The Chuck ToddCast – Details, episodes & analysis

Massive “No Kings” protests swept across the country this weekend — peaceful, organized, and impossible to ignore. Chuck Todd breaks down what the demonstrations say about growing frustration with Trump’s leadership as his administration faces a government shutdown, soaring insurance costs, and a controversial new military campaign in the Caribbean. As Trump retweets crude AI videos and governs for only half the country, Congress remains silent on legally dubious strikes against Venezuela, an operation critics say has more to do with ousting Maduro than fighting drugs. Todd examines how America’s history of self-interest in Latin America and declining democratic norms at home have converged to create a moment of moral and political reckoning — and why ignoring it might come at a cost.

Finally, Chuck Todd hops in the ToddCast Time Machine to recap the history of the Teapot Dome scandal and how it closely mirrors the corruption of the Trump administration, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and recaps the weekend in college football.

Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win!

Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction

01:30 No Kings protests held around the country

02:15 Protests were timed deliberately in advance of elections

04:30 Huge turnout numbers at the protests

08:30 No incidents at protests that led to confrontations with police

09:45 Trump retweets AI video of himself flying plane and dropping poop

10:45 Trump has the mentality of a 13 year old boy

12:00 Trump has no lifelong friends

13:15 Trump isn’t traveling the country to sell his agenda, unlike first term

14:15 Remarkable that so many people are willing to protest on a Saturday

16:00 Republicans would be wise not to dismiss the protests

16:30 Controversy grows around Trump’s military strikes in Caribbean

17:45 Congress is failing to provide any oversight of the executive

19:00 Insurance notices indicating massive premium spikes coming soon

20:00 Shocking there’s less outrage Trump governs for only half the country

20:45 Government shutdown has turned into a giant mess

22:15 Trump’s administration hints they aren’t sure boat strikes are legal

23:45 Venezuela story would get more attention if it was anywhere else

24:30 Administration refuses to call the strikes “war”

25:15 Repatriating captives helps administration avoid legal questions

26:45 Legality of strikes will be eventually be determined in US courts

28:00 Claiming cartels are “terrorists” doesn’t meet legal definition

28:45 Venezuela isn’t part of the fentanyl drug trade

29:30 Trump & Rubio’s obsession is actually about getting rid of Nicolas Maduro

31:00 The U.S. military has never gone after narcoterrorists before

32:00 Congress has not authorized use of military force in Caribbean

33:30 Members of congress not convinced by rationale for strikes

35:00 Trump is greenlighting killings without making case for it

37:30 If overdose deaths are the rationale, the problem is with Mexico

39:00 Trump hasn’t ruled out striking the Venezuelan mainland

41:00 The US had never designated a cartel as terrorists until this year

44:30 America’s history in Latin America is atrocious and self-interested

47:00 ToddCast Time Machine 

47:15 October 25th, 1929 - Jury convicts the first cabinet secretary to prison 

48:45 Teapot Dome scandal 

50:00 Harding signed executive order transferring oil fields, leased to oil barons 

51:15 Fall received $7 million dollars in exchange for oil leases 

52:45 Harding's death spawned conspiracy theories about corruption 

53:15 Albert Fall convicted of bribery 

54:00 Comparing teapot dome to Trump's modern day corruption 

55:15 The "out" party should always be the one in charge of oversight 

56:30 Watergate isn't the parallel to Trump's corruption, Teapot Dome is 

56:45 Ask Chuck 

57:00 Will the No Kings protests have any real effect on politics? 

59:30 How can Democrats regain control of the political narrative? 

1:04:30 College football update

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Massive “No Kings” protests swept across the country this weekend — peaceful, organized, and impossible to ignore. Chuck Todd breaks down what the demonstrations say about growing frustration with Trump’s leadership as his administration faces a government shutdown, soaring insurance costs, and a controversial new military campaign in the Caribbean. As Trump retweets crude AI videos and governs for only half the country, Congress remains silent on legally dubious strikes against Venezuela, an operation critics say has more to do with ousting Maduro than fighting drugs. Todd examines how America’s history of self-interest in Latin America and declining democratic norms at home have converged to create a moment of moral and political reckoning — and why ignoring it might come at a cost.

