw out Trump 55:00 Ask Chuck 55:15 Why not give Trump accolades in exchange for good policy? 57:30 Fresh candidates on the pod restoring a sense of optimism 1:00:15 Did the Inflation Reduction Act include EPA’s ability to regulate air pollution? 1:04:15 Book recommendations for understanding fall of the Ottoman empire? 1:06:45 Which house races are you watching closely and why? 1:09:00 Not as optimistic about passing constitutional amendments 1:11:45 How did the one-term presidents lose if they weren’t politically astute? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

*Disclaimer* This episode contains strong language Chuck Todd tackles three fast-moving stories shaping the political landscape. First, he digs into the escalating Iran crisis, where the Trump administration has deployed two aircraft carriers, hundreds of fighter jets, and a dozen warships to the Middle East — what Todd calls military adventurism without the consent of Congress. With nuclear talks in Geneva producing no breakthrough and Trump advisers saying there's a 90% chance of kinetic action in the coming weeks, Todd warns that history says hot intervention is coming and that the U.S. may have gone too far to back down, while cautioning that any regime change scenario means America would own the outcome — a lesson the country should have learned from its disastrous track record in Iran. From there, he turns to the Texas Senate race, which he calls an all-timer, breaking down the volatile primaries on both sides: Ken Paxton leading despite millions spent by the GOP establishment to take him down, the tight Crockett-Talarico Democratic primary, and the explosive Colbert-CBS controversy — in which CBS lawyers blocked Colbert from airing a Talarico interview over FCC "equal time" threats, only for the resulting firestorm to generate millions more views on YouTube than it ever would have gotten on broadcast, making Jasmine Crockett the quiet loser in the saga. Todd closes with a sharp critique of crypto's financial coercion of the Democratic Party — pointing to Chuck Schumer reportedly urging Senate Democrats to get on crypto's side after the industry spent heavily to defeat Sherrod Brown — and a Potomac sewage dump that underscores how even basic governance has become hostage to political blame games. Then, George Conway — the conservative lawyer turned leading Trump critic, Lincoln Project co-founder, and now Democratic congressional candidate in New York — joins the Chuck Toddcast for an urgent, no-holds-barred conversation about what he sees as an existential crisis for American constitutional government. Conway, who became a Republican in the 1980s as a "legal conservative" grounded in the Constitution, argues that the party he once joined is now unrecognizable, and that young people have been led to believe conservatism and Trumpism are the same thing. He makes an impassioned case that a third impeachment of Trump isn't just politically justified but a constitutional imperative, warning that Trump is psychologically deteriorating while controlling the military and nuclear arsenal, creating a domestic army through ICE, and presiding over what Conway calls the most corrupt government in America's 250-year history. He points to Mitch McConnell's failure to vote for conviction during the second impeachment trial as the hinge point that could have changed everything — and argues that if impeachment doesn't apply to what Trump has done, the mechanism has no meaning. The conversation goes beyond Trump himself into deeper structural questions about how to repair American democracy. Conway endorses the bipartisan constitutional amendment circulating in the House to nullify presidential pardons — citing Trump intermediaries allegedly being paid for sold pardons — but argues that statutory fixes will be more achievable than amendments, and that Congress needs to codify the old "norms" into enforceable law. He argues that that Democrats should fight fire with fire,  with Chuck warning it only feeds whataboutism, and makes the case for incrementalism and welcoming converts rather than saying "I told you so" — pointing to figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene as case studies in evolving away from Trump. Throughout, Conway returns to a central theme: that no positive policy agenda is possible until the current constitutional crisis is resolved, and that America simply cannot survive three more years of a government working to serve one man. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:30 GUEST TEASE 03:30 Are we about to go to war with Iran? 04:30 This is military adventurism without consent of congress 05:30 We’ve moved a massive amount of military assets to Middle East 06:45 It’s possible this is all posturing for negotiations 09:00 Does Trump have room to back down, or will it only escalate? 10:00 Will Trump want part of Iran’s oil business in order to back down? 10:30 History says hot military intervention is coming, best not miss 11:30 If we get involved in regime change then we own it 12:30 It feels like we’ve gone too far to back down 14:15 American interventions in Iran have gone terribly in the past 15:00 A democratic Iran would be amazing, but dictating outcomes is hard 15:30 The Texas senate race is becoming an all-timer 17:00 Polls have shown Crockett ahead of Talarico,  17:30 Establishment GOP feels Paxton is unelectable 18:15 Millions have been spent by GOP to beat Paxton, he’s still leading 19:45 Paxton’s numbers have gotten worse in general, not benefiting Cornyn 20:30 Both Talarico & Crockett lead Paxton in recent polls 21:00 Democrats are getting help from GOP softening up their nominee 23:00 What’s the path for Coryn to get to 50% + 1? 24:30 Colbert interview with Talarico yanked by CBS due to FCC threats 25:00 The controversy generated millions more views than it would have 26:30 What the “equal time rule” actually states 27:30 Don’t know if either side, Colbert or CBS is giving the full story 28:30 Jasmine Crockett is the loser here 30:30 The unanswered questions from the Colbert controversy persist 33:00 This controversy has been a massive boon for Talarico 34:45 Chuck Schumer begging senate Dems to get to crypto’s side 35:30 This goes beyond lobbying, this is financial coercion 36:15 Crypto used their money to defeat & make example of Sherrod Brown 38:00 Big money is threatening dissent in politics 40:00 Schumer is saying when opponent has enough money, you must appease 40:45 Trump only wants to point fingers over sewage dump in Potomac 42:00 We can’t deal with disaster only based on politics 43:00 Can we stop the blame game and just fix the problem? 44:00 Lack of local coverage from WaPo has been a glaring issue 53:15 George Conway joins the Chuck ToddCast   54:45 The Republican party is unrecognizable today   55:45 Why George became a Republican in the 80’s   57:15 George was a “legal” conservative based on the Constitution   58:15 Nixon did some not so conservative things because they were popular   59:45 Young people think conservatism & Trumpism are the same thing   1:00:30 The Democratic party is trying to fit a broad coalition under one tent   1:01:15 We can’t have serious policy debates until the current crisis is over   1:02:45 Hating corrupt politicians of all stripes, not just one side   1:03:45 Can’t retire because the last few years have been appalling   1:05:00 The courts aren’t equipped to deal with someone like Trump   1:06:45 Could a third impeachment trial weaken the impeachment process?   1:07:45 Mitch McConnell choked during Trump’s 2nd impeachment trial   1:08:15 If McConnell voted to convict, others would have followed   1:09:15 If we can’t impeach Trump for what he’s done… Then why have impeachment?   1:10:30 Do we want a constitutional government or not?   1:12:15 Impeaching Trump is as constitutional imperative for congress   1:12:45 Trump is deteriorating psychologically and controls military & nukes   1:13:30 Trump is creating his own domestic army with ICE   1:14:15 The Republic, the constitution and rule of law are all on the line   1:15:00 We can’t survive three more years of this   1:16:00 In 250 years, we’ve never seen a government this corrupt   1:17:45 The internet & media only have so much bandwidth, can’t handle Trump   1:19:00 The government is only working to serve one man   1:20:00 If we don’t impeach Trump, we’re throwing out the constitution   1:20:45 Can you convince Hakeem Jeffries to impeach Trump a 3rd team?   1:21:45 Trump & his actions will only get worse in the coming months   1:23:45 American politics has deteriorated due to the weakness of congress   1:24:15 Everything has gone to the courts since congress won’t legislate   1:25:30 Constitutional amendment to nullify pardons introduced in house   1:27:45 Passing amendments is hard, statutory fixes will be easier to pass   1:29:15 Congress gets to set the rules, and has defaulted on responsibility   1:30:00 The old “norms” need to be codified into law   1:31:30 Our backs are against the wall, normal politics don’t apply   1:33:15 Fighting fire with fire feeds into “whataboutism”   1:34:45 Want to go back to an America where the president isn’t a “piece of shit”   1:37:15 Only four people control congress & that’s the problem   1:38:00 What do

*Disclaimer* This episode contains strong language George Conway — the conservative lawyer turned leading Trump critic, Lincoln Project co-founder, and now Democratic congressional candidate in New York — joins the Chuck Toddcast for an urgent, no-holds-barred conversation about what he sees as an existential crisis for American constitutional government. Conway, who became a Republican in the 1980s as a "legal conservative" grounded in the Constitution, argues that the party he once joined is now unrecognizable, and that young people have been led to believe conservatism and Trumpism are the same thing. He makes an impassioned case that a third impeachment of Trump isn't just politically justified but a constitutional imperative, warning that Trump is psychologically deteriorating while controlling the military and nuclear arsenal, creating a domestic army through ICE, and presiding over what Conway calls the most corrupt government in America's 250-year history. He points to Mitch McConnell's failure to vote for conviction during the second impeachment trial as the hinge point that could have changed everything — and argues that if impeachment doesn't apply to what Trump has done, the mechanism has no meaning. The conversation goes beyond Trump himself into deeper structural questions about how to repair American democracy. Conway endorses the bipartisan constitutional amendment circulating in the House to nullify presidential pardons — citing Trump intermediaries allegedly being paid for sold pardons — but argues that statutory fixes will be more achievable than amendments, and that Congress needs to codify the old "norms" into enforceable law. He argues that that Democrats should fight fire with fire,  with Chuck warning it only feeds whataboutism, and makes the case for incrementalism and welcoming converts rather than saying "I told you so" — pointing to figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene as case studies in evolving away from Trump. Throughout, Conway returns to a central theme: that no positive policy agenda is possible until the current constitutional crisis is resolved, and that America simply cannot survive three more years of a government working to serve one man. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast   Timeline: 00:00 George Conway joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 The Republican party is unrecognizable today 02:30 Why George became a Republican in the 80’s 04:00 George was a “legal” conservative based on the Constitution 05:00 Nixon did some not so conservative things because they were popular 06:30 Young people think conservatism & Trumpism are the same thing 07:15 The Democratic party is trying to fit a broad coalition under one tent 08:00 We can’t have serious policy debates until the current crisis is over 09:30 Hating corrupt politicians of all stripes, not just one side 10:30 Can’t retire because the last few years have been appalling 11:45 The courts aren’t equipped to deal with someone like Trump 13:30 Could a third impeachment trial weaken the impeachment process? 14:30 Mitch McConnell choked during Trump’s 2nd impeachment trial 15:00 If McConnell voted to convict, others would have followed 16:00 If we can’t impeach Trump for what he’s done… Then why have impeachment? 17:15 Do we want a constitutional government or not? 19:00 Impeaching Trump is as constitutional imperative for congress 19:30 Trump is deteriorating psychologically and controls military & nukes 20:15 Trump is creating his own domestic army with ICE 21:00 The Republic, the constitution and rule of law are all on the line 21:45 We can’t survive three more years of this 22:45 In 250 years, we’ve never seen a government this corrupt 24:30 The internet & media only have so much bandwidth, can’t handle Trump 25:45 The government is only working to serve one man 26:45 If we don’t impeach Trump, we’re throwing out the constitution 27:30 Can you convince Hakeem Jeffries to impeach Trump a 3rd team? 28:30 Trump & his actions will only get worse in the coming months 30:30 American politics has deteriorated due to the weakness of congress 31:00 Everything has gone to the courts since congress won’t legislate 32:15 Constitutional amendment to nullify pardons introduced in house 34:30 Passing amendments is hard, statutory fixes will be easier to pass 36:00 Congress gets to set the rules, and has defaulted on responsibility 36:45 The old “norms” need to be codified into law 38:15 Our backs are against the wall, normal politics don’t apply  40:00 Fighting fire with fire feeds into “whataboutism” 41:30 Want to go back to an America where the president isn’t a “piece of shit” 44:00 Only four people control congress & that’s the problem 44:45 What do you say to the voter who supports Trump for policy reasons? 46:15 Nobody has done more damage to restriction immigration than Trump 47:15 How did the Reagan GOP you joined become Trump acolytes? 48:00 Victimhood is clearly the currency of the right 49:45 The right’s grievance complex leads them to only oppose the left 51:00 The case for incrementalism, democracy is a dialogue 52:15 There is a nihilistic animus amongst Trump’s inner circle 54:45 Bush has stayed fairly quiet about Trump, should have spoken sooner 57:45 The only way to win converts is to welcome them i.e. Marjorie Taylor-Greene 58:45 Mike Pence deserves credit for J6, but should have conceded in November 1:00:00 Marjorie Taylor-Greene is a case study in evolving away from Trump 1:02:30 The spirit of democracy requires being to admit you were wrong  1:03:15 Nobody likes to hear “I told you so” - It’s why Trumpism has persisted 1:04:30 What questions do voters ask you that aren’t about Trump? 1:07:15 We can’t do positive things for people until Trump is gone See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd explores whether the United States is on the verge of a new reform era — and argues that the signs are more promising than you might think. Starting with a constitutional amendment now circulating in Congress to nullify presidential pardons, backed by both a Maryland Democrat and Republican Don Bacon to give it bipartisan credibility, Todd makes the case that the pardon power has been so thoroughly abused — from Biden's preemptive pardons giving Trump political cover, to Trump intermediaries allegedly being paid for sold pardons — that the kind of structural corruption requiring structural repair is now undeniable. He puts this moment in historical context, drawing parallels to the reform cascades that produced the 16th Amendment (born from rampant income inequality), the 17th Amendment (born from a corruption scandal involving the sale of Senate seats), and the 19th Amendment (born when democracy itself felt like it was slipping away), while cautioning that not every reform era gets it right — the 18th Amendment and Prohibition being a case study in moral panic and overcorrection. His broader argument is that reform eras tend to cascade once they begin, that the tools to demand a better democratic structure already exist, and that if Congress shifts from debating revenge to debating reforms, that alone represents meaningful progress. Finally, Chuck gives his reaction the Munich Security Conference, offers up his ToddCast Top 5 “Most Absurd Awards Created To Soothe Trump’s Ego” and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:30 A constitutional amendment circulating to nullify presidential pardons 2:00 We may be seeing a structural shift at a time that it’s needed 2:45 Reform eras happen when both sides decide rules need to be tightened 3:15 We’ve seen governors sell pardons, nothing like what Trump’s doing 4:15 Trump intermediaries are getting paid for sold pardons 5:30 Biden’s pardons basically gave Trump license for his corrupt pardons 6:45 For institutional change, you need bad actors on both sides 7:45 Maryland congressman introduced amendment to override pardons 8:30 Don Bacon signed on to endorse amendment, makes it bipartisan 9:30 Nullification threshold is set pretty high 10:45 17th amendment was born out of political corruption scandal 12:30 16th amendment born out of rampant income inequality 13:45 19th amendment came when it felt like democracy was slipping away 14:30 18th amendment came from moral panic, was later repealed 15:15 Reforms can be necessary, some are an overcorrection 16:15 Structural corruption requires structural repair, requires amendment 17:30 Other areas of structural reform that could gain traction 19:15 Reform eras don’t stop with one thing, tend to cascade 21:00 We have the tools to demand a better structure for democracy 22:45 If congress is debating reforms instead of revenge, that’s progress 31:15 We need a consensus on America’s role in the world 32:00 Reaction to Munich security conference 32:30 Rubio sees himself as a bridge to the rules based order & Trump 33:45 Trump will easily throw Rubio or Vance under the bus 35:00 AOC didn’t seem to have the most prepared answers in Munich 36:30 The right wants to dunk on AOC, when Trump is far more ignorant 37:45 We hold political opponents to far higher standards than our own team 38:15 ToddCast Top 5 Most Absurd Awards Created To Soothe Trump’s Ego 39:00 #5 McDonald’s french fry certification pin 39:45 #4 Undisputed Champion of Clean Coal award 40:45 #3 FIFA Peace Prize 41:45 #2 The Tim Cook Special 42:45 #1 NRSC Champion For Freedom Bowl 44:15 Giving out these awards is a terrible look 44:45 The actual Nobel Peace Prize given by Machado did not qualify for list 45:45 Trump is desperate for historic accolades 46:30 Ask Chuck 46:45 Will we live to see a Democratic elected statewide in Tennessee? 53:00 Loved history lesson on importance of 1848, could you expand on it? 56:45 What rights from the Bill of Rights has Trump NOT violated? 58:45 Why aren’t SCOTUS potential retirements getting more attention? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd explores whether the United States is on the verge of a new reform era — and argues that the signs are more promising than you might think. Starting with a constitutional amendment now circulating in Congress to nullify presidential pardons, backed by both a Maryland Democrat and Republican Don Bacon to give it bipartisan credibility, Todd makes the case that the pardon power has been so thoroughly abused — from Biden's preemptive pardons giving Trump political cover, to Trump intermediaries allegedly being paid for sold pardons — that the kind of structural corruption requiring structural repair is now undeniable. Todd puts this moment in historical context, drawing parallels to the reform cascades that produced the 16th Amendment (born from rampant income inequality), the 17th Amendment (born from a corruption scandal involving the sale of Senate seats), and the 19th Amendment (born when democracy itself felt like it was slipping away), while cautioning that not every reform era gets it right — the 18th Amendment and Prohibition being a case study in moral panic and overcorrection. His broader argument is that reform eras tend to cascade once they begin, that the tools to demand a better democratic structure already exist, and that if Congress shifts from debating revenge to debating reforms, that alone represents meaningful progress. Then, Ambassador Robert Blackwill — a towering figure in American foreign policy who served under Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush, and is the only person to have served as both U.S. Ambassador to India and Deputy National Security Advisor — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a sweeping and sobering conversation about America's position in the world. Blackwill, currently the Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of Lost Decade: The U.S. Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power, argues that the U.S. urgently needs to recapture the kind of bipartisan foreign policy consensus that defined the Cold War era. He calls China the most dangerous rival America has ever faced, warning that Beijing is actively preparing its military for a potential Taiwan invasion — a threat that has only intensified amid China's massive late-2025 military exercises around the island and growing questions about whether the Trump administration would intervene to defend Taipei. The conversation spans the full scope of the global chessboard, from NATO's potential collapse — an especially timely concern as the Pentagon has moved to scale back U.S. participation in NATO advisory groups and Defense Secretary Hegseth skipped the latest defense ministers' meeting in Brussels — to why any Ukraine peace deal will inevitably reward Russian aggression, to Trump's puzzling warmth toward adversaries like China and Russia while publicly disparaging European allies. Blackwill warns that Trump is driving swing countries like India into China's orbit, and that the U.S. isn't headed for a multipolar world but a bipolar one, with China gaining ground across Africa, South America, and Asia. With the 2028 presidential race on the horizon, Blackwill makes a forceful case that the next generation of candidates must present a clear, durable vision for America's role in the world — before it's too late. Finally, Chuck gives his reaction the Munich Security Conference, offers up his ToddCast Top 5 “Most Absurd Awards Created To Soothe Trump’s Ego” and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:15 A constitutional amendment circulating to nullify presidential pardons 03:45 We may be seeing a structural shift at a time that it’s needed 04:30 Reform eras happen when both sides decide rules need to be tightened 05:00 We’ve seen governors sell pardons, nothing like what Trump’s doing 06:00 Trump intermediaries are getting paid for sold pardons 07:15 Biden’s pardons basically gave Trump license for his corrupt pardons 08:30 For institutional change, you need bad actors on both sides 09:30 Maryland congressman introduced amendment to override pardons 10:15 Don Bacon signed on to endorse amendment, makes it bipartisan 11:15 Nullification threshold is set pretty high 12:30 17th amendment was born out of political corruption scandal 14:15 16th amendment born out of rampant income inequality  15:30 19th amendment came when it felt like democracy was slipping away 16:15 18th amendment came from moral panic, was later repealed 17:00 Reforms can be necessary, some are an overcorrection 18:00 Structural corruption requires structural repair, requires amendment 19:15 Other areas of structural reform that could gain traction 21:00 Reform eras don’t stop with one thing, tend to cascade 22:45 We have the tools to demand a better structure for democracy 24:30 If congress is debating reforms instead of revenge, that’s progress 33:15 Ambassador Robert Blackwill joins the Chuck ToddCast 35:15 America needs to recapture its cold war “bipartisan consensus” 35:45 Alliances contributed to American strength 37:15 Why were assumptions of China joining the world wrong? 39:15 China is the most dangerous rival America has ever had 40:30 Should we have developed an Asian security pact sooner? 42:15 Marxism tells China that for it to be safe, it must lead the world 43:45 Liberal internationalism has gotten weaker in its expression 44:45 What should we make of Xi purging his military leadership? 46:00 U.S. intelligence penetration of China has been limited 47:45 China is working very hard to prepare military for Taiwan invasion 49:00 Worse outcome: Let China invade Taiwan or fight them over it? 50:00 Biden clearly said he’d intervene on behalf of Taiwan 50:45 Trump doesn’t seem inclined to defend Taiwan 51:45 China’s military isn’t battle tested, invasion is a huge risk 52:45 How have Iraq/Afghanistan informed the debate over defending Taiwan? 54:00 A majority of Americans wouldn’t support war with China over Taiwan 55:30 What would you advise next President to do with Taiwan if no war by 2028? 56:15 Trump is unique, will take most of “Trumpism” with him when he leaves 57:45 Debate after Trump will be between nationalism & liberal internationalism 59:15 Tough to know what Democrats strategy for role in the world is 1:00:15 How do you rebuild alliances in a more durable way? 1:02:45 The American people don’t support the admins “gangster” foreign policy 1:04:30 If Europe is separated from the U.S., they’ll truly go on their own 1:05:00 Trump says nothing positive about Europe, but praises China & Russia 1:07:15 Hard to believe Donald Trump would abide Article 5 1:08:00 NATO could collapse if Trump doesn’t respond to action against Baltics 1:08:45 Taiwan remains greatest risk for the duration of Trump’s term 1:09:45 Any peace deal in Ukraine will reward Russia’s aggression 1:10:30 Ukraine remains determined not to lose their statehood 1:11:15 Putin knows he’ll never have a friendlier American president than Trump 1:12:15 Intelligence sharing is most valuable thing America provides Ukraine 1:14:15 Trump can do so much more to rupture our alliances in 3 years 1:15:15 Europe is more traumatized by what Trump says than what he does 1:16:15 What to make of Marco Rubio’s role in the administration? 1:18:15 Rubio has to perform an incredible balancing act 1:20:15 Trump is driving “swing countries” like India into China’s arms 1:20:45 We aren’t headed for a multipolar world, it will be bipolar 1:21:45 Partners want consistency from America, based on strength 1:24:15 2028 candidates need to present a vision for America’s role 1:25:45 China ahead of America in Africa, South America & Asia…not Europe 1:26:15 China isn’t ahead yet, but trends are bad 1:27:45 America’s contempt for the third world has been detrimental 1:29:30 Trump’s approach to the world won’t change in the next 3 years 1:31:15 We need a consensus on America’s role in the world 1:32:00 Reaction to Munich security conference 1:32:30 Rubio sees himself as a bridge to the rules based order & Trump 1:33:45 Trump will easily throw Rubio or Vance under the bus 1:35:00 AOC didn’t seem to have the most prepared answers in Munich 1:36:30 The right wants to dunk on AOC, when Trump is far more ignorant 1:37:45 We hold political opponents to far higher standards than our own team 1:38:15 ToddCast Top 5 Most Absurd Awards Created To Soothe Trump’s Ego 1:39:00 #5 McDonald’s french fry certification pin 1:39:45 #4 Undisputed Champion of Clean Coal award 1:40:45 #3 FIFA Peace Prize 1:41:45 #2 The Tim Cook Special 1:42:45 #1 NRSC Champion For Freedom Bowl 1:44:15 Giving out these awards is a terrible look 1:44:45 The actual Nobel Peace Prize given by Machado did not qualify for list 1:45:45 Trump is desperate for historic accolades 1:46:30 Ask Chuck 1:46:45 Will we live to see a Democratic elected statewide in Tennessee? 1:53:00 Loved history lesson on importance of 1848, could you expand on it? 1:56:45 What rights from the Bill of Rights has Trump NOT violated? 1:58:45 Why aren’t SCOTUS potential retirements gett

Ambassador Robert Blackwill — a towering figure in American foreign policy who served under Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush, and is the only person to have served as both U.S. Ambassador to India and Deputy National Security Advisor — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a sweeping and sobering conversation about America's position in the world. Blackwill, currently the Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of Lost Decade: The U.S. Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power, argues that the U.S. urgently needs to recapture the kind of bipartisan foreign policy consensus that defined the Cold War era. He calls China the most dangerous rival America has ever faced, warning that Beijing is actively preparing its military for a potential Taiwan invasion — a threat that has only intensified amid China's massive late-2025 military exercises around the island and growing questions about whether the Trump administration would intervene to defend Taipei. The conversation spans the full scope of the global chessboard, from NATO's potential collapse — an especially timely concern as the Pentagon has moved to scale back U.S. participation in NATO advisory groups and Defense Secretary Hegseth skipped the latest defense ministers' meeting in Brussels — to why any Ukraine peace deal will inevitably reward Russian aggression, to Trump's puzzling warmth toward adversaries like China and Russia while publicly disparaging European allies. Blackwill warns that Trump is driving swing countries like India into China's orbit, and that the U.S. isn't headed for a multipolar world but a bipolar one, with China gaining ground across Africa, South America, and Asia. With the 2028 presidential race on the horizon, Blackwill makes a forceful case that the next generation of candidates must present a clear, durable vision for America's role in the world — before it's too late. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Ambassador Robert Blackwill joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 America needs to recapture its cold war “bipartisan consensus” 02:30 Alliances contributed to American strength 04:00 Why were assumptions of China joining the world wrong? 06:00 China is the most dangerous rival America has ever had 07:15 Should we have developed an Asian security pact sooner? 09:00 Marxism tells China that for it to be safe, it must lead the world 10:30 Liberal internationalism has gotten weaker in its expression 11:30 What should we make of Xi purging his military leadership? 12:45 U.S. intelligence penetration of China has been limited 14:30 China is working very hard to prepare military for Taiwan invasion 15:45 Worse outcome: Let China invade Taiwan or fight them over it? 16:45 Biden clearly said he’d intervene on behalf of Taiwan 17:30 Trump doesn’t seem inclined to defend Taiwan 18:30 China’s military isn’t battle tested, invasion is a huge risk 19:30 How have Iraq/Afghanistan informed the debate over defending Taiwan? 20:45 A majority of Americans wouldn’t support war with China over Taiwan 22:15 What would you advise next President to do with Taiwan if no war by 2028? 23:00 Trump is unique, will take most of “Trumpism” with him when he leaves 24:30 Debate after Trump will be between nationalism & liberal internationalism 26:00 Tough to know what Democrats strategy for role in the world is 27:00 How do you rebuild alliances in a more durable way? 29:30 The American people don’t support the admins “gangster” foreign policy 31:15 If Europe is separated from the U.S., they’ll truly go on their own 31:45 Trump says nothing positive about Europe, but praises China & Russia 34:00 Hard to believe Donald Trump would abide Article 5 34:45 NATO could collapse if Trump doesn’t respond to action against Baltics 35:30 Taiwan remains greatest risk for the duration of Trump’s term 36:30 Any peace deal in Ukraine will reward Russia’s aggression 37:15 Ukraine remains determined not to lose their statehood 38:00 Putin knows he’ll never have a friendlier American president than Trump 39:00 Intelligence sharing is most valuable thing America provides Ukraine 41:00 Trump can do so much more to rupture our alliances in 3 years 42:00 Europe is more traumatized by what Trump says than what he does 43:00 What to make of Marco Rubio’s role in the administration? 45:00 Rubio has to perform an incredible balancing act 47:00 Trump is driving “swing countries” like India into China’s arms 47:30 We aren’t headed for a multipolar world, it will be bipolar 48:30 Partners want consistency from America, based on strength 51:00 2028 candidates need to present a vision for America’s role 52:30 China ahead of America in Africa, South America & Asia…not Europe 53:00 China isn’t ahead yet, but trends are bad 54:30 America’s contempt for the third world has been detrimental  56:15 Trump’s approach to the world won’t change in the next 3 years See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd takes a hard look at the state of American governance and institutional trust — or the lack of it. He starts by reflecting on the historical significance of three consecutive one-term presidents, ranking his top five most underrated commanders-in-chief and arguing that both Biden and Trump are unlikely to be viewed as consequential a century from now. From there, Todd pivots to a searing indictment of the current moment: from the Epstein reckoning exposing the government's inability to tell the truth, to DHS being treated as a political plaything by Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski, to the DOD endangering lives in the El Paso FAA incident with zero accountability, to Moderna alleging that HHS refused to even review an mRNA flu vaccine under RFK Jr.'s watch. He connects the dots across a pattern of institutional dishonesty — a Justice Department focused on narrative management, masked ICE agents no one can justify, a fired antitrust chief clearing the way for powerful interests, and a "hostage system" style of governing that holds federal paychecks as leverage — making the case that when the government lies this often, it forfeits the benefit of the doubt on everything, and that the Epstein scandal isn't just a story about one man, but a mirror reflecting a system designed to protect the powerful. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the publishing of the Communist Manifesto and argues that while its critiques of the excesses of capitalism were correct… it’s revolutionary prescriptions led to the worst authoritarian states in modern history. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:30 We’ve had 3 straight one term presidents, deem them all failures 03:45 Inability to win reelection will always be seen as an asterisk 04:45 Top 5 most underrated presidents 05:00 James Polk was the only voluntary one term president 05:45 James Garfield was a fierce advocate for civil rights 06:30 George H.W. Bush was accomplished, but not a good politician 07:30 John Quincy Adams laid out modern American infrastructure 08:00 Jimmy Carter did many things that have aged well 09:15 In 100 years, Biden & Trump likely won’t be viewed as consequential 10:45 Biden & Trump can’t be evaluated fairly for many years 11:30 What does a real reckoning look like in the Trump era? 12:45 The institution least capable of reckoning with Epstein is the government 13:15 The private sector is forcing accountability, the government isn’t 14:15 Trust is the currency of government, and Trump’s doesn’t have it 15:15 The Justice Department is only worried about narrative management 16:30 The system looks like a club, designed to protect the powerful 17:45 Epstein is a test of whether the government can tell the truth 19:00 DHS shutting down, politicians using paychecks as leverage 19:30 We a governing via a “hostage system” 20:45 There isn’t a single good argument for masking ICE agents 21:15 The Democrats’ demands are not extreme, they’re common sense 22:15 Noem & Lewandowski treating DHS like their personal plaything 23:00 Pattern of government saying one thing, facts saying another 24:15 Whatever Noem says first, you can’t believe it. She gaslights the public 25:00 The government has lied too many times, gets no benefit of the doubt 25:45 El Paso FAA incident is case study for public distrusting institutions 26:45 DoD was lying to the FAA, FAA pulled the emergency brakes 28:00 DoD put lives in danger with no accountability 28:30 Moderna says HHS refused to review MRNA flu vaccine 29:15 The U.S. is not a stable country to develop & release products 30:00 Kennedy only offers crackpot theories & totally unfit for office 31:00 We can’t trust the government to tell us the truth about anything 31:30 DOJ fired antitrust chief, powerful interests get what they want 33:00 Epstein isn’t just a scandal, it’s a mirror 42:15 What if Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie ran on “accountability” ticket 43:30 A bipartisan ticket of “pox on both their houses” could be powerful 44:15 ToddCast Time Machine February 21st, 1848 44:30 Marx & Engels publish the communist manifesto 45:15 Monarchies were colliding with modern economic forces 46:45 Marx argued that capitalism is destabilizing if left unchecked 47:45 If the manifesto was called something else, how would we view it? 48:15 Marx doesn’t argue reform, says that capitalism will destroy itself 49:00 Communist states didn’t emerge until decades after manifesto 49:45 Manifesto gave dictators arguments to grab power 50:30 Marx talked in economics, dictators exploited his language 52:00 Communism took hold in places where industrialization fell behind 52:45 Manifesto gets invoked badly by both sides in American politics 53:30 Marx’s diagnosis was spot on, his solutions were questionable 55:00 Lack of regulation for AI will push people to radicalism 55:30 Ask Chuck 55:45 Does something seem off with the administration’s economic numbers? 1:00:00 Do we need a punchier title than “Gate” for political scandals? 1:02:30 Do we need to withhold congressional salaries during shutdowns? 1:06:30 Missing intellectuals like Rahm Emmanuel leading the country 1:08:30 What is the criteria for impeachment of cabinet members? 1:11:15 Favorite football/baseball players as a kid? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd takes a hard look at the state of American governance and institutional trust — or the lack of it. He starts by reflecting on the historical significance of three consecutive one-term presidents, ranking his top five most underrated commanders-in-chief and arguing that both Biden and Trump are unlikely to be viewed as consequential a century from now. From there, Todd pivots to a searing indictment of the current moment: from the Epstein reckoning exposing the government's inability to tell the truth, to DHS being treated as a political plaything by Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski, to the DOD endangering lives in the El Paso FAA incident with zero accountability, to Moderna alleging that HHS refused to even review an mRNA flu vaccine under RFK Jr.'s watch. He connects the dots across a pattern of institutional dishonesty — a Justice Department focused on narrative management, masked ICE agents no one can justify, a fired antitrust chief clearing the way for powerful interests, and a "hostage system" style of governing that holds federal paychecks as leverage — making the case that when the government lies this often, it forfeits the benefit of the doubt on everything, and that the Epstein scandal isn't just a story about one man, but a mirror reflecting a system designed to protect the powerful. Then, Gene Sperling — the only person to serve as Director of the National Economic Council under two presidents (Clinton and Obama), a senior advisor to President Biden who oversaw the American Rescue Plan, and a consultant and co-writer on NBC's The West Wing — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation. Sperling shares the wild story of how he ended up in Santa Monica, his brush with Aaron Sorkin's legal troubles, and his insider take on how real Washington compares to its fictional portrayals. The conversation then turns to Sperling's deep expertise on the economy, from his defense of the Biden administration's "soft landing" amid global post-Covid inflation to the political lessons of how rising prices have sunk presidencies on both sides of the aisle — including Biden's own re-election bid. The back half of the episode looks squarely at the future. Sperling, who says he's unlikely to serve in another Democratic administration, offers a forceful argument about what comes next: the rising threat of unchecked corporate and tech power, the urgent need for AI policy that puts working people first, and the lessons of globalization that policymakers can't afford to repeat. Drawing on themes from his book Economic Dignity, he makes the case that Americans are hungry for leaders who pair optimism with a real confrontation of economic injustice — and warns that a handful of AI and crypto companies, flush with lobbying dollars, could end up shaping the structure of the economy if left unchallenged. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the publishing of the Communist Manifesto and argues that while its critiques of the excesses of capitalism were correct… it’s revolutionary prescriptions led to the worst authoritarian states in modern history. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:30 We’ve had 3 straight one term presidents, deem them all failures 04:45 Inability to win reelection will always be seen as an asterisk 05:45 Top 5 most underrated presidents 06:00 James Polk was the only voluntary one term president 06:45 James Garfield was a fierce advocate for civil rights 07:30 George H.W. Bush was accomplished, but not a good politician 08:30 John Quincy Adams laid out modern American infrastructure 09:00 Jimmy Carter did many things that have aged well 10:15 In 100 years, Biden & Trump likely won’t be viewed as consequential 11:45 Biden & Trump can’t be evaluated fairly for many years 12:30 What does a real reckoning look like in the Trump era? 13:45 The institution least capable of reckoning with Epstein is the government 14:15 The private sector is forcing accountability, the government isn’t  15:15 Trust is the currency of government, and Trump’s doesn’t have it 16:15 The Justice Department is only worried about narrative management 17:30 The system looks like a club, designed to protect the powerful 18:45 Epstein is a test of whether the government can tell the truth 20:00 DHS shutting down, politicians using paychecks as leverage 20:30 We a governing via a “hostage system” 21:45 There isn’t a single good argument for masking ICE agents 22:15 The Democrats’ demands are not extreme, they’re common sense 23:15 Noem & Lewandowski treating DHS like their personal plaything 24:00 Pattern of government saying one thing, facts saying another 25:15 Whatever Noem says first, you can’t believe it. She gaslights the public 26:00 The government has lied too many times, gets no benefit of the doubt 26:45 El Paso FAA incident is case study for public distrusting institutions 27:45 DoD was lying to the FAA, FAA pulled the emergency brakes 29:00 DoD put lives in danger with no accountability 29:30 Moderna says HHS refused to review MRNA flu vaccine 30:15 The U.S. is not a stable country to develop & release products 31:00 Kennedy only offers crackpot theories & totally unfit for office 32:00 We can’t trust the government to tell us the truth about anything 32:30 DOJ fired antitrust chief, powerful interests get what they want 34:00 Epstein isn’t just a scandal, it’s a mirror 43:30 Gene Sperling joins the Chuck Toddcast 45:30 The wild story of how Gene ended up in Santa Monica 46:45 Aaron Sorkin couldn’t meet with Gene due to legal trouble 49:45 Real politics/news look nothing like “West Wing” or “The Newsroom” 51:00 The one truism about the West Wing is good people trying to do good 52:45 Politics is NOT like House of Cards 54:15 West Wing still remains viable, any chance of a reboot? 55:30 What’s the state of the economy? What do you look for? 56:15 Biden economy was strong growth, but high inflation 57:00 Biden achieved the “soft landing” they were trying for 58:15 Inflation was global and mostly due to Covid supply chain shocks 59:45 The American Rescue Plan had many positive effects 1:00:45 Every head of state poured money into economies during Covid 1:01:45 Covid was going to result in either inflation or recession 1:03:30 Obama couldn’t pass enough stimulus during Great Recession 1:04:30 A little extra stimulus can help offset future unknowns 1:05:15 Millennials’ future was permanently damaged by Great Recession 1:06:30 A generation had never seen high inflation until Covid 1:07:30 Anger over inflation sunk Biden’s re-election 1:08:30 Inflation is bipartisan, took down 3 different presidents 1:09:30 Inflation affects everyone, jobs & unemployment don’t 1:10:45 Every head of state suffered politically post pandemic 1:12:45 Will Biden baggage sink Pete Buttigieg, or is that overstated? 1:14:30 Biden’s conflict was empathy for suffering vs touting achievements 1:16:45 Biden had the tiniest of margins to pass major legislation 1:18:00 Gene is unlikely to work in a future Democratic administration 1:18:45 Pitchforks are being sharpened for corporations and big tech 1:19:30 Will worker rage fuel the next election? 1:20:30 Presidents that do well offer optimism, but confront economic injustice 1:22:00 People don’t want to feel like they are being extracted for profits 1:24:00 AI growth can’t come at the expense of working people 1:25:30 AI policy should be shaped around improving conditions for people 1:26:45 What lessons from globalization can be used to alleviate AI disruption? 1:28:30 Clinton believed in robust response to globalization 1:29:30 Clinton couldn’t implement strong safety net after losing congress 1:31:15 You have to have policies where people don’t feel left behind 1:33:00 We need to create and fund jobs that create dignity 1:33:45 We need to create an economic dignity floor for all Americans 1:35:45 When is a company too big to regulate? 1:38:00 If companies are disproportionately determining policies, they’re too big 1:38:45 Crypto & AI are getting what they want from huge lobbying money 1:39:30 A handful of AI companies could determine structure of the economy 1:41:45 The Trump White House has invited corporate influence 1:49:45 What if Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie ran on “accountability” ticket 1:51:00 A bipartisan ticket of “pox on both their houses” could be powerful 1:51:45 ToddCast Time Machine February 21st, 1848 1:52:00 Marx & Engels publish the communist manifesto 1:52:45 Monarchies were colliding with modern economic forces 1:54:15 Marx argued that capitalism is destabilizing if left unchecked 1:55:15 If the manifesto was called something else, how would we view it? 1:55:45 Marx doesn’t argue reform, says that capitalism will destroy itself 1:56:30 Communist states didn’t emerge until decades after manifesto 1:57:15 Manifesto gave dictators arguments to grab power 1:58:00 Marx talked in economics, dictators exploited his language 1:59:30 Communism took hold in places where industrialization fell behind 2

Gene Sperling — the only person to serve as Director of the National Economic Council under two presidents (Clinton and Obama), a senior advisor to President Biden who oversaw the American Rescue Plan, and a consultant and co-writer on NBC's The West Wing — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation. Sperling shares the wild story of how he ended up in Santa Monica, his brush with Aaron Sorkin's legal troubles, and his insider take on how real Washington compares to its fictional portrayals. The conversation then turns to Sperling's deep expertise on the economy, from his defense of the Biden administration's "soft landing" amid global post-Covid inflation to the political lessons of how rising prices have sunk presidencies on both sides of the aisle — including Biden's own re-election bid. The back half of the episode looks squarely at the future. Sperling, who says he's unlikely to serve in another Democratic administration, offers a forceful argument about what comes next: the rising threat of unchecked corporate and tech power, the urgent need for AI policy that puts working people first, and the lessons of globalization that policymakers can't afford to repeat. Drawing on themes from his book Economic Dignity, he makes the case that Americans are hungry for leaders who pair optimism with a real confrontation of economic injustice — and warns that a handful of AI and crypto companies, flush with lobbying dollars, could end up shaping the structure of the economy if left unchallenged. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Gene Sperling joins the Chuck Toddcast 02:00 The wild story of how Gene ended up in Santa Monica 03:15 Aaron Sorkin couldn’t meet with Gene due to legal trouble 06:15 Real politics/news look nothing like “West Wing” or “The Newsroom” 07:30 The one truism about the West Wing is good people trying to do good 09:15 Politics is NOT like House of Cards 10:45 West Wing still remains viable, any chance of a reboot? 12:00 What’s the state of the economy? What do you look for? 12:45 Biden economy was strong growth, but high inflation 13:30 Biden achieved the “soft landing” they were trying for 14:45 Inflation was global and mostly due to Covid supply chain shocks 16:15 The American Rescue Plan had many positive effects 17:15 Every head of state poured money into economies during Covid 18:15 Covid was going to result in either inflation or recession 20:00 Obama couldn’t pass enough stimulus during Great Recession 21:00 A little extra stimulus can help offset future unknowns 21:45 Millennials’ future was permanently damaged by Great Recession 23:00 A generation had never seen high inflation until Covid 24:00 Anger over inflation sunk Biden’s re-election 25:00 Inflation is bipartisan, took down 3 different presidents 26:00 Inflation affects everyone, jobs & unemployment don’t 27:15 Every head of state suffered politically post pandemic 29:15 Will Biden baggage sink Pete Buttigieg, or is that overstated? 31:00 Biden’s conflict was empathy for suffering vs touting achievements 33:15 Biden had the tiniest of margins to pass major legislation 34:30 Gene is unlikely to work in a future Democratic administration 35:15 Pitchforks are being sharpened for corporations and big tech 36:00 Will worker rage fuel the next election? 37:00 Presidents that do well offer optimism, but confront economic injustice 38:30 People don’t want to feel like they are being extracted for profits 40:30 AI growth can’t come at the expense of working people 42:00 AI policy should be shaped around improving conditions for people 43:15 What lessons from globalization can be used to alleviate AI disruption? 45:00 Clinton believed in robust response to globalization 46:00 Clinton couldn’t implement strong safety net after losing congress 47:45 You have to have policies where people don’t feel left behind 49:30 We need to create and fund jobs that create dignity 50:15 We need to create an economic dignity floor for all Americans 52:15 When is a company too big to regulate? 54:30 If companies are disproportionately determining policies, they’re too big 55:15 Crypto & AI are getting what they want from huge lobbying money 56:00 A handful of AI companies could determine structure of the economy 58:15 The Trump White House has invited corporate influence See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Chuck Todd unpacks a week where political theater carried real consequences, from Pam Bondi’s high-profile hearing and the Justice Department’s bruised credibility to renewed controversy over the Epstein files and why Trump appears uneasy about what could surface. Chuck explores how Trump’s actions—from refusing to help key Republicans like John Cornyn in Texas to escalating trade and tariff fights that split his own party—may be doing tactical damage to GOP midterm prospects, even putting critical races in Michigan and beyond at risk. He also examines donor frustration, the political fallout of Trump’s UAE corruption scandal, and why internal Republican divisions could shape whether Democrats win a narrow or sizable House majority. Finally, Chuck looks at the surprisingly strong jobs report, the murky influence of prediction markets, and why, if Democrats ultimately capture the Senate, Trump himself may be the biggest reason why. Then, founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Paul Rieckhoff joins for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from the football field to the battlefield and into the halls of power. Paul shares how his family's experience with Vietnam shaped his own path into the military and explores why the scars of Iraq and Afghanistan haven't left the same political mark as Vietnam did. The discussion dives into the state of today's all-volunteer military, raising concerns about recruiting under Pete Hegseth's leadership at the Pentagon, the politicization of military culture, and the promotion of a specific ideological agenda within the Department of Defense—including what it means for democracy when the most powerful military in the world operates with fewer checks than ever. The conversation then shifts to the growing power of political independents, with Paul making the case that unaffiliated voters and veteran candidates could serve as a moderating force in American politics. From the potential impact of just a handful of independent senators to why no military veteran has won the presidency since George H.W. Bush, Paul and Chuck explore what it would take to break the two-party stranglehold. They also touch on the challenges of independent media, how national security can be a clarifying lens for consuming news, and why Paul believes every voter should consider declaring independence—arguing it gives them more power, not less. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 2:00 The Pam Bondi hearing was all theater, but it did matter 3:30 Trump’s cabinet hearings have an audience of one…Trump 4:00 DOJ’s credibility took a massive hit this week 4:45 Grand jury refused to indict Democratic members of congress 6:15 Bondi fanned the flames over Epstein files, now she’s backtracking 7:00 Trump seems awfully nervous about the files, like he’s hiding something 8:30 The question is do the Dems get a large or small majority in the house 10:00 There is a ceiling for Democratic gains 10:45 Trump isn’t interested in helping Republicans in the midterms 11:15 Trump not endorsing Cornyn in Texas put the senate seat in play 12:45 Republican donors are upset Trump won’t help in Texas 14:15 Trump’s UAE corruption scandal the worst of all time 15:45 Trump’s threats over bridge to Canada hurts GOP in Michigan 17:00 Owner of other bridge lobbied Lutnick, now Trump threatens shutdown 17:30 New bridge is good for Michigan, this put Mike Rogers in jeopardy 18:30 Trump is doing tactical harm to their midterm election chances 19:15 Trump’s tariff mess has divided his own party 20:30 Mike Johnson couldn’t stop vote in the house on tariffs 22:00 Trump doesn’t care about the future of the Republican party 23:45 Trump says no to another reconciliation bill, also bad for GOP 25:30 Jobs report was good despite admin officials previewing a bad one 26:15 Are administration officials cashing in on the prediction markets? 27:00 Prediction markets are extraordinarily corruptable 28:30 Higher tax refunds will get eaten by higher costs, not politically helpful 29:45 If Democrats win the senate, they’ll have Donald Trump to thank 31:00 Far right candidate beat the center left coalition in Japan 32:30 Independents need to assert their political power in America 35:00 The country’s political affiliations don’t fix neatly into two boxes 44:00 Races with independents to track 45:15 Ask Chuck 45:30 Isn’t congress responsible for border policy? 51:45 Is the reason Noem hasn’t been fired, that Trump wants on Mt. Rushmore? 54:15 Why do celebrities lend their names to companies that hurt their customers? 59:30 Would moderate Democrats do better running as independents? 1:04:45 Does Utah law to expand Supreme Court open the door for court packing? 1:08:30 What can be done to modernize education, add national service? 1:20:00 Thoughts on sports post-football See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is The Most Dangerous Thing Trump Can Do In this episode, Chuck Todd unpacks a week where political theater carried real consequences, from Pam Bondi’s high-profile hearing and the Justice Department’s bruised credibility to renewed controversy over the Epstein files and why Trump appears uneasy about what could surface. Chuck explores how Trump’s actions—from refusing to help key Republicans like John Cornyn in Texas to escalating trade and tariff fights that split his own party—may be doing tactical damage to GOP midterm prospects, even putting critical races in Michigan and beyond at risk. He also examines donor frustration, the political fallout of Trump’s UAE corruption scandal, and why internal Republican divisions could shape whether Democrats win a narrow or sizable House majority. Finally, Chuck looks at the surprisingly strong jobs report, the murky influence of prediction markets, and why, if Democrats ultimately capture the Senate, Trump himself may be the biggest reason why. Then, founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Paul Rieckhoff joins for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from the football field to the battlefield and into the halls of power. Paul shares how his family's experience with Vietnam shaped his own path into the military and explores why the scars of Iraq and Afghanistan haven't left the same political mark as Vietnam did. The discussion dives into the state of today's all-volunteer military, raising concerns about recruiting under Pete Hegseth's leadership at the Pentagon, the politicization of military culture, and the promotion of a specific ideological agenda within the Department of Defense—including what it means for democracy when the most powerful military in the world operates with fewer checks than ever. The conversation then shifts to the growing power of political independents, with Paul making the case that unaffiliated voters and veteran candidates could serve as a moderating force in American politics. From the potential impact of just a handful of independent senators to why no military veteran has won the presidency since George H.W. Bush, Paul and Chuck explore what it would take to break the two-party stranglehold. They also touch on the challenges of independent media, how national security can be a clarifying lens for consuming news, and why Paul believes every voter should consider declaring independence—arguing it gives them more power, not less. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:00 The Pam Bondi hearing was all theater, but it did matter 04:30 Trump’s cabinet hearings have an audience of one…Trump 05:00 DOJ’s credibility took a massive hit this week 05:45 Grand jury refused to indict Democratic members of congress 07:15 Bondi fanned the flames over Epstein files, now she’s backtracking 08:00 Trump seems awfully nervous about the files, like he’s hiding something 09:30 The question is do the Dems get a large or small majority in the house 11:00 There is a ceiling for Democratic gains 11:45 Trump isn’t interested in helping Republicans in the midterms 12:15 Trump not endorsing Cornyn in Texas put the senate seat in play 13:45 Republican donors are upset Trump won’t help in Texas 15:15 Trump’s UAE corruption scandal the worst of all time 16:45 Trump’s threats over bridge to Canada hurts GOP in Michigan 18:00 Owner of other bridge lobbied Lutnick, now Trump threatens shutdown 18:30 New bridge is good for Michigan, this put Mike Rogers in jeopardy 19:30 Trump is doing tactical harm to their midterm election chances 20:15 Trump’s tariff mess has divided his own party 21:30 Mike Johnson couldn’t stop vote in the house on tariffs 23:00 Trump doesn’t care about the future of the Republican party 24:45 Trump says no to another reconciliation bill, also bad for GOP 26:30 Jobs report was good despite admin officials previewing a bad one 27:15 Are administration officials cashing in on the prediction markets? 28:00 Prediction markets are extraordinarily corruptable 29:30 Higher tax refunds will get eaten by higher costs, not politically helpful 30:45 If Democrats win the senate, they’ll have Donald Trump to thank 32:00 Far right candidate beat the center left coalition in Japan 33:30 Independents need to assert their political power in America 36:00 The country’s political affiliations don’t fix neatly into two boxes 45:00 Paul Rieckhoff joins the Chuck Toddcast 47:00 Why football is the most selfless sport 48:45 Defense in football feels like it has caught up to offense 51:00 How & why did you get into the military? 52:45 Nobody feels the acute impact of politics more than military members 54:00 Impact of Vietnam on Paul’s father & family 56:00 Anyone eligible for the draft in Vietnam were obsessive over details 57:30 No Vietnam vet ever won the presidency, but came close 59:15 Scars from Iraq/Afghanistan haven’t affected politics like Vietnam did 59:45 All-volunteer military is good for military but terrible for democracy 1:00:30 Shunning NATO would have been unthinkable just a decade ago 1:01:15 Worried about military recruiting under Pete Hegseth 1:02:00 Hegseth is waging a culture war from the Pentagon 1:03:15 Recruiting tactics are recruiting a very specific type of candidate 1:04:30 Changes in policy are politicizing the military & changing culture 1:05:45 Hegseth is prioritizing & promoting christianity at the Pentagon 1:06:15 Trump has the most powerful military & can do what he wants with it 1:06:45 Most dangerous thing Trump can do is invoke Insurrection Act 1:07:30 Pentagon press corp has been replaced with propogandists 1:09:45 The only thing checking Trump is himself & Chairman of Joint Chiefs 1:11:00 Trump has been more strategic this term, & is ahead of schedule 1:12:30 Military culture & families historically tend to lean right politically 1:13:45 Many veterans remain politically unaffiliated 1:14:45 We haven’t elected a military veteran since George H.W. Bush 1:15:45 Combat service gives you a true sense of the cost of war 1:17:30 Washington & Eisenhower closest to being “independent” presidents 1:18:45 Efforts to get veterans elected to local/state office 1:21:00 Independents have their leanings but reject the two parties 1:23:00 A true independent could be the most powerful member of senate 1:23:45 4-6 independent’s could be a moderating fulcrum in senate 1:25:30 Even two independents breaking with their caucus would be huge 1:28:00 How can each party appeal to independent veterans? 1:31:00 Every voter should declare independence, gives them more power 1:32:00 Balancing creating vs. ingestion working in independent media 1:35:00 National security is a great clarifier when consuming news 1:36:15 Waking up early is the best way to avoid distractions 1:37:30 Israel’s citizen-military culture creates a lot of activism 1:38:30 Instability created by Trump has engaged the electorate 1:40:45 ICE has made the danger posed by administration very immediate 1:41:45 If running for office was viable for independents, Paul would consider it 1:43:30 Veterans that want to service should run for office, not join ICE 1:47:45 Races with independents to track 1:49:00 Ask Chuck 1:49:15 Isn’t congress responsible for border policy? 1:55:30 Is the reason Noem hasn’t been fired, that Trump wants on Mt. Rushmore? 1:58:00 Why do celebrities lend their names to companies that hurt their customers? 2:03:15 Would moderate Democrats do better running as independents? 2:08:30 Does Utah law to expand Supreme Court open the door for court packing? 2:12:15 What can be done to modernize education, add national service? 2:23:45 Thoughts on sports post-football See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck Toddcast, founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Paul Rieckhoff joins for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from the football field to the battlefield and into the halls of power. Paul shares how his family's experience with Vietnam shaped his own path into the military and explores why the scars of Iraq and Afghanistan haven't left the same political mark as Vietnam did. The discussion dives into the state of today's all-volunteer military, raising concerns about recruiting under Pete Hegseth's leadership at the Pentagon, the politicization of military culture, and the promotion of a specific ideological agenda within the Department of Defense—including what it means for democracy when the most powerful military in the world operates with fewer checks than ever. The conversation then shifts to the growing power of political independents, with Paul making the case that unaffiliated voters and veteran candidates could serve as a moderating force in American politics. From the potential impact of just a handful of independent senators to why no military veteran has won the presidency since George H.W. Bush, Paul and Chuck explore what it would take to break the two-party stranglehold. They also touch on the challenges of independent media, how national security can be a clarifying lens for consuming news, and why Paul believes every voter should consider declaring independence—arguing it gives them more power, not less. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Paul Rieckhoff joins the Chuck Toddcast 02:00 Why football is the most selfless sport 03:45 Defense in football feels like it has caught up to offense 06:00 How & why did you get into the military?  07:45 Nobody feels the acute impact of politics more than military members 09:00 Impact of Vietnam on Paul’s father & family 11:00 Anyone eligible for the draft in Vietnam were obsessive over details 12:30 No Vietnam vet ever won the presidency, but came close 14:15 Scars from Iraq/Afghanistan haven’t affected politics like Vietnam did 14:45 All-volunteer military is good for military but terrible for democracy 15:30 Shunning NATO would have been unthinkable just a decade ago 16:15 Worried about military recruiting under Pete Hegseth 17:00 Hegseth is waging a culture war from the Pentagon 18:15 Recruiting tactics are recruiting a very specific type of candidate 19:30 Changes in policy are politicizing the military & changing culture 20:45 Hegseth is prioritizing & promoting christianity at the Pentagon 21:15 Trump has the most powerful military & can do what he wants with it 21:45 Most dangerous thing Trump can do is invoke Insurrection Act 22:30 Pentagon press corp has been replaced with propogandists 24:45 The only thing checking Trump is himself & Chairman of Joint Chiefs 26:00 Trump has been more strategic this term, & is ahead of schedule 27:30 Military culture & families historically tend to lean right politically 28:45 Many veterans remain politically unaffiliated 29:45 We haven’t elected a military veteran since George H.W. Bush 30:45 Combat service gives you a true sense of the cost of war 32:30 Washington & Eisenhower closest to being “independent” presidents 33:45 Efforts to get veterans elected to local/state office 36:00 Independents have their leanings but reject the two parties 38:00 A true independent could be the most powerful member of senate 38:45 4-6 independent’s could be a moderating fulcrum in senate 40:30 Even two independents breaking with their caucus would be huge 43:00 How can each party appeal to independent veterans? 46:00 Every voter should declare independence, gives them more power 47:00 Balancing creating vs. ingestion working in independent media 50:00 National security is a great clarifier when consuming news 51:15 Waking up early is the best way to avoid distractions 52:30 Israel’s citizen-military culture creates a lot of activism 53:30 Instability created by Trump has engaged the electorate 55:45 ICE has made the danger posed by administration very immediate 56:45 If running for office was viable for independents, Paul would consider it 58:30 Veterans that want to service should run for office, not join ICE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Chuck Todd breaks down a rapidly shifting 2026 political landscape beginning with Susan Collins’ decision to seek re-election in what could become the toughest race of her career, a contest that may prove pivotal in a potentially tied Senate where Democrats could even attempt to court Lisa Murkowski. Chuck explores how Collins’ choice reshapes the map, why an open Maine seat would have favored Democrats, and how outsider candidates like Graham Platner may challenge both party establishments. The conversation widens to key battleground developments in Texas and Florida, including Alexander Vindman’s Senate bid and the risks of divisive primaries, while Republicans face mounting structural challenges and a slipping grip on the House. Chuck also examines why Democrats are expanding their target map, what could still derail a major Democratic wave, and the intensifying fight over voting legislation like the SAVE Act—arguing that partisan “poison pills” have deepened gridlock and made meaningful compromise in Washington increasingly rare. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 crazy things that used to be LEGAL in politics and a bonus Top 5 list of things that shouldn’t be. Plus, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:30 Susan Collins announces she’ll run for re-election 02:15 2026 will be the toughest race Collins has ever faced 03:15 In a 50-50 senate, Dems will court Murkowski to flip parties 04:00 Trump doesn’t court challengers for Susan Collins 06:30 Had Collins not sought re-election, it’s a guaranteed Dem win 08:00 Platner will be able to run against both party establishments 09:15 Developments in Texas have been terrible for Republicans 09:45 Surprising that Turning Point would tie themselves to Ken Paxton 11:00 The last things Dems need is a racially divisive primary in TX 11:45 Alexander Vindman joins Florida senate race 14:30 Vindman fits profile of Dem that can win in a light red state 15:30 The house has slipped away from GOP, can they hold the senate? 16:45 It would take a major outside event to change environment for GOP 18:00 Dems add new seats to their target list 19:45 Only thing standing between Dems & huge win is their nominees 21:30 Republicans are trying to shove through the SAVE Act 22:15 SAVE Act unnecessarily complicates trying to vote 23:30 SAVE Act & HR1 were loaded with poison pills 24:30 Neither side willing to compromise to pass these bills 26:15 Poison pills were features, not bugs 35:00 A few changes to law drove wave of congressional retirements 38:30 ToddCast Top 5 crazy things that used to be LEGAL in politics 39:15 #5 Corporations used to be able to give directly to candidates 41:00 #4 Party machines openly bought votes 41:45 #3 Federal jobs used as campaign currency 43:30 #2 Candidates could accept unlimited, anonymous cash 44:45 #1 Candidates could keep their war chest after leaving office 45:30 Top 5 list of legal things in politics that should be made illegal 46:00 #5 Members of congress trading stocks 48:15 #4 Leadership PACs 49:00 #3 Lobbyist bundling 50:15 #2 Members of congress can negotiate a future job & still vote 51:45 #1 Presidential pardon power 53:45 Ask Chuck 54:00 Can Trump be unpopular and still be a populist? 55:45 What happened to the Supreme Court tariffs case? 57:30 Sharice Davids eyeing a run for senate? 59:30 How can we heal as a country while swamped with divisive content? 1:02:15 How could the media better explain the levels of Trump’s corruption See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Chuck Todd breaks down a rapidly shifting 2026 political landscape beginning with Susan Collins’ decision to seek re-election in what could become the toughest race of her career, a contest that may prove pivotal in a potentially tied Senate where Democrats could even attempt to court Lisa Murkowski. Chuck explores how Collins’ choice reshapes the map, why an open Maine seat would have favored Democrats, and how outsider candidates like Graham Platner may challenge both party establishments. The conversation widens to key battleground developments in Texas and Florida, including Alexander Vindman’s Senate bid and the risks of divisive primaries, while Republicans face mounting structural challenges and a slipping grip on the House. Chuck also examines why Democrats are expanding their target map, what could still derail a major Democratic wave, and the intensifying fight over voting legislation like the SAVE Act—arguing that partisan “poison pills” have deepened gridlock and made meaningful compromise in Washington increasingly rare. Then, Chuck sits down with John Conyers III to discuss his deeply personal memoir "My Father's House." Far from a typical political biography, this book offers a raw, unflinching look at what it's like to grow up as the son of legendary civil rights congressman John Conyers Jr.—inheriting a legacy you never chose and navigating between worlds of poverty and power. John opens up about the family betrayal that triggered his father's 2017 resignation, the complicated truth about Rosa Parks' final years, and his own journey from the music industry to confronting his predetermined path. This isn't hagiography or exposé—it's a son trying to understand how a public giant could be both indispensable to a movement and deeply flawed in private. The conversation ranges from the intimate—John's anger at having expectations placed on him, his career as a songwriter and producer—to broader questions about how we reckon with complicated heroes, from his father to MLK to LeBron James. Todd and Conyers explore Detroit's cultural legacy, the emotional toll of creative work, and what it means to accept the full humanity of the figures we elevate. It's a fascinating discussion about legacy, identity, and the cost of living in a house built by history, featuring unexpected detours into NBA debates and why Detroit will always be a cultural exporter, not an importer. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 crazy things that used to be LEGAL in politics and a bonus Top 5 list of things that shouldn’t be. Plus, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:30 Susan Collins announces she’ll run for re-election 04:15 2026 will be the toughest race Collins has ever faced 05:15 In a 50-50 senate, Dems will court Murkowski to flip parties 06:00 Trump doesn’t court challengers for Susan Collins 08:30 Had Collins not sought re-election, it’s a guaranteed Dem win 10:00 Platner will be able to run against both party establishments 11:15 Developments in Texas have been terrible for Republicans 11:45 Surprising that Turning Point would tie themselves to Ken Paxton 13:00 The last things Dems need is a racially divisive primary in TX 13:45 Alexander Vindman joins Florida senate race 16:30 Vindman fits profile of Dem that can win in a light red state 17:30 The house has slipped away from GOP, can they hold the senate? 18:45 It would take a major outside event to change environment for GOP 20:00 Dems add new seats to their target list 21:45 Only thing standing between Dems & huge win is their nominees 23:30 Republicans are trying to shove through the SAVE Act 24:15 SAVE Act unnecessarily complicates trying to vote 25:30 SAVE Act & HR1 were loaded with poison pills 26:30 Neither side willing to compromise to pass these bills 28:15 Poison pills were features, not bugs 37:30 John Conyers III joins the Chuck ToddCast 38:45 The unexpected insider account 40:00 Caught between two worlds 41:00 The book that almost wasn't 41:45 The breaking news that changed everything 43:15 Family betrayal and the leak 44:00 The conversation that never happened 45:15 Identity wrapped in work 48:45 Rosa Parks and the untold story 53:15 The anger of expectations 1:00:45 Watching power up close 1:09:15 The music business years 1:17:00 Detroit's cultural legacy 1:21:45 The complications of heroism 1:28:00 MLK's complexity and humanity 1:35:00 Detroit's next cultural chapter 1:36:00 NBA talk: The Pistons and Giannis 1:38:00 LeBron's impossible standard 1:40:00 Magic Johnson's underrated legacy 1:41:45 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with John Conyers III 1:42:15 A few changes to law drove wave of congressional retirements 1:45:45 ToddCast Top 5 crazy things that used to be LEGAL in politics 1:46:30 #5 Corporations used to be able to give directly to candidates 1:48:15 #4 Party machines openly bought votes 1:49:00 #3 Federal jobs used as campaign currency 1:50:45 #2 Candidates could accept unlimited, anonymous cash 1:52:00 #1 Candidates could keep their war chest after leaving office 1:52:45 Top 5 list of legal things in politics that should be made illegal 1:53:15 #5 Members of congress trading stocks 1:55:30 #4 Leadership PACs 1:56:15 #3 Lobbyist bundling 1:57:30 #2 Members of congress can negotiate a future job & still vote 1:59:00 #1 Presidential pardon power 2:01:00 Ask Chuck 2:01:15 Can Trump be unpopular and still be a populist? 