Podcasts about Administration

If you've been checking the news with one eye closed and a stiff drink in hand, you aren't alone. Stephanie Miller dives headfirst into the latest "alternative reality" coming out of the West Wing—specifically, why we're flirting with a conflict in Iran that literally nobody asked for. She breaks down the administration's latest logic-defying maneuvers and examines why the mainstream media seems to be reading from a completely different script than the rest of us. With guests Jody Hamilton, Glenn Kirschner, & Olivia Troye!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

13. Anatol Lieven (Quincy Institute)discusses the Iran war's impact, noting Russia's benefits through increased energy profits and diverted Western air defenses. He criticizes the U.S. administration for failing to predict predictable Iranianretaliation against global energy supplies. (13)1876 PERSIA

PREVIEW FOR LATER. Mary Anastasia O'Grady examines the lack of a democratic timeline in Venezuela's transition plan. While the administration attempts economic stabilization, hardliners remain in power, making the path to elections unclear,. GUEST AND AFFILIATION: Mary Anastasia O'Grady, Wall Street Journal,. (6)

PREVIEW FOR LATER. Richard Epsteinexplains legal mechanisms for refunding illegal tariff money following a Supreme Court ruling. He argues for using preliminary injunctions to challenge the administration's disruptive and quixotic trade policies. GUEST AND AFFILIATION: Richard Epstein (Affiliation not specified in the sources). (4)1911 SCOTUS

PREVIEW FOR LATER. Anatol Lievencritiques the U.S. administration's failure to predict Iranian attacks on the Strait of Hormuz. He notes that even a Hungarian school teacher recognized these predictable retaliations against international energy supplies,. GUEST AND AFFILIATION: Anatol Lieven, Quincy Institute,. (1)1956 HUNGARY

The Intersection of Trump, Iran, and the Moral Limits of War   What should Christians think about the U.S. war with Iran, Israel's role in the conflict, and the risk of a wider Middle East war? In this Good Faith Podcast episode, Curtis Chang and New York Times columnist David French unpack the escalating U.S.-Iran war through the lens of Christian theology, just war theory, constitutional checks and balances, and the moral limits of presidential power. They explore whether America's military action against Iran is just, legal, or dangerously reckless, while also addressing Israel, regime change, MAGA foreign policy, and the growing risk of a wider global conflict. Join David and Curtis for a thoughtful framework for understanding war in a volatile moment.   Sign up for The After Party Sign up for The Good List Get tickets: Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference and our recording with Matt Maher     02:32 - Did Anyone See This Coming? 04:51 - Distinguishing Just and Legal Wars 09:25 - Evaluating America's War Against Iran 14:46 - Why Hasn't Congress Acted? 17:59 - Truthfulness of the Administration 22:32 - Potential Consequences of Prolonged War 33:12 - What About the Theory That Trump's War is a Diversion From Personal Scandals? 39:04 - Evangelical Support for Israel 44:08 - Are We Heading Toward World War III? 53:49 - Christian Prayer and Moral Response     Scriptures: 1 Timothy 2:1–2 (ESV)     Mentioned in This Episode: A primer on Just War Theory Augustine and Just War Theory The UN Charter  Chapter VII, Article 51: the use of force and collective self-defense What is the War Powers Resolution? Abraham Lincoln'sLetter to Congress: January 12, 1848 (Speech regarding Mexican War) Background on U.S. Relations With Iran (1953-2026) Background on Operation Praying Mantis Impacts of the U.S. killing of Qassem Soleimani More about the Lockerbie bombing The Ezra Klein Show, March 3 episode: The Great Lie of War     More From David French: David French's New York Times pieces HERE Follow David French on Threads   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

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 tyrannySee 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 bullshit 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-American empire period 1:40:30 Is there any heir apparent to Putin? 1:42:45 Next leader of Russia will likely keep the same system in place 1:44:15 Unlike Russians, Americans can still vote their way out of tyranny 1:48:30 Across the country there’s serious frustration with federal politics 1:50:00 Ask Chuck 1:50:15 How is the psyche of the American people able to handle constant crisis? 1:55:30 Are the war and Epstein files just distracting from importance of midterms? 1:59:00 Have larger sums of money started to become irrelevant in elections? 2:03:00 At what point does fundraising advantage stop matter? 2:07:15 Chances of false flag blamed on Iran to provide pretext to mess with elections? 2:13:00 Thanks for giving me hope while feeling like we’re living through fall of Rome 2:16:30 How can a future president reverse course on tariffs? 2:19:00 Thoughts on March MadnessSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington Wednesday on a turn in the administration's foreign policy, World Tour on Anglicans reorganizing leadership, and a church fully including believers with disabilities. Plus, Bethel McGrew on a delayed Medal of Honor, haute cuisine artwork, and the Wednesday morning newsSupport The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donateAdditional support comes from Pensacola Christian College. Academic excellence, biblical worldview, affordable cost. go.pcci.edu/worldFrom Ambassadors Impact Network, which publishes a Spiritual Impact Report documenting how portfolio companies integrate faith into their operations, from chaplaincy programs to gospel proclamation. The report offers a window into what intentional Kingdom impact looks like in practice. Download it free at ambassadorsimpact.com/reports, and learn more about the network at ambassadorsimpact.comAnd from Dordt Discovery Days—an academic summer camp for 6th through 8th graders to grow in their faith and build friendships. dordt.edu/discovery

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.

