Podcasts about toddcast

On this weeks edition of the 12:15 Club, Anthony (The Pasta Man) makes a guest appearance. The guys discuss staying at the studio and how the pass the time overnight in the Man Cave, Anthony and his nut allergy, and we explore the new hit podcast "The Toddcast" which has become a major hit and one of the highlights of the week for the backroom. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

In this episode recorded immediately after Trump's record-breaking 108-minute State of the Union address, Chuck Todd argues that while Trump's base will love the "own the libs" moments — from trolling Democrats in the chamber to the raucous "USA" chants from Republicans — the speech was fundamentally a missed opportunity that did nothing to help the GOP heading into the midterms. He contends that Trump chose to be a party leader rather than a president, turning the address into something resembling an award show by packing it with medal presentations, the Olympic men's hockey team, honorees who deserved more dedicated recognition rather than being used as applause props in an already bloated speech. He argues that Trump's tone on the economy couldn't have been worse for Republicans: with his approval at 60% disapproval and the Supreme Court having just struck down his tariffs days earlier, Trump barely addressed voters' core concerns about costs and affordability, instead declaring a "turnaround for the ages" that doesn't match most Americans' lived experience. He notes Trump’s highlighting of Iran's ballistic missiles sounded like a pretext for war that won't play well with parts of his own base. He praises Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger's Democratic response as simple and effective — particularly her pointed questions about whether the president is actually working to make life more affordable — and argues she clearly won over independents. He closes with a bigger-picture observation: that there's a 60% majority coalition available on populist economic issues like protecting the safety net from cuts to fund tax breaks for the wealthy, but that Democrats still have a damaged brand despite Trump's terrible numbers, and that voters who thought they were getting first-term Trump are reckoning with something very different. Then, Paul Auslander, President of SeaBridge Private Wealth, a division of SeaBridge Investment Advisors LLC joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the intersection of money, markets, and the current political moment. Auslander walks through how the political climate now factors directly into financial planning projections, noting that European indices doubled the S&P's performance last year as capital flows shift overseas, and that a growing number of wealthy clients are hedging by moving money out of the United States. He offers candid takes on the issues keeping investors up at night: the inevitability of Social Security cuts (though he argues simply pushing retirement age from 67 to 69 would stabilize the fund), the likely future of Social Security privatization, crypto's evolution from a technological revolution into a special interest that bought its own policy outcomes, and whether there's money to be made off bad Trump policies that are likely to be reversed. Auslander also explains why the bond market is a better barometer of economic health than the stock market, why private equity is sitting on mountains of sidelined capital, and why he remains cautiously bullish on 2026 — largely because AI is only in the "second inning" and massive disruption is still ahead. The conversation also ventures into territory financial planners don't usually discuss publicly. Auslander addresses whether the wealthy are worried the "pitchforks are coming for them," pointing to economic anxiety driving a spike in gun sales and a pop culture landscape that increasingly portrays corporations and the ultra-rich as villains. He breaks down the rise of family offices — private wealth management firms for the ultra-wealthy that take a long-term investment view — and explains why companies increasingly choose to stay private thanks to nearly unlimited private capital, rather than face the scrutiny of public markets. They also dig into the generational divide between investing and gambling, the casino-like nature of prediction markets, and the burden that post-Lehman Brothers insurance and regulatory requirements have placed on small businesses and regional banks that had nothing to do with the 2008 financial crisis. Auslander closes with a pointed message: that Fed independence and the rule of law are paramount to economic stability, and that centrism — not ideological extremism — remains the best way to run the country. Finally, Chuck presents his updated ToddCast Top 5 list of senate seats most likely to flip in the midterms and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Go to https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:15 Trump’s base will love “own the libs” moments from SOTU 04:30 Most of Trump’s base was celebrating himself & animating his base 05:15 Trump’s tone on the economy couldn’t have been worse for GOP 06:30 Trump hid behind the glory of others, turned speech into award show 07:45 Awards are an incredible honor, deserved more time & recognition 09:30 Hopefully the recipients get dedicated events to honor them 10:00 Overloading the speech with awards felt a bit gimmicky 11:00 Trump mostly bit his tongue when addressing SCOTUS 11:30 Trump chose to be a party leader rather than president, trolled Dems 12:15 Spanberger’s response to SOTU was simple & effective 14:00 Spanberger definitely did better with independents than Trump 14:45 Trump’s proposal to make AI companies provide their power is a winner 15:15 Trump highlighting Iran’s ballistic missiles sounds like a pretext for war 16:30 Attacking Iran won’t play well with parts of Trump’s base 17:30 Trump didn’t talk about Venezuelan democracy, just oil 18:15 Trump’s still working with the Maduro regime 19:45 Are we trying to prevent Iranian nukes, or attempting regime change? 