2:03:00 What happened to the Supreme Court tariffs case? 2:04:45 Sharice Davids eyeing a run for senate? 2:06:45 How can we heal as a country while swamped with divisive content? 2:09:30 How could the media better explain the levels of Trump’s corruption See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd sits down with John Conyers III to discuss his deeply personal memoir "My Father's House." Far from a typical political biography, this book offers a raw, unflinching look at what it's like to grow up as the son of legendary civil rights congressman John Conyers Jr.—inheriting a legacy you never chose and navigating between worlds of poverty and power. John opens up about the family betrayal that triggered his father's 2017 resignation, the complicated truth about Rosa Parks' final years, and his own journey from the music industry to confronting his predetermined path. This isn't hagiography or exposé—it's a son trying to understand how a public giant could be both indispensable to a movement and deeply flawed in private. The conversation ranges from the intimate—John's anger at having expectations placed on him, his career as a songwriter and producer—to broader questions about how we reckon with complicated heroes, from his father to MLK to LeBron James. Todd and Conyers explore Detroit's cultural legacy, the emotional toll of creative work, and what it means to accept the full humanity of the figures we elevate. It's a fascinating discussion about legacy, identity, and the cost of living in a house built by history, featuring unexpected detours into NBA debates and why Detroit will always be a cultural exporter, not an importer. Timeline: 00:00 - John Conyers III joins the Chuck Toddcast 01:15 - The unexpected insider account 02:30 - Caught between two worlds 03:30 - The book that almost wasn't 04:15 - The breaking news that changed everything 05:45 - Family betrayal and the leak 06:30 - The conversation that never happened 07:45 - Identity wrapped in work 11:15 - Rosa Parks and the untold story 15:45 - The anger of expectations 23:15 - Watching power up close 31:45 - The music business years 39:30 - Detroit's cultural legacy 44:15 - The complications of heroism 50:30 - MLK's complexity and humanity 57:30 - Detroit's next cultural chapter 58:30 - NBA talk: The Pistons and Giannis 01:00:30 - LeBron's impossible standard 01:02:30- Magic Johnson's underrated legacy See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Chuck Todd reacts to the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl, then examines the political shockwaves rippling through Washington after Donald Trump’s controversial and widely condemned post about the Obamas, placing it within the broader context of Trump’s long history of racial controversies and growing unease inside his own coalition. As criticism emerges from Republican lawmakers, conservative legal voices, and even Olympic athletes, Todd explores signs that Trump’s influence may be weakening—fueled by internal party fractures, controversial foreign policy moves, and a leadership circle increasingly insulating him from reality. With a surge of congressional retirements, warning signs from special elections, and historical trends favoring the opposition party, the conversation turns to whether Republicans are heading toward a major electoral setback—and whether worsening controversies, including ongoing fallout from Epstein-related revelations, could further reshape the political landscape before November. Finally, Chuck comments on the fallout from the mass layoffs at the Washington Post, hops in the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the history of the Iranian revolution as tensions mount between the U.S. & Iran, and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:30 Super Bowl reaction 03:15 Bad Bunny’s halftime show was a great tour of Latin culture 04:30 The AI de-aging in the commercials is creepy 06:00 Half of the AI companies advertising likely won’t exist in 3 years 10:00 Fallout from Trump’s racist post about the Obamas 11:00 Trump’s entire history has included accusations of racism 11:45 Trump definitely made the post, Republicans push back on it 13:30 The cracks in the Trump coalition grow deeper by the week 14:30 Trump didn’t have much filter before, losing it as he ages 15:30 Olympic athletes voiced concerns & opposition to administration 16:30 Trump’s inner circle keep him in a “safe space” cocoon 17:30 In six weeks of 2026, Trump has put the GOP on the defensive 19:15 Close Trump allies in congress willing to criticize him 21:00 Conservative legal analysts rip Trump for corrupt UAE deal 23:15 Trump’s Greenland posturing turned allies against the U.S. 24:00 An electoral disaster is brewing for the Republicans 24:30 Nearing a record number of incumbents retiring from congress 27:00 Historical trends suggest massive gains for the out party 28:30 Retiring members sound like they are done with politics 29:45 Retirements will create an institutional knowledge gap 31:15 Retirements are a warning sign for disastrous upcoming election 35:00 Redistricting could create even more retirements 36:15 Two more special elections swung massively toward Democrats 37:15 Any Republican in a 59% or less Trump district is in danger 39:30 Almost no scenario where Republicans hold the house 40:45 Inconceivable that Trump recovers his approval rating by Nov. 42:30 The Epstein file releases keep getting worse and worse for Trump 51:00 Send us your guest requests & suggestions! 52:45 Will Lewis resigns, cements himself as worst publisher of WaPo 53:45 The Washington Post will fade into irrelevance after layoffs 55:00 Lack of local coverage bad for DC sports teams & venues 56:30 Team owners in DC should help fund local coverage 58:30 WaPo owner & publisher weren’t willing to own the layoffs 59:00 ToddCast Time Machine - February 11th 1979 59:15 Iranian shah’s regime collapsed, created Islamic Republic 1:00:15 Iran/Persia is one of the longest continuing states in history 1:01:45 Persia was neutral in WW1 & had its sovereignty violated 1:02:30 Collapse of Ottoman empire led to new states created by European powers 1:03:30 There’s a long history of small D democracy in Iran 1:04:30 The Shah’s project was forced modernization 1:05:45 The coup turned the Shah into the central pillar of the state 1:06:45 U.S. violating Iran’s sovereignty created anti-Americanism 1:08:00 Ayatollah Khamenei emerged as symbol of the resistance 1:08:45 Shah decided to expel Khamenei, gave him more rhetorical power 1:10:00 The Iranian revolution was broad based, but the clerical faction won 1:10:45 Hostage crisis came 9 months after the revolution 1:11:15 If we intervene now, it would be on the side of the Iranian people 1:12:30 Intervening on behalf of democracy works better than self-interest 1:13:15 Transactional politics without a moral code bites us in the ass 1:14:30 Ask Chuck 1:14:45 If Trump proved he was 2020 winner, does that make 2024 win unconstitutional? 1:18:30 Is it better for ethical people to stay in government to prevent someone worse? 1:22:30 Why not include Mississippi as state for Dems to target by 2032? 1:25:45 Causes for both alarm & optimism 1:29:00 Should MLB change the rule for intentional walks to make it two bases? 1:31:15 Some nicknames for the Trump/UAE corruption scandal See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Chuck Todd reacts to the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl, then examines the political shockwaves rippling through Washington after Donald Trump’s controversial and widely condemned post about the Obamas, placing it within the broader context of Trump’s long history of racial controversies and growing unease inside his own coalition. As criticism emerges from Republican lawmakers, conservative legal voices, and even Olympic athletes, Todd explores signs that Trump’s influence may be weakening—fueled by internal party fractures, controversial foreign policy moves, and a leadership circle increasingly insulating him from reality. With a surge of congressional retirements, warning signs from special elections, and historical trends favoring the opposition party, the conversation turns to whether Republicans are heading toward a major electoral setback—and whether worsening controversies, including ongoing fallout from Epstein-related revelations, could further reshape the political landscape before November. Then, former White House Chief of Staff & Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel joins the Chuck ToddCast for a wide-ranging conversation on the forces shaping America’s political and economic future. He discusses why the 2028 election will be about what’s ahead—not what’s behind—and argues that understanding AI, energy, and the changing nature of work is now essential for anyone seeking leadership. Emanuel makes the case that education and vocational training remain the clearest pathway to the middle class, warns about declining reading proficiency, and examines what schools must do to prepare students for a rapidly evolving world. He also explores how both parties lost their way on education, why fundamentals matter, and what voters are really demanding from the system. The discussion then turns sharply to politics, power, and the health of American institutions. Emanuel weighs in on Trump-era controversies, Congress’s weakened role, and concerns about election integrity and the post-election environment. He outlines how Democrats can rebuild a winning coalition by welcoming independents and former Republicans, focusing on economic fairness, and preparing for a potential 2026 wave election. The episode closes with a global lens—covering U.S.–Israel dynamics, political polarization, wealth inequality, and whether national service could help reunite a fractured country—framing a central question: if the midterms fail to reset the trajectory, what comes next for American democracy? Finally, Chuck comments on the fallout from the mass layoffs at the Washington Post, hops in the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the history of the Iranian revolution and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:30 Super Bowl reaction 03:15 Bad Bunny’s halftime show was a great tour of Latin culture 04:30 The AI de-aging in the commercials is creepy 06:00 Half of the AI companies advertising likely won’t exist in 3 years 10:00 Fallout from Trump’s racist post about the Obamas 11:00 Trump’s entire history has included accusations of racism 11:45 Trump definitely made the post, Republicans push back on it 13:30 The cracks in the Trump coalition grow deeper by the week 14:30 Trump didn’t have much filter before, losing it as he ages 15:30 Olympic athletes voiced concerns & opposition to administration 16:30 Trump’s inner circle keep him in a “safe space” cocoon 17:30 In six weeks of 2026, Trump has put the GOP on the defensive 19:15 Close Trump allies in congress willing to criticize him 21:00 Conservative legal analysts rip Trump for corrupt UAE deal 23:15 Trump’s Greenland posturing turned allies against the U.S. 24:00 An electoral disaster is brewing for the Republicans 24:30 Nearing a record number of incumbents retiring from congress 27:00 Historical trends suggest massive gains for the out party 28:30 Retiring members sound like they are done with politics 29:45 Retirements will create an institutional knowledge gap 31:15 Retirements are a warning sign for disastrous upcoming election 35:00 Redistricting could create even more retirements 36:15 Two more special elections swung massively toward Democrats 37:15 Any Republican in a 59% or less Trump district is in danger 39:30 Almost no scenario where Republicans hold the house 40:45 Inconceivable that Trump recovers his approval rating by Nov. 42:30 The Epstein file releases keep getting worse and worse for Trump 56:15 Rahm Emmanuel joins the Chuck ToddCast 57:45 What does the average week look like for Rahm Emmanuel? 58:45 Trying to get a good understanding of AI & energy distribution 59:45 Candidates better understand AI because it’s driving economy 1:00:15 2028 election will be about the future not the past 1:01:45 Education and vocational training are the ticket to middle class 1:03:15 Coding used to be the most sought after skill, now it’s irrelevant 1:04:15 How to prepare students for a rapidly changing world? 1:05:45 AI won’t eliminate vocational professionals 1:07:30 Students are at a 30 year low in reading proficiency 1:08:15 Education is a highly motivating issue for voters 1:08:45 Vouchers don’t help rural communities 1:09:45 GOP has abandoned public ed, Dems abandoned accountability 1:11:00 Governors used to compete to be the “education governor” 1:11:45 Lotteries became the popular way to fund public education 1:12:30 Mississippi found a successful education model & it was copied 1:15:00 If schools focus on the fundamentals, scores go up 1:16:30 Trump’s UAE corruption scandal the worst in history 1:18:00 Trump is supposed to work for the voters checkbook, not his own 1:18:45 Trump’s pardons are almost exclusively for white collar crime 1:20:30 Congress has completely abdicated their responsibility 1:22:00 Founders were very worried about a corrupt executive 1:23:30 Major international shakeups and DNI is at Georgia election office 1:25:00 There are certain features of elections Trump can’t screw with 1:26:45 Rahm is more worried about the post election environment 1:27:30 The institutions have failed, but the people will protect this country 1:28:15 Worried that Mike Johnson may screw with the seating of new congress 1:29:15 Mike Johnson doesn’t have Mike Pence’s courage 1:31:45 What issues should Democrats should prioritize to win elections 1:32:45 2026 will be a wave election, presents chance to win local/state races 1:34:15 Tax refunds won’t be the electoral boon Republicans think they will 1:35:00 There’s no upside to being a long-term planner in American politics 1:36:15 What states should Dems target outside the 7 battlegrounds? 1:37:00 Never Trump Republicans finding more affinity with Democratic party 1:38:00 Democrats need to welcome former Republicans & independents 1:39:15 Unaffiliated voters are where you get your electoral majority 1:40:45 Progressive vs. Moderate viability for Democrats 1:43:15 Democratic electorate is always looking for someone new 1:44:15 The future will be on the ballot in 2028 1:46:30 Biden promised to unite the country & only united his party. It’s why he failed 1:48:00 Mandatory national service could help reunite the country 1:51:15 Entire tax code is built around wealth preservation, not creating wealth 1:53:15 People are tired by the ultra rich playing by their own set of rules 1:54:15 WaPo is an institution, and Bezos is gutting it against public interest 1:56:45 How welcome will a Jewish candidate be in a Democratic primary? 1:58:15 Separating the Jewish people/religion from Bibi’s government 2:00:00 Bibi’s governance has made Israel more vulnerable and isolated 2:01:00 Did we export our politics to Israel or are we emulating them? 2:02:00 If Democrats fail to win the midterms… then what? 2:04:00 Send us your guest requests & suggestions! 2:05:45 Will Lewis resigns, cements himself as worst publisher of WaPo 2:06:45 The Washington Post will fade into irrelevance after layoffs 2:08:00 Lack of local coverage bad for DC sports teams & venues 2:09:30 Team owners in DC should help fund local coverage 2:11:30 WaPo owner & publisher weren’t willing to own the layoffs 2:12:00 ToddCast Time Machine - February 11th 1979 2:12:15 Iranian shah’s regime collapsed, created Islamic Republic 2:13:15 Iran/Persia is one of the longest continuing states in history 2:14:45 Persia was neutral in WW1 & had its sovereignty violated 2:15:30 Collapse of Ottoman empire led to new states created by European powers 2:16:30 There’s a long history of small D democracy in Iran 2:17:30 The Shah’s project was forced modernization 2:18:45 The coup turned the Shah into the central pillar of the state 2:19:45 U.S. violating Iran’s sovereignty created anti-Americanism 2:21:00 Ayatollah Khamenei emerged as symbol of the resistance 2:21:45 Shah decided to expel Khamenei, gave him more rhetorical power 2:23:00 The Iranian revolution was broad based, but the clerical faction won 2:23:45 Hostage crisis came 9 months after the revolution 2:24:15 If we intervene now, it would be on the side of the Iranian people 2:25:3

Former White House Chief of Staff & Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel joins the Chuck ToddCast for a wide-ranging conversation on the forces shaping America’s political and economic future. He discusses why the 2028 election will be about what’s ahead—not what’s behind—and argues that understanding AI, energy, and the changing nature of work is now essential for anyone seeking leadership. Emanuel makes the case that education and vocational training remain the clearest pathway to the middle class, warns about declining reading proficiency, and examines what schools must do to prepare students for a rapidly evolving world. He also explores how both parties lost their way on education, why fundamentals matter, and what voters are really demanding from the system. The discussion then turns sharply to politics, power, and the health of American institutions. Emanuel weighs in on Trump-era controversies, Congress’s weakened role, and concerns about election integrity and the post-election environment. He outlines how Democrats can rebuild a winning coalition by welcoming independents and former Republicans, focusing on economic fairness, and preparing for a potential 2026 wave election. The episode closes with a global lens—covering U.S.–Israel dynamics, political polarization, wealth inequality, and whether national service could help reunite a fractured country—framing a central question: if the midterms fail to reset the trajectory, what comes next for American democracy? Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Rahm Emmanuel joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 What does the average week look like for Rahm Emmanuel? 02:30 Trying to get a good understanding of AI & energy distribution 03:30 Candidates better understand AI because it’s driving economy 04:00 2028 election will be about the future not the past 05:30 Education and vocational training are the ticket to middle class 07:00 Coding used to be the most sought after skill, now it’s irrelevant 08:00 How to prepare students for a rapidly changing world? 09:30 AI won’t eliminate vocational professionals 11:15 Students are at a 30 year low in reading proficiency 12:00 Education is a highly motivating issue for voters 12:30 Vouchers don’t help rural communities 13:30 GOP has abandoned public ed, Dems abandoned accountability 14:45 Governors used to compete to be the “education governor” 15:30 Lotteries became the popular way to fund public education 16:15 Mississippi found a successful education model & it was copied 18:45 If schools focus on the fundamentals, scores go up 20:15 Trump’s UAE corruption scandal the worst in history 21:45 Trump is supposed to work for the voters checkbook, not his own 22:30 Trump’s pardons are almost exclusively for white collar crime 24:15 Congress has completely abdicated their responsibility 25:45 Founders were very worried about a corrupt executive 27:15 Major international shakeups and DNI is at Georgia election office 28:45 There are certain features of elections Trump can’t screw with 30:30 Rahm is more worried about the post election environment 31:15 The institutions have failed, but the people will protect this country 32:00 Worried that Mike Johnson may screw with the seating of new congress 33:00 Mike Johnson doesn’t have Mike Pence’s courage 35:30 What issues should Democrats should prioritize to win elections 36:30 2026 will be a wave election, presents chance to win local/state races 38:00 Tax refunds won’t be the electoral boon Republicans think they will 38:45 There’s no upside to being a long-term planner in American politics 40:00 What states should Dems target outside the 7 battlegrounds? 40:45 Never Trump Republicans finding more affinity with Democratic party 41:45 Democrats need to welcome former Republicans & independents 43:00 Unaffiliated voters are where you get your electoral majority 44:30 Progressive vs. Moderate viability for Democrats 47:00 Democratic electorate is always looking for someone new 48:00 The future will be on the ballot in 2028 50:15 Biden promised to unite the country & only united his party. It’s why he failed 51:45 Mandatory national service could help reunite the country  55:00 Entire tax code is built around wealth preservation, not creating wealth 57:00 People are tired by the ultra rich playing by their own set of rules 58:00 WaPo is an institution, and Bezos is gutting it against public interest 1:00:30 How welcome will a Jewish candidate be in a Democratic primary? 1:02:00 Separating the Jewish people/religion from Bibi’s government 1:03:45 Bibi’s governance has made Israel more vulnerable and isolated 1:04:45 Did we export our politics to Israel or are we emulating them? 1:05:45 If Democrats fail to win the midterms… then what? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck digs into the stunning implosion of The Washington Post after Jeff Bezos ordered layoffs of nearly a third of its staff—breaking a decade-old promise to provide the paper with long-term financial runway. The conversation explores how Bezos treated the Post less like a civic institution and more like a trophy asset, useful for currying favor, protecting government contracts, and advancing Amazon and Blue Origin, but never truly prioritized for success. As newsroom cuts gut coverage across the board and the Post retreats from its role as D.C.’s essential local authority, the episode argues this isn’t just a media story—it’s a case study in billionaire power, tech hubris, and how America’s wealthiest figures play by a different set of rules, even as blue-collar and white-collar anger begin to converge. Finally, Chuck previews the Super Bowl between the Seahawks & Patriots and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Washington Post lays off 1/3rd of its staff on orders from Bezos 02:45 Bezos told Woodward in 2013 he’d provide financial runway to the Post 03:30 Bezos just did the opposite of what he said he’d do 04:45 Matt Murray, editor of the post, isn’t in charge of business strategy 06:15 Cuts will affect all areas of the Post’s coverage 08:15 Structural issues at the Post have existed for years 09:30 The NYT diversified and it worked brilliantly 10:15 DC is an educated affluent market, comfortable paying for news 11:00 Bezos needed a leg up for Blue Origin in the space race 12:45 So why did 2013 Bezos buy the Post? Government contracts. 13:45 Amazon held almost an American Idol style bid process for HQ 14:30 Wish Amazon would have chosen St. Louis for HQ 17:45 Buying the Post was a way to curry favor for Amazon 18:30 Bezos saw the Post as a trophy that would help his other businesses 19:45 Trump cancelled a Bezos contract over unfavorable Post coverage 21:00 Bezos wasn’t interested in the success of the Post 23:15 Why not sell the Post? Trump would blame him for negative coverage 25:30 Whether the Post fails doesn’t matter to Bezos, his other businesses do 27:00 Bezos has only done one thing well: Building Amazon 28:00 High net worth doesn’t mean high IQ 30:00 WaPo was the regional and local authority in DC & is giving that up 32:00 Post wants to retreat and become just offer political coverage 33:15 Bezos is behaving like the metaphorical rich guy villain 34:15 Rich people play by their own rules and get away with everything 36:45 Blue collar anger is about to be coupled with white collar anger 37:30 The tech titans don’t know how to read the room 39:00 Biggest trade for Washington Wizards in years not covered by the Post 40:30 The Post won’t recover from this 46:45 Super Bowl preview 52:15 Ask Chuck 52:30 What incentives allow congress to just fall in line behind the president? 56:30 Why aren’t we seeing bigger protests in the streets? 57:45 Is the divide between MAGA & liberal America unbridgeable? 1:05:00 Could Trump legally get a third term via the line of succession? 1:10:00 How concerned should we be with the FBI raid at Fulton county election office? 1:13:00 Is it unusual for the out party to get a bill through congress? 1:17:00 If the Senate ends up split, how is majority control determined? 1:19:45 If Talarico wins his primary, could he catch fire all the way to the White House? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck digs into the stunning implosion of The Washington Post after Jeff Bezos ordered layoffs of nearly a third of its staff—breaking a decade-old promise to provide the paper with long-term financial runway. The conversation explores how Bezos treated the Post less like a civic institution and more like a trophy asset, useful for currying favor, protecting government contracts, and advancing Amazon and Blue Origin, but never truly prioritized for success. As newsroom cuts gut coverage across the board and the Post retreats from its role as D.C.’s essential local authority, the episode argues this isn’t just a media story—it’s a case study in billionaire power, tech hubris, and how America’s wealthiest figures play by a different set of rules, even as blue-collar and white-collar anger begin to converge. Then, author and Washington Post contributor Danny Funt joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss his new book “Everybody Loses”, and for a sobering, wide-ranging conversation about how the rapid legalization of sports betting quietly reshaped American sports—and not in the ways fans were promised. What began as a state-by-state experiment after a 2018 Supreme Court ruling has exploded into a highly profitable, lightly regulated industry where sportsbooks are household names, leagues are financial stakeholders, and media companies are financially dependent on gambling ads. Funt explains how gambling turbocharged media rights deals, hooked viewers more deeply into games, and became politically untouchable as companies like FanDuel and DraftKings poured money into lobbying to block even modest regulation. The discussion digs into the darker consequences that followed: inadequate funding for gambling addiction support, normalization of conspiracy talk about “rigged” games, threats and violence directed at athletes, and growing concerns about corruption—especially in individual sports and lower-profile leagues. Funt draws chilling parallels between today’s sportsbook advertising blitz and the early days of Big Tobacco, explores why American regulators ignored European guardrails, and explains how mobile betting and prediction markets have made gambling more potent and pervasive than ever. The result, he argues, is a system designed for maximum profit with minimal friction—one that has fundamentally altered how sports are watched, covered, and policed. Finally, Chuck previews the Super Bowl between the Seahawks & Patriots and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 04:30 Washington Post lays off 1/3rd of its staff on orders from Bezos 06:15 Bezos told Woodward in 2013 he’d provide financial runway to the Post 07:00 Bezos just did the opposite of what he said he’d do 08:15 Matt Murray, editor of the post, isn’t in charge of business strategy 09:45 Cuts will affect all areas of the Post’s coverage 11:45 Structural issues at the Post have existed for years 13:00 The NYT diversified and it worked brilliantly  13:45 DC is an educated affluent market, comfortable paying for news 14:30 Bezos needed a leg up for Blue Origin in the space race 16:15 So why did 2013 Bezos buy the Post? Government contracts. 17:15 Amazon held almost an American Idol style bid process for HQ 18:00 Wish Amazon would have chosen St. Louis for HQ  21:15 Buying the Post was a way to curry favor for Amazon 22:00 Bezos saw the Post as a trophy that would help his other businesses 23:15 Trump cancelled a Bezos contract over unfavorable Post coverage 24:30 Bezos wasn’t interested in the success of the Post 26:45 Why not sell the Post? Trump would blame him for negative coverage 29:00 Whether the Post fails doesn’t matter to Bezos, his other businesses do 30:30 Bezos has only done one thing well: Building Amazon 31:30 High net worth doesn’t mean high IQ 33:30 WaPo was the regional and local authority in DC & is giving that up 35:30 Post wants to retreat and become just offer political coverage 36:45 Bezos is behaving like the metaphorical rich guy villain 37:45 Rich people play by their own rules and get away with everything 40:15 Blue collar anger is about to be coupled with white collar anger 41:00 The tech titans don’t know how to read the room  42:30 Biggest trade for Washington Wizards in years not covered by the Post 44:00 The Post won’t recover from this 50:15 Danny Funt joins the Chuck ToddCast 50:45 Rapid legalization of sports betting had unintended consequences 52:15 What made you want to cover the topic of sports betting? 52:45 Leagues took a hard pivot from anti to pro gambling 54:45 Major sportsbooks are household names, but very secretive 56:15 SCOTUS paved the way for state by state gambling with 2018 ruling 57:00 Courts provided gambling legislation due to inaction by congress 58:30 Gambling creating a massive increase in value for media rights 1:00:00 Adding gambling was a way to further hook viewers to sports 1:01:30 It’s hard to add new taxes, but vice taxes are able to pass 1:02:45 Legal betting is far more potent than betting through a bookie 1:04:15 Fanduel & Draftkings throwing money into politics to avoid regulation 1:05:45 Even modest regulation is rigorously opposed by gambling industry 1:07:15 Funding for support with gambling addiction is completely inadequate 1:08:30 Why wasn’t there a larger debate before rolling out mobile gambling? 1:09:15 Mobile gambling makes so much more money than physical books 1:10:30 Individual sports are more corruptible than team sports 1:11:15 Online betting is incredibly well geofenced 1:12:15 Putting “friction points” into the process helps with user safety 1:13:45 Gambling leads to rage & violent behavior & risks player safety 1:15:30 Gamblers have been arrested for threats to athletes over lost bets 1:16:15 Fans talking about games being “rigged” has been normalized 1:17:15 Individual players can collaborate on bets, trying to help friends 1:18:00 “Fixing” doesn’t necessarily mean “failing” 1:18:45 Prominent people in sports are alarmed & speaking out 1:19:45 Media won’t speak against it due to huge ad revenue from sportsbooks 1:22:15 NFL strongarmed reporters over concussions, gambling will be worse 1:25:45 Will we start regulating sports to make sure gambling is honest? 1:27:00 Referees in smaller, less visible conferences will be harder to police 1:27:30 Technology is being adopted to avoid corruptability of officials 1:29:00 Did writing this book change the way you watch sports? 1:30:45 Who controls Fanduel and Draftkings? 1:31:30 The leagues have equity stakes in the major sportsbooks 1:32:45 Major advertising similarities between tobacco and sportsbooks 1:33:45 What are the available gambling helpline resources/counseling like? 1:35:15 Stronger gambling culture in Europe, do they regulate it better? 1:36:15 American regulation completely ignored European precedent 1:37:15 Prediction markets are indistinguishable from betting markets 1:39:45 Legalization basically laid a trap for stupid people 1:42:00 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Danny Funt 1:43:30 Super Bowl preview 1:49:00 Ask Chuck 1:49:15 What incentives allow congress to just fall in line behind the president? 1:53:15 Why aren’t we seeing bigger protests in the streets? 1:54:30 Is the divide between MAGA & liberal America unbridgeable? 2:01:45 Could Trump legally get a third term via the line of succession? 2:06:45 How concerned should we be with the FBI raid at Fulton county election office? 2:09:45 Is it unusual for the out party to get a bill through congress? 2:13:45 If the Senate ends up split, how is majority control determined? 2:16:30 If Talarico wins his primary, could he catch fire all the way to the White House? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author and Washington Post contributor Danny Funt joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss his new book “Everybody Loses”, and for a sobering, wide-ranging conversation about how the rapid legalization of sports betting quietly reshaped American sports—and not in the ways fans were promised. What began as a state-by-state experiment after a 2018 Supreme Court ruling has exploded into a highly profitable, lightly regulated industry where sportsbooks are household names, leagues are financial stakeholders, and media companies are financially dependent on gambling ads. Funt explains how gambling turbocharged media rights deals, hooked viewers more deeply into games, and became politically untouchable as companies like FanDuel and DraftKings poured money into lobbying to block even modest regulation. The discussion digs into the darker consequences that followed: inadequate funding for gambling addiction support, normalization of conspiracy talk about “rigged” games, threats and violence directed at athletes, and growing concerns about corruption—especially in individual sports and lower-profile leagues. Funt draws chilling parallels between today’s sportsbook advertising blitz and the early days of Big Tobacco, explores why American regulators ignored European guardrails, and explains how mobile betting and prediction markets have made gambling more potent and pervasive than ever. The result, he argues, is a system designed for maximum profit with minimal friction—one that has fundamentally altered how sports are watched, covered, and policed. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Danny Funt joins the Chuck ToddCast 00:30 Rapid legalization of sports betting had unintended consequences 02:00 What made you want to cover the topic of sports betting? 02:30 Leagues took a hard pivot from anti to pro gambling 04:30 Major sportsbooks are household names, but very secretive 06:00 SCOTUS paved the way for state by state gambling with 2018 ruling 06:45 Courts provided gambling legislation due to inaction by congress 08:15 Gambling creating a massive increase in value for media rights 09:45 Adding gambling was a way to further hook viewers to sports 11:15 It’s hard to add new taxes, but vice taxes are able to pass 12:30 Legal betting is far more potent than betting through a bookie 14:00 Fanduel & Draftkings throwing money into politics to avoid regulation 15:30 Even modest regulation is rigorously opposed by gambling industry 17:00 Funding for support with gambling addiction is completely inadequate 18:15 Why wasn’t there a larger debate before rolling out mobile gambling? 19:00 Mobile gambling makes so much more money than physical books 20:15 Individual sports are more corruptible than team sports 21:00 Online betting is incredibly well geofenced 22:00 Putting “friction points” into the process helps with user safety 23:30 Gambling leads to rage & violent behavior & risks player safety 25:15 Gamblers have been arrested for threats to athletes over lost bets 26:00 Fans talking about games being “rigged” has been normalized27:00 Individual players can collaborate on bets, trying to help friends 27:45 “Fixing” doesn’t necessarily mean “failing” 28:30 Prominent people in sports are alarmed & speaking out 29:30 Media won’t speak against it due to huge ad revenue from sportsbooks 32:00 NFL strongarmed reporters over concussions, gambling will be worse 35:30 Will we start regulating sports to make sure gambling is honest? 36:45 Referees in smaller, less visible conferences will be harder to police 37:15 Technology is being adopted to avoid corruptability of officials 38:45 Did writing this book change the way you watch sports? 40:30 Who controls Fanduel and Draftkings? 41:15 The leagues have equity stakes in the major sportsbooks 42:30 Major advertising similarities between tobacco and sportsbooks 43:30 What are the available gambling helpline resources/counseling like? 45:00 Stronger gambling culture in Europe, do they regulate it better? 46:00 American regulation completely ignored European precedent 47:00 Prediction markets are indistinguishable from betting markets 49:30 Legalization basically laid a trap for stupid people See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck unpacks what may be the most brazen presidential corruption scandal in modern history—Donald Trump allegedly selling U.S. foreign policy to the UAE for personal gain—barely registered in the public conversation, drowned out by louder, more sensational distractions. The discussion explores why Trump’s election-interference rhetoric breaks through while substantive corruption stories vanish, how media incentives favor spectacle over consequence, and why Trump responds selectively to political, market, and institutional pressure. Chuck argues that while some democratic guardrails still hold, the deeper danger isn’t a dramatic coup but the slow erosion of norms—one where kleptocracy becomes normalized, foreign policy is treated as a personal asset, and Congress, not voters, remains the only institution capable of stopping it before the damage becomes irreversible. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 states Democrats need to target prior to 2032, when census reapportionment will greatly change the electoral college math needed to win the presidency and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 0:30 Worst presidential corruption scandal ever couldn’t break through 1:45 Trump sold American foreign policy to UAE for personal gain 2:45 Story was jaw dropping, but was completely overshadowed 4:00 Trump’s threat to federalize elections broke through over corruption 5:00 Should you worry about what Trump is saying, or what he’s doing? 6:00 Trump is desperate to sell the lie that he won in 2020 6:45 Election inference rhetoric can be as powerful as election interference 8:00 Trump shutdown Kennedy Center because he was being humiliated 9:15 Trump was losing control of Kennedy Center narrative, made a spectacle 10:15 Trump has turned America into a kleptocracy, THAT should be the story 11:45 The corruption story disappeared from news cycle after a couple days 12:30 Editors lean on stories that get more traction rather than importance 13:30 Some of the guardrails still work, some of the time 14:15 After two deaths in Minneapolis, Trump backed down a bit 15:00 Trump does respond to political pain in polling 15:30 Trump didn’t pick a sycophant for Fed Chair, cares about markets 16:15 Trump responds to three types of pressure 18:00 Worried less about Trump’s election rhetoric than his foreign policy 18:30 Trump doesn’t have the power to override state elections 19:15 Trump’s election threats supercharge opposition turnout 20:00 Voters won’t be the check on corruption, congress has to be 21:00 Democracies don’t fall from coups, they erode 21:45 The scariest stories get attention, the most consequential get ignored 26:00 Democrats will lose seats & electoral votes after 2030 census 28:30 Parties can work for realignment & flipping states 29:15 House of Representatives needs to be doubled in size 30:45 Base voters expect immediate results, leaders need to think long-term 31:15 Democrats need a Project 2032 and invest to win 5-10 new states 32:00 ToddCast Top 5 states Democrats should be targeting NOW 33:00 #1 North Carolina 35:30 #2 Texas 37:15 #3 Kansas 39:15 #4 Georgia 40:15 #5 Arizona 40:45 Honorable mentions 42:00 Democrats should use “first in the nation” primary status to advantage 42:45 Democrats had 12 states submit for first in the nation status 44:45 Tennessee as first in the nation would be interesting 46:45 Tennessee’s electorate seems gettable for Democrats eventually 49:00 Democrats have a major problem come 2032 if they don’t address it now 49:45 Ask Chuck 50:00 Thoughts on moving from network to independent journalist? 54:15 How to avoid being fatigued by the news and keeping hope alive? 54:45 Trump threatening troops to protect Iranians while attacking Minnesota? 59:30 What’s your take on NIL & transfer portal in college football? 1:04:00 Basis for your confidence in Jon Ossoff & thoughts on Auburn coach? 1:08:30 What issues will be top of mind for voters leading into midterms? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck unpacks what may be the most brazen presidential corruption scandal in modern history—Donald Trump allegedly selling U.S. foreign policy to the UAE for personal gain—barely registered in the public conversation, drowned out by louder, more sensational distractions. The discussion explores why Trump’s election-interference rhetoric breaks through while substantive corruption stories vanish, how media incentives favor spectacle over consequence, and why Trump responds selectively to political, market, and institutional pressure. Chuck argues that while some democratic guardrails still hold, the deeper danger isn’t a dramatic coup but the slow erosion of norms—one where kleptocracy becomes normalized, foreign policy is treated as a personal asset, and Congress, not voters, remains the only institution capable of stopping it before the damage becomes irreversible. Then, Historian David S. Brown joins Chuck to unpack why Theodore Roosevelt remains a gravitational force for understanding American power—and why his era echoes so loudly today. Drawing from his book In the Arena, Brown explores what pulled him to Roosevelt, how TR reshaped the presidency, and the surprising parallels (and sharp limits) between Roosevelt and Donald Trump. From narcissism and disruption to populism, primaries, and the rise of the imperial presidency, the conversation digs into how Roosevelt’s wealth, ambition, and genuine concern for the working class produced a uniquely transactional style of politics at home and abroad. The episode also zooms out to ask what Roosevelt might make of modern challenges like AI, extreme wealth concentration, and great-power competition—and whether he’d thrive or flounder in the television age. Brown traces Roosevelt’s foreign policy legacy in Latin America, the roots of American global policing, and how early 20th-century realignments mirror today’s fractured coalitions. The discussion closes with a hard look at the political center, the future of the Trump coalition, under-studied presidents, and how Americans should think about their country as it approaches its 250th anniversary. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 states Democrats need to target prior to 2032, when census reapportionment will greatly change the electoral college math needed to win the presidency and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:00 Worst presidential corruption scandal ever couldn’t break through 03:15 Trump sold American foreign policy to UAE for personal gain 04:15 Story was jaw dropping, but was completely overshadowed 05:30 Trump’s threat to federalize elections broke through over corruption 06:30 Should you worry about what Trump is saying, or what he’s doing? 07:30 Trump is desperate to sell the lie that he won in 2020 08:15 Election inference rhetoric can be as powerful as election interference 09:30 Trump shutdown Kennedy Center because he was being humiliated 10:45 Trump was losing control of Kennedy Center narrative, made a spectacle 11:45 Trump has turned America into a kleptocracy, THAT should be the story 13:15 The corruption story disappeared from news cycle after a couple days 14:00 Editors lean on stories that get more traction rather than importance 15:00 Some of the guardrails still work, some of the time 15:45 After two deaths in Minneapolis, Trump backed down a bit 16:30 Trump does respond to political pain in polling 17:00 Trump didn’t pick a sycophant for Fed Chair, cares about markets 17:45 Trump responds to three types of pressure 19:30 Worried less about Trump’s election rhetoric than his foreign policy 20:00 Trump doesn’t have the power to override state elections 20:45 Trump’s election threats supercharge opposition turnout 21:30 Voters won’t be the check on corruption, congress has to be 22:30 Democracies don’t fall from coups, they erode 23:15 The scariest stories get attention, the most consequential get ignored 27:45 David S. Brown joins the Chuck ToddCast 29:45 Teddy Roosevelt is a magnet for historians 31:00 Research process for writing “In The Arena” 32:15 What drew you to Teddy Roosevelt as a book subject? 35:00 Large number of similarities between Roosevelt and Trump 36:00 Both Trump & Roosevelt are narcissists 37:00 Trump doesn’t have the crossover appeal of Roosevelt 38:15 Presidential primaries started under Roosevelt 39:30 Roosevelt was the rich guy who went after rich guys 41:45 Roosevelt never called himself a populist 42:15 Roosevelt wanted to do right by the working class 43:45 How would Roosevelt handle AI & concentration of wealth? 45:00 Roosevelt was very transactional in foreign affairs 45:30 He manufactured a separatist movement in Colombia 47:45 America didn’t have power to enforce Monroe Doctrine until 1900 49:00 Roosevelt wanted to police governments in western hemisphere 50:30 Goal was to indebt Latin American countries to the U.S. 51:15 He was always considered a disrupter despite wealthy connections 53:30 Roosevelt became a regular politician in 1884 54:00 Roosevelt was not a fan of William Jennings Bryan 55:30 Roosevelt was jealous of Bryan’s oratory skill 56:30 Would Roosevelt struggle in the TV era? 58:30 The imperial presidency originated under Roosevelt 1:01:00 Wilson & Roosevelt lamented not leading during seminal event 1:02:15 A Roosevelt government likely enters WW1 earlier 1:03:15 Roosevelt might have started the U.N. framework sooner 1:05:15 Political realignment was happening under Roosevelt 1:06:00 Parallels between now & Roosevelt era? 1:07:45 Roosevelt & Trump are mavericks not embraced by old guard 1:09:45 Multiple variables will affect the future of the “Trump coalition” 1:11:45 How do you define “the center” in American politics? 1:13:15 There are more base Republicans than Democrats, Dems need moderates 1:14:45 How much of the electorate resides in the political center? 1:16:00 The parties themselves are basically multi-party coalitions 1:18:00 Which president do we not have enough scholarship on? 1:21:45 How should citizens celebrate the 250th anniversary of America? 1:25:00 Chuck’s thoughts on the interview with David S. Brown 1:25:30 Democrats will lose seats after 2030 census 1:28:00 Parties can work for realignment & flipping states 1:28:45 House of Representatives needs to be doubled in size 1:30:15 Base voters expect immediate results, leaders need to think long-term 1:30:45 Democrats need a Project 2032 and invest to win 5–10 new states 1:31:30 ToddCast Top 5 states Democrats should be targeting NOW 1:32:30 #1 North Carolina 1:35:00 #2 Texas 1:36:45 #3 Kansas 1:38:45 #4 Georgia 1:39:45 #5 Arizona 1:40:15 Honorable mentions 1:41:30 Democrats should use “first in the nation” primary status to advantage 1:42:15 Democrats had 12 states submit for first in the nation status 1:44:15 Tennessee as first in the nation would be interesting 1:46:15 Tennessee’s electorate seems gettable for Democrats eventually 1:48:30 Democrats have a major problem come 2032 if they don’t address it now 1:49:15 Ask Chuck 1:49:30 Thoughts on moving from network to independent journalist? 1:53:45 How to avoid being fatigued by the news and keeping hope alive? 1:54:15 Trump threatening troops to protect Iranians while attacking Minnesota? 1:59:00 What’s your take on NIL & transfer portal in college football? 2:03:30 Basis for your confidence in Jon Ossoff & thoughts on Auburn coach? 2:08:00 What issues will be top of mind for voters leading into midterms? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Historian David S. Brown joins the Chuck ToddCast to unpack why Theodore Roosevelt remains a gravitational force for understanding American power—and why his era echoes so loudly today. Drawing from his book In the Arena, Brown explores what pulled him to Roosevelt, how TR reshaped the presidency, and the surprising parallels (and sharp limits) between Roosevelt and Donald Trump. From narcissism and disruption to populism, primaries, and the rise of the imperial presidency, the conversation digs into how Roosevelt’s wealth, ambition, and genuine concern for the working class produced a uniquely transactional style of politics at home and abroad. The episode also zooms out to ask what Roosevelt might make of modern challenges like AI, extreme wealth concentration, and great-power competition—and whether he’d thrive or flounder in the television age. Brown traces Roosevelt’s foreign policy legacy in Latin America, the roots of American global policing, and how early 20th-century realignments mirror today’s fractured coalitions. The discussion closes with a hard look at the political center, the future of the Trump coalition, under-studied presidents, and how Americans should think about their country as it approaches its 250th anniversary. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 David S. Brown joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 Teddy Roosevelt is a magnet for historians 03:15 Research process for writing “In The Arena” 04:30 What drew you to Teddy Roosevelt as a book subject? 07:15 Large number of similarities between Roosevelt and Trump 08:15 Both Trump & Roosevelt are narcissists  09:15 Trump doesn’t have the crossover appeal of Roosevelt 10:30 Presidential primaries started under Roosevelt 11:45 Roosevelt was the rich guy who went after rich guys 14:00 Roosevelt never called himself a populist 14:30 Roosevelt wanted to do right by the working class 16:00 How would Roosevelt handle AI & concentration of wealth? 17:15 Roosevelt was very transactional in foreign affairs 17:45 He manufactured a separatist movement in Colombia 20:00 America didn’t have power to enforce Monroe Doctrine until 1900 21:15 Roosevelt wanted to police governments in western hemisphere 22:45 Goal was to indebt Latin American countries to the U.S. 23:30 He was always considered a disrupter despite wealthy connections 25:45 Roosevelt became a regular politician in 1884 26:15 Roosevelt was not a fan of William Jennings Bryan 27:45 Roosevelt was jealous of Bryan’s oratory skill 28:45 Would Roosevelt struggle in the TV era? 30:45 The imperial presidency originated under Roosevelt 33:15 Wilson & Roosevelt lamented not leading during seminal event 34:30 A Roosevelt government likely enters WW1 earlier 35:30 Roosevelt might have started the U.N. framework sooner 37:30 Political realignment was happening under Roosevelt 38:15 Parallels between now & Roosevelt era? 40:00 Roosevelt & Trump are mavericks not embraced by old guard 42:00 Multiple variables will affect the future of the “Trump coalition” 44:00 How do you define “the center” in American politics? 45:30 There are more base Republicans than Democrats, Dems need moderates 47:00 How much of the electorate resides in the political center? 48:15 The parties themselves are basically multi-party coalitions 50:15 Which president do we not have enough scholarship on? 54:00 How should citizens celebrate the 250th anniversary of America See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It feels like Groundhog Day in Washington, but with far higher stakes: Chuck Todd unpacks how the constant churn of déjà vu political scandals has morphed from quirky repetition into full-blown national exhaustion. This episode dives into a rapidly growing blue-wave electorate colliding with what may be the most consequential corruption story of our time—allegations that Trump-era public policy was effectively put up for sale. From a $500 million UAE investment in a Trump-linked company to the approval of advanced AI chip sales, lucrative pardons, and billions in defense contracts tied to the Trump family orbit, Chuck argues this isn’t a one-off scandal but a systemic pattern that dwarfs Watergate. As Congress looks away and enforcement agencies stay silent, the question becomes existential: when foreign money shapes national security decisions, is American policy still being made for the country—or for the first family? Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and Democratic candidate challenging Lindsey Graham for U.S. Senate in South Carolina, joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss why healthcare providers must lead the fight for reform in an era of collapsing trust in federal institutions. Andrews explains that pediatricians should be at the forefront because Medicaid—the largest insurer of children—has been gutted, and doctors are now disputing dangerous government vaccine policies from an administration where medical information can no longer be trusted. She argues the healthcare system is fundamentally broken, rewarding providers for delivering more treatment rather than better outcomes while facing what she describes as a coordinated attack on healthcare. As a physician countering "Dr. Internet" disinformation, Andrews discusses running as a Democrat despite the challenges, emphasizing that Democrats have a severe geographic disconnect with rural voters, particularly rural Black voters in South Carolina for whom nothing has improved. Andrews takes direct aim at Lindsey Graham, calling him a follower rather than a leader who simply follows Trump and supports unconstitutional actions while thinking he's politically invulnerable. She expresses disappointment that Nikki Haley and Nancy Mace couldn't stand up to Trump, noting both have "devolved in recent years." Drawing inspiration from the Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock blueprint for Democrats in the South, Andrews insists that if Democrats win the midterms they must be bold, hold Trump accountable, and not take impeachment off the table. Reflecting on her pandemic experience—a period she believes Americans still don't understand—Andrews criticizes D.C. politicians for being disconnected from the real world and argues that on issues like AI regulation, profits cannot be prioritized over common sense safety solutions. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the meeting at Yalta following World War 2 and why the “spheres of influence” world order prioritizes short-term stability over long-term legitimacy. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 It feels like “Groundhog Day” in Washington D.C. 03:00 Movie changed meaning from a quirky holiday to exhaustion 04:15 Political headlines just keep repeating themselves 05:00 Huge “blue wave” is building in the electorate 06:30 Trump bribery scandal should be seismic, likely gets ignored again 07:45 At what point does a policy decision become a product for sale? 09:00 Wall Street Journal stories are legally airtight 10:45 Every piece of public policy is for sale under Trump 12:30 UAE exec bought 49% stake in Trump company for $500m 13:15 Steve Witkoff also made millions from the deal 15:30 This scandal makes Watergate look like a third rate burglary 17:00 After deal, government agreed to sell 500k advanced AI chips to UAE 18:30 Whoever controls reserves of World Liberty Financial controls the yields 20:15 Shortly after deal, Trump pardons the co-founder of Binance 21:15 This isn’t an isolated incident, it’s part of a much larger pattern 22:15 Company linked to Donald Trump Jr received billions in defense contracts 23:00 The founders obsessed over corruption and foreign influence 25:00 Is American policy being made for first family, not the country 26:00 Republicans obsessed over Hunter Biden selling paintings 27:15 If AI race is existential, then Trump signed our death warrant for money 28:30 If Congress won’t investigate, FBI should… but they won’t 29:15 Deals like this undermine U.S. sovereignty, everything is for sale 36:15 Dr. Annie Andrews joins the Chuck ToddCast 37:30 When did you first want to enter politics? 39:45 Did you learn about the healthcare business in med school? 42:15 Pediatricians should be leading the way on healthcare reform 43:00 Medicaid is largest insurer of children & has been gutted 43:45 Pediatricians dispute government vaccine policy for kids 45:15 We can’t trust medical info from the federal government 46:15 Has any RFK proclamation or policy actually made sense? 47:30 How do you deal with “Dr. Internet”? 48:30 Doctors need an online presence to counter disinformation 50:15 Why is it more profitable to run a non-profit over for-profit hospital? 51:00 Healthcare system is rewarded for proving more treatment, not better 52:30 We’re seeing a coordinated attack on our healthcare system 53:15 Jaime Harrison’s campaign in SC was a disaster 54:30 Easiest way to run in the south is to erase the D by your name 55:15 Many challenges to running as an independent 56:45 Democrats have a geographic disconnect with rural voters 57:45 Nothing has gotten better for rural black voters in SC 59:45 The pandemic was a huge reason for Harrison’s bad loss 1:00:30 How do you win over a voter that supported Trump? 1:01:30 Lindsey Graham is supporting unconstitutional actions 1:02:15 Graham isn’t a leader, he’s a follower & he follows Trump 1:03:15 Disappointing Nikki Haley couldn’t stand up to Trump more 1:05:15 South Carolinians says they want outsiders, then vote for insiders 1:06:00 Graham thinks he’s politically invulnerable 1:07:15 People will have their lives negatively impacted by GOP policy 1:08:30 What do you make of Nancy Mace’s political saliency? 1:09:30 Nancy Mace has devolved in recent years 1:10:45 Thoughts on Chuck Schumer as Dem leader in senate? 1:12:00 Jon Ossoff & Raphael Warnock provide blueprint for Dems in south 1:13:45 Trump & the administration must be held accountable 1:15:00 Dems must be bold in their agenda if they win the midterms 1:15:45 Impeachment shouldn’t be off the table 1:17:45 Can you be both a fighter and a uniter as a candidate? 1:19:00 Too many D.C. politicians are disconnected from the real world 1:20:15 How should congress regulate AI? 1:22:00 Profits can’t be the priority over common sense safety solutions 1:23:00 Best TV doctor show that gets it right? E.R. & The Pitt 1:24:15 Americans don’t understand what hospitals were like during Covid 1:25:15 What’s your campaigning rhythm as a candidate? 1:26:30 Clemson or South Carolina? 1:27:30 This Trump bribery scandal needs a sharp name for it to stand up 1:28:30 The bribery story is too complex to explain in a few minutes 1:30:00 ToddCast Time Machine – February 4th 1945 1:30:30 Stalin, Roosevelt & Churchill meet in Yalta 1:31:00 Yalta legitimized “spheres of influence” 1:32:00 Why Yalta was a mistake 1:32:45 Eastern Europe traded rule by Nazis to rule by the Soviets 1:33:45 Could Yalta have been avoided? 1:35:15 Roosevelt gambled Stalin could be restrained 1:36:00 Yalta traded long term legitimacy for short term stability 1:37:30 Yalta avoided immediate catastrophe, planted seeds for future tumult 1:40:00 Ask Chuck 1:40:15 Would you consider having Ralph Nader on as a guest? 1:43:30 Any meaningful parallels between Minneapolis and Kent State? 1:46:00 Will there be an election or will Trump declare an emergency to stop it? 1:48:30 Will future president focus more on domestic issues if filibuster is removed? 1:53:00 Is it normal for a president to have so many cognitive exams? 1:56:00 Differences between charter schools and magnet schools? 1:59:00 College basketball thoughts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and Democratic candidate challenging Lindsey Graham for U.S. Senate in South Carolina, joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss why healthcare providers must lead the fight for reform in an era of collapsing trust in federal institutions. Andrews explains that pediatricians should be at the forefront because Medicaid—the largest insurer of children—has been gutted, and doctors are now disputing dangerous government vaccine policies from an administration where medical information can no longer be trusted. She argues the healthcare system is fundamentally broken, rewarding providers for delivering more treatment rather than better outcomes while facing what she describes as a coordinated attack on healthcare. As a physician countering "Dr. Internet" disinformation, Andrews discusses running as a Democrat despite the challenges, emphasizing that Democrats have a severe geographic disconnect with rural voters, particularly rural Black voters in South Carolina for whom nothing has improved. Andrews takes direct aim at Lindsey Graham, calling him a follower rather than a leader who simply follows Trump and supports unconstitutional actions while thinking he's politically invulnerable. She expresses disappointment that Nikki Haley and Nancy Mace couldn't stand up to Trump, noting both have "devolved in recent years." Drawing inspiration from the Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock blueprint for Democrats in the South, Andrews insists that if Democrats win the midterms they must be bold, hold Trump accountable, and not take impeachment off the table. Reflecting on her pandemic experience—a period she believes Americans still don't understand—Andrews criticizes D.C. politicians for being disconnected from the real world and argues that on issues like AI regulation, profits cannot be prioritized over common sense safety solutions. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Dr. Annie Andrews joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:15 When did you first want to enter politics? 03:30 Did you learn about the healthcare business in med school? 06:00 Pediatricians should be leading the way on healthcare reform 06:45 Medicaid is largest insurer of children & has been gutted 07:30 Pediatricians dispute government vaccine policy for kids 09:00 We can’t trust medical info from the federal government 10:00 Has any RFK proclamation or policy actually made sense? 11:15 How do you deal with “Dr. Internet”? 12:15 Doctors need an online presence to counter disinformation 14:00 Why is it more profitable to run a non-profit over for-profit hospital? 14:45 Healthcare system is rewarded for proving more treatment, not better 16:15 We’re seeing a coordinated attack on our healthcare system 17:00 Jaime Harrison’s campaign in SC was a disaster 18:15 Easiest way to run in the south is to erase the D by your name 19:00 Many challenges to running as an independent 20:30 Democrats have a geographic disconnect with rural voters 21:30 Nothing has gotten better for rural black voters in SC 23:30 The pandemic was a huge reason for Harrison’s bad loss 24:15 How do you win over a voter that supported Trump? 25:15 Lindsey Graham is supporting unconstitutional actions 26:00 Graham isn’t a leader, he’s a follower & he follows Trump 27:00 Disappointing Nikki Haley couldn’t stand up to Trump more 29:00 South Carolinians says they want outsiders, then vote for insiders 29:45 Graham thinks he’s politically invulnerable 31:00 People will have their lives negatively impacted by GOP policy 32:15 What do you make of Nancy Mace’s political saliency? 33:15 Nancy Mace has devolved in recent years 34:30 Thoughts on Chuck Schumer as Dem leader in senate? 35:45 Jon Ossoff & Raphael Warnock provide blueprint for Dems in south 37:30 Trump & the administration must be held accountable 38:45 Dems must be bold in their agenda if they win the midterms 39:30 Impeachment shouldn’t be off the table 41:30 Can you be both a fighter and a uniter as a candidate? 42:45 Too many D.C. politicians are disconnected from the real world 44:00 How should congress regulate AI? 45:45 Profits can’t be the priority over common sense safety solutions 46:45 Best TV doctor show that gets it right? E.R. & The Pitt 48:00 Americans don’t understand what hospitals were like during Covid 49:00 What’s your campaigning rhythm as a candidate? 50:15 Clemson or South Carolina? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd reacts to the news of independent journalist and former CNN host Don Lemon being arrested and charged by Trump’s Department of Justice over the Minnesota church protest and calls it chilling. He argues this is a direct assault on the First Amendment right to freedom of the press, but believes Lemon will beat the charges. He believes the arrest is Trump’s way of trying to distract from a terrible month for the president. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Don Lemon’s arrest is pretty chilling 01:00 The 1st amendment is meant to protect speech you do & don’t like 02:15 This is a chilling moment for independent media 03:00 This feels like a desperate distraction from the administration 04:00 Journalists working for corporate media get some legal protection 05:15 One person’s journalist is another person’s activist 05:45 There’s a reason free speech and press is the FIRST amendment 06:45 If Lemon is somehow convicted, it’s an erosion of what America is 08:00 Trump had a terrible month & Republicans starting to break with him 09:45 Constitutional rights are for people we don’t like or agree with too 10:30 We’re going to find out who the “free speech” hypocrites are 11:45 White House is celebrating the government violating 1st amendment See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck digs into the political fallout surrounding Kristi Noem, Stephen Miller, and a Trump White House that remains intensely reactive to public opinion. While Noem keeps her job—for now—new polling paints a bleak picture for both her and the administration, with Trump’s economic numbers underwater, disapproval near all-time highs, and even his own base increasingly uneasy with ICE’s aggressive tactics. Chuck unpacks why Noem’s performative politics may make her expendable, why Miller is untouchable as Trump’s “bizarro Dick Cheney,” and how Trump’s inner circle is once again showing signs of instability as voters question whether the president is focused on the issues that actually matter. The conversation then zooms out to a broader diagnosis of America’s democratic dysfunction, drawing on Chuck’s recent campus speech about why this moment feels uniquely unstable. From razor-thin modern elections and the collapse of congressional responsibility to unsettling parallels with 19th-century politics, Chuck argues that the presidency has become overly powerful because Congress has failed to govern. Fixing what’s broken, he warns, won’t come from political elites—it will require engaged citizens, serious institutional reform, and possibly constitutional amendments to rebuild a government voters have been loudly signaling they no longer trust. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and expands on his Hall of Fame rant in light of Bill Belichick not getting in on the first ballot. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:00 Kristi Noem still has her job, but Trump is reactive to public opinion 04:15 Noem’s profile feels like someone Trump is willing to dump 05:15 Trump will never fire Stephen Miller 06:00 Miller understands how to work government like a bizarro Dick Cheney 07:30 Does Miller have a conservative vision, or is he just a reactionary? 09:00 Trump may use Kristi Noem as a heat shield 10:00 Noem’s theatrics have created terrible optics 12:15 New Fox News poll has terrible numbers for Trump 14:15 Numbers in the poll could spell doom for Kristi Noem 15:15 Only 61% of Republicans say country is better off today 16:00 Trump’s numbers on the economy are underwater 17:45 Trump’s disapproval near all-time highs 18:45 Voters don’t think Trump is spending enough time on the economy 20:30 Trump’s job rating higher than almost all the individual issues 21:45 59% think ICE has been too aggressive 24:00 Even parts of Trump’s base think ICE has been too aggressive 25:00 Support for abolishing ICE has doubled since 2018 26:00 Trump’s inner circle never stays around for long 27:00 If Fox runs the poll extensively on air, Noem is in trouble 28:45 Chuck’s campus speech on where we are now & how to get out of it 29:45 We may have grown up in a more stable outlier era of American history 31:30 The cold war kept both parties sober & more mainstream 32:45 Six of our 21st century presidential elections decided by 5pts or less 33:15 Politics today is more similar to the 19th century 34:00 We’re too occupied with the presidency due to congress failing 35:00 Congress is more occupied with keeping power than legislating 36:30 We aren’t getting out of this until congress becomes functional 37:00 We will need constitutional amendments to fix the democracy 38:30 The citizens will need to fix this, can’t depend on congress 39:15 Voters gave a primal scream that they wanted a better government 46:30 Ask Chuck 46:45 Who in real life is Veep’s Mike McClintock based on? 49:30 Impact of Native American voters on elections? 52:45 What signs will the GOP show if they think they’ll lose the senate? 56:00 The viral blue/yellow dress feels like a metaphor for politics 58:15 Any connection between income inequality and growing isolationism? 1:04:00 Why is Nathan’s Famous allowed to be bought by a Chinese company? 1:06:30 Hall of Fame rant See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck digs into the political fallout surrounding Kristi Noem, Stephen Miller, and a Trump White House that remains intensely reactive to public opinion. While Noem keeps her job—for now—new polling paints a bleak picture for both her and the administration, with Trump’s economic numbers underwater, disapproval near all-time highs, and even his own base increasingly uneasy with ICE’s aggressive tactics. Chuck unpacks why Noem’s performative politics may make her expendable, why Miller is untouchable as Trump’s “bizarro Dick Cheney,” and how Trump’s inner circle is once again showing signs of instability as voters question whether the president is focused on the issues that actually matter. The conversation then zooms out to a broader diagnosis of America’s democratic dysfunction, drawing on Chuck’s recent campus speech about why this moment feels uniquely unstable. From razor-thin modern elections and the collapse of congressional responsibility to unsettling parallels with 19th-century politics, Chuck argues that the presidency has become overly powerful because Congress has failed to govern. Fixing what’s broken, he warns, won’t come from political elites—it will require engaged citizens, serious institutional reform, and possibly constitutional amendments to rebuild a government voters have been loudly signaling they no longer trust. Then, author and writer for The New Yorker, Jason Zengerle joins the Chuck ToddCast for a deep dive into his book “Hated By All The Right People” about Tucker Carlson’s rise—and why he’s become the clearest avatar for the unraveling of modern American conservatism. The conversation traces how Carlson’s personal history, elite upbringing paired with outsider grievance, and long-running resentments toward figures like Bill Kristol helped shape a worldview centered on anger, masculinity, and cultural backlash. Though he styles himself as anti-establishment, Tucker remains very much a Washington insider, increasingly influential even after leaving Fox News and emerging as the true heir to Rush Limbaugh, with real political impact on figures like J.D. Vance. Chuck and Zengerle also explore how Trump subsumed conservatism, why Tucker may be the figure best positioned to keep Trumpism alive after Trump, and how white male grievance now sits at the core of conservative cultural politics. From the Iraq War’s role in Carlson’s ideological shift to his calculated positioning on Israel, media, and elite power, the episode asks what “real America” conservatism even means anymore—and whether there’s any path back for Never Trumpers, institutional Republicans, or business leaders who’ve bent the knee to a movement that no longer resembles the party they once knew. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and expands on his Hall of Fame rant in light of Bill Belichick not getting in on the first ballot. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 07:00 Kristi Noem still has her job, but Trump is reactive to public opinion 08:15 Noem’s profile feels like someone Trump is willing to dump 09:15 Trump will never fire Stephen Miller 10:00 Miller understands how to work government like a bizarro Dick Cheney 11:30 Does Miller have a conservative vision, or is he just a reactionary? 13:00 Trump may use Kristi Noem as a heat shield 14:00 Noem’s theatrics have created terrible optics 16:15 New Fox News poll has terrible numbers for Trump 18:15 Numbers in the poll could spell doom for Kristi Noem 19:15 Only 61% of Republicans say country is better off today 20:00 Trump’s numbers on the economy are underwater 21:45 Trump’s disapproval near all-time highs 22:45 Voters don’t think Trump is spending enough time on the economy 24:30 Trump’s job rating higher than almost all the individual issues 25:45 59% think ICE has been too aggressive 28:00 Even parts of Trump’s base think ICE has been too aggressive 29:00 Support for abolishing ICE has doubled since 2018 30:00 Trump’s inner circle never stays around for long 31:00 If Fox runs the poll extensively on air, Noem is in trouble 32:45 Chuck’s campus speech on where we are now & how to get out of it 33:45 We may have grown up in a more stable outlier era of American history 35:30 The cold war kept both parties sober & more mainstream 36:45 Six of our 21st century presidential elections decided by 5pts or less 37:15 Politics today is more similar to the 19th century 38:00 We’re too occupied with the presidency due to congress failing 39:00 Congress is more occupied with keeping power than legislating 40:30 We aren’t getting out of this until congress becomes functional 41:00 We will need constitutional amendments to fix the democracy 42:30 The citizens will need to fix this, can’t depend on congress 43:15 Voters gave a primal scream that they wanted a better government 50:30 Jason Zengerle joins the Chuck ToddCast 52:00 Why Tucker Carlson is the avatar for unraveling of conservatism 53:30 Tucker was abandoned by his mother, how did that affect his journey? 54:15 That abandonment shaped his worldview about women 55:30 Tucker’s anger at Bill Kristol is a big part of his evolution 57:30 Kristol has become the stand in for media elites in Tucker’s mind 58:30 Tucker tried to be a younger, cooler version of George Will 59:30 Carlson is very much a DC insider, but portrays himself as outsider 1:01:00 Tucker wasn’t a rich kid, but was raised like one 1:03:00 Tucker & Trump similarly hung with the elite, but felt like outsiders 1:03:45 Tucker trashed Trump in texts while praising him on the air 1:04:30 Tucker was more willing to criticize Trump than other Fox hosts 1:06:00 Tucker wasn’t viewed as a top-tier personality at Fox for years 1:06:45 Fox News is bigger than the on-air personalities 1:07:45 Leaving Fox didn’t diminish Tucker’s standing, more influential now 1:09:30 Tucker is the true heir to Rush Limbaugh 1:10:15 Tucker was influential in getting J.D. Vance elected in Ohio 1:11:15 Vance & Tucker are very ideologically aligned 1:12:30 White male grievance is central to conservative cultural politics 1:14:15 Tucker believes what he says & has a larger project for America 1:15:15 Tucker is more Pat Buchanan than Rush Limbaugh 1:16:00 Iraq war was very influential in changing Tucker’s ideology 1:17:15 Tucker needled Jewish Neocon Republicans by criticizing Israel 1:19:00 Tuckers sees party energy is anti-Israel & getting ahead of it 1:20:45 What is the definition of conservatism in “real America”? 1:21:45 Conservatism has been subsumed by Trump 1:23:00 Will conservatism snap back to its prior form after Trump is gone? 1:25:30 Tucker seems like the figure that could keep Trump’s politics alive 1:27:15 Tucker says he’s not mad at the Murdochs but he is 1:28:30 Tucker didn’t agree to be interviewed for the book, why? 1:31:15 Tucker likes to bash the media, but he’s one of their favorite sources 1:32:30 Tucker left D.C. after protestors showed up to his house 1:33:45 Who are the “camps” that will fight for control after Trump? 1:34:45 Ted Cruz & Rand Paul are the only two non “blood & soil” prominent R’s 1:36:00 Trump is the least “MAGA” person in the MAGA movement 1:37:45 Where do the Nikki Haley, John Kasich type voters go? 1:38:45 Business leaders have bent the knee to Trump 1:39:45 Who in conservative media world was most willing to talk? 1:41:00 Tucker doesn’t spend much time talking to people he disagrees with 1:42:30 Tucker wants to go back to a male & white dominated society 1:43:45 The Never Trumpers won’t be taking back the party 1:45:00 What Jason is working on at The New Yorker 1:48:00 Marco Rubio’s evolution has been fascinating 1:53:00 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Jason Zengerle 1:53:30 Ask Chuck 1:53:45 Who in real life is Veep’s Mike McClintock based on? 1:56:30 Impact of Native American voters on elections? 1:59:45 What signs will the GOP show if they think they’ll lose the senate? 2:03:00 The viral blue/yellow dress feels like a metaphor for politics 2:05:15 Any connection between income inequality and growing isolationism? 2:11:00 Why is Nathan’s Famous allowed to be bought by a Chinese company? 