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.

March 8, 2026Trump wears baseball cap to ceremony returning remains of soldiers killed in Iran, Fox News displays the wrong footage of ceremony, White House portrays events in Iran as entertainment, Administration embraces myth of cowboy individualism, Administration has not planned for aftermath of attacking Iran, Operation Epic Fury is costing US $1 billion a day, US submarine torpedoed Iranian warship in international waters, US appears to bear responsibility for strike on girls' school in Iran.Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

As Iran's retaliation hit American allies throughout the Middle East this week, David Remnick was joined by two New Yorker writers with decades of experience reporting from the region. Robin Wright has reported from Iran extensively, and she met with Ali Khamenei before he became the Supreme Leader of Iran; Dexter Filkins covered the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and he has been reporting on the Pentagon and military readiness. Filkins and Wright discuss the possibilities for future leadership in Iran; the Administration's chaotic statements in regard to its goals and time frame; and the economic impact of the war, which is already being felt around the globe. The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine's writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week. Tune in to The Political Scene wherever you get your podcasts.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Doug McHoney (PwC's International Tax Services Global Leader) is joined by Steve Kohart, a New York City-based international tax partner at PwC and former advisor to the OECD's Center for Tax Policy and Administration. Doug and Steve discuss the January side-by-side agreement's implications for US-parented multinationals, why Pillar Two remains relevant through QDMTTs, and how the CBCR transitional safe harbor bridges to the permanent simplified ETR safe harbor. They unpack what ‘simplified' really means: financial accounting standards, denominator and numerator adjustments, deferred tax ‘bad DTLs,' and the practical reality of a third set of books. The conversation also covers JV complications, Chapter 6 M&A/reorg rules, transition provisions (9.1.1–9.1.3) and excess negative taxes, new flexibility for return-to-provision adjustments, integrity rules, and what guidance and compliance planning teams should prioritize next. 

On this week's episode we talk to Naomi Goldstein, who for nearly two decades led the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). We discussed the way that the federal government decides what to research and how it gets the job done. And why she thinks the Trump administration's recent decision to decentralize research at ACF is a mistake. Naomi Goldstein was the deputy assistant secretary for planning, research, and evaluation at the Administration for Children and Families. She is currently a nurse at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital. Reading RoomRestructuring on the Horizon for ACF's Research Branchhttps://imprintnews.org/youth-services-insider/restructuring-on-the-horizon-for-acfs-research-branch/271096Happy Birthday OPRE!https://acf.gov/archive/opre/blog/2024/08/birthday2024