Then, Ars Technica space journalist Eric Berger joins Chuck Todd to unpack the new global race to the moon — and why it’s about power as much as science. With China poised to beat the U.S. back to the lunar surface, NASA’s Artemis program faces both technological and geopolitical pressure. Berger and Todd explore how space has become the next great stage for competition, where the first shots of a future war could be fired — not on Earth, but in orbit. From SpaceX’s dominance and Elon Musk’s influence, to Blue Origin’s lagging efforts and Boeing’s uncertain role, the conversation digs into who will actually shape humanity’s future beyond Earth.

They also discuss the growing role of private companies in both space exploration and weather forecasting, how AI is reshaping meteorology, and whether we’ll ever see space-based energy or asteroid mining become viable. It’s a sweeping look at how politics, technology, and ambition are colliding — in a sky that’s getting more crowded by the day.

Finally, Chuck Todd hops in the ToddCast Time Machine to recap the history of the Teapot Dome scandal and how it closely mirrors the corruption of the Trump administration, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and recaps the weekend in college football.

Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win!

Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction

01:30 No Kings protests held around the country

02:15 Protests were timed deliberately in advance of elections

04:30 Huge turnout numbers at the protests

08:30 No incidents at protests that led to confrontations with police

09:45 Trump retweets AI video of himself flying plane and dropping poop

10:45 Trump has the mentality of a 13 year old boy

12:00 Trump has no lifelong friends

13:15 Trump isn’t traveling the country to sell his agenda, unlike first term

14:15 Remarkable that so many people are willing to protest on a Saturday

16:00 Republicans would be wise not to dismiss the protests

16:30 Controversy grows around Trump’s military strikes in Caribbean

17:45 Congress is failing to provide any oversight of the executive

19:00 Insurance notices indicating massive premium spikes coming soon

20:00 Shocking there’s less outrage Trump governs for only half the country

20:45 Government shutdown has turned into a giant mess

22:15 Trump’s administration hints they aren’t sure boat strikes are legal

23:45 Venezuela story would get more attention if it was anywhere else

24:30 Administration refuses to call the strikes “war”

25:15 Repatriating captives helps administration avoid legal questions

26:45 Legality of strikes will be eventually be determined in US courts

28:00 Claiming cartels are “terrorists” doesn’t meet legal definition

28:45 Venezuela isn’t part of the fentanyl drug trade

29:30 Trump & Rubio’s obsession is actually about getting rid of Nicolas Maduro

31:00 The U.S. military has never gone after narcoterrorists before

32:00 Congress has not authorized use of military force in Caribbean

33:30 Members of congress not convinced by rationale for strikes

35:00 Trump is greenlighting killings without making case for it

37:30 If overdose deaths are the rationale, the problem is with Mexico

39:00 Trump hasn’t ruled out striking the Venezuelan mainland

41:00 The US had never designated a cartel as terrorists until this year

44:30 America’s history in Latin America is atrocious and self-interested

48:15 Eric Berger joins the Chuck ToddCast 

49:15 China is on track to beat the U.S. back to the moon 

50:45 NASA is still pursuing the Artemis program 

52:00 Both the U.S. and China are targeting the moon's south pole 

54:15 If you want to be a superpower, needs a presence on the moon 

54:45 SpaceX's Starship is best equipped for Mars mission 

55:30 Best methods of propulsion for long distance space missions 

56:45 The biggest reason for lunar landing is geopolitics/flexing 

57:30 Treaty says that no country can claim ownership of the moon 

58:30 How would a private company stake a resource claim on the moon? 

1:00:00 Has low earth orbit gotten too crowded with man made satellites? 