2:13:30 Hall of Fame rant See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author and writer for The New Yorker, Jason Zengerle joins the Chuck ToddCast for a deep dive into his book “Hated By All The Right People” about Tucker Carlson’s rise—and why he’s become the clearest avatar for the unraveling of modern American conservatism. The conversation traces how Carlson’s personal history, elite upbringing paired with outsider grievance, and long-running resentments toward figures like Bill Kristol helped shape a worldview centered on anger, masculinity, and cultural backlash. Though he styles himself as anti-establishment, Tucker remains very much a Washington insider, increasingly influential even after leaving Fox News and emerging as the true heir to Rush Limbaugh, with real political impact on figures like J.D. Vance. Chuck and Zengerle also explore how Trump subsumed conservatism, why Tucker may be the figure best positioned to keep Trumpism alive after Trump, and how white male grievance now sits at the core of conservative cultural politics. From the Iraq War’s role in Carlson’s ideological shift to his calculated positioning on Israel, media, and elite power, the episode asks what “real America” conservatism even means anymore—and whether there’s any path back for Never Trumpers, institutional Republicans, or business leaders who’ve bent the knee to a movement that no longer resembles the party they once knew. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Jason Zengerle joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 Why Tucker Carlson is the avatar for unraveling of conservatism 03:00 Tucker was abandoned by his mother, how did that affect his journey? 03:45 That abandonment shaped his worldview about women 05:00 Tucker’s anger at Bill Kristol is a big part of his evolution 07:00 Kristol has become the stand in for media elites in Tucker’s mind 08:00 Tucker tried to be a younger, cooler version of George Will  09:00 Carlson is very much a DC insider, but portrays himself as outsider 10:30 Tucker wasn’t a rich kid, but was raised like one 12:30 Tucker & Trump similarly hung with the elite, but felt like outsiders 13:15 Tucker trashed Trump in texts while praising him on the air 14:00 Tucker was more willing to criticize Trump than other Fox hosts 15:30 Tucker wasn’t viewed as a top-tier personality at Fox for years 16:15 Fox News is bigger than the on-air personalities 17:15 Leaving Fox didn’t diminish Tucker’s standing, more influential now 19:00 Tucker is the true heir to Rush Limbaugh 19:45 Tucker was influential in getting J.D. Vance elected in Ohio 20:45 Vance & Tucker are very ideologically aligned 22:00 White male grievance is central to conservative cultural politics 23:45 Tucker believes what he says & has a larger project for America 24:45 Tucker is more Pat Buchanon than Rush Limbaugh 25:30 Iraq war was very influential in changing Tucker’s ideology 26:45 Tucker needled Jewish Neocon Republicans by criticizing Israel 28:30 Tuckers sees party energy is anti-Israel & getting ahead of it 30:15 What is the definition of conservatism in “real America”? 31:15 Conservatism has been subsumed by Trump 32:30 Will conservatism snap back to its prior form after Trump is gone? 35:00 Tucker seems like the figure that could keep Trump’s politics alive 36:45 Tucker says he’s not mad at the Murdochs but he is 38:00 Tucker didn’t agree to be interviewed for the book, why? 40:45 Tucker likes to bash the media, but he’s one of their favorite sources 42:00 Tucker left D.C. after protestors showed up to his house 43:15 Who are the “camps” that will fight for control after Trump? 44:15 Ted Cruz & Rand Paul are the only two non “blood & soil” prominent R’s 45:30 Trump is the least “MAGA” person in the MAGA movement 47:15 Where do the Nikki Haley, John Kasich type voters go? 48:15 Business leaders have bent the knee to Trump 49:15 Who in conservative media world was most willing to talk? 50:30 Tucker doesn’t spend much time talking to people his disagrees with 52:00 Tucker wants to go back to a male & white dominated society 53:15 The Never Trumpers won’t be taking back the party 54:30 What Jason is working on at The New Yorker 57:30 Marco Rubio’s evolution has been fascinating See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down the mounting political fallout from a string of fatal and controversial shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, including the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti—an incident that has sparked protests, outrage, and deep questions about federal law-enforcement use of force. Bystander video and independent analysis have sharply contradicted official claims that Pretti posed a threat, amplifying criticism from local officials and national figures alike while the Trump administration has scrambled to contain the damage by removing the Border Patrol commander and sending veteran immigration official Tom Homan to Minneapolis to calm tensions. As Republicans in Congress publicly wrestle with how to respond—and some distance themselves from the administration’s actions—Chuck explores how Trump’s repeated emphasis on which voters supported him personally, rather than addressing the substance of the crisis, is complicating the situation politically. With Minneapolis emerging as a political disaster for Trump, the episode also looks at how Trump’s handling of Kristi Noem and broader GOP infighting could create openings for Democrats, especially as concern grows over civil liberties, federal overreach, and the credibility of government narratives in the face of widespread skepticism and media scrutiny.  Finally, Chuck updates his ToddCast Top 5 governor’s seats most likely to flip in 2026, weighs in on the massive looming cuts to the staff at the Washington Post and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Trump attends Iowa event with “affordability message” 01:45 Trump begins to try to walk back from chaos in Minneapolis 02:30 Greg Bovino removed from border patrol role in Minneapolis 03:15 Trump keeps highlighting that Renee Good’s parents voted for him 04:15 Trump sent Tom Homan to Minneapolis to try & calm things down 05:30 Republicans in congress speak out after killing of Alex Pretti 06:30 Trump signals support for Kristi Noem, but could change his mind 07:30 Resentment from Senate R’s over some cabinet secretaries 09:15 Political infighting could become contagious but Trump will back Miller 11:00 Trump is playing political cleanup, but not firing Noem is a mistake 13:00 Not firing Noem would be a political gift for Democrats 14:00 Trump’s trade policy is creating trade deals for other countries, not us 14:45 Minneapolis creates permission slip for Republicans to distance themselves  15:15 Trump’s stop in Iowa was supposed to be a pivot 16:15 Consumer confidence shows the public behaving like it’s a recession 17:00 Consumer confidence lowest since 2014, worse than during pandemic 18:00 Public doubts the job market & job security 20:00 Trump claims inflation is over, that’s not what the public is feeling 21:15 Iowa ranks 50th in nation for economic growth, worst since the 80’s 22:00 Tariffs have devastated Iowa farmers 23:30 If Iowa goes blue, Democrats will win the house and senate 24:15 Trump’s policies have hurt Iowa more than other states 25:00 Trump’s economic message isn’t resonating 26:00 Trump really messed up his gun politics  27:30 Trump will throw anybody under the bus to protect himself 34:45 ToddCast Top 5 governor’s seats most likely to flip 36:00 #1 Kansas 37:45 #2 Iowa 40:00 #3 Michigan 42:15 #4 Arizona #5 Nevada 44:30 The Washington Post announces major cuts to staff 45:15 Hard to understand what Bezos’s vision is for the Post 47:00 How can you be a local paper & not cover the community? 48:15 Post is losing $100m/year but Bezos’s burns tons of cash 48:45 Amazon set $75 million on fire for the Melania documentary 50:30 If Bezos wanted the Post to succeed he could have invested in it 52:45 Bezos should sell the Post rather than gutting it 54:45 The Post editorial page has been diminished under Bezos 56:30 Hopefully Bezos changes course 57:30 Ask Chuck 57:45 How long will this dark period of American history last? 1:04:00 At what point does a blatant lie from a politician qualify as fraud? 1:06:30 Chance that an Ossoff win could catapult him to nomination? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down the mounting political fallout from a string of fatal and controversial shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, including the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti—an incident that has sparked protests, outrage, and deep questions about federal law-enforcement use of force. Bystander video and independent analysis have sharply contradicted official claims that Pretti posed a threat, amplifying criticism from local officials and national figures alike while the Trump administration has scrambled to contain the damage by removing the Border Patrol commander and sending veteran immigration official Tom Homan to Minneapolis to calm tensions. As Republicans in Congress publicly wrestle with how to respond—and some distance themselves from the administration’s actions—Chuck explores how Trump’s repeated emphasis on which voters supported him personally, rather than addressing the substance of the crisis, is complicating the situation politically. With Minneapolis emerging as a political disaster for Trump, the episode also looks at how Trump’s handling of Kristi Noem and broader GOP infighting could create openings for Democrats, especially as concern grows over civil liberties, federal overreach, and the credibility of government narratives in the face of widespread skepticism and media scrutiny.  Then, historian Heather Ann Thompson discusses her new book “Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings and the Rebirth” that revisits the 1984 Bernie Goetz subway shooting and explains why it remains a chilling precursor to the racialized fear and political rage shaping America today. Thompson walks through who Goetz was, how he shot four unarmed Black teenagers, and how—without video evidence—the media constructed a vigilante narrative that erased the victims and fueled public support for Goetz despite his own recorded confession. She situates the case in a New York City gripped by crime, austerity, and racial anxiety, arguing that fear was real but deliberately misdirected by sensationalist media, tabloid culture, and political leaders who framed young Black men as the threat while stripping away public resources. The conversation traces how Reagan-era policies, talk radio, and the tabloidification of news helped turn crime into profitable outrage, laying the groundwork for stop-and-frisk, the Central Park Five, and ultimately the politics Donald Trump would later master. Thompson connects the Goetz case to today’s wealth inequality, media groupthink, and deep political divides over racialized violence, showing how these stories are not aberrations but part of a long continuum. The episode is a sobering examination of how fear, race, and media narratives can warp justice—and how understanding that history is essential to understanding where America is now. Finally, Chuck updates his ToddCast Top 5 governor’s seats most likely to flip in 2026, weighs in on the massive looming cuts to the staff at the Washington Post and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Trump attends Iowa event with “affordability message” 01:45 Trump begins to try to walk back from chaos in Minneapolis 02:30 Greg Bovino removed from border patrol role in Minneapolis 03:15 Trump keeps highlighting that Renee Good’s parents voted for him 04:15 Trump sent Tom Homan to Minneapolis to try & calm things down 05:30 Republicans in congress speak out after killing of Alex Pretti 06:30 Trump signals support for Kristi Noem, but could change his mind 07:30 Resentment from Senate R’s over some cabinet secretaries 09:15 Political infighting could become contagious but Trump will back Miller 11:00 Trump is playing political cleanup, but not firing Noem is a mistake 13:00 Not firing Noem would be a political gift for Democrats 14:00 Trump’s trade policy is creating trade deals for other countries, not us 14:45 Minneapolis creates permission slip for Republicans to distance themselves  15:15 Trump’s stop in Iowa was supposed to be a pivot 16:15 Consumer confidence shows the public behaving like it’s a recession 17:00 Consumer confidence lowest since 2014, worse than during pandemic 18:00 Public doubts the job market & job security 20:00 Trump claims inflation is over, that’s not what the public is feeling 21:15 Iowa ranks 50th in nation for economic growth, worst since the 80’s 22:00 Tariffs have devastated Iowa farmers 23:30 If Iowa goes blue, Democrats will win the house and senate 24:15 Trump’s policies have hurt Iowa more than other states 25:00 Trump’s economic message isn’t resonating 26:00 Trump really messed up his gun politics  27:30 Trump will throw anybody under the bus to protect himself 37:00 Heather Ann Thompson joins the Chuck ToddCast 38:30 Bernie Goetz was an early analog for the white rage we see today 39:30 Who was Bernie Goetz & what is the history of the story? 40:00 NYC felt like a city in crisis during the 80’s 41:00 Goetz shoots four unarmed black teenagers 42:00 There was no footage of the shooting & media shaped the event 43:00 Goetz was celebrated by white New Yorkers as a vigilante 43:45 Goetz gave lengthy video confession & still acquitted on most chargers 45:00 The victims have been completely written out of the story 46:00 Victims were denied compensation by the city’s crime victim fund 47:00 The shooting destroyed the victim’s lives even though they survived 48:45 New York felt like a city on the brink in the 1980’s 49:30 New Yorkers were living in fear of many parts of the city due to crime 50:45 Media clearly made the “threat” young black men 51:30 By 1984, trash was piling up and areas of NYC were underpoliced 52:30 The fear was warranted, but was misdirected by Rupert Murdoch, others 54:30 The Reagan administration doubled down on austerity 55:45 Eventually NYC experienced a renaissance, the “Guiliani miracle” 56:45 Austerity was sold on the idea of the “underserving” & criminal underbelly 57:45 Stop & frisk and other policies pushed underclass further away from Manhattan 58:30 Trump was a beneficiary of these politics & rode them to the White House 59:15 Trump is a creature of the 80’s since that era was best for him 1:00:30 Trump understood the power of television, fear & race baiting 1:01:15 Trump sells what the Reagan revolution sold, targeted working class whites 1:02:00 Impact of the Goetz story on the Central Park 5 story 1:03:30 The tabloidification of the national media was born out of 80’s NYC 1:04:30 Talk radio was central in turning crime into high rating media content 1:05:15 Subway shootings were rare, but everyone feared them 1:06:30 Reagan’s policies stripped away resources that led to working class crises 1:07:15 Reagan gutted multiple public programs 1:08:15 Under Reagan, the tax burden was shifted away from the wealthy 1:09:00 Similarities between the early 1900’s and early 2000’s 1:10:15 America is in a wealth inequality crisis & target of misinformation campaign 1:11:30 Media groupthink was a contributing factor to Bernie Goetz’s acquittal 1:12:15 Goetz case peeled back the veneer hiding overt racism 1:13:15 Media sands the edges of stories to avoid controversy over coverage 1:14:00 Sensationalist, conservative media has become very successful 1:15:30 Alternative press covered the Goetz story much differently 1:16:15 Bronx jury awarded one of the victims $43 million 1:17:00 Goetz shooting was an unhinged story, but shows how we got here 1:19:00 There are political dividing lines over racialized shootings 1:20:15 Society meant to aspire to wealth, but live with suspicion & fear on streets 1:21:00 What’s the thread between the urban stories that you’ve told? 1:22:00 There was a massive cover up at Attica 1:22:45 If it wasn’t Goetz, it would have been another similar incident 1:24:00 How long after an event do you think is the sweet spot for telling story? 1:26:15 As a society, we don’t have patience for context 1:26:45 Checking personal bias when reporting a historical event 1:29:30 What Heather is working on next 1:34:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Heather Ann Thompson 1:35:15 ToddCast Top 5 governor’s seats most likely to flip 1:36:30 #1 Kansas 1:38:15 #2 Iowa 1:40:30 #3 Michigan 1:42:45 #4 Arizona #5 Nevada 1:45:00 The Washington Post announces major cuts to staff 1:45:45 Hard to understand what Bezos’s vision is for the Post 1:47:30 How can you be a local paper & not cover the community? 1:48:45 Post is losing $100m/year but Bezos’s burns tons of cash 1:49:15 Amazon set $75 million on fire for the Melania documentary 1:51:00 If Bezos wanted the Post to succeed he could have invested in it 1:53:15 Bezos should sell the Post rather than gutting it 1:55:15 The Post editorial page has been diminished under Bezos 1:57:00 Hopefully Bezos changes course 1:58:00 Ask Chuck 1:58:15 How long will this dark period of American history last? 2:04:30 At what point does a blatant lie from a politician qualify as fraud? 2:07:00 Chance that an Ossoff win could catapult him to nomination? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, historian Heather Ann Thompson discusses her new book “Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings and the Rebirth” that revisits the 1984 Bernie Goetz subway shooting and explains why it remains a chilling precursor to the racialized fear and political rage shaping America today. Thompson walks through who Goetz was, how he shot four unarmed Black teenagers, and how—without video evidence—the media constructed a vigilante narrative that erased the victims and fueled public support for Goetz despite his own recorded confession. She situates the case in a New York City gripped by crime, austerity, and racial anxiety, arguing that fear was real but deliberately misdirected by sensationalist media, tabloid culture, and political leaders who framed young Black men as the threat while stripping away public resources. The conversation traces how Reagan-era policies, talk radio, and the tabloidification of news helped turn crime into profitable outrage, laying the groundwork for stop-and-frisk, the Central Park Five, and ultimately the politics Donald Trump would later master. Thompson connects the Goetz case to today’s wealth inequality, media groupthink, and deep political divides over racialized violence, showing how these stories are not aberrations but part of a long continuum. The episode is a sobering examination of how fear, race, and media narratives can warp justice—and how understanding that history is essential to understanding where America is now. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Heather Ann Thompson joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 Bernie Goetz was an early analog for the white rage we see today 02:30 Who was Bernie Goetz & what is the history of the story? 03:00 NYC felt like a city in crisis during the 80’s 04:00 Goetz shoots four unarmed black teenagers 05:00 There was no footage of the shooting & media shaped the event 06:00 Goetz was celebrated by white New Yorkers as a vigilante 06:45 Goetz gave lengthy video confession & still acquitted on most chargers 08:00 The victims have been completely written out of the story 09:00 Victims were denied compensation by the city’s crime victim fund 10:00 The shooting destroyed the victim’s lives even though they survived 11:45 New York felt like a city on the brink in the 1980’s 12:30 New Yorkers were living in fear of many parts of the city due to crime 13:45 Media clearly made the “threat” young black men 14:30 By 1984, trash was piling up and areas of NYC were underpoliced 15:30 The fear was warranted, but was misdirected by Rupert Murdoch, others 17:30 The Reagan administration doubled down on austerity 18:45 Eventually NYC experienced a renaissance, the “Guiliani miracle” 19:45 Austerity was sold on the idea of the “underserving” & criminal underbelly 20:45 Stop & frisk and other policies pushed underclass further away from Manhattan 21:30 Trump was a beneficiary of these politics & rode them to the White House 22:15 Trump is a creature of the 80’s since that era was best for him 23:30 Trump understood the power of television, fear & race baiting 24:15 Trump sells what the Reagan revolution sold, targeted working class whites 25:00 Impact of the Goetz story on the Central Park 5 story 26:30 The tabloidification of the national media was born out of 80’s NYC 27:30 Talk radio was central in turning crime into high rating media content 28:15 Subway shootings were rare, but everyone feared them 29:30 Reagan’s policies stripped away resources that led to working class crises 30:15 Reagan gutted multiple public programs 31:15 Under Reagan, the tax burden was shifted away from the wealthy 32:00 Similarities between the early 1900’s and early 2000’s  33:15 America is in a wealth inequality crisis & target of misinformation campaign 34:30 Media groupthink was a contributing factor to Bernie Goetz’s acquittal 35:15 Goetz case peeled back the veneer hiding overt racism 36:15 Media sands the edges of stories to avoid controversy over coverage 37:00 Sensationalist, conservative media has become very successful 38:30 Alternative press covered the Goetz story much differently 39:15 Bronx jury awarded one of the victims $43 million 40:00 Goetz shooting was an unhinged story, but shows how we got here 42:00 There are political dividing lines over racialized shootings 43:15 Society meant to aspire to wealth, but live with suspicion & fear on streets 44:00 What’s the thread between the urban stories that you’ve told? 45:00 There was a massive cover up at Attica 45:45 If it wasn’t Goetz, it would have been another similar incident 47:00 How long after an event do you think is the sweet spot for telling story? 49:15 As a society, we don’t have patience for context 49:45 Checking personal bias when reporting a historical event 52:30 What Heather is working on next See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this urgent and unsettling episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck argues that America is in the midst of a historic “Great Unraveling,” marked by the collapse of trust, consent, and the basic social contract that has held the country together for generations. He examines a chilling series of events in Minneapolis—two fatal shootings by federal agents in three weeks, including the killing of Alex Pretti, who was legally carrying a firearm—raising profound questions about accountability, constitutional rights, and whether the federal government can still be trusted to tell the truth when video evidence directly contradicts official accounts. As administration officials stumble through indefensible explanations, Chuck connects the domestic breakdown to a broader global rupture: allies like Canada openly describing relations with the U.S. as “ruptured,” the post–World War II rules-based order splintering, science and public health consensus eroding, and political power being wielded through favoritism and fear. The episode paints a stark picture of a country growing weaker, more isolated, and more vulnerable—not because of fate, but because unraveling is a process, and it’s happening in real time. Finally, Chuck weighs in on the political disaster that is unfolding for Republicans, hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to draw parallels between modern America and Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland in the 70’s and answers listeners’ question in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:45 America is going through a “Great Unraveling” 03:30 January 2026 has been a horrendous month in American history 04:30 We’re watching the collapse of consent 05:00 Federal agents involved in 2 fatal shootings in 3 week in Minneapolis 05:45 Alex Pretti was shot 10 times, this was an assassination 06:15 No consequences for agent that shot Renee Good sent a message 07:00 The federal government won’t uphold the law or constitutional rights 08:15 Administration officials make fools of themselves defending this 09:00 Alex Pretti was legally carrying his firearm 09:30 January 6th protestors were also armed 10:30 The federal government is behaving like fascists 11:30 What remains of the social contract? 12:00 Trump’s leadership is destroying everything we knew about America 12:45 Canada’s PM Mark Carney describes relations with U.S. as “ruptured” 13:30 The rules based order in splintering 14:00 TikTok deal was purely favoritism & media alignment for Trump allies 15:00 CDC now discarding science, openly questioning the polio vaccine 15:45 Government shutdown is coming later this week 16:45 100 years of consensus is shattering 17:45 Alex Pretti was carrying, not brandishing his weapon 18:30 Alex Pretti was killed in cold blood 19:15 Thank god there was video, you can’t trust the federal government 19:45 Bystander video contradicts federal government account 20:30 Patel and Noem have no credibility outside of Trump’s base 21:30 Federal agents violated half the bill of rights in one incident 23:15 Middle powers can’t assume alignment with US gives stability 24:15 Canada’s response to Trump is seismic & entirely rational 25:15 The post WW2 order was held together by trust, & that’s been shattered 27:00 Trump’s appointees are making us vulnerable to eradicated diseases 28:15 TikTok will be used by Trump allies for political alignment 29:30 Unraveling isn’t destiny… it’s process 30:15 Trump is making us weaker, more vulnerable and poorer 31:30 We’re losing our country… literally 32:15 We can’t believe anything the federal government says 36:30 Elected Republicans trying to distance from Trump’s DHS 38:00 Marjorie Taylor-Greene argues the small c conservative position 39:00 MTG uses hypothetical shooting of a MAGA by Biden’s DOJ 41:00 Trump’s defenders try to blame Trump’s advisors rather than Trump 42:00 The administration is trampling the Bill of Rights 43:00 Minneapolis is a political disaster for Trump 44:00 Conservative pundits are pitching a Minneapolis off-ramp 45:45 Greg Bovino is trying invoke violence in the way he dresses 47:00 Trump’s coalition is breaking apart 48:45 ToddCast Time Machine 49:30 January 30th, 1972 — Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland 50:45 British army turned into an occupying force 51:30 Unarmed civilians were shot by soldiers 52:00 Bloody Sunday ended the belief that the government could be neutral 53:00 When the state lies about violence, radicalism ensues 54:30 U2’s anthem about Bloody Sunday is expression of moral fatigue 55:30 Trump is the only person that can de-escalate and he refuses to 57:00 States tell themselves they are restoring order, consequences are permanent 57:45 Trust collapsed in Northern Island & happening now in Minneapolis 58:45 Ask Chuck 59:15 Agents involved in shootings weren’t new recruits? 1:05:00 How naive were we to think “it can’t happen here” How do we navigate it? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this urgent and unsettling episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck argues that America is in the midst of a historic “Great Unraveling,” marked by the collapse of trust, consent, and the basic social contract that has held the country together for generations. He examines a chilling series of events in Minneapolis—two fatal shootings by federal agents in three weeks, including the killing of Alex Pretti, who was legally carrying a firearm—raising profound questions about accountability, constitutional rights, and whether the federal government can still be trusted to tell the truth when video evidence directly contradicts official accounts. As administration officials stumble through indefensible explanations, Chuck connects the domestic breakdown to a broader global rupture: allies like Canada openly describing relations with the U.S. as “ruptured,” the post–World War II rules-based order splintering, science and public health consensus eroding, and political power being wielded through favoritism and fear. The episode paints a stark picture of a country growing weaker, more isolated, and more vulnerable—not because of fate, but because unraveling is a process, and it’s happening in real time. Then, documentary filmmaker Adam Bhala Lough joins the Chuck ToddCast for a provocative, darkly funny, and unsettling conversation about AI, power, and the people building the future faster than anyone can regulate it. Lough unpacks the thinking behind his documentary Deepfaking Sam Altman, exploring why artificial intelligence inspires both awe and terror, how tech elites quietly prepare for social backlash, and why many of the skills we once told young people to master—like coding—may soon be obsolete. From Silicon Valley’s obsession with immortality and bunker-building to the fear that any job done on a computer could disappear within a few years, the discussion confronts what happens when innovation outruns accountability. The episode also dives deep into Sam Altman’s mystique, Silicon Valley’s moral blind spots, and how fear—of China, regulation, or losing dominance—is used to shape public debate around AI. Lough explains how deepfakes are made, why AI-driven scams are about to explode, and what lawmakers fundamentally misunderstand about regulating rapidly evolving technology. Ultimately, this conversation argues that the antidote to AI anxiety isn’t panic or denial—but transparency, literacy, and a serious public reckoning with who controls the tools reshaping human society. Finally, Chuck weighs in on the political disaster that is unfolding for Republicans, hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to draw parallels between modern America and Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland in the 70’s and answers listeners’ question in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:45 America is going through a “Great Unraveling” 04:45 January 2026 has been a horrendous month in American history 05:45 We’re watching the collapse of consent 06:15 Federal agents involved in 2 fatal shootings in 3 week in Minneapolis 07:00 Alex Pretti was shot 10 times, this was an assassination 07:30 No consequences for agent that shot Renee Good sent a message 08:15 The federal government won’t uphold the law or constitutional rights 09:30 Administration officials make fools of themselves defending this 10:15 Alex Pretti was legally carrying his firearm 10:45 January 6th protestors were also armed 11:45 The federal government is behaving like fascists 12:45 What remains of the social contract? 13:15 Trump’s leadership is destroying everything we knew about America 14:00 Canada’s PM Mark Carney describes relations with U.S. as “ruptured” 14:45 The rules based order in splintering 15:15 TikTok deal was purely favoritism & media alignment for Trump allies 16:15 CDC now discarding science, openly questioning the polio vaccine 17:00 Government shutdown is coming later this week 18:00 100 years of consensus is shattering 19:00 Alex Pretti was carrying, not brandishing his weapon 19:45 Alex Pretti was killed in cold blood   20:30 Thank god there was video, you can’t trust the federal government 21:00 Bystander video contradicts federal government account 21:45 Patel and Noem have no credibility outside of Trump’s base 22:45 Federal agents violated half the bill of rights in one incident 24:30 Middle powers can’t assume alignment with US gives stability 25:30 Canada’s response to Trump is seismic & entirely rational 26:30 The post WW2 order was held together by trust, & that’s been shattered 28:15 Trump’s appointees are making us vulnerable to eradicated diseases 29:30 TikTok will be used by Trump allies for political alignment 30:45 Unraveling isn’t destiny… it’s process 31:30 Trump is making us weaker, more vulnerable and poorer 32:45 We’re losing our country… literally 33:30 We can’t believe anything the federal government says 40:00 Adam Bhala Lough joins the Chuck ToddCast 42:30 Tech titans know the pitchforks are coming & are building bunkers 43:15 Did you create “Deepfaking Sam Altman” assuming the worst about AI? 45:00 The phrase Artificial Intelligence is great branding, but creates fear 46:15 How did you find funding for the documentary? 46:45 AI was one of the reasons the writer’s guild was protesting 47:30 Kids who grew up learning to code won’t have a job due to AI 48:15 Coding is now a useless skill when it was THE skill to have 10 years ago 50:15 Any job done on a computer could be gone within 3 years 50:45 Teaching critical thinking skills when a machine can do it for you? 53:00 Humans won’t be ok with robots replacing, but may not have a choice 53:30 If AI destroys humanity, it wouldn’t be deliberate 54:15 There’s a theory that AI would keep us around & find a use for us 55:00 Sam Altman has a giant collection of guns & weapons, like a prepper 55:45 Wealth creates a “prepper” mentality 57:00 There’s an obsession Silicon Valley with living forever 57:45 Was trying to interview Sam Altman always the premise of the doc? 58:45 Thought getting an interview with Sam Altman would be easy 59:15 Still haven’t heard from Altman in light of the documentary 1:00:45 What made you so threatening that Altman avoided you? 1:02:30 Other tech companies were more open to talking than OpenAI 1:03:15 Altman uses AI to read and summarize his emails, he doesn’t read them 1:04:00 Tech CEO’s tend to be antisocial, created platforms to compensate? 1:04:45 Many created products the world didn’t need just to get rich 1:06:00 Social media causes problems, but also have positives like Arab Spring 1:06:45 Totalitarian regimes found a way to weaponize social media 1:07:45 Chinese documentarian used AI to avoid government crackdown 1:09:15 Altman uses fear of China’s use of AI to avoid regulation & get investment 1:10:15 Sam Altman is a Marvel level super villain 1:10:45 Elon Musk is even more of a villain than Altman 1:11:15 Altman doesn’t have a personality, Elon has a crazy one 1:12:00 Google’s Gemini has caught up and surpassed ChatGPT 1:12:45 Altman could be a flash in the pan, or the next Steve Jobs 1:14:30 Steve Jobs and Sam Altman share a similar drive 1:15:45 Apple wouldn’t have been as successful under Wozniak, he’s too nice 1:17:00 You don’t have to be an a*****e to be a successful tech CEO 1:18:30 Political leaders have given business leaders permission to be awful 1:19:00 What do you want people to take away from the documentary? 1:19:45 The best way to cure AI anxiety is to create a conversation about it 1:20:45 Concerned about legal exposure from the documentary? 1:21:15 The documentary shows how the deepfake was made 1:22:30 AI image & video generators should be forced to include a logo 1:23:15 What should politicians understand about AI regulation? 1:24:30 AI slop is getting harder than ever to identify as fake 1:26:15 AI will be an incredible tool for scamming people 1:27:00 People should have a safeword to avoid deepfake scams 1:29:15 AI will be very useful in creating archival footage 1:31:00 AI gets dystopian when you put it into weapons 1:32:30 What topics are you interested in covering next? 1:35:00 Terms & conditions that force arbitration is very coercive 1:37:15 Deepfaking Sam Altman took 18 months to create 1:41:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Adam Bhala Lough 1:43:30 Elected Republicans trying to distance from Trump’s DHS 1:45:00 Marjorie Taylor-Greene argues the small c conservative position 1:46:00 MTG uses hypothetical shooting of a MAGA by Biden’s DOJ 1:48:00 Trump’s defenders try to blame Trump’s advisors rather than Trump 1:49:00 The administration is trampling the Bill of Rights 1:50:00 Minneapolis is a political disaster for Trump 1:51:00 Conservative pundits are pitching a Minneapolis off-ramp 1:52:45 Greg Bovino is trying invoke violence in the way he dresses 1:54:00 Trump’s coalition is breaking apart 1:55:45 ToddCast Time Machine 1:56:30 January 30th, 1972 - Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland 1:57:45 British army turned into an occupying force 1:58:30 Unarmed civilians were shot by soldiers 1:59:00 Bloody Sunday ended the belief that the government could be neutral 2:00

Documentary filmmaker Adam Bhala Lough joins the Chuck ToddCast for a provocative, darkly funny, and unsettling conversation about AI, power, and the people building the future faster than anyone can regulate it. Lough unpacks the thinking behind his documentary Deepfaking Sam Altman, exploring why artificial intelligence inspires both awe and terror, how tech elites quietly prepare for social backlash, and why many of the skills we once told young people to master—like coding—may soon be obsolete. From Silicon Valley’s obsession with immortality and bunker-building to the fear that any job done on a computer could disappear within a few years, the discussion confronts what happens when innovation outruns accountability. The episode also dives deep into Sam Altman’s mystique, Silicon Valley’s moral blind spots, and how fear—of China, regulation, or losing dominance—is used to shape public debate around AI. Lough explains how deepfakes are made, why AI-driven scams are about to explode, and what lawmakers fundamentally misunderstand about regulating rapidly evolving technology. Ultimately, this conversation argues that the antidote to AI anxiety isn’t panic or denial—but transparency, literacy, and a serious public reckoning with who controls the tools reshaping human society. Timeline: 00:00 Adam Bhala Lough joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:30 Tech titans know the pitchforks are coming & are building bunkers 03:15 Did you create “Deepfaking Sam Altman” assuming the worst about AI? 05:00 The phrase Artificial Intelligence is great branding, but creates fear 06:15 How did you find funding for the documentary? 06:45 AI was one of the reasons the writer’s guild was protesting 07:30 Kids who grew up learning to code won’t have a job due to AI 08:15 Coding is now a useless skill when it was THE skill to have 10 years ago 10:15 Any job done on a computer could be gone within 3 years 10:45 Teaching critical thinking skills when a machine can do it for you? 13:00 Humans won’t be ok with robots replacing, but may not have a choice 13:30 If AI destroys humanity, it wouldn’t be deliberate 14:15 There’s a theory that AI would keep us around & find a use for us 15:00 Sam Altman has a giant collection of guns & weapons, like a prepper 15:45 Wealth creates a “prepper” mentality 17:00 There’s an obsession Silicon Valley with living forever 17:45 Was trying to interview Sam Altman always the premise of the doc? 18:45 Thought getting an interview with Sam Altman would be easy 19:15 Still haven’t heard from Altman in light of the documentary 20:45 What made you so threatening that Altman avoided you? 22:30 Other tech companies were more open to talking than OpenAI 23:15 Altman uses AI to read and summarize his emails, he doesn’t read them 24:00 Tech CEO’s tend to be antisocial, created platforms to compensate? 24:45 Many created products the world didn’t need just to get rich 26:00 Social media causes problems, but also have positives like Arab Spring 26:45 Totalitarian regimes found a way to weaponize social media 27:45 Chinese documentarian used AI to avoid government crackdown 29:15 Altman uses fear of China’s use of AI to avoid regulation & get investment 30:15 Sam Altman is a Marvel level super villain 30:45 Elon Musk is even more of a villain than Altman 31:15 Altman doesn’t have a personality, Elon has a crazy one 32:00 Google’s Gemini has caught up and surpassed ChatGPT 32:45 Altman could be a flash in the pan, or the next Steve Jobs 34:30 Steve Jobs and Sam Altman share a similar drive 35:45 Apple wouldn’t have been as successful under Wozniak, he’s too nice 37:00 You don’t have to be an a*****e to be a successful tech CEO 38:30 Political leaders have given business leaders permission to be awful 39:00 What do you want people to take away from the documentary? 39:45 The best way to cure AI anxiety is to create a conversation about it 40:45 Concerned about legal exposure from the documentary? 41:15 The documentary shows how the deepfake was made 42:30 AI image & video generators should be forced to include a logo 43:15 What should politicians understand about AI regulation? 44:30 AI slop is getting harder than ever to identify as fake 46:15 AI will be an incredible tool for scamming people 47:00 People should have a safeword to avoid deepfake scams 49:15 AI will be very useful in creating archival footage 51:00 AI gets dystopian when you put it into weapons 52:30 What topics are you interested in covering next? 55:00 Terms & conditions that force arbitration is very coercive 57:15 Deepfaking Sam Altman took 18 months to create See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck addresses the latest fatal shooting by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, the third such incident in recent weeks amid the Trump administration’s intensified enforcement operations. A man was shot and killed by federal officers during an ICE-linked operation, reigniting outrage and controversy over the use of force by federal law enforcement and further eroding trust in the Department of Homeland Security’s narrative after Minneapolis residents and officials disputed the official account and demanded transparency. Chuck unpacks why video and witness accounts have raised serious questions about the necessity and proportionality of deadly force, why many critics call for a neutral, third-party investigation rather than relying on the federal government’s account, and how this incident compounds public concerns about aggressive policing tactics and civil liberties in enforcement operations. He also explores how the recurring confrontations between federal agents and Minneapolis residents are fueling broader political backlash, deepening tensions between local and federal authorities, and challenging Americans’ confidence in how federal agencies conduct operations on U.S. soil. Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:30 Another Minneapolis resident shot dead by federal agents 01:15 Video is disturbing. Man looked to be subdued before being shot 01:45 DHS says man was armed, didn’t say he was brandishing it 02:15 Conceal carry & open carry are allowed in Minnesota with permit 03:15 DHS has very low credibility with the press & the public 04:30 Why did agents back away and shoot rather than cuff the suspect 05:15 We need a neutral investigation into the shooting 06:00 We can’t trust the story from the federal government 07:00 The grotesque policing by ICE is incredibly unpopular 07:30 DHS used bloodthirsty rhetoric in recruiting videos 09:00 The administration has deliberately put Minneapolis in harm’s way 10:30 ICE are untrained thugs attacking Americans 11:30 Trump donors that employ undocumented workers aren’t targeted 12:30 It feels like ICE is looking for a fight 13:45 American wants law enforcement to follow the law 14:30 The federal government & their agents are on a power trip 16:00 How DHS words their statements is very telling 16:45 Need a third party investigation since DHS can’t be trusted 18:00 The reputation of every law enforcement agency has been tarnished 18:45 Kristi Noem is the obvious scapegoat if Trump wants an offramp 19:30 Where are all the libertarians and small government conservatives? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this “TACO Trump Thursday” episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down how market pressure forced Donald Trump to abruptly back off his Greenland threats and announce a face-saving deal—one that looks suspiciously like what already existed—underscoring how easily Trump can be manipulated and how desperate he is to cement a sense of historical relevance. Even as Republicans in Congress continue to appease him, the damage to America’s relationships with Canada and Europe is already done, and Trump’s indifference to NATO and unilateral approach ensures lasting consequences well beyond any short-term retreat. The conversation then turns to the political fallout at home: the perilous midterm landscape for Democrats, a messy Minnesota Senate race, why conventional Republicans still can’t win blue-leaning states without a net-positive environment, and how figures like Bill Cassidy may have no path forward inside today’s GOP. Chuck also digs into the Democratic Party’s looming 2028 calendar fight, arguing the DNC should rethink its early-state strategy by looking hard at Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska—and remembering that winning rural America, not just big cities, is the only way to build a durable majority. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions and explains a gripe he has with the baseball Hall of Fame. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction - Welcome to TACO Thursday 00:30 Trump backs off Greenland threats & announces deal after markets tank 02:30 Mark Carney’s speech to Davos resonated & he won’t back off it 04:00 Trump is an easy mark, and a frustrating mark 04:30 They’re likely copy+pasting the same deal we had, but Trump signs it 05:30 Republicans in congress know they have to appease Trump 06:30 Trump is desperate to be historically relevant & will be 07:15 Trump did terrible damage to American relationship with Canada & Europe 08:15 Trump doesn’t care if NATO survives or will abide by the treaty 10:00 Trump backing down won’t change the trajectory of how other countries act 10:45 Trump’s unilateral actions will have consequences 12:15 Feels like a time the out party wins everything, but it’s a tough path for Dems 13:30 Democrats need to be careful with candidate selection to win midterms 14:15 Michelle Tafoya announces senate bid in Minnesota 15:00 Tafoya hasn’t announced much policy, mostly just anti-woke rhetoric 16:30 The Democratic senate primary in Minnesota has been messy 18:15 Conventional conservative Republican doesn’t win in Minnesota 19:30 Republicans would need to be in a net-positive environment to win Minnesota 21:15 If Susan Collins doesn’t run, Maine is off the board for Republicans 22:15 Julia Letlow announces race, promises to be rubber stamp for Trump 23:45 GOP establishment won’t get involved in helping Bill Cassidy 24:30 Cassidy’s only path to winning seat is to run as Independent 26:45 Paul Finnebaum will struggle to run in Alabama after Trump endorsement 28:30 Twelve states applied to be first in the nation for Democrats in 2028 29:30 Iowa should be the first in the nation Dem state 30:45 Iowa has been good to the Democratic party, just not the Clintons 32:45 Just winning Des Moines isn’t enough, you have to win rural areas 34:30 Big Super PAC money can overwhelm in the bigger states 37:15 DNC should look at Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska 45:00 Ask Chuck 45:45 Why are so many senators unwilling to challenge Trump on foreign policy? 51:15 Do political teams consult psychologists when dealing with Trump? 55:30 Why hasn’t Trump’s lack of student loan repayment program gotten attention? 58:45 Is it crazy to think that California could become a swing state? 1:02:45 Chances of Mike Johnson refusing to certify and seat a Democratic congress? 1:07:30 Baseball Hall of Fame has made itself irrelevant See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this “TACO Trump Thursday” episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down how market pressure forced Donald Trump to abruptly back off his Greenland threats and announce a face-saving deal—one that looks suspiciously like what already existed—underscoring how easily Trump can be manipulated and how desperate he is to cement a sense of historical relevance. Even as Republicans in Congress continue to appease him, the damage to America’s relationships with Canada and Europe is already done, and Trump’s indifference to NATO and unilateral approach ensures lasting consequences well beyond any short-term retreat. The conversation then turns to the political fallout at home: the perilous midterm landscape for Democrats, a messy Minnesota Senate race, why conventional Republicans still can’t win blue-leaning states without a net-positive environment, and how figures like Bill Cassidy may have no path forward inside today’s GOP. Chuck also digs into the Democratic Party’s looming 2028 calendar fight, arguing the DNC should rethink its early-state strategy by looking hard at Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska—and remembering that winning rural America, not just big cities, is the only way to build a durable majority. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss the unprecedented federal immigration enforcement crisis unfolding in his city as masked ICE and DHS agents have effectively occupied Minneapolis in what appears to be an operation designed more for political retribution than public safety. Frey explains the complex dynamics between city, state, and federal authority, noting that Minneapolis maintains a policy of not coordinating with federal immigration enforcement because police officers should focus on keeping communities safe rather than targeting immigrants. He reveals alarming constitutional violations, including non-white off-duty Minneapolis police officers being racially profiled and harassed by ICE agents and residents being stopped and asked for ID based on their accents. With Minneapolis already critically understaffed on police officers per capita, the massive imbalance between local law enforcement and ICE agents has created a tenuous situation where police are forced to respond to citizens being harassed while protesters exercise their First Amendment rights. The crisis has been compounded by what Frey describes as a weaponized Department of Justice that can't be trusted, evidenced by his office receiving a subpoena.The mayor emphasizes that much of the federal action stems from a fraud issue that had nothing to do with illegal immigration, yet racist attacks on the Somali community followed—despite the fact that Somalis in Minneapolis came legally as refugees and most are U.S. citizens. Frey has held discussions with Governor Tim Walz about potentially deploying the Minnesota National Guard and worries about his ability to conduct a real investigation into the shooting of Renee Good by ICE. Frey contends the operation is designed to whip the public into a frenzy rather than address genuine immigration concerns. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions and explains a gripe he has with the baseball Hall of Fame. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction - Welcome to TACO Thursday 00:30 Trump backs off Greenland threats & announces deal after markets tank 02:30 Mark Carney’s speech to Davos resonated & he won’t back off it 04:00 Trump is an easy mark, and a frustrating mark 04:30 They’re likely copy+pasting the same deal we had, but Trump signs it 05:30 Republicans in congress know they have to appease Trump 06:30 Trump is desperate to be historically relevant & will be 07:15 Trump did terrible damage to American relationship with Canada & Europe 08:15 Trump doesn’t care if NATO survives or will abide by the treaty 10:00 Trump backing down won’t change the trajectory of how other countries act 12:30 Trump’s unilateral actions will have consequences 14:00 Feels like a time the out party wins everything, but it’s a tough path for Dems 15:15 Democrats need to be careful with candidate selection to win midterms 16:00 Michelle Tafoya announces senate bid in Minnesota 16:45 Tafoya hasn’t announced much policy, mostly just anti-woke rhetoric 18:15 The Democratic senate primary in Minnesota has been messy 20:00 Conventional conservative Republican doesn’t win in Minnesota 21:15 Republicans would need to be in a net-positive environment to win Minnesota 23:00 If Susan Collins doesn’t run, Maine is off the board for Republicans 24:00 Julia Letlow announces race, promises to be rubber stamp for Trump 25:30 GOP establishment won’t get involved in helping Bill Cassidy 26:15 Cassidy’s only path to winning seat is to run as Independent 28:30 Paul Finnebaum will struggle to run in Alabama after Trump endorsement 30:15 Twelve states applied to be first in the nation for Democrats in 2028 31:15 Iowa should be the first in the nation Dem state 32:30 Iowa has been good to the Democratic party, just not the Clintons 34:30 Just winning Des Moines isn’t enough, you have to win rural areas 36:15 Big Super PAC money can overwhelm in the bigger states 39:00 DNC should look at Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska 47:15 Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joins the Chuck ToddCast 47:45 Structure of Minneapolis law enforcement & the mayor’s powers 49:00 What is the line between city & state, and federal vs. state/city authority? 49:45 Minneapolis officials don’t coordinate with feds on immigration 50:45 Police officers should keep community safe, not target immigrants 51:45 Would you release a proven criminal into ICE custody? 53:15 Escalation with ICE & DHS went from 0-100 in Minneapolis 54:00 OMB sent a letter threatening to cut all fed funds over DEI 55:00 DHS seems intent on political retribution, not safety or immigration 56:45 There was a real issue with fraud, & racist attacks on Somalis followed 57:30 Somalis in Minneapolis came legally as refugees, most are citizens 58:15 Fraud issue had nothing to do with illegal immigrants 59:30 Is ICE responsible for longer 911 wait times? 1:00:00 Minneapolis is very low on police officers per capita 1:00:30 There’s a massive imbalance between police officers & ICE agents 1:01:00 What are the police supposed to do if citizens are harassed by ICE? 1:02:15 Police are forced into a difficult & tenuous situation dealing with ICE 1:03:15 Do you believe the ICE operations are designed to provoke a response? 1:03:45 ICE are trying to whip the public into a frenzy 1:04:30 Is there a legal avenue for you to push back against DHS/ICE? 1:05:30 There have been unimaginable constitutional violations by ICE 1:06:30 Non-white off duty Minneapolis officers have been harassed by ICE 1:07:45 People are being racially profiled and asked for their ID 1:08:45 ICE needs to be better trained and have a moral compass 1:09:30 Police received a call from a 5 year old whose parents were taken 1:10:15 Worried that residents could take matters into their own hands? 1:11:15 Has the “No ICE on city property” policy worked? 1:12:15 There have been talks with Tim Walz over deploying MN national guard 1:13:30 What’s behind the subpoena received by the mayor’s office? 1:14:00 DOJ is being weaponized to target leaders that disagree with Trump 1:15:00 The current Department of Justice can’t be trusted 1:16:30 There’s so much value to having career civil servants over political loyalists 1:18:30 There’s been a failure to believe that Trump will do what he says he’ll do 1:19:15 Any end in sight to the ICE occupation of Minneapolis? 1:20:00 Will you be able to do a real investigation into the shooting of Renee Good? 1:22:00 Ask Chuck 1:22:45 Why are so many senators unwilling to challenge Trump on foreign policy? 1:28:15 Do political teams consult psychologists when dealing with Trump? 1:32:30 Why hasn’t Trump’s lack of student loan repayment program gotten attention? 1:35:45 Is it crazy to think that California could become a swing state? 1:39:45 Chances of Mike Johnson refusing to certify and seat a Democratic congress? 1:44:30 Baseball Hall of Fame has made itself irrelevant See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss the unprecedented federal immigration enforcement crisis unfolding in his city as masked ICE and DHS agents have effectively occupied Minneapolis in what appears to be an operation designed more for political retribution than public safety. Frey explains the complex dynamics between city, state, and federal authority, noting that Minneapolis maintains a policy of not coordinating with federal immigration enforcement because police officers should focus on keeping communities safe rather than targeting immigrants. He reveals alarming constitutional violations, including non-white off-duty Minneapolis police officers being racially profiled and harassed by ICE agents and residents being stopped and asked for ID based on their accents. With Minneapolis already critically understaffed on police officers per capita, the massive imbalance between local law enforcement and ICE agents has created a tenuous situation where police are forced to respond to citizens being harassed while protesters exercise their First Amendment rights. The crisis has been compounded by what Frey describes as a weaponized Department of Justice that can't be trusted, evidenced by his office receiving a subpoena. The mayor emphasizes that much of the federal action stems from a fraud issue that had nothing to do with illegal immigration, yet racist attacks on the Somali community followed—despite the fact that Somalis in Minneapolis came legally as refugees and most are U.S. citizens. Frey has held discussions with Governor Tim Walz about potentially deploying the Minnesota National Guard and worries about his ability to conduct a real investigation into the shooting of Renee Good by ICE. Frey contends the operation is designed to whip the public into a frenzy rather than address genuine immigration concerns. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joins the Chuck ToddCast 00:30 Structure of Minneapolis law enforcement & the mayor’s powers 01:45 What is the line between city & state, and federal vs. state/city authority? 02:30 Minneapolis officials don’t coordinate with feds on immigration 03:30 Police officers should keep community safe, not target immigrants 04:30 Would you release a proven criminal into ICE custody? 06:00 Escalation with ICE & DHS went from 0-100 in Minneapolis 06:45 OMB sent a letter threatening to cut all fed funds over DEI 07:45 DHS seems intent on political retribution, not safety or immigration 09:30 There was a real issue with fraud, & racist attacks on Somalis followed 10:15 Somalis in Minneapolis came legally as refugees, most are citizens 11:00 Fraud issue had nothing to do with illegal immigrants 12:15 Is ICE responsible for longer 911 wait times? 12:45 Minneapolis is very low on police officers per capita 13:15 There’s a massive imbalance between police officers & ICE agents 13:45 What are the police supposed to do if citizens are harassed by ICE? 15:00 Police are forced into a difficult & tenuous situation dealing with ICE 16:00 Do you believe the ICE operations are designed to provoke a response? 16:30 ICE are trying to whip the public into a frenzy 17:15 Is there a legal avenue for you to push back against DHS/ICE? 18:15 There have been unimaginable constitutional violations by ICE 19:15 Non-white off duty Minneapolis officers have been harassed by ICE 20:30 People are being racially profiled and asked for their ID 21:30 ICE needs to be better trained and have a moral compass 22:15 Police received a call from a 5 year old whose parents were taken 23:00 Worried that residents could take matters into their own hands? 24:00 Has the “No ICE on city property” policy worked? 25:00 There have been talks with Tim Walz over deploying MN national guard 26:15 What’s behind the subpoena received by the mayor’s office? 26:45 DOJ is being weaponized to target leaders that disagree with Trump 27:45 The current Department of Justice can’t be trusted 29:15 There’s so much value to having career civil servants over political loyalists 31:15 There’s been a failure to believe that Trump will do what he says he’ll do 32:00 Any end in sight to the ICE occupation of Minneapolis? 32:45 Will you be able to do a real investigation into the shooting of Renee Good? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck delivers a blunt warning about how Donald Trump’s erratic, ahistorical tariff strategy is pushing the United States toward a self-inflicted crisis—one that could even stumble into war. With none of the usual political penalties applying to Trump, elected Republicans have opted for fearful silence, becoming complicit as tariffs punish American taxpayers and U.S. credibility abroad rapidly erodes. Americans, worn down by “Trump Exhaustion Syndrome” and the lack of consequences after January 6th, are watching as the last real guardrail—the economy—buckles under market turmoil, while Congress and the Supreme Court delay or abdicate their responsibility to act.  The episode underscores the extraordinary global fallout: Canada openly questioning whether it can rely on the U.S., wargaming invasion scenarios, pursuing “strategic autonomy,” and calling for new middle-power alliances even as it reaffirms commitment to NATO. As isolationism spreads and the rules-based order America once led begins to fracture, Chuck argues that only a congressional reckoning—or a midterm revolt—can halt the damage and preserve the country’s democratic institutions. Finally, Chuck updates his ToddCast Top 5 senate seats Democrats are most likely to flip in the midterms, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and recaps his experience at the college football national championship game… and the insane prices being charged to attend.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:00 Trump is potentially stumbling into a war over tariffs 03:00 Trump’s strategy is erratic & detached from historical norms 03:45 None of the usual political penalties apply to Trump 04:15 Canada is preparing & worrying that U.S. could invade 04:45 Trump’s tariffs punish the American taxpayer 05:30 Elected Republicans are afraid of voicing dissent 06:45 Republicans choose silence & makes them complicit 08:00 Americans are numb, suffering from “Trump Exhaustion Syndrome” 09:00 Lack of consequences for January 6th emboldened Trump 10:45 Trump has weakened American credibility abroad 12:00 There’s little check left in the GOP to prevent damage 12:30 The only guardrail left is the economy and markets, which cratered 14:15 Isolationism is terrible politics and terrible for the country 15:15 Congress is the only institution that can stop Trump & is abdicating 16:15 SCOTUS delays ruling on tariffs, making them hard to unwind 17:15 It’s possible the midterms become a revolt & sober up the GOP 17:45 Trump is affected by the “political YOLO virus” 18:30 Mitch McConnell could have changed the course of history, and didn’t 19:30 Trump has made America most vulnerable & isolated in decades 21:00 Canadian PM gives Davos speech pleading with Americans 22:00 When America chooses isolationism, so will everyone else 23:00 Canada has shifted toward “strategic autonomy” 24:15 Carney is saying Canada can’t rely on the United States 25:00 Canada is wargaming for an invasion from the south 25:45 Canada proposes a middle power trading bloc 27:15 Carney says Canada stands committed to NATO’s Article 5 27:45 Canada looking for new partners to confront an aggressive U.S. 28:30 America has thrived atop the rules based order, and is risking everything 30:45 25th Amendment intended for true incapacitation 31:30 Congress has to do its job to preserve the America we love 38:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Gina Hinojosa 40:00 ToddCast Top 5 seats Democrats can win & flip senate 42:45 #1 North Carolina & #2 Maine 46:30 #3 Michigan 49:45 #4 Ohio 51:15 #5 Alaska 54:30 Ask Chuck 55:15 Which presidency would be more dangerous… Trump or Vance? 59:30 If most Americans are center left or right, why can’t we elect centrists? 1:04:15 Would military action against a treaty ally be considered an illegal order? 1:07:45 How should the country resolve insider trading on the prediction markets? 1:09:15 Reaction to Indiana winning National Championship over Miami 1:19:30 The prices at the National Championship were highway robbery See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck delivers a blunt warning about how Donald Trump’s erratic, ahistorical tariff strategy is pushing the United States toward a self-inflicted crisis—one that could even stumble into war. With none of the usual political penalties applying to Trump, elected Republicans have opted for fearful silence, becoming complicit as tariffs punish American taxpayers and U.S. credibility abroad rapidly erodes. Americans, worn down by “Trump Exhaustion Syndrome” and the lack of consequences after January 6th, are watching as the last real guardrail—the economy—buckles under market turmoil, while Congress and the Supreme Court delay or abdicate their responsibility to act. The episode underscores the extraordinary global fallout: Canada openly questioning whether it can rely on the U.S., wargaming invasion scenarios, pursuing “strategic autonomy,” and calling for new middle-power alliances even as it reaffirms commitment to NATO. As isolationism spreads and the rules-based order America once led begins to fracture, Chuck argues that only a congressional reckoning—or a midterm revolt—can halt the damage and preserve the country’s democratic institutions. Gina Hinojosa, a Texas state representative and Democratic candidate for governor, joins Chuck to discuss how the school choice debate has created unexpected opportunities for Democrats in traditionally red states. Hinojosa, who entered politics through school board advocacy to save her son's school, argues that corruption—not ideology—is the biggest driver of Texas politics. She accuses Governor Greg Abbott of holding school funding hostage to push through a voucher program, forcing closures across the state while Texas ranks in the bottom three nationally for education funding. Hinojosa contends that vouchers lack transparency and accountability, and notes that even Trump-voting Texas women have joined the fight against them. She criticizes charter schools for cherry-picking students while taking public resources, and highlights how special education funding has been systematically cut, leaving expensive and crucial services unmet. Beyond education, Hinojosa paints a broader picture of dysfunction in Texas, claiming Abbott has awarded $1 billion in no-bid contracts to donors—what she calls the "Greg Abbott corruption tax"—and pointing to failures in the state's deregulated electric grid, border policy, and treatment of vulnerable communities. She argues that Texas operates as a three-party state, with two Republican wings and Democrats, and describes how Abbott used millions to primary moderate "Bush Republicans," successfully defeating nine incumbents who wouldn't toe the line. While acknowledging challenges like the border security issue that flipped the Rio Grande Valley toward Trump and ICE enforcement she describes as "terrorizing communities," Hinojosa sees opportunities in growing business community frustration over tariffs and deportations. She emphasizes that despite Texas's economic power and population growth—which will add 4-5 congressional districts—ordinary Texans aren't benefiting, with small business owners earning less than the national average and electric bills skyrocketing due to data center demand and grid mismanagement. Finally, Chuck updates his ToddCast Top 5 senate seats Democrats are most likely to flip in the midterms, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and recaps his experience at the college football national championship game… and the insane prices being charged to attend.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 06:00 Trump is potentially stumbling into a war over tariffs 07:00 Trump’s strategy is erratic & detached from historical norms 07:45 None of the usual political penalties apply to Trump 08:15 Canada is preparing & worrying that U.S. could invade 08:45 Trump’s tariffs punish the American taxpayer 09:30 Elected Republicans are afraid of voicing dissent 10:45 Republicans choose silence & makes them complicit 12:00 Americans are numb, suffering from “Trump Exhaustion Syndrome” 13:00 Lack of consequences for January 6th emboldened Trump 14:45 Trump has weakened American credibility abroad 16:00 There’s little check left in the GOP to prevent damage 16:30 The only guardrail left is the economy and markets, which crated 18:15 Isolationism is terrible politics and terrible for the country 19:15 Congress is the only institution that can stop Trump & is abdicating 20:15 SCOTUS delays ruling on tariffs, making them hard to unwind 21:15 It’s possible the midterms become a revolt & sober up the GOP 21:45 Trump is affected by the “political YOLO virus” 22:30 Mitch McConnell could have changed the course of history, and didn’t 23:30 Trump has made America most vulnerable & isolated in decades 25:00 Canadian PM gives Davos speech pleading with Americans 26:00 When America chooses isolationism, so will everyone else 27:00 Canada has shifted toward “strategic autonomy” 28:15 Carney is saying Canada can’t rely on the United States 29:00 Canada is wargaming for an invasion from the south 29:45 Canada proposes a middle power trading bloc 31:15 Carney says Canada stands committed to NATO’s Article 5 31:45 Canada looking for new partners to confront an aggressive U.S. 32:30 America has thrived atop the rules based order, and is risking everything 34:45 25th Amendment intended for true incapacitation 35:30 Congress has to do its job to preserve the America we love 42:45 Gina Hinojosa joins the Chuck ToddCast 43:45 School choice issue has opened the door for Dems in red states 45:15 Gina’s background in education & school board politics 46:45 Ran for school board to save her son’s school 47:15 Greg Abbott is reallocating money, forcing school closures 48:00 Corruption is biggest driver of politics in Texas 48:45 Consultants & vendors use part time legislators to make money 49:30 Schools closing all over Texas due to budget cuts & vouchers 50:45 Abbott held school funding hostage trying to pass voucher program 51:15 Texas is bottom 3 in the country for school funding 52:45 Texas women who voted Trump joined fight against vouchers 54:00 Vouchers have no transparency or accountability 55:15 The school funding model hasn’t changed since industrial age 56:30 Do you support Texas’s “recapture” funding model? 57:45 The recaptured money is being wasted 59:15 Student testing and NAEP scores are decreasing overall 1:00:30 Teachers deserve to be treated and paid like professional 1:01:15 Special needs students can attend private school funded by state 1:02:15 Special education is very expensive & requests go unmet 1:03:30 State cut corners to avoid paying for special ed students 1:05:00 Charter schools take public resources but not all kids 1:06:00 Charter schools deny admission to kids with disciplinary records 1:07:30 Education paid for by Texas property taxes which have skyrocketed 1:08:00 Texans pay the “Greg Abbott corruption tax” 1:08:45 Abbott has given $1 billion dollars in no-bid contracts to donors 1:10:30 The corruption issue is ripe but the electorate is cynical on both sides 1:12:00 Abbott’s corruption is the #1 talking point in the Republican primary 1:13:15 Gas companies let Texans freeze until prices spiked high enough 1:15:15 Border security issue led to Rio Grande valley voting for Trump 1:16:45 Biden was able to fix border issues, just took too long to do it 1:17:15 Deportations flipped political sentiment in Rio Grande valley 1:18:45 ICE is terrorizing communities 1:19:30 Masked law enforcement should be illegal 1:20:30 Texas is a three party state: Two GOP wings & Democrats 1:21:15 How can you grow the Democratic party in Texas? 1:22:30 The “Bush Republicans” in TX can’t vote their districts or conscience 1:23:00 Abbott used millions to primary Bush Republicans & 9 lost their race 1:24:15 Is the GOP nationalizing the race your biggest challenge? 1:25:15 Texas will gain 4-5 congressional districts due to growth 1:27:30 The business community in TX is mad at tariffs & deportations 1:28:15 People of Texas aren’t benefiting from their economic power 1:30:00 Small business owners make less than average nationally 1:30:30 Texas’s electric grid is a ticking time bomb 1:31:00 Deregulation & corruption have exacerbated issues with grid 1:31:45 Electric bills skyrocketing due to data centers 1:33:15 Thoughts on nuclear energy to address energy problems? 1:34:45 Favorite food on the campaign trail? 1:37:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Gina Hinojosa 1:39:00 ToddCast Top 5 seats Democrats can win & flip senate 1:41:45 #1 North Carolina & #2 Maine 1:45:30 #3 Michigan 1:48:45 #4 Ohio 1:50:15 #5 Alaska 1:53:30 Ask Chuck 1:54:15 Which presidency would be more dangerous… Trump or Vance? 1:58:30 If most Americans are center left or right, why can’t we elect centrists? 2:03:15 Would military action against a treaty ally be considered an illegal order? 2:06:45 How should the country resolve insider trading on the prediction markets? 2:08:15 Reaction to Indiana winning National Championship over Miami 2:18:30 The prices at the National Championship were highway robbery See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