On MoneyFM 89.3’s International News Review, Steve Okun joins Saturday Mornings Show host Glenn van Zutphen and co-host Neil Humphreys unpack a fast‑moving and deeply unsettling set of global developments — from the widening Iran conflict to political shifs inside the Trump Administration and Singapore's global bagel standing! We begin with the Iran war, which has now spilled across Lebanon, Syria, Kuwait, the UAE and the wider Gulf, with hundreds of drones targeting military and civilian sites. The conflict is no longer contained — it’s regional, persistent, and increasingly shaped by cheap, mass‑produced drones that are redefining modern warfare. Steve explains why these low‑cost weapons are so destabilising and what their proliferation means for global security. We look at the political drama in Washington: Kristi Noem’s exit from the Department of Homeland Security and the rise of Markwayne Mullin, a little‑known but fast‑ascending figure now thrust into the national spotlight. Steve explains who he is, why he matters, and what his emergence signals about the shifting dynamics inside the Trump administration. Finally, is Singapore's world bagel standing on the rise?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1. Iran’s Regional Escalation Iran launched missiles, drones, and attacks on multiple Middle Eastern countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan), pulling them into alignment with the U.S. and Israel. Commentary emphasizes Iran’s willingness to target anyone, showing “suicidal” or “homicidal” motives. Raises the danger of Iran possessing nuclear weapons. Discussion clarifies Trump’s position as opposing “forever wars,” not all military action. No expectation of U.S. ground troops in Iran. Military strikes are preemptive self‑defense due to Iran’s history of killing Americans. Critique of left‑wing politicians and activists who oppose U.S. involvement in Iran. Statement from Comrade Mamdani criticized as sympathetic to Iran’s regime. Contrast drawn between American leftist protesters and Iranian citizens protesting against the Ayatollah. The area may have been mined by Iran; shipping and air traffic are restricted. Mine‑sweeping operations expected before reopening. 2. DHS Leadership Shake‑Up Kristi Noem removed as DHS Secretary; replaced by Sen. Markwayne Mullin. Noem’s controversial $220M ad spending questioned in Senate Judiciary hearing—described as the catalyst for her removal. Senator John Kennedy’s cross‑examination highlighted as pivotal. Administration criticized for rhetoric after police-involved shootings in Minneapolis. Said to have contributed to Noem’s ousting. 3. Texas Election Outcomes Several candidates endorsed by the speaker (Cruz) won key primaries. Notable upset: Dan Crenshaw lost his House seat to Cruz‑backed Steve Toth. Personal conflict between Cruz and Crenshaw described, including a heated confrontation on a plane. Runoff between Sen. John Cornyn and Texas AG Ken Paxton. Both candidates are longtime allies of the speaker; race expected to be bruising and expensive. Trump expected to endorse but hasn’t yet. 4. Democratic Challenger – James Talarico Described as an “extreme but polished” candidate. Concerns raised about his ability to appear moderate while holding left‑wing positions. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz X: https://x.com/tedcruz X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A city-wide stabbing spree has left one woman dead and another in critical in condition. Former U.S. Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa died at age 74, a look at her decades-long career and her lasting impact on Hawaii politics. And progress in the ongoing legal push to sort out the multi-billion dollar Maui Wildfire settlement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Iran's retaliation hit American allies throughout the Middle East this week, David Remnick was joined by two New Yorker writers with decades of experience reporting from the region. Robin Wright has reported from Iran extensively, and she met with Ali Khamenei before he became the Supreme Leader of Iran; Dexter Filkins covered the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and he has been reporting on the Pentagon and military readiness. Filkins and Wright discuss the possibilities for future leadership in Iran; the Administration's chaotic statements in regard to its goals and time frame; and the economic impact of the war, which is already being felt around the globe.    Further reading: “What Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Meant to Iran, and What Comes Next,” by Robin Wright "How Marco Rubio Went from “Little Marco” to Trump's Foreign-Policy Enabler,” by Dexter Filkins “The Forever War,” by Dexter Filkins   New episodes of The New Yorker Radio Hour drop every Tuesday and Friday. Join host David Remnick as he discusses the latest in politics, news, and current events in conversation with political leaders, newsmakers, innovators, New Yorker staff writers, authors, actors, and musicians.

### Segment 4 Headline: Artificial Intelligence Goes to War: The Role of Anthropic's Claude AI Summary: The discussion focuses on the integration of AIin military targeting simulations and the public dispute between the administration and AI developer Anthropic during wartime. Guest: Professor Richard Epstein Number: 4 (4)

Send a textIn this episode of Empowered Educator, you'll rethink traditional “sit-and-get” PD and learn how to design professional learning that actually changes classroom practice. You'll walk away with a simple, 7-question leader checklist you can use before you approve or plan your next PD session, so you stop running events and start building a learning culture for your staff.For the full written article, including all seven questions and key ideas, grab the companion post here: Stop Wasting PD: Professional Learning That StickIn This Episode, You'll Learn How To:Focus PD on clear student outcomes and specific instructional moves.Treat teachers as adult learners with voice, choice, and real relevance.Make learning job-embedded through PLCs, coaching, and team time.Shift from “sit-and-get” to active, practice-based learning.Use microlearning and short “PD sprints” instead of marathons.Build in coaching and feedback so new strategies actually stick.Plan PD as a series over time, not a one-off event.One Simple Action StepBefore your next PD, run it through the 7-question PD Check from this episode (and the article linked above). If you can't answer at least five questions clearly and specifically, revise the plan before you put it on the calendar.Support the showDownload Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase! Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points. Calling All Educators! I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more. I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources. I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant. Join here: Empowered Educator Community Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance SuccessGrab a complimentary POWER SessionWith Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery.email: melinda@empowere...

Hawaii leaders and residents react to the firing of U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Kauai police arrest two fugitives wanted in connection with a California shooting involving a deputy sheriff. An elderly hiker is airlifted to safety after falling about 30 feet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa died last night after a private battle with cancer. American forces in the Middle East are the targets of Iranian strikes, and now we're learning Iran is getting help finding the targets. And one woman is dead another woman is fighting for her life, and we've learned the two stabbings are related. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Breaking news of a murder in McCully. Police have not made an arrest. Casey Lund will bring us the very latest live from the scene. The city continues to try to tackle a massive backlog for building permits. What officials are now doing to bring in more workers. Beware of solar scams. We'll tell you the promises that are being made that can't be delivered. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SEG 12 Scoutmaster General and the Birth of Downing StreetDowning rose to Scoutmaster General, overseeing Scotland's administration while building a massive fortune through seized properties and the trade of war prisoners. (4)1669

Venezuelan Leadership Slow-Rolls Political Transition Despite Economic Openings Evan Ellis details how the Rodriguez administration benefits from eased oil sanctions and mining interests while maintaining repressive control and delaying meaningful democratic transitions. (6)1902 Caracas