1:01:00 In the next big war, the first shots will likely be fired into space 

1:02:45 Cooperation in space has diminished, become more nationalistic 

1:04:45 Most countries forced to rely on US, Russia and China for space launches 

1:05:45 UAE is developing space capabilities with NASA's help 

1:06:30 NASA can't get to space without private contractors/SpaceX 

1:07:00 Elon Musk is the most important person to spacefight globally 

1:08:30 Blue Origin is far behind SpaceX in capabilities for lunar lander 

1:09:15 Will Boeing's space program ever deliver? 

1:10:15 Will the first space hotel be in orbit or on the moon? 

1:11:15 There's very little demand for orbital tourism, very expensive 

1:12:45 Mars missions are incredibly different, will likely be one-way to start 

1:14:15 There are no resources on Mars worth the cost of mining and shipping back 

1:15:00 The only reason to go to Mars is to make humans a space-faring species 

1:16:00 Robots are far superior to humans for scientific research missions 

1:17:15 There's more water on Europa than Earth, life could be there 

1:18:45 Best places in solar system for humans to possibly create bases 

1:20:30 Is Bezos's idea of heavy manufacturing on the moon a pipe dream? 

1:21:45 Mining asteroids could provide all the metals we'd ever need 

1:22:30 SpaceX's Falcon9 rocket made cost of accessing space far lower 

1:23:45 Are energy production advances the best way to sell space costs to taxpayers? 

1:25:30 Space based energy production is far from being commercially viable 

1:26:45 The Europeans surpassed the U.S. at meteorology 

1:27:45 Can AI tools help fill the gaps after U.S. cut funding for NOAA? 

1:28:30 AI hurricane modeling seems to be just as good as physics based models 

1:29:30 Private sector still relies on the government for weather forecasting 

1:30:45 We need better data collection for our weather forecasting 

1:33:00 Private companies are hiring their own meteorologists 

1:35:45 Microforecasting has gotten much better due to the internet 

1:36:53 What does Ars Technica cover and what is its mission? 

1:39:00 Do we know more about the solar system or the oceans?

1:43:15 Chuck's thoughts on the interview with Eric Berger 

1:43:30 ToddCast Time Machine 

1:43:45 October 25th, 1929 - Jury convicts the first cabinet secretary to prison 

1:45:15 Teapot Dome scandal 

1:46:30 Harding signed executive order transferring oil fields, leased to oil barons 

1:47:45 Fall received $7 million dollars in exchange for oil leases 

1:49:15 Harding's death spawned conspiracy theories about corruption 

1:49:45 Albert Fall convicted of bribery 

1:50:30 Comparing teapot dome to Trump's modern day corruption 

1:51:45 The "out" party should always be the one in charge of oversight 

1:53:00 Watergate isn't the parallel to Trump's corruption, Teapot Dome is 

1:53:15 Ask Chuck 

1:53:30 Will the No Kings protests have any real effect on politics? 

1:56:00 How can Democrats regain control of the political narrative? 

2:01:00 College football update

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd breaks down the latest political and global chaos as the government shutdown drags on with no resolution in sight—because, as he puts it, “nothing moves without Trump.” From Trump’s trade threats against China and his transactional diplomacy in the Middle East to Netanyahu’s political freefall in Israel, the episode examines how American and global politics are increasingly driven by short-term leverage over long-term stability. Todd also exposes how Trump’s team has weaponized government institutions—from Russ Vought’s reckless layoffs to Pam Bondi’s politicized DOJ—and how Trump’s online behavior, including an embarrassing Truth Social blunder, raises national security concerns. With the rule of law eroding and America’s moral authority slipping away, Chuck warns that the U.S. may be entering an era where power, not principle, defines governance.

Then, Moody’s chief economist Mark Zandi joins Chuck to assess an economy that looks strong on paper—but feels weak for most Americans. While the top third of earners are doing well, lower-income households are tightening their belts as consumer spending slows and job creation stagnates. Zandi warns of a 30–40% chance of a recession by 2026, citing the drag from federal job cuts, the drying up of COVID relief funds, and the destabilizing effects of rising tariffs and electricity costs.