Gina Hinojosa, a Texas state representative and Democratic candidate for governor, joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss how the school choice debate has created unexpected opportunities for Democrats in traditionally red states. Hinojosa, who entered politics through school board advocacy to save her son's school, argues that corruption—not ideology—is the biggest driver of Texas politics. She accuses Governor Greg Abbott of holding school funding hostage to push through a voucher program, forcing closures across the state while Texas ranks in the bottom three nationally for education funding. Hinojosa contends that vouchers lack transparency and accountability, and notes that even Trump-voting Texas women have joined the fight against them. She criticizes charter schools for cherry-picking students while taking public resources, and highlights how special education funding has been systematically cut, leaving expensive and crucial services unmet. Beyond education, Hinojosa paints a broader picture of dysfunction in Texas, claiming Abbott has awarded $1 billion in no-bid contracts to donors—what she calls the "Greg Abbott corruption tax"—and pointing to failures in the state's deregulated electric grid, border policy, and treatment of vulnerable communities. She argues that Texas operates as a three-party state, with two Republican wings and Democrats, and describes how Abbott used millions to primary moderate "Bush Republicans," successfully defeating nine incumbents who wouldn't toe the line. While acknowledging challenges like the border security issue that flipped the Rio Grande Valley toward Trump and ICE enforcement she describes as "terrorizing communities," Hinojosa sees opportunities in growing business community frustration over tariffs and deportations. She emphasizes that despite Texas's economic power and population growth—which will add 4-5 congressional districts—ordinary Texans aren't benefiting, with small business owners earning less than the national average and electric bills skyrocketing due to data center demand and grid mismanagement. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Gina Hinojosa joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 School choice issue has opened the door for Dems in red states 02:30 Gina’s background in education & school board politics 04:00 Ran for school board to save her son’s school 04:30 Greg Abbott is reallocating money, forcing school closures 05:15 Corruption is biggest driver of politics in Texas 06:00 Consultants & vendors use part time legislators to make money 06:45 Schools closing all over Texas due to budget cuts & vouchers 08:00 Abbott held school funding hostage trying to pass voucher program 08:30 Texas is bottom 3 in the country for school funding 10:00 Texas women who voted Trump joined fight against vouchers 11:15 Vouchers have no transparency or accountability 12:30 The school funding model hasn’t changed since industrial age 13:45 Do you support Texas’s “recapture” funding model? 15:00 The recaptured money is being wasted  16:30 Student testing and NAEP scores are decreasing overall 17:45 Teachers deserve to be treated and paid like professional 18:30 Special needs students can attend private school funded by state 19:30 Special education is very expensive & requests go unmet 20:45 State cut corners to avoid paying for special ed students 22:15 Charter schools take public resources but not all kids 23:15 Charter schools deny admission to kids with disciplinary records 24:45 Education paid for by Texas property taxes which have skyrocketed 25:15 Texans pay the “Greg Abbott corruption tax” 26:00 Abbott has given $1 billion dollars in no-bid contracts to donors 27:45 The corruption issue is ripe but the electorate is cynical on both sides 29:15 Abbott’s corruption is the #1 talking point in the Republican primary 30:30 Gas companies let Texans freeze until prices spiked high enough 32:30 Border security issue led to Rio Grande valley voting for Trump 34:00 Biden was able to fix border issues, just took too long to do it 34:30 Deportations flipped political sentiment in Rio Grande valley  36:00 ICE is terrorizing communities 36:45 Masked law enforcement should be illegal 37:45 Texas is a three party state: Two GOP wings & Democrats 38:30 How can you grow the Democratic party in Texas? 39:45 The “Bush Republicans” in TX can’t vote their districts or conscience 40:15 Abbott used millions to primary Bush Republicans & 9 lost their race 41:30 Is the GOP nationalizing the race your biggest challenge? 42:30 Texas will gain 4-5 congressional districts due to growth 44:45 The business community in TX is mad at tariffs & deportations 45:30 People of Texas aren’t benefiting from their economic power 47:15 Small business owners make less than average nationally 47:45 Texas’s electric grid is a ticking time bomb 48:15 Deregulation & corruption have exacerbated issues with grid 49:00 Electric bills skyrocketing due to data centers 50:30 Thoughts on nuclear to address energy problems? 52:00 Favorite food on the campaign trail? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd sounds the alarm on how Trump’s aggressive use of tariffs and economic coercion could unintentionally push the U.S. and the world toward open conflict, drawing stark parallels to the Smoot-Hawley tariffs and the dangerous bloc-based thinking that preceded World War II. As Trump threatens NATO unity, wages economic war with Europe, and even uses tariffs as leverage in a pressure campaign over Greenland, the result isn’t strength but instability—risking retaliation, potentially weakening the dollar’s reserve status, and handing strategic advantages to China and Russia. Chuck argues that while Trump may not be trying to start a war, his isolationist instincts, economic bullying, and disregard for democratic norms are dismantling the postwar order America built and benefited from, creating a far more dangerous world. The episode also turns inward, examining Trump’s endorsement politics and fixation on retribution, even at the cost of GOP viability, as Senate Republicans quietly weigh whether stopping this madness—or walking away—is their last remaining option. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the evolving public perception of Muhammed Ali, answers listeners’ questions in the Ask Chuck segment and preview the college football national championship between Indiana and his beloved Miami Hurricanes. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:30 Could Trump’s tariffs accidentally stumble the U.S. into a war? 03:45 Bad economic policy could drive the world into war 04:30 Destroying NATO & economic war w/ Europe will create GOP defections 05:15 What Trump is doing is incredibly alarming 05:45 When tariffs are used as leverage, they can create security problems 06:15 Smoot-Hawley tariffs created lasting damage 07:30 Retaliation followed after the Smoot-Hawley tariffs 08:00 Smoot-Hawley didn’t cause WW2, but had a huge impact in creating it 09:00 When the world starts thinking in blocs, wars become more likely 10:00 In blocs, countries start prioritizing resource security 10:30 Trump is using tariffs as leverage for economic bullying to acquire Greenland 11:15 Macron calls for EU use of an anti-coercion law against the U.S. 12:15 Trump’s Greenland posture threatens trade with Europe 12:45 Republicans in the senate need to stop this madness 13:30 We’re risking the dollar as the world’s reserve currency 14:30 Canada has struck trade agreements with China in response to Trump 15:15 China will gain increased leverage in North America 16:30 Trade disputes risk becoming security grievances 17:15 Trump is risking stumbling the U.S. into a war 18:00 The world is more dangerous now than any time since WW2 19:00 Americans are taking a safe and stable world for granted 19:30 Trump has created the dream scenario for the Chinese & Russians 20:15 The world order America built & benefitted from is being dismantled 20:45 Trump’s actions, if not stopped…could set us back generations 22:00 Trump has proven he doesn’t care about democracy in Venezuela 23:30 When the biggest country goes isolationist, everyone else does too 24:15 Trump isn’t trying to get us into war, but his actions are taking us closer to one 27:30 Trump endorses against Bill Cassidy despite Cassidy’s deference 29:00 Cassidy may consider retirement after reviewing polling in Louisiana 30:30 Cassidy could have a shot at winning as an independent 33:30 Trump cares about retribution more than viability of the GOP 37:30 ToddCast Time Machine - January 22nd, 1964 38:00 Cassius Clay announces conversion to Islam & name change 39:00 Heavyweight champion of the world carried huge symbolic weight 39:45 Muhammed Ali challenged the power structures 40:30 Ali exposed unspoken rule - You have to be deferential & assimilate 41:15 Press treated Ali as a problem to be managed 42:00 Ali refusing to be drafted turned him into a villain 42:45 Over time, Ali became vindicated by the public 43:45 Ali carried conviction at great personal cost 44:45 America changed its view of Ali, & speaks to America’s evolution 45:45 Ask Chuck 46:00 Thanks for the book recommendation for “The Barn” 47:00 Could any Republicans defect to hand over control of the House? 52:00 Packers/Bears rivalry goes way beyond football 53:30 Indiana vs. Miami National Championship thoughts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd sounds the alarm on how Trump’s aggressive use of tariffs and economic coercion could unintentionally push the U.S. and the world toward open conflict, drawing stark parallels to the Smoot-Hawley tariffs and the dangerous bloc-based thinking that preceded World War II. As Trump threatens NATO unity, wages economic war with Europe, and even uses tariffs as leverage in a pressure campaign over Greenland, the result isn’t strength but instability—risking retaliation, potentially weakening the dollar’s reserve status, and handing strategic advantages to China and Russia. Chuck argues that while Trump may not be trying to start a war, his isolationist instincts, economic bullying, and disregard for democratic norms are dismantling the postwar order America built and benefited from, creating a far more dangerous world. The episode also turns inward, examining Trump’s endorsement politics and fixation on retribution, even at the cost of GOP viability, as Senate Republicans quietly weigh whether stopping this madness—or walking away—is their last remaining option. Mechele Dickerson, professor at the University of Texas School of Law & author of the new book “The Middle Class New Deal” joins Chuck Todd to make the case that rebuilding the American middle class requires something bold and familiar. Drawing on history, Dickerson explains how the original New Deal didn’t just regulate markets but actively created the first stable American middle class, a reminder that free markets alone don’t guarantee broad prosperity. As today’s economy shifts risk onto workers through independent contracting, weakened unions, and employer-based benefits that no longer fit modern labor markets, she argues that financial security—not wealth—is what most Americans are actually chasing, and it’s essential for economic and democratic stability. The conversation digs into healthcare, education, and labor power as the pillars of a functioning middle class, from why employer-based health insurance is a historical accident to how government-guaranteed healthcare could actually relieve businesses, and why underused public schools and outdated calendars are weakening the future workforce. Dickerson warns that the erosion of unions, the weaponization of cultural divisions, and rising economic nihilism—especially among younger Americans—mirror dangerous Gilded Age dynamics, where extreme inequality hollowed out democracy. The takeaway is stark but hopeful: upward mobility is deeply American, but without intentional policy choices that put workers and families first, an eroding middle class can become fertile ground for political instability and authoritarianism. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the evolving public perception of Muhammed Ali, answers listeners’ questions in the Ask Chuck segment and preview the college football national championship between Indiana and his beloved Miami Hurricanes. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:30 Could Trump’s tariffs accidentally stumble the U.S. into a war? 03:45 Bad economic policy could drive the world into war 04:30 Destroying NATO & economic war w/ Europe will create GOP defections 05:15 What Trump is doing is incredibly alarming 05:45 When tariffs are used as leverage, they can create security problems 06:15 Smoot-Hawley tariffs created lasting damage 07:30 Retaliation followed after the Smoot-Hawley tariffs 08:00 Smoot-Hawley didn’t cause WW2, but had a huge impact in creating it 09:00 When the world starts thinking in blocs, wars become more likely 10:00 In blocs, countries start prioritizing resource security 10:30 Trump is using tariffs as leverage for economic bullying to acquire Greenland 11:15 Macron calls for EU use of an anti-coercion law against the U.S. 12:15 Trump’s Greenland posture threatens trade with Europe 12:45 Republicans in the senate need to stop this madness 13:30 We’re risking the dollar as the world’s reserve currency 14:30 Canada has struck trade agreements with China in response to Trump 15:15 China will gain increased leverage in North America 16:30 Trade disputes risk becoming security grievances 17:15 Trump is risking stumbling the U.S. into a war 18:00 The world is more dangerous now than any time since WW2 19:00 Americans are taking a safe and stable world for granted 19:30 Trump has created the dream scenario for the Chinese & Russians 20:15 The world order America built & benefitted from is being dismantled 20:45 Trump’s actions, if not stopped…could set us back generations 22:00 Trump has proven he doesn’t care about democracy in Venezuela 23:30 When the biggest country goes isolationist, everyone else does too 24:15 Trump isn’t trying to get us into war, but his actions are taking us closer to one 27:30 Trump endorses against Bill Cassidy despite Cassidy’s deference 29:00 Cassidy may consider retirement after reviewing polling in Louisiana 30:30 Cassidy could have a shot at winning as an independent 33:30 Trump cares about retribution more than viability of the GOP 41:15 Mechele Dickerson joins the Chuck ToddCast 42:45 Both the left & right can learn from “The Middle Class New Deal” 44:15 What motivated you to put these ideas under a “New Deal” framework 45:15 The New Deal created the first American middle class 46:15 Free market economies don’t automatically create a middle class 47:45 Socialism & interfering with free markets created the middle class 48:15 A stable middle class is critical for stability 49:00 The uber wealthy can only consume so much & don’t drive spending 50:15 People struggling don’t want to be wealthy, just financially secure 52:00 Independent contractors don’t get same benefits as employees 53:30 Retirement security has been shifted from employers to employees 55:00 Big companies with lots of contractors have a ton of political leverage 56:15 Amazon’s delivery providers aren’t set up to have employees 58:15 CEO’s of big companies hate the cost of healthcare 59:45 Business could support a system where they aren’t responsible for healthcare 1:01:00 Employer based healthcare was born out of World War 2 wage controls 1:02:15 Government guaranteed health insurance has many upsides 1:04:30 The debate around government guaranteed education has stalled 1:05:15 What steps could be taken to make progress in public education? 1:06:30 In rural areas there is no “school choice”, just home school 1:07:15 Public school facilities are underutilized 1:07:45 Public school calendar revolves around an agrarian calendar 1:09:00 Without good public education, we’ll have a poor labor force 1:11:00 Schools should add a voluntary summer trimester 1:12:45 Workers will only get equal treatment through collective bargaining 1:13:15 How do you bring back labor unions? 1:14:30 Middle & lower class have suffered since labor unions were gutted 1:15:15 Union culture is merged with corporate culture in Europe 1:16:30 Race & ethnicity have been used as wedges to advance a class argument 1:18:30 The entire middle class is suffering economically 1:20:15 How do you prioritize anti-poverty programs to revive the middle class? 1:21:15 Upward mobility is wired into the DNA of Americans 1:22:45 Billionaires aren’t incentivized to create a healthy middle class 1:23:45 There are parallels between the current moment & the Gilded Age 1:24:45 Should corporations build communities the way Hershey did? 1:26:45 Politicians have to help constituents be ok, not just tell them they’re ok 1:27:15 2016 election of Trump was the white middle class primal scream 1:28:15 An eroding middle class can drive societies into autocracy 1:29:15 Trump administration keeps having “let them eat cake” moments 1:30:15 Middle class support tax cuts for rich, thinking they’ll become rich 1:31:00 Younger Americans suffer from a sense of economic nihilism 1:31:45 Bill Clinton’s strength was understanding middle class, he came from it 1:32:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Mechele Dickerson1:33:15 ToddCast Time Machine - January 22nd, 19641:33:45 Cassius Clay announces conversion to Islam & name change1:34:45 Heavyweight champion of the world carried huge symbolic weight1:35:30 Muhammed Ali challenged the power structures1:36:15 Ali exposed unspoken rule - You have to be deferential & assimilate1:37:00 Press treated Ali as a problem to be managed1:37:45 Ali refusing to be drafted turned him into a villain1:38:30 Over time, Ali became vindicated by the public1:39:30 Ali carried conviction at great personal cost1:40:30 America changed its view of Ali, & speaks to America’s evolution1:41:30 Ask Chuck1:41:45 Thanks for the book recommendation for “The Barn”1:42:45 Could any Republicans defect to hand over control of the House?1:47:45 Packers/Bears rivalry goes way beyond football1:49:15 Indiana vs. Miami National Championship thoughts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mechele Dickerson, professor at the University of Texas School of Law & author of the new book “The Middle Class New Deal” joins Chuck Todd to make the case that rebuilding the American middle class requires something bold and familiar. Drawing on history, Dickerson explains how the original New Deal didn’t just regulate markets but actively created the first stable American middle class, a reminder that free markets alone don’t guarantee broad prosperity. As today’s economy shifts risk onto workers through independent contracting, weakened unions, and employer-based benefits that no longer fit modern labor markets, she argues that financial security—not wealth—is what most Americans are actually chasing, and it’s essential for economic and democratic stability. The conversation digs into healthcare, education, and labor power as the pillars of a functioning middle class, from why employer-based health insurance is a historical accident to how government-guaranteed healthcare could actually relieve businesses, and why underused public schools and outdated calendars are weakening the future workforce. Dickerson warns that the erosion of unions, the weaponization of cultural divisions, and rising economic nihilism—especially among younger Americans—mirror dangerous Gilded Age dynamics, where extreme inequality hollowed out democracy. The takeaway is stark but hopeful: upward mobility is deeply American, but without intentional policy choices that put workers and families first, an eroding middle class can become fertile ground for political instability and authoritarianism. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code Timeline: 00:00 Mechele Dickerson joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 Both the left & right can learn from “The Middle Class New Deal” 03:00 What motivated you to put these ideas under a “New Deal” framework 04:00 The New Deal created the first American middle class 05:00 Free market economies don’t automatically create a middle class 06:30 Socialism & interfering with free markets created the middle class 07:00 A stable middle class is critical for stability 07:45 The uber wealthy can only consume so much & don’t drive spending 09:00 People struggling don’t want to be wealthy, just financially secure 10:45 Independent contractors don’t get same benefits as employees 12:15 Retirement security has been shifted from employers to employees 13:45 Big companies with lots of contractors have a ton of political leverage 15:00 Amazon’s delivery providers aren’t set up to have employees 17:00 CEO’s of big companies hate the cost of healthcare 18:30 Business could support a system where they aren’t responsible for healthcare 19:45 Employer based healthcare was born out of World War 2 wage controls 21:00 Government guaranteed health insurance has many upsides 23:15 The debate around government guaranteed education has stalled 24:00 What steps could be taken to make progress in public education? 25:15 In rural areas there is no “school choice”, just home school  26:00 Public school facilities are underutilized 26:30 Public school calendar revolves around an agrarian calendar 27:45 Without good public education, we’ll have a poor labor force 29:45 Schools should add a voluntary summer trimester  31:30 Workers will only get equal treatment through collective bargaining 32:00 How do you bring back labor unions? 33:15 Middle & lower class have suffered since labor unions were gutted 34:00 Union culture is merged with corporate culture in Europe 35:15 Race & ethnicity have been used as wedges to advance a class argument 37:15 The entire middle class is suffering economically 39:00 How do you prioritize anti-poverty programs to revive the middle class? 40:00 Upward mobility is wired into the DNA of Americans 41:30 Billionaires aren’t incentivized to create a healthy middle class 42:30 There are parallels between the current moment & the Gilded Age 43:30 Should corporations build communities the way Hershey did? 45:30 Politicians have to help constituents be ok, not just tell them they’re ok 46:00 2016 election of Trump was the white middle class primal scream 47:00 An eroding middle class can drive societies into autocracy48:00 Trump administration keeps having “let them eat cake” moments 49:00 Middle class support tax cuts for rich, thinking they’ll become rich 49:45 Younger Americans suffer from a sense of economic nihilism 50:30 Bill Clinton’s strength was understanding middle class, he came from it See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd unpacks a moment of foreign-policy whiplash as Donald Trump appears to ease off threats against Iran while simultaneously escalating his pressure campaign on Greenland—doubling down after meetings with Danish officials and even floating the idea of holding NATO hostage to get his way. The episode examines why Trump is unlikely to move militarily against Greenland, why Greenlanders are growing more defiant, and how this approach risks a serious rupture with Europe. From there, the conversation widens to a bigger question: what is America’s role in the world now that consensus has collapsed? With China as a peer competitor, alliances under strain, free trade weaponized at home, and isolationism creating dangerous vacuums, the U.S. is operating without a coherent grand strategy even as allies quietly hedge their bets. The second half turns inward, focusing on immigration and the politics of ICE. Drawing lessons from past messaging failures like “defund the police,” Chuck argues Democrats shouldn’t fall into the “abolish ICE” trap but instead run on reform—rethinking leadership, recruiting, and training that’s been slashed from months to weeks. The takeaway is blunt: ICE isn’t going away, the agency will remain a political wedge, and the real question for both parties is who’s in charge of it—and what kind of power they’re willing to wield at home and abroad. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and gets a few sports rants off his chest.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the cod   Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Trump seemingly backing off threats to strike Iran 02:00 Trump meets with Danish & Greenland officials, then doubles down 03:30 Trump threatens to hold NATO hostage in exchange for Greenland 05:00 Greenlanders are more defiant in the face of Trump’s threats 05:30 Trump’s threats could risk severing U.S. ties with Europe 06:15 Unlikely Trump will take Greenland militarily 06:45 Everything Trump is doing now is bad politics 08:15 Latin American exiles in south Florida create a feedback loop for Trump 09:00 What should be America’s role in the world? 10:45 Trump is not and has never been a multilateralist 11:30 Trump doesn’t care about NATO or see Russia as a threat 12:15 Consensus on America’s role in the world has collapsed 13:15 Free trade has been weaponized domestically in America 14:15 Domestic exhaustion in America with leadership rule 15:30 America is operating without a grand foreign policy strategy 16:30 The “primacy” strategy doesn’t apply now that China is a peer competitor 17:30 The rules based order hasn’t tamed China, Russia or Iran 18:15 Isolationism creates security vacuums that rarely stay empty 19:00 Nationalism assumes you can separate from the rest of the world 19:15 Trumpism is a mix of all of the above, but up to Trump’s whims 21:15 China is a competitor & nothing the U.S. does can change that 22:15 Trump wants to remake Venezuelan, Iranian and Cuban society 23:15 U.S. still most powerful country and China couldn’t create global alliance 25:45 Free trade, security & innovation trump protectionism 27:45 The Indo-Pacific will be the theatre of great power competition 28:30 America doesn’t get to choose whether it shapes the world 29:15 U.S. allies are hedging 30:00 Presidential candidates need to lay out strategy for US role in the world 33:00 Memo argues Democrats shouldn't fall for the “Abolish ICE” messaging 34:30 ICE training has been reduced from 5 months to 6 weeks 35:15 Dems should run on plan to reform and retrain ICE 36:30 Democrats need to learn from the “defund the police” mistake 38:30 The issue isn’t ICE, it’s who’s in charge of it & their recruiting 40:00 If you get rid of ICE you’ll need a similar agency to replace it 40:45 ICE will become a wedge issue in primary elections 46:30 Iran clears airspace, U.S. attack imminent? 48:00 Ask Chuck 48:15 Why do you think Mississippi could become politically competitive? 51:45 ICE’s actions in Minnesota don’t feel like training issues? 54:15 If Dems win both chambers what are the chances of martial law? 1:01:15 If Europe put a blockade around Greenland, would we still attack? 1:05:30 Why do Americans find the far-left more repugnant than the far-right? 1:10:00 Concerned the market shrugged at threats to Fed independence? 1:15:00 Sports update See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd unpacks a moment of foreign-policy whiplash as Donald Trump appears to ease off threats against Iran while simultaneously escalating his pressure campaign on Greenland—doubling down after meetings with Danish officials and even floating the idea of holding NATO hostage to get his way. The episode examines why Trump is unlikely to move militarily against Greenland, why Greenlanders are growing more defiant, and how this approach risks a serious rupture with Europe. From there, the conversation widens to a bigger question: what is America’s role in the world now that consensus has collapsed? With China as a peer competitor, alliances under strain, free trade weaponized at home, and isolationism creating dangerous vacuums, the U.S. is operating without a coherent grand strategy even as allies quietly hedge their bets. The second half turns inward, focusing on immigration and the politics of ICE. Drawing lessons from past messaging failures like “defund the police,” Chuck argues Democrats shouldn’t fall into the “abolish ICE” trap but instead run on reform—rethinking leadership, recruiting, and training that’s been slashed from months to weeks. The takeaway is blunt: ICE isn’t going away, the agency will remain a political wedge, and the real question for both parties is who’s in charge of it—and what kind of power they’re willing to wield at home and abroad. Then, geopolitical expert and president of The Eurasia Group, Ian Bremmer joins Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging, clear-eyed look at a world entering genuinely uncharted territory—where old rules no longer apply and the United States itself has become a central source of global instability. From Venezuela and Mexico to Europe and Greenland, Bremmer explains how Trump’s transactional, coercive approach is reshaping alliances, undermining collective security, and forcing other countries to adapt fast. The conversation explores why regime change remains elusive in places like Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti; how Latin American elections are increasingly driven by domestic security; and why Europe, shaken by Trump’s unpredictability, is funding Ukraine and rethinking its own defense posture. The discussion then turns to the Middle East and beyond: the durability of the Iranian regime, the limits of U.S. military power, Saudi Arabia’s rapid modernization, and what comes next for Israel once Netanyahu exits the stage. Bremmer also assesses Trump’s surprising effectiveness in Middle East dealmaking, the long-term damage to Israel’s global standing, Russia’s tightening economic squeeze amid continued political repression, and rising far-right momentum in Europe. The episode closes with a sobering look at China, Taiwan, and whether the next few years bring deterrence—or a historic rupture. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and gets a few sports rants off his chest.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the cod Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Trump seemingly backing off threats to strike Iran 02:00 Trump meets with Danish & Greenland officials, then doubles down 03:30 Trump threatens to hold NATO hostage in exchange for Greenland 05:00 Greenlanders are more defiant in the face of Trump’s threats 05:30 Trump’s threats could risk severing U.S. ties with Europe 06:15 Unlikely Trump will take Greenland militarily 06:45 Everything Trump is doing now is bad politics 08:15 Latin American exiles in south Florida create a feedback loop for Trump 09:00 What should be America’s role in the world? 10:45 Trump is not and has never been a multilateralist 11:30 Trump doesn’t care about NATO or see Russia as a threat 12:15 Consensus on America’s role in the world has collapsed 13:15 Free trade has been weaponized domestically in America 14:15 Domestic exhaustion in America with leadership rule 15:30 America is operating without a grand foreign policy strategy 16:30 The “primacy” strategy doesn’t apply now that China is a peer competitor 17:30 The rules based order hasn’t tamed China, Russia or Iran 18:15 Isolationism creates security vacuums that rarely stay empty 19:00 Nationalism assumes you can separate from the rest of the world 19:15 Trumpism is a mix of all of the above, but up to Trump’s whims 21:15 China is a competitor & nothing the U.S. does can change that 22:15 Trump wants to remake Venezuelan, Iranian and Cuban society 23:15 U.S. still most powerful country and China couldn’t create global alliance 25:45 Free trade, security & innovation trump protectionism 27:45 The Indo-Pacific will be the theatre of great power competition 28:30 America doesn’t get to choose whether it shapes the world 29:15 U.S. allies are hedging 30:00 Presidential candidates need to lay out strategy for US role in the world 33:00 Memo argues Democrats shouldn't fall for the “Abolish ICE” messaging 34:30 ICE training has been reduced from 5 months to 6 weeks 35:15 Dems should run on plan to reform and retrain ICE 36:30 Democrats need to learn from the “defund the police” mistake 38:30 The issue isn’t ICE, it’s who’s in charge of it & their recruiting 40:00 If you get rid of ICE you’ll need a similar agency to replace it 40:45 ICE will become a wedge issue in primary elections 47:45 Ian Bremmer joins the Chuck ToddCast 49:00 Where we’re going… there are no roads 50:00 The middle east could be heading towards a better place 50:45 Trump gave a wake up call to Europe & others 51:30 America is the top risk to the world & center of instability 52:45 There hasn’t been regime change in Venezuela 54:00 The Venezuelan regime will behave while threatened 55:00 The Venezuelan regime has no interest in sharing power 56:30 National elections could be held in Venezuela in a year 58:00 How much will anti-Americanism affect Latin American elections? 59:15 Domestic security is the #1 voting issue in Latin America 1:02:45 Brazil’s election will be very close 1:04:15 Claudia Scheinbaum has been deft in dealing with Trump 1:05:15 Mexico has been cooperating effectively, negating potential strikes 1:06:15 Talk of strikes in Mexico has ramped up post-Venezuela 1:08:00 There’s been a huge number of political assassinations in Mexico 1:08:45 Trade relations would take a huge hit if America strikes militarily 1:09:45 There’s less urgency from Trump admin for regime change in Cuba 01:10:30 Venezuela and Mexico have been propping up the Cuban regime 1:13:00 Why haven’t we pushed harder for changes in Haiti? 1:14:15 Almost zero chance there are elections in Haiti this year 1:15:00 Chance of military invasion of Greenland is extremely low 1:15:45 A coercion campaign towards Greenland is much more likely 1:17:00 Denmark very open to negotiations addressing American concerns 1:18:15 It’d be very easy to ramp up military operation in Greenland 1:19:00 Trump is undermining the concept of collective security 1:19:45 Greenland is a legacy play for Trump 1:20:15 Trump is causing permanent damage to relationship with Europe 1:21:45 Will the Iranian regime survive the calendar year? 1:23:00 Iranian regime has large capacity to repress the population 1:23:45 Looks like the US military will target Iranian police & paramilitary 1:24:30 Nobody has ever targeted the Iranian judges that send people to die 1:25:15 Collapse of regime doesn’t feel imminent, but likely within a few years 1:26:45 Is the US military stretched thin right now? 1:27:15 What collapse of Iranian regime would mean for the region 1:28:45 Saudi Arabia is speed running a modernization & reform process 1:29:45 Any chance Bibi Netanyahu is out in Israel soon? 1:30:45 Normalization with Saudi Arabia is on the table once Bibi is out 1:31:45 The Israel/Gaza ceasefire was improbable win for Trump 1:32:15 Trump’s transactional negotiating works well in the middle east 1:34:15 Settlements expanding in west bank, that won’t be unwound 1:36:00 Nobody has done more damage to Israel’s reputation than Bibi 1:36:45 Russians giving Trump nothing in negotiations over Ukraine 1:37:15 Europeans are funding Ukraine after Trump cut them off 1:38:15 Europeans bought a veto over Trump selling out Ukraine 1:39:30 Still very little meaningful dissent inside Russia over the war 1:40:30 Russian economy is starting to take more of a hit 1:41:30 Giorgia Meloni is probably most secure leader in western Europe 1:42:45 Far right in Germany will do well in elections 1:43:15 Does China take Taiwan in 2027 & does Trump stand in the way? 1:46:15 Iran clears airspace, U.S. attack imminent? 1:47:45 Ask Chuck 1:48:00 Why do you think Mississippi could become politically competitive? 1:51:00 ICE’s actions in Minnesota don’t feel like training issues? 1:54:00 If Dems win both chambers what are the chances of martial law? 2:01:00 If Europe put a blockade around Greenland, would we still attack? 2:05:15 Why do Americans find the far-left more repugnant than the far-right? 2:09:45 Concerned the market shrugged at threats to Fed independence? 2:14:45 Sports update See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Geopolitical expert and president of The Eurasia Group, Ian Bremmer joins Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging, clear-eyed look at a world entering genuinely uncharted territory—where old rules no longer apply and the United States itself has become a central source of global instability. From Venezuela and Mexico to Europe and Greenland, Bremmer explains how Trump’s transactional, coercive approach is reshaping alliances, undermining collective security, and forcing other countries to adapt fast. The conversation explores why regime change remains elusive in places like Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti; how Latin American elections are increasingly driven by domestic security; and why Europe, shaken by Trump’s unpredictability, is funding Ukraine and rethinking its own defense posture. The discussion then turns to the Middle East and beyond: the durability of the Iranian regime, the limits of U.S. military power, Saudi Arabia’s rapid modernization, and what comes next for Israel once Netanyahu exits the stage. Bremmer also assesses Trump’s surprising effectiveness in Middle East dealmaking, the long-term damage to Israel’s global standing, Russia’s tightening economic squeeze amid continued political repression, and rising far-right momentum in Europe. The episode closes with a sobering look at China, Taiwan, and whether the next few years bring deterrence—or a historic rupture. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the cod Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Ian Bremmer joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:15 Where we’re going… there are no roads 02:15 The middle east could be heading towards a better place 03:00 Trump gave a wake up call to Europe & others 03:45 America is the top risk to the world & center of instability 05:00 There hasn’t been regime change in Venezuela 06:15 The Venezuelan regime will behave while threatened 07:15 The Venezuelan regime has no interest in sharing power 08:45 National elections could be held in Venezuela in a year 10:15 How much will anti-Americanism affect Latin American elections? 11:30 Domestic security is the #1 voting issue in Latin America 15:00 Brazil’s election will be very close 16:30 Claudia Scheinbaum has been deft in dealing with Trump 17:30 Mexico has been cooperating effectively, negating potential strikes 18:30 Talk of strikes in Mexico has ramped up post-Venezuela 20:15 There’s been a huge number of political assassinations in Mexico 21:00 Trade relations would take a huge hit if America strikes militarily 22:00 There’s less urgency from Trump admin for regime change in Cuba 22:45 Venezuela and Mexico have been propping up the Cuban regime 25:15 Why haven’t we pushed harder for changes in Haiti? 26:30 Almost zero chance there are elections in Haiti this year 27:15 Chance of military invasion of Greenland is extremely low 28:00 A coercion campaign towards Greenland is much more likely 29:15 Denmark very open to negotiations addressing American concerns 30:30 It’d be very easy to ramp up military operation in Greenland 31:15 Trump is undermining the concept of collective security 32:00 Greenland is a legacy play for Trump 32:30 Trump is causing permanent damage to relationship with Europe 34:00 Will the Iranian regime survive the calendar year? 35:15 Iranian regime has large capacity to repress the population 36:00 Looks like the US military will target Iranian police & paramilitary 36:45 Nobody has ever targeted the Iranian judges that send people to die 37:30 Collapse of regime doesn’t feel imminent, but likely within a few years 39:00 Is the US military stretched thin right now? 39:30 What collapse of Iranian regime would mean for the region 41:00 Saudi Arabia is speed running a modernization & reform process 42:00 Any chance Bibi Netanyahu is out in Israel soon? 43:00 Normalization with Saudi Arabia is on the table once Bibi is out 44:00 The Israel/Gaza ceasefire was improbable win for Trump 44:30 Trump’s transactional negotiating works well in the middle east 46:30 Settlements expanding in west bank, that won’t be unwound 48:15 Nobody has done more damage to Israel’s reputation than Bibi 49:00 Russians giving Trump nothing in negotiations over Ukraine 49:30 Europeans are funding Ukraine after Trump cut them off 50:30 Europeans bought a veto over Trump selling out Ukraine 51:45 Still very little meaningful dissent inside Russia over the war 52:45 Russian economy is starting to take more of a hit 53:45 Giorgia Meloni is probably most secure leader in western Europe 55:00 Far right in Germany will do well in elections 55:30 Does China take Taiwan in 2027 & does Trump stand in the way? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the country hurtles toward the 2026 midterms, Chuck Todd breaks down why winning in this moment may be more about margins than movements—and why messaging is about to get brutally hard. With a fragmented, exhausted electorate and a president acting emboldened despite weak political standing, Democrats face a defining choice: run as resistance to Donald Trump or position themselves as problem-solvers ready to turn the page. History suggests forward-looking messages work best, especially with independents who vote in self-interest and are tired of constant political warfare, even as Trump continues to dominate GOP primaries and sideline Congress. The conversation also looks at why Republicans’ razor-thin majority leaves them unable to govern, how Trump’s grip on the party could backfire in a general election, and why Democrats are increasingly optimistic about putting the Senate in play—with strong recruiting wins and favorable midterm math. New polling on the Renee Good shooting and ICE shows Trump-aligned tactics playing poorly outside the MAGA base, particularly with independents and women, underscoring just how volatile—and opportunity-rich—the political landscape could be heading into 2026. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 championship winning Miami Hurricanes football teams & answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 1:30 Messaging will be incredibly difficult in this political environment 2:00 If Dems only win house, it will be considered a partial rebuke of Trump 3:00 Trump is weak politically but acting like he has a ton of capital 3:45 Trump feels emboldened to play “Risk” with the world 4:30 Administration will likely back off investigation into Jay Powell 5:45 Talking to a fragmented and exhausted electorate will be tough 7:00 Elections are always won on the margins, not just by the base 8:15 Analysts project their preferences onto the electorate & swing voters 9:15 What is the most effective way to win elections in 2026? 10:15 Democrats will have to balance accountability vs. forward facing 12:00 “Would you work with Donald Trump?” a defining question for Dems 14:00 Dems have to decide whether they are resistance or problem solvers 15:45 History suggests forward looking messages are more effective 16:45 Most voters vote in self-interest, not for the greater good 17:30 After 10 years of Trump, the public is exhausted by politics 18:30 “Turn the page” messaging may appeal to independents 20:15 GOP primaries will be all about Trump, but cause problem in general 21:45 Trump can break ideological rules other Republicans can’t 22:45 GOP majority is so narrow they can’t really govern 23:30 Trump is increasingly uninterested in working with congress 25:00 “Vote GOP to stop impeachment” isn’t enough to woo swing voters 25:45 Growing number of R’s uncomfortable with Trump’s actions 26:30 Dems got a huge recruiting victory in Alaska with Mary Peltola 28:15 Peltola puts Alaska in play, making senate control more possible 29:30 Sherrod Brown has won in midterm years in Ohio 31:00 Democrats much further along in putting senate in play 32:15 Historically the party out of power picks up 4 seats, Dems need 4 34:15 Majority of Americans say Renee Good shooting not justified 35:00 Majority of independents & women say it was unjustified 36:00 82% of respondents were aware of the Renee Good shooting 37:00 57% disapprove of ICE 38:15 ICE + Minneapolis not playing well outside MAGA base 39:15 Kristi Noem is an easy scapegoat, could get dumped 47:00 ToddCast Top 5 Miami Hurricanes football teams if 25’ team wins title 49:45 #1 2001 51:45 #2 1987 53:15 #3 1993 54:45 #4 1983 55:45 #5 2025 59:15 Ask Chuck 59:30 In today’s climate would it benefit a candidate to avoid negative ads? 1:03:00 Are traditional Republicans missing a chance to push back on Trump? 1:10:00 Did Biden cater too much to the far left & hurt appeal with swing voters? 1:12:00 How is public media likely to continue on? 1:14:30 Can Democrats make Mississippi competitive? 1:20:15 Are we still capable of recognizing normalization of democratic collapse? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the country hurtles toward the 2026 midterms, Chuck Todd breaks down why winning in this moment may be more about margins than movements—and why messaging is about to get brutally hard. With a fragmented, exhausted electorate and a president acting emboldened despite weak political standing, Democrats face a defining choice: run as resistance to Donald Trump or position themselves as problem-solvers ready to turn the page. History suggests forward-looking messages work best, especially with independents who vote in self-interest and are tired of constant political warfare, even as Trump continues to dominate GOP primaries and sideline Congress. The conversation also looks at why Republicans’ razor-thin majority leaves them unable to govern, how Trump’s grip on the party could backfire in a general election, and why Democrats are increasingly optimistic about putting the Senate in play—with strong recruiting wins and favorable midterm math. New polling on the Renee Good shooting and ICE shows Trump-aligned tactics playing poorly outside the MAGA base, particularly with independents and women, underscoring just how volatile—and opportunity-rich—the political landscape could be heading into 2026. Then, Jon Slavet, a tech entrepreneur and Republican candidate for California governor, joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss why he's entering one of the nation's most challenging political races. Slavet argues that while national politics dominates headlines, state and local governance has far more impact on people's daily lives—yet California's local politics receives inadequate attention despite intense interest from outsiders. He advocates for radical transparency in government, criticizing the use of NDAs in taxpayer-funded projects and calling out the influence of union spending. Addressing his controversial pursuit of Trump's endorsement despite never voting for him, Slavet positions himself as someone who sees Trump as an effective disrupter but not a builder, and he aligns with the administration on housing policy, particularly prioritizing temporary shelter over California's $1 million-per-unit permanent housing approach. Running as a Republican in deep-blue California, Slavet believes the state's pleasant weather has masked serious problems affecting middle and lower-income residents while the wealthy thrive. He proposes declaring an "affordability emergency" on day one, scrapping the high-speed rail project, and using AI to root out the billions lost to waste and fraud in California's healthcare system. Slavet defends his decision to run as a Republican rather than an independent, arguing that party identification remains essential for effectiveness despite his moderate positions on social issues like same-sex marriage and abortion. He contends that polls show half of Californians would support the "right kind" of Republican, and he's betting his business success and willingness to challenge both parties' orthodoxies will resonate with voters frustrated by the state's affordability crisis and regulatory burdens on small businesses. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 championship winning Miami Hurricanes football teams & answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:45 Messaging will be incredibly difficult in this political environment 04:15 If Dems only win house, it will be considered a partial rebuke of Trump 05:15 Trump is weak politically but acting like he has a ton of capital 06:00 Trump feels emboldened to play “Risk” with the world 06:45 Administration will likely back off investigation into Jay Powell 08:00 Talking to a fragmented and exhausted electorate will be tough 09:15 Elections are always won on the margins, not just by the base 10:30 Analysts project their preferences onto the electorate & swing voters 11:30 What is the most effective way to win elections in 2026? 12:30 Democrats will have to balance accountability vs. forward facing 14:15 “Would you work with Donald Trump?” a defining question for Dems 16:15 Dems have to decide whether they are resistance or problem solvers 18:00 History suggests forward looking messages are more effective 19:00 Most voters vote in self-interest, not for the greater good 19:45 After 10 years of Trump, the public is exhausted by politics 20:45 "Turn the page” messaging may appeal to independents 22:30 GOP primaries will be all about Trump, but cause problem in general 24:00 Trump can break ideological rules other Republicans can’t 25:00 GOP majority is so narrow they can’t really govern 25:45 Trump is increasingly uninterested in working with congress 27:15 “Vote GOP to stop impeachment” isn’t enough to woo swing voters 28:00 Growing number of R’s uncomfortable with Trump’s actions 28:45 Dems got a huge recruiting victory in Alaska with Mary Peltola 30:30 Peltola puts Alaska in play, making senate control more possible 31:45 Sherrod Brown has won in midterm years in Ohio 33:15 Democrats much further along in putting senate in play 34:30 Historically the party out of power picks up 4 seats, Dems need 4 36:30 Majority of Americans say Renee Good shooting not justified 37:15 Majority of independents & women say it was unjustified 38:15 82% of respondents were aware of the Renee Good shooting 39:15 57% disapprove of ICE 40:30 ICE + Minneapolis not playing well outside MAGA base 41:30 Kristi Noem is an easy scapegoat, could get dumped 49:00 Jon Slavet joins the Chuck ToddCast 50:45 Why enter politics and run for governor of California? 52:30 It’s fraught & dangerous to run for office in this political climate 53:15 National politics get attention, state & local more impactful 54:45 Serious lack of attention to local politics in California 56:00 There’s a ton of interest in California from people outside it 57:15 NDA’s should not be allowed in taxpayer funded projects 58:45 Major government discussions need more transparency in CA 59:15 Unions raise $1B in CA and spend $300 on political donations 1:00:00 Why seek Trump’s endorsement after not voting for him 3x? 1:01:15 Trump is good as a disrupter but not as a builder 1:02:00 Where do you agree with Trump on policy? 1:02:30 HUD’s new policy prioritizes temporary, not permanent housing 1:03:30 Permanent housing for homeless costs $1M per unit in CA 1:05:00 The priority should be getting homeless into temp housing ASAP 1:06:00 Could you have been as successful in a state other than CA? 1:07:15 California’s great weather masks many of its problems 1:08:30 Tech doesn’t suffer from regulatory issues like other industries 1:09:15 Middle & lower income Californians are suffering, rich doing great 1:11:30 Half of California’s work for small businesses that are overtaxed 1:14:00 Where will you find the money to fund your proposals? 1:14:30 California should scrap the high speed rail to nowhere 1:15:30 Jon would declare an affordability emergency on day 1 1:17:00 California’s healthcare costs $160B, Medicare fraud is 10–15% 1:18:30 AI can be used to root out waste, fraud and abuse in state budget 1:20:00 Californians pay huge taxes on fuel & energy 1:21:30 Why run as a Republican and not an independent? 1:23:00 We should be way beyond the same-sex marriage debate 1:24:00 Abortion is settled law in California 1:25:30 Why Jon was against Prop 50 in California 1:26:30 Gerrymandering is terrible for democracy 1:28:15 Running as independent isn’t effective, people identify w/ parties 1:29:45 The race will be a Trump referendum, how does a Republican win? 1:31:30 Polls show half of CA will vote for the “right kind” of Republican 1:32:45 CA has had plenty of billionaires run & fail to win elections 1:35:00 Has Silicon Valley been regulated enough? 1:36:15 AI boom has been critical for San Francisco’s comeback 1:37:45 Would you ban social media for kids under 16? 1:39:30 Would you ban phones in schools? 1:40:15 How do you convince CA voters the wealth tax is a bad idea? 1:42:15 How would you work in a bipartisan manner with Dem state house? 1:45:00 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Jon Slavet 1:45:30 There’s a lack of star power in CA governor race 1:46:15 ToddCast Top 5 Miami Hurricanes football teams if ’25 team wins title 1:49:00 #1 2001 1:51:00 #2 1987 1:52:30 #3 1993 1:54:00 #4 1983 1:55:00 #5 2025 1:58:30 Ask Chuck 1:58:45 In today’s climate would it benefit a candidate to avoid negative ads? 2:02:15 Are traditional Republicans missing a chance to push back on Trump? 2:09:15 Did Biden cater too much to the far left & hurt appeal with swing voters? 2:11:15 How is public media likely to continue on? 2:13:45 Can Democrats make Mississippi competitive? 2:19:30 Are we still capable of recognizing normalization of democratic collapse? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jon Slavet, a tech entrepreneur and Republican candidate for California governor, joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss why he's entering one of the nation's most challenging political races. Slavet argues that while national politics dominates headlines, state and local governance has far more impact on people's daily lives—yet California's local politics receives inadequate attention despite intense interest from outsiders. He advocates for radical transparency in government, criticizing the use of NDAs in taxpayer-funded projects and calling out the influence of union spending. Addressing his controversial pursuit of Trump's endorsement despite never voting for him, Slavet positions himself as someone who sees Trump as an effective disrupter but not a builder, and he aligns with the administration on housing policy, particularly prioritizing temporary shelter over California's $1 million-per-unit permanent housing approach. Running as a Republican in deep-blue California, Slavet believes the state's pleasant weather has masked serious problems affecting middle and lower-income residents while the wealthy thrive. He proposes declaring an "affordability emergency" on day one, scrapping the high-speed rail project, and using AI to root out the billions lost to waste and fraud in California's healthcare system. Slavet defends his decision to run as a Republican rather than an independent, arguing that party identification remains essential for effectiveness despite his moderate positions on social issues like same-sex marriage and abortion. He contends that polls show half of Californians would support the "right kind" of Republican, and he's betting his business success and willingness to challenge both parties' orthodoxies will resonate with voters frustrated by the state's affordability crisis and regulatory burdens on small businesses. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Jon Slavet joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:45 Why enter politics and run for governor of California? 03:30 It’s fraught & dangerous to run for office in this political climate 04:15 National politics get attention, state & local more impactful 05:45 Serious lack of attention to local politics in California 07:00 There’s a ton of interest in California from people outside it 08:15 NDA’s should not be allowed in taxpayer funded projects 09:45 Major government discussions need more transparency in CA 10:15 Unions raise $1B in CA and spend $300 on political donations 11:00 Why seek Trump’s endorsement after not voting for him 3x? 12:15 Trump is good as a disrupter but not as a builder 13:00 Where do you agree with Trump on policy? 13:30 HUD’s new policy prioritizes temporary, not permanent housing 14:30 Permanent housing for homeless costs $1M per unit in CA 16:00 The priority should be getting homeless into temp housing ASAP 17:00 Could you have been as successful in a state other than CA? 18:15 California’s great weather masks many of its problems  19:30 Tech doesn’t suffer from regulatory issues like other industries 20:15 Middle & lower income California’s are suffering, rich doing great 22:30 Half of California’s work for small businesses that are overtaxed 25:00 Where will you find the money to fund your proposals? 25:30 California should scrap the high speed rail to nowhere 26:30 Jon would declare an affordability emergency on day 1 28:00 California’s healthcare costs $160B, Medicare fraud is 10-15% 29:30 AI can be used to root out waste, fraud and abuse in state budget 31:00 Californians pay huge taxes on fuel & energy 32:30 Why run as a Republican and not an independent? 34:00 We should be way beyond the same-sex marriage debate 35:00 Abortion is settled law in California  36:30 Why Jon was against Prop 50 in California 37:30 Gerrymandering is terrible for democracy 39:15 Running as independent isn’t effective, people identify w/parties 40:45 The race will be a Trump referendum, how does a Republican win? 42:30 Polls show half of CA will vote for the “right kind” of Republican 43:45 CA has had plenty of billionaires run & fail to win elections 46:00 Has Silicon Valley been regulated enough? 47:15 AI boom has been critical for San Francisco’s comeback 48:45 Would you ban social media for kids under 16? 50:30 Would you ban phones in schools? 51:15 How do you convince CA voters the wealth tax is a bad idea? 53:15 How would you work in a bipartisan manner with Dem state house? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Chuck ToddCast, Chuck Todd digs into a growing sense of unease shared across the political spectrum, as 2026 looms as a “year of living dangerously” at home and abroad. From mass migration, rising nationalism, and AI-driven economic fear to flashpoints in Venezuela, Iran, and beyond, the conversation explores why so many global and domestic headlines feel like potential tipping points. Chuck argues the world is less stable—and America more divided—under Donald Trump, whose administration he says views chaos and division as sources of power rather than problems to solve. The episode draws stark parallels between the Minneapolis ICE shooting and the Ruby Ridge standoff, examining how the rush to control narratives, the politicization of law enforcement, and the erosion of civil liberties can fracture public trust. The warning is sobering: America may ultimately be okay, but right now it’s a tinderbox—and a country that fails to protect the rights of its own citizens risks losing its moral authority everywhere else. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit Woodrow Wilson’s “Fourteen Points” speech that laid out the vision for the 20th century world order & warns that retreating from it could be devastating for both the United State & the world. He also answers listeners’ questions in the Ask Chuck segment & previews the national championship between Indiana & Miami. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 05:30 People on both sides of the aisle worried if we’ll be ok 07:00 2026 will be the “year of living dangerously” 07:45 We are in uncharted waters and don’t know where it’s headed 09:30 Mass migration has led to rising nationalism in USA & Europe 10:00 Globalization caused a sense of displacement 11:00 AI will create even more fear than globalization 12:15 The political response to economic anxiety has failed 14:00 We still don’t know what will happen with Venezuela 14:30 Iranian regime likely will fall in 2026 15:45 It’s clear Trump has no plan for Venezuela 17:30 Latin America is deeply skeptical of American power 19:00 Every headline feels like a tipping point 20:00 Trump could take military action against many countries 20:30 The world is less safe because Donald Trump is president 21:45 Trump admin believes division bolsters their power 23:00 On social media, it feels like America is on the brink of civil war 24:00 America feels like a tinderbox 25:45 ICE is being trained to treat citizens as threats, not constituents 27:30 Law enforcement is supposed to be a deescalator  30:15 We’ve been living through a “vote against” political roller coaster 32:00 Voters don’t like chaos, & Trump is neither calm or stable 33:00 Elements of the American right have given up on democracy 34:15 America will eventually be ok, but is not ok in this moment 34:45 The sparks of military clash are burning around the world 37:00 Parallels between Ruby Ridge standoff & Minneapolis ICE shooting 39:15 A confrontation occurred between Weaver’s son & law enforcement 40:00 FBI sniper shot Weaver’s wife while holding her baby 40:30 Unlike Minneapolis, government held investigations after Ruby Ridge 41:30 Ruby Ridge led to militia formations & deep state conspiracies 42:15 Administration tried to solidify narrative before facts in Minneapolis 44:00 The left sees Renee Good as a victim, the right sees justification 45:00 The Trump administration has politicized the rule of law 46:00 If U.S. doesn’t respect rights of its citizens, it can’t take moral high ground 52:45 ToddCast Time Machine – January 8th, 1918 53:30 Woodrow Wilson lays out blueprint for 20th century world order 54:15 America tried to shape the world with ideas, not empire 55:30 Wilson’s Fourteen Points speech rejected premise that caused WW1 57:00 Wilson advances transparency, diplomacy & idealistic foreign policy 58:00 Wilson calls for economic interdependence & free trade 59:00 Wilson proposes self-determination over empires 1:00:15 Some American conservatives have rejected Wilsonianism for 100 years 1:01:45 Wilson wanted America’s role to be an arbiter, not a conqueror 1:02:45 In 1919, Wilson’s vision was confronted by power politics 1:03:30 The U.S. proposes the League of Nations but doesn’t join it 1:04:15 Every global geopolitical debate traces back to Wilson’s speech 1:05:30 The post WW2 world order benefitted America, & it’s falling apart 1:07:00 Ask Chuck 1:07:45 Reaction to the ICE shooting in Minneapolis? 1:09:15 Why hasn’t the US taken action to remove the leader of Haiti? 1:13:45 Could Rahm Emmanuel beat Gavin Newsom for Dem nomination? 1:17:00 Would an attack on Colombia be a mistake for the Trump administration? 1:23:00 Miami vs Indiana national championship preview See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Chuck ToddCast, Chuck Todd digs into a growing sense of unease shared across the political spectrum, as 2026 looms as a “year of living dangerously” at home and abroad. From mass migration, rising nationalism, and AI-driven economic fear to flashpoints in Venezuela, Iran, and beyond, the conversation explores why so many global and domestic headlines feel like potential tipping points. Chuck argues the world is less stable—and America more divided—under Donald Trump, whose administration he says views chaos and division as sources of power rather than problems to solve. The episode draws stark parallels between the Minneapolis ICE shooting and the Ruby Ridge standoff, examining how the rush to control narratives, the politicization of law enforcement, and the erosion of civil liberties can fracture public trust. The warning is sobering: America may ultimately be okay, but right now it’s a tinderbox—and a country that fails to protect the rights of its own citizens risks losing its moral authority everywhere else. Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi joins Chuck Todd to break down what the numbers actually say about the U.S. economy—and why the headline optimism may be masking deeper problems. Zandi explains how upcoming tax refunds and delayed tax cuts will temporarily juice growth, even as that stimulus is entirely deficit-financed. Interest rate cuts are likely coming, but cautiously, and while AI stocks are soaring, the broader market is barely treading water. Beneath the surface, job creation has stalled, manufacturing jobs are shrinking under tariffs, and deportations aren’t translating into more employment for native-born workers as many expected. The conversation widens to a fragile global outlook, with Trump-era protectionism accelerating deglobalization and reshaping trade, housing, and labor markets. Zandi details why college-educated workers are now seeing the sharpest rise in unemployment, how AI skills will define the next generation of jobs, and why renting often makes more sense than buying right now. Looking ahead to 2026, he warns of elevated geopolitical and financial-system risks, an AI-driven stock market that could be vulnerable to a correction, GDP growth likely under 3%, and a job market that may struggle to grow at all. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit Woodrow Wilson’s “Fourteen Points” speech that laid out the vision for the 20th century world order & warns that retreating from it could be devastating for both the United State & the world. He also answers listeners’ questions in the Ask Chuck segment & previews the national championship between Indiana & Miami. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 05:30 People on both sides of the aisle worried if we’ll be ok 07:00 2026 will be the “year of living dangerously” 07:45 We are in uncharted waters and don’t know where it’s headed 09:30 Mass migration has led to rising nationalism in USA & Europe 10:00 Globalization caused a sense of displacement 11:00 AI will create even more fear than globalization 12:15 The political response to economic anxiety has failed 14:00 We still don’t know what will happen with Venezuela 14:30 Iranian regime likely will fall in 2026 15:45 It’s clear Trump has no plan for Venezuela 17:30 Latin America is deeply skeptical of American power 19:00 Every headline feels like a tipping point 20:00 Trump could take military action against many countries 20:30 The world is less safe because Donald Trump is president 21:45 Trump admin believes division bolsters their power 23:00 On social media, it feels like America is on the brink of civil war 24:00 America feels like a tinderbox 25:45 ICE is being trained to treat citizens as threats, not constituents 27:30 Law enforcement is supposed to be a deescalator  30:15 We’ve been living through a “vote against” political roller coaster 32:00 Voters don’t like chaos, & Trump is neither calm or stable 33:00 Elements of the American right have given up on democracy 34:15 America will eventually be ok, but is not ok in this moment 34:45 The sparks of military clash are burning around the world 37:00 Parallels between Ruby Ridge standoff & Minneapolis ICE shooting 39:15 A confrontation occurred between Weaver’s son & law enforcement 40:00 FBI sniper shot Weaver’s wife while holding her baby 40:30 Unlike Minneapolis, government held investigations after Ruby Ridge 41:30 Ruby Ridge led to militia formations & deep state conspiracies 42:15 Administration tried to solidify narrative before facts in Minneapolis 44:00 The left sees Renee Good as a victim, the right sees justification 45:00 The Trump administration has politicized the rule of law 46:00 If U.S. doesn’t respect rights of its citizens, it can’t take moral high ground 53:15 Mark Zandi joins the Chuck ToddCast 54:30 What do the numbers say about the state of the economy? 55:15 Big Beautiful Bill tax cuts about to start showing up 56:00 Tax refunds will add juice to the economy 56:45 All the “juice” is deficit financed and will only be temporary 57:45 Interest rates cuts likely to be cautious but will continue 59:00 AI stocks on fire, rest of the stocks are just up slightly 1:00:45 The economy isn’t creating any jobs despite investment 1:01:30 Job creation flatlined after “Liberation Day” 1:02:45 Manufacturing has been losing jobs due to tariffs 1:04:00 Are deportations creating more jobs for native born workers? 1:04:45 Jobs normally taken by foreign born workers aren’t being filled 1:06:00 Companies aren’t laying off, they’re just not hiring new employees 1:07:15 Trade deficit reportedly down, but is that actually a good thing? 1:08:00 Imports of pharmaceuticals have collapsed due to tariffs 1:08:45 Tariffs haven’t actually addressed the trade deficit 1:10:15 Tariff revenue shows the stated tariff rates aren’t holding true 1:11:30 Will the K-shaped economy continue through 2026? 1:13:00 Economy is affecting different income groups wildly different 1:14:15 Partisans believe economy is better depending on who is president 1:15:30 How do you price in Trump taking Greenland & ending NATO? 1:16:15 Economies around the world are in a similar, fragile place like the U.S. 1:17:15 The U.S. is rapidly pulling away from the rest of the world 1:18:15 Trump’s protectionism has been contagious to other countries 1:19:30 The world is preparing for a deglobalization 1:21:30 China hasn’t really taken advantage of U.S. global retreat 1:22:15 Countries that embrace immigration are the most successful 1:23:15 No country benefited more from globalization than China 1:25:00 USMCA has to be renegotiated, will probably remain status quo 1:27:15 Job market for new college graduates is very tough 1:28:00 Rise in unemployment is almost exclusively college educated 1:29:00 Proficiency in AI will be critical in future jobs 1:30:00 Classical higher education could make a comeback 1:32:00 Home ownership is unaffordable for many Americans 1:32:45 It’s better to rent than to buy in this market 1:33:45 There’s not a lot of buyers for prospective home sellers 1:34:30 Raising the capital gains exclusion could generate more sellers 1:37:00 There’s a chance the GOP could lose house majority before November 1:37:30 What risks that could upend the economy that concern you the most? 1:38:15 Geopolitical risk is very elevated 1:38:45 Stock market being buoyed by AI, could be ripe for correction 1:40:15 If there’s a major problem it will be in the financial system 1:40:45 If an AI company defaults, it could change the psychology of lenders 1:43:00 GDP growth will be under 3% in 2026 1:44:00 Will be tough to imagine positive job growth in 2026 1:46:15 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Mark Zandi 1:47:00 ToddCast Time Machine – January 8th, 1918 1:47:45 Woodrow Wilson lays out blueprint for 20th century world order 1:48:30 America tried to shape the world with ideas, not empire 1:49:45 Wilson’s Fourteen Points speech rejected premise that caused WW1 1:51:15 Wilson advances transparency, diplomacy & idealistic foreign policy 1:52:15 Wilson calls for economic interdependence & free trade 1:53:15 Wilson proposes self-determination over empires 1:54:30 Some American conservatives have rejected Wilsonianism for 100 years 1:56:00 Wilson wanted America’s role to be an arbiter, not a conqueror 1:57:00 In 1919, Wilson’s vision was confronted by power politics 1:57:45 The U.S. proposes the League of Nations but doesn’t join it 1:58:30 Every global geopolitical debate traces back to Wilson’s speech 1:59:45 The post-WW2 world order benefitted America, & it’s falling apart 2:01:15 Ask Chuck 2:02:00 Reaction to the ICE shooting in Minneapolis? 2:03:30 Why hasn’t the US taken action to remove the leader of Haiti? 2:08:00 Could Rahm Emanuel beat Gavin Newsom for Dem nomination? 2:11:15 Would an attack on Colombia be a mistake for the Trump administration? 2:17:15 Miami vs Indiana national championship preview See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi joins Chuck Todd to break down what the numbers actually say about the U.S. economy—and why the headline optimism may be masking deeper problems. Zandi explains how upcoming tax refunds and delayed tax cuts will temporarily juice growth, even as that stimulus is entirely deficit-financed. Interest rate cuts are likely coming, but cautiously, and while AI stocks are soaring, the broader market is barely treading water. Beneath the surface, job creation has stalled, manufacturing jobs are shrinking under tariffs, and deportations aren’t translating into more employment for native-born workers as many expected. The conversation widens to a fragile global outlook, with Trump-era protectionism accelerating deglobalization and reshaping trade, housing, and labor markets. Zandi details why college-educated workers are now seeing the sharpest rise in unemployment, how AI skills will define the next generation of jobs, and why renting often makes more sense than buying right now. Looking ahead to 2026, he warns of elevated geopolitical and financial-system risks, an AI-driven stock market that could be vulnerable to a correction, GDP growth likely under 3%, and a job market that may struggle to grow at all. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Mark Zandi joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:15 What do the numbers say about the state of the economy? 02:00 Big Beautiful Bill tax cuts about to start showing up 02:45 Tax refunds will add juice to the economy 03:30 All the “juice” is deficit financed and will only be temporary 04:30 Interest rates cuts likely to be cautious but will continue 05:45 AI stocks on fire, rest of the stocks are just up slightly 07:30 The economy isn’t creating any jobs despite investment 08:15 Job creation flatlined after “Liberation Day” 09:30 Manufacturing has been losing jobs due to tariffs 10:45 Are deportations creating more jobs for native born workers? 11:30 Jobs normally taken by foreign born workers aren’t being filled 12:45 Companies aren’t laying off, they’re just not hiring new employees 14:00 Trade deficit reportedly down, but is that actually a good thing? 14:45 Imports of pharmaceuticals have collapsed due to tariffs 15:30 Tariffs haven’t actually addressed the trade deficit 17:00 Tariff revenue shows the stated tariff rates aren’t holding true 18:15 Will the K-shaped economy continue through 2026? 19:45 Economy is affecting different income groups wildly different 21:00 Partisans believe economy is better depending on who is president 22:15 How do you price in Trump taking Greenland & ending NATO? 23:00 Economies around the world are in a similar, fragile place like the U.S. 24:00 The U.S. is rapidly pulling away from the rest of the world 25:00 Trump’s protectionism has been contagious to other countries 26:15 The world is preparing for a deglobalization 28:15 China hasn’t really taken advantage of U.S. global retreat 29:00 Countries that embrace immigration are the most successful 30:00 No country benefited more from globalization than China 31:45 USMCA has to be renegotiated, will probably remain status quo 34:00 Job market for new college graduates is very tough 34:45 Rise in unemployment is almost exclusively college educated 35:45 Proficiency in AI will be critical in future jobs 36:45 Classical higher education could make a comeback 38:45 Home ownership is unaffordable for many Americans 39:30 It’s better to rent than to buy in this market 40:30 There’s not a lot of buyers for prospective home sellers 41:15 Raising the capital gains exclusion could generate more sellers 43:45 There’s a chance the GOP could lose house majority before November 44:15 What risks that could upend the economy that concern you the most? 45:00 Geopolitical risk is very elevated 45:30 Stock market being buoyed by AI, could be ripe for correction 47:00 If there’s a major problem it will be in the financial system 47:30 If an AI company defaults, it could change the psychology of lenders 49:45 GDP growth will be under 3% in 2026 50:45 Will be tough to imagine positive job growth in 2026 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck examines the deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis and the political, moral, and institutional failures surrounding it. As the administration rushes to rationalize the killing rather than investigate it—despite video evidence and eyewitness accounts that contradict its narrative—Chuck unpacks how DHS rhetoric, recruitment tactics, and targeted ICE deployments appear designed to provoke confrontation and fuel fear. The conversation moves beyond partisan lines to ask what accountability should look like when federal power is used this way, why affected communities are unlikely to trust the investigation, and how the tragedy is being exploited as propaganda. Ultimately, Chuck argues this moment reveals both the fragility and resilience of American democracy, the political danger facing Republicans, and why “whataboutism” has become one of the most corrosive forces in our national discourse. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction on ICE shooting in Minneapolis 01:00 Nobody in administration wants to investigate ICE shooting 02:15 J.D. Vance just idly speculated that ICE was in the right 04:15 DHS recruiting has a militaristic undertone 06:00 DHS has used propaganda to fuel rage in ICE recruits 07:15 Administration is rationalizing the death rather than lamenting it 08:30 There’s an intentionality to which cities are targeted by ICE 09:45 Administration is trying to create confrontation in order to crack down 10:30 This isn’t about left vs. right, it’s about right vs. wrong 11:30 Video contradicts Kristi Noem’s version of events, Tom Homan backtracks 12:15 Police forces don’t normally jump to conclusions 14:15 Campaign to demonize Somalis in Minneapolis led to ICE deployment 15:30 Deployments are meant to maximize, not minimize exposure for raids 16:30 Feds taking control of investigation, community won’t believe outcome 18:00 Administration is using woman’s death as a piece of propaganda 19:00 Trump is acting like his time is running out & he can do what he wants 20:15 No eyewitness accounts match story admin is telling 22:15 Republicans are in huge trouble politically 23:15 American democracy is both fragile and strong 25:00 Admin doesn’t have credibility to provide trustworthy investigation 27:30 ICE needs new leadership and a better code of conduct 29:15 Government is looking to exploit the difficulty in trying to find truth 30:30 Public is supportive of some of Trump’s goals, but appalled by tactics 32:30 Trump doesn’t tolerate any disagreement from within the GOP 35:00 The worst virus in American politics is “Whataboutism” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd is on vacation but the fresh content keeps coming! Chuck empties the 2025 mailbag and answers a variety of listeners’ questions regarding media, politics, history and sports.   If you’d like to ask Chuck a question, shoot us an email at [email protected]   Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!   Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:45 As a network on public airwaves, shouldn’t CBS News be neutral? 09:00 How should public figures react to being the targets of satire? 15:00 Why is there a mass exodus of staff from the Heritage Foundation? 18:30 Thoughts on the infusion of prediction markets with political coverage? 23:15 How long does it take for a presidential term to become irrelevant? 30:30 What if Biden stuck with 1 term promise and reformed the presidency? 35:15 What if Russia never sold Alaska to the United States? 38:00 Was the country really united in grief over Garfield’s passing? 42:30 Thoughts on LeBron episode? Magic Johnson should be in GOAT debate 45:15 What one word would you use to describe the year ahead? 49:15 Why don’t we see monopoly concerns over the trading card market? 53:30 Any book recommendations to help understand Roy Cohn? 57:00 Miami’s connection to the cold war portrayed in “Covert City”? 58:30 How does it feel to be an independent journalist after years with NBC? 59:30 Are more people “seeing the light” as MAGA’s coalition cracks? 1:00:45 What are your takeaways from interviewing Andy Beshear? 1:06:00 How did you become a Packers fan after growing up in Miami? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd is on vacation but the fresh content keeps coming! Chuck empties the 2025 mailbag and answers a variety of listeners’ questions focused on politics & policy, the future of Trump & MAGA, and naturally… one on his beloved Green Bay Packers.   If you’d like to ask Chuck a question, shoot us an email at [email protected] Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:30 The need for real fiscal reform to try to tackle the national debt? 06:15 Anyone in MAGA that could reunite the two wings of the GOP? 13:30 Would the ACA receive the same blowback if Romney was president? 18:00 Sources to track the Talarico vs. Crockett race in Texas? 22:30 Will Republicans make trans rights a central issue in 2026? 26:30 Will flawed AI content moderation become a bigger issue? 32:15 How could the Trump administration try to rig the 2026 election? 36:30 Thoughts on proposed constitutional amendments? 44:00 Is it a zero-sum game between legacy & independent media? 52:30 Concerns with the Packers? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck tackles one of the most consequential counterfactuals in modern history: what if 9/11 never happened? He explores how the attacks fundamentally altered the American psyche, shattered a post–Cold War sense of security, and transformed how Americans consume news, driving the demand for instant information and accelerating the technologies that now dominate our lives. The conversation examines how U.S. politics, foreign policy, and polarization might have evolved without the War on Terror—no Patriot Act, no Department of Homeland Security, no Iraq War—and whether the political forces that produced figures like Trump and Obama would have emerged at all. From global relationships with Russia and China to the delayed reckoning over economic inequality and partisan division, this episode traces the ripple effects of an event that reshaped everything, and asks what might have filled the vacuum if it had never occurred. Finally, Chuck reacts to his Miami Hurricanes upsetting Ohio State in the college football playoff and makes his predictions for the upcoming games. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:00 “What if” 9/11 never happened? 03:45 9/11 changed how Americans consumed information 04:30 9/11 was the first true “hit” on the homeland 05:30 9/11 create a new sense of vulnerability in America 06:45 The trauma from 9/11 changed the American psyche 08:45 Prior to 9/11, America was living in a post cold-war calm 09:30 In 2000, the west was trying to court Russia into joining them 10:15 Both parties will bullish on integrating China into the world 11:45 Bush would have been more western hemisphere focused 12:45 Without 9/11, Washington would have been more polarized 13:45 The Bush presidency essentially began on 9/11 15:30 9/11 triggered a “need” for immediate information 16:30 Social media is created to provide immediate info 17:15 There’s no Patriot Act, Iraq war, War on Terror without 9/11 18:30 There would be no Department of Homeland Security 19:45 Homeland Security eventually became an immigration agency 21:45 The isolationist strain of MAGA may not materialize 23:15 Some of the responses to 9/11 led to rise of MAGA politics 25:00 9/11 created a new sense of urgency for following the news 26:15 9/11 sped up the adoption of new information technologies 28:15 Do we not have Trump or Obama without hyper-engaged politics? 29:00 John Kerry probably isn’t the nominee in 2004 without 9/11 30:30 What replaces 9/11 if it never happened? 30:45 Financial crisis still happens anyways 31:45 9/11 delayed the “uniparty reckoning” 32:45 Occupy Wall Street would supplant Tea Party as driving force in 2010 34:00 Without Iraq War, there’s less distinction between Clinton & Obama 35:30 9/11 delayed polarization, economic issues by a few years 37:30 “If 9/11 never happened” final conclusions 40:30 “What Ifs” left on the cutting room floor 49:15 Chuck’s college football playoff reaction See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck tackles one of the most consequential counterfactuals in modern history: what if 9/11 never happened? He explores how the attacks fundamentally altered the American psyche, shattered a post–Cold War sense of security, and transformed how Americans consume news, driving the demand for instant information and accelerating the technologies that now dominate our lives. The conversation examines how U.S. politics, foreign policy, and polarization might have evolved without the War on Terror—no Patriot Act, no Department of Homeland Security, no Iraq War—and whether the political forces that produced figures like Trump and Obama would have emerged at all. From global relationships with Russia and China to the delayed reckoning over economic inequality and partisan division, this episode traces the ripple effects of an event that reshaped everything, and asks what might have filled the vacuum if it had never occurred. Then, Jonathan Martin, the politics bureau chief and senior political columnist at POLITICO joins the Chuck ToddCast to walk through his bold predictions for the political landscape heading into 2026, starting with the idea that Donald Trump’s second term is less about governing and more about validation, legacy, and self-mythmaking. The conversation explores Trump as a pop-culture figure obsessed with monuments, family dynasty, and loyalty—rather than policy—along with why the country proved vulnerable to a political huckster in the first place. Martin breaks down why a Supreme Court vacancy could reshape the cycle, why GOP turnout may sag without Trump on the ballot, and which Senate races—from Nebraska to Florida to Ohio—could unexpectedly come into play. The episode also looks ahead to the fault lines inside both parties: potential Trump family bids, early jockeying for the post-Trump GOP, and Democratic candidates who may help—or hurt—their own chances. Martin weighs in on foreign policy flashpoints that could define the next two years, from Iran to Venezuela to Trump’s transactional approach with China, as well as internal administration instability and cabinet shakeups. Plus, sharp takes on approval ratings, California’s unsettled political bench, why political dynasties still matter, and—because it wouldn’t be a Chuck Todd conversation without it—a few college football predictions to close things out. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:00 “What if” 9/11 never happened? 03:45 9/11 changed how Americans consumed information 04:30 9/11 was the first true “hit” on the homeland 05:30 9/11 create a new sense of vulnerability in America 06:45 The trauma from 9/11 changed the American psyche 08:45 Prior to 9/11, America was living in a post cold-war calm 09:30 In 2000, the west was trying to court Russia into joining them 10:15 Both parties will bullish on integrating China into the world 11:45 Bush would have been more western hemisphere focused 12:45 Without 9/11, Washington would have been more polarized 13:45 The Bush presidency essentially began on 9/11 15:30 9/11 triggered a “need” for immediate information 16:30 Social media is created to provide immediate info 17:15 There’s no Patriot Act, Iraq war, War on Terror without 9/11 18:30 There would be no Department of Homeland Security 19:45 Homeland Security eventually became an immigration agency 21:45 The isolationist strain of MAGA may not materialize 23:15 Some of the responses to 9/11 led to rise of MAGA politics 25:00 9/11 created a new sense of urgency for following the news 26:15 9/11 sped up the adoption of new information technologies 28:15 Do we not have Trump or Obama without hyper-engaged politics? 29:00 John Kerry probably isn’t the nominee in 2004 without 9/11 30:30 What replaces 9/11 if it never happened? 30:45 Financial crisis still happens anyways 31:45 9/11 delayed the “uniparty reckoning” 32:45 Occupy Wall Street would supplant Tea Party as driving force in 2010 34:00 Without Iraq War, there’s less distinction between Clinton & Obama 35:30 9/11 delayed polarization, economic issues by a few years 37:30 “If 9/11 never happened” final conclusions 40:30 “What Ifs” left on the cutting room floor 49:00 Jonathan Martin joins the Chuck ToddCast 51:15 Of his 16 predictions for 2026, which ones stood out the most? 52:00 Trump’s second term is a victory lap, more about validation 53:00 Trump is obsessed with building monuments to himself 54:30 Trump doesn’t take the job seriously 56:30 Trump will likely slap his name on the memorial bridge 57:00 Trump is most like Teddy Roosevelt 58:15 Trump is more a pop culture archetype than a political one 59:00 The country turned out to be vulnerable to a huckster 59:30 Prediction of a Supreme Court seat coming open in 2026 1:00:30 Alito more likely to retire than Thomas 1:01:45 By October, it will be clear that senate is in play 1:03:00 Nebraska Dems cleared field for Dan Osborne 1:04:00 Trump not being on ballot could really suppress GOP turnout 1:05:30 Rumors that Don Jr. could run in Wyoming? 1:07:30 Folks in Jackson Hole with money always exploring political runs 1:08:15 Potential SCOTUS nominees if there’s a retirement? 1:09:45 The senate appointees from FL & OH get no traction 1:11:00 Paxton vs. Crockett would be a fascinating race in TX 1:11:45 Dems have a much better shot of winning in OH than TX 1:14:00 Biden could have cut deals with McConnell if government was split 1:15:15 Predictions on next country Trump hits with air strikes? 1:15:45 Regime in Iran could collapse in 2026 1:17:30 Netanyahu could be seen as most unstable force in middle east 1:18:30 Venezuela could become a huge political problem for Trump 1:20:30 In 1st term, leaks were about Trump, now they’re about cabinet 1:21:15 Kash Patel, Kristi Noem most likely to get booted from administration 1:23:30 GOP has political liabilities in Florida, senate race could be interesting 1:25:45 Could Jared Moskowitz be the wild card in the FL senate race? 1:26:30 Trump could be at 30% approval by Labor Day 1:27:15 Dem candidates that could hurt their chances by writing a book? 1:28:00 Without Covid, Buttigieg is likely the nominee in 2020 1:29:30 Newsom is easy to create a caricature of 1:30:30 Buttigieg is too smart to win in electoral politics 1:31:30 CA governor’s race field still doesn’t feel set 1:34:15 Swalwell can raise money, has backing from Pelosi 1:36:15 "Former mayor of SF” is a title that will sink you nationally 1:37:45 Ro Khanna avoids being associated with California 1:38:30 Which Republicans are most likely to challenge Vance? 1:39:45 A Trump will be a candidate, Donald obsessed with family name in politics 1:41:00 Trump won’t just hand off his coalition to Vance 1:42:15 Trump wants to create a political dynasty 1:44:30 Trump will get cozy with China, then claim he averted WW3 1:45:30 College football predictions 1:59:00 Chuck’s college football playoff reaction See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan Martin, the politics bureau chief and senior political columnist at POLITICO joins the Chuck ToddCast to walk through his bold predictions for the political landscape heading into 2026, starting with the idea that Donald Trump’s second term is less about governing and more about validation, legacy, and self-mythmaking. The conversation explores Trump as a pop-culture figure obsessed with monuments, family dynasty, and loyalty—rather than policy—along with why the country proved vulnerable to a political huckster in the first place. Martin breaks down why a Supreme Court vacancy could reshape the cycle, why GOP turnout may sag without Trump on the ballot, and which Senate races—from Nebraska to Florida to Ohio—could unexpectedly come into play. The episode also looks ahead to the fault lines inside both parties: potential Trump family bids, early jockeying for the post-Trump GOP, and Democratic candidates who may help—or hurt—their own chances. Martin weighs in on foreign policy flashpoints that could define the next two years, from Iran to Venezuela to Trump’s transactional approach with China, as well as internal administration instability and cabinet shakeups. Plus, sharp takes on approval ratings, California’s unsettled political bench, why political dynasties still matter, and—because it wouldn’t be a Chuck Todd conversation without it—a few college football predictions to close things out. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Jonathan Martin joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:15 Of his 16 predictions for 2026, which ones stood out the most? 03:00 Trump’s second term is a victory lap, more about validation 04:00 Trump is obsessed with building monuments to himself 05:30 Trump doesn’t take the job seriously 07:30 Trump will likely slap his name on the memorial bridge 08:00 Trump is most like Teddy Roosevelt 09:15 Trump is more a pop culture archetype than a political one 10:00 The country turned out to be vulnerable to a huckster 10:30 Prediction of a Supreme Court seat coming open in 2026 11:30 Alito more likely to retire than Thomas 12:45 By October, it will be clear that senate is in play 14:00 Nebraska Dems cleared field for Dan Osborne 15:00 Trump not being on ballot could really suppress GOP turnout 16:30 Rumors that Don Jr. could run in Wyoming? 18:30 Folks in Jackson Hole with money always exploring political runs 19:15 Potential SCOTUS nominees if there’s a retirement? 20:45 The senate appointees from FL & OH get no traction 22:00 Paxton vs. Crockett would be a fascinating race in TX 22:45 Dems have a much better shot of winning in OH than TX 25:00 Biden could have cut deals with McConnell if government was split 26:15 Predictions on next country Trump hits with air strikes? 26:45 Regime in Iran could collapse in 2026 28:30 Netanyahu could be seen as most unstable force in middle east 29:30 Venezuela could become a huge political problem for Trump 31:30 In 1st term, leaks were about Trump, now they’re about cabinet 32:15 Kash Patel, Kristi Noem most likely to get booted from administration 34:30 GOP has political liabilities in Florida, senate race could be interesting 36:45 Could Jared Moskowitz be the wild card in the FL senate race? 37:30 Trump could be at 30% approval by Labor Day 38:15 Dem candidates that could hurt their chances by writing a book? 39:00 Without Covid, Buttigieg is likely the nominee in 2020 40:30 Newsom is easy to create a caricature of 41:30 Buttigieg is too smart to win in electoral politics 42:30 CA governor’s race field still doesn’t feel set 45:15 Swalwell can raise money, has backing from Pelosi 47:15 "Former mayor of SF” is a title that will sink you nationally 48:45 Ro Khanna avoids being associated with California 49:30 Which Republicans most likely to challenge Vance? 50:45 A Trump will be a candidate, Donald obsessed with family name in politics 52:00 Trump won’t just hand off his coalition to Vance 53:15 Trump wants to create a political dynasty 55:30 Trump will get cozy with China, then claim he averted WW3 56:30 College football predictions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd is on vacation, but the news never sleeps! Chuck gives his initial thoughts to the Trump administration's military operation in Venezuela to capture President Nicolas Maduro, the motivations behind it, and why the success of the operation may emboldened Trump to take even riskier actions. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nuclear engineer & former Miss America, Grace Vanderhei joins Chuck Todd to break down the realities of nuclear energy—what’s safer than most people think, what genuinely needs fixing, and why public perception has lagged so far behind the science. From how she got into nuclear engineering to how disasters like Fukushima reshaped the industry’s momentum, Grace explains why rare accidents dominate the narrative, even as nuclear power remains one of the safest jobs in the country. The conversation explores America’s aging nuclear infrastructure, the challenges of upgrading decades-old plants, and why rising grid demand from AI is pushing utilities to restart and refurbish reactors instead of building new ones. Chuck and Grace also dig into the promise and limits of small modular reactors, the unresolved problem of nuclear waste storage, and how pop culture—from Homer Simpson to Hollywood—has warped the way we think about nuclear energy, all while pointing listeners to where they can follow Grace’s work and research. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:45 Why the ToddCast decided to do the “New Voices” series 01:45 Grace Vanderhei is a former Miss America, now promoting nuclear energy 02:30 Nuclear energy is generally safe, but when it’s not safe it’s catastrophic 03:30 Environmentalists are split on nuclear power 04:45 Demand for power is way up, nuclear power will be needed to meet it 8:15 Grace Vanderhei joins the Chuck ToddCast 9:30 How Grace got into nuclear engineering 13:00 Advances in the tools engineers use 14:30 Fukushima disaster set back momentum in nuclear industry 15:45 Every nuclear facility stores emergency backup parts close by 17:15 Disasters are rare, but capture the public perception of nuclear 18:45 Nuclear tends to be more associated with weapons than energy 20:45 How big of a concern is America’s aging nuclear infrastructure? 23:15 Difficulties with updating decades old nuclear pants? 24:45 Grid demand from AI has led to restarting old nuclear plants 25:30 Refurbishing vs. building new nuclear plants 26:45 The nuclear plant decommissioning process 28:45 Three mile island wasn’t far into decommissioning before refurbishment 30:45 The development of small, modular nuclear reactors 32:15 Small modular reactors are on submarines, not used commercially yet 33:45 Safe, workable SMR’s are still a few years away 35:30 Other countries have surpassed US’s ability to build nuclear power 36:15 Which popular misconceptions are easiest to debunk? 37:30 There are only 6 safer jobs than working at a nuclear plant 38:45 Environmental community has always been divided over nuclear 40:15 Challenges of storing nuclear waste 41:15 There aren’t great current options for storing commercial nuclear waste 43:45 Is Homer Simpson good or bad for perception of nuclear energy? 45:15 Where you can find Grace’s work See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck continues his “What If” series, an exploration of how small decisions and turning points can radically reshape American history. Using the razor-thin 2000 election as a starting point, Chuck explains why counterfactuals are a powerful way to understand how we got here—and how different choices might have altered today’s polarized political landscape. The episode then dives into two alternate histories surrounding the 2020 election, examining the butterfly effects of outcomes that almost happened but didn’t. First, Chuck asks what America might look like if Donald Trump had lost in 2020 and accepted the result—no “stop the steal,” no January 6th, and a very different Biden presidency likely constrained by a Republican Senate and a weaker Democratic coalition. Then he flips the premise and explores a more provocative scenario: what if Trump had actually won in 2020? With stronger institutional guardrails, a less sycophantic cabinet, and immediate lame-duck pressures, Chuck argues the country may have experienced less chaos at home and abroad, even as major global questions—from Afghanistan to Ukraine—would still loom. The episode ultimately shows how January 6th became a hinge point that reshaped both Biden’s presidency and Trump’s second term, leaving open the unsettling possibility that American politics—and even the 2024 race—could look entirely different today. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:45 Why Chuck launched the “What If” series 03:45 The 2000 election started the deep partisan divide in America 05:30 If Florida had a Dem sec of state the election result could be different 07:00 Gore’s decision to only recount certain counties was a mistake 08:15 “What If” examines butterfly effect of political events going differently 10:15 Alternative scenarios are a great way to teach history 11:30 Examining two alternate histories in this What If episode 14:30 What if Trump won in 2020, or accepted his loss in 2020? 16:15 November 2020, Trump was faced with three scenarios 17:00 PART ONE: What if Trump loses, but accepts the loss? 17:30 There’s no stop the steal, fake electors or January 6th 19:00 Trump wouldn’t have been deplatformed on social media 20:00 Trump would likely have faded away like Al Gore did in 2001 21:00 Trump’s grip over GOP tightened because he lost & didn’t accept it 22:30 What Biden presidency looks like if Trump accepted election result 23:15 Democrats may not win both Georgia runoffs & control congress 24:00 Biden’s entire presidency looks different without senate control 25:45 Biden would have been boxed into being a center-left president 27:45 Biden wouldn’t have gotten the “rally around the flag” effect from J6 30:15 Likely the midterms go worse for Dems without ghost of Trump 31:15 Biden likely still doesn’t win second term  32:45 Biden would likely have faced serious primary challenges 34:00 Border might have been handled better with GOP Senate 36:30 The big question would be how much power Trump retained over GOP 37:30 PART TWO: What if Trump had WON in 2020 with the same result as ‘24? 40:00 The GOP would likely have retained senate, Dems get the house 40:30 Mike Pence is still the vice president, staffing at WH would be very different 42:00 The chief of staff would have still put some guardrails around the WH 44:30 There wouldn’t be a cabinet full of Trump sycophants  45:30 There would be no weaponization of ICE after border surge 47:00 Vaccine rollout could have been more chaotic but w/ higher compliance 48:30 There would be early flood of GOP presidential candidates 51:00 Afghanistan withdrawal would fall at Trump’s feet 53:00 Trump’s lame duckness would have kicked in right away 54:30 Strong argument America would be better off if Trump won in 2020 55:45 There’s less tumult in the military, no Hegseth as SecDef 57:30 Trump may have had more ability to reign in Bibi Netanyahu 59:30 Would the Russia/Ukraine war have gone differently? Probably not 1:02:30 Putin may have taken Ukraine piecemeal, but no full scale invasion 1:04:00 Trump still hasn’t acknowledged that Russia is the invader 1:05:30 America may not have shared advance knowledge of invasion 1:09:00 Biden’s governance changed by J6, Trump’s 2nd term massively different 1:13:30 Pete Buttigieg might be president in 2024 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck examines Donald Trump’s holiday Truth Social spree as a revealing window into his worldview and leadership style. From angry, vaguely threatening posts tied to Epstein to Christmas messages laced with grievance and insults, Trump’s online behavior paints a picture of a lonely, aggrieved figure who often sounds less like a head of state and more like a mob boss issuing warnings. Chuck unpacks how Trump’s rhetoric on immigration, religion, and military force—sometimes delivered in the same breath as holiday greetings—reflects a transactional “Trump Doctrine” where identity and loyalty justify power, and sovereignty becomes negotiable. The conversation then widens to the global consequences of this approach. Chuck argues that Trump’s selective isolationism and deal-making have badly damaged America’s reputation, eroded trust with Europe, and risk pushing allies toward China in search of stability. By prioritizing short-term wins and performative toughness over alliances and norms, Trump may be trading momentary leverage for long-term strategic loss—reshaping the global order in ways that could haunt the United States for a generation. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to the date Ellis Island closed its doors for immigrant processing and traces the messy history of immigration policy in the United States. He also answers listeners’ question in the “Ask Chuck” segment and does a roundup from the world of sports. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 1:00 What to make of Trump’s Truth Social posts over the holidays? 2:15 Trump makes angry, potentially threatening post over Epstein 3:45 Trump doesn’t have any true close friends/relationships 5:00 Trump spent Xmas behaving lonely on the internet 5:45 The “Trump Doctrine” was on display on his Truth Social feed 6:30 Trump sounded more like a mob boss than head of state 7:00 Trump added immigration rant into his NORAD Santa appearance 7:45 Trump wishes Merry Xmas to “radical left scum” 8:30 Trump announces military strikes in Nigeria to protect Christians 9:15 Trump uses identity as justification for military force 9:45 Trump’s posts about Venezuela through lens of ownership 11:15 Trump strikes different tone with Ukraine, sovereignty is collateral 12:15 Trump’s worldview looks incoherent, but it’s selectively transactional 13:30 Trump has damaged the US’s reputation for a generation 14:30 Europe doesn’t trust the United States anymore 15:45 If oil seizures become precedent, any country could be next 17:15 Allies could turn to China looking for a better deal 18:00 Trump is trading short term wins for long term damage & distrust 20:00 Trump views himself as a TV style mob boss 22:15 Isolationism will cause the EU to strengthen & compete with US 23:15 Trump picks on small countries & does deals with strong ones 28:30 ToddCast Time Machine - December 31st 1954 29:30 Ellis Island closes its doors & becomes a museum 30:00 America has always argued about being a nation of immigrants 30:45 We romanticize Ellis Island, but it caused tension at the time 31:30 America has never experienced immigration surge without fear 32:15 Immigration quota with discriminatory qualifiers enacted 33:30 Ship based migration collapsed after quota 34:45 Cold war politics influenced immigration debate in 1960’s 35:45 Immigration policy was sold as modest and non-transformational 37:00 Chain migration shifted where immigrants came from 38:00 The country relied on illegal immigrant labor & didn’t enforce law 38:45 Congress left immigration policy unfinished due to political constraints 40:30 Trump admin leans on enforcement, makes immigration a cultural fight 41:30 We are a reluctant nation of immigrations 43:00 The central question is “Who gets to be an American?” 43:45 Ask Chuck 44:00 Favorite political comedy? 46:00 Should congress intervene on exorbitant live event prices? 53:30 How will midterms shape push for new congressional leaders? 56:15 Sports roundup See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck examines Donald Trump’s holiday Truth Social spree as a revealing window into his worldview and leadership style. From angry, vaguely threatening posts tied to Epstein to Christmas messages laced with grievance and insults, Trump’s online behavior paints a picture of a lonely, aggrieved figure who often sounds less like a head of state and more like a mob boss issuing warnings. Chuck unpacks how Trump’s rhetoric on immigration, religion, and military force—sometimes delivered in the same breath as holiday greetings—reflects a transactional “Trump Doctrine” where identity and loyalty justify power, and sovereignty becomes negotiable. The conversation then widens to the global consequences of this approach. Chuck argues that Trump’s selective isolationism and deal-making have badly damaged America’s reputation, eroded trust with Europe, and risk pushing allies toward China in search of stability. By prioritizing short-term wins and performative toughness over alliances and norms, Trump may be trading momentary leverage for long-term strategic loss—reshaping the global order in ways that could haunt the United States for a generation. Then, Yaron Weitzman, author of “A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers”, joins Chuck to unpack the remarkable rise, impact, and legacy of LeBron James—on the court, in Los Angeles, and far beyond basketball. Drawing from his reporting and authorship, Weitzman explains how access-driven sports journalism shapes the stories we’re told, why LeBron was always more than just another superstar chasing rings, and how the Lakers–LeBron partnership became a mutually saving force for two global institutions. The conversation traces LeBron’s path from Miami to Cleveland to Los Angeles, the myths around his ambition and loyalty, and how “The Decision” reshaped the power dynamics between players and franchises. The episode also looks ahead to LeBron’s next chapter: his eventual role as an owner, the possibility of a farewell tour, how Bronny factors into his decisions, and what a post-LeBron Lakers era might look like. Weitzman and Todd explore LeBron’s business instincts, cultural influence, complicated relationship with fans and social media, and why—despite universal respect—he’s never been universally beloved. In the end, they ask the defining question of any icon: how history will remember LeBron James, and who gets to tell that story. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to the date Ellis Island closed its doors for immigrant processing and traces the messy history of immigration policy in the United States. He also answers listeners’ question in the “Ask Chuck” segment and does a roundup from the world of sports. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:00 In the 80’s many fans identified with NBA players over teams 05:00 LeBron will be one of the four most consequential millennials 08:15 What to make of Trump’s Truth Social posts over the holidays? 09:30 Trump makes angry, potentially threatening post over Epstein 11:00 Trump doesn’t have any true close friends/relationships 12:15 Trump spent Xmas behaving lonely on the internet 13:00 The “Trump Doctrine” was on display on his Truth Social feed 13:45 Trump sounded more like a mob boss than head of state 14:15 Trump added immigration rant into his NORAD Santa appearance 15:00 Trump wishes Merry Xmas to “radical left scum” 15:45 Trump announces military strikes in Nigeria to protect Christians 16:30 Trump uses identity as justification for military force 17:00 Trump’s posts about Venezuela through lens of ownership 18:30 Trump strikes different tone with Ukraine, sovereignty is collateral 19:30 Trump’s worldview looks incoherent, but it’s selectively transactional 20:45 Trump has damaged the US’s reputation for a generation 21:45 Europe doesn’t trust the United States anymore 23:00 If oil seizures become precedent, any country could be next 24:30 Allies could turn to China looking for a better deal 25:15 Trump is trading short term wins for long term damage & distrust 27:15 Trump views himself as a TV style mob boss 29:30 Isolationism will cause the EU to strengthen & compete with US 30:30 Trump picks on small countries & does deals with strong ones 37:15 Yaron Weitzman joins the Chuck ToddCast 39:45 How Yaron got started as an author 41:30 Sports journalists now have to trade accountability for access 42:30 Sports journalists don’t have a Freedom of Information Act 43:45 Yaron wasn’t dependent on the Lakers for a credential 45:45 Original LeBron pitch was for the Big 3 Heat, not the Lakers 48:45 LeBron is a cultural icon, not just a basketball icon 50:00 LeBron and the Lakers are both institutions 51:00 LeBron’s brand is even bigger than the Lakers brand 51:45 LeBron’s post basketball life was always going to be in SoCal 53:00 LeBron will be involved in an ownership group eventually 55:00 The Lakers/LeBron pairing was a win-win 56:15 Jerry Buss was not as rich as he portrayed himself to be 57:45 How accurate the Lakers TV shows portray real life 58:45 LeBron was a lifeline for a struggling Lakers franchise 01:00:15 Lakers are the team LeBron has spent most consecutive years 01:01:45 LeBron wasn’t a ring chaser despite his reputations 01:02:15 LeBron turned down the Warriors 01:03:30 LeBron offended Pat Riley during his time in Miami 01:04:45 LeBron’s return to Cleveland 01:06:45 Which franchises will be putting up LeBron statues? 01:07:30 Lakers fans were slow to warm to LeBron due to Kobe rivalry 01:08:30 Not all Kobe fans are Lakers fans 01:09:45 LeBron lived up to his sky high expectations and with no scandals 01:11:00 “The Decision” was the event that made LeBron polarizing 01:12:00 After The Decision fans started siding with players over franchises 01:13:00 LeBron showed that greatness and longevity require hard work 01:14:15 LeBron is universally respected but not universally beloved 01:15:15 Is this LeBron’s last year? 01:16:15 Farewell tour only makes sense with Lakers or Cavs 01:17:45 LeBron could remain a bench player for several more years 01:18:15 How Bronny will factor into his decision 01:20:15 Bronny is beloved by other players and the organization 01:22:00 LeBron’s relationship with Luka Dončić 01:23:45 Lakers began preparing for the post-LeBron era before Luka trade 01:25:45 Does Magic Johnson still have a relationship with the Lakers? 01:28:45 LeBron has mostly stayed away from politics 01:31:00 LeBron lets social media get under his skin from time to time 01:33:45 LeBron is reactive politically, not proactive 01:35:30 LeBron made smart business decisions starting at 20 years old 01:36:00 LeBron’s legacy 01:39:00 Lakers threatened to sue over the book 01:42:00 LeBron likely won’t ever run for office 01:43:30 LeBron will be doing his own documentary version of The Last Dance 01:47:30 ToddCast Time Machine – December 31st, 1954 01:48:30 Ellis Island closes its doors & becomes a museum 01:49:00 America has always argued about being a nation of immigrants 01:49:45 We romanticize Ellis Island, but it caused tension at the time 01:50:30 America has never experienced immigration surge without fear 01:51:15 Immigration quota with discriminatory qualifiers enacted 01:52:30 Ship based migration collapsed after quota 01:53:45 Cold War politics influenced immigration debate in the 1960’s 01:54:45 Immigration policy was sold as modest and non-transformational 01:56:00 Chain migration shifted where immigrants came from 01:57:00 The country relied on illegal immigrant labor & didn’t enforce law 01:57:45 Congress left immigration policy unfinished due to political constraints 01:59:30 Trump admin leans on enforcement, makes immigration a cultural fight 02:00:30 We are a reluctant nation of immigrants 02:02:00 The central question is “Who gets to be an American?” 02:02:45 Ask Chuck  02:03:00 Favorite political comedy? 02:05:00 Should Congress intervene on exorbitant live event prices? 02:12:30 How will midterms shape push for new congressional leaders? 02:15:15 Sports roundup See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yaron Weitzman, author of “A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers”, joins the Chuck ToddCast to unpack the remarkable rise, impact, and legacy of LeBron James—on the court, in Los Angeles, and far beyond basketball. Drawing from his reporting and authorship, Weitzman explains how access-driven sports journalism shapes the stories we’re told, why LeBron was always more than just another superstar chasing rings, and how the Lakers–LeBron partnership became a mutually saving force for two global institutions. The conversation traces LeBron’s path from Miami to Cleveland to Los Angeles, the myths around his ambition and loyalty, and how “The Decision” reshaped the power dynamics between players and franchises. The episode also looks ahead to LeBron’s next chapter: his eventual role as an owner, the possibility of a farewell tour, how Bronny factors into his decisions, and what a post-LeBron Lakers era might look like. Weitzman and Todd explore LeBron’s business instincts, cultural influence, complicated relationship with fans and social media, and why—despite universal respect—he’s never been universally beloved. In the end, they ask the defining question of any icon: how history will remember LeBron James, and who gets to tell that story. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Yaron Weitzman joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:30 How Yaron got started as an author 04:15 Sports journalists now have to trade accountability for access 05:15 Sports journalists don’t have a Freedom of Information Act 06:30 Yaron wasn’t dependent on the Lakers for a credential 08:30 Original LeBron pitch was for the Big 3 Heat, not the Lakers 11:30 LeBron is a cultural icon, not just a basketball icon 12:45 LeBron and the Lakers are both institutions 13:45 LeBron’s brand is even bigger than the Lakers brand 14:30 LeBron’s post basketball life was always going to be in SoCal 15:45 LeBron will be involved in an ownership group eventually 17:45 The Lakers/LeBron pairing was a win-win 19:00 Jerry Buss was not as rich as he portrayed himself to be 20:30 How accurate the Lakers TV shows portray real life 21:30 LeBron was a lifeline for a struggling Lakers franchise 23:00 Lakers are the team LeBron has spent most consecutive years 24:30 LeBron wasn’t a ring chaser despite his reputations 25:00 LeBron turned down the Warriors 26:15 LeBron offended Pat Riley during his time in Miami 27:30 LeBron’s return to Cleveland 29:30 Which franchises will be putting up LeBron statues? 30:15 Lakers fans were slow to warm to LeBron due to Kobe rivalry 31:15 Not all Kobe fans are Lakers fans 32:30 LeBron lived up to his sky high expectations and with no scandals 33:45 “The Decision” was the event that made LeBron polarizing 34:45 After The Decision fans started siding with players over franchises 35:45 LeBron showed that greatness and longevity require hard work 37:00 LeBron is universally respected but not universally beloved 38:00 Is this LeBron’s last year? 39:00 Farewell tour only makes sense with Lakers or Cavs 40:30 LeBron could remain a bench player for several more years 41:00 How Bronny will factor into his decision 43:00 Bronny is beloved by other players and the organization 44:45 LeBron’s relationship with Luka Doncic 46:30 Lakers began preparing for the post-LeBron era before Luka trade 48:30 Does Magic Johnson still have a relationship with the Lakers? 51:30 LeBron has mostly stayed away from politics 53:45 LeBron lets social media get under his skin from time to time 56:30 LeBron is reactive politically, not proactive 58:15 LeBron made smart business decisions starting at 20 years old 58:45 LeBron’s legacy 1:01:45 Lakers threatened to sue over the book 1:04:45 LeBron likely won’t ever run for office 1:06:15 LeBron will be doing his own documentary version of The Last Dance See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a replay of an interview Chuck Todd hosted during the summer, he’s joined by a rising star in the Democratic party, Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett. This interview was conducted prior to her announcement that she’ll be running for senate in Texas. She provides insights into her rapidly growing Dallas district and discusses the economic benefits of immigration that contrast sharply with current policies. Crockett, known for her viral moments in congressional hearings, offers a candid assessment of the partisan circus in the House Oversight Committee and the ideological divide within the Democratic Party. The conversation delves into factors behind Trump's victory, whether racism and misogyny impacted Kamala Harris's campaign, and the complex political landscape in Texas, including potential opportunities for Democrats if Ken Paxton defeats John Cornyn in a future primary. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:15 Crockett’s primary against Talarico will be fascinating 02:45 Democratic primaries will be a “fight vs unite” debate 04:30 A Paxton vs Crockett race would be illuminating 08:00 Dem primary in Texas is a coin flip  09:00 Texas senate race could be an all-timer 13:30 Jasmine Crockett joins the Chuck ToddCast! 13:30 Tour of TX-30 (Dallas) 17:00 TX-30 is a hub for aviation 19:50 Dallas is growing exponentially 21:45 How can St. Louis be revitalized? 25:20 Immigrants produce economic dynamism and we’re treating them horribly 27:50 How important are viral moments for political communications 31:30 The partisan circus in the oversight committee 32:45 We have people in government that don’t understand how it works 33:45 DOGE hearing became about trans people competing in fencing 35:30 Is it a generational divide or ideological divide in the Democratic party 36:30 Some members cling to the institutions while they’re burning around them 38:15 State of the Union displayed the differences of approach between members 39:30 How did Democrats end up in this situation? 41:20 Why did Trump win? 43:30 How much did racism and misogyny factor into Kamala Harris losing? 44:45 Did Harris’s background as a prosecutor help or hurt her? 47:15 Trump’s name being on buildings sold the public on his business acumen 49:10 Should Harris take another shot at the presidency? 50:30 Democratic voters don’t want “establishment” candidates 52:15 Democrats are fighting an uphill battle 53:15 Is Texas a 3 party state with two Republican wings? 54:15 If Ken Paxton beats John Cornyn, the Texas senate seat will be in play 56:45 Did Democrats miss the moment in Texas? 58:30 Will the Luka trade leave a lasting mark on Dallas? 59:15 Is she running for oversight chair? 59:40 Her advice for Hakeem Jeffries See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd digs into the growing crisis of trust in American media and politics, sparked by CBS News pulling a 60 Minutes episode amid controversy and perceptions of corporate and political pressure. He examines how Bari Weiss’s handling of the situation exposed a lack of understanding of television news culture, why 60 Minutes has become the ultimate measure of CBS’s credibility, and how ownership, mergers, and appeasing power have once again put business interests ahead of journalism. The episode also explores troubling signals from the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein-related releases and what they reveal about political favoritism and eroding institutional independence. Chuck then widens the lens to the political fallout, arguing that Donald Trump squandered his political capital and failed to build a durable coalition, and lays out how cracks in Trump’s coalition are becoming chasms. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and breaks down the biggest stories in the world of sports.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:30 CBS News embroiled with controversy after pulling 60 Minutes episode 03:00 Bari Weiss’s inexperience in TV news is on full display 04:00 Weiss’s made incorrect assumption that everyone saw NYT story 05:15 The perception is the administration leaned on Weiss to kill story 06:30 Too many news executives don’t understand the process 08:00 Trump has complained publicly about 60 Minutes 08:45 Ellison willing to appease Trump in order to get merger approval 09:30 CBS News will be judged entirely on 60 Minutes 11:00 Weiss has lost the trust of the journalists at CBS 11:45 Corporate owned media has once again let the public down 12:30 WaPo’s editorial board completely changed after Bezos bought it 13:30 This event will further erode the public trust in media 14:45 Journalism that’s tethered to popularity will be compromised 15:45 Trust is more important than popularity for journalists 17:15 Corporations won’t let their news divisions interfere with business 18:00 DOJ frontloaded Clinton/Epstein releases & Trump releases later 19:15 DOJ releases statement that sounds like they’re Trump’s defense attorney 21:15 It’s notable that DOJ only singled out Trump for a defensive statement 23:15 Trump blew his “honeymoon” period in less than a year 24:00 Both Biden & Trump burned their political capitol early 26:45 Trump blew the chance to build a GOP that outlasts him 28:00 Trump didn’t win the 2024 election - Biden/Harris lost it 29:45 Voters don’t like party in power, 2008 was last “Vote for” election 31:30 Biden misinterpreted 2022 results, lots of bad GOP candidates 32:30 Liberation Day destroyed Trump’s goodwill with the public 34:45 The cracks in Trump’s coalition are turning into chasms 36:30 The GOP has been too concerned with appeasing the online right 37:45 Democrats could be having their own “Tea Party” moment 45:15 Trump floats leaving the presidency for “hosting” in social post 46:15 Is Trump soft launching stepping down from the presidency? 47:30 Ask Chuck 48:15 What wing of the party will the GOP lean towards in 2028? 54:30 What are the classes you teach like? 1:01:45 How would things be different if H.W. Bush won a second term? 1:06:30 How do we address the erosion of historical education? 1:11:15 Was the country really that united over Garfield’s death? 1:16:45 Sports roundup See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd digs into the growing crisis of trust in American media and politics, sparked by CBS News pulling a 60 Minutes episode amid controversy and perceptions of corporate and political pressure. He examines how Bari Weiss’s handling of the situation exposed a lack of understanding of television news culture, why 60 Minutes has become the ultimate measure of CBS’s credibility, and how ownership, mergers, and appeasing power have once again put business interests ahead of journalism. The episode also explores troubling signals from the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein-related releases and what they reveal about political favoritism and eroding institutional independence. Chuck then widens the lens to the political fallout, arguing that Donald Trump squandered his political capital and failed to build a durable coalition, and lays out how cracks in Trump’s coalition are becoming chasms. Then, Mike Pesca, host of “The Gist” joins Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of media, technology, and trust at the end of 2025—and where things may be headed next. They dig into how legacy media is being reshaped by new owners, shrinking business models, and audience capture, with a close look at CBS, the Ellisons, and whether disruption is a threat or a lifeline for traditional news brands. Pesca also reflects on the rise of nonprofit journalism, the limits of AI in reporting, and why Congress has largely abdicated its role in regulating both media and tech. The discussion then turns to the growing unease around AI, gambling, and prediction markets, from bipartisan support for getting smartphones out of schools to fears that unregulated betting is distorting journalism, sports, and public life. Pesca and Todd explore why optimism around AI is collapsing, how insider information can be exploited in everything from sports gambling to political markets, and why many of today’s “innovations” feel eerily similar to past technological panics. The throughline: institutions are lagging behind rapid change, and the cost of that delay is showing up everywhere—from newsrooms to classrooms to democracy itself. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and breaks down the biggest stories in the world of sports.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 04:00 CBS News embroiled with controversy after pulling 60 Minutes episode 04:30 Bari Weiss’s inexperience in TV news is on full display 05:30 Weiss’s made incorrect assumption that everyone saw NYT story 06:45 The perception is the administration leaned on Weiss to kill story 08:00 Too many news executives don’t understand the process 09:30 Trump has complained publicly about 60 Minutes 10:15 Ellison willing to appease Trump in order to get merger approval 11:00 CBS News will be judged entirely on 60 Minutes 12:30 Weiss has lost the trust of the journalists at CBS 13:15 Corporate owned media has once again let the public down 14:00 WaPo’s editorial board completely changed after Bezos bought it 15:00 This event will further erode the public trust in media 16:15 Journalism that’s tethered to popularity will be compromised 17:15 Trust is more important than popularity for journalists 18:45 Corporations won’t let their news divisions interfere with business  19:30 DOJ frontloaded Clinton/Epstein releases & Trump releases later 20:45 DOJ releases statement that sounds like they’re Trump’s defense attorney 22:45 It’s notable that DOJ only singled out Trump for a defensive statement 24:45 Trump blew his “honeymoon” period in less than a year 25:30 Both Biden & Trump burned their political capitol early 28:15 Trump blew the chance to build a GOP that outlasts him 29:30 Trump didn’t win the 2024 election - Biden/Harris lost it 31:15 Voters don’t like party in power, 2008 was last “Vote for” election 33:00 Biden misinterpreted 2022 results, lots of bad GOP candidates 34:00 Liberation Day destroyed Trump’s goodwill with the public 36:15 The cracks in Trump’s coalition are turning into chasms 38:00 The GOP has been too concerned with appeasing the online right 39:15 Democrats could be having their own “Tea Party” moment 46:45 Mike Pesca joins the Chuck ToddCast 48:15 Rundown of Mike’s many “hustles” 50:00 Is the information ecosystem better or worse at the end of 2025? 51:15 CBS News under Bari Weiss is now selling a different product 52:45 Legacy media could benefit from some disruption 53:30 Weiss gave up working for the Salzbergers to work for the Ellisons 54:15 There’s no money in producing network news 56:30 There was audience capture at the New York Times 57:45 A boring president will make the Ellisons care less about CBS 59:45 David Ellison isn’t ideologically MAGA or even a Republican 1:00:45 Silicon Valley is less ideological, just want less regulation 1:01:30 Ellisons are treating CBS as part of their lobbying budget 1:02:30 A huge part of 60 Minutes popularity is that it airs after football 1:03:15 CBS has brands that will survive even if the network doesn’t 1:04:30 We’re a few years away from local TV affiliates going a-la-carte 1:05:45 Channel numbers are meaningless to younger audiences 1:06:15 Non profits like ProPublica are doing some of the best journalism 1:07:30 AI can’t replace people in the journalism space 1:08:30 NOTUS is the only organization covering DC locally 1:09:00 Historically, American media has been partisan 1:09:45 Big newspapers should have two editorial sections 1:13:15 Imagine if Bezos built an “everything” newspaper like he did Amazon 1:14:45 AI transition will be painful, fear of AI displacement will dominate 1:15:30 New polling shows huge drop in optimism surrounding AI 1:17:00 Sam Altman shocked the world by saying “Please regulate me” 1:18:00 We need more visibility into how AI actually works 1:18:45 The regulators are always too old & removed from new tech 1:19:30 Congress has willingly abdicated their regulatory role 1:21:15 Employees at AI companies express worry it could go very wrong 1:22:15 Getting tech/smartphones out of schools has bipartisan agreement 1:24:00 There have always been panics about major tech change 1:25:00 Sports gambling without regulation has been a disaster 1:27:30 Athletes can easily fix a player prop to make money 1:29:00 Online casinos should have never been allowed to exist 1:31:00 Insider info can easily been cashed in on prediction markets 1:33:00 Will insider trading laws now affect copy editors at publications? 1:34:15 Betting has drastically affected coverage at ESPN 1:35:45 College football playoff selection is totally subjective 1:38:15 Potential fixes to college football playoff selection 1:41:45 Will prediction markets remain legal? 1:43:30 Pandemics make society do crazy things 1:44:30 Online casinos will likely become illegal in the coming years 1:46:45 The states didn’t roll out marijuana legalization the right way 1:54:00 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Mike Pesca 1:54:45 Trump floats leaving the presidency for “hosting” in social post 1:55:45 Is Trump soft launching stepping down from the presidency? 1:57:00 Ask Chuck 1:57:45 What wing of the party will the GOP lean towards in 2028? 2:04:00 What are the classes you teach like? 2:11:15 How would things be different if H.W. Bush won a second term? 2:16:00 How do we address the erosion of historical education? 2:20:45 Was the country really that united over Garfield’s death? 2:26:15 Sports roundup See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Pesca, host of “The Gist” joins Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of media, technology, and trust at the end of 2025—and where things may be headed next. They dig into how legacy media is being reshaped by new owners, shrinking business models, and audience capture, with a close look at CBS, the Ellisons, and whether disruption is a threat or a lifeline for traditional news brands. Pesca also reflects on the rise of nonprofit journalism, the limits of AI in reporting, and why Congress has largely abdicated its role in regulating both media and tech. The discussion then turns to the growing unease around AI, gambling, and prediction markets, from bipartisan support for getting smartphones out of schools to fears that unregulated betting is distorting journalism, sports, and public life. Pesca and Todd explore why optimism around AI is collapsing, how insider information can be exploited in everything from sports gambling to political markets, and why many of today’s “innovations” feel eerily similar to past technological panics. The throughline: institutions are lagging behind rapid change, and the cost of that delay is showing up everywhere—from newsrooms to classrooms to democracy itself. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Mike Pesca joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 Rundown of Mike’s many “hustles” 03:15 Is the information ecosystem better or worse at the end of 2025? 04:30 CBS News under Bari Weiss is now selling a different product 06:00 Legacy media could benefit from some disruption 06:45 Weiss gave up working for the Salzbergers to work for the Ellisons 07:30 There’s no money in producing network news 09:45 There was audience capture at the New York Times 11:00 A boring president will make the Ellisons care less about CBS 13:00 David Ellison isn’t ideologically MAGA or even a Republican 14:00 Silicon Valley is less ideological, just want less regulation 14:45 Ellisons are treating CBS as part of their lobbying budget 15:45 A huge part of 60 Minutes popularity is that it airs after football 16:30 CBS has brands that will survive even if the network doesn’t 17:45 We’re a few years away from local TV affiliates going a-la-carte 19:00 Channel numbers are meaningless to younger audiences 19:30 Non profits like ProPublica are doing some of the best journalism 20:45 AI can’t replace people in the journalism space 21:45 NOTUS is the only organization covering DC locally 23:15 Historically, American media has been partisan 24:00 Big newspapers should have two editorial sections 26:30 Imagine if Bezos built an “everything” newspaper like he did Amazon 28:00 AI transition will be painful, fear of AI displacement will dominate 28:45 New polling shows huge drop in optimism surrounding AI 30:15 Sam Altman shocked the world by saying “Please regulate me” 31:15 We need more visibility into how AI actually works 32:00 The regulators are always too old & removed from new tech 32:45 Congress has willingly abdicated their regulatory role 34:30 Employees at AI companies express worry it could go very wrong 35:30 Getting tech/smartphones out of schools has bipartisan agreement 37:15 There have always been panics about major tech change 38:15 Sports gambling without regulation has been a disaster 40:45 Athletes can easily fix a player prop to make money 42:15 Online casinos should have never been allowed to exist 44:15 Insider info can easily been cashed in on prediction markets 46:15 Will insider trading laws now affect copy editors at publications? 47:30 Betting has drastically affected coverage at ESPN 49:00 College football playoff selection is totally subjective 51:30 Potential fixes to college football playoff selection 55:00 Will prediction markets remain legal? 56:45 Pandemics make society do crazy things 57:45 Online casinos will likely become illegal in the coming years 1:00:00 The states didn’t roll out marijuana legalization the right way See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd examines the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files, the uneven political fallout, and why some stories break through while others—often more consequential—don’t. The discussion then turns to public health, RFK Jr.’s corrosive influence on vaccine trust, and how misinformation is putting kids at risk just as measles cases surge. Todd closes by unpacking the growing civil war within MAGA world, where influencers—not elected officials—are driving the GOP agenda, competing for clicks with ever more extreme claims, and exposing deep cracks in Trump’s coalition. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to review the fallout from the dissolution of the Soviet Union and why that story’s ending hasn’t been written yet. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and gives his college football roundup. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 3:15 We all know the broad strokes of the Epstein story 4:00 With enough money you can buy your way out of bad character 5:30 Justice department is slow walking the release of the Epstein files 6:00 Releases have a lot of Bill Clinton, very little Trump 6:45 DOJ will frontload releases that embarrass Democrats 8:00 People were willing to look the other way on Epstein 8:45 Character should matter & Epstein ties should be a demerit 10:30 Many people don’t know about or believe many of Trump’s outrages 11:15 The Epstein story breaks through, many consequential stories don’t 12:30 HHS touts accomplishments, but has done tremendous damage 13:45 2000 confirmed cases of measles, about to lose measles-free status 15:15 RFK Jr. is an incredibly low character individual 16:00 Removing food dyes is the only good work MAHA is doing 17:30 No scientific study links vaccines to autism 18:15 Covid vaccine was touted as a shield 19:15 People exploited poor Covid vaccine communication 19:45 MRNA vaccines are a technological marvel 20:15 Cutting funding for MRNA research is a terrible own goal 21:30 RFK Jr is causing less people to take vaccines, putting kids at risk 22:45 Massive infighting has begun amongst the MAGA influencers 24:15 GOP is captured by influencers the ways Dems were captured by “groups” 26:15 Some MAGA influencers have crazy beliefs and conspiracy theories 27:15 Republicans forced to entertain the crazy beliefs of their influencers 29:15 GOP politicians are taking their cues from their influencer base 30:15 Dems are starting to break free from influence of the groups 31:00 Biden’s poor handling of the border was to satiate the groups 31:30 MAGA influencers are conducting a circular firing squad 32:30 MAGA influencers try to out-crazy each other for clicks 35:00 The MAGA coalition is cracking 41:00 ToddCast Time Machine – December 26, 1991 41:30 Soviet Union officially dissolves, ending the Cold War 42:15 Collapse of the Soviet Union is still unresolved 43:30 It felt like history had chosen a winner, but it was just the first act 44:00 The west felt like the liberal democrats had won 45:15 The US treated the Soviet Union like a failed state, not a fallen empire 46:30 Democracy hasn’t taken hold in many former Soviet states 47:45 Democracy has never landed in Russia due to structural reasons 48:45 Fall of the USSR created oligarchs, but not a middle class 49:45 The Russian people equated oligarchy with democracy 51:30 Russians lost a sense of identity, made them vulnerable to a dictator 52:15 Eastern Europe fears Russia & wanted in on NATO 53:45 Ukraine had the world’s third largest nuclear arsenal, gave it up 54:45 Ukraine should have received NATO membership for giving up nukes 55:30 We’re repeating the 1920’s & 30’s in the U.S. & in Europe 57:15 Russia becoming a democracy seems fanciful, but in time it’s possible 58:45 This period feels unstable, but could be bumps in the road 59:15 Ask Chuck 59:30 Why has the U.S. and Europe had a bond, & thoughts on losing it? 1:04:00 Do you think congress will try to limit the pardon power post-Trump? 1:10:00 What does the GOP look like if it loses in 2028? 1:13:30 What was it like working with Topps for your trading card? 1:24:30 College football roundup See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd examines the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files, the uneven political fallout, and why some stories break through while others—often more consequential—don’t. The discussion then turns to public health, RFK Jr.’s corrosive influence on vaccine trust, and how misinformation is putting kids at risk just as measles cases surge. Todd closes by unpacking the growing civil war within MAGA world, where influencers—not elected officials—are driving the GOP agenda, competing for clicks with ever more extreme claims, and exposing deep cracks in Trump’s coalition. Then, chief Washington correspondent for Puck News, Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Chuck to unpack how Washington looks different when covered from outside the constraints of legacy media—and why independent journalism may be better suited to capture the dysfunction of Trump’s second term. Caldwell reflects on the groupthink and reaction-driven coverage that defined Trump’s first presidency, the erosion of Congress’s authority in Trump 2.0, and the deep personal animus now defining relationships on Capitol Hill. Together, she and Chuck examine how social media has shaped a younger generation of staffers, why Speaker Mike Johnson may be remembered as one of the weakest in history, and how Congress has willingly made itself irrelevant in the face of executive power. The conversation also digs into healthcare politics, looming shutdown risks, and why Republicans remain unable to act without Trump’s approval—even as he digs in against ACA subsidies out of lingering grievance toward Obama. Caldwell and Todd explore the brewing chaos inside the GOP, from mass retirements and redistricting fights to the staggering cost of House races and the nonstop fundraising grind. The episode closes with a candid assessment of party leadership heading into 2026, why a third Trump impeachment would be a mistake, and why covering Congress—rather than the White House—may now offer the clearest window into where American politics is headed. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to review the fallout from the dissolution of the Soviet Union and why that story’s ending hasn’t been written yet. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and gives his college football roundup. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 04:45 We all know the broad strokes of the Epstein story 05:30 With enough money you can buy your way out of bad character 07:00 Justice department is slow walking the release of the Epstein files 07:30 Releases have a lot of Bill Clinton, very little Trump 08:15 DOJ will frontload releases that embarrass Democrats 09:30 People were willing to look the other way on Epstein 10:15 Character should matter & Epstein ties should be a demerit 12:00 Many people don’t know about or believe many of Trump’s outrages 12:45 The Epstein story breaks through, many consequential stories don’t 14:00 HHS touts accomplishments, but has done tremendous damage  15:15 2000 confirmed cases of measles, about to lose measles-free status 16:45 RFK Jr. is an incredibly low character individual 17:30 Removing food dyes is the only good work MAHA is doing 19:00 No scientific study links vaccines to autism  19:45 Covid vaccine was touted as a shield 20:45 People exploited poor Covid vaccine communication 21:15 MRNA vaccines are a technological marvel 21:45 Cutting funding for MRNA research is a terrible own goal 23:00 RFK Jr is causing less people to take vaccines, putting kids at risk 24:15 Massive infighting has begun amongst the MAGA influencers 25:45 GOP is captured by influencers the ways Dems were captured by “groups” 27:45 Some MAGA influencers have crazy beliefs and conspiracy theories 28:45 Republicans forced to entertain the crazy beliefs of their influencers 30:45 GOP politicians are taking their cues from their influencer base 31:45 Dems are starting to break free from influence of the groups 32:30 Biden’s poor handling of the border was to satiate the groups 33:00 MAGA influencers are conducting a circular firing squad 34:00 MAGA influencers try to out-crazy each other for clicks 36:30 The MAGA coalition is cracking  42:30 Leigh Ann Caldwell joins the Chuck ToddCast 44:00 Covering politics as independent media vs legacy media 47:15 There was little ability for original thought doing network news 48:15 Legacy media gets stuck in groupthink 50:00 People blame the Gingrich years for our current political dysfunction 51:30 Covering Trump’s 1st term was asking for reactions to Trump 52:00 Congress has handed away their authority in Trump 2.0 52:45 The personal animus between the two parties is very real 54:00 Young staffers had their politics formed by social media 56:00 Mike Johnson will go down as one of the weakest speakers ever 57:00 Johnson has willingly made congress irrelevant 58:45 Are we underplaying the chances of a January shutdown? 1:00:00 With premiums set to rise, why couldn’t Dems corner the GOP? 1:00:45 Dems know healthcare is good politics for them 1:01:45 Trump is digging in rather than caving on ACA subsidies 1:03:30 Trump doesn’t want to prop up the ACA because Obama passed it 1:04:30 Lots of Republicans have “Obama Derangement Syndrome” 1:06:00 The framework of the ACA came from the Heritage Foundation 1:06:30 Trump comes close to advocating for single payer healthcare 1:08:45 Republicans can’t do anything on healthcare without Trump 1:09:45 Trump is done with congress, thinks he can do everything via EO 1:11:45 Trump lied and claimed military bonuses came from tariff revenue 1:12:45 If SCOTUS takes tariff power from Trump, will he go to congress? 1:13:45 Congress unlikely to hand tariff authority to Trump 1:14:45 Republican bracing for another 20 retirement announcements 1:16:15 Texas & California members are mad about redistricting 1:18:00 House races will likely cost $60 million in 2026 1:19:30 Members of congress spend 50% of their time fundraising 1:22:00 Democrats would be stupid to try to impeach Trump a third time 1:23:30 Which congressional leaders will still be in place in 2027? 1:25:00 Johnson won’t be speaker in a new congress 1:26:00 Jim Jordan is the quiet favorite to be the house GOP leader 1:27:30 It’d be shocking if Chuck Schumer ran again 1:29:00 DSCC botched their oppo release on Graham Platner 1:31:15 There are doubts about Jeffries, but unlikely to be challenged 1:33:00 Schumer & Jeffries botched the NYC mayors race 1:34:45 Does John Thune have support in the senate? 1:37:30 Covering the hill is a better beat than the White House 1:42:00 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Leigh Ann Caldwell 1:42:30 ToddCast Time Machine - December 26, 1991 1:43:00 Soviet Union officially dissolves, ending the Cold War 1:43:45 Collapse of the Soviet Union is still unresolved 1:45:00 It felt like history had chosen a winner, but it was just the first act 1:45:30 The west felt like the liberal democrats had won 1:46:45 The US treated the Soviet Union like a failed state, not a fallen empire 1:48:00 Democracy hasn’t taken hold in many former Soviet states 1:49:15 Democracy has never landed in Russia due to structural reasons 1:50:15 Fall of the USSR created oligarchs, but not a middle class 1:51:15 The Russian people equated oligarchy with democracy 1:53:00 Russians lost a sense of identity, made them vulnerable to a dictator 1:53:45 Eastern Europe fears Russia & wanted in on NATO 1:55:15 Ukraine had the world’s third largest nuclear arsenal, gave it up 1:56:15 Ukraine should have received NATO membership for giving up nukes 1:57:00 We’re repeating the 1920’s & 30’s in the U.S. & in Europe 1:58:45 Russia becoming a democracy seems fanciful, but in time it’s possible 2:00:15 This period feels unstable, but could be bumps in the road 2:00:45 Ask Chuck 2:01:00 Why has the U.S. and Europe had a bond, & thoughts on losing it? 2:05:30 Do you think congress will try to limit the pardon power post-Trump? 2:11:30 What does the GOP look like if it loses in 2028? 2:15:00 What was it like working with Topps for your trading card? 2:26:00 College football roundup See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chief Washington correspondent for Puck News, Leigh Ann Caldwell joins the Chuck ToddCast to unpack how Washington looks different when covered from outside the constraints of legacy media—and why independent journalism may be better suited to capture the dysfunction of Trump’s second term. Caldwell reflects on the groupthink and reaction-driven coverage that defined Trump’s first presidency, the erosion of Congress’s authority in Trump 2.0, and the deep personal animus now defining relationships on Capitol Hill. Together, she and Chuck examine how social media has shaped a younger generation of staffers, why Speaker Mike Johnson may be remembered as one of the weakest in history, and how Congress has willingly made itself irrelevant in the face of executive power. The conversation also digs into healthcare politics, looming shutdown risks, and why Republicans remain unable to act without Trump’s approval—even as he digs in against ACA subsidies out of lingering grievance toward Obama. Caldwell and Todd explore the brewing chaos inside the GOP, from mass retirements and redistricting fights to the staggering cost of House races and the nonstop fundraising grind. The episode closes with a candid assessment of party leadership heading into 2026, why a third Trump impeachment would be a mistake, and why covering Congress—rather than the White House—may now offer the clearest window into where American politics is headed. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Leigh Ann Caldwell joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 Covering politics as independent media vs legacy media 04:45 There was little ability for original thought doing network news 05:45 Legacy media gets stuck in groupthink 07:30 People blame the Gingrich years for our current political dysfunction 09:00 Covering Trump’s 1st term was asking for reactions to Trump 09:30 Congress has handed away their authority in Trump 2.0 10:15 The personal animus between the two parties is very real 11:30 Young staffers had their politics formed by social media 13:30 Mike Johnson will go down as one of the weakest speakers ever 14:30 Johnson has willingly made congress irrelevant 16:15 Are we underplaying the chances of a January shutdown? 17:30 With premiums set to rise, why couldn’t Dems corner the GOP? 18:15 Dems know healthcare is good politics for them 19:15 Trump is digging in rather than caving on ACA subsidies 21:00 Trump doesn’t want to prop up the ACA because Obama passed it 22:00 Lots of Republicans have “Obama Derangement Syndrome” 23:30 The framework of the ACA came from the Heritage Foundation 24:00 Trump comes close to advocating for single payer healthcare 26:15 Republicans can’t do anything on healthcare without Trump 27:15 Trump is done with congress, thinks he can do everything via EO 29:15 Trump lied and claimed military bonuses came from tariff revenue 30:15 If SCOTUS takes tariff power from Trump, will he go to congress? 31:15 Congress unlikely to hand tariff authority to Trump 32:15 Republican bracing for another 20 retirement announcements 33:45 Texas & California members are mad about redistricting 35:30 House races will likely cost $60 million in 2026 37:00 Members of congress spend 50% of their time fundraising 39:30 Democrats would be stupid to try to impeach Trump a third time 41:00 Which congressional leaders will still be in place in 2027? 42:30 Johnson won’t be speaker in a new congress 43:30 Jim Jordan is the quiet favorite to be the house GOP leader 45:00 It’d be shocking if Chuck Schumer ran again 46:30 DSCC botched their oppo release on Graham Platner 48:45 There are doubts about Jeffries, but unlikely to be challenged 50:30 Schumer & Jeffries botched the NYC mayors race 52:15 Does John Thune have support in the senate? 55:00 Covering the hill is a better beat than the White House See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd breaks down Donald Trump’s prime-time address to the nation, arguing that it functioned less as a governing update and more as a rapid-fire campaign rally designed to rehab Trump’s political image. Todd explains how the speech sidestepped real policy challenges, leaned heavily into grievance, and once again spoke almost exclusively to Trump’s base—underscoring what he sees as the former president’s biggest weakness: a profound lack of self-awareness. From healthcare and energy costs to AI and economic anxiety, the episode examines how Trump’s fixation on personal slights and image management continues to shape his priorities, even as frustration grows among Republicans and voters alike who are still waiting for results instead of rhetoric. Then, businessman, venture capitalist and political strategist Bradley Tusk joins Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership fatigue, the erosion of America’s rule of law, and the long-term consequences of the Trump era. Tusk argues that many of today’s institutional crises—from weakened economic pillars to America’s retreat from global leadership—are inseparable from Trump’s choices, and that “pay-to-play” politics may linger even after he’s gone. The discussion also explores capitalism’s successes and excesses, the growing public unease around AI, and why uneven, state-by-state regulation is both inefficient and, at times, a necessary laboratory for innovation. The conversation then turns to the future: how AI-driven inequality could spark massive political upheaval, why crypto only works with regulation, and whether mobile voting could dramatically reshape democracy by boosting participation and accountability. Tusk weighs the risks of low-information turnout, the challenges of selling reform in rural America, and why JD Vance may be the biggest wildcard in restoring the rule of law. The episode closes with reflections on missed turning points in presidential history, the changing nature of political communication, and what it will take for candidates in 2028 to be truly battle-tested for the moment ahead. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and previews the upcoming weekend in college football.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 04:30 Democrats will struggle to win business community over GOP 08:00 Trump addresses the nation in primetime speech 09:00 Trump doesn’t mention Venezuela in the speech 10:00 Purpose of speech was to fix his political image 10:45 It felt like a Trump rally speech on speed 12:45 Trump asked voters for more time, can’t admit things aren’t working yet 13:30 Trump only knows how to speak in the language of his base 14:15 Trump’s lack of self awareness is his achilles heel 15:30 Trump clearly has “Obama Derangement Syndrome” 17:30 Republicans had 16 years for ACA replacement, couldn’t do it 19:45 The option to buy into Medicare is incredibly popular 21:00 Trump is consumed with grievance, can’t get out of his own way 22:15 Trump will punish the public on healthcare over his grievance 24:15 Republicans at least acknowledged problem of high energy bills 25:15 Trump relationship with AI companies will be tethered to energy bills 26:45 Even Trump’s supporters weren’t happy with the speech 29:00 Trumpworld rallied around Susie Wiles after Vanity Fair piece 29:45 Susie Wiles was the first person to agree to work for him after J6 31:30 Marco Rubio has an ally in Wiles, does JD Vance have one? 32:00 Trump’s presidential walk of fame is a monument to his narcissism 33:00 We should demand better from our leaders 35:45 Trump is using taxpayer dollars on vanity projects 37:45 Trump is appealing to his own interests and not the voters’  45:00 Bradley Tusk joins the Chuck ToddCast 47:00 Third terms don’t make sense, people wear out after several years 48:15 America’s rule of law issues will end when Trump ends 49:00 Trump has undermined the pillars of America’s economic strength 49:45 Trump has chosen to end America’s role as leader of the free world 50:45 Trump selling chips to China undermines security argument 52:00 Will business expect the Trump treatment from future presidents? 53:15 State by state regulation is wildly inefficient compared to federal 54:00 There is only state level regulation of autonomous vehicles 55:30 State level regulation allows for experimentation & learning 56:15 Americans have lower approval of AI compared to other nations 57:00 The political tsunami hasn’t hit yet, will by 2028 58:15 If AI makes trillionaires & 18% unemployment, it’ll cause revolution 1:00:00 Crypto only works due to having a level of regulation 1:01:15 Regulation is neither inherently good or bad 1:03:15 We haven’t found the politician to meet the current political moment 1:04:00 Capitalism has lifted 3 billion people out of poverty since WW2 1:04:30 Capitalism now has been taken to the extreme, leading to unhappiness 1:06:00 With less immigration, America would have better safety nets 1:08:00 The debate would surround when immigrants qualify for the safety net 1:09:00 Eric Adams decision to house & feed immigrants hurt other services 1:10:30 Someone willing to risk life to immigrate is willing to work hard 1:12:00 Will pay to play politics outlast Trump in the business community? 1:13:00 Different industries will support the party that’s best for their interests 1:14:30 The case for allowing voting on a mobile device 1:16:45 Online banking is incredibly secure, voting could be made that way 1:18:30 Mobile voting should start at the local level, then work its way up 1:19:00 How security would work for mobile elections 1:21:45 High turnout will create better incentive structures for politicians 1:24:15 Is a rise in low information voter turnout actually a good thing? 1:25:15 Unique challenges selling rural states on mobile voting? 1:27:00 JD Vance is the biggest variable on the potential return to rule of law 1:28:15 Vance will struggle to distance himself from Trump 1:30:00 How different would the world have looked if Gore beat Bush? 1:31:45 If Gore wins, Iraq never happens 1:32:45 The two most qualified of the last seven presidents only got 1 term 1:34:00 The Iowa caucuses force presidential candidates to meet the people 1:35:30 The DNC made a huge mistake removing Iowa as first in nation status 1:37:30 Communication is so much more important to success now 1:38:30 In business, narrative is more important than fundamentals 1:40:30 Is it better to be a public company or private company in 2026? 