 ChatGPT has been in the news a lot lately and, as a result, quite a few STEM-Talk listeners have tossed us questions about the reliability and limitations of generative-artificial intelligence chatbots as well as large-language models more broadly.  Ken and Dawn tackle this question and a number of others in today's Ask Me Anything episode. We have listeners wondering why astronauts train in underwater conditions for spacewalks; icebreakers in antarctica; the value of supplementing with urolithin-A; and the effectiveness of L-citrulline in helping aging blood vessels. Ken also weights in on questions related to lithium deficiency and the onset of Alzheimer's disease; a study that found mTOR activation may not be necessary for ketamine's beneficial effects in the context of depression; and a paper that demonstrated short-term mTOR inhibition by rapamycin improved cardiac and endothelial function in older men. Show notes: [00:02:49] Ken opens our AMA with a listener question for Dawn, which asks why, despite the differences between diving and zero-gravity environments, why do astronauts train in underwater conditions for spacewalks. The listener goes on to mention an article they read about NASA's neutral buoyancy lab in Houston, which contains a partial replica of the International Space Station. [00:07:42] A listener asks Ken if he is still optimistic about the value of supplementing with urolithin-A, and if so, is there a brand he recommends. Ken mentions episodes 118, with Julie Anderson, and 173, with Anurag Singh. Ken also discusses a paper titled “Effect of the mitophagy inducer urolithin A on age related immune decline, a randomized placebo-controlled trial” co-authored by Anurag. Ken also mentions clinical research supporting the urolithin-A supplement Mitopure. [00:10:53] A listener asks Ken about a paper titled “Short-term mTOR inhibition by rapamycin improves cardiac and endothelial function in older men: a proof-of-concept pilot study.” [00:14:29] Ken discusses a 2020 paper from a research group at Yale, which suggested that mTOR activation may not be necessary for ketamine's beneficial effects in the context of depression. The paper also reported that m-TOR suppression via rapamycin might prolong ketamine's antidepressant effects. [00:18:47] A research scientist formerly working in Antarctica asks Ken about Russia's dominance in the realm of ice breakers. [00:23:55] A listener mentions that for some people, when they used ChatGPT to ask about the assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk, ChatGPT sometimes responded by denying the assassination occurred. The listener asks Ken about the credibility and reliability of generative AI and large-language models. [00:28:49] Several listeners have submitted questions for Ken regarding a paper published in Nature in August of last year titled “Lithium deficiency in the onset of Alzheimer's disease.” Ken gives his thoughts on this paper. [00:31:56] For our final question this AMA, a listener asks Ken about the arginine paradox, which regards L-arginine, which is used by the body to make nitric oxide, which is necessary to relax and maintain flexibility of blood vessels. However, several papers have reported that supplementation of arginine does not reliably improve aging blood vessels. In contrast, recent research suggests that L-citrulline might be more effective. The listeners sent questions asking about the possible effects of citrulline in vascular health and aging. In his answer, Ken cites the following papers: — Administration of L-arginine plus L-citrulline or L-citrulline alone successfully retarded endothelial senescence. — Effects of L-Citrulline Supplementation on Endothelial Function, Arterial Stiffness, and Blood Glucose Level in the Fasted and Acute Hyperglycemic States in Middle-Aged and Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes. — Citrulline Supplementation Improves Microvascular Function and Muscle Strength in Middle-Aged and Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes. — Effects of L-citrulline supplementation and watermelon intake on arterial stiffness and endothelial function in middle-aged and older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. — Citrulline regulates macrophage metabolism and inflammation to counter aging in mice. If you have questions for Ken and Dawn after listening to today's episode or any episode of STEM-Talk, please email our producer, Randy Hammer, at rhammer@ihmc.org.  Links: Learn more about IHMC STEM-Talk homepage Ken Ford bio Ken Ford Wikipedia page Dawn Kernagis bio    

The Administration tells us that a new "Golden Age" for the American economy is now underway, and that we should see substantial material incremental GDP growth this year from the policies it has put in place through acts like the One Big Beautiful Bill, tax relief, deregulation, tariffs and new trade deals purported to bring $trillions of new foreign investment into the US.Today's guest, however, is much more skeptical of the promise of these policies as well as the overall prospects for the economy.And now the US is at war with Iran. How will that impact the situation?For guidance, we turn to highly-respected economist & award-winning researcher David Rosenberg, founder & president of Rosenberg Research.LAST CHANCE! REGISTER FOR THOUGHTFUL MONEY'S SPRING ONLINE CONFERENCE AT THE EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT PRICE at https://www.thoughtfulmoney.com/conference#bearmarket #marketcorrection #jobs _____________________________________________ Thoughtful Money LLC is a Registered Investment Advisor Promoter.We produce educational content geared for the individual investor. It's important to note that this content is NOT investment advice, individual or otherwise, nor should be construed as such.We recommend that most investors, especially if inexperienced, should consider benefiting from the direction and guidance of a qualified financial advisor registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or state securities regulators who can develop & implement a personalized financial plan based on a customer's unique goals, needs & risk tolerance.IMPORTANT NOTE: There are risks associated with investing in securities.Investing in stocks, bonds, exchange traded funds, mutual funds, money market funds, and other types of securities involve risk of loss. Loss of principal is possible. Some high risk investments may use leverage, which will accentuate gains & losses. Foreign investing involves special risks, including a greater volatility and political, economic and currency risks and differences in accounting methods.A security's or a firm's past investment performance is not a guarantee or predictor of future investment performance.Thoughtful Money and the Thoughtful Money logo are trademarks of Thoughtful Money LLC.Copyright © 2026 Thoughtful Money LLC. All rights reserved.