They also dig into the booming—but risky—AI sector, where soaring valuations and limited job growth may be setting up the next market correction. Gold prices are surging, commercial real estate is slumping, and housing shortages are widening for middle-class renters. With Americans increasingly unable to move for better opportunities and faith in Washington deteriorating, Zandi and Todd explore whether the U.S. economy can remain the world’s “safe haven” — or if 2026 could be the year that confidence finally cracks.

Finally, Chuck goes back to the 1987 market crash in the ToddCast Time Machine to compare the conditions then to current market conditions, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and gives his college football update.

Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win!

Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction - New addition to the Todd household

03:45 Trump/China threaten trade retaliation, just posturing?

04:45 Government remains shutdown, no resolution without Trump

06:00 Trump sensitive to tariff price hikes on pharmaceuticals 

07:00 Trump’s transactional diplomacy works well in the middle east

09:15 Can Netanyahu survive politically without an active war?

10:15 2/3rds of Israeli voters want Netanyahu to resign

11:15 Many of Israel’s threats are gone, but is now very isolated

12:45 Trump’s government has weaponized/politicized everything

14:00 Russ Vought’s mass layoffs were sloppy, overfired at CDC

16:00 Pam Bondi has overtly weaponized the Justice Department

18:15 DOJ indicting Trump enemies he named in social media post

19:45 Trump was DMing Bondi on Truth Social, mistakenly posted publicly

21:30 Trump’s communications far more insecure than Hilary’s emails

24:15 The current Republican congress just rolls over for Trump

25:15 Trump is destroying the rule of law & reputation of the GOP

26:30 If roles were reversed Republicans would be apoplectic

27:45 US has lost moral authority & credibility on the world stage

29:15 Most military leaders would resign quietly if given illegal orders

30:45 Presidents used to respect their predecessors… not Trump

31:45 Trump’s supposed to govern for the entire country, refuses to

34:15 Trump believes two wrongs make a right

35:15 Trump started a trade war with China, and nobody wins a trade war

36:45 United States is far too reliant on China for rare earth metals

40:00 Mark Zandi joins the Chuck ToddCast 

41:00 The economy is only good for the top 1/3rd of earners 

42:00 Lower income earners are struggling 

43:30 Signs of a consumer pullback are starting to show up 

45:00 The economy isn't creating many jobs 

45:30 Chance of a recession is forecast at 30-40% in 2026 

47:15 The economic impact of the cuts to federal workforce 

49:00 Loss of 100k+ federal jobs will be a drag on the economy 

50:00 Covid money is drying up in state and local government budgets 

50:30 AI is starting to have impact on the job force 

53:00 Data center investment creates wealth but not jobs 

54:30 Are the AI stocks creating a bubble? 

55:30 Investors may be a bit over their skis with AI 

56:45 Stock market could be headed for a massive correction 

58:00 Stock price to earnings ratios are at historic high 

59:30 Tariff impacts starting to show up, AI providing a tailwind for economy 

1:01:00 Economy is very vulnerable to unforeseen shocks 

1:01:45 Price of gold at all time high, a warning sign? 

1:03:30 Uncertainty around American economy driving up gold price 

1:04:45 Risk of American economy not being considered a "Safe Haven" 

1:06:00 Loss of safe haven status means higher interest rates 

1:06:30 Impact of rising electricity prices on the economy 

1:08:30 Oil and gas prices have stayed relatively low 

1:09:30 Why haven't investors flocked to real estate as an investment? 

1:10:30 The price of commercial real estate is down substantially 

1:11:45 High interest rates have cooled demand for residential real estate 

1:13:15 The high end rental market is oversupplied 

1:14:00 Workforce/middle income housing is in short supply 

1:15:30 Housing issues vary by city and region, hard to address nationally 

1:16:45 How much would the economy benefit from domestic migration? 