20:30 Trump claiming credit for getting Mexican cartel leader is a big faux pax 21:45 Allies feel like Trump will sell them out just so he can take credit 22:30 Trump didn’t address voters concerns on costs & the economy 23:45 Trump is better on the attack than defending his record 24:30 The speech didn’t give Republicans a boost for the midterms 25:30 Most Americans don’t support cutting safety net for tax cuts 27:30 There’s a 60% majority to be had on economic issues, not cultural ones 29:15 Voters keep picking the out party 30:30 There’s a majority coalition to be won with populist economic policy 32:30 This could be a moment for candidates to shed the party label 33:00 Democrats will have a strong midterm just being against Trump 33:45 Class politics could create a strong majority 35:30 Voters thought they’d get 1st term Trump, not what they’re getting 45:30 Paul Auslander joins the Chuck ToddCast 47:00 Paul’s origin story 48:15 Financial planning was mostly done by insurance companies in 70’s 49:00 Northerners move to FL for taxes & weather, but FL is pushing it socially 51:30 Fiduciary responsibility is the line of demarcation in financial planning 52:30 Factoring the political climate into financial planning projections 54:00 European index doubled the performance of the S&P last year 55:00 Tax policy is generally the biggest concern for investors 57:30 A cut to social security payments is bound to happen 58:30 If you push retirement from 67 to 69 the SS fund becomes healthy 1:00:45 Social security privatization likely to happen in the future 1:02:45 Money to be made off bad Trump policies that are likely to go away? 1:03:45 Crypto became a special interest & bought support for pro crypto policy 1:05:30 Crypto is a revolution that predates Trump & will outlast him 1:07:00 Lesson to be learned from rise then collapse in price of silver? 1:08:00 Central banks are buying silver, gold and assets 1:09:30 How many people are hedging by moving money out of the U.S.? 1:10:15 Europe is spending big money on arms & infrastructure 1:11:30 Definition of a “Family Office” 1:14:00 Family office investments are increasingly popular & take the long view 1:15:30 Are the investors/wealthy worried the pitchforks are coming for them? 1:17:00 Economic anxiety driving a spike in gun sales 1:18:30 Pop culture portrays corporations & wealthy as the villains 1:20:00 Private equity has a lot of money on the sideline, looking for investments 1:23:00 The burden of insurance requirements on small business 1:25:30 Small & regional banks paying for the sins of Lehman Brothers 1:26:30 Companies stay private due to near unlimited private capital 1:27:15 Do young people like investing… or do they just like gambling? 1:28:15 Thoughts on prediction markets? 1:29:30 There’s a casino like approach to certain markets 1:30:45 If the house flips, you could see money get withdrawn from markets 1:32:00 How do Trump’s relationships with world leaders affect projections? 1:33:15 The bond market is more indicative of economic health than stock market 1:34:15 Uncertainty will impact earnings 1:34:45 Why are you feeling bullish on 2026? 1:37:00 AI is only in the 2nd inning. Disruption is coming 1:40:00 Thom Tillis sounds like a different man now that he’s retiring 1:41:00 Centrism seems like the best way to run the country 1:43:00 AI won’t be replacing financial advisors anytime soon 1:45:15 What’s one question you want every presidential candidate to answer? 1:45:45 Fed independence and rule of law are paramount 1:47:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Paul Auslander 1:48:45 ToddCast Top senate seats most likely to flip in midterms 1:49:00 #1 North Carolina 1:50:45 #2 Maine 1:53:45 #3 Michigan 1:58:15 #4 Alaska 2:01:15 #5 Texas 2:06:30 Honorable mentions: South Dakota & Minnesota 2:11:30 Ask Chuck 2:11:45 Promoting tariffs & AI have to only be bad for Trump? 2:12:45 Can Republicans not endorsed by Trump win their primaries? 2:14:15 Will lifting pesticide bans cause MAHA voters to turn on Trump?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Chuck Todd argues that the United States is in an especially precarious moment of Trump's presidency — but that the guardrails of American democracy are proving they still exist. Todd breaks down the ruling's implications, noting that without tariff revenue the already ballooning U.S. budget deficit will accelerate, and that the coming chaos over refunds for billions in illegally collected duties will be a mess for businesses, consumers, and the trade deals that were negotiated under a now-invalidated framework. He highlights the emerging three distinct wings of the Supreme Court — with Gorsuch writing a pointed concurrence calling out his colleagues, Kavanaugh dissenting on foreign policy grounds, and the liberal justices joining Roberts on textual grounds — and argues the ruling reflects the public's own disapproval of Trump, which a new poll now places at 60% disapproval. He reserves his sharpest commentary for Trump's reaction: rather than pivot, the president attacked his own Supreme Court appointees for disloyalty and accused the Court of "foreign influence," a response Chuck calls a gift to Democrats and a sign that Trump is terrified dissent will become contagious among Republicans. Chuck also cautions that Democrats shouldn't celebrate too much — their brand remains damaged despite Trump's cratering numbers — and offers a counterintuitive observation: that Trump's greatest weakness isn't his authoritarian instincts but his laziness, arguing that his reliance on emergency powers is a shortcut to avoid the hard work of legislating. Then, Emmy Award-winning director and Academy Award nominee Geeta Gandbhir joins the Chuck Toddcast to discuss her critically acclaimed Netflix documentary The Perfect Neighbor, which uses years of police bodycam footage to reconstruct the events leading to the 2023 fatal shooting of Ajike Owens by her neighbor Susan Lorincz in Ocala, Florida. Gandbhir reveals that Owens was a personal friend of her family — her sister-in-law's best friend — and that the film was never initially planned as a documentary; she and her partner went to Florida to support the family and keep the story in the news, fearing Lorincz would walk free under Florida's stand your ground laws. The Sundance Directing Award winner explains how the production team obtained the bodycam footage through the family's attorneys, Benjamin Crump and Anthony Thomas, and describes the rare experience of having not just the aftermath but years of "before" footage — creating a slow-building tension she compares to Blair Witch and Paranormal Activity. Gandbhir emphasizes that the film doesn't preach; it simply presents the chronology and lets the audience decide. The conversation goes deeper into the systemic failures the footage revealed: Lorincz was the only person in the neighborhood who repeatedly called police, yet officers saw her as a nuisance rather than a threat — her whiteness, Gandbhir argues, shielding her from scrutiny. Police never checked whether Lorincz owned a gun, and in other states, her pattern of behavior would have resulted in harassment charges long before the shooting. Gandbhir explains why the case resulted in a manslaughter conviction rather than a more serious charge, advocates for the eradication of stand your ground laws that exist in 38 states, and makes a compelling case that some police funding would be better directed toward social workers and mental health professionals. She also reflects on what the film has meant to Owens' four children and their family, the power of bodycam footage as both a tool for truth and a potential instrument of surveillance, and what a potential Academy Award would mean — not for herself, but as a platform to drive real change. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the Reichstag fire & how Hitler was able to turn Germany’s democracy into a dictatorship through the use of emergency powers he was granted. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Go to https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:45 We are in an especially precarious moment of Trump’s presidency 08:30 Supreme Court tariff ruling shows the guardrails still exist 09:15 Without tariffs, U.S. budget deficit will grow even faster 11:00 Trump plans on going down with the ship, may sink GOP 13:00 Courts ruling wasn’t surprising, tariff authority belongs to congress 14:30 Gorsuch called out his colleagues in his opinion 16:00 Kavanaugh’s dissent argued tariffs as a foreign policy issue 18:00 There are three distinct wings in this Supreme Court 19:45 Ruling reflects the public's disapproval of Trump 21:15 We saw tariff price spikes in Q4, ruling would help GOP 22:00 Trump’s response was to attack his own appointees for disloyalty 23:45 Trump lashed out, afraid dissent will become contagious 24:45 Trump accused SCOTUS of “foreign influence” 27:15 Trump is too lazy to become one of history’s worst autocrats 29:00 Trump’s laziness is his greatest weakness 30:30 Emergency powers are a shortcut to avoid legislating 32:00 Chaos is coming, people will want refunds for illegal tariffs 33:45 Consumption taxes put the burden on lower income people 35:15 Fallout from the ruling will be a mess for businesses 36:00 What will happen to trade deals that were cut based on illegal tariffs? 36:30 Trump has alienated every major ally the U.S. has 37:30 Trump is vulnerable to Republicans walking away from him 39:45 Trump reaction to tariffs was a gift to the Democrats 41:30 New poll shows Trump’s disapproval at 60% 43:00 Democrats brand still bad despite Trump’s terrible approval 52:00 Geeta Gandbhir joins the Chuck ToddCast 52:45 “The Perfect Neighbor” isn’t a gun story, it’s a societal story 53:30 How important is a potential Academy Award for you? 54:15 Awards give you a platform to talk about issues & bring change 55:00 Film produced independently, then Netflix gave it a huge platform 56:00 How close did you follow this story in real time? 56:30 Ajike Owens was a personal friend of Geeta 57:45 There’s so much gun violence, individual stories don’t break through 58:45 The production team received body cam footage from family lawyers 1:00:00 We usually see the aftermath of shootings, rarely the before footage 1:01:45 Needed to understand chronology of body cam footage 1:03:00 Film’s tension building compared to Blair Witch & Paranormal Activity 1:03:45 Racial justice/tension movies can make for a difficult watch 1:04:45 Movie doesn’t preach, just shows the event & let’s audience decide 1:06:30 Footage portrayed a working class, striving community 1:08:00 Everyone knows the Susan Lorincz, “get off my lawn” type character 1:08:45 No understanding of why Susan Lorincz was so broken as a person 1:11:30 Lorincz was the only woman in the neighborhood that complained to police 1:12:15 This didn’t feel like manslaughter, it felt pre-meditated 1:13:00 Prosecutors felt a manslaughter charge would be easier to convict 1:13:30 Hope DeSantis understands the damage stand your ground laws cause 1:14:45 If there was no body camera footage, Susan could have walked 1:16:00 Police bodycams should be on at all times to prevent distortion of truth 1:16:45 Bodycam footage is a double edged sword, can be used for surveillance 1:17:30 Original footage included protests, funerals & B-roll of the neighborhood 1:19:15 Neighbors had a very visceral reaction to the film, but did find it therapeutic 1:20:45 Having body camera footage could have prevented historical race riots 1:22:15 The ultimate hope is to eradicate “stand your ground” laws 1:23:15 There’s power in telling a true story with unscripted footage 1:25:30 Ajike Owens was a bright young woman with a promising future 1:26:45 How are her children doing? 1:28:15 Watching the grief of the children was devastating & powerful 1:29:30 Family wanted the world to see their grief 1:30:00 Hope the film can inform police training 1:30:45 In other states, Susan would have been charged for nuisance or harassment 1:32:00 Some police funding would be better spent on social workers, psychiatrists etc 1:33:15 It felt like police didn’t know how to handle Susan 1:34:45 Police saw Susan as a nuisance, not a threat. Her whiteness protected her 1:36:30 Susan seemed to be a loner & clearly always miserable 1:37:30 Police never checked into whether Susan was a gun owner 1:38:30 What type of projects are you working on next? 1:39:45 Another documentary will be announced in a couple weeks 1:41:00 Telling the story in a visual medium reaches people who don’t read 1:43:00 Comedy and humor is a great way to teach 1:43:30 How do you use AI, what are you comfortable with, what will you fight? 1:47:15 ToddCast Time Machine - February 27th, 1933 1:47:45 Reichstag fire gave Hitler emergency powers 1:48:30 Germany’s economy had been devastated 1:49:45 In three years, Germany cycled through three unstable governments 1:50:45 German elites thought they could use Hitler’s popularity & manage him 1:51:45 Whether Nazi’s helped, or just exploited the fire is still debated 1:53:00 Reichstag Fire decree suspended civil liberties 1:54:15 Enabling Act allowed Hitler to legislate without parliamentary approval 1:55:00 The German dictatorship was created via constitutional rules 1:56:15 Emergency powers aren’t always authoritarian, it’s who uses them 1:57:15 Ask Chuck 1:57:30 Why does populism lead to antisemitism? 2:01:00 Is this the administration that’s run the most like a business? 2:06:15 Starting to see Republicans breaking with Trump? 2:08:15 What if the Constitutional Convention had not been held in summer? 2:11:15 Thoughts on Gallup ending presidential tracking, NJ-11 election? 2:18:15 Need for regulation on prediction markets 2:20:15 What’s going on with Virginia’s redistricting effort? 2:25:15 Does international diplomacy have a greater impact on the president's legacy?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

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