This is a catch-up version of James O'Brien's live, daily show on LBC Radio. To join the conversation call: 0345 60 60 973

We are releasing today on our Consumer Finance Monitor podcast our host Alan Kaplinsky's discussion with Marisa Calderon, President and CEO of Prosperity Now, about two high-profile policy proposals raised or embraced by President Trump as part of a broader populist affordability agenda: 1.         A nationwide 10% cap on credit card interest rates for one year. 2.         The Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA), long championed by Senator Dick Durbin which would require large credit card issuers to enable at least two unaffiliated payment networks (only one of which could be MasterCard or VISA) on their cards. Each proposal is framed as pro-consumer. Each has generated significant pushback from banks, card issuers, and trade associations. However, even consumer advocacy groups have raised serious questions about the wisdom of such initiatives. Prosperity Now is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing economic mobility, with a focus on those facing economic barriers. Each raises fundamental questions about how to balance affordability and access in the consumer credit market. Our discussion focused on a central theme: affordability is a real and pressing concern, but policy design matters enormously. Credit Card APRs: A Real Affordability Pressure As Calderon emphasized, policymakers are not wrong to focus on credit card interest rates. Average credit card APRs now hover around 22%, up sharply from roughly 13% a decade ago. Approximately half of cardholders carry a balance, and many rely on credit cards not for discretionary spending, but as liquidity bridges, covering emergency medical bills, car repairs, groceries, and other essentials. For lower and moderate-income households, credit cards are often the only readily available, regulated source of short-term liquidity. That makes rising APRs particularly painful. Calderon's formulation is apt: policymakers have identified the right problem. The harder question is whether they have identified the right solution. The 10% Interest Rate Cap: Lessons from History The proposal to impose a flat 10% nationwide cap on credit card interest rates for one year would represent an unprecedented federal intervention into unsecured revolving credit markets. Credit cards are unsecured and priced for risk. Interest margins help issuers cover expected charge-offs, volatility, and operational costs. If pricing flexibility is removed, lenders cannot simply absorb the loss, they adjust. Historically, those adjustments take predictable forms: •                 Tighter underwriting standards •                 Higher minimum credit scores •                 Lower credit limits •                 Reduced rewards programs •                 Increased non-interest fees •                 Exit from higher-risk market segments The likely result, as Calderon noted, is credit contraction, particularly affecting marginal and lower-income borrowers. The most relevant historical example may be the 1980 credit controls imposed during the Carter Administration, which were rescinded within months after causing severe market disruption. A more targeted example is the 36% APR cap under the Military Lending Act, which illustrates both the importance of bipartisan legislative design and the reality that even well-intentioned caps can reduce access at the margins. Recent Federal Reserve research on state usury caps reinforces this concern: when interest rate ceilings are imposed, credit to higher-risk borrowers contracts, credit to lower-risk borrowers expands, and delinquency rates do not meaningfully improve. In other words, credit is reallocated, not necessarily improved. Even a "temporary" cap may have durable consequences. Issuers that exit certain segments or reduce credit lines are not obligated, and may not be economically inclined, to restore them once the cap expires. Credit score impacts and reduced access can linger well beyond the formal life of the policy. As Calderon put it, blunt price controls are a chainsaw when what is needed is a scalpel. Affordability in Context: What Drives Household Budgets? An additional consideration is scale. Research recently highlighted by the Consumer Bankers Association shows that the fastest-growing household expenses from 2013–2024 were healthcare, shelter, food, and vehicles. Credit card interest represents a relatively small share of average household expenditures. This does not minimize the pain of high APRs, especially for households carrying persistent balances, but it does raise an important structural question: can credit card rate caps meaningfully solve broader affordability challenges rooted in housing, medical costs, food inflation, and transportation? Credit cards are often the mechanism households use to cope with those rising costs. Constraining access to that liquidity may exacerbate, rather than relieve, financial stress. The Credit Card Competition Act: Structural Reform or Indirect Price Control? The second proposal we discussed, the Credit Card Competition Act (the "CCCA"), takes a different approach. Rather than capping interest rates, the CCCA would require large issuers to offer merchants at least two unaffiliated network routing options (only one of which could be Visa or Mastercard). The theory is that routing competition would reduce interchange fees ("swipe fees"), lowering merchant costs and ultimately consumer prices. Merchants have generally supported the proposal. Banks and card issuers have strongly opposed it. The consumer-facing promise is straightforward: lower merchant fees should translate into lower retail prices, but history complicates that assumption. The Durbin Amendment to the Dodd-Frank Act imposed caps on debit card interchange fees for large issuers and included routing requirements. While interchange revenue declined, Calderon pointed out that empirical evidence suggests that cost savings were not consistently passed through to consumers in the form of lower prices. At the same time, banks offset lost revenue through higher account fees and reduced benefits. A similar dynamic could unfold in the credit card market. Interchange revenue helps fund: •           Rewards programs •           Fraud detection and prevention •           Customer service infrastructure •           Risk management If that revenue is compressed, issuers may respond with tighter underwriting, reduced rewards, or new fee structures. As Calderon observed, although the CCCA operates through indirect price pressure rather than a direct APR ceiling, downstream effects could look similar. Distinguishing Populist Framing From Durable Reform Both the rate cap and the CCCA are framed as pro-consumer, populist reforms. The political appeal is clear, but distinguishing headline appeal from durable consumer benefit requires careful analysis. Calderon suggested several guideposts policymakers should consider: •                 Access – Does the reform preserve or expand access for low- and moderate-income borrowers? •                 Incidence – Who actually captures the gains? Consumers, merchants, intermediaries, or some combination? •                 Substitution effects – Does the policy push consumers toward higher-cost, less-regulated alternatives such as payday or fringe products? •                 Durability – What happens after implementation? Do markets rebound, or do credit line reductions and underwriting changes persist? These questions are not ideological. They are structural. Affordability and access are not opposing values. The policy challenge is designing reforms that alleviate financial strain without narrowing the regulated credit tools families rely on when emergencies arise. The Bottom Line Affordability concerns are real. Rising APRs are real. Financial stress among many households is real. But blunt price caps may reduce rates on paper while reducing access in practice. Structural competition mandates may promise savings that do not materialize at the checkout counter. Durable consumer protection requires careful calibration — the scalpel, not the chainsaw. For industry participants, policymakers, and advocates alike, the takeaway is straightforward: evidence and market mechanics matter. Populist framing may win headlines, but long-term financial stability depends on policy design that accounts for how credit markets actually function. As always, we will continue to monitor these proposals and their evolution in Congress and the Administration.  It may be noteworthy that President Trump did not mention either proposal during his almost two-hour State of the Union Address on January 24th. Consumer Finance Monitor is hosted by Alan Kaplinsky, Senior Counsel at Ballard Spahr, and the founder and former chair of the firm's Consumer Financial Services Group. We encourage listeners to subscribe to the podcast on their preferred platform for weekly insights into developments in the consumer finance industry.