1:18:30 Aging population a big factor in lack of domestic migration 

1:19:00 Most Americans can't afford to move 

1:20:15 Impact of America's broken politics on the economy 

1:22:00 Will issues with China's economy affect the globe? 

1:23:00 Level of risk going into 2026?

1:24:30 ToddCast Time Machine 

1:25:15 October 19th, 1987 - U.S. stock market crash 

1:26:00 Crash resulted in added financial regulation and safeguards 

1:27:45 In week leading up to crash, markets had seen sharp declines 

1:28:15 Computerized trades contributed to crashed 

1:29:45 Crash wasn't rooted in one singular event/issue 

1:30:45 Crash didn't result in wider problems like banking crisis 

1:31:30 Lesson learned was "Don't Panic", market came back 

1:32:45 Current market is dominated by algorithmic trading, creates risks 

1:33:45 Market is highly concentrated in tech 

1:34:45 Why 1987 isn't a corollary for 2025 

1:36:45 Market will always have volatility 

1:37:15 Ask Chuck 

1:37:30 Should more candidates not run under the D or R label? 

1:42:00 What practices would you suggest to reform ballot access? 

1:45:30 Is the risk of China owning Tiktok any worse than Trump allies? 

1:49:45 Were Biden's infrastructure projects halted by Big Beautiful Bill? 

1:52:45 College football update

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd begins with a rant about his beloved Washington Nationals interesting selection with the #1 overall draft pick. He pivots to the firestorm surrounding the Trump administration over their refusal to release the promised Epstein files to the public and why Trump’s reality TV style of governance is colliding with actual reality. He also discusses Trump’s retribution campaign having a chilling effect on dissent, the ongoing effort to fire Fed chairman Jay Powell, and highlights a troubling trend for Democrats.

Then, Chuck is joined by congresswoman Brittany Pettersen, who offers an insider's perspective on the challenges facing both Congress and her swing district in Colorado. The conversation begins with her advocacy for modernizing congressional rules, particularly around proxy voting for pregnant members, before diving into broader structural issues plaguing the institution. Pettersen argues that Congress has become increasingly dysfunctional due to the consolidation of power in leadership and the erosion of legislative authority, making it especially difficult for women and minority party members to effectively serve their constituents.

The discussion covers a wide range of policy challenges, from the housing crisis and healthcare access to immigration reform and climate change. Pettersen emphasizes the need for massive federal investment in housing rather than tax incentives, warns that Trump's policies will exacerbate the housing crisis, and predicts that the homeowners insurance industry will force Congress to act on climate change. She also tackles the politically sensitive topic of immigration, arguing that outdated policies have worsened border security issues and that comprehensive reform would be the best way to address rising costs. Throughout the conversation, Pettersen stresses the importance of transparency in government spending, believing voters deserve to know exactly what services are sacrificed when tax cuts are implemented.

Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment regarding Trump administration salaries, third party candidates in presidential elections and the immigration bill that never received a vote. 

Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Introduction

00:15 Nationals perplexing #1 draft pick

02:45 The pick isn’t reassuring to Nats fans

04:00 You can’t win if you aren’t willing to spend money

07:00 Trump’s reality TV approach is clashing with reality

08:30 Trump is acting very nervous about the Epstein files

10:00 The most simple explanations for the Epstein file debacle

11:00 What is Trump trying to distract from?

11:45 Trump’s immigration narrative doesn’t match reality

14:00 “Alligator Alcatraz” is a disgusting P.R. stunt

15:15 The fear Trump has created will hurt the economy

16:15 Misinformation made the Texas disaster far worse

18:45 Reality will always get the last word

20:30 Our broken information ecosystem is running into reality

21:30 Trump’s retribution campaign is chilling dissent

23:30 People who know better are staying silent

24:45 Trump is looking for a pretext to fire Jay Powell from the Fed

26:00 Trump wants to use a “cost overrun” loophole to fire Powell

29:00 There is a gender crisis brewing for the Democratic party

31:00 Democrats are being viewed as the “women’s party” and against men

33:30 Check out Chuck’s interview with Rahm Emmanuel on Noosphere!