*Disclaimer* This episode contains strong language Chuck Todd tackles three fast-moving stories shaping the political landscape. First, he digs into the escalating Iran crisis, where the Trump administration has deployed two aircraft carriers, hundreds of fighter jets, and a dozen warships to the Middle East — what Todd calls military adventurism without the consent of Congress. With nuclear talks in Geneva producing no breakthrough and Trump advisers saying there's a 90% chance of kinetic action in the coming weeks, Todd warns that history says hot intervention is coming and that the U.S. may have gone too far to back down, while cautioning that any regime change scenario means America would own the outcome — a lesson the country should have learned from its disastrous track record in Iran. From there, he turns to the Texas Senate race, which he calls an all-timer, breaking down the volatile primaries on both sides: Ken Paxton leading despite millions spent by the GOP establishment to take him down, the tight Crockett-Talarico Democratic primary, and the explosive Colbert-CBS controversy — in which CBS lawyers blocked Colbert from airing a Talarico interview over FCC "equal time" threats, only for the resulting firestorm to generate millions more views on YouTube than it ever would have gotten on broadcast, making Jasmine Crockett the quiet loser in the saga. Todd closes with a sharp critique of crypto's financial coercion of the Democratic Party — pointing to Chuck Schumer reportedly urging Senate Democrats to get on crypto's side after the industry spent heavily to defeat Sherrod Brown — and a Potomac sewage dump that underscores how even basic governance has become hostage to political blame games. Then, George Conway — the conservative lawyer turned leading Trump critic, Lincoln Project co-founder, and now Democratic congressional candidate in New York — joins the Chuck Toddcast for an urgent, no-holds-barred conversation about what he sees as an existential crisis for American constitutional government. Conway, who became a Republican in the 1980s as a "legal conservative" grounded in the Constitution, argues that the party he once joined is now unrecognizable, and that young people have been led to believe conservatism and Trumpism are the same thing. He makes an impassioned case that a third impeachment of Trump isn't just politically justified but a constitutional imperative, warning that Trump is psychologically deteriorating while controlling the military and nuclear arsenal, creating a domestic army through ICE, and presiding over what Conway calls the most corrupt government in America's 250-year history. He points to Mitch McConnell's failure to vote for conviction during the second impeachment trial as the hinge point that could have changed everything — and argues that if impeachment doesn't apply to what Trump has done, the mechanism has no meaning. The conversation goes beyond Trump himself into deeper structural questions about how to repair American democracy. Conway endorses the bipartisan constitutional amendment circulating in the House to nullify presidential pardons — citing Trump intermediaries allegedly being paid for sold pardons — but argues that statutory fixes will be more achievable than amendments, and that Congress needs to codify the old "norms" into enforceable law. He argues that that Democrats should fight fire with fire, with Chuck warning it only feeds whataboutism, and makes the case for incrementalism and welcoming converts rather than saying "I told you so" — pointing to figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene as case studies in evolving away from Trump. Throughout, Conway returns to a central theme: that no positive policy agenda is possible until the current constitutional crisis is resolved, and that America simply cannot survive three more years of a government working to serve one man. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:30 GUEST TEASE 03:30 Are we about to go to war with Iran? 04:30 This is military adventurism without consent of congress 05:30 We’ve moved a massive amount of military assets to Middle East 06:45 It’s possible this is all posturing for negotiations 09:00 Does Trump have room to back down, or will it only escalate? 10:00 Will Trump want part of Iran’s oil business in order to back down? 10:30 History says hot military intervention is coming, best not miss 11:30 If we get involved in regime change then we own it 12:30 It feels like we’ve gone too far to back down 14:15 American interventions in Iran have gone terribly in the past 15:00 A democratic Iran would be amazing, but dictating outcomes is hard 15:30 The Texas senate race is becoming an all-timer 17:00 Polls have shown Crockett ahead of Talarico, 17:30 Establishment GOP feels Paxton is unelectable 18:15 Millions have been spent by GOP to beat Paxton, he’s still leading 19:45 Paxton’s numbers have gotten worse in general, not benefiting Cornyn 20:30 Both Talarico & Crockett lead Paxton in recent polls 21:00 Democrats are getting help from GOP softening up their nominee 23:00 What’s the path for Coryn to get to 50% + 1? 24:30 Colbert interview with Talarico yanked by CBS due to FCC threats 25:00 The controversy generated millions more views than it would have 26:30 What the “equal time rule” actually states 27:30 Don’t know if either side, Colbert or CBS is giving the full story 28:30 Jasmine Crockett is the loser here 30:30 The unanswered questions from the Colbert controversy persist 33:00 This controversy has been a massive boon for Talarico 34:45 Chuck Schumer begging senate Dems to get to crypto’s side 35:30 This goes beyond lobbying, this is financial coercion 36:15 Crypto used their money to defeat & make example of Sherrod Brown 38:00 Big money is threatening dissent in politics 40:00 Schumer is saying when opponent has enough money, you must appease 40:45 Trump only wants to point fingers over sewage dump in Potomac 42:00 We can’t deal with disaster only based on politics 43:00 Can we stop the blame game and just fix the problem? 44:00 Lack of local coverage from WaPo has been a glaring issue 53:15 George Conway joins the Chuck ToddCast 54:45 The Republican party is unrecognizable today 55:45 Why George became a Republican in the 80’s 57:15 George was a “legal” conservative based on the Constitution 58:15 Nixon did some not so conservative things because they were popular 59:45 Young people think conservatism & Trumpism are the same thing 1:00:30 The Democratic party is trying to fit a broad coalition under one tent 1:01:15 We can’t have serious policy debates until the current crisis is over 1:02:45 Hating corrupt politicians of all stripes, not just one side 1:03:45 Can’t retire because the last few years have been appalling 1:05:00 The courts aren’t equipped to deal with someone like Trump 1:06:45 Could a third impeachment trial weaken the impeachment process? 1:07:45 Mitch McConnell choked during Trump’s 2nd impeachment trial 1:08:15 If McConnell voted to convict, others would have followed 1:09:15 If we can’t impeach Trump for what he’s done… Then why have impeachment? 