Comprehensive coverage of the day's news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. Trump admin touts military success of Iran war, amid growing friction among allies and chaos for humanitarian aid; House rejects War Powers Resolution to limit president's power to go to war; California among states suing Administration in Court of International Trade over Trump tariffs; Judge rules companies entitled to refunds after SCOTUS ends Trump's tariffs; California youth lawsuit against EPA says it fails to protect them from climate change; Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Noem after numerous scandals; March 5 is International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness, UN chief Guterres says it's time to invest in the architecture of peace, not the tools of war The post Trump admin touts Iran war as UN describes chaos for humanitarian aid; House rejects resolution limiting president's war powers – March 5, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Author, international security expert, and DePaul University history professor Dr. Thomas Mockaitis joins Jon Hansen, filling in for Lisa Dent, to discuss the ongoing war with Iran. “It’s become very clear,” Dr. Mockaitis explains, “the administration was not prepared for this.” He goes on to explain how Iran was prepared for a potential large scale attack. The attacks on […]

President Trump announced today that Kristi Noem's time as homeland security secretary will be over at the end of the month. On Maui, a judge has ruled in the case of a Hawaii musician's alleged use of illegal fireworks on New Year's Eve. And the U.S. government now claims that toxic exposure for military members during the 2021 Red Hill fuel leak disaster was connected to their military service, but service members who are suing the government say that's not true.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A demotion amongst the upper ranks of HPD. What a 37-year veteran of the force is accusing. Military service members are battling the government over illnesses after the Red Hill fuel leaks, latest on the saga. What is the State of Maui County? Mayor Biseen will deliver his annual address to the public tonight.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Honolulu Police Department commander was demoted this week after being accused of sharing confidential information about a teen sexual assault victim, including the girl’s name and other personal details. Meanwhile, some West Maui residents are opposing a proposal by Hawaii Water Service to raise water rates by 59 percent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 winSee 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 Afghanistan withdrawal 1:37:00 Prediction markets have Dems chances of winning senate at 45% 1:39:45 How should Dems try to affect Texas runoff? 1:41:30 Meddling works and if Cornyn is the nominee Talarico loses 1:42:00 Talarico’s floor is around 47-48 1:42:30 How do Dems sort Alaska, Ohio, Texas and Iowa? 1:43:45 If Josh Turek is the nominee in Iowa, race could be interesting 1:45:00 2026 will give us a clue as to how 2028 will play out 1:46:30 If one of the independent candidate wins statewide it’s a BIG deal 1:49:00 Midwest independent candidates know they can’t run as Dems and win 1:55:00 Montana senator Steve Daines announces retirement 1:55:45 Retirement will put Montana senate seat into play 1:56:15 Will this put pressure on Jon Tester to come out of retirement? 1:56:45 Montana will now be a key cog in campaign 2026 1:58:00 Potential that transplants could turn Montana into Colorado politically 1:59:00 Republicans will be favored, but it will require work & money 2:00:30 Democrats have had success in Montana in midterm years 2:01:00 This week just keeps getting worse for Republicans 2:02:00 Ask Chuck 2:02:30 Do reliably red/blue states get less investment from the federal government? 2:08:15 Could Trump try to trigger NATO’s Article V over Iran? 2:17:00 Will Texas AG runoff produce even more radical anti-trans rhetoric & policy? 2:20:00 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. 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.