35:00 Brittany Pettersen joins the Chuck ToddCast! 

35:30 Tour of Colorado's 7th district 

37:15 Changing congressional rules for proxy voting by pregnant members 

40:45 Will she introduce legislation for proxy voting if there's a new speaker? 

42:30 What guardrails should be put on proxy voting? 

44:30 Congress isn't set up for women 

46:45 How difficult is it being in the house minority? 

48:30 Big beautiful bill removed substance abuse waiver from Medicaid 

49:30 Consolidation of power in leadership has been bad for democracy 

52:30 Congress has given away its authority to leadership and the executive 

55:00 Balancing voter concerns in a swing district 

57:30 Social safety nets are being cut off 

1:00:00 Is the housing crisis a state or federal issue? 

1:01:00 Housing needs massive investment, not tax incentives 

1:02:30 What does that investment look like? 

1:04:15 Trump's policies will make the housing crisis worse 

1:05:45 The homeowners insurance industry will force congress to act on climate 

1:07:30 Will leaders re-think killing FEMA after the Texas disaster? 

1:10:15 Will FEMA become Medicaid for disasters? 

1:12:15 Voters deserve a receipt for their tax dollars 

1:14:00 Voters should know what services get sacrificed for tax cuts 

1:15:15 How can the immigration system be improved? 

1:17:00 Fixing immigration would be the best way to address rising costs 

1:18:30 Did Democrats blow it on the issue of border security? 

1:20:00 Outdated immigration policy made the border issue far worse 

1:21:30 Any interest in running for Michael Bennet's senate seat? 

1:23:00 Should there be an age cap for legislators? 

1:25:15 What is wrong with the Colorado Rockies?

1:27:30 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Brittany Petterson 

1:28:45 Ask Chuck 

1:29:00 Do Trump appointees with multiple roles get multiple salaries? 

1:31:00 Would a viable third party cause a deadlock in presidential elections? 

1:35:00 Thoughts on the prior immigration reform bill that was tanked? 

1:40:30 Andrew Cuomo trying to rally support against Mamdani

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd begins by highlighting potential Trump cabinet members that are likely to be resigned or fired in the near future. He rails against the damage RFK Jr. is inflicting on public heath, but predicts Pete Hegseth or Pam Bondi will exit first for making Trump “look bad”. He also recounts recent polling show Democratic voters want drastic action from their lawmakers and points out the 2028 presidential hopefuls that have made stops in early primary states.

Then, Chuck is joined by Nathan Gonzalez, editor and publisher of “Inside Elections”, to analyze the evolving political landscape ahead of the 2026 midterms. They dive into potential Senate retirements, the challenges facing Trump nominees like Pete Hegseth and RFK Jr., and how issues like tariffs and aggressive deportations could impact Republican prospects. The conversation explores whether we'll see more competitive Democratic primaries as the party searches for a new identity, and examines key races from New York and New Jersey that could foreshadow national trends.

The discussion also covers some fascinating political developments, including the IRS decision to allow churches to endorse candidates and what that means for the intersection of politics and religion. Gonzalez and Todd speculate about Elon Musk's potential influence on third-party movements, analyze gubernatorial races in states like Ohio and Michigan, and consider how "Biden baggage" might affect Democratic candidates. They wrap up with some college sports talk, debating conference realignment, misleading conference names and the upcoming Pac-12 season.

Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment about Pakistan, RFK Jr. and a potential rebranding opportunity for Democratic Socialists.

Timeline: 

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Introduction

01:00 Which Trump cabinet secretary will be next to leave?

02:30 Record measles outbreak under RFK Jr.

03:45 RFK Jr could hurt Republican candidates in midterms

05:00 Measles outbreak should be a bigger story

06:30 RFK Jr lied to Senator Bill Cassidy

08:30 