1:42:00 Tech companies stay private for too long 1:44:30 Any candidates that excite you for 2028? 1:47:30 Candidates need to be battle tested by the primary calendar 1:49:00 First mobile votes will happen in Anchorage 1:51:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Bradley Tusk 1:52:00 It’s hard to speculate what Epstein revelation would change the discourse 1:52:45 The looming question is why is Trump soft on Ghislaine Maxwell 1:54:00 Ask Chuck 1:54:15 Concerns with political outcomes in prediction markets 1:57:45 Worries that prediction markets turn young people into gambling addicts? 2:02:15 Worries that prediction markets are replacing traditional investing 2:04:15 Civil rights is always a struggle, how can we trust the public? 2:08:00 College football update See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Businessman, venture capitalist and political strategist Bradley Tusk joins Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership fatigue, the erosion of America’s rule of law, and the long-term consequences of the Trump era. Tusk argues that many of today’s institutional crises—from weakened economic pillars to America’s retreat from global leadership—are inseparable from Trump’s choices, and that “pay-to-play” politics may linger even after he’s gone. The discussion also explores capitalism’s successes and excesses, the growing public unease around AI, and why uneven, state-by-state regulation is both inefficient and, at times, a necessary laboratory for innovation. The conversation then turns to the future: how AI-driven inequality could spark massive political upheaval, why crypto only works with regulation, and whether mobile voting could dramatically reshape democracy by boosting participation and accountability. Tusk weighs the risks of low-information turnout, the challenges of selling reform in rural America, and why JD Vance may be the biggest wildcard in restoring the rule of law. The episode closes with reflections on missed turning points in presidential history, the changing nature of political communication, and what it will take for candidates in 2028 to be truly battle-tested for the moment ahead. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Bradley Tusk joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 Third terms don’t make sense, people wear out after several years 03:15 America’s rule of law issues will end when Trump ends 04:00 Trump has undermined the pillars of America’s economic strength 04:45 Trump has chosen to end America’s role as leader of the free world 05:45 Trump selling chips to China undermines security argument 07:00 Will business expect the Trump treatment from future presidents? 08:15 State by state regulation is wildly inefficient compared to federal 09:00 There is only state level regulation of autonomous vehicles 10:30 State level regulation allows for experimentation & learning 11:15 Americans have lower approval of AI compared to other nations 12:00 The political tsunami hasn’t hit yet, will by 2028 13:15 If AI makes trillionaires & 18% unemployment, it’ll cause revolution 15:00 Crypto only works due to having a level of regulation 16:15 Regulation is neither inherently good or bad 18:15 We haven’t found the politician to meet the current political moment 19:00 Capitalism has lifted 3 billion people out of poverty since WW2 19:30 Capitalism now has been taken to the extreme, leading to unhappiness 21:00 With less immigration, America would have better safety nets 23:00 The debate would surround when immigrants qualify for the safety net 24:00 Eric Adams decision to house & feed immigrants hurt other services 25:30 Someone willing to risk life to immigrate is willing to work hard 27:00 Will pay to play politics outlast Trump in the business community? 28:00 Different industries will support the party that’s best for their interests 29:30 The case for allowing voting on a mobile device 31:45 Online banking is incredibly secure, voting could be made that way 33:30 Mobile voting should start at the local level, then work its way up 34:00 How security would work for mobile elections 36:45 High turnout will create better incentive structures for politicians 39:15 Is a rise in low information voter turnout actually a good thing? 40:15 Unique challenges selling rural states on mobile voting? 42:00 JD Vance is the biggest variable on the potential return to rule of law 43:15 Vance will struggle to distance himself from Trump 45:00 How different would the world have looked if Gore beat Bush? 46:45 If Gore wins, Iraq never happens 47:45 The two most qualified of the last seven presidents only got 1 term 49:00 The Iowa caucuses force presidential candidates to meet the people 50:30 The DNC made a huge mistake removing Iowa as first in nation status 52:30 Communication is so much more important to success now 53:30 In business, narrative is more important than fundamentals 55:30 Is it better to be a public company or private company in 2026? 57:00 Tech companies stay private for too long 59:30 Any candidates that excite you for 2028? 1:02:30 Candidates need to be battle tested by the primary calendar 1:04:00 First mobile votes will happen in Anchorage See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd takes a hard look at Donald Trump’s increasingly egregious behavior and the growing questions surrounding his cognitive fitness for the presidency, sparked by a recent post that crossed a line even for many on the right. He asks what would happen if any other public figure behaved this way, why similar concerns about Biden’s decline were openly discussed while Trump’s are often brushed aside, and whether the country is getting a straight story about the former president’s health. With no clear guardrails, no apparent filters, and staff either unable or unwilling to intervene, the episode raises uncomfortable but urgent questions about judgment, accountability, and risk. He also examines recent polling on the issue of corruption, and why it could be a potent electoral issue if messaged correctly. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 book recommendations for political junkies and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:45 Money in politics has gotten out of control 03:45 North Carolina senate race will likely cost a billion dollars 04:30 One outside group can spend more than both campaigns combined 05:00 An amendment is the only way get campaign finance past judiciary 05:45 The judiciary has legislated campaign finance from the bench 07:30 Does the latest outrage over Trump’s Reiner tweet mean anything? 08:30 Trump’s post was a bridge too far for even some on the right 09:00 If any of us posted that, it would cost us jobs, relationships & more 10:30 At what point is Trump’s behavior 25th amendment type alarming? 11:15 Either his staff said something & he ignored it, or nobody said anything 12:15 Biden’s mental decline was apparent 14:00 Judging Trump’s mental decline is harder due to erratic behavior 17:15 It’s possible Trump feared one of his supporters murdered Reiner 18:00 Having a president with no filter should concern every American 19:15 You have to wonder if Trump is all there, all the time 21:00 We aren’t getting a straight story about Trump’s health 22:30 Concerns people on the right had about Biden, are happening w/Trump 23:45 Trump’s behavior is bad for the country & the Republican party 25:00 Voters will punish the GOP if they feel Trump’s decline was covered up 26:45 This story is only going to get worse as time goes on 28:30 New polling out on voters opinions & thoughts on corruption 29:15 What voters think corruption actually means 32:15 The voters are more sophisticated on corruption than politicians are 33:30 Large majorities thought government serves the rich & businesses 35:00 There’s an appetite for government & democracy reform 36:15 Majority of independents saw corruption in both Trump & Biden admins 37:30 Framing issues through lens of corruption could resonate 38:45 Connecting affordability to corruption could be very effective 45:45 ToddCast Top 5 books for your reading list 46:15 #5 The Drift by Kevin Hassett 49:45 #4 Mark Twain by Ron Chernow 51:45 #3 The Barn by Wright Thompson 53:15 #2 107 Days by Kamala Harris 55:45 #1 Fateful Hours by Volker Ullrich 58:15 Ask Chuck 58:30 Appreciation for the quick reaction videos/pods 1:01:30 Omission of “Citizen Kang” from Simpsons time machine segment 1:03:15 Could a Democrat win the Florida senate race?  1:07:15 Why don’t reporters challenge Trump to his face about his behavior? 1:14:00 Why haven’t Democrats leaned into breaking up big monopolies? 1:19:00 How has interview prep changed from MTP to now? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Full Episode - Trump Is Exhibiting 25th Amendment Behavior + How To Get Money Out Of Politics For Good Chuck Todd takes a hard look at Donald Trump’s increasingly egregious behavior and the growing questions surrounding his cognitive fitness for the presidency, sparked by a recent post that crossed a line even for many on the right. He asks what would happen if any other public figure behaved this way, why similar concerns about Biden’s decline were openly discussed while Trump’s are often brushed aside, and whether the country is getting a straight story about the former president’s health. With no clear guardrails, no apparent filters, and staff either unable or unwilling to intervene, the episode raises uncomfortable but urgent questions about judgment, accountability, and risk. Then, Jeff Clements, CEO of American Promise joins Chuck for a deep dive into one of the most consequential—and misunderstood—threats to American democracy: money in politics. Clements argues that today’s campaign finance dysfunction isn’t a failure of legislation but a court-created crisis, tracing how Supreme Court rulings turned money into speech, opened massive loopholes, and shifted lawmaking power from Congress to the judiciary. From McCain-Feingold to super PACs, the conversation unpacks why courts have repeatedly blocked reform efforts and why the problem isn’t free speech itself, but the unchecked amplification that allows wealth to drown out everyone else. The discussion turns to whether a constitutional amendment is the only viable path forward, how such an amendment could reclaim authority from the courts, and what it would take to build support across 38 states. Drawing parallels to the Gilded Age and the founders’ obsession with corruption, Clements explains why Americans broadly understand the system is broken—even if it’s hard to make campaign finance a voting issue. In a moment of democratic crisis, he makes the case that meaningful reform is still possible, and that restoring political equality could become a rare point of unity in a deeply polarized era. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 book recommendations for political junkies and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:45 Money in politics has gotten out of control 03:45 North Carolina senate race will likely cost a billion dollars 04:30 One outside group can spend more than both campaigns combined 05:00 An amendment is the only way get campaign finance past judiciary 05:45 The judiciary has legislated campaign finance from the bench 07:30 Does the latest outrage over Trump’s Reiner tweet mean anything? 08:30 Trump’s post was a bridge too far for even some on the right 09:00 If any of us posted that, it would cost us jobs, relationships & more 10:30 At what point is Trump’s behavior 25th amendment type alarming? 11:15 Either his staff said something & he ignored it, or nobody said anything 12:15 Biden’s mental decline was apparent 14:00 Judging Trump’s mental decline is harder due to erratic behavior 17:15 It’s possible Trump feared one of his supporters murdered Reiner 18:00 Having a president with no filter should concern every American 19:15 You have to wonder if Trump is all there, all the time 21:00 We aren’t getting a straight story about Trump’s health 22:30 Concerns people on the right had about Biden, are happening w/Trump 23:45 Trump’s behavior is bad for the country & the Republican party 25:00 Voters will punish the GOP if they feel Trump’s decline was covered up 26:45 This story is only going to get worse as time goes on 28:30 New polling out on voters opinions & thoughts on corruption 29:15 What voters think corruption actually means 32:15 The voters are more sophisticated on corruption than politicians are 33:30 Large majorities thought government serves the rich & businesses 35:00 There’s an appetite for government & democracy reform 36:15 Majority of independents saw corruption in both Trump & Biden admins 37:30 Framing issues through lens of corruption could resonate 38:45 Connecting affordability to corruption could be very effective 46:00 Jeff Clements joins the Chuck ToddCast 47:15 Constitutional amendment the only way to get money out of politics? 48:30 Campaign finance problems are a “court created crisis” 50:00 The Supreme Court created all the campaign finance loopholes 50:45 If money wasn’t speech, is McCain-Feingold good legislation? 51:30 Money will always “find a way” in politics 54:45 Courts have stood in the way of campaign finance reform 55:15 How to word an amendment to take this power away from judiciary 59:00 Is there a first amendment argument against amplification? 1:00:00 Money in politics isn’t a free speech issue, it’s an amplification issue 1:04:30 Maine had a $5000 limit on PACs, was knocked down by courts 1:05:15 Courts ruled that money can’t corrupt when it’s clear they can 1:06:45 Court could rule that limits apply to PACs & campaigns, or rule no limits 1:07:45 The court has created many contradictions in campaign finance 1:08:45 A court ruling won’t fix the problem, an amendment would 1:09:15 Most campaign finance law has been written by judiciary 1:11:00 It’s difficult to make campaign finance a voting issue 1:13:15 The American people understand that the system is corrupted 1:17:15 There are many similarities between the Gilded Age & now 1:18:45 We’ll should see see several amendments in the next decade 1:20:15 Need 38 states for amendment, what’s the biggest hurdle? 1:21:30 A states rights argument would be very persuasive to legislatures 1:23:00 Free speech doesn’t mean you get to drown out everyone else 1:26:00 Money equaling speech has made money equal power 1:29:00 The founders were obsessed with corruption, led to the revolution 1:30:00 Limiting campaign finance is perceived to help the left over the right 1:33:15 Could a presidential candidate galvanize the debate? 1:33:45 The president & governors have no constitutional role in the process 1:36:00 The goal is to leave a well-informed electorate & building support 1:37:15 Are there any super wealthy donors who support these reforms? 1:39:15 This is a crisis for our democracy but could create an opportunity 1:41:00 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Jeff Clements 1:42:30 ToddCast Top 5 books for your reading list 1:43:00 #5 The Drift by Kevin Hassett 1:46:30 #4 Mark Twain by Ron Chernow 1:48:30 #3 The Barn by Wright Thompson 1:50:00 #2 107 Days by Kamala Harris 1:52:30 #1 Fateful Hours by Volker Ullrich 1:55:00 Ask Chuck 1:55:15 Appreciation for the quick reaction videos/pods 1:58:15 Omission of “Citizen Kang” from Simpsons time machine segment 2:00:00 Could a Democrat win the Florida senate race?  2:04:00 Why don’t reporters challenge Trump to his face about his behavior? 2:10:45 Why haven’t Democrats leaned into breaking up big monopolies? 2:15:45 How has interview prep changed from MTP to now? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeff Clements,CEO of American Promise joins Chuck Todd for a deep dive into one of the most consequential—and misunderstood—threats to American democracy: money in politics. Clements argues that today’s campaign finance dysfunction isn’t a failure of legislation but a court-created crisis, tracing how Supreme Court rulings turned money into speech, opened massive loopholes, and shifted lawmaking power from Congress to the judiciary. From McCain-Feingold to super PACs, the conversation unpacks why courts have repeatedly blocked reform efforts and why the problem isn’t free speech itself, but the unchecked amplification that allows wealth to drown out everyone else. The discussion turns to whether a constitutional amendment is the only viable path forward, how such an amendment could reclaim authority from the courts, and what it would take to build support across 38 states. Drawing parallels to the Gilded Age and the founders’ obsession with corruption, Clements explains why Americans broadly understand the system is broken—even if it’s hard to make campaign finance a voting issue. In a moment of democratic crisis, he makes the case that meaningful reform is still possible, and that restoring political equality could become a rare point of unity in a deeply polarized era. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Jeff Clements joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:15 Constitutional amendment the only way to get money out of politics? 02:30 Campaign finance problems are a “court created crisis” 04:00 The Supreme Court created all the campaign finance loopholes 04:45 If money wasn’t speech, is McCain-Feingold good legislation? 05:30 Money will always “find a way” in politics 08:45 Courts have stood in the way of campaign finance reform 09:15 How to word an amendment to take this power away from judiciary 13:00 Is there a first amendment argument against amplification? 14:00 Money in politics isn’t a free speech issue, it’s an amplification issue 18:30 Maine had a $5000 limit on PACs, was knocked down by courts 19:15 Courts ruled that money can’t corrupt when it’s clear they can 20:45 Court could rule that limits apply to PACs & campaigns, or rule no limits 21:45 The court has created many contradictions in campaign finance 22:45 A court ruling won’t fix the problem, an amendment would 23:15 Most campaign finance law has been written by judiciary 25:00 It’s difficult to make campaign finance a voting issue 27:15 The American people understand that the system is corrupted 31:15 There are many similarities between the Gilded Age & now 32:45 We’ll should see see several amendments in the next decade 34:15 Need 38 states for amendment, what’s the biggest hurdle? 35:30 A states rights argument would be very persuasive to legislatures 37:00 Free speech doesn’t mean you get to drown out everyone else 40:00 Money equaling speech has made money equal power 43:00 The founders were obsessed with corruption, led to the revolution 44:00 Limiting campaign finance is perceived to help the left over the right 47:15 Could a presidential candidate galvanize the debate? 47:45 The president & governors have no constitutional role in the process 50:00 The goal is to leave a well-informed electorate & building support 51:15 Are there any super wealthy donors who support these reforms? 53:15 This is a crisis for our democracy but could create an opportunity See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd blasts Donald Trump for his despicable post about Rob Reiner where he attributed the murder to politics and made it about himself. He argues that Trump only knows how to “go low” and that the post is a red flag that something is seriously wrong with the president’s mental state. Timeline: 00:00 Rob Reiner & his wife found murdered in their home 00:30 So much grief from Brown & Australia shootings & now Reiner… 02:15 Trump’s post about Reiner’s death was beyond despicable 03:45 Trump implied that Reiner’s political disagreements got him murdered 04:45 Trump’s lack of empathy during Covid contributed to election loss 06:00 Reiner should be celebrated for his art, not attacked for his politics 07:45 Trump is a virus of polarization & exploitive of any situation 08:30 Trump represents America, and his post was classless & embarrassing 10:00 Trump is leaving a terrible legacy 10:45 Trump is the most successful failure in American history 12:45 We want a president who knows how to “go high”, Trump only goes low 13:45 Nobody in Trump’s inner circle stays there for long 14:30 You can’t chase every Trump outrage, but this one stood out 15:30 Trump’s behavior will accelerate perception that he’s losing it 16:45 This is a red flag that something is seriously wrong with Trump See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck confronts the alarming rise of antisemitism following a mass shooting that targeted Jews in Australia on the first night of Hanukkah, reflecting on how hatred now crosses traditional political lines and sharing his own family’s experiences. He argues that social media has become a primary accelerant—profiting from outrage, trapping people in media silos, and rewarding the most extreme voices—while insisting that free speech does not guarantee unlimited reach. The conversation widens to the urgent need for tech reform, growing support for restricting smartphones for kids, and public backlash to Donald Trump’s hands-off approach to regulating AI. Chuck also examines Trump’s foreign policy actions, economic excuses, and erosion of constitutional norms, warning that the U.S. is drifting toward “competitive authoritarianism.” Despite the dangers of normalization and resignation, the episode closes with a reminder that America still has the capacity to push back and reclaim democratic guardrails. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the political and cultural impact of The Simpsons, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and recaps the latest in college football. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 2:00 Mass shooting targets Jews in Australia on first night of Hanukkah 3:30 Antisemitism comes from both sides of the political aisle 5:00 Chuck’s family’s experience with antisemitism 6:15 Biggest culprit in rise in antisemitism is social media 8:45 Social media companies profit from destroying kids & country 10:00 People need to step out of their media silos 12:30 You have the right to speech but not to reach 15:00 Tech companies need to be the focal point for major reform 16:00 Trump’s “light touch” approach to regulating AI is very unpopular 17:45 Tech can get what they want by writing a check to Trump 19:15 Growing support for restricting smartphones for kids/teens 20:15 Most extreme content reaches the most online men* 21:30 Mark Warner says “double tap” strike was 40 mins later 22:30 Strike was indefensible, it’s why Pentagon won’t release video 24:30 Trump has no legal authority from congress for strikes 27:00 Trump basically admits Republicans will lose the midterms 28:00 Trump has begun the excuse making for a bad economy 29:15 Trump spent time working on DC’s golf courses 30:30 Foreign Affairs essay says USA is in competitive authoritarianism 33:30 Trump’s actions subvert rule of law & the constitution 34:15 Competitive authoritarians turn state power on enemies 36:45 Large swaths of the media have caved to the Trump administration 39:00 After Watergate, authoritarian abuse had disappeared… until Trump 40:00 America still has hope for turning away authoritarianism 40:30 Greatest danger is acceptance and resignation 47:30 ToddCast Time Machine December 17th, 1989 47:45 Debut of The Simpsons 49:00 Simpsons has outlasted entire media eras 49:30 Simpsons is brilliant at parodying politics & culture 50:15 Burns runs for governor teaches lessons of campaigns 51:00 Monorail episode shows failures of debt financing infrastructure 52:00 Lisa goes to Washington a great explainer of how DC works 52:45 Sideshow Bob rigs an election and wins anyway 54:15 Simpsons has had cameos from major political voices 54:45 Simpsons spawned an entire industry for adult animation 55:45 South Park’s “Simpson’s Did It” was the perfect omage 56:30 The Simpsons made audiences smarter about how to consume politics 56:45 Ask Chuck 57:30 Did Adam Schiff hurt or help Mandella Barnes by endorsing him? 1:00:15 A “shave your head” bet between you and Cillizza over A&M vs Miami? 1:03:30 Why has the donor class become the priority over the public? 1:07:30 Why can companies absorb tariff costs, but can’t raise wages? 1:10:45 College football update See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck confronts the alarming rise of antisemitism following a mass shooting that targeted Jews in Australia on the first night of Hanukkah, reflecting on how hatred now crosses traditional political lines and sharing his own family’s experiences. He argues that social media has become a primary accelerant—profiting from outrage, trapping people in media silos, and rewarding the most extreme voices—while insisting that free speech does not guarantee unlimited reach. The conversation widens to the urgent need for tech reform, growing support for restricting smartphones for kids, and public backlash to Donald Trump’s hands-off approach to regulating AI. Chuck also examines Trump’s foreign policy actions, economic excuses, and erosion of constitutional norms, warning that the U.S. is drifting toward “competitive authoritarianism.” Despite the dangers of normalization and resignation, the episode closes with a reminder that America still has the capacity to push back and reclaim democratic guardrails. Nick Troiano, executive director of Unite America, joins the Chuck ToddCast for a wide-ranging conversation about why America’s political system feels increasingly broken—and what reforms could actually fix it. Troiano explains how ranked-choice voting and primary reform can weaken the grip of the two-party system, produce more representative outcomes, and give voters in places like Alaska and Louisiana more meaningful choices. They unpack why partisan primaries reward conflict over problem-solving, how safe districts all but decide elections before voters reach the general, and why unaffiliated voters are often locked out of taxpayer-funded contests. The discussion expands to the broader reform landscape, from redistricting and campaign finance to unconventional ideas like compulsory representation and even randomly selected legislatures. Troiano argues that periods of political turmoil and inequality have historically led to democratic breakthroughs—and that today’s moment may demand the same. As power continues to consolidate and parties work to protect their advantage, this episode explores whether structural reform, rather than new personalities, is the only path to a healthier, more functional democracy. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the political and cultural impact of The Simpsons, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and recaps the latest in college football. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:00 Mass shooting targets Jews in Australia on first night of Hanukkah 04:30 Antisemitism comes from both sides of the political aisle 06:00 Chuck’s family’s experience with antisemitism 07:15 Biggest culprit in rise in antisemitism is social media 09:45 Social media companies profit from destroying kids & country 11:00 People need to step out of their media silos 13:30 You have the right to speech but not to reach 16:00 Tech companies need to be the focal point for major reform 17:00 Trump’s “light touch” approach to regulating AI is very unpopular 18:45 Tech can get what they want by writing a check to Trump 20:15 Growing support for restricting smartphones for kids/teens 21:15 Most extreme content reaches the most online men* 22:30 Mark Warner says “double tap” strike was 40 mins later 23:30 Strike was indefensible, it’s why Pentagon won’t release video 25:30 Trump has no legal authority from congress for strikes 28:00 Trump basically admits Republicans will lose the midterms 29:00 Trump has begun the excuse making for a bad economy 30:15 Trump spent time working on DC’s golf courses 31:30 Foreign Affairs essay says USA is in competitive authoritarianism 34:30 Trump’s actions subvert rule of law & the constitution 35:15 Competitive authoritarians turn state power on enemies 37:45 Large swaths of the media have caved to the Trump administration 40:00 After Watergate, authoritarian abuse had disappeared… until Trump 41:00 America still has hope for turning away authoritarianism 41:30 Greatest danger is acceptance and resignation 49:15 Nick Troiano joins the Chuck ToddCast 50:30 How did you get started with Unite America 51:30 There’s been pushback to ranked choice voting in recent years 52:15 Ranked choice voting is a salve for partisan primaries 54:15 New York and Maine are only partially ranked choice system 55:45 There are good ways to present ranked choice results 56:15 The current non-ranked system favors the two major parties 58:00 Runoff elections get a bad rap 59:45 Louisiana has a more functional political system due to electoral reform 1:00:45 More Alaskan voters can cast a “meaningful” ballot due to ranked choice 1:02:45 Ranked choice seems to be more beneficial to center left than center right 1:04:00 Ranked choice opponents trying to repeal it in Alaska 1:05:15 The two party wants to protect their power & fight against ranked choice 1:06:15 The status quo is causing our current politics to unravel 1:06:45 What states do you expect to be on the ballot with primary reform? 1:08:00 There’s movement to allow unaffiliated voters to vote in primaries 1:09:00 Politics has become about fighting rather than solving problems 1:11:15 Why is it so hard to galvanize the centrist voters? 1:13:00 Without a representative congress, we’ll get terrible policies 1:13:30 Without competitive elections, we get bad career politicians 1:16:00 Is there an order democracy reforms will need to be passed? 1:18:15 There are multiple potential pathways to make democracy better 1:20:00 Periods of major turmoil & inequality historically lead to major reforms 1:21:15 Is it difficult to find wealthy donors to back nonpartisan reforms? 1:23:15 Strong executive leadership makes it easier for legislatures to follow 1:24:30 Redistricting reform had strong support & has gone in the opposite direction 1:25:30 Trump is weaponizing the primary system to force redistricting 1:27:45 90% of districts in the midterms will be decided before the general election 1:28:30 In safe districts you only can choose what type of Dem/GOP candidate 1:29:30 Should be able to vote on any candidate in taxpayer funded elections 1:31:15 It’s strange that government requires public party affiliation records 1:32:30 Parties shouldn’t be allowed to ask voters to sign party pledge 1:33:30 Campaign finance reform is a salient issue to most voters 1:35:15 We used to be far more engaged politically at the local level 1:37:45 What if we randomly selected legislatures like we do juries 1:38:45 Rural states might be open to compulsory representation 1:40:15 Thoughts on a constitutional convention? 1:41:45 The electoral college is working as intended, but needs updating 1:42:30 The bar is very high for ratification during a convention 1:43:15 If power continues to consolidate, a convention becomes more necessary 1:44:00 Any itch to run for office again? 1:44:45 What are the major issues running as an independent candidate? 1:46:15 There are fewer gatekeepers for getting attention as a candidate 1:48:15 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Nick Troiano 1:49:15 ToddCast Time Machine December 17th, 1989 1:49:30 Debut of The Simpsons 1:50:45 Simpsons has outlasted entire media eras 1:51:15 Simpsons is brilliant at parodying politics & culture 1:52:00 Burns runs for governor teaches lessons of campaigns 1:52:45 Monorail episode shows failures of debt financing infrastructure 1:53:45 Lisa goes to Washington a great explainer of how DC works 1:54:30 Sideshow Bob rigs an election and wins anyway 1:56:00 Simpsons has had cameos from major political voices 1:56:30 Simpsons spawned an entire industry for adult animation 1:57:30 South Park’s “Simpson’s Did It” was the perfect omage 1:58:15 The Simpsons made audiences smarter about how to consume politics 1:58:30 Ask Chuck 1:59:15 Did Adam Schiff hurt or help Mandella Barnes by endorsing him? 2:02:00 A “shave your head” bet between you and Cillizza over A&M vs Miami? 2:05:15 Why has the donor class become the priority over the public? 2:09:15 Why can companies absorb tariff costs, but can’t raise wages? 2:12:30 College football update See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Troiano, executive director of Unite America, joins the Chuck ToddCast for a wide-ranging conversation about why America’s political system feels increasingly broken—and what reforms could actually fix it. Troiano explains how ranked-choice voting and primary reform can weaken the grip of the two-party system, produce more representative outcomes, and give voters in places like Alaska and Louisiana more meaningful choices. They unpack why partisan primaries reward conflict over problem-solving, how safe districts all but decide elections before voters reach the general, and why unaffiliated voters are often locked out of taxpayer-funded contests. The discussion expands to the broader reform landscape, from redistricting and campaign finance to unconventional ideas like compulsory representation and even randomly selected legislatures. Troiano argues that periods of political turmoil and inequality have historically led to democratic breakthroughs—and that today’s moment may demand the same. As power continues to consolidate and parties work to protect their advantage, this episode explores whether structural reform, rather than new personalities, is the only path to a healthier, more functional democracy. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Nick Troiano joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:15 How did you get started with Unite America 02:15 There’s been pushback to ranked choice voting in recent years 03:00 Ranked choice voting is a salve for partisan primaries 05:00 New York and Maine are only partially ranked choice system 06:30 There are good ways to present ranked choice results 07:00 The current non-ranked system favors the two major parties 08:45 Runoff elections get a bad rap 10:30 Louisiana has a more functional political system due to electoral reform 11:30 More Alaskan voters can cast a “meaningful” ballot due to ranked choice 13:30 Ranked choice seems to be more beneficial to center left than center right 14:45 Ranked choice opponents trying to repeal it in Alaska 16:00 The two party wants to protect their power & fight against ranked choice 17:00 The status quo is causing our current politics to unravel 17:30 What states do you expect to be on the ballot with primary reform? 18:45 There’s movement to allow unaffiliated voters to vote in primaries 19:45 Politics has become about fighting rather than solving problems 22:00 Why is it so hard to galvanize the centrist voters? 23:45 Without a representative congress, we’ll get terrible policies 24:15 Without competitive elections, we get bad career politicians 26:45 Is there an order democracy reforms will need to be passed? 29:00 There are multiple potential pathways to make democracy better 30:45 Periods of major turmoil & inequality historically lead to major reforms 32:00 Is it difficult to find wealthy donors to back nonpartisan reforms? 34:00 Strong executive leadership makes it easier for legislatures to follow 35:15 Redistricting reform had strong support & has gone in the opposite direction 36:15 Trump is weaponizing the primary system to force redistricting 38:30 90% of districts in the midterms will be decided before the general election 39:15 In safe districts you only can choose what type of Dem/GOP candidate 40:15 Should be able to vote on any candidate in taxpayer funded elections 42:00 It’s strange that government requires public party affiliation records 43:15 Parties shouldn’t be allowed to ask voters to sign party pledge 44:15 Campaign finance reform is a salient issue to most voters 46:00 We used to be far more engaged politically at the local level 48:30 What if we randomly selected legislatures like we do juries 49:30 Rural states might be open to compulsory representation 51:00 Thoughts on a constitutional convention? 52:30 The electoral college is working as intended, but needs updating 53:15 The bar is very high for ratification during a convention 54:00 If power continues to consolidate, a convention becomes more necessary 54:45 Any itch to run for office again? 55:30 What are the major issues running as an independent candidate? 57:00 There are fewer gatekeepers for getting attention as a candidate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special Friday episode, Chuck Todd breaks down a striking turn inside the Republican Party as Indiana Republicans openly rebuke Donald Trump’s demand to redraw their congressional maps—an early sign that his once-iron grip on the GOP may be loosening. With voters frustrated by a shaky economy, Trump’s political coalition is showing new cracks.  Chuck also explores the Heritage Foundation’s hollow threat against Indiana lawmakers and why Trump’s executive order banning states from regulating AI is unpopular and almost certainly unconstitutional. Taken together, these shifts suggest a pivotal moment: the first real indications that the Trump era may finally be entering its twilight. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Indiana Republicans rebuke Trump’s redistricting demand 03:00 Voters don’t like the economy and it’s weakening Trump’s grip on GOP 04:30 Trump is not a true conservative 07:15 Heritage Foundation made an empty threat against Indiana 08:00 Trump’s EO banning state AI regulation is unconstitutional 09:30 Trump’s coalition is beginning to fray 10:45 This feels like the beginning of the end of the Trump era   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Chuck Todd explores the growing bipartisan momentum to rein in Big Tech, noting that while social media’s unintended consequences have already eroded truth and public trust, AI could amplify those failures without strong guardrails. He breaks down why Americans overwhelmingly support protecting kids from tech harms—and why a public revolt is inevitable once people feel they’ve lost control. Chuck also looks at how massive AI investment is masking broader economic weakness before turning to Donald Trump’s botched economic message in Pennsylvania, a “let them eat cake” tone that echoes the same political trap Biden once fell into. With surprising Democratic wins in Miami and Georgia and a demoralizing trend inside the GOP base, the political landscape is shifting fast, especially as ACA subsidies near expiration and no healthcare compromise is in sight. Chuck then pivots to the rise of prediction markets—how they move on insider information, how they could be manipulated by political actors, and why the “casinofication” of news threatens to reduce all political coverage to a risky, easily gamed horse race. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and previews the upcoming college football slate. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:00 There is bipartisan support for pushing back on tech 05:00 AI regulation to protect kids has massive support 06:15 The public will revolt over tech when they feel they lose control 08:00 Social media came with unintended consequences, AI could be similar 08:45 Social media has destroyed truth 09:30 AI needs guardrails that have been missing from social media 10:45 AI investment is masking a recession for much of the country 12:30 Trump botches economic message at PA rally 13:15 Trump has a tone deaf, let them eat cake mindset 14:45 The Trump WH walking into the same trap Biden did on economy 15:30 Elections in Miami and Georgia showed GOP is in real trouble 17:30 First time a Democrat won Miami mayor in nearly 30 years 18:15 Democratic voters are fired up & more reliable 19:45 The base of the Republican party is becoming demoralized 21:00 ACA credits set to expire, no compromise healthcare deal yet 22:15 Question for audience: Do you follow and participate in prediction markets? 24:00 Prediction markets move when they get insider info 25:45 Prediction markets seemed to know fed interest rate cut was coming 27:00 Is it wise to allow people to bet on basically everything? 28:45 Gambling is highly regulated, prediction markets are not 29:30 Certain people will know outcomes in advance and can game the system 30:45 Trump allies could game the system on predictions of his actions 32:15 Predictions that can be manipulated should be outlawed 34:00 Prediction markets could make all political coverage “horse race” style 35:15 The “casinofication” of news comes with risks 40:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Julie Scelfo 43:00 Thoughts on a limited TV series on the constitutional convention? 46:30 Favorite movies & Ken Burns doc? 52:00 Outlook on the primary races in Texas and Montana? 1:00:30 What if archduke Franz Ferdinand's driver took a different turn? 1:05:30 College football preview See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Chuck Todd explores the growing bipartisan momentum to rein in Big Tech, noting that while social media’s unintended consequences have already eroded truth and public trust, AI could amplify those failures without strong guardrails. He breaks down why Americans overwhelmingly support protecting kids from tech harms—and why a public revolt is inevitable once people feel they’ve lost control. Chuck also looks at how massive AI investment is masking broader economic weakness before turning to Donald Trump’s botched economic message in Pennsylvania, a “let them eat cake” tone that echoes the same political trap Biden once fell into. With surprising Democratic wins in Miami and Georgia and a demoralizing trend inside the GOP base, the political landscape is shifting fast, especially as ACA subsidies near expiration and no healthcare compromise is in sight. Chuck then pivots to the rise of prediction markets—how they move on insider information, how they could be manipulated by political actors, and why the “casinofication” of news threatens to reduce all political coverage to a risky, easily gamed horse race. Then, journalist and founder of MAMA (Mothers Against Media Addiction), Julie Scelfo, joins  Chuck ToddCast for a wide-ranging conversation on one of the most urgent issues facing American families: the collapse of trust in media, the rise of unregulated tech, and its profound impact on children’s mental health. Scelfo explains how the explosion of social media and smartphones—coupled with virtually nonexistent regulation—has left kids exposed to harmful algorithms, addictive design, and misinformation at formative ages. With both the left and right now pushing to get smartphones out of classrooms, she argues that we’re long past due for meaningful guardrails, especially as Big Tech’s lobbying power grows and federal leaders threaten to block states from regulating AI. Chuck and Julie compare today’s fight with Big Tech to the battle against Big Tobacco, explore why recommendation systems effectively make platforms publishers, and discuss the growing bipartisan appetite for banning iPads in schools and returning to books. They also dig into MAMA’s mission to protect children in a digital world—emphasizing that kids under two should not be exposed to screens, that early childhood development depends on real-world interaction, and that “tech nannies” have emerged because childcare is unaffordable. Scelfo calls for mandatory data transparency from tech companies, stronger child-safety legislation in the states, and a culture shift that prioritizes healthy offline development over the race to dominate AI. With future jobs uncertain and social skills declining, she argues that society must resist sacrificing sensible regulation in the name of innovation—and recognize that too much time online isn’t just unhealthy, it’s shaping a generation. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and previews the upcoming college football slate. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:00 There is bipartisan support for pushing back on tech 05:00 AI regulation to protect kids has massive support 06:15 The public will revolt over tech when they feel they lose control 08:00 Social media came with unintended consequences, AI could be similar 08:45 Social media has destroyed truth 09:30 AI needs guardrails that have been missing from social media 10:45 AI investment is masking a recession for much of the country 12:30 Trump botches economic message at PA rally 13:15 Trump has a tone deaf, let them eat cake mindset 14:45 The Trump WH walking into the same trap Biden did on economy 15:30 Elections in Miami and Georgia showed GOP is in real trouble 17:30 First time a Democrat won Miami mayor in nearly 30 years 18:15 Democratic voters are fired up & more reliable 19:45 The base of the Republican party is becoming demoralized 21:00 ACA credits set to expire, no compromise healthcare deal yet 22:15 Question for audience: Do you follow and participate in prediction markets? 24:00 Prediction markets move when they get insider info 25:45 Prediction markets seemed to know fed interest rate cut was coming 27:00 Is it wise to allow people to bet on basically everything? 28:45 Gambling is highly regulated, prediction markets are not 29:30 Certain people will know outcomes in advance and can game the system 30:45 Trump allies could game the system on predictions of his actions 32:15 Predictions that can be manipulated should be outlawed 34:00 Prediction markets could make all political coverage “horse race” style 35:15 The “casinofication” of news comes with risks 40:45 Julie Scelfo joins the Chuck ToddCast 43:45 Erosion of trust in media & news is a massive problem 44:45 Mental health decline in youth correlated with rise of social media 45:45 Both left & right want to get smartphones out of classrooms 46:30 Lack of social media regulation leaves kids vulnerable 47:45 Regulation is difficult when big tech has unlimited money to lobby 49:45 Threats from Congress & Trump to prevent states from regulating AI 51:15 Executive order from Trump may be last gasp to avoid AI regulation 53:15 AI has been positive for shareholders & owners, not for the public 54:30 What lessons can be learned from the fight against big tobacco? 57:00 Recommendation algorithms turn platforms into publishers 58:30 Advertiser supported speech is different than first amendment speech 59:15 Broadcast networks are liable for misleading ads, social platforms aren’t 1:00:45 Momentum building to ban ipads in schools and make kids use books 1:02:15 MAMA’s mission and goals 1:03:45 Children under 2 shouldn’t be exposed to screens for entertainment 1:06:15 Kids know how to find information, but must be taught to filter it 1:07:15 Most educational building blocks are built during early childhood 1:08:00 We can’t sacrifice sensible regulation in order to win AI race 1:09:15 Tech leaders all have very inept and awkward social skills 1:11:45 Tech must be required to release data for researchers to study 1:13:15 How to prepare kids for future jobs that may be replaced by AI? 1:14:45 Real life interactions are critical for a healthy childhood 1:16:30 We will always need trades, skilled labor and care workers 1:18:15 What are some near-term activities MAMA is working on? 1:20:45 States are introducing quality child safety legislation on tech 1:21:15 There is bipartisan support in congress for regulation 1:22:45 There hasn’t been one study worldwide on tech at a young age 1:24:15 We have “tech nannies” because childcare is so expensive 1:26:45 Too much time online is incredibly unhealthy 1:32:00 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Julie Scelfo 1:34:30 Thoughts on a limited TV series on the constitutional convention? 1:38:00 Favorite movies & Ken Burns doc? 1:43:30 Outlook on the primary races in Texas and Montana? 1:52:00 What if archduke Franz Ferdinand's driver took a different turn? 1:57:00 College football preview See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Journalist and founder of MAMA (Mothers Against Media Addiction), Julie Scelfo, joins the Chuck ToddCast for a wide-ranging conversation on one of the most urgent issues facing American families: the collapse of trust in media, the rise of unregulated tech, and its profound impact on children’s mental health. Scelfo explains how the explosion of social media and smartphones—coupled with virtually nonexistent regulation—has left kids exposed to harmful algorithms, addictive design, and misinformation at formative ages. With both the left and right now pushing to get smartphones out of classrooms, she argues that we’re long past due for meaningful guardrails, especially as Big Tech’s lobbying power grows and federal leaders threaten to block states from regulating AI. Chuck and Julie compare today’s fight with Big Tech to the battle against Big Tobacco, explore why recommendation systems effectively make platforms publishers, and discuss the growing bipartisan appetite for banning iPads in schools and returning to books. They also dig into MAMA’s mission to protect children in a digital world—emphasizing that kids under two should not be exposed to screens, that early childhood development depends on real-world interaction, and that “tech nannies” have emerged because childcare is unaffordable. Scelfo calls for mandatory data transparency from tech companies, stronger child-safety legislation in the states, and a culture shift that prioritizes healthy offline development over the race to dominate AI. With future jobs uncertain and social skills declining, she argues that society must resist sacrificing sensible regulation in the name of innovation—and recognize that too much time online isn’t just unhealthy, it’s shaping a generation. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline:  (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Julie Scelfo joins the Chuck ToddCast 03:00 Erosion of trust in media & news is a massive problem 04:00 Mental health decline in youth correlated with rise of social media 05:00 Both left & right want get get smartphones out of classrooms 05:45 Lack of social media regulation leaves kids vulnerable  07:00 Regulation is difficult when big tech has unlimited money to lobby 09:00 Threats from Congress & Trump to prevent states from regulating AI 10:30 Executive order from Trump may be last gasp to avoid AI regulation 12:30 AI has been positive for shareholders & owners, not for the public 13:45 What lessons can be learned from the fight against big tobacco? 16:15 Recommendation algorithms turn platforms into publishers 17:45 Advertiser supported speech is different than first amendment speech 18:30 Broadcast networks are liable for misleading ads, social platforms aren’t  20:00 Momentum building to ban ipads in schools and make kids use books 21:30 MAMA’s mission and goals 23:00 Children under 2 shouldn’t be exposed to screens for entertainment 25:30 Kids know how to find information, but must be taught to filter it 26:30 Most educational building blocks are built during early childhood 27:15 We can’t sacrifice sensible regulation in order to win AI race 28:30 Tech leaders all have very inept and awkward social skills 31:00 Tech must be required to release data for researchers to study 32:30 How to prepare kids for future jobs that may be replaced by AI? 34:00 Real life interactions are critical for a healthy childhood 35:45 We will always need trades, skilled labor and care workers 37:30 What are some near-term activities MAMA is working on? 40:00 States are introducing quality child safety legislation on tech 40:30 There is bipartisan support in congress for regulation 42:00 There hasn’t been one study worldwide on tech at a young age 43:30 We have “tech nannies” because childcare is so expensive 46:00 Too much time online is incredibly unhealthy See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s ToddCast, Chuck Todd breaks down Donald Trump’s sudden decision to fully engage on the economy—and why his proposals reveal both political vulnerability and economic incoherence. From promising $2.6 trillion in tariff revenue when only a fraction has ever been collected, to floating the idea of replacing income taxes with wildly regressive consumption taxes that would spike prices severalfold, Trump appears more focused on short-term optics than long-term consequences. Chuck also digs into Congress’ scramble to extend ACA subsidies—an issue so politically toxic for Republicans that even Trump may be forced to back the plan—and how the 2026 economic mood will shape the midterms. Plus, he examines the rise of Democratic “fighters” like Jasmine Crockett, the visibility boost for Gavin Newsom and Mark Kelly after their clashes with Trump, and why a politics obsessed with combat over substance leaves both parties drifting away from meaningful policy debates. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and give his ToddCast Top 5 non-playoff college bowl games that should be played NEXT season.   Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Donald Trump finally engaging on the economy 01:30 Trump doesn’t accept the premise that the economy isn’t great 02:30 Trump blames Biden for all negative economic news 03:15 Majority of voters blame Trump for the bad economy 04:30 Trump proposes spending $2.6T in tariff revenue, only collected $250B 05:00 If Trump replaces income tax with tariffs, prices will go up 2–5x 05:45 Replacing income tax with consumption tax is incredibly regressive 07:00 Trump proposes farm bailout and cutting checks to taxpayers 08:00 Trump knows the economy is bad and wants to throw money at problem 08:45 The perception of economy in summer ‘26 will be perception for midterms 10:45 Trump worries short term, willing to push all problems off to his successor 11:30 Congress looking to extend ACA subsidies for ACA by two years 12:15 Healthcare is such a bad issue for GOP they are looking for off-ramp 13:30 Trump will have to endorse ACA subsidy extension for it to pass 14:30 Bill will likely have to pass the senate before the house 15:30 Gavin Newsom & Mark Kelly’s fight with Trump boosted their visibility 18:30 Mark Kelly’s bio has more charisma than he does 21:00 Hegseth threatening Kelly gave Kelly some juice 21:30 Jasmine Crockett announces run for senate, is very savvy candidate 22:15 Crockett’s announcement video is grounded in fight with Trump 23:00 The fastest way to get traction is Democratic politics is to be a fighter 24:00 Being a fighter helps centrists avoid the progressive litmus test* 25:15 Republicans don’t run on policy ideas, they run on “owning the libs” 26:15 If you only run on fighting, you don’t stand for anything 27:30 Major policy debates become more about the fight and lose substance 29:15 There will be “issue” candidates for Democrats, but they likely won’t do well 29:45 Crockett vs Talarico will be “fight vs unite” 30:45 Nancy Mace writes op-ed saying Dems ram through their agenda 31:30 Dems also think Republicans ram through their agenda 32:30 GOP willing to take hard votes to fulfill promises, Dems less so 38:15 Ask Chuck 38:30 Will Trump’s policy tank support with latinos & put FL & TX in play? 44:00 Will you and Cillizza have a bet on the A&M vs Miami game? 46:00 Thoughts on electing the Attorney General independently? 52:45 Does Bernie Moreno’s bill ending dual citizenship pass legal muster? 55:30 ToddCast Top 5 bowl games that would be better played next season 56:30 Multiple schools have bowed out of playing non playoff bowl games 1:01:15 #1 Citrus Bowl - Texas vs. Michigan 1:02:00 #2 Pop Tarts Bowl - BYU vs. Notre Dame 1:02:45 #3 Pinstripe Bowl - Penn State vs. Clemson 1:03:30 #4 Sun Bowl - Arizona vs. Duke 1:04:00 #5 Hawaii Bowl - Cal vs. Hawaii See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s ToddCast, Chuck Todd breaks down Donald Trump’s sudden decision to fully engage on the economy—and why his proposals reveal both political vulnerability and economic incoherence. From promising $2.6 trillion in tariff revenue when only a fraction has ever been collected, to floating the idea of replacing income taxes with wildly regressive consumption taxes that would spike prices severalfold, Trump appears more focused on short-term optics than long-term consequences. Chuck also digs into Congress’ scramble to extend ACA subsidies—an issue so politically toxic for Republicans that even Trump may be forced to back the plan—and how the 2026 economic mood will shape the midterms. Plus, he examines the rise of Democratic “fighters” like Jasmine Crockett, the visibility boost for Gavin Newsom and Mark Kelly after their clashes with Trump, and why a politics obsessed with combat over substance leaves both parties drifting away from meaningful policy debates. Then, Chuck sits down with Reese Gorman and Kate Nocera of NOTUS for a deep dive into what it means to build a truly nonpartisan newsroom in today’s hyperpolarized media landscape. Reese and Kate explain how NOTUS approaches journalism without playing to partisan expectations—or to social media algorithms—and why being outside the legacy-media universe gives their reporters a unique advantage. They discuss Washington’s shifting culture, from the decline in local DC reporting to the increasingly strained relationship between the press and Congress, where competition for scoops is fierce, norms have evaporated in Trump’s second term, and newer members often lack any memory of a functional legislature. The conversation then turns to the political tensions shaping Capitol Hill, including Steve Scalise’s quiet maneuvering for the speakership, Trump’s latest approval dip, and the surprising lack of Trump fatigue among GOP lawmakers. Reese and Kate also outline the Democratic Party’s mix of opportunity and dysfunction heading into the midterms: strong messaging on affordability and bullish vibes contrasted with an inability to clear primary fields and a continued failure to operate as a true national party. From the dire mood on the Hill to which unknown members could soon be household names, this episode offers a sharp, insider look at journalism, politics, and power in Washington today. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and give his ToddCast Top 5 non-playoff college bowl games that should be played NEXT season.   Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 NOTUS has filled a gap left by the Washington Post 03:00 The Washington Post has given up covering DC locally 06:00 Donald Trump finally engaging on the economy 06:30 Trump doesn’t accept the premise that the economy isn’t great 07:30 Trump blames Biden for all negative economic news 08:15 Majority of voters blame Trump for the bad economy 09:30 Trump proposes spending $2.6T in tariff revenue, only collected $250B 10:00 If Trump replaces income tax with tariffs, prices will go up 2-5x 10:45 Replacing income tax with consumption tax is incredibly regressive 12:00 Trump proposes farm bailout and cutting checks to taxpayers 13:00 Trump knows the economy is bad and wants to throw money at problem 13:45 The perception of economy in summer ‘26 will be perception for midterms 15:45 Trump worries short term, willing to push all problems off to his successor 16:30 Congress looking to extend ACA subsidies for ACA by two years 17:15 Healthcare is such a bad issue for GOP they are looking for off-ramp 18:30 Trump will have to endorse ACA subsidy extension for it to pass 19:30 Bill will likely have to pass the senate before the house 20:30 Gavin Newsom & Mark Kelly’s fight with Trump boosted their visibility 23:30 Mark Kelly’s bio has more charisma than he does  26:00 Hegseth threatening Kelly gave Kelly some juice 26:30 Jasmine Crockett announces run for senate, is very savvy candidate 27:15 Crockett’s announcement video is grounded in fight with Trump 28:00 The fastest way to get traction is Democratic politics is to be a fighter 29:00 Being a fighter helps centrists avoid the progressive litmus test* 30:15 Republicans don’t run on policy ideas, they run on “owning the libs” 31:15 If you only run on fighting, you don’t stand for anything 32:30 Major policy debates become more about the fight and lose substance 34:15 There will be “issue” candidates for Democrats, but they likely won’t do well 34:45 Crockett vs Talarico will be “fight vs unite” 35:45 Nancy Mace writes op-ed saying Dems ram through their agenda 36:30 Dems also think Republicans ram through their agenda 37:30 GOP willing to take hard votes to fulfill promises, Dems less so 43:45 Reese Gorman & Kate Nocera of NOTUS join the Chuck ToddCast 45:15 What is NOTUS & how did you end up working there? 47:45 How do you execute being a truly nonpartisan newsroom? 49:15 You can’t balance the truth based on partisan affiliation 52:15 Is NOTUS the only incubator for young journalists in DC? 54:30 How Reese ended up at NOTUS? 57:45 Do you have to play to the algorithms when posting stories? 1:00:15 Being part of the non-legacy media is an advantage 1:02:45 The Washington Post has stopped covering local DC politics 1:04:45 Changes at the Kennedy Center aren’t being covered 1:07:15 Has Trump changed the culture of DC in his second term? 1:09:00 The relationship between the press and congress is more strained 1:11:00 The culture on the hill is very “cliquey” 1:12:00 There’s a lot more competition for scoops on the hill 1:13:00 What’s the mission of your podcast? 1:15:00 How does Steve Scalise continue to maneuver in the Republican party? 1:16:15 Scalise wants the speaker role currently held by Mike Johnson 1:18:00 Trump’s recent approval dip seems different than prior ones 1:19:00 There were still norms in Trump’s first term, there aren’t in 2.0 1:20:30 No sense of Trump fatigue from Republican members of congress 1:21:30 Can you tell which members are too trapped in an information bubble? 1:22:00 Pre-Trump members have a better sense of reality 1:23:45 New members don’t remember a time when congress was functional 1:25:45 How much of a problem could congressional leadership be for Dems? 1:28:15 Democrats could perform well running on affordability message 1:28:45 Democrats feel bullish headed into the midterms 1:30:00 The Dem establishment hasn’t been able to clear primary fields 1:31:45 Democrats aren’t a national party, can’t compete in 1/3rd of the country 1:33:45 The vibes and mood on the hill are terrible right now 1:34:15 If Dems win the TN-07 special, you could see wave of retirements 1:36:45 If you have DSCC questions, do you go to Schumer or Gillibrand? 1:39:00 A joint fundraising committee for Graham Platner is unlikely 1:40:00 Haley Stevens seems like a nervous candidate 1:40:30 Which unknown members could be household names in a year? 1:45:45 Where you can find Reese and Kate’s work 1:49:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with NOTUS 1:50:15 Ask Chuck 1:50:30 Will Trump’s policy tank support with latinos & put FL & TX in play? 1:56:00 Will you and Cillizza have a bet on the A&M vs Miami game? 1:58:00 Thoughts on electing the Attorney General independently? 2:04:45 Does Bernie Moreno’s bill ending dual citizenship pass legal muster? 2:07:30 ToddCast Top 5 bowl games that would be better played next season 2:08:30 Multiple schools have bowed out of playing non playoff bowl games 2:13:15 #1 Citrus Bowl - Texas vs. Michigan 2:14:00 #2 Pop Tarts Bowl - BYU vs. Notre Dame 2:14:45 #3 Pinstripe Bowl - Penn State vs. Clemson 2:15:30 #4 Sun Bowl - Arizona vs. Duke 2:16:00 #5 Hawaii Bowl - Cal vs. Hawaii See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck sits down with Reese Gorman and Kate Nocera of NOTUS for a deep dive into what it means to build a truly nonpartisan newsroom in today’s hyperpolarized media landscape. Reese and Kate explain how NOTUS approaches journalism without playing to partisan expectations—or to social media algorithms—and why being outside the legacy-media universe gives their reporters a unique advantage. They discuss Washington’s shifting culture, from the decline in local DC reporting to the increasingly strained relationship between the press and Congress, where competition for scoops is fierce, norms have evaporated in Trump’s second term, and newer members often lack any memory of a functional legislature. The conversation then turns to the political tensions shaping Capitol Hill, including Steve Scalise’s quiet maneuvering for the speakership, Trump’s latest approval dip, and the surprising lack of Trump fatigue among GOP lawmakers. Reese and Kate also outline the Democratic Party’s mix of opportunity and dysfunction heading into the midterms: strong messaging on affordability and bullish vibes contrasted with an inability to clear primary fields and a continued failure to operate as a true national party. From the dire mood on the Hill to which unknown members could soon be household names, this episode offers a sharp, insider look at journalism, politics, and power in Washington today. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements 00:00 Reese Gorman & Kate Nocera of NOTUS join the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 What is NOTUS & how did you end up working there? 04:00 How do you execute being a truly nonpartisan newsroom? 05:30 You can’t balance the truth based on partisan affiliation 08:30 Is NOTUS the only incubator for young journalists in DC? 10:45 How Reese ended up at NOTUS? 14:00 Do you have to play to the algorithms when posting stories? 16:30 Being part of the non-legacy media is an advantage  19:00 The Washington Post has stopped covering local DC politics 21:00 Changes at the Kennedy Center aren’t being covered 23:30 Has Trump changed the culture of DC in his second term? 25:15 The relationship between the press and congress is more strained 27:15 The culture on the hill is very “cliquey”  28:15 There’s a lot more competition for scoops on the hill 29:15 What’s the mission of your podcast? 31:15 How does Steve Scalise continue to maneuver in the Republican party? 32:30 Scalise wants the speaker role currently held by Mike Johnson 34:15 Trump’s recent approval dip seems different than prior ones 35:15 There were still norms in Trump’s first term, there aren’t in 2.0 36:45 No sense of Trump fatigue from Republican members of congress 37:45 Can you tell which members are too trapped in an information bubble? 38:15 Pre-Trump members have a better sense of reality 40:00 New members don’t remember a time when congress was functional 42:00 How much of a problem could congressional leadership be for Dems? 44:30 Democrats could perform well running on affordability message 45:00 Democrats feel bullish headed into the midterms 46:15 The Dem establishment hasn’t been able to clear primary fields 48:00 Democrats aren’t a national party, can’t compete in 1/3rd of the country 50:00 The vibes and mood on the hill are terrible right now 50:30 If Dems win the TN-07 special, you could see wave of retirements 53:00 If you have DSCC questions, do you go to Schumer or Gillibrand? 55:15 A joint fundraising committee for Graham Platner is unlikely 56:15 Haley Stevens seems like a nervous candidate 56:45 Which unknown members could be household names in a year? 1:02:00 Where you can find Reese and Kate’s work See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck examines the sweeping global and domestic implications of Trump’s increasingly personal, transactional approach to foreign policy. He breaks down how the administration has abandoned the post–Cold War order, embraced nationalist movements, sidelined democracy promotion, and even signaled security guarantees in exchange for favors — all while crafting a national security strategy full of dangerous gaps and warmly received by the Kremlin. Chuck then turns to the explosive revelations around Trump’s pattern of selling pardons for loyalty, spotlighting the Henry Cuellar episode as a case study in this mob-style political culture. The conversation also touches on Marjorie Taylor Greene’s recent media tirades and her emerging position as a potential “true MAGA” contender in 2028, before wrapping with a look at the historically low approval of all four congressional leaders and why a dramatic leadership reshuffling by 2029 wouldn’t be surprising. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the history of the United States relationship with China and the unintended consequences that came with it. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and recaps the college football playoff selection. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 04:00 Trump doesn’t want the U.S. to be the leader of the free world 05:15 Administration rejects post cold war world order 06:30 Foreign policy will be subjective based on Trump’s personal relationships 07:15 There is no more value judgement on who the US does business with 08:15 Administration is proving to be very anti-EU 09:00 Administration signals support for other nationalist movements 11:30 Trump has never believed U.S. should promote democracy 12:30 There are plenty of holes in the national security strategy 13:15 Qatari plane bribe led to NATO like security guarantee 14:30 American presidents should believe in democracy 15:45 Trump’s retreat from the world will create generational damage 16:45 The new security memo was loved by the Kremlin 17:30 Trump mad at Henry Cueller for not changing parties after pardon 18:15 Trump is clearly selling pardons in exchange for money or support 20:15 Trump’s primary complaint with Cueller was “lack of loyalty” 22:00 Trump seemingly thought pardon was in exchange for something 24:30 There should be far more outrage over the weekly sale of pardons 25:30 Marjorie Taylor-Greene blasts GOP lawmakers in 60 minutes interview 26:30 MTG believed the BS & is now finally realizing it’s BS 27:30 MTG could become the “true MAGA” candidate in 2028 28:00 All 4 congressional leaders are incredibly unpopular 29:30 Congressional GOP could use a leadership shakeup 30:15 Schumer & Jeffries are looking over their shoulders 32:15 It wouldn’t be surprising if all four leaders are gone by 2029 38:45 ToddCast Time Machine December 1978, 2001, 2025 39:30 Jimmy Carter announce normalization of relations with China 40:30 Kissinger praised bringing Beijing closer, Goldwater was furious 41:15 Business community was ecstatic 42:30 In 2001, China joins the WTO: hinge moment of globalization 43:30 Democrats & Republicans agreed on China in 2001 45:15 Consumers & business loved cheaper good from China 46:00 Bush & Gore both had the same view of China 46:45 Populists warned of job losses and economic pain 47:30 What if US had blocked China’s entry to the WTO? 49:15 China is now viewed as a permanent strategic rival 50:30 US made a bet they could promote reform in Beijing and failed 51:15 Bets on China reshaped the U.S. more than China 52:00 Ask Chuck 52:15 Why don’t national democrats want to be in Iowa? 55:15 How did Obama hurt the DNC beyond endorsing Hillary? 59:30 Which member of each branch would be better in another branch? 1:05:00 Could lack of a primary in 2024 lead to broader election reforms? 1:07:30 College football roundup See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck examines the sweeping global and domestic implications of Trump’s increasingly personal, transactional approach to foreign policy. He breaks down how the administration has abandoned the post–Cold War order, embraced nationalist movements, sidelined democracy promotion, and even signaled security guarantees in exchange for favors — all while crafting a national security strategy full of dangerous gaps and warmly received by the Kremlin. Chuck then turns to the explosive revelations around Trump’s pattern of selling pardons for loyalty, spotlighting the Henry Cuellar episode as a case study in this mob-style political culture. The conversation also touches on Marjorie Taylor Greene’s recent media tirades and her emerging position as a potential “true MAGA” contender in 2028, before wrapping with a look at the historically low approval of all four congressional leaders and why a dramatic leadership reshuffling by 2029 wouldn’t be surprising. Then, Chuck sits down with Jared Bernstein — veteran economic adviser to both the Obama and Clinton administrations — for a sweeping, candid breakdown of the American economy, why the data and national mood feel so misaligned, and how technological change is reshaping the labor market. Bernstein explains how the White House approached economic tradeoffs, from inflation and tariffs to the stubborn low-hire, low-fire job market. He and Chuck dig into the uncertainty surrounding AI-driven job displacement, why Americans are more skeptical of AI than peers abroad, and how policymakers failed to build guardrails around the harms of social media. Bernstein argues that a federal jobs guarantee would be far more effective than universal basic income, and that political candidates will increasingly need to get tough on tech as the power of the “Magnificent Seven” distorts markets and discourages regulation. The conversation then turns to the structural failures of America’s healthcare system — from inelastic demand to weak cost controls — and why “Medicare for more” could be a practical starting point for reform. Bernstein outlines the entrenched inefficiencies of employer-based coverage, the rise of contract work, and the political salience but poor targeting of policies like “no tax on tips.” He also discusses the missed opportunity to protect the expanded child tax credit, the flaws in Trump’s proposed baby bond program, and the broader need for progressive taxation rather than philanthropy by billionaires. Finally, Chuck and Jared confront the realities of the national debt in an era of higher interest rates, the feasibility of reviving a robust child tax credit, and whether new supports — like credits for childcare or elder care — could help families navigate an affordability crisis that shows no sign of easing. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the history of the United States relationship with China and the unintended consequences that came with it. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and recaps the college football playoff selection. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 05:00 Trump doesn’t want the U.S. to be the leader of the free world 06:15 Administration rejects post cold war world order 07:30 Foreign policy will be subjective based on Trump’s personal relationships 08:15 There is no more value judgement on who the US does business with 09:15 Administration is proving to be very anti-EU 10:00 Administration signals support for other nationalist movements 12:30 Trump has never believed U.S. should promote democracy 13:30 There are plenty of holes in the national security strategy 14:15 Qatari plane bribe led to NATO like security guarantee 15:30 American presidents should believe in democracy 16:45 Trump’s retreat from the world will create generational damage 17:45 The new security memo was loved by the Kremlin 18:30 Trump mad at Henry Cueller for not changing parties after pardon 19:15 Trump is clearly selling pardons in exchange for money or support 21:15 Trump’s primary complaint with Cueller was “lack of loyalty” 23:00 Trump seemingly thought pardon was in exchange for something 25:30 There should be far more outrage over the weekly sale of pardons 26:30 Marjorie Taylor-Greene blasts GOP lawmakers in 60 minutes interview 27:30 MTG believed the BS & is now finally realizing it’s BS 28:30 MTG could become the “true MAGA” candidate in 2028 29:00 All 4 congressional leaders are incredibly unpopular 30:30 Congressional GOP could use a leadership shakeup 31:15 Schumer & Jeffries are looking over their shoulders 33:15 It wouldn’t be surprising if all four leaders are gone by 2029 41:00 Jared Bernstein joins the Chuck ToddCast 41:30 Jared worked for both the Obama & Clinton administrations 43:15 Drafting economic policy that has the most upside, least downside 44:15 The economic data doesn’t match the vibe of the country 45:15 The Biden WH talked past the electorate but didn’t lie about economy 46:45 Biden thought the job market was most important economic indicator 49:30 Inflation has been stubborn, how long did you assume we’d have it? 51:15 Tariffs have contributed to about half a point of inflation 52:00 Inflation during Covid was a combo of low supply & high demand 53:45 Should the fed be focusing on inflation or the jobs market? 55:30 AI isn’t causing mass layoffs yet, but it has frozen hiring 56:30 We’re stuck in a low hire, low fire jobs market 57:45 Technology displaces the most workers during economic downturns 59:45 How can we avoid job displacement destruction from AI? 1:01:15 Americans are far more negative on AI than other western nations 1:02:30 Politicians failed to create guardrails for the harms of social media 1:03:15 We don’t know the extent of how AI will displace jobs 1:04:15 Government should offer a federal jobs guarantee for AI displaced jobs 1:05:30 Universal basic income pales in comparison to a jobs guarantee 1:07:15 Getting tough on tech will be critical to successful political candidates 1:08:30 Tech companies threaten regulators with exiting the country 1:09:30 Breaking up tech’s power has appeal on both sides of the aisle 1:10:00 Market cap of the magnificent 7 is 22 trillion dollars 1:12:00 The S&P 500 minus the magnificent 7 is basically flat 1:13:45 Non-profit hospital systems make more money than for profit ones 1:14:30 Leaving healthcare to the free market doesn’t work well & is expensive 1:15:15 Healthcare isn’t shoppable and demand is inelastic 1:16:45 The only healthcare solution from congress is subsidizing insurance 1:17:30 The ACA did a lot to control healthcare spending, but not enough 1:18:15 We have very few cost controls in our healthcare system 1:19:00 “Medicare for more” would be a great place to start fixing the system 1:20:15 Competition in the health insurance market has been insufficient 1:21:00 Health insurers don’t want to compete with government, will fight hard 1:22:00 Medicare won’t be free but considerably cheaper than private market 1:22:45 Will a shorter work week be realized in the age of AI? 1:23:45 Social welfare is too often correlated to GDP 1:24:30 A shorter work week isn’t feasible during an affordability crisis 1:26:15 Employer based healthcare system is deeply rooted, but inefficient 1:27:30 Companies have pivoted to contract work to avoid paying benefits 1:28:30 The salience of the “No Tax On Tips” policy 1:30:45 No tax on tips is poorly targeted and inefficient, but will be hard to repeal 1:31:30 Biden should have “died on the hill” protecting the child tax credit 1:33:30 Trump’s baby bond program is poorly targeted & exacerbates inequality 1:35:30 Government shouldn’t rely on philanthropy by billionaires & tax progressively 1:37:15 Raising the corporate tax was always a nonstarter in administration meetings 1:38:15 We’re at a dangerously unsustainable level of national debt 1:39:15 Higher interest rates are making the debt much harder to sustain 1:40:00 A child tax credit is feasible, but needs a pay for 1:41:00 The childcare industry is very responsive to demand 1:41:45 Could we see a “home care” credit for both kids or seniors 1:45:45 ToddCast Time Machine December 1978, 2001, 2025 1:46:30 Jimmy Carter announce normalization of relations with China 1:47:30 Kissinger praised bringing Beijing closer, Goldwater was furious 1:48:15 Business community was ecstatic 1:49:30 In 2001, China joins the WTO: hinge moment of globalization 1:50:30 Democrats & Republicans agreed on China in 2001 1:52:15 Consumers & business loved cheaper good from China 1:53:00 Bush & Gore both had the same view of China 1:53:45 Populists warned of job losses and economic pain 1:54:30 What if US had blocked China’s entry to the WTO? 1:56:15 China is now viewed as a permanent strategic rival 1:57:30 US made a bet they could promote reform in Beijing and failed 1:58:15 Bets on China reshaped the U.S. more than China 1:59:00 Ask Chuck 1:59:15 Why don’t national democrats want to be in