Peter Berkowitz of the Hoover Institution argues the administration must articulate that fighting in Iran is essential for securing American freedom and advancing national interests across all global regions. (1)1580 PERSIA

Gregory Copley reports that Israeli missiles reportedly hit a meeting of Iran's Council of Experts, while the administration considers supporting Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi for a post-regime future. 8.1897 PERSIA

Liz Peek reports that Democrats break tradition by opposing the administration during wartime, citing potential anti-Israel sentiment and risks to the upcoming midterms as the conflict with Iran escalates. 2.1840 PERSIA

Judy Dempsey reports that recent polls show US voters oppose intervention in Iran, while rumors of internal administration friction suggest a lack of unified strategy for the expanding war. 4.1890 PERSIA

TRIGGER WARNING: Detailed allegations of sexual abuse and crimes against women, girls, and children, as well as discussion of suicidal ideation.After a summary of more lies from Howard Lutnick and an update on career repercussions for Epstein associates in America, we delve into Epstein's "art" collection that was featured prominently throughout his properties in NYC, Palm Beach, Paris, Zorro Ranch, and Little St. James Island. Emails track his requests to commission or purchase disturbing paintings while photos reveal the efforts to take physical casts of girls he trafficked to preserve their body parts, seemingly for display purposes. Children, babies, girls, and women, all objectified or in distress, is the unifying theme across his collection. Then, we learn about more members of the current administration with ties to Epstein who seem to have been appointed more for their loyalty than their qualifications.Check your voter registration, find your polling location, or contact your representatives via USA.GOV, VOTE.GOV, and/or the "5 Calls" app.All opinions are personal and not representative of any outside company, person, or agenda. This podcast is hosted by a United States citizen, born and raised in a military family that is proud of this country's commitment to free speech. Information shared is cited via published articles, legal documents, press releases, government websites, executive orders, public videos, news reports, and/or direct quotes and statements, and all may be paraphrased for brevity and presented in layman's terms.“I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” - James BaldwinWanna support this independent pod? Links below:Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/cw/BBDBBuyMeACoffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BBDBVenmo @TYBBDB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send a textIn this Power Surge episode, Dr. Mel Vandevort reminds  school leaders that rest isn't a luxury—it's a leadership strategy. She shares a personal story about taking time off during the school year to reconnect with family and the powerful lesson it revealed about balance, growth, and sustainability.Listen in to discover why stepping away is one of the most impactful forms of professional learning you can practice right now.Support the showDownload Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase! Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points. Calling All Educators! I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more. I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources. I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant. Join here: Empowered Educator Community Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance SuccessGrab a complimentary POWER SessionWith Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery.email: melinda@empowere...

An investigation into a death at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where a man's body was found. Hawaii's Governor reacts to the campaign finance investigation into his lieutenant governor, why he says he is choosing to stay neutral. We are 6 weeks away from tax day. But the annual headache may come with a sweeter reward this year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12 - Are people having a change of heart regarding the bombing of ISrael? Some “MAGA” talking heads aren't budging, but the Administration is laying out plainly why we needed to strike. Dom reacts to kick off the day. 1215 - Side - associated with The Middle East 1220 - Why are Catholic Bishops disgracing themselves by asking the SCOTUS to protect illegal migrants because Trump is taking away their “God-given dignity”? Your calls. 1230 - Corey DeAngelis, School Choice Evangelist and Research Fellow at Heritage, joins us again today. Can he believe there's a school in Chicago with a 1:1 student-staff ratio with 0% proficiency in reading? How is Philadelphia's Boys Latin school the prime example of why school choice is a good idea? As the SCOTUS rules that parents have rights to find out if their kid is using a different name or pronouns at school, why is this such a big ruling that protects our kids? How is his book “the bible” of school choice? 1250 - What kind of regime is Trump looking to speak with in Iran? 1 - Investigative reporter at the Daily Wire, Megan Brock joins us. 140 - Your Calls, Clinton clips breakdown, Epstein's victims was stewardesses, clip of Clinton explaining about the viral hot tub photo 155 - Your calls. 2 - When you become a registered nurse, do you automatically enlist in the Democrat Party? Why are they so left leaning all the time? A male nurse listener calls in and gives his perspective. 205 - Is it a good idea for the Atlanta Hawks to have a night promoting a local strip club? 215 - Dom's Money Melody! 220 - What will the RINOs say in the Iran briefing? Israel hacked into street cameras and phone to track the Supreme Leader in Iran. 225 - Are certain Republican talking heads being anti-Semitic in their coverage of the Iran conflict? 240 - Your calls. 250 - The Lightning Round!