1:10:30 Do we want a constitutional government or not? 1:12:15 Impeaching Trump is as constitutional imperative for congress 1:12:45 Trump is deteriorating psychologically and controls military & nukes 1:13:30 Trump is creating his own domestic army with ICE 1:14:15 The Republic, the constitution and rule of law are all on the line 1:15:00 We can’t survive three more years of this 1:16:00 In 250 years, we’ve never seen a government this corrupt 1:17:45 The internet & media only have so much bandwidth, can’t handle Trump 1:19:00 The government is only working to serve one man 1:20:00 If we don’t impeach Trump, we’re throwing out the constitution 1:20:45 Can you convince Hakeem Jeffries to impeach Trump a 3rd team? 1:21:45 Trump & his actions will only get worse in the coming months 1:23:45 American politics has deteriorated due to the weakness of congress 1:24:15 Everything has gone to the courts since congress won’t legislate 1:25:30 Constitutional amendment to nullify pardons introduced in house 1:27:45 Passing amendments is hard, statutory fixes will be easier to pass 1:29:15 Congress gets to set the rules, and has defaulted on responsibility 1:30:00 The old “norms” need to be codified into law 1:31:30 Our backs are against the wall, normal politics don’t apply 1:33:15 Fighting fire with fire feeds into “whataboutism” 1:34:45 Want to go back to an America where the president isn’t a “piece of shit” 1:37:15 Only four people control congress & that’s the problem 1:38:00 What do you say to the voter who supports Trump for policy reasons? 1:39:30 Nobody has done more damage to restriction immigration than Trump 1:40:30 How did the Reagan GOP you joined become Trump acolytes? 1:41:15 Victimhood is clearly the currency of the right 1:43:00 The right’s grievance complex leads them to only oppose the left 1:44:15 The case for incrementalism, democracy is a dialogue 1:45:30 There is a nihilistic animus amongst Trump’s inner circle 1:48:00 Bush has stayed fairly quiet about Trump, should have spoken sooner 1:51:00 The only way to win converts is to welcome them i.e. Marjorie Taylor-Greene 1:52:00 Mike Pence deserves credit for J6, but should have conceded in November 1:53:15 Marjorie Taylor-Greene is a case study in evolving away from Trump 1:55:45 The spirit of democracy requires being to admit you were wrong 1:56:30 Nobody likes to hear “I told you so” - It’s why Trumpism has persisted 1:57:45 What questions do voters ask you that aren’t about Trump? 2:00:30 We can’t do positive things for people until Trump is gone 2:02:30 George Conway makes a persuasive argument for impeachment 2:05:00 History will be kinder if we use the constitution to throw out Trump 2:05:45 Ask Chuck 2:06:00 Why not give Trump accolades in exchange for good policy? 2:08:15 Fresh candidates on the pod restoring a sense of optimism 2:11:00 Did the Inflation Reduction Act include EPA’s ability to regulate air pollution? 2:15:00 Book recommendations for understanding fall of the Ottoman empire? 2:17:30 Which house races are you watching closely and why? 2:19:45 Not as optimistic about passing constitutional amendments 2:22:30 How did the one-term presidents lose if they weren’t politically astute?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Chuck Todd explores whether the United States is on the verge of a new reform era — and argues that the signs are more promising than you might think. Starting with a constitutional amendment now circulating in Congress to nullify presidential pardons, backed by both a Maryland Democrat and Republican Don Bacon to give it bipartisan credibility, Todd makes the case that the pardon power has been so thoroughly abused — from Biden's preemptive pardons giving Trump political cover, to Trump intermediaries allegedly being paid for sold pardons — that the kind of structural corruption requiring structural repair is now undeniable. He puts this moment in historical context, drawing parallels to the reform cascades that produced the 16th Amendment (born from rampant income inequality), the 17th Amendment (born from a corruption scandal involving the sale of Senate seats), and the 19th Amendment (born when democracy itself felt like it was slipping away), while cautioning that not every reform era gets it right — the 18th Amendment and Prohibition being a case study in moral panic and overcorrection. His broader argument is that reform eras tend to cascade once they begin, that the tools to demand a better democratic structure already exist, and that if Congress shifts from debating revenge to debating reforms, that alone represents meaningful progress. Finally, Chuck gives his reaction the Munich Security Conference, offers up his ToddCast Top 5 “Most Absurd Awards Created To Soothe Trump’s Ego” and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:30 A constitutional amendment circulating to nullify presidential pardons2:00 We may be seeing a structural shift at a time that it’s needed2:45 Reform eras happen when both sides decide rules need to be tightened3:15 We’ve seen governors sell pardons, nothing like what Trump’s doing4:15 Trump intermediaries are getting paid for sold pardons5:30 Biden’s pardons basically gave Trump license for his corrupt pardons6:45 For institutional change, you need bad actors on both sides7:45 Maryland congressman introduced amendment to override pardons8:30 Don Bacon signed on to endorse amendment, makes it bipartisan9:30 Nullification threshold is set pretty high10:45 17th amendment was born out of political corruption scandal12:30 16th amendment born out of rampant income inequality13:45 19th amendment came when it felt like democracy was slipping away14:30 18th amendment came from moral panic, was later repealed15:15 Reforms can be necessary, some are an overcorrection16:15 Structural corruption requires structural repair, requires amendment17:30 Other areas of structural reform that could gain traction19:15 Reform eras don’t stop with one thing, tend to cascade21:00 We have the tools to demand a better structure for democracy22:45 If congress is debating reforms instead of revenge, that’s progress 31:15 We need a consensus on America’s role in the world 32:00 Reaction to Munich security conference 32:30 Rubio sees himself as a bridge to the rules based order & Trump 33:45 Trump will easily throw Rubio or Vance under the bus 35:00 AOC didn’t seem to have the most prepared answers in Munich 36:30 The right wants to dunk on AOC, when Trump is far more ignorant 37:45 We hold political opponents to far higher standards than our own team 38:15 ToddCast Top 5 Most Absurd Awards Created To Soothe Trump’s Ego 39:00 #5 McDonald’s french fry certification pin 39:45 #4 Undisputed Champion of Clean Coal award 40:45 #3 FIFA Peace Prize 41:45 #2 The Tim Cook Special 42:45 #1 NRSC Champion For Freedom Bowl 44:15 Giving out these awards is a terrible look 44:45 The actual Nobel Peace Prize given by Machado did not qualify for list 45:45 Trump is desperate for historic accolades 46:30 Ask Chuck 46:45 Will we live to see a Democratic elected statewide in Tennessee? 53:00 Loved history lesson on importance of 1848, could you expand on it? 56:45 What rights from the Bill of Rights has Trump NOT violated? 58:45 Why aren’t SCOTUS potential retirements getting more attention?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

Todd takes the Toddcast on tour all the way to Jakarta to speak with JLL Indonesia Head of Growth and Advisory Vivin Harsanto, on the back of the business' 45th anniversary.