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck sits down with Jared Bernstein — veteran economic adviser to both the Obama and Clinton administrations — for a sweeping, candid breakdown of the American economy, why the data and national mood feel so misaligned, and how technological change is reshaping the labor market. Bernstein explains how the White House approached economic tradeoffs, from inflation and tariffs to the stubborn low-hire, low-fire job market. He and Chuck dig into the uncertainty surrounding AI-driven job displacement, why Americans are more skeptical of AI than peers abroad, and how policymakers failed to build guardrails around the harms of social media. Bernstein argues that a federal jobs guarantee would be far more effective than universal basic income, and that political candidates will increasingly need to get tough on tech as the power of the “Magnificent Seven” distorts markets and discourages regulation. The conversation then turns to the structural failures of America’s healthcare system — from inelastic demand to weak cost controls — and why “Medicare for more” could be a practical starting point for reform. Bernstein outlines the entrenched inefficiencies of employer-based coverage, the rise of contract work, and the political salience but poor targeting of policies like “no tax on tips.” He also discusses the missed opportunity to protect the expanded child tax credit, the flaws in Trump’s proposed baby bond program, and the broader need for progressive taxation rather than philanthropy by billionaires. Finally, Chuck and Jared confront the realities of the national debt in an era of higher interest rates, the feasibility of reviving a robust child tax credit, and whether new supports — like credits for childcare or elder care — could help families navigate an affordability crisis that shows no sign of easing. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.   Timeline: 00:00 Jared Bernstein joins the Chuck ToddCast 00:30 Jared worked for both the Obama & Clinton administrations 02:15 Drafting economic policy that has the most upside, least downside 03:15 The economic data doesn’t match the vibe of the country 04:15 The Biden WH talked past the electorate but didn’t lie about economy 05:45 Biden thought the job market was most important economic indicator 08:30 Inflation has been stubborn, how long did you assume we’d have it? 10:15 Tariffs have contributed to about half a point of inflation 11:00 Inflation during Covid was a combo of low supply & high demand 12:45 Should the fed be focusing on inflation or the jobs market? 14:30 AI isn’t causing mass layoffs yet, but it has frozen hiring 15:30 We’re stuck in a low hire, low fire jobs market 16:45 Technology displaces the most workers during economic downturns 18:45 How can we avoid job displacement destruction from AI? 20:15 Americans are far more negative on AI than other western nations 21:30 Politicians failed to create guardrails for the harms of social media 22:15 We don’t know the extent of how AI will displace jobs 23:15 Government should offer a federal jobs guarantee for AI displaced jobs 24:30 Universal basic income pales in comparison to a jobs guarantee 26:15 Getting tough on tech will be critical to successful political candidates 27:30 Tech companies threaten regulators with exiting the country 28:30 Breaking up tech’s power has appeal on both sides of the aisle 29:00 Market cap of the magnificent 7 is 22 trillion dollars 31:00 The S&P 500 minus the magnificent 7 is basically flat 32:45 Non-profit hospital systems make more money than for profit ones 33:30 Leaving healthcare to the free market doesn’t work well & is expensive 34:15 Healthcare isn’t shoppable and demand is inelastic 35:45 The only healthcare solution from congress is subsidizing insurance  36:30 The ACA did a lot to control healthcare spending, but not enough 37:15 We have very few cost controls in our healthcare system 38:00 “Medicare for more” would be a great place to start fixing the system 39:15 Competition in the health insurance market has been insufficient 41:00 Health insurers don’t want to compete with government, will fight hard 42:00 Medicare won’t be free but considerably cheaper than private market 42:45 Will a shorter work week be realized in the age of AI? 43:45 Social welfare is too often correlated to GDP 44:30 A shorter work week isn’t feasible during an affordability crisis 46:15 Employer based healthcare system is deeply rooted, but inefficient 47:30 Companies have pivoted to contract work to avoid paying benefits 48:30 The salience of the “No Tax On Tips” policy 50:45 No tax on tips is poorly targeted and inefficient, but will be hard to repeal 51:30 Biden should have “died on the hill”  protecting the child tax credit 53:30 Trump’s baby bond program is poorly targeted & exacerbates inequality 55:30 Government shouldn’t rely on philanthropy by billionaires & tax progressively 57:15 Raising the corporate tax was always a nonstarter in administration meetings 58:15 We’re at a dangerously unsustainable level of national debt 59:15 Higher interest rates are making the debt much harder to sustain 1:00:00 A child tax credit is feasible, but needs a pay for 1:01:00 The childcare industry is very responsive to demand 1:01:45 Could we see a “home care” credit for both kids or seniors See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down Donald Trump’s increasingly brazen behavior — from his overtly racist comments about Somalis to his dehumanizing rhetoric that can incite real-world violence — and examines why so many Americans have become numb to it. He explores how the erosion of shame has stripped the public of a key accountability tool, how Trump has mainstreamed kleptocracy and mob-style politics, and why even many Republicans are uneasy with his drug trafficker pardon and his abuse of the presidential pardon power more broadly. Chuck also details the administration’s reported strong arming of corporate mergers, the normalization of corruption, and the role of media fragmentation — amplified by Trump and Fox News — in enabling behavior that would spark impeachment calls if committed by any Democrat. From national security risks to America’s deteriorating reputation as a rule-of-law nation, Chuck traces how Trump’s conduct has reached unprecedented levels while the country struggles with “Trump fatigue” heading into the next election. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and gives his college football preview/rant. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:30 Trump made heinous and overtly racist comments about Somalis 03:15 The inability to shame has taken away public’s tool for accountability 04:15 Trump’s dehumanizing language can lead to physical violence 05:45 Trump fatigue will make upcoming elections tough for GOP 07:00 Too many high character people shrug their shoulders at Trump 07:45 Trump has mainstreamed kleptocracy 09:00 Republicans are expressing discomfort over drug trafficker pardon 11:30 Even Trump supporters say they don’t like some of Trump’s behavior 12:15 Trump doesn’t think white collar crimes are crimes 13:30 Merger approval relies on currying favor with Trump 14:45 Administration is strongarming the Warner Bros acquisition  16:00 What was the price for Henry Cuellar’s pardon? 16:30 Trump is basically running a mob-style protection racket 18:00 Why are we so numb to Trump’s abhorrent behavior? 19:30 If any Democrat behaved this way, Republicans would impeach 21:45 Fragmentation of media allows Trump to get away with more 23:00 Hegseth risked lives of military members by using signal chat 24:30 Trump + Fox News have character assassinated legacy media 25:15 Trump’s pardons are among the most criminal acts ever by a president 27:30 Biden’s family pardons gave a permission slip for Trump to do far worse 28:30 Trump has damaged America’s reputation as a country with rule of law 29:30 Trump’s corruption has become normalized when there should be outrage 31:00 Pardons are the one dictatorial power Trump has, and he’s abusing it 36:00 Ask Chuck 36:15 Has shifting resources to immigration made FBI miss attacks? 41:00 Why does college football feel so broken? 47:45 Will we see Supreme Court justices retire before midterms? 50:45 How do weaker parties lead to stronger partisans? 56:15 College football rant See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down Donald Trump’s increasingly brazen behavior — from his overtly racist comments about Somalis to his dehumanizing rhetoric that can incite real-world violence — and examines why so many Americans have become numb to it. He explores how the erosion of shame has stripped the public of a key accountability tool, how Trump has mainstreamed kleptocracy and mob-style politics, and why even many Republicans are uneasy with his drug trafficker pardon and his abuse of the presidential pardon power more broadly. Chuck also details the administration’s reported strong arming of corporate mergers, the normalization of corruption, and the role of media fragmentation — amplified by Trump and Fox News — in enabling behavior that would spark impeachment calls if committed by any Democrat. From national security risks to America’s deteriorating reputation as a rule-of-law nation, Chuck traces how Trump’s conduct has reached unprecedented levels while the country struggles with “Trump fatigue” heading into the next election. Then, former U.S. Senator Jack Danforth joins the Chuck ToddCast for a candid and sweeping conversation about the crisis inside the Republican Party and the decay of American politics. Danforth explains why he’s devoted his later years to trying to rehabilitate the GOP—even as he admits the effort may be futile—and argues that Congress has devolved into a stage for self-promotion rather than a forum for legislating. He and Chuck explore how weak parties coexist with fierce partisan loyalty, how smartphones and grievance politics have poisoned public discourse, and why the joy has drained from public service. Danforth reflects on the GOP’s transformation from the “family party” into one defined by division, how Christians have been pushed into a persecution mindset, and why Trump has inflicted deeper damage on the country than any single figure in U.S. history. The conversation turns to the future: whether leaders like James Lankford can spark a moral revival within the GOP, what true conservatism should stand for after being hollowed out by MAGA, and why Republican voters deserve a candidate who actually reflects traditional conservative principles. Danforth and Chuck also dig into constitutional reform, the filibuster, the politicization of the judiciary, and Congress’s abdication on major issues like Social Security and Medicare. Ultimately, Danforth makes the case that America must rediscover kindness, character, and a sense of shared identity if it hopes to govern itself the way the founders intended. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and gives his college football preview/rant. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:30 Trump made heinous and overtly racist comments about Somalis 03:15 The inability to shame has taken away public’s tool for accountability 04:15 Trump’s dehumanizing language can lead to physical violence 05:45 Trump fatigue will make upcoming elections tough for GOP 07:00 Too many high character people shrug their shoulders at Trump 07:45 Trump has mainstreamed kleptocracy 09:00 Republicans are expressing discomfort over drug trafficker pardon 11:30 Even Trump supporters say they don’t like some of Trump’s behavior 12:15 Trump doesn’t think white collar crimes are crimes 13:30 Merger approval relies on currying favor with Trump 14:45 Administration is strongarming the Warner Bros acquisition  16:00 What was the price for Henry Cuellar’s pardon? 16:30 Trump is basically running a mob-style protection racket 18:00 Why are we so numb to Trump’s abhorrent behavior? 19:30 If any Democrat behaved this way, Republicans would impeach 21:45 Fragmentation of media allows Trump to get away with more 23:00 Hegseth risked lives of military members by using signal chat 24:30 Trump + Fox News have character assassinated legacy media 25:15 Trump’s pardons are among the most criminal acts ever by a president 27:30 Biden’s family pardons gave a permission slip for Trump to do far worse 28:30 Trump has damaged America’s reputation as a country with rule of law 29:30 Trump’s corruption has become normalized when there should be outrage 31:00 Pardons are the one dictatorial power Trump has, and he’s abusing it 37:00 Senator Jack Danforth joins the Chuck ToddCast 38:30 Why he’s focused on rehabilitating the Republican party 39:15 We need to restore the role of congress 40:15 Congress has become about self-promotion over legislating 41:30 The parties are weak, but partisan loyalty is strong 42:45 What could moderate both parties? 44:45 Rehabilitating the Republican party might be futile 47:00 Politics has become incredibly ugly, aggrieved and bitter 48:00 The joy has left politics 48:30 Republicans were the “family party”, now has ICE breaking them up 49:45 Christians have been whipped up into a persecution complex 51:15 The country hoped Joe Biden would serve as a healer 52:45 Smartphones have warped political discourse (AUDIO ISSUE) 53:30 There has to be a focus on “who we are as a people” 54:00 Trump has caused more damage to U.S. than any other person 55:15 James Lankford could be a leader in moral revival of GOP 57:30 We need to show kindness to people on the other side of the aisle 58:15 We as a people, are not like Donald Trump 59:45 Trump’s governance and style are not conservative 1:00:15 Conservatism has lost all meaning in the era of MAGA 1:02:30 Republican voters need to be offered a truly conservative candidate 1:03:45 The GOP is now a “strong government” party, not “small government” 1:04:30 “Our Republican Legacy” is trying to restore traditional GOP 1:06:00 Does the Republican party stand for anything anymore? 1:07:30 There are enough shellshocked Americans to get constitutional changes 1:08:30 Why a constitutional convention would be a bad idea 1:10:00 The founders trusted us to govern ourselves 1:11:15 The founders did fear the voter, and added checks to their power 1:12:45 Money isn’t the same as speech, and it’s corrupted our politics 1:14:30 Congress must retain the power to tax 1:16:30 GOP congress has mostly been on vacation and doing TV hits 1:18:15 Congress is doing nothing to solve the insolvency of social security 1:19:30 Medicare cuts are coming if congress doesn’t act 1:21:30 The public learned things during the deliberations over Obamacare 1:22:30 There is no “perfect bill”, it’s supposed to be a compromise 1:24:00 Judicial confirmation and judiciary have become politicized 1:25:30 We have collectively starting thinking of the judiciary as policy making 1:28:45 If we restored the filibuster for justices, we may never be able to confirm 1:30:00 Many senators are just automatic no votes against other parties nominees 1:31:45 What should the filibuster rule be in a perfect world? 1:33:30 Hope for restoring more traditional conservatives to congress 1:34:45 What conservative values would you like to see restored? 1:36:15 High character used to be an asset in politics 1:38:30 Chuck’s thoughts on the interview with Sen. Jack Danforth 1:39:45 Ask Chuck 1:40:00 Has shifting resources to immigration made FBI miss attacks? 1:44:45 Why does college football feel so broken? 1:51:30 Will we see Supreme Court justices retire before midterms? 1:54:30 How do weaker parties lead to stronger partisans? 2:00:00 College football rant See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former U.S. Senator Jack Danforth joins the Chuck ToddCast for a candid and sweeping conversation about the crisis inside the Republican Party and the decay of American politics. Danforth explains why he’s devoted his later years to trying to rehabilitate the GOP—even as he admits the effort may be futile—and argues that Congress has devolved into a stage for self-promotion rather than a forum for legislating. He and Chuck explore how weak parties coexist with fierce partisan loyalty, how smartphones and grievance politics have poisoned public discourse, and why the joy has drained from public service. Danforth reflects on the GOP’s transformation from the “family party” into one defined by division, how Christians have been pushed into a persecution mindset, and why Trump has inflicted deeper damage on the country than any single figure in U.S. history. The conversation turns to the future: whether leaders like James Lankford can spark a moral revival within the GOP, what true conservatism should stand for after being hollowed out by MAGA, and why Republican voters deserve a candidate who actually reflects traditional conservative principles. Danforth and Chuck also dig into constitutional reform, the filibuster, the politicization of the judiciary, and Congress’s abdication on major issues like Social Security and Medicare. Ultimately, Danforth makes the case that America must rediscover kindness, character, and a sense of shared identity if it hopes to govern itself the way the founders intended. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Senator Jack Danforth joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 Why he’s focused on rehabilitating the Republican party 02:15 We need to restore the role of congress  03:15 Congress has become about self-promotion over legislating 04:30 The parties are weak, but partisan loyalty is strong 05:45 What could moderate both parties? 07:45 Rehabilitating the Republican party might be futile 10:00 Politics has become incredibly ugly, aggrieved and bitter 11:00 The joy has left politics 11:30 Republicans were the “family party”, now has ICE breaking them up 12:45 Christians have been whipped up into a persecution complex 14:15 The country hoped Joe Biden would serve as a healer 15:45 Smartphones have warped political discourse (AUDIO ISSUE) 16:30 There has to be a focus on “who we are as a people” 17:00 Trump has caused more damage to U.S. than any other person 18:15 James Lankford could be a leader in moral revival of GOP 20:30 We need to show kindness to people on the other side of the aisle 21:15 We as a people, are not like Donald Trump 22:45 Trump’s governance and style are not conservative  23:15 Conservatism has lost all meaning in the era of MAGA 25:30 Republican voters need to be offered a truly conservative candidate 26:45 The GOP is now a “strong government” party, not “small government” 27:30 “Our Republican Legacy” is trying to restore traditional GOP 29:00 Does the Republican party stand for anything anymore? 30:30 There are enough shellshocked Americans to get constitutional changes 31:30 Why a constitutional convention would be a bad idea 33:00 The founders trusted us to govern ourselves 34:15 The founders did fear the voter, and added checks to their power 35:45 Money isn’t the same as speech, and it’s corrupted our politics 37:30 Congress must retain the power to tax 39:30 GOP congress has mostly been on vacation and doing TV hits 41:15 Congress is doing nothing to solve the insolvency of social security 42:30 Medicare cuts are coming if congress doesn’t act 44:30 The public learned things during the deliberations over Obamacare 45:30 There is no “perfect bill”, it’s supposed to be a compromise 47:00 Judicial confirmation and judiciary have become politicized 48:30 We have collectively starting thinking of the judiciary as policy making 51:45 If we restored the filibuster for justices, we may never be able to confirm 53:00 Many senators are just automatic no votes against other parties nominees 54:45 What should the filibuster rule be in a perfect world? 56:30 Hope for restoring more traditional conservatives to congress 57:45 What conservative values would you like to see restored? 59:15 High character used to be an asset in politics See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Chuck Todd breaks down the surprising Democratic overperformance in Tennessee’s TN-07 special election and what it signals about a rapidly shifting political landscape. From early cracks in Trump’s coalition to the GOP narrowly avoiding a full-scale collapse in a district they should have won easily, Chuck explains why this political environment is inching toward a Democratic “wave.” He digs into why Aftyn Behn’s imperfections didn’t stop her from overperforming, why Republicans can’t replicate this win in dozens of upcoming races, and how establishment ties have become toxic for candidates in Trump’s GOP. With ACA subsidies, tariffs, and Venezuela emerging as major vulnerabilities—and Trump issuing weekly, indefensible pardons—Chuck argues we may be witnessing the end stages of the Trump era. Plus, he makes the case that Democrats’ Senate prospects are stronger than people realize, especially in an environment defined by high Democratic enthusiasm and a struggling economy. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 at-risk Senate seats in a “blue wave” election and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Takeaways from the TN-07 special election 02:15 Trend of Democrat overperformance continued in Tennessee 03:00 Is this political environment turning into a “wave” scenario for Democrats? 04:00 We’ve already started seeing cracks in Trump’s coalition 05:00 A loss in TN-07 would have led to the bottom falling out for the GOP 07:00 Aftyn Behn was not the perfect candidate for Dems in TN-07 08:45 Republicans will struggle to replicate this win in 35-40 races 11:00 Being associated with the establishment can be the kiss of death 11:30 Democrats are in a great political environment, Trump’s grip is slipping 12:15 GOP will likely extend ACA subsidies to mitigate the political damage 13:30 Tariffs and Venezuela are two big political liabilities for GOP 16:00 There was no mention of Trump from Matt Van Epps during campaign 16:30 There aren’t any positive future headlines coming for Republicans 18:15 We’re at the end stages of the Trump era 19:15 Environment will be high Democrat enthusiasm, with a bad economy 20:30 Trump’s granting indefensible pardons on a weekly basis 22:00 People are underrating Democrats chances of winning senate  24:00 If history is a guide, the likelihood of Dems winning 4 senate seats is high 30:30 ToddCast Top 5 Senate seats on “blue wave watch” 31:15 Historical precedents for massive upsets during wave years 34:15 #5 Florida 36:30 #4 Kentucky 38:45 #3 South Carolina 43:15 #2 Mississippi 44:45 #1 Montana 46:45 Ask Chuck 47:00 Thanks for having Clay Travis on to push us outside our bubbles 49:15 What to make of all the censures in congress? 53:30 How do the U.S. & Europe get responsible leaders into power? 1:01:15 Why is Biden facing challenges fundraising for his library? 1:05:00 Could Trump’s legacy become that of Benedict Arnold? 1:08:45 Could we see a mixed party presidential ticket in the future? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Chuck Todd breaks down the surprising Democratic overperformance in Tennessee’s TN-07 special election and what it signals about a rapidly shifting political landscape. From early cracks in Trump’s coalition to the GOP narrowly avoiding a full-scale collapse in a district they should have won easily, Chuck explains why this political environment is inching toward a Democratic “wave.” He digs into why Aftyn Behn’s imperfections didn’t stop her from overperforming, why Republicans can’t replicate this win in dozens of upcoming races, and how establishment ties have become toxic for candidates in Trump’s GOP. With ACA subsidies, tariffs, and Venezuela emerging as major vulnerabilities—and Trump issuing weekly, indefensible pardons—Chuck argues we may be witnessing the end stages of the Trump era. Plus, he makes the case that Democrats’ Senate prospects are stronger than people realize, especially in an environment defined by high Democratic enthusiasm and a struggling economy. Then, entrepreneur, investor, and former “Shark Tank” star Matt Higgins joins the Chuck ToddCast for a wide-ranging conversation on ambition, politics, media, and the rapidly accelerating drone arms race. Higgins reflects on his rise from humble beginnings to serial entrepreneurship, why highlighting adversity can sometimes unintentionally promote victimhood, and how government should focus on leveling the playing field with empathy—not bureaucracy. He also explains why America is undergoing a political realignment and how leaving politics reshaped his view of its inherent narcissism. From the personalization of media to the implicit bias baked into journalism, Higgins warns about how online life can warp our sense of reality and why LinkedIn has succeeded by avoiding the toxicity of other platforms. The discussion then turns to the future of warfare, where drones have transformed the battlefield and triggered the most significant arms race since the nuclear age. Higgins breaks down how the Ukraine war changed everything, why the U.S. is dangerously dependent on Chinese drone technology, and how difficult it will be to build a domestic drone industry without key components like magnets. He also outlines what a modern 9/11-style attack might look like, why America still isn’t prepared to defend public spaces from drone terrorism, and the urgent lessons policymakers should take from past failures. The episode wraps with a detour into the NFL: what makes a great owner, why inherited wealth doesn’t equal success, and why both New York football teams continue to puzzle fans and analysts alike. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 at-risk Senate seats in a “blue wave” election and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Takeaways from the TN-07 special election 02:15 Trend of Democrat overperformance continued in Tennessee 03:00 Is this political environment turning into a “wave” scenario for Democrats? 04:00 We’ve already started seeing cracks in Trump’s coalition 05:00 A loss in TN-07 would have led to the bottom falling out for the GOP 07:00 Aftyn Behn was not the perfect candidate for Dems in TN-07 08:45 Republicans will struggle to replicate this win in 35-40 races 11:00 Being associated with the establishment can be the kiss of death 11:30 Democrats are in a great political environment, Trump’s grip is slipping 12:15 GOP will likely extend ACA subsidies to mitigate the political damage 13:30 Tariffs and Venezuela are two big political liabilities for GOP 16:00 There was no mention of Trump from Matt Van Epps during campaign 16:30 There aren’t any positive future headlines coming for Republicans 18:15 We’re at the end stages of the Trump era 19:15 Environment will be high Democrat enthusiasm, with a bad economy 20:30 Trump’s granting indefensible pardons on a weekly basis 22:00 People are underrating Democrats chances of winning senate  24:00 If history is a guide, the likelihood of Dems winning 4 senate seats is high 31:15 Matt Higgins joins the Chuck ToddCast 32:15 Matt’s journey to becoming a “serial entrepreneur” 33:30 There are hurdles, but any American can climb the ladder 34:45 Coming from nothing to finding great success in business 36:15 Do we encourage victimhood by highlighting challenging upbringings 37:30 Some ambitious, successful people need to “chase something” 39:15 Where should government have been more/less involved in your businesses? 41:00 Government’s role should be leveling the playing field with empathy 43:15 America is in the middle of a political realignment 44:00 America needs a “next north star” after winning cold war 45:00 How Matt got started working for Rudy Giuliani 46:00 How did leaving politics change your view of politics? 47:00 There’s a degree of narcissism when you’re in government 47:45 The personalization of the media has politicized it 49:15 Humans are born with original bias, journalists will have it 51:30 There will be implicit bias infused in journalism, but it’s gone too far 53:15 If you spend too much time online it warps your view of reality 54:45 LinkedIn has become a trusted space by not being like Twitter or IG 57:00 Press & comms shops matter more than ever in politics & business 59:45 Drones have completely changed the complexion of modern warfare 1:00:30 How Matt got into the military drone business 1:02:15 Everything changed in the drone space after the Ukraine war 1:03:15 Does automating warfare make killing easier when it looks like a video game? 1:04:15 The U.S. needs an arsenal of drones it doesn’t currently have 1:05:30 You can’t make drone motors without magnets & the U.S. doesn’t make them 1:06:00 Drones are the biggest arms race since nuclear weapons 1:06:45 A dependency on Chinese drones was created in the U.S. 1:07:30 Biggest obstacles to building a domestic drone industry 1:08:45 A modern 9/11 style attack would most likely involve drones 1:10:15 We haven’t figured out protecting public spaces from drones 1:12:45 What lessons can we take away from 9/11 for countering drone terrorism? 1:14:45 What makes a good NFL owner and how much does ownership matter? 1:16:30 Owners shouldn’t placate media or fans with short term moves 1:17:00 Why is it so hard to build a winner with the Jets? 1:19:15 Inherited wealth vs success in business impact on sports owners 1:20:45 D.C. still isn’t aware of how important the drone arms race is 1:21:45 America’s enemies are learning how to make drones at scale 01:25:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Matt Higgins 01:26:45 ToddCast Top 5 Senate seats on “blue wave watch” 01:27:30 Historical precedents for massive upsets during wave years 01:30:30 #5 Florida 01:32:45 #4 Kentucky 01:35:00 #3 South Carolina 01:39:30 #2 Mississippi 01:41:00 #1 Montana 01:43:00 Ask Chuck 01:43:15 Thanks for having Clay Travis on to push us outside our bubbles 01:45:30 What to make of all the censures in congress? 01:49:45 How do the U.S. & Europe get responsible leaders into power? 01:57:30 Why is Biden facing challenges fundraising for his library? 02:01:15 Could Trump’s legacy become that of Benedict Arnold? 02:05:00 Could we see a mixed party presidential ticket in the future? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Entrepreneur, investor, and former “Shark Tank” star Matt Higgins joins the Chuck ToddCast for a wide-ranging conversation on ambition, politics, media, and the rapidly accelerating drone arms race. Higgins reflects on his rise from humble beginnings to serial entrepreneurship, why highlighting adversity can sometimes unintentionally promote victimhood, and how government should focus on leveling the playing field with empathy—not bureaucracy. He also explains why America is undergoing a political realignment and how leaving politics reshaped his view of its inherent narcissism. From the personalization of media to the implicit bias baked into journalism, Higgins warns about how online life can warp our sense of reality and why LinkedIn has succeeded by avoiding the toxicity of other platforms. The discussion then turns to the future of warfare, where drones have transformed the battlefield and triggered the most significant arms race since the nuclear age. Higgins breaks down how the Ukraine war changed everything, why the U.S. is dangerously dependent on Chinese drone technology, and how difficult it will be to build a domestic drone industry without key components like magnets. He also outlines what a modern 9/11-style attack might look like, why America still isn’t prepared to defend public spaces from drone terrorism, and the urgent lessons policymakers should take from past failures. The episode wraps with a detour into the NFL: what makes a great owner, why inherited wealth doesn’t equal success, and why both New York football teams continue to puzzle fans and analysts alike. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Matt Higgins joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 Matt’s journey to becoming a “serial entrepreneur” 02:15 There are hurdles, but any American can climb the ladder 03:30 Coming from nothing to finding great success in business 05:00 Do we encourage victimhood by highlighting challenging upbringings 06:15 Some ambitious, successful people need to “chase something” 08:00 Where should government have been more/less involved in your businesses? 09:45 Government’s role should be leveling the playing field with empathy 12:00 America is in the middle of a political realignment 12:45 America needs a “next north star” after winning cold war 13:45 How Matt got started working for Rudy Giuliani 14:45 How did leaving politics change your view of politics? 15:45 There’s a degree of narcissism when you’re in government 16:30 The personalization of the media has politicized it 18:00 Humans are born with original bias, journalists will have it 20:15 There will be implicit bias infused in journalism, but it’s gone too far 22:00 If you spend too much time online it warps your view of reality 23:30 LinkedIn has become a trusted space by not being like Twitter or IG 25:45 Press & comms shops matter more than ever in politics & business 28:30 Drones have completely changed the complexion of modern warfare 29:15 How Matt got into the military drone business 31:00 Everything changed in the drone space after the Ukraine war 32:00 Does automating warfare make killing easier when it looks like a video game? 33:00 The U.S. needs an arsenal of drones it doesn’t currently have 34:15 You can’t make drone motors without magnets & the U.S. doesn’t make them 34:45 Drones are the biggest arms race since nuclear weapons 35:30 A dependency on Chinese drones was created in the U.S. 36:15 Biggest obstacles to building a domestic drone industry 37:30 A modern 9/11 style attack would most likely involve drones 39:00 We haven’t figured out protecting public spaces from drones 41:30 What lessons can we take away from 9/11 for countering drone terrorism? 43:30 What makes a good NFL owner and how much does ownership matter? 45:15 Owners shouldn’t placate media or fans with short term moves 45:45 Why is it so hard to build a winner with the Jets? 48:00 Inherited wealth vs success in business impact on sports owners 49:30 D.C. still isn’t aware of how important the drone arms race is 50:30 America’s enemies are learning how to make drones at scale   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s episode of The Chuck ToddCast dives into the full spectrum of Donald Trump’s political chaos — from a deadly Venezuela boat strike that jolted Congress awake to an explosive shooting in Washington, D.C., where Trump delivered the most divisive response imaginable. Chuck breaks down how the shooter’s surprising CIA ties, Trump’s immediate “blame game,” and his increasingly politicized rhetoric toward the military risk putting service members in harm’s way. He examines Trump’s contradictory foreign policy moves, including pardoning a cocaine-trafficking former Honduran president and a billionaire fraudster, all while saber-rattling toward Venezuela and relying on Roger Stone as his unofficial “pardon broker.” With Republicans bracing for a wave of resignations and watchdog committees gearing up for investigations, Chuck argues that the founders never intended the pardon power to be used this way — and that a constitutional fix may now be essential. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to December 7th, 1941 when FDR addressed the nation via radio after Pearl Harbor, and traces the history of media fragmentation throughout the decades. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and gives his college football update.  Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:00 We got the full spectrum of Trump this week 02:45 Venezuela boat strike has awoken congress from its slumber 03:15 Pete Hegseth could take the fall for war crime strike 04:00 Resignation of head of SouthCom was a flashing red light 05:45 Two national guardsmen shot in Washington D.C.   06:45 Trump’s response to shooting was most divisive possible 07:30 Surprising that shooter was Afghan employee of CIA 08:45 It’s likely shooter was mentally unstable & something triggered him 09:30 Trump immediately went into “blame game” mode after shooting 10:15 Trump’s entire political currency is division 11:00 Trump’s politicization of military risks putting target on their back 12:00 Trump blames Biden’s vetting, but administration rarely vets anything 12:45 Trump gave away everything U.S. won in Afghanistan to Taliban 14:30 Every president in the 21st century has screwed up Afghanistan 15:45 Trump tried to weaponize the shooting for political gain 17:30 Pay attention to what Trump does, not what he says 18:15 Trump pardons cocaine trafficking ex president of Honduras 19:00 Trump threatens war with Venezuela over drugs, then gives this pardon?? 20:00 Trump threatens voters of Honduras over their election 20:45 Roger Stone has become Trump’s pardon merchant 21:45 Pardon was direct result of Roger Stone’s lobbying 22:15 Trump has normalized pardoning of convicted felons 24:15 Trump pardons executive guilty of 1.6B fraud scheme 25:15 Trump’s pardons are far more corrupt than prior president’s pardons 26:30 We need a constitutional amendment to change the pardon power 29:30 Founder imagined congress would prevent abuse of pardon power 28:15 We’ll likely see 2-4 retirements per week in congress through December 29:45 Senate Armed Services committee will do thorough investigation of strike 31:15 Trump is likely to give an illegal order w/ military action in Venezuela 32:45 Trump’s coalition wanted less military intervention overseas 38:45 ToddCast Time Machine - December 7th, 1941 39:30 The shock of Pearl Harbor is almost gone from living memory 40:00 Pearl Harbor showed the power of shared media experience 41:00 Radio was the height of communal media 41:15 December 1945, FCC gave massive expansion of FM radio 42:00 FM created the first fragmentation of media 43:00 Summer of 1980, Walkman introduced personalization in media 44:30 The Walkman was the beginning of mass media fragmentation 46:30 By 1990, 40% of minutes listened in the car weren’t radio 47:15 Radio never recovered from the Walkman 47:45 Streaming and social are diminishing TV & cable 48:30 For Americans under 60, almost all media consumption is on smartphones 51:00 Ask Chuck 51:15 Love for “The Barn” and the book recommendations 54:30 Is there any hope for a return to respectful bipartisan discourse? 1:00:15 Should we consider distributing presidential roles & diluting power? 1:05:00 What benefits do members of congress receive after leaving? 1:10:00 College football update See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s episode of The Chuck ToddCast dives into the full spectrum of Donald Trump’s political chaos — from a deadly Venezuela boat strike that jolted Congress awake to an explosive shooting in Washington, D.C., where Trump delivered the most divisive response imaginable. Chuck breaks down how the shooter’s surprising CIA ties, Trump’s immediate “blame game,” and his increasingly politicized rhetoric toward the military risk putting service members in harm’s way. He examines Trump’s contradictory foreign policy moves, including pardoning a cocaine-trafficking former Honduran president and a billionaire fraudster, all while saber-rattling toward Venezuela and relying on Roger Stone as his unofficial “pardon broker.” With Republicans bracing for a wave of resignations and watchdog committees gearing up for investigations, Chuck argues that the founders never intended the pardon power to be used this way — and that a constitutional fix may now be essential. Then, editor of The Dispatch, Sarah Isgur joins Chuck for a sweeping conversation about the Supreme Court, constitutional design, and the modern dysfunction of Congress. Sarah argues that SCOTUS is the only institution still operating as the founders intended—and with two major cases on the docket, the Court could soon reshape the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches. She and Chuck examine how the activist class has abandoned Congress, why long-term challenges like climate change require legislation rather than court battles, and how a dramatically expanded House—potentially 1,200 members or more—could restore true representation. They dig into how the collapse of traditional parties, the rise of communications-focused lawmakers, and the outsize influence of small states have all warped American governance. The conversation then widens into history, culture, and political “what-ifs”—from Ken Burns’ Revolutionary War documentary to the chaotic post-Lincoln era, to the tantalizing possibility that a surviving President Garfield might have accelerated civil rights by a century. Chuck and Sarah compare Obama to Chester Arthur, debate whether Democrats learned the wrong lessons from Trump, and revisit the alternate timelines of Chris Christie, Carly Fiorina, and the Tea Party. They close with a provocative question: Should the DOJ be structurally separated from the executive branch? And, more fundamentally, should it be far easier to amend the Constitution for a modern nation of 300 million people? Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to December 7th, 1941 when FDR addressed the nation via radio after Pearl Harbor, and traces the history of media fragmentation throughout the decades. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and gives his college football update.  Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:00 We got the full spectrum of Trump this week 02:45 Venezuela boat strike has awoken congress from its slumber 03:15 Pete Hegseth could take the fall for war crime strike 04:00 Resignation of head of SouthCom was a flashing red light 05:45 Two national guardsmen shot in Washington D.C.  06:45 Trump’s response to shooting was most divisive possible 07:30 Surprising that shooter was Afghan employee of CIA 08:45 It’s likely shooter was mentally unstable & something triggered him 09:30 Trump immediately went into “blame game” mode after shooting 10:15 Trump’s entire political currency is division 11:00 Trump’s politicization of military risks putting target on their back 12:00 Trump blames Biden’s vetting, but administration rarely vets anything 12:45 Trump gave away everything U.S. won in Afghanistan to Taliban 14:30 Every president in the 21st century has screwed up Afghanistan 15:45 Trump tried to weaponize the shooting for political gain 17:30 Pay attention to what Trump does, not what he says 18:15 Trump pardons cocaine trafficking ex president of Honduras 19:00 Trump threatens war with Venezuela over drugs, then gives this pardon?? 20:00 Trump threatens voters of Honduras over their election 20:45 Roger Stone has become Trump’s pardon merchant 21:45 Pardon was direct result of Roger Stone’s lobbying 22:15 Trump has normalized pardoning of convicted felons 24:15 Trump pardons executive guilty of 1.6B fraud scheme 25:15 Trump’s pardons are far more corrupt than prior president’s pardons 27:30 We need a constitutional amendment to change the pardon power 28:30 Founder imagined congress would prevent abuse of pardon power 29:15 We’ll likely see 2-4 retirements per week in congress through December 30:45 Senate Armed Services committee will do thorough investigation of strike 32:15 Trump is likely to give an illegal order w/ military action in Venezuela 33:45 Trump’s coalition wanted less military intervention overseas 39:30 Sarah Isgur joins the Chuck ToddCast 41:00 SCOTUS is the only institution functioning as founders intended 41:30 SCOTUS has 2 cases that could rebalance other two branches 42:45 SCOTUS may strengthen executive while empowering congress 45:00 What if SCOTUS gives Trump everything he wants? 46:30 Activist class has given up or ignored congressional authority 47:30 You need legislation to address long term problems like climate change 49:00 The house needs to be expanded to make it more representative 51:15 The house should have 1200+ members 52:45 We replaced political parties with high dollar special interests 53:30 Members aren’t attending town halls, they’re posting on social media 56:00 The two leaders of each chamber run congress, not committee chairs 56:45 Legislators are frustrated with the broken nature of congress 58:00 Members aren’t hiring legislating staff, they hire comms staff 59:30 Boebert, AOC, MTG would be backbenchers without comms 1:01:00 Small states are getting far too much influence electorally 1:04:00 The constitution is a good ballast if we follow it and regularly amend it 1:05:00 Ken Burns was gutsy to make a doc on the American revolution 1:06:30 If you want 300 million people to follow a law, it should take time to pass 1:08:30 Death By Lightning was too short to tell the whole story 1:10:30 “Manhunt” really painted a picture of Andrew Johnson 1:11:30 Lincoln assassination was meant to upend Lincoln's administration 1:12:15 Holiday reading list 1:13:30 End of 19th century was a weird time for the U.S. presidency 1:15:30 Rehnquist’s book comments on Bush v Gore through 19th century lens 1:17:15 Thomas Jefferson impeached justices in order to get a SCOTUS rubber stamp 1:18:00 Chuck’s project to create a scripted TV show about Garfield & reconstruction 1:19:15 George Washington wanted D.C. to be the biggest port city on east coast 1:22:00 1860-1865 was a fascinating time for the city of Washington DC 1:23:30 If Garfield lived we might have gotten the Civil Rights Act 100 years sooner 1:25:00 Parallels between Obama and Chester A. Arthur presidencies 1:26:00 Democrats learning from Trump that action matters over process 1:27:00 Dems gutted their bench during Obama years 1:28:00 Obama endorsing Clinton was a massive mistake for the Democratic Party 1:30:30 GOP voters realized the “nice” candidate like Romney couldn’t win 1:32:00 Without “bridgegate”, Chris Christie may be president instead of Trump 1:33:30 Chris Christie is a wildly talented politician, but mismanaged era with his shot 1:35:00 The Tea Party energy in GOP could have derailed Christie’s ambitions 1:36:15 Christie derailed Carly Fiorina’s campaign in 2016 1:37:30 Should DOJ be detached from the executive branch? 1:40:00 Founders never specified how many justices should be on SCOTUS 1:42:45 Ford pardon was a huge mistake, created protected political class 1:44:15 Where to find Sarah’s work 1:45:30 It should be easier to pass constitutional amendments 1:49:00 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Sarah Isgur 1:49:45 ToddCast Time Machine - December 7th, 1941 1:50:30 The shock of Pearl Harbor is almost gone from living memory 1:51:00 Pearl Harbor showed the power of shared media experience 1:52:00 Radio was the height of communal media 1:52:15 December 1945, FCC gave massive expansion of FM radio 1:53:00 FM created the first fragmentation of media 1:54:00 Summer of 1980, Walkman introduced personalization in media 1:55:30 The Walkman was the beginning of mass media fragmentation 1:57:30 By 1990, 40% of minutes listened in the car weren’t radio 1:58:15 Radio never recovered from the Walkman 1:58:45 Streaming and social are diminishing TV & cable 1:59:30 For Americans under 60, almost all media consumption is on smartphones 2:02:00 Ask Chuck 2:02:15 Love for “The Barn” and the book recommendations 2:05:30 Is there any hope for a return to respectful bipartisan discourse? 2:11:15 Should we consider distributing presidential roles & diluting power? 2:16:00 What benefits do members of congress receive after leaving? 2:21:00 College football update See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s Chuck ToddCast, editor of The Dispatch Sarah Isgur joins Chuck for a sweeping conversation about the Supreme Court, constitutional design, and the modern dysfunction of Congress. Sarah argues that SCOTUS is the only institution still operating as the founders intended—and with two major cases on the docket, the Court could soon reshape the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches. She and Chuck examine how the activist class has abandoned Congress, why long-term challenges like climate change require legislation rather than court battles, and how a dramatically expanded House—potentially 1,200 members or more—could restore true representation. They dig into how the collapse of traditional parties, the rise of communications-focused lawmakers, and the outsize influence of small states have all warped American governance. The conversation then widens into history, culture, and political “what-ifs”—from Ken Burns’ Revolutionary War documentary to the chaotic post-Lincoln era, to the tantalizing possibility that a surviving President Garfield might have accelerated civil rights by a century. Chuck and Sarah compare Obama to Chester Arthur, debate whether Democrats learned the wrong lessons from Trump, and revisit the alternate timelines of Chris Christie, Carly Fiorina, and the Tea Party. They close with a provocative question: Should the DOJ be structurally separated from the executive branch? And, more fundamentally, should it be far easier to amend the Constitution for a modern nation of 300 million people? Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Sarah Isgur joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 SCOTUS is the only institution functioning as founders intended 02:00 SCOTUS has 2 cases that could rebalance other two branches 03:15 SCOTUS may strengthen executive while empowering congress 05:30 What if SCOTUS gives Trump everything he wants? 07:00 Activist class has given up or ignored congressional authority 08:00 You need legislation to address long term problems like climate change 09:30 The house needs to be expanded to make it more representative 11:45 The house should have 1200+ members 13:15 We replaced political parties with high dollar special interests 14:00 Members aren’t attending town halls, they’re posting on social media 16:30 The two leaders of each chamber run congress, not committee chairs 17:15 Legislators are frustrated with the broken nature of congress 18:30 Members aren’t hiring legislating staff, they hire comms staff 20:00 Boebert, AOC, MTG would be backbenchers without comms 21:30 Small states are getting far too much influence electorally 24:30 The constitution is a good ballast if we follow it and regularly amend it 25:30 Ken Burns was gutsy to make a doc on the American revolution 27:00 If you want 300 million people to follow a law, it should take time to pass 29:00 Death By Lightning was too short to tell the whole story 31:00 “Manhunt” really painted a picture of Andrew Johnson 32:00 Lincoln assassination was meant to  Lincoln's administration 32:45 Holiday reading list  34:00 End of 19th century was a weird time for the U.S. presidency 36:00 Rehnquist’s book comments on Bush v Gore through 19th century lens 37:45 Thomas Jefferson impeached justices in order to get a SCOTUS rubber stamp 38:30 Chuck’s project to create a scripted TV show about Garfield & reconstruction 39:45 George Washington wanted D.C. to be the biggest port city on east coast 42:30 1860-1865 was a fascinating time for the city of Washington DC 44:00 If Garfield lived we might have gotten the Civil Rights Act 100 years sooner 45:30 Parallels between Obama and Chester A. Arthur presidencies 46:30 Democrats learning from Trump that action matters over process 47:30 Dems gutted their bench during Obama years 48:30 Obama endorsing Clinton was a massive mistake for the Democratic Party 51:00 GOP voters realized the “nice” candidate like Romney couldn’t win 52:30 Without “bridgegate”, Chris Christie may be president instead of Trump 54:00 Chris Christie is a wildly talented politician, but mismanaged era with his shot 55:30 The Tea Party energy in GOP could have derailed Christie’s ambitions 56:45 Christie derailed Carly Fiorina’s campaign in 2016 58:00 Should DOJ be detached from the executive branch? 1:00:30 Founders never specified how many justices should be on SCOTUS 1:03:15 Ford pardon was a huge mistake, created protected political class 1:04:45 Where to find Sarah’s work 1:06:00 It should be easier to pass constitutional amendments See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Chuck ToddCast, Chuck previews the Democratic prospects for the 2028 presidential election, highlighting why Gavin Newsom has shot to the top of the field and debates which candidate is most likely to win the “centrist” lane. Then, at the Texas Tribune Festival, Maryland Governor Wes Moore joins Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership in the Trump era, the future of Democratic politics, and the policy challenges shaping the next decade. Moore reflects on governing a state uniquely positioned at the crossroads of America’s north and south — and uniquely impacted by Donald Trump’s presidency. He and Chuck dig into the shutdown’s political fallout, why the legal theory behind shutdowns has always been flimsy, and how Maryland worked to blunt its effects. Moore also lays out why kicking people off healthcare is an indefensible shutdown tactic, what Democrats got right and wrong in their approach, and how states can tackle crime without relying on the myths surrounding the National Guard. The conversation turns toward the issues that will define 2026 and beyond, including skyrocketing electric bills, the urgent need to rapidly diversify energy production, and the responsibility tech companies bear as AI and data centers reshape local communities. Moore challenges Democrats to rethink their discomfort with Wall Street, argues that poverty is the result of deliberate policy design, and explains how racial wealth theft — from redlining to inequitable lending — continues to hold the economy back. Chuck also presses him on 2028 rumors, his vision for restoring bipartisanship in a polarized country, and why national service might help rebuild trust in American institutions. Packed with policy, perspective, and political strategy, it’s a candid look at how one of the party’s rising stars sees the road ahead. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s Introduction 01:00 Big takeaways from interview with Wes Moore 03:15 Gavin Newsom has shot to the top of Dem presidential candidates 04:15 Gavin Newsom won 2025 on Dem side, Vance on GOP side 06:00 Dems need to win governor races in red states to have good midterm 07:15 Will Shapiro, Moore or Beshear win the centrist lane? 10:30 If Dems are successful in ‘26 they may not want a partisan warrior 14:45 Texas Tribune introduction 15:30 Chuck Todd is joined by Maryland Governor Wes Moore 17:45 Balancing optimism in pessimism in the current political climate 19:15 No state has felt the impact of Trump more than Maryland 21:15 Maryland is where America’s north and south blend & clash 22:00 Confronting Trump vs. preparing for a post-Trump world 25:45 Did the Democrats take the right approach to the shutdown? 26:30 Shutdowns are predicated on a legal theory, not the constitution 28:15 Maryland took steps to mitigate damage from the shutdown 29:30 Kicking people off healthcare is an indefensible position for shutdown 31:15 Does Donald Trump have a point about crime in major cities? 32:45 How Maryland was able to significantly lower crime rate 34:00 Trump uses the military like they’re childish toy soldiers 35:00 There’s no data to support claim that national guard lowers crime 38:00 Advice Wes Moore gave to Zohran Mamdani for dealing with Trump 40:30 What does Trump do well that got him elected twice? 41:45 Donald Trump doesn’t wait to act 43:30 The electric bill will be the “price of eggs” issue in 2026 44:45 What can government do to alleviate high electricity prices? 47:00 We need to diversify energy projects and bring online faster 49:00 What is the responsibility of tech companies building data centers 50:30 AI & tech advancement must be done in partnership with communities 51:15 Why should Democrats not be overly skeptical of Wall Street? 52:15 Poverty exists due to deliberate policy choices 57:00 Why do Democrats have a net negative view of capitalism? 1:00:00 Does the socialist label create a branding problem? 1:01:00 The racial wealth gap has cost the economy $16T over two decades 1:01:30 Why haven’t reparations happened? 1:03:00 Redlining was one of the greatest wealth thefts in American history 1:05:45 Why should we believe Wes isn’t running in 2028? 1:08:30 What is one policy he supports that the Democratic party avoids? 1:11:45 How do we bring back bipartisanship when the middle doesn’t exist? 1:15:00 Message to people in their 20’s watching the upheaval in institutions? 1:19:00 Support for mandatory national service? 1:20:30 Best route for Maryland to overcome redistricting roadblocks? 1:24:00 Pitch to convince people to move from Texas to Maryland? 1:24:45 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Wes Moore 1:27:00 Ask Chuck 1:27:15 Is there hope for both sides setting aside the culture war? 1:32:30 Which 5 members of congress are most likely to retire? 1:37:45 Thoughts on Dems losing the midwest post-Obama? 1:40:45 Why do voters keep signaling they want change but elect boomers? 1:47:00 DINO and RINO candidates keep winning, is this a good strategy? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the Texas Tribune Festival, Maryland Governor Wes Moore joins Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership in the Trump era, the future of Democratic politics, and the policy challenges shaping the next decade. Moore reflects on governing a state uniquely positioned at the crossroads of America’s north and south — and uniquely impacted by Donald Trump’s presidency. He and Chuck dig into the shutdown’s political fallout, why the legal theory behind shutdowns has always been flimsy, and how Maryland worked to blunt its effects. Moore also lays out why kicking people off healthcare is an indefensible shutdown tactic, what Democrats got right and wrong in their approach, and how states can tackle crime without relying on the myths surrounding the National Guard. The conversation turns toward the issues that will define 2026 and beyond, including skyrocketing electric bills, the urgent need to rapidly diversify energy production, and the responsibility tech companies bear as AI and data centers reshape local communities. Moore challenges Democrats to rethink their discomfort with Wall Street, argues that poverty is the result of deliberate policy design, and explains how racial wealth theft — from redlining to inequitable lending — continues to hold the economy back. Chuck also presses him on 2028 rumors, his vision for restoring bipartisanship in a polarized country, and why national service might help rebuild trust in American institutions. Packed with policy, perspective, and political strategy, it’s a candid look at how one of the party’s rising stars sees the road ahead. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 02:00 Introduction 02:45 Chuck Todd is joined by Maryland Governor Wes Moore 05:00 Balancing optimism in pessimism in the current political climate 06:30 No state has felt the impact of Trump more than Maryland 08:30 Maryland is where America’s north and south blend & clash 09:15 Confronting Trump vs. preparing for a post-Trump world 13:00 Did the Democrats take the right approach to the shutdown? 13:45 Shutdowns are predicated on a legal theory, not the constitution 15:30 Maryland took steps to mitigate damage from the shutdown 16:45 Kicking people off healthcare is an indefensible position for shutdown 18:00 Does Donald Trump have a point about crime in major cities? 19:30 How Maryland was able to significantly lower crime rate 21:15 Trump uses the military like they’re childish toy soldiers 22:15 There’s no data to support claim that national guard lowers crime 25:15 Advice Wes Moore gave to Zohran Mamdani for dealing with Trump 27:45 What does Trump do well that got him elected twice? 29:00 Donald Trump doesn’t wait to act 30:45 The electric bill will be the “price of eggs” issue in 2026 32:00 What can government do to alleviate high electricity prices? 34:15 We need to diversify energy projects and bring online faster 36:15 What is the responsibility of tech companies building data centers 37:45 AI & tech advancement must be done in partnership with communities 38:30 Why should Democrats not be overly skeptical of Wall Street? 39:30 Poverty exists due to deliberate policy choices 44:15 Why do Democrats have a net negative view of capitalism? 47:15 Does the socialist label create a branding problem? 48:15 The racial wealth gap has cost the economy $16T over two decades 48:45 Why haven’t reparations happened? 50:15 Redlining was one of the greatest wealth thefts in American history 53:00 Why should we believe Wes isn’t running in 2028? 55:45 What is one policy he supports that the Democratic party avoids? 59:00 How do we bring back bipartisanship when the middle doesn’t exist? 1:02:15 Message to people in their 20’s watching the upheaval in institutions? 1:06:15 Support for mandatory national service? 1:07:45 Best route for Maryland to overcome redistricting roadblocks? 1:11:15 Pitch to convince people to move from Texas to Maryland? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down why Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation is less an isolated drama and more a warning sign that Trump’s once-tight MAGA coalition is splintering. From Speaker Mike Johnson taking cues directly from Trump to a wave of looming GOP retirements, Chuck explains why Republicans may face a bleak 2026. He also digs into Trump’s mixed economic record, his unexpected openness to extending ACA subsidies, and the widening rift between Republicans over Ukraine, where a new peace proposal appears to reflect more of Kyiv’s asks than Moscow’s. With Europe carrying most of the burden and Trump seen abroad as a lame duck, Chuck argues that MAGA may be reaching the end of its political shelf life as fractures emerge across every major wing of the coalition. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 Thanksgiving Dishes, previews a pivotal weekend in college football and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.   Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:15  MTG’s resignation a sign of Trump’s coalition fracturing 02:00  MAGA is more likely to continue fracturing rather than galvanize 02:45  Republicans probably hoping for impeachment if Dems take house 04:00  Johnson keeping the house out of session was a huge mistake 05:30  Mike Johnson isn’t operating on his own, Trump dictates to him 07:00  Trump’s agenda has made the economy worse 08:45  Other Republican lawmakers signaling they may resign early 10:00  Holidays are the season of early retirement decisions 10:45  Likely we see 10 or more Republican retirements by end of January 12:30  Donald Trump signals willingness to extend ACA subsidies 14:45  Lame duck president and Dem majority will discourage GOP reelect bids 16:15  Congress has been cut out of governing, makes the job suck 17:45  Ukraine peace plan details have been all over the map 18:30  New peace deal contains more of Ukraine’s considerations 19:00  Trump just wants a deal, doesn’t care about the details 20:15  To his credit, Trump has people on his team supporting Ukraine 22:45  Skeptical that new deal will be well received by the Russians 23:45  Putin knows Trump is a lame duck and will play the long game 25:15  Europe provides most support to Ukraine, Trump has less leverage 27:00  Split between Rubio & Vance wings over Russia and Ukraine  28:15  We are seeing fractures throughout Trump’s coalition 29:15  MAGA may be approaching the end of its shelf life 33:45  Thanksgiving is where we try to be the best version of ourselves 34:45  ToddCast Top 5 Dishes For Thanksgiving Dinner 35:00  #1 A meat that is an alternative to roasted turkey 35:45  #2 Macaroni and cheese casserole, not out of the box 36:30  #3 Sweet potato casserole with marshmallows 37:30  #4 Green bean mushroom casserole 38:30  #5 Leftover pumpkin pie w/coffee the next morning 40:00  College football preview 52:15  Ask Chuck 52:30  Will AI take CEO jobs? Does it present a threat to capitalism? 56:30  Has Trump given license to racists & misogynists to be more overt? 1:00:00  Is it possible that teams will play down against Notre Dame? 1:03:30  Thoughts on Qatari air force facility being built in Idaho 1:05:00  Paradox between presidential immunity vs “take care” clause? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down why Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation is less an isolated drama and more a warning sign that Trump’s once-tight MAGA coalition is splintering. From Speaker Mike Johnson taking cues directly from Trump to a wave of looming GOP retirements, Chuck explains why Republicans may face a bleak 2026. He also digs into Trump’s mixed economic record, his unexpected openness to extending ACA subsidies, and the widening rift between Republicans over Ukraine, where a new peace proposal appears to reflect more of Kyiv’s asks than Moscow’s. With Europe carrying most of the burden and Trump seen abroad as a lame duck, Chuck argues that MAGA may be reaching the end of its political shelf life as fractures emerge across every major wing of the coalition. Sports & political commentator Clay Travis joins Chuck Todd for a candid conversation that spans the worlds of politics, sports, and media. They explore the shifting boundaries between culture and athletics, the pressure of serving a politically-charged audience, and what Clay learned from stepping into Rush Limbaugh’s former timeslot. Clay discusses the importance of distinguishing fact from opinion, the challenges of modern political incentives, and how law school shaped his worldview. The two also talk about the realities of online hostility, audience expectations, and Clay’s belief that influence in media can outweigh influence in elected office. The episode also digs deep into college football: conference realignment, the CFP committee’s biases, southern schools’ growing appeal, and how cultural and political trends—from Gaza protests to regional identity—shape the sport’s landscape. Clay and Chuck debate how to fix the playoff system, what makes college football uniquely personal for fans, and which major sports league Nashville could attract next. Clay closes by sharing the presidential contenders he wishes would run in 2028 and why treating political opponents like rival sports fans could be a healthier way forward. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 Thanksgiving Dishes, previews a pivotal weekend in college football and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:30 MTG’s resignation a sign of Trump’s coalition fracturing 04:15 MAGA is more likely to continue fracturing rather than galvanize 05:00 Republicans probably hoping for impeachment if Dems take house 06:15 Johnson keeping the house out of session was a huge mistake 07:45 Mike Johnson isn’t operating on his own, Trump dictates to him 09:15 Trump’s agenda has made the economy worse 11:00 Other Republican lawmakers signaling they may resign early 12:15 Holidays are the season of early retirement decisions 13:00 Likely we see 10 or more Republican retirements by end of January 14:45 Donald Trump signals willingness to extend ACA subsidies 17:00 Lame duck president and Dem majority will discourage GOP reelect bids 18:30 Congress has been cut out of governing, makes the job suck 20:00 Ukraine peace plan details have been all over the map 20:45 New peace deal contains more of Ukraine’s considerations 21:15 Trump just wants a deal, doesn’t care about the details 22:30 To his credit, Trump has people on his team supporting Ukraine 25:00 Skeptical that new deal will be well received by the Russians 26:00 Putin knows Trump is a lame duck and will play the long game 27:30 Europe provides most support to Ukraine, Trump has less leverage 29:15 Split between Rubio & Vance wings over Russia and Ukraine  30:30 We are seeing fractures throughout Trump’s coalition 31:30 MAGA may be approaching the end of its shelf life 36:30  Clay Travis joins the Chuck ToddCast 38:00  GW’s near win over the Fab Five  40:00  Thoughts on McAfee interviewing Trump on ESPN? 40:45  If the president wants to do your show, you do it 42:00  Are you a sports guy that does politics or a politics guy that does sports 42:45  Taking over Rush Limbaugh’s timeslot for Premiere Radio 44:00  Balancing sports content vs. politics content 45:30  Sports used to be separate from culture, now they’re intertwined 47:15  Having the audience you want vs. the one that you have 48:00  Clay’s audience is people who voted Trump, love football, hated Covid masks 49:00  Not letting your audience be your editor 51:30  Learning not to care too much what people think about you 52:45  Everybody is mean on the internet, you have to have thick skin 54:30  Going to law school was the best decision Clay ever made 57:00  We need better distinction between fact & opinion in politics 57:45  Politics doesn’t attract the best & brightest due to low pay 58:30  Too many people in politics just want to be famous 59:45  Nick Saban could have been great at anything, including politics 01:02:00  Non SEC & Big Ten schools get no notice from the CFP committee 01:04:30  It’ll be interesting to see which big conference ACC programs try to join 01:06:00  Southern schools have become a huge draw for northern students 01:07:00  Gaza protests have affected student recruitment at some schools 01:08:30  Lane Kiffin will be the hottest name in the college coaching market 01:09:45  CFP committee cherry picking results, not acknowledging ACC 01:10:45  College football is the sport we’re always arguing about 01:11:30  Playoff selections need to be non subjective, needs a new system 01:12:45  Dems focus on what America did wrong, R’s focus on what went right 01:14:30  Quality wins should matter more than quality losses 01:15:15  People feel a closer personal connection to college football compared to NFL 01:16:00  Best way to reconfigure the college football playoff? 01:17:45  College football should start in August prior to NFL kicking off 01:19:30  What’s the next major sport coming to Nashville? MLB 01:20:30  There are more NHL, NBA and NFL teams in SEC footprint than MLB 01:22:00  Sports is unique in that the competition IS the business 01:24:00  Four people Clay would like to see run for president in 2028 01:26:30  Pitchforks are coming for corporate America & business candidates 01:28:15  Any interest in running for office? 01:29:15  Can have more influence and impact in media than in politics 01:30:15  Paul Finnebaum mulling run for office 01:31:45  We’d be better off if we treated political opponents like opposing fans 01:34:00  Nashville is always viewed as the “new _____” 01:36:00  Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Clay Travis 01:36:45  Thanksgiving is where we try to be the best version of ourselves 01:37:45  ToddCast Top 5 Dishes For Thanksgiving Dinner 01:38:00  #1 A meat that is an alternative to roasted turkey 01:38:45  #2 Macaroni and cheese casserole, not out of the box 01:39:30  #3 Sweet potato casserole with marshmallows 01:40:30  #4 Green bean mushroom casserole 01:41:30  #5 Leftover pumpkin pie w/coffee the next morning 01:43:00  College football preview 01:55:15  Ask Chuck 01:55:30  Will AI take CEO jobs? Does it present a threat to capitalism? 01:59:30  Has Trump given license to racists & misogynists to be more overt? 02:03:00  Is it possible that teams will play down against Notre Dame? 02:06:30  Thoughts on Qatari air force facility being built in Idaho 02:08:00  Paradox between presidential immunity vs “take care” clause? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sports & political commentator Clay Travis joins Chuck Todd for a candid conversation that spans the worlds of politics, sports, and media. They explore the shifting boundaries between culture and athletics, the pressure of serving a politically-charged audience, and what Clay learned from stepping into Rush Limbaugh’s former timeslot. Clay discusses the importance of distinguishing fact from opinion, the challenges of modern political incentives, and how law school shaped his worldview. The two also talk about the realities of online hostility, audience expectations, and Clay’s belief that influence in media can outweigh influence in elected office. The episode also digs deep into college football: conference realignment, the CFP committee’s biases, southern schools’ growing appeal, and how cultural and political trends—from Gaza protests to regional identity—shape the sport’s landscape. Clay and Chuck debate how to fix the playoff system, what makes college football uniquely personal for fans, and which major sports league Nashville could attract next. Clay closes by sharing the presidential contenders he wishes would run in 2028 and why treating political opponents like rival sports fans could be a healthier way forward. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Clay Travis joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 GW’s near win over the Fab Five  03:30 Thoughts on McAfee interviewing Trump on ESPN? 04:15 If the president wants to do your show, you do it 05:30 Are you a sports guy that does politics or a politics guy that does sports 06:15 Taking over Rush Limbaugh’s timeslot for Premiere Radio 07:30 Balancing sports content vs. politics content 09:00 Sports used to be separate from culture, now they’re intertwined 10:45 Having the audience you want vs. the one that you have 11:30 Clay’s audience is people who voted Trump, love football, hated Covid masks 12:30 Not letting your audience be your editor 15:00 Learning not to care too much what people think about you 16:15 Everybody is mean on the internet, you have to have thick skin 18:00 Going to law school was the best decision Clay ever made 20:30 We need better distinction between fact & opinion in politics 21:15 Politics doesn’t attract the best & brightest due to low pay 22:00 Too many people in politics just want to be famous 23:15 Nick Saban could have been great at anything, including politics 25:30 Non SEC & Big Ten schools get no notice from the CFP committee 28:00 It’ll be interesting to see which big conference ACC programs try to join 29:30 Southern schools have become a huge draw for northern students 30:30 Gaza protests have affected student recruitment at some schools 32:00 Lane Kiffin will be the hottest name in the college coaching market 33:15 CFP committee cherry picking results, not acknowledging ACC 34:15 College football is the sport we’re always arguing about 35:00 Playoff selections need to be non subjective, needs a new system 36:15 Dems focus on what America did wrong, R’s focus on what went right 38:00 Quality wins should matter more than quality losses 38:45 People feel a closer personal connection to college football compared to NFL 39:30 Best way to reconfigure the college football playoff? 