12 - Are people having a change of heart regarding the bombing of ISrael? Some “MAGA” talking heads aren't budging, but the Administration is laying out plainly why we needed to strike. Dom reacts to kick off the day. 1215 - Side - associated with The Middle East 1220 - Why are Catholic Bishops disgracing themselves by asking the SCOTUS to protect illegal migrants because Trump is taking away their “God-given dignity”? Your calls. 1230 - Corey DeAngelis, School Choice Evangelist and Research Fellow at Heritage, joins us again today. Can he believe there's a school in Chicago with a 1:1 student-staff ratio with 0% proficiency in reading? How is Philadelphia's Boys Latin school the prime example of why school choice is a good idea? As the SCOTUS rules that parents have rights to find out if their kid is using a different name or pronouns at school, why is this such a big ruling that protects our kids? How is his book “the bible” of school choice? 1250 - What kind of regime is Trump looking to speak with in Iran?

1. Supreme Court Tariff Decision A predicted 5–4 ruling upholding presidential tariff authority was incorrect; the Court ruled 6–3 against the administration’s use of one specific tariff statute (AIPA). Majority held that the statute allowed banning imports but not charging tariffs—a conclusion strongly criticized in the dissents (Kavanaugh, Thomas). Despite the ruling, the impact is expected to be limited, as the President has multiple other statutes still available to impose tariffs. A new 10–15% tariff was quickly announced using alternate legal authority. The administration still retains broad power using: Section 338 (1930 Tariff Act) – allows tariffs up to 50% for discriminatory treatment. Section 122 (Trade Act of 1974) – 15% tariffs for 150 days (renewable). Section 301 (Trade Act of 1974) – addresses unfair foreign trade practices. Section 232 (Trade Expansion Act of 1962) – tariffs for national‑security threats. Section 201 (Trade Act of 1974) – safeguard tariffs for import surges. Litigation may unfold for years, potentially costing billions over refunded or contested tariffs. China and Democrats were portrayed as celebrating the ruling, implying political dimension rather than policy substance. Administration aims to use tariffs as leverage for better trade deals, not as permanent protectionism. 2. State of the Union (SOTU) Speech Impact Speech viewed as effective, more disciplined, and likely helpful for midterm momentum. Highlighted major administration achievements: Border control and sharp decline in illegal crossings. Crime reductions (e.g., murder and overdose rates reportedly down by ~20%). Economic relief themes like no tax on tips and overtime. Strong emotional moments involving veterans, Olympians, and American heroes created bipartisan resonance. Speaker Johnson and congressional Republicans portrayed as unusually unified. Coordination with the President seen as stronger than in previous cycles. 3. The Olympic Contrast: Alysa Liu vs. Eileen Gu Alysa Liu Daughter of a Chinese refugee who fled Tiananmen Square. Target of CCP intimidation and espionage on U.S. soil. Required 24/7 FBI protection before the Beijing Olympics. Despite pressure, competed for Team USA and won gold. Story framed as patriotic, resilient, and emotionally powerful. Eileen Gu Also U.S.-born with Chinese heritage. Chose to compete for China after being offered substantial financial incentives. Criticism focused on choosing a communist regime over the U.S., though the speakers avoided personal attacks. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz X: https://x.com/tedcruz X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Donald Trump and his Administration threaten to attack Iran, their motivations remain unclear. Does the President want to force Iran to make a nuclear deal, to replace the one that he scrapped in his first term, or is he really seeking regime change? To understand how this all might play out, David Remnick speaks with Karim Sadjadpour, a policy analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who writes about the Middle East for Foreign Affairs and other publications. Citing the disastrous precedents in Afghanistan and Iraq, Sadjadpour notes, “the last two decades has proven that we don't have the ability to dictate . . . who comes to power the day after a military attack.” Plus, After protests over the economy erupted across Iran late last year, reports emerged that the regime was killing protesters. Donald Trump threatened to intervene, but did not. Estimates vary widely, but some note that thirty thousand people or more may have been killed. Now, as the U.S. sends a huge military force to the Gulf, Iranians are waiting for war—and many in the country are in the shocking position of hoping for conflict, if it will end the Ayatollah's government. The reporter Cora Engelbrecht has been recording her conversations with sources on the ground about what that could mean. Their voices were altered or overdubbed for our story, to protect them from reprisal. New episodes of The New Yorker Radio Hour drop every Tuesday and Friday. Join host David Remnick as he discusses the latest in politics, news, and current events in conversation with political leaders, newsmakers, innovators, New Yorker staff writers, authors, actors, and musicians.

Jonathan Adler reports that following the tariff decision, the administration must now use specific statutes with procedural strings, limiting the president's ability to adjust trade penalties on a whim. 8.