Chuck Todd takes a hard look at the state of American governance and institutional trust — or the lack of it. He starts by reflecting on the historical significance of three consecutive one-term presidents, ranking his top five most underrated commanders-in-chief and arguing that both Biden and Trump are unlikely to be viewed as consequential a century from now. From there, Todd pivots to a searing indictment of the current moment: from the Epstein reckoning exposing the government's inability to tell the truth, to DHS being treated as a political plaything by Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski, to the DOD endangering lives in the El Paso FAA incident with zero accountability, to Moderna alleging that HHS refused to even review an mRNA flu vaccine under RFK Jr.'s watch. He connects the dots across a pattern of institutional dishonesty — a Justice Department focused on narrative management, masked ICE agents no one can justify, a fired antitrust chief clearing the way for powerful interests, and a "hostage system" style of governing that holds federal paychecks as leverage — making the case that when the government lies this often, it forfeits the benefit of the doubt on everything, and that the Epstein scandal isn't just a story about one man, but a mirror reflecting a system designed to protect the powerful. Then, Gene Sperling — the only person to serve as Director of the National Economic Council under two presidents (Clinton and Obama), a senior advisor to President Biden who oversaw the American Rescue Plan, and a consultant and co-writer on NBC's The West Wing — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation. Sperling shares the wild story of how he ended up in Santa Monica, his brush with Aaron Sorkin's legal troubles, and his insider take on how real Washington compares to its fictional portrayals. The conversation then turns to Sperling's deep expertise on the economy, from his defense of the Biden administration's "soft landing" amid global post-Covid inflation to the political lessons of how rising prices have sunk presidencies on both sides of the aisle — including Biden's own re-election bid. The back half of the episode looks squarely at the future. Sperling, who says he's unlikely to serve in another Democratic administration, offers a forceful argument about what comes next: the rising threat of unchecked corporate and tech power, the urgent need for AI policy that puts working people first, and the lessons of globalization that policymakers can't afford to repeat. Drawing on themes from his book Economic Dignity, he makes the case that Americans are hungry for leaders who pair optimism with a real confrontation of economic injustice — and warns that a handful of AI and crypto companies, flush with lobbying dollars, could end up shaping the structure of the economy if left unchallenged. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the publishing of the Communist Manifesto and argues that while its critiques of the excesses of capitalism were correct… it’s revolutionary prescriptions led to the worst authoritarian states in modern history. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:30 We’ve had 3 straight one term presidents, deem them all failures 04:45 Inability to win reelection will always be seen as an asterisk 05:45 Top 5 most underrated presidents 06:00 James Polk was the only voluntary one term president 06:45 James Garfield was a fierce advocate for civil rights 07:30 George H.W. Bush was accomplished, but not a good politician 08:30 John Quincy Adams laid out modern American infrastructure 09:00 Jimmy Carter did many things that have aged well 10:15 In 100 years, Biden & Trump likely won’t be viewed as consequential 11:45 Biden & Trump can’t be evaluated fairly for many years 12:30 What does a real reckoning look like in the Trump era? 13:45 The institution least capable of reckoning with Epstein is the government 14:15 The private sector is forcing accountability, the government isn’t 15:15 Trust is the currency of government, and Trump’s doesn’t have it 16:15 The Justice Department is only worried about narrative management 17:30 The system looks like a club, designed to protect the powerful 18:45 Epstein is a test of whether the government can tell the truth 20:00 DHS shutting down, politicians using paychecks as leverage 20:30 We a governing via a “hostage system” 21:45 There isn’t a single good argument for masking ICE agents 22:15 The Democrats’ demands are not extreme, they’re common sense 23:15 Noem & Lewandowski treating DHS like their personal plaything 24:00 Pattern of government saying one thing, facts saying another 25:15 Whatever Noem says first, you can’t believe it. She gaslights the public 26:00 The government has lied too many times, gets no benefit of the doubt 26:45 El Paso FAA incident is case study for public distrusting institutions 27:45 DoD was lying to the FAA, FAA pulled the emergency brakes 29:00 DoD put lives in danger with no accountability 29:30 Moderna says HHS refused to review MRNA flu vaccine 30:15 The U.S. is not a stable country to develop & release products 31:00 Kennedy only offers crackpot theories & totally unfit for office 32:00 We can’t trust the government to tell us the truth about anything 32:30 DOJ fired antitrust chief, powerful interests get what they want 34:00 Epstein isn’t just a scandal, it’s a mirror 43:30 Gene Sperling joins the Chuck Toddcast 45:30 The wild story of how Gene ended up in Santa Monica 46:45 Aaron Sorkin couldn’t meet with Gene due to legal trouble 49:45 Real politics/news look nothing like “West Wing” or “The Newsroom” 51:00 The one truism about the West Wing is good people trying to do good 52:45 Politics is NOT like House of Cards 54:15 West Wing still remains viable, any chance of a reboot? 55:30 What’s the state of the economy? What do you look for? 56:15 Biden economy was strong growth, but high inflation 57:00 Biden achieved the “soft landing” they were trying for 58:15 Inflation was global and mostly due to Covid supply chain shocks 59:45 The American Rescue Plan had many positive effects 1:00:45 Every head of state poured money into economies during Covid 1:01:45 Covid was going to result in either inflation or recession 1:03:30 Obama couldn’t pass enough stimulus during Great Recession 1:04:30 A little extra stimulus can help offset future unknowns 1:05:15 Millennials’ future was permanently damaged by Great Recession 1:06:30 A generation had never seen high inflation until Covid 1:07:30 Anger over inflation sunk Biden’s re-election 1:08:30 Inflation is bipartisan, took down 3 different presidents 1:09:30 Inflation affects everyone, jobs & unemployment don’t 1:10:45 Every head of state suffered politically post pandemic 1:12:45 Will Biden baggage sink Pete Buttigieg, or is that overstated? 1:14:30 Biden’s conflict was empathy for suffering vs touting achievements 1:16:45 Biden had the tiniest of margins to pass major legislation 1:18:00 Gene is unlikely to work in a future Democratic administration 1:18:45 Pitchforks are being sharpened for corporations and big tech 1:19:30 Will worker rage fuel the next election? 1:20:30 Presidents that do well offer optimism, but confront economic injustice 1:22:00 People don’t want to feel like they are being extracted for profits 1:24:00 AI growth can’t come at the expense of working people 1:25:30 AI policy should be shaped around improving conditions for people 1:26:45 What lessons from globalization can be used to alleviate AI disruption? 1:28:30 Clinton believed in robust response to globalization 1:29:30 Clinton couldn’t implement strong safety net after losing congress 1:31:15 You have to have policies where people don’t feel left behind 1:33:00 We need to create and fund jobs that create dignity 1:33:45 We need to create an economic dignity floor for all Americans 1:35:45 When is a company too big to regulate? 1:38:00 If companies are disproportionately determining policies, they’re too big 1:38:45 Crypto & AI are getting what they want from huge lobbying money 1:39:30 A handful of AI companies could determine structure of the economy 1:41:45 The Trump White House has invited corporate influence 1:49:45 What if Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie ran on “accountability” ticket 1:51:00 A bipartisan ticket of “pox on both their houses” could be powerful 1:51:45 ToddCast Time Machine February 21st, 1848 1:52:00 Marx & Engels publish the communist manifesto 1:52:45 Monarchies were colliding with modern economic forces 1:54:15 Marx argued that capitalism is destabilizing if left unchecked 1:55:15 If the manifesto was called something else, how would we view it? 1:55:45 Marx doesn’t argue reform, says that capitalism will destroy itself 1:56:30 Communist states didn’t emerge until decades after manifesto 1:57:15 Manifesto gave dictators arguments to grab power 1:58:00 Marx talked in economics, dictators exploited his language 1:59:30 Communism took hold in places where industrialization fell behind 2:00:15 Manifesto gets invoked badly by both sides in American politics 2:01:00 Marx’s diagnosis was spot on, his solutions were questionable 2:02:30 Lack of regulation for AI will push people to radicalism 2:03:00 Ask Chuck 2:03:15 Does something seem off with the administration’s economic numbers? 2:07:30 Do we need a punchier title than “Gate” for political scandals? 2:10:00 Do we need to withhold congressional salaries during shutdowns? 2:14:00 Missing intellectuals like Rahm Emmanuel leading the country 2:16:00 What is the criteria for impeachment of cabinet members? 2:18:45 Favorite football/baseball players as a kid?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Conservative, not bitter—my friends, today's Toddcast tackles a disturbing trend: American Olympic athletes publicly expressing shame about representing the United States. Todd reacts to comments from Team USA skier Hunter Hess and others, responding to President Trump's blunt criticism and the media's predictable framing. This episode dives deep into patriotism, free speech, law enforcement, immigration enforcement, and why loving your country doesn't mean pretending it's perfect. Todd contrasts modern anti-American sentiment with the historical reality of America as a force for good in the world, from the Cold War to the founding principles rooted in God-given rights. You may disagree—but you won't leave confused about where Todd stands. Proudly American. Always.