41:15 College football should start in August prior to NFL kicking off 43:00 What’s the next major sport coming to Nashville? MLB 44:00 There are more NHL, NBA and NFL teams in SEC footprint than MLB 45:30 Sports is unique in that the competition IS the business 47:30 Four people Clay would like to see run for president in 2028 50:00 Pitchforks are coming for corporate America & business candidates 51:45 Any interest in running for office? 52:45 Can have more influence and impact in media than in politics 53:45 Paul Finnebaum mulling run for office 55:15 We’d be better off if we treated political opponents like opposing fans 57:30 Nashville is always viewed as the “new _____” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd unpacks a seismic moment in Republican politics: Marjorie Taylor-Greene’s break from Donald Trump and her abrupt resignation from Congress. He traces how the split—months in the making—reveals deep fractures inside the “America First” movement, with MTG positioning herself as the true-believer successor to the Bannon wing while accusing both parties of fueling a self-serving “political industrial complex.” Chuck explains why her departure signals growing disillusionment among Trump’s base, how job displacement and economic anxiety are reshaping the electorate, and why MTG’s political instincts make her far more formidable than her critics admit. Then he turns to new confusion surrounding the administration’s Ukraine peace proposal—where even Republicans like Marco Rubio appear uneasy—and how Trump’s handling of Venezuela risks alienating Latin American partners and setting U.S. diplomacy back decades. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the year America had TWO Thanksgivings, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and recaps the weekend in college football.    Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:45 Marjorie Taylor-Greene splits w/Trump and resigns from congress02:45 MTG’s break with Trump has been months in the making04:00 MTG is an “America First” true believer05:00 Trump isn’t as America First as his coalition06:45 Trump isn’t governing based on the coalition he built07:30 MTG could be a presidential candidate repping the Bannon wing08:45 MTG calls out the “political industrial complex” in her statement10:15 There is truth to the political industrial complex accusation12:00 For 20 years every election just flips back and forth between parties13:30 Job displacement is going to be a massive electoral issue14:30 MTG is a spurned true believer18:00 Whatever you think of her, MTG understands how congress works18:45 MTG wants to send the message that she’s the true believer20:30 MTG wanted to blow up the system & establishment, Trump didn’t22:30 Trump is always bullshitting, some of his followers are finding it out24:45 MTG didn’t want to face a Trump-backed primary challenger28:00 Trump will be at the center of the midterms, that’s bad for the GOP29:30 If MTG ran for senate in Georgia, she’d probably win31:00 The MAGA coalition is cracking, Trump won’t be able to fix it 32:45 Confusion between administration and congress over Ukraine peace deal34:15 Rubio argued the peace proposal was written by the U.S.35:45 Rubio is clearly uncomfortable with the terms of the deal36:15 Steve Witkoff just plays stenographer for the Kremlin37:30 The majority of congress supports Ukraine far more than Trump39:30 The administration has not made the Venezuela case to congress41:00 Trump could set us back decades with Latin America w/missteps in Venezuela 46:45 Toddcast Time Machine - 1939 47:15 America had two Thanksgivings after FDR moved it 49:15 FDR changed the date for Thanksgiving to help retailers 50:00 Presidents used to choose the date for Thanksgiving 52:15 Thanksgiving date was always changed for logistical reasons 53:30 FDR moved Thanksgiving up one week & started a culture war 54:45 23 states celebrated “Franksgiving” 55:15 3 states celebrated two Thanksgivings 56:15 In 1941, Congress stepped to make official date for Thanksgiving 58:45 Ask Chuck 59:15 Thoughts on Trump falling head over heels for Zohran Mamdani? 1:06:15 Would Chuck ever run for office someday? 1:09:45 How do you track evolving policies across administrations? 1:12:30 College football recap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd unpacks a seismic moment in Republican politics: Marjorie Taylor-Greene’s break from Donald Trump and her abrupt resignation from Congress. He traces how the split—months in the making—reveals deep fractures inside the “America First” movement, with MTG positioning herself as the true-believer successor to the Bannon wing while accusing both parties of fueling a self-serving “political industrial complex.” Chuck explains why her departure signals growing disillusionment among Trump’s base, how job displacement and economic anxiety are reshaping the electorate, and why MTG’s political instincts make her far more formidable than her critics admit. Then he turns to new confusion surrounding the administration’s Ukraine peace proposal—where even Republicans like Marco Rubio appear uneasy—and how Trump’s handling of Venezuela risks alienating Latin American partners and setting U.S. diplomacy back decades. Then, author Wright Thompson joins Chuck Todd to discuss his new book The Barn and the enduring struggle to tell the stories of civil rights in America. Wright delves into the history of Emmett Till, the ongoing battle over how Black history is taught in the South, and the limitations of projects like 1619 in capturing the full scope of systemic racism. He reflects on how the South’s “lost cause” imagery and historical amnesia continue to shape politics, culture, and education, and why remembering Till’s story is essential for understanding the roots of American dysfunction. Along the way, Wright also explores how sports have historically led society in moral leadership, from civil rights breakthroughs to the integrity of figures like LeBron James. Thompson also tackles broader questions about American governance and society, from the failures of individual politicians to the structural incentives that keep the country in political spirals, the challenges of the modern presidency, and the looming threats of drone warfare and algorithm-driven polarization. He offers insights from his journey as a sportswriter, illustrating how cultural narratives—from the 1940s to today—shape our national conversation. This episode is a deep dive into history, morality, and the complexities of chronicling America’s past while grappling with its present and future. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the year America had TWO Thanksgivings, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and recaps the weekend in college football.  Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 04:15 Marjorie Taylor-Greene splits w/Trump and resigns from congress 06:15 MTG’s break with Trump has been months in the making 07:30 MTG is an “America First” true believer 08:30 Trump isn’t as America First as his coalition 10:15 Trump isn’t governing based on the coalition he built 11:00 MTG could be a presidential candidate repping the Bannon wing 12:15 MTG calls out the “political industrial complex” in her statement 13:45 There is truth to the political industrial complex accusation 15:30 For 20 years every election just flips back and forth between parties 17:00 Job displacement is going to be a massive electoral issue 18:00 MTG is a spurned true believer 21:30 Whatever you think of her, MTG understands how congress works 22:15 MTG wants to send the message that she’s the true believer 24:00 MTG wanted to blow up the system & establishment, Trump didn’t 26:00 Trump is always bullshitting, some of his followers are finding it out 28:15 MTG didn’t want to face a Trump-backed primary challenger 31:30 Trump will be at the center of the midterms, that’s bad for the GOP33:00 If MTG ran for senate in Georgia, she’d probably win 34:30 The MAGA coalition is cracking, Trump won’t be able to fix it 36:15 Confusion between administration and congress over Ukraine peace deal 37:45 Rubio argued the peace proposal was written by the U.S.  39:15 Rubio is clearly uncomfortable with the terms of the deal 39:45 Steve Witkoff just plays stenographer for the Kremlin 41:00 The majority of congress supports Ukraine far more than Trump 43:00 The administration has not made the Venezuela case to congress 44:30 Trump could set us back decades with Latin America w/missteps in Venezuela 50:30 Wright Thompson joins the Chuck ToddCast 51:30 Why Wright wanted to write “The Barn” 52:45 The MAGA project wants to go back to pre civil rights era 54:00 How Emmit Till and civil rights are taught in the south 55:30 The war on black history has been embodied in textbooks 56:45 The biggest flaw of the 1619 Project is it didn’t go far enough 58:30 The barn where Emmit Till was killed isn’t a national landmark 01:00:45 The south still drapes itself in the “lost cause” civil war imagery 01:02:00 So many bomb throwing politicians aren’t built for governing 01:03:00 There was huge overseas money propping up the south in 1860’s 01:05:30 America required catastrophes to pull out of political death spirals 01:06:30 The battle against powerful forces just to tell civil rights stories 01:08:15 Emmit Til is a symbol, but he was also just a boy 01:09:30 It’s incumbent on Americans to remember Til’s name 01:10:45 The seeds of our dysfunction were planted between Vietnam & NAFTA 01:11:45 You have to understand Mississippi to understand America 01:14:00 If Garfield had lived we may have passed civil rights 80 years sooner 01:15:00 Separating your own politics from the era you are writing about? 01:16:00 There were many political fence sitters in World War 2 France 01:17:45 People are willing to ignore/participate in atrocities during civil war 01:18:15 How Wright got into sportswriting 01:19:45 Sports leaned into civil rights before society as a whole did 01:21:00 Michael Jordan wouldn’t be able to fence sit in modern America 01:23:15 From the 1940’s-60’s, sports heroes were rooted in morality 01:25:30 Greatest written sports profiles 01:27:15 The hubris of wanting to be president should disqualify you for it 01:29:15 The American tribe has been under relentless assault for 30 years 01:30:30 The American experiment is an incredibly difficult endeavor 01:31:15 Individual politicians are less important than incentive structures 01:33:00 America hasn’t had a recent galvanizing event requiring collective sacrifice 01:34:45 The coming drone wars are terrifying 01:36:45 America longs for a radical centrism 01:39:00 People need to realize the algorithm is the enemy, not another person 01:41:00 Obama v Trump could be the cultural showdown America needs 01:42:00 Trump didn’t realize the employees didn’t come with the White House 01:43:00 The presidency is an impossible job 01:44:30 Whose sports profile do you want to write but can’t get access to? 01:47:30 LeBron has managed to keep a squeaky clean profile despite his stardom 01:50:00 Why the podcast format is a better way to talk to people 1:52:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Wright Thompson 1:53:00 Toddcast Time Machine - 1939 1:53:30 America had two Thanksgivings after FDR moved it 1:55:30 FDR changed the date for Thanksgiving to help retailers 1:56:15 Presidents used to choose the date for Thanksgiving 1:58:30 Thanksgiving date was always changed for logistical reasons 1:59:45 FDR moved Thanksgiving up one week & started a culture war 2:01:00 23 states celebrated “Franksgiving” 2:01:30 3 states celebrated two Thanksgivings 2:02:30 In 1941, Congress stepped to make official date for Thanksgiving 2:05:00 Ask Chuck 2:05:30 Thoughts on Trump falling head over heels for Zohran Mamdani? 2:12:30 Would Chuck ever run for office someday? 2:16:00 How do you track evolving policies across administrations? 2:18:45 College football recap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, author Wright Thompson joins Chuck Todd to discuss his new book The Barn and the enduring struggle to tell the stories of civil rights in America. Wright delves into the history of Emmett Till, the ongoing battle over how Black history is taught in the South, and the limitations of projects like 1619 in capturing the full scope of systemic racism. He reflects on how the South’s “lost cause” imagery and historical amnesia continue to shape politics, culture, and education, and why remembering Till’s story is essential for understanding the roots of American dysfunction. Along the way, Wright also explores how sports have historically led society in moral leadership, from civil rights breakthroughs to the integrity of figures like LeBron James. Thompson also tackles broader questions about American governance and society, from the failures of individual politicians to the structural incentives that keep the country in political spirals, the challenges of the modern presidency, and the looming threats of drone warfare and algorithm-driven polarization. He offers insights from his journey as a sportswriter, illustrating how cultural narratives—from the 1940s to today—shape our national conversation. This episode is a deep dive into history, morality, and the complexities of chronicling America’s past while grappling with its present and future. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Wright Thompson joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 Why Wright wanted to write “The Barn” 02:15 The MAGA project wants to go back to pre civil rights era 03:30 How Emmit Till and civil rights are taught in the south 05:00 The war on black history has been embodied in textbooks 06:15 The biggest flaw of the 1619 Project is it didn’t go far enough 08:00 The barn where Emmit Till was killed isn’t a national landmark 10:15 The south still drapes itself in the “lost cause” civil war imagery 12:30 So many bomb throwing politicians aren’t built for governing 13:30 There was huge overseas money propping up the south in 1860’s 15:00 America required catastrophes to pull out of political death spirals 16:00 The battle against powerful forces just to tell civil rights stories 17:45 Emmit Til is a symbol, but he was also just a boy 19:00 It’s incumbent on Americans to remember Til’s name 20:15 The seeds of our dysfunction were planted between Vietnam & NAFTA 21:15 You have to understand Mississippi to understand America 23:30 If Garfield had lived we may have passed civil rights 80 years sooner 24:30 Separating your own politics from the era you are writing about? 25:30 There were many political fence sitters in World War 2 France 27:15 People are willing to ignore/participate in atrocities during civil war 27:45 How Wright got into sportswriting 29:15 Sports leaned into civil rights before society as a whole did 30:30 Michael Jordan wouldn’t be able to fence sit in modern America 32:45 From the 1940’s-60’s, sports heroes were rooted in morality 35:00 Greatest written sports profiles 36:45 The hubris of wanting to be president should disqualify you for it 38:45 The American tribe has been under relentless assault for 30 years 40:00 The American experiment is an incredibly difficult endeavor 40:45 Individual politicians are less important than incentive structures 42:30 America hasn’t had a recent galvanizing event requiring collective sacrifice 44:15 The coming drone wars are terrifying 46:15 America longs for a radical centrism 48:30 People need to realize the algorithm is the enemy, not another person 50:30 Obama v Trump could be the cultural showdown America needs 51:30 Trump didn’t realize the employees didn’t come with the White House 52:30 The presidency is an impossible job 54:00 Whose sports profile do you want to write but can’t get access to? 57:00 LeBron has managed to keep a squeaky clean profile despite his stardom 59:30 Why the podcast format is a better way to talk to people See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd breaks down why Donald Trump’s sudden push for a Ukraine “peace deal” may be more about political retreat than diplomacy, especially as Europe now shoulders most of the war’s cost—leaving Trump with diminished leverage abroad and a base deeply skeptical of foreign interventions. Chuck digs into new polling that shows a steady and significant shift toward Democrats, with a widening generic ballot advantage and Trump’s approval continuing to fall, suggesting the midterms—and even the Senate—are unexpectedly in play. He explores how Trump’s attempts to manipulate the economy could backfire, how a potential “AI bubble” could further weaken him, and why GOP divisions are poised to intensify. Plus, an update on the California governor’s race, where a field of lackluster Democratic contenders has allowed Republicans to overperform, raising questions about whether bigger names—or Rick Caruso—will jump into a race long dominated by the shadows of Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and previews the upcoming weekend in college football.  Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win!   Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 05:00 Trump’s “peace deal” may be his attempt to walk away from Ukraine 06:00 Europe is funding bulk of the war, Trump has less leverage 07:15 Trump’s plan to make Europe foot bill is working, but diminishes influence 09:15 If Trump gave rationale for removing Maduro, he’d have more credibility 11:00 Trump’s base doesn’t want foreign military interventions  12:30 Polling shows Democrats with large generic ballot advantage 15:30 Every poll has moved in the Democrats direction, and lower Trump approval 17:30 Donald Trump will try to pull levers to fix economy, could make it worse 19:00 Democrats have a huge advantage going into the midterms 19:45 Democrats need a 6-7 point generic advantage to win house 20:15 If current polling holds, the senate is in play 23:00 Applying election and polling trends nationwide, Dems could blowout midterms 24:30 Democrats unpopularity turned out to be meaningless in 2025 elections 26:00 Bad is going to get worse for Trump, GOP will be further divided 27:45 “AI Bubble” could sink Trump if it pops 29:00 Update on the California governor’s race 29:45 Democratic voters crave optimism, Tom Steyer doesn’t offer it 31:30 Candidates for CA governor feel like their all “Tier 2” candidates 34:00 Jerry Brown & Gavin Newsom have hovered over CA politics for decades 36:00 There are only two prominent Republican candidates in CA 37:00 Dem candidates are so weak, GOP candidates performing well 38:00 Will Rick Caruso run for mayor of LA or governor of CA? 40:30 There should be some bigger names jumping into the race 00:46:15 Ask Chuck 00:46:45 Any book recommendations on the fall of the Ottoman Empire? 00:50:45 Thoughts on voter approval for constitutional amendments? 00:56:00 Way to reform the primary system to produce moderates? 01:00:30 Dem voters still motivated to vote despite lower approval of party 01:08:00 College football preview See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd breaks down why Donald Trump’s sudden push for a Ukraine “peace deal” may be more about political retreat than diplomacy, especially as Europe now shoulders most of the war’s cost—leaving Trump with diminished leverage abroad and a base deeply skeptical of foreign interventions. Chuck digs into new polling that shows a steady and significant shift toward Democrats, with a widening generic ballot advantage and Trump’s approval continuing to fall, suggesting the midterms—and even the Senate—are unexpectedly in play. He explores how Trump’s attempts to manipulate the economy could backfire, how a potential “AI bubble” could further weaken him, and why GOP divisions are poised to intensify. Plus, an update on the California governor’s race, where a field of lackluster Democratic contenders has allowed Republicans to overperform, raising questions about whether bigger names—or Rick Caruso—will jump into a race long dominated by the shadows of Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom. Then, Chuck is joined by Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Anne Applebaum for a sweeping, unsparing look at the state of the Russia–Ukraine war and the global democratic landscape it threatens. Applebaum breaks down whether a ceasefire is even plausible this year, given Vladimir Putin’s unwavering war aims, the murky negotiators involved in back-channel talks, and Trump’s unusually warm posture toward the Kremlin. She details why Ukrainians refuse to accept a “kick the can” peace deal, how corruption scandals are playing out domestically, and the way drones, energy strikes, and a collapsing Russian economy are reshaping the battlefield. From mysterious elite deaths to China’s strategic support, Applebaum outlines the brittle yet dangerous architecture sustaining Putin’s regime. The conversation widens into a broader examination of the worldwide struggle between democracy and autocracy—from Trump’s Venezuela maneuverings to Saudi Arabia’s complicated role, from Silicon Valley’s unchecked power to Europe’s scramble to recalibrate its alliances. Applebaum warns that the U.S. walking away from Ukraine would reverberate far beyond Eastern Europe, and she explains why the speed and scale of Trump’s attacks on democratic norms have raised historic alarm. It’s a candid, far-reaching assessment of the forces shaping global stability—and the stakes ahead. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and previews the upcoming weekend in college football.  Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 05:00 Trump’s “peace deal” may be his attempt to walk away from Ukraine 06:00 Europe is funding bulk of the war, Trump has less leverage 07:15 Trump’s plan to make Europe foot bill is working, but diminishes influence 09:15 If Trump gave rationale for removing Maduro, he’d have more credibility 11:00 Trump’s base doesn’t want foreign military interventions  12:30 Polling shows Democrats with large generic ballot advantage 15:30 Every poll has moved in the Democrats direction, and lower Trump approval 17:30 Donald Trump will try to pull levers to fix economy, could make it worse 19:00 Democrats have a huge advantage going into the midterms 19:45 Democrats need a 6-7 point generic advantage to win house 20:15 If current polling holds, the senate is in play 23:00 Applying election and polling trends nationwide, Dems could blowout midterms 24:30 Democrats unpopularity turned out to be meaningless in 2025 elections 26:00 Bad is going to get worse for Trump, GOP will be further divided 27:45 “AI Bubble” could sink Trump if it pops 29:00 Update on the California governor’s race 29:45 Democratic voters crave optimism, Tom Steyer doesn’t offer it 31:30 Candidates for CA governor feel like their all “Tier 2” candidates 34:00 Jerry Brown & Gavin Newsom have hovered over CA politics for decades 36:00 There are only two prominent Republican candidates in CA 37:00 Dem candidates are so weak, GOP candidates performing well 38:00 Will Rick Caruso run for mayor of LA or governor of CA? 40:30 There should be some bigger names jumping into the race 46:00 Anne Applebaum joins the Chuck ToddCast 47:45 Will we get a ceasefire this year between Russia & Ukraine? 48:15 Putin has never said he’ll give up original war aims 49:30 Serious concerns about negotiators involved in secret peace deal 50:15 Talks have mostly concerned trade deals between U.S. & Russia 51:00 Putin knows he’ll never have a more supportive U.S. president 52:15 Putin holds a special status with Trump 53:00 Ukraine is more reliant on Europe than U.S. for the war 53:45 Is the corruption scandal involving ministers imperiling Zelensky? 54:45 Zelensky hasn’t gotten in the way of corruption investigation 56:15 Ukrainians have no interest in cease fire to kick can down road 57:30 Ukrainians won’t be strongarmed into accepting a bad deal 58:15 Drones have completely changed complexion of the war 01:00:00 Russians are targeting civilians, Ukraine hitting energy targets 01:00:45 Russians don’t care about human losses, just financial losses 01:02:00 At what point will a bad economy put pressure on Putin? 01:02:45 Russian elite mysteriously committing suicide or dying 01:03:30 Prigozhin was the only person who could challenge Putin 01:05:00 The Russian regime seems inevitable until the day it falls 01:06:00 Putin is completely dependent on China 01:06:45 China will stick with Russia & support war to weaken U.S. 01:07:45 Putin still has allies in Iran & North Korea 01:08:15 What does Russia think they’re accomplishing with Poland incursions? 01:09:30 Russia trying to create divisions between Ukraine and Europeans 01:10:15 Russia’s actions are only stiffening the European’s spine 01:11:00 Status of U.S. aid into Ukraine 01:12:15 What does it look like if the U.S. walks away from Ukraine? 01:13:30 Russia is still demanding land they haven’t conquered 01:15:15 Trump wants the optics of a big peace deal where “he wins” 01:16:30 Trump’s actions with Venezuela look like Putin’s in Ukraine 01:18:45 Trump’s Venezuela actions undermining international system 01:19:45 Is Saudi Arabia a dictatorship and what is our relationship with them? 01:20:30 The Saudi’s primary interest isn’t undermining the U.S. unlike Russia 01:22:00 Trump’s family has enormous conflicts of interest with the Saudis 01:23:15 Why security guarantees for Qatar but not Saudi Arabia? 01:25:15 Trump’s deals in the Gulf seem to benefit him more than U.S. 01:26:00 Is democracy losing the worldwide fight against autocracy? 01:28:00 Due to state of U.S. it feels like democratic argument is losing 01:29:30 Role of silicon valley in fight between democracy & autocracy 01:30:45 Tech has power to shape opinions and public perception 01:33:00 Government has never outsourced major tech shift to private sector 01:34:00 How dangerous is the concentration of corporate power in America? 01:35:00 The EU is the only entity that could regulate big tech 01:36:00 Trump’s isolation has been a wake up call to Europe, can it hold? 01:38:00 Europe was so sure of alliance with U.S. they let things slide 01:39:00 Level of concern with state of American democracy is very high 01:40:00 The speed of Trump’s attacks on democracy is unprecedented 01:42:00 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Anne Applebaum 01:42:15 Ask Chuck 01:42:45 Any book recommendations on the fall of the Ottoman Empire? 01:46:45 Thoughts on voter approval for constitutional amendments? 01:52:00 Way to reform the primary system to produce moderates? 01:56:30 Dem voters still motivated to vote despite lower approval of party 02:04:00 College football preview See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck is joined by Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Anne Applebaum for a sweeping, unsparing look at the state of the Russia–Ukraine war and the global democratic landscape it threatens. Applebaum breaks down whether a ceasefire is even plausible this year, given Vladimir Putin’s unwavering war aims, the murky negotiators involved in back-channel talks, and Trump’s unusually warm posture toward the Kremlin. She details why Ukrainians refuse to accept a “kick the can” peace deal, how corruption scandals are playing out domestically, and the way drones, energy strikes, and a collapsing Russian economy are reshaping the battlefield. From mysterious elite deaths to China’s strategic support, Applebaum outlines the brittle yet dangerous architecture sustaining Putin’s regime. The conversation widens into a broader examination of the worldwide struggle between democracy and autocracy—from Trump’s Venezuela maneuverings to Saudi Arabia’s complicated role, from Silicon Valley’s unchecked power to Europe’s scramble to recalibrate its alliances. Applebaum warns that the U.S. walking away from Ukraine would reverberate far beyond Eastern Europe, and she explains why the speed and scale of Trump’s attacks on democratic norms have raised historic alarm. It’s a candid, far-reaching assessment of the forces shaping global stability—and the stakes ahead. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win!   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Anne Applebaum joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:45 Will we get a ceasefire this year between Russia & Ukraine? 02:15 Putin has never said he’ll give up original war aims 03:30 Serious concerns about negotiators involved in secret peace deal 04:15 Talks have mostly concerned trade deals between U.S. & Russia 05:00 Putin knows he’ll never have a more supportive U.S. president 06:15 Putin holds a special status with Trump 07:00 Ukraine is more reliant on Europe than U.S. for the war 07:45 Is the corruption scandal involving ministers imperiling Zelensky? 08:45 Zelensky hasn’t gotten in the way of corruption investigation 10:15 Ukrainians have no interest in cease fire to kick can down road 11:30 Ukrainians won’t be strongarmed into accepting a bad deal 12:15 Drones have completely changed complexion of the war 14:00 Russians are targeting civilians, Ukraine hitting energy targets 14:45 Russians don’t care about human losses, just financial losses 16:00 At what point will a bad economy put pressure on Putin? 16:45 Russian elite mysteriously committing suicide or dying 17:30 Prigozhin was  the only person who could challenge Putin 19:00 The Russian regime seems inevitable until the day it falls 20:00 Putin is completely dependent on China 20:45 China will stick with Russia & support war to weaken U.S. 21:45 Putin still has allies in Iran & North Korea 22:15 What does Russia think they’re accomplishing with Poland incursions? 23:30 Russia trying to create divisions between Ukraine and Europeans 24:15 Russia’s actions are only stiffening the European’s spine 25:00 Status of U.S. aid into Ukraine 26:15 What does it look like if the U.S. walks away from Ukraine? 27:30 Russia is still demanding land they haven’t conquered 29:15 Trump wants the optics of a big peace deal where “he wins” 30:30 Trump’s actions with Venezuela look like Putin’s in Ukraine 32:45 Trump’s Venezuela actions undermining international system 33:45 Is Saudi Arabia a dictatorship and what is our relationship with them? 34:30 The Saudi’s primary interest isn’t undermining the U.S. unlike Russia 36:00 Trump’s family has enormous conflicts of interest with the Saudis 37:15 Why security guarantees for Qatar but not Saudi Arabia? 39:15 Trump’s deals in the Gulf seem to benefit him more than U.S. 40:00 Is democracy losing the worldwide fight against autocracy? 42:00 Due to state of U.S. it feels like democratic argument is losing 43:30 Role of silicon valley in fight between democracy & autocracy 44:45 Tech has power to shape opinions and public perception 47:00 Government has never outsourced major tech shift to private sector 48:00 How dangerous is the concentration of corporate power in America? 49:00 The EU is the only entity that could regulate big tech 50:00 Trump’s isolation has been a wake up call to Europe, can it hold? 52:00 Europe was so sure of alliance with U.S. they let things slide 53:00 Level of concern with state of American democracy is very high 54:00 The speed of Trump’s attacks on democracy is unprecedented See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Chuck Todd breaks down an extraordinary week in politics marked by a near-unanimous House vote to release the Epstein files and growing signs that Donald Trump’s decade-long grip on American politics may finally be loosening. He examines the cracks emerging in Trump’s coalition, the administration’s tariff pullbacks amid rising food costs, and the mounting Trump fatigue driving Republicans to quietly distance themselves. Chuck also tackles Trump’s escalating attacks on female reporters, his contradictory dealings with Gulf states, and the likelihood that the DOJ may cite an “open investigation” to keep the Epstein files sealed. Beyond the Trump saga, Chuck dissects the troubling implications of the Olivia Nuzzi scandal, the shameful rhetoric surrounding Epstein’s victims, and the broader damage to journalism. He wraps with a preview of the TN-07 special election, the legal upheaval over Texas’s redistricting maps, and why today’s partisan map fights echo battles not seen since the 1840s. Finally, Chuck gives his updated ToddCast Top 5 governor’s seats most likely to flip in 2026 and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win!   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:30 Near unanimous decision in the house vote to release Epstein files 01:15 It feels like Trump’s lame duck period has begun, but impossible to know 02:15 Trump’s coalition is starting to crack 04:00 Trump’s ten year run of dominating politics is starting to end 05:00 Administration is pulling back tariffs to lower costs of food 06:45 Republicans will distance themselves as Trump fatigue sets in 07:45 Trump’s attacks on female reporters are shameful 09:15 Trump’s deals with gulf states undermines his America First agenda 11:00 DOJ might withhold files under guise of “open investigation” 12:30 Neither Biden or Trump leaned on Saudis over Khashoggi’s murder 13:30 Middle east monarchies are dictatorships with different titles 15:00 We’re past the point of holding Saudis accountable for Khashoggi 16:30 Presidents have to deal with less than ideal allies 17:30 Trump’s attacks on the press are abhorrent & dictatorlike 19:00 Olivia Nuzzi sleeping with a source compromises her journalism 21:15 The Nuzzi scandal feels like watching a car wreck 22:00 The scandal brings shame upon the journalism world 23:30 Megyn Kelly trying to differentiate Epstein’s victims is shameful 25:00 Hiring a reporter that sleeps with sources is beyond the pale 25:30 Preview of special election in TN-07  26:45 If TN-07 is within 5 points, it’s a very favorable environment for Dems 28:00 Texas’s new redistricting maps have been thrown out in court 28:45 If CA maps stay but TX is thrown out, it’s a karma moment for Trump 30:45 Last time partisan redistricting happened like this… was the 1840’s 36:00 Toddcast Top 5 - Governor seats most likely to flip parties 37:45 Katie Hobbs is the most vulnerable incumbent governor 39:00 #1 Kansas 40:30 #2 Michigan 42:15 #3 Georgia 44:30 #4 Wisconsin 45:30 #5 Iowa 47:30 Honorable mentions 48:30 Ask Chuck 49:30 Can we trust the Epstein files will be complete if they’re released? 51:15 Are you aware of the Montana vs Montana State football rivalry? 54:15 Has your view on CA redistricting changed after the election result? 56:30 How can you reach people stuck in the Fox News bubble? 01:00:30 Does Amy Acton or Tim Ryan have a better shot at winning OH governor? 01:04:30 Suggestion to make a conspiracy theory documentary See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Chuck Todd breaks down an extraordinary week in politics marked by a near-unanimous House vote to release the Epstein files and growing signs that Donald Trump’s decade-long grip on American politics may finally be loosening. He examines the cracks emerging in Trump’s coalition, the administration’s tariff pullbacks amid rising food costs, and the mounting Trump fatigue driving Republicans to quietly distance themselves. Chuck also tackles Trump’s escalating attacks on female reporters, his contradictory dealings with Gulf states, and the likelihood that the DOJ may cite an “open investigation” to keep the Epstein files sealed. Beyond the Trump saga, Chuck dissects the troubling implications of the Olivia Nuzzi scandal, the shameful rhetoric surrounding Epstein’s victims, and the broader damage to journalism. He wraps with a preview of the TN-07 special election, the legal upheaval over Texas’s redistricting maps, and why today’s partisan map fights echo battles not seen since the 1840s. Then, Chuck sits down with Iowa Democratic senate candidate and four-time Paralympian and gold medalist Josh Turek for a deeply personal and politically sharp conversation. Josh shares his remarkable journey—from being born with spina bifida caused by his father’s exposure to Agent Orange, to discovering wheelchair basketball as a pathway to college, to becoming one of the winningest athletes in Paralympic history. He opens up about the emotional challenge of leaving the sport he loved and what ultimately pushed him toward public service. Together, Chuck and Josh explore how the ADA reshaped life for disabled Americans, why adaptive and women’s sports remain undervalued, and how equal access—not guaranteed equal outcomes—remains the core civil rights debate for the disability community. The conversation widens into an unvarnished look at rural politics, Iowa’s sharp rightward turn, and the policies reshaping life in small towns. Josh breaks down why Medicaid denials have exploded, how school choice is quietly devastating rural school districts, and why tariffs—when used chaotically—are crushing family farms. He tackles complex cultural issues such as religion’s decline, the trans sports debate, and why Democrats shouldn’t cede Christianity or populism to the right. They also cover climate messaging, the stakes for U.S. policy in Israel and Ukraine, and whether Congress should step in to regulate collegiate athletics. With insights on Iowa’s political future, the 2026 Democratic opportunity, and even some NBA talk (yes—Jokić and Jordan both make an appearance), Josh Turek offers one of the most candid, wide-ranging conversations you’ll hear about the Midwest, disability rights, and the future of American politics. Finally, Chuck gives his updated ToddCast Top 5 governor’s seats most likely to flip in 2026 and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:30 Near unanimous decision in the house vote to release Epstein files 01:15 It feels like Trump’s lame duck period has begun, but impossible to know 02:15 Trump’s coalition is starting to crack 04:00 Trump’s ten year run of dominating politics is starting to end 05:00 Administration is pulling back tariffs to lower costs of food 06:45 Republicans will distance themselves as Trump fatigue sets in 07:45 Trump’s attacks on female reporters are shameful 09:15 Trump’s deals with gulf states undermines his America First agenda 11:00 DOJ might withhold files under guise of “open investigation” 12:30 Neither Biden or Trump leaned on Saudis over Khashoggi’s murder 13:30 Middle east monarchies are dictatorships with different titles 15:00 We’re past the point of holding Saudis accountable for Khashoggi 16:30 Presidents have to deal with less than ideal allies 17:30 Trump’s attacks on the press are abhorrent & dictatorlike 19:00 Olivia Nuzzi sleeping with a source compromises her journalism 21:15 The Nuzzi scandal feels like watching a car wreck 22:00 The scandal brings shame upon the journalism world 23:30 Megyn Kelly trying to differentiate Epstein’s victims is shameful 25:00 Hiring a reporter that sleeps with sources is beyond the pale 25:30 Preview of special election in TN-07  26:45 If TN-07 is within 5 points, it’s a very favorable environment for Dems 28:00 Texas’s new redistricting maps have been thrown out in court 28:45 If CA maps stay but TX is thrown out, it’s a karma moment for Trump 30:45 Last time partisan redistricting happened like this… was the 1840’s 38:00 Josh Turek joins the Chuck ToddCast 39:30 Josh’s journey as a gold medal winning paralympian 40:45 Josh’s fathers exposure to agent orange caused his spina bifida 42:30 Wheelchair basketball was his pathway to college 43:45 What do we not value adaptive & female sports in America? 46:00 How hard was it to walk away from basketball? 47:45 What inspired the decision to go into politics? 49:00 There was a 1000% increase in medicaid denials in Iowa 50:30 The ADA made things better, still a long ways to go 51:45 The ADA gave disabled Americans an onramp to society 54:30 The debate over equal access vs. equal outcome 55:15 Who is the Turek/Trump voter? 57:45 The difficulty of breaking through as a Democrat in rural America 59:45 Iowa has shifted rightward, but could shift back to swing state status 01:03:00 The right candidate with the right message can win red Iowa counties 01:05:15 School choice sounds great, but is a huge problem for rural America 01:06:45 Rural schools are struggling and closing under school choice policies 01:08:15 There are no standards for private schools spending tax dollars 01:11:00 Not all tariffs are bad, but Trump’s tariff regime is chaotic 01:12:00 Tariffs are crushing family farms 01:13:00 What’s the plan to keep people in Iowa and reverse brain drain? 01:15:45 How has the decline in religious participation affected Iowa? 01:17:00 Pushing back against the narrative that Democrats can’t be christian 01:17:30 What’s fair to the trans community when it comes to organized sports? 01:18:45 Politicians shouldn’t be involved in the trans sports conversation 01:19:30 Why have many Democrats turned to socialism over capitalism? 01:20:30 We need regulated capitalism and a progressive tax structure 01:21:15 We are living in a country of have’s and have nots 01:22:45 Addressing climate change without scaring voters about the economy 01:24:15 What’s your position on Israel? 01:25:15 The U.S. should stand in solidarity with Ukraine & aid them 01:26:15 Does Congress need to get involved in regulating collegiate sports? 01:29:30 We need more genuine populists in congress to push back against oligarchs 01:31:15 Nikola Jokic is Josh’s favorite basketball player to watch 01:32:45 Michael Jordan is the GOAT 01:33:45 Historic opportunity for Democrats in Iowa in ‘26 01:35:00 Democrats focused too much on identity in Iowa 01:37:30 Public schools will be a huge issue for Iowa voters 01:39:15 If Democrats can’t win Iowa in this environment, it could take a generation 01:43:30 There are three great candidates for the Iowa Democratic senate seat 01:44:30 Primaries sharpen candidates and improve party registration 01:45:00 Toddcast Top 5 - Governor seats most likely to flip parties 01:46:45 Katie Hobbs is the most vulnerable incumbent governor 01:48:00 #1 Kansas 01:49:30 #2 Michigan 01:51:15 #3 Georgia 01:53:30 #4 Wisconsin 01:54:30 #5 Iowa 01:56:30 Honorable mentions 01:57:30 Ask Chuck 01:58:30 Can we trust the Epstein files will be complete if they’re released? 02:00:15 Are you aware of the Montana vs Montana State football rivalry? 02:03:15 Has your view on CA redistricting changed after the election result? 02:05:30 How can you reach people stuck in the Fox News bubble? 02:11:30 Does Amy Acton or Tim Ryan have a better shot at winning OH governor? 02:13:30 Suggestion to make a conspiracy theory documentary See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interview Only w/ Josh Turek - Why Democrats Struggle…And Can Still Win In Iowa In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck sits down with Iowa Democratic senate candidate and four-time Paralympian and gold medalist Josh Turek for a deeply personal and politically sharp conversation. Josh shares his remarkable journey—from being born with spina bifida caused by his father’s exposure to Agent Orange, to discovering wheelchair basketball as a pathway to college, to becoming one of the winningest athletes in Paralympic history. He opens up about the emotional challenge of leaving the sport he loved and what ultimately pushed him toward public service. Together, Chuck and Josh explore how the ADA reshaped life for disabled Americans, why adaptive and women’s sports remain undervalued, and how equal access—not guaranteed equal outcomes—remains the core civil rights debate for the disability community. The conversation widens into an unvarnished look at rural politics, Iowa’s sharp rightward turn, and the policies reshaping life in small towns. Josh breaks down why Medicaid denials have exploded, how school choice is quietly devastating rural school districts, and why tariffs—when used chaotically—are crushing family farms. He tackles complex cultural issues such as religion’s decline, the trans sports debate, and why Democrats shouldn’t cede Christianity or populism to the right. They also cover climate messaging, the stakes for U.S. policy in Israel and Ukraine, and whether Congress should step in to regulate collegiate athletics. With insights on Iowa’s political future, the 2026 Democratic opportunity, and even some NBA talk (yes—Jokić and Jordan both make an appearance), Josh Turek offers one of the most candid, wide-ranging conversations you’ll hear about the Midwest, disability rights, and the future of American politics. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Josh Turek joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 Josh’s journey as a gold medal winning Paralympian  02:45 Josh’s fathers exposure to agent orange caused his spina bifida 04:30 Wheelchair basketball was his pathway to college 05:45 What do we not value adaptive & female sports in America? 08:00 How hard was it to walk away from basketball? 09:45 What inspired the decision to go into politics? 11:00 There was a 1000% increase in Medicaid denials in Iowa 12:30 The ADA made things better, still a long ways to go 13:45 The ADA gave disabled Americans an onramp to society 16:30 The debate over equal access vs. equal outcome 17:15 Who is the Turek/Trump voter? 19:45 The difficulty of breaking through as a Democrat in rural America 21:45 Iowa has shifted rightward, but could shift back to swing state status 25:00 The right candidate with the right message can win red Iowa counties 27:15 School choice sounds great, but is a huge problem for rural America 28:45 Rural schools are struggling and closing under school choice policies 30:15 There are no standards for private schools spending tax dollars 33:00 Not all tariffs are bad, but Trump’s tariff regime is chaotic 34:00 Tariffs are crushing family farms 35:00 What’s the plan to keep people in Iowa and reverse brain drain? 37:45 How has the decline in religious participation affected Iowa? 39:00 Pushing back against the narrative that Democrats can’t be Christian 39:30 What’s fair to the trans community when it comes to organized sports? 40:45 Politicians shouldn’t be involved in the trans sports conversation 41:30 Why have many Democrats turned to socialism over capitalism? 42:30 We need regulated capitalism and a progressive tax structure 43:15 We are living in a country of have’s and have nots 44:45 Addressing climate change without scaring voters about the economy 46:15 What’s your position on Israel? 47:15 The U.S. should stand in solidarity with Ukraine & aid them 48:15 Does Congress need to get involved in regulating collegiate sports? 51:30 We need more genuine populists in congress to push back against oligarchs 53:15 Nikola Jokic is Josh’s favorite basketball player to watch 54:45 Michael Jordan is the GOAT 55:45 Historic opportunity for Democrats in Iowa in ‘26 57:00 Democrats focused too much on identity in Iowa 59:30 Public schools will be a huge issue for Iowa voters 01:01:15 If Democrats can’t win Iowa in this environment, it could take a generation 01:05:30 There are three great candidates for the Iowa Democratic senate seat 01:06:30 Primaries sharpen candidates and improve party registration See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode of The Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down how Donald Trump is being consumed by the growing Epstein feeding frenzy — from his inexplicable softness toward Ghislaine Maxwell to signs he may be genuinely afraid of what she knows. As Trump lashes out at Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene with the same fury he once reserved for impeachment-backers, his grip on the GOP shows early signs of slipping, even as the DOJ considers whether reopening the Epstein investigation could delay the release of sensitive files. With the economy struggling, tariffs quietly being dropped, and ACA subsidies suddenly in play, Trump’s visible panic comes at a politically vulnerable moment. Chuck also recaps conversations from the Texas Tribune Festival, where potential Democratic contenders like Wes Moore and Tim Walz signaled a return to mainstream, service-rooted politics — and where Moore’s centrist lane and military background set him apart as 2028 speculation slowly heats up. Finally, Chuck hops in the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit several pivotal moments in the history of American conspiracy theories that all fell on the same calendar week, plus he recaps the weekend in college football! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:45 Trump is being consumed by the Epstein feeding frenzy 02:15 Trump’s leniency towards Ghislaine Maxwell is perplexing 03:00 Trump seems to fear Maxwell…but why? 04:15 There’s something Maxwell knows about Trump that scares him 05:45 Trump goes to war with Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor-Greene 07:00 He’s as mad at Massie and Greene as he was with R’s who voted to impeach 08:45 DOJ can avoid releasing the Epstein files by reopening investigation 10:15 Trump is rattled at a time when the economy is struggling 11:45 Administration dropping tariffs, know they’ve raised costs 12:15 It looks like ACA subsidies will actually have a chance to pass 13:45 Offering cash payouts to pay for premiums is a strange solution 15:15 Trump is letting America “see him sweat” over Epstein 17:00 Trump’s influence over the GOP is starting to wane 17:30 If Massie wins his primary, it will be a major rebuke of Trump 18:15 Trump only punishes Republicans who don’t go along with his lies 20:00 We are witnessing the lame duck period beginning for Trump 21:00 Chuck’s experience at Texas Tribune fest, multiple Dem ‘28 hopefuls 21:45 Wes Moore fully embraced the centrist lane during interview with Chuck 23:00 Wes Moore didn’t join the military to “check a political box” 24:45 Tim Walz & Wes Moore agree Trump’s penchant for action is a strong trait 28:00 Wes Moore will run more as a mainstream Dem, not a progressive 32:30 ToddCast Time Machine 33:00 Jonestown, JFK assassination, gap in Nixon tapes same calendar week 34:15 Jonestown shows a closed information system can destroy judgement 35:15 Jonestown shows the consequences of conspiratorial thinking 36:00 JFK conspiracy shows what happens when gov’t can’t convince public 37:00 JFK’s death caused boomers to mistrust the government 38:00 Nixon tape gap reinforced public’s mistrust in government 39:30 The public never received justice for Watergate 40:30 Americans now process events through lens of government coverup 42:45 Public is correct to believe they aren’t getting the entire story 44:45 College football recap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down how Donald Trump is being consumed by the growing Epstein feeding frenzy — from his inexplicable softness toward Ghislaine Maxwell to signs he may be genuinely afraid of what she knows. As Trump lashes out at Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene with the same fury he once reserved for impeachment-backers, his grip on the GOP shows early signs of slipping, even as the DOJ considers whether reopening the Epstein investigation could delay the release of sensitive files. With the economy struggling, tariffs quietly being dropped, and ACA subsidies suddenly in play, Trump’s visible panic comes at a politically vulnerable moment. Chuck also recaps conversations from the Texas Tribune Festival, where potential Democratic contenders like Wes Moore and Tim Walz signaled a return to mainstream, service-rooted politics — and where Moore’s centrist lane and military background set him apart as 2028 speculation slowly heats up. Then, historian and author David Lesch joins Chuck to discuss the new book Dodgers to Damascus — an unexpected blend of Middle Eastern politics and baseball. Lesch traces his path from aspiring major-leaguer to one of America’s foremost scholars on Syria, explaining how the fall of the Ottoman Empire, artificial borders drawn by European powers, and a lack of cohesive national identity still shape the region today. He offers candid reflections on his relationship with Bashar al-Assad, why Syria is likely drifting toward a sectarian majoritarian state, and whether any country in the Middle East is truly positioned to attempt democracy. From Iran’s teetering leadership to the Saudis’ complicated partnership with the West, Lesch unpacks the geopolitical moment with clarity and experience. Chuck and David also dive into the surprising ways baseball helped him understand the Middle East — and vice versa. Lesch reflects on the physical toll of pitching, the Braves’ legendary rotation, and why modern sports medicine might have saved his career. The conversation even explores whether the Middle East could ever embrace baseball, the role of Islamophobia in shaping perceptions, and why travel remains one of the strongest antidotes to fear. Ultimately, Dodgers to Damascus is less a sports memoir and more a sweeping look at a region still wrestling with the consequences of history — and this episode brings that complexity to life. Finally, Chuck hops in the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit several pivotal moments in the history of American conspiracy theories that all fell on the same calendar week, plus he recaps the weekend in college football! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:00 Trump is being consumed by the Epstein feeding frenzy 04:30 Trump’s leniency towards Ghislaine Maxwell is perplexing 05:15 Trump seems to fear Maxwell…but why? 06:30 There’s something Maxwell knows about Trump that scares him 08:00 Trump goes to war with Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor-Greene 09:15 He’s as mad at Massie and Greene as he was with R’s who voted to impeach 11:00 DOJ can avoid releasing the Epstein files by reopening investigation 12:30 Trump is rattled at a time when the economy is struggling 14:00 Administration dropping tariffs, know they’ve raised costs 14:30 It looks like ACA subsidies will actually have a chance to pass 16:00 Offering cash payouts to pay for premiums is a strange solution 17:30 Trump is letting America “see him sweat” over Epstein 19:15 Trump’s influence over the GOP is starting to wane 19:45 If Massie wins his primary, it will be a major rebuke of Trump 20:30 Trump only punishes Republicans who don’t go along with his lies 22:15 We are witnessing the lame duck period beginning for Trump 23:15 Chuck’s experience at Texas Tribune fest, multiple Dem ‘28 hopefuls 24:00 Wes Moore fully embraced the centrist lane during interview with Chuck 25:15 Wes Moore didn’t join the military to “check a political box” 27:00 Tim Walz & Wes Moore agree Trump’s penchant for action is a strong trait 30:15 Wes Moore will run more as a mainstream Dem, not a progressive 35:00 David Lesch joins the Chuck ToddCast 36:00 Origin of “Dodgers to Damascus” 37:00 It’s weird reading about someone else’s writing about yourself 39:30 What drew David to the Middle East 41:15 Most people don’t understand the Middle East pre 1948 42:00 Fall of Ottoman Empire isn’t covered well in public education 44:00 Artificial divisions in Middle East were to benefit Europe 45:45 Countries in the Middle East lack a national identity 46:30 David’s relationship with Bashar Al-Assad 47:30 Assad was raised as an authoritarian and child of conflict 49:30 Any faith in the new leader of Syria to bring about positive change? 51:45 Syria has been helping with counter terrorist operations 53:00 Syria likely on the way to being a sectarian majoritarian state 56:00 Which Middle East country has the best shot at trying democracy? 57:00 Iran’s weakness makes Kurdistan more possible 58:00 Iranian ayatollahs won’t be able hold power when Khamenei dies 59:00 Iran’s government is teetering, and their proxies are weak 1:00:30 Iran would be an economic power if they became a western democracy 1:01:15 Israel is at the apex of military power in the region 1:04:30 The academic case for the Saudis being a partner 1:05:45 Can the Saudis and Iranians co-exist if Iran moderates? 1:07:00 How did baseball give you extra perspective on the middle east 1:09:00 Would modern sports medicine have saved your career? 1:11:00 The motion for pitching is not meant for human anatomy 1:12:30 Throwing sidearm is much less damaging for your arm 1:14:30 The Braves legendary pitching lineup 1:16:00 David wishes he had at least one year in the majors 1:17:15 Nolan Ryan’s missing flexor tendon was his superpower 1:19:30 Teams run the risk of ending pitchers careers early to win a title 1:21:15 Why is Ohtani so unusual, why haven’t pitchers been able to hit? 1:23:15 Could you see people in the Middle East getting into baseball? 1:26:15 Middle East would need a star from that region to rise in MLB 1:27:00 Islamophobia exists on both sides of the isle 1:27:30 Travel helps to cure phobias 1:28:45 Islamophobia is a harder barrier to break than people realize 1:32:15 Dodgers to Damascus is more of a middle east book than baseball 1:33:00 Chuck’s thoughts on the interview with David Lesch 1:33:15 ToddCast Time Machine 1:33:45 Jonestown, JFK assassination, gap in Nixon tapes same calendar week 1:35:00 Jonestown shows a closed information system can destroy judgement 1:36:00 Jonestown shows the consequences of conspiratorial thinking 1:36:45 JFK conspiracy shows what happens when gov’t can’t convince public 1:37:45 JFK’s death caused boomers to mistrust the government 1:38:45 Nixon tape gap reinforced public’s mistrust in government 1:40:15 The public never received justice for Watergate 1:41:15 Americans now process events through lens of government coverup 1:43:30 Public is correct to believe they aren’t getting the entire story 1:45:30 College football recap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, historian and author David Lesch joins Chuck to discuss the new book Dodgers to Damascus — an unexpected blend of Middle Eastern politics and baseball. Lesch traces his path from aspiring major-leaguer to one of America’s foremost scholars on Syria, explaining how the fall of the Ottoman Empire, artificial borders drawn by European powers, and a lack of cohesive national identity still shape the region today. He offers candid reflections on his relationship with Bashar al-Assad, why Syria is likely drifting toward a sectarian majoritarian state, and whether any country in the Middle East is truly positioned to attempt democracy. From Iran’s teetering leadership to the Saudis’ complicated partnership with the West, Lesch unpacks the geopolitical moment with clarity and experience. Chuck and David also dive into the surprising ways baseball helped him understand the Middle East — and vice versa. Lesch reflects on the physical toll of pitching, the Braves’ legendary rotation, and why modern sports medicine might have saved his career. The conversation even explores whether the Middle East could ever embrace baseball, the role of Islamophobia in shaping perceptions, and why travel remains one of the strongest antidotes to fear. Ultimately, Dodgers to Damascus is less a sports memoir and more a sweeping look at a region still wrestling with the consequences of history — and this episode brings that complexity to life. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 David Lesch joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 Origin of “Dodgers to Damascus” 02:00 It’s weird reading about someone else’s writing about yourself 04:30 What drew David to the Middle East 06:15 Most people don’t understand the Middle East pre 1948 07:00 Fall of Ottoman Empire isn’t covered well in public education 09:00 Artificial divisions in Middle East were to benefit Europe 10:45 Countries in the Middle East lack a national identity 11:30 Davd’s relationship with Bashar Al-Assad 12:30 Assad was raised as an authoritarian and child of conflict 14:30 Any faith in the new leader of Syria to bring about positive change? 16:45 Syria has been helping with counter terrorist operations 18:00 Syria likely on the way to being a sectarian majoritarian state 21:00 Which Middle East country has the best shot at trying democracy? 22:00 Iran’s weakness makes Kurdistan more possible 23:00 Iranian ayatollahs won’t be able hold power when Khamenei dies 24:00 Iran’s government is teetering, and their proxies are weak 25:30 Iran would be an economic power if they became a western democracy 26:15 Israel is at the apex of military power in the region 29:30 The academic case for the Saudis being a partner 30:45 Can the Saudis and Iranians co-exist if Iran moderates? 32:00 How did baseball give you extra perspective on the middle east 34:00 Would modern sports medicine have saved your career? 36:00 The motion for pitching is not meant for human anatomy 37:30 Throwing sidearm is much less damaging for your arm 39:30 The Braves legendary pitching lineup 41:00 David wishes he had at least one year in the majors 42:15 Nolan Ryan’s missing flexor tendon was his superpower 44:30 Teams run the risk of ending pitchers careers early to win a title 46:15 Why is Ohtani so unusual, why haven’t pitchers been able to hit? 48:15 Could you see people in the Middle East getting into baseball? 51:15 Middle East would need a star from that region to rise in MLB 52:00 Islamophobia exists on both sides of the isle 52:30 Travel helps to cure phobias 53:45 Islamophobia is a harder barrier to break than people realize 57:15 Dodgers to Damascus is more of a middle east book than baseball See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this special “New Voices” episode of the Chuck ToddCast, political strategist Lucy Caldwell joins Chuck to reflect on her journey from running Joe Walsh’s anti-Trump Republican campaign to registering as a Democrat. She discusses the fractures within the conservative movement, the erosion of space for moderates, and why independent efforts like the Forward Party struggle to gain traction. Lucy and Chuck explore how partisan incentives discourage compromise, why the best candidates often emerge from nonpartisan races, and how her personal battle with cancer reshaped her perspective on healthcare policy. It’s a candid look at what it means to be politically homeless in today’s polarized landscape. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Timeline: 00:00 Lucy Caldwell joins the Chuck Toddcast 00:45 Experience of running Joe Walsh’s campaign 02:00 Walsh’s campaign was meant to be a “path back” for Republicans 02:45 Trump is not a small government conservative 04:15 Feeling politically homeless on the right 06:00 There are many fractures within the Never Trump Republicans 08:00 There used to be at least some common cause across the aisle 10:00 The incentive structures don’t reward moderates or compromise 12:00 The threat of MAGA is so great Lucy registered as a Democrat 14:00 Why independent movements struggle to get off the ground 15:00 Independents struggle to build general excitement 16:00 Independent candidates can vary wildly in their politics 17:30 The Forward Party struggles to find an identity & platform 19:00 Rob Sand ran as a Democrat because it’s only viable option 20:45 Races without partisan primaries produce better candidates 21:45 Executives need different skill sets than legislators 22:30 Which past president would you clone and bring back? 23:45 Our great presidents still have complicated legacies 24:45 Any interest in running for office? 25:30 There has to be something wrong with you to run for office 27:15 The draw of running for office? 29:30 Lucy’s cancer battle informed her views on healthcare policy 31:30 MAHA embraces messaging they priorly rejected See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck unpacks a tumultuous week for Donald Trump as newly released Epstein emails reignite old scandals — and this time, they may stick. With Speaker Mike Johnson appearing to serve Trump’s interests over his own members, and a worsening economy eroding public patience, Chuck explores whether we’re witnessing the beginning of Trump’s “lame duck” moment. He draws parallels between Trump’s endless stream of controversies, his history of corrupt pardons, and how even “teflon” presidents eventually turn “velcro” when conditions shift. As the cost of living rises and swing voters tune out partisan noise, scandals like Epstein’s are cutting through both sides’ information bubbles — forcing Republicans to reckon with Trump’s baggage. Chuck argues that if Democrats manage a midterm sweep, historians might look back on this very week as the turning point when Trump’s political luck finally began to run out. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and breaks down the latest in college football. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win!   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:30 New Epstein emails released referencing Trump 01:30 Mike Johnson’s actions are in service to WH, not his members 03:15 Trump has a laundry list of scandals & corrupt pardons, none stuck 05:30 Presidents can go from teflon to velcro 07:00 The bad economy could make Trump less resilient to scandals 08:30 JD Vance tweet demanding Epstein transparency has aged horribly 09:15 Trump’s involvement with Epstein has been baked into public opinion 10:30 High prices and bad economy mean less public patience for Trump 11:15 Every presidency hits their lame duck point, this could be the start 12:30 Winning the midterms for the Democrats means winning the senate 13:45 Trump has treated the party like his casinos, leveraged for his benefit 14:45 Trump is only worried about Trump, not the party or the voters* 16:00 Epstein is one of the only stories that breaks through both sides’ bubble 18:15 You can’t information silo your grocery bill, or the Epstein story 19:30 If Dems sweep midterms, we’ll point to this week as start of lame duck 20:30 By going soft on Ghislaine Maxwell, it just increases suspicion 23:00 Trump would have been better off playing “he said, she said” w/Maxwell 24:15 Stock market booming, but most of the economy is not succeeding 25:30 Trump doesn’t seem well, has aged quite a bit in past six months 27:30 A steady drip of Epstein stories/files will cause R’s to distance 29:00 Trump isn’t doing what he was elected to do, makes him vulnerable 34:00 Ask Chuck 34:15 Thought’s on Netflix’s Death By Lightning? 41:45 Can anything be done in the short term about electricity costs? 49:00 What is Trump’s motivation for intervening in Venezuela? 54:30 Did NYC Mayoral race show Dems issue with non college voters? 1:00:30 College football committee needs to go 1:07:15 College football preview See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck unpacks a tumultuous week for Donald Trump as newly released Epstein emails reignite old scandals — and this time, they may stick. With Speaker Mike Johnson appearing to serve Trump’s interests over his own members, and a worsening economy eroding public patience, Chuck explores whether we’re witnessing the beginning of Trump’s “lame duck” moment. He draws parallels between Trump’s endless stream of controversies, his history of corrupt pardons, and how even “teflon” presidents eventually turn “velcro” when conditions shift. As the cost of living rises and swing voters tune out partisan noise, scandals like Epstein’s are cutting through both sides’ information bubbles — forcing Republicans to reckon with Trump’s baggage. Chuck argues that if Democrats manage a midterm sweep, historians might look back on this very week as the turning point when Trump’s political luck finally began to run out. Then, Chuck sits down with Adam Jentleson, executive director of the new Searchlight Institute, to talk about how Democrats can build a broader, more durable governing coalition. Jentleson explains why Searchlight is designed to promote ideological diversity within the Democratic Party — and why policies that blend progressive and moderate ideas tend to last longer and win in more places. He warns that Democrats’ electoral path to the presidency and a 60-seat Senate majority is narrowing and argues the party’s best hope lies in economic populism — the same force that powered Trump’s rise but could be reclaimed with a focus on kitchen-table issues and fairness for working Americans. The conversation dives deep into the party’s messaging struggles during the government shutdown, the growing divide between “fight Trump” and “look past Trump” factions, and the need for Democrats to recruit candidates who can win in red and purple states — even if they don’t align perfectly on social issues. Jentleson also offers sharp insights on the filibuster’s evolution from a necessary safeguard to a legislative dead end, and why Democrats need to get more strategic — not louder — if they want to govern effectively and outlast Republican populism. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and breaks down the latest in college football. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:00 New Epstein emails released referencing Trump 03:00 Mike Johnson’s actions are in service to WH, not his members 04:45 Trump has a laundry list of scandals & corrupt pardons, none stuck 07:00 Presidents can go from teflon to velcro  08:30 The bad economy could make Trump less resilient to scandals 10:00 JD Vance tweet demanding Epstein transparency has aged horribly 10:45 Trump’s involvement with Epstein has been baked into public opinion 12:00 High prices and bad economy mean less public patience for Trump 12:45 Every presidency hits their lame duck point, this could be the start 14:00 Winning the midterms for the Democrats means winning the senate 15:15 Trump has treated the party like his casinos, leveraged for his benefit 16:15 Trump is only worried about Trump, not the party or the voters* 17:30 Epstein is one of the only stories that breaks through both sides’ bubble 19:45 You can’t information silo your grocery bill, or the Epstein story 21:00 If Dems sweep midterms, we’ll point to this week as start of lame duck 22:00 By going soft on Ghislaine Maxwell, it just increases suspicion 24:30 Trump would have been better off playing “he said, she said” w/Maxwell 25:45 Stock market booming, but most of the economy is not succeeding 27:00 Trump doesn’t seem well, has aged quite a bit in past six months 29:00 A steady drip of Epstein stories/files will cause R’s to distance  30:30 Trump isn’t doing what he was elected to do, makes him vulnerable 35:45 Adam Jentleson joins the Chuck ToddCast 37:15 Why choose the name “Searchlight Institute? 38:15 How is Searchlight different from the Center for American Progress? 41:45 Ideologically diverse policies tend to be more durable 43:45 Democrats must embrace ideological diversity to win in red states 46:45 Democrats have to make trade offs to win in more places 47:45 Democrats electoral path to presidency gets more narrow in ‘32 48:30 What does Democrats’ path to 60 senate seats look like? 49:30 Economic populism is a powerful force, it’s why Trump won 50:45 Economic populism beat out Republican orthodoxy 52:00 Populism hasn’t been transferable from Trump, but it’s durable 53:00 This economy is ok if you have money and horrid if not 54:45 The Kerry/Edwards economic policies are what are popular today 55:30 When Democrats succeed it’s on economic ideas 56:00 Is an economic downturn the only path for Dems to win presidency? 58:00 Democrats give Republicans ammo on cultural issues 59:00 Mamdani won by relentlessly focusing on kitchen table issues 1:00:15 Why weren’t Democrats able to sell their decision to reopen govt 1:02:00 Congressional leadership & communication are different skills 1:03:00 No side demanding a major concession in a shutdown got it 1:03:45 Dems succeeded in driving a message about healthcare 1:06:15 Divide on left is “look past Trump” or “fight Trump” 1:07:45 Democrats need to find issues they can run on in every state 1:09:30 The litmus test for Dems should be can they take back the senate 1:10:30 The path for Dems to take back the senate 1:12:00 Dems will have to embrace candidates with different social views 1:12:45 Gavin Newsom has been winning lately on tactics not policy 1:13:45 Dem candidates need to be fighters with broadly palatable policy 1:15:30 Any worries about an insurgent third party? 1:18:00 A third party candidate could certainly cause Dems to lose 1:19:30 The filibuster has become a pocket veto 1:21:30 The filibuster should require work and not be used passively 1:23:00 The filibuster started as needed reform, now is a problem 1:24:45 The origin of budget reconciliation 1:27:30 The judiciary was designed to be non-partisan 1:28:45 Vote threshold for judges should be higher to avoid partisans 1:31:15 If you raise the threshold too high there will be judicial backlogs 1:33:30 Do you see Searchlight as an incubator for policy, tactics or both? 1:34:45 What does Graham Platner’s staying power say about him? 1:36:45 Democratic aligned groups need to be smarter about their asks 1:44:45 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Adam Jentleson 1:45:45 Ask Chuck 1:46:00 Thought’s on Netflix’s Death By Lightning? 1:53:30 Can anything be done in the short term about electricity costs? 2:00:45 What is Trump’s motivation for intervening in Venezuela? 2:06:15 Did NYC Mayoral race show Dems issue with non college voters? 2:12:15 College football committee needs to go 2:19:00 College football preview See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck sits down with Adam Jentleson, executive director of the new Searchlight Institute, to talk about how Democrats can build a broader, more durable governing coalition. Jentleson explains why Searchlight is designed to promote ideological diversity within the Democratic Party — and why policies that blend progressive and moderate ideas tend to last longer and win in more places. He warns that Democrats’ electoral path to the presidency and a 60-seat Senate majority is narrowing and argues the party’s best hope lies in economic populism — the same force that powered Trump’s rise but could be reclaimed with a focus on kitchen-table issues and fairness for working Americans. The conversation dives deep into the party’s messaging struggles during the government shutdown, the growing divide between “fight Trump” and “look past Trump” factions, and the need for Democrats to recruit candidates who can win in red and purple states — even if they don’t align perfectly on social issues. Jentleson also offers sharp insights on the filibuster’s evolution from a necessary safeguard to a legislative dead end, and why Democrats need to get more strategic — not louder — if they want to govern effectively and outlast Republican populism. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win!   Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Adam Jentleson joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 Why choose the name “Searchlight Institute? 02:30 How is Searchlight different from the Center for American Progress? 06:00 Ideologically diverse policies tend to be more durable 08:00 Democrats must embrace ideological diversity to win in red states 11:00 Democrats have to make trade offs to win in more places 12:00 Democrats electoral path to presidency gets more narrow in ‘32 12:45 What does Democrats’ path to 60 senate seats look like? 13:45 Economic populism is a powerful force, it’s why Trump won 15:00 Economic populism beat out Republican orthodoxy 16:15 Populism hasn’t been transferable from Trump, but it’s durable 17:15 This economy is ok if you have money and horrid if not 19:00 The Kerry/Edwards economic policies are what are popular today 19:45 When Democrats succeed it’s on economic ideas 20:15 Is an economic downturn the only path for Dems to win presidency? 22:15 Democrats give Republicans ammo on cultural issues 23:15 Mamdani won by relentlessly focusing on kitchen table issues 24:30 Why weren’t Democrats able to sell their decision to reopen govt 26:15 Congressional leadership & communication are different skills 27:15 No side demanding a major concession in a shutdown got it 28:00 Dems succeeded in driving a message about healthcare 30:30 Divide on left is “look past Trump” or “fight Trump” 32:00 Democrats need to find issues they can run on in every state 33:45 The litmus test for Dems should be can they take back the senate 34:45 The path for Dems to take back the senate 36:15 Dems will have to embrace candidates with different social views 37:00 Gavin Newsom has been winning lately on tactics not policy 38:00 Dem candidates need to be fighters with broadly palatable policy 39:45 Any worries about an insurgent third party? 42:15 A third party candidate could certainly cause Dems to lose 43:45 The filibuster has become a pocket veto 45:45 The filibuster should require work and not be used passively 47:15 The filibuster started as needed reform, now is a problem 49:00 The origin of budget reconciliation 51:45 The judiciary was designed to be non-partisan 53:00 Vote threshold for judges should be higher to avoid partisans 55:30 If you raise the threshold too high there will be judicial backlogs 57:45 Do you see Searchlight as an incubator for policy, tactics or both? 59:00 What does Graham Platner’s staying power say about him? 1:01:00 Democratic aligned groups need to be smarter about their asks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.