Conservative, not bitter—my friends, today's Toddcast tackles a disturbing trend: American Olympic athletes publicly expressing shame about representing the United States. Todd reacts to comments from Team USA skier Hunter Hess and others, responding to President Trump's blunt criticism and the media's predictable framing. This episode dives deep into patriotism, free speech, law enforcement, immigration enforcement, and why loving your country doesn't mean pretending it's perfect. Todd contrasts modern anti-American sentiment with the historical reality of America as a force for good in the world, from the Cold War to the founding principles rooted in God-given rights. You may disagree—but you won't leave confused about where Todd stands. Proudly American. Always.

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

In this episode, Chuck Todd reacts to the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl, then examines the political shockwaves rippling through Washington after Donald Trump’s controversial and widely condemned post about the Obamas, placing it within the broader context of Trump’s long history of racial controversies and growing unease inside his own coalition. As criticism emerges from Republican lawmakers, conservative legal voices, and even Olympic athletes, Todd explores signs that Trump’s influence may be weakening—fueled by internal party fractures, controversial foreign policy moves, and a leadership circle increasingly insulating him from reality. With a surge of congressional retirements, warning signs from special elections, and historical trends favoring the opposition party, the conversation turns to whether Republicans are heading toward a major electoral setback—and whether worsening controversies, including ongoing fallout from Epstein-related revelations, could further reshape the political landscape before November. Then, former White House Chief of Staff & Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel joins the Chuck ToddCast for a wide-ranging conversation on the forces shaping America’s political and economic future. He discusses why the 2028 election will be about what’s ahead—not what’s behind—and argues that understanding AI, energy, and the changing nature of work is now essential for anyone seeking leadership. Emanuel makes the case that education and vocational training remain the clearest pathway to the middle class, warns about declining reading proficiency, and examines what schools must do to prepare students for a rapidly evolving world. He also explores how both parties lost their way on education, why fundamentals matter, and what voters are really demanding from the system. The discussion then turns sharply to politics, power, and the health of American institutions. Emanuel weighs in on Trump-era controversies, Congress’s weakened role, and concerns about election integrity and the post-election environment. He outlines how Democrats can rebuild a winning coalition by welcoming independents and former Republicans, focusing on economic fairness, and preparing for a potential 2026 wave election. The episode closes with a global lens—covering U.S.–Israel dynamics, political polarization, wealth inequality, and whether national service could help reunite a fractured country—framing a central question: if the midterms fail to reset the trajectory, what comes next for American democracy? Finally, Chuck comments on the fallout from the mass layoffs at the Washington Post, hops in the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the history of the Iranian revolution and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:30 Super Bowl reaction 03:15 Bad Bunny’s halftime show was a great tour of Latin culture 04:30 The AI de-aging in the commercials is creepy 06:00 Half of the AI companies advertising likely won’t exist in 3 years 10:00 Fallout from Trump’s racist post about the Obamas 11:00 Trump’s entire history has included accusations of racism 11:45 Trump definitely made the post, Republicans push back on it 13:30 The cracks in the Trump coalition grow deeper by the week 14:30 Trump didn’t have much filter before, losing it as he ages 15:30 Olympic athletes voiced concerns & opposition to administration 16:30 Trump’s inner circle keep him in a “safe space” cocoon 17:30 In six weeks of 2026, Trump has put the GOP on the defensive 19:15 Close Trump allies in congress willing to criticize him 21:00 Conservative legal analysts rip Trump for corrupt UAE deal 23:15 Trump’s Greenland posturing turned allies against the U.S. 24:00 An electoral disaster is brewing for the Republicans 24:30 Nearing a record number of incumbents retiring from congress 27:00 Historical trends suggest massive gains for the out party 28:30 Retiring members sound like they are done with politics 29:45 Retirements will create an institutional knowledge gap 31:15 Retirements are a warning sign for disastrous upcoming election 35:00 Redistricting could create even more retirements 36:15 Two more special elections swung massively toward Democrats 37:15 Any Republican in a 59% or less Trump district is in danger 39:30 Almost no scenario where Republicans hold the house 40:45 Inconceivable that Trump recovers his approval rating by Nov. 42:30 The Epstein file releases keep getting worse and worse for Trump 56:15 Rahm Emmanuel joins the Chuck ToddCast 57:45 What does the average week look like for Rahm Emmanuel? 58:45 Trying to get a good understanding of AI & energy distribution 59:45 Candidates better understand AI because it’s driving economy 1:00:15 2028 election will be about the future not the past 1:01:45 Education and vocational training are the ticket to middle class 1:03:15 Coding used to be the most sought after skill, now it’s irrelevant 1:04:15 How to prepare students for a rapidly changing world? 1:05:45 AI won’t eliminate vocational professionals 1:07:30 Students are at a 30 year low in reading proficiency 1:08:15 Education is a highly motivating issue for voters 1:08:45 Vouchers don’t help rural communities 1:09:45 GOP has abandoned public ed, Dems abandoned accountability 1:11:00 Governors used to compete to be the “education governor” 1:11:45 Lotteries became the popular way to fund public education 1:12:30 Mississippi found a successful education model & it was copied 1:15:00 If schools focus on the fundamentals, scores go up 1:16:30 Trump’s UAE corruption scandal the worst in history 1:18:00 Trump is supposed to work for the voters checkbook, not his own 1:18:45 Trump’s pardons are almost exclusively for white collar crime 1:20:30 Congress has completely abdicated their responsibility 1:22:00 Founders were very worried about a corrupt executive 1:23:30 Major international shakeups and DNI is at Georgia election office 1:25:00 There are certain features of elections Trump can’t screw with 1:26:45 Rahm is more worried about the post election environment 1:27:30 The institutions have failed, but the people will protect this country 1:28:15 Worried that Mike Johnson may screw with the seating of new congress 1:29:15 Mike Johnson doesn’t have Mike Pence’s courage 1:31:45 What issues should Democrats should prioritize to win elections 1:32:45 2026 will be a wave election, presents chance to win local/state races 1:34:15 Tax refunds won’t be the electoral boon Republicans think they will 1:35:00 There’s no upside to being a long-term planner in American politics 1:36:15 What states should Dems target outside the 7 battlegrounds? 1:37:00 Never Trump Republicans finding more affinity with Democratic party 1:38:00 Democrats need to welcome former Republicans & independents 1:39:15 Unaffiliated voters are where you get your electoral majority 1:40:45 Progressive vs. Moderate viability for Democrats 1:43:15 Democratic electorate is always looking for someone new 1:44:15 The future will be on the ballot in 2028 1:46:30 Biden promised to unite the country & only united his party. It’s why he failed 1:48:00 Mandatory national service could help reunite the country 1:51:15 Entire tax code is built around wealth preservation, not creating wealth 1:53:15 People are tired by the ultra rich playing by their own set of rules 1:54:15 WaPo is an institution, and Bezos is gutting it against public interest 1:56:45 How welcome will a Jewish candidate be in a Democratic primary? 1:58:15 Separating the Jewish people/religion from Bibi’s government 2:00:00 Bibi’s governance has made Israel more vulnerable and isolated 2:01:00 Did we export our politics to Israel or are we emulating them? 2:02:00 If Democrats fail to win the midterms… then what? 2:04:00 Send us your guest requests & suggestions! 2:05:45 Will Lewis resigns, cements himself as worst publisher of WaPo 2:06:45 The Washington Post will fade into irrelevance after layoffs 2:08:00 Lack of local coverage bad for DC sports teams & venues 2:09:30 Team owners in DC should help fund local coverage 2:11:30 WaPo owner & publisher weren’t willing to own the layoffs 2:12:00 ToddCast Time Machine - February 11th 1979 2:12:15 Iranian shah’s regime collapsed, created Islamic Republic 2:13:15 Iran/Persia is one of the longest continuing states in history 2:14:45 Persia was neutral in WW1 & had its sovereignty violated 2:15:30 Collapse of Ottoman empire led to new states created by European powers 2:16:30 There’s a long history of small D democracy in Iran 2:17:30 The Shah’s project was forced modernization 2:18:45 The coup turned the Shah into the central pillar of the state 2:19:45 U.S. violating Iran’s sovereignty created anti-Americanism 2:21:00 Ayatollah Khamenei emerged as symbol of the resistance 2:21:45 Shah decided to expel Khamenei, gave him more rhetorical power 2:23:00 The Iranian revolution was broad based, but the clerical faction won 2:23:45 Hostage crisis came 9 months after the revolution 2:24:15 If we intervene now, it would be on the side of the Iranian people 2:25:30 Intervening on behalf of democracy works better than self-interest 2:26:15 Transactional politics without a moral code bites us in the ass 2:27:30 Ask Chuck 2:27:45 If Trump proved he was 2020 winner, does that make 2024 win unconstitutional? 2:31:30 Is it better for ethical people to stay in government to prevent someone worse? 2:35:30 Why not include Mississippi as state for Dems to target by 2032? 2:38:45 Causes for both alarm & optimism 2:42:00 Should MLB change the rule for intentional walks to make it two bases? 2:44:15 Some nicknames for the Trump/UAE corruption scandalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

The Now! That's What I Call TodCasting! bracket officially kicks off as Todd and Eric break down the first matchup in the tournament: the #1 seed, The 4th of July Parade, versus the #16 seed, Trollin' with the Kenobi Bot. After revisiting both episodes in their original and newly tailored versions, the guys go category by category to decide who advances.The Bracket Rules: Entertainment, information, and original audio quality - no vibes-only voting.Kenobi Bot Revisited: Eric looks back at early trolling, fake bots, surprise websites, and why this episode both holds up and shows its age.The Parade Juggernaut: Giant sandwiches, Disney logic, lawnmowers, drones, Mark Hamill, and why this episode became ToddCast lore.Audio Reality Check: Trucker headsets, background noise, screaming kids, and why remastering was absolutely necessary.Creative Chaos vs. Polish: When unscripted flow wins, when it doesn't, and why Season 4 dominates the bracket.The Verdict: Does the #1 seed earn its spot, or can the underdog pull off a miracle?This episode sets the tone for Season 10 - part recap, part commentary, and part love letter to the evolution of the TodCast.

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

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

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

it's 2026 and we have returned! And, with our return, comes a tribute and farewell to one of the greatest fur babies that ever lived, Tibs the Cat. Tibs past away shortly before Christmas 2025, and though she's gone she will continue to be immortalized through our media both the Toddcast and Super Fuzz Productions as a whole. So we thought it fitting that this episode be dedicated to Tibs the Cat as we look back at some of her best moments on the Toddcast. That and more on an all new episode of The Smokin' Hot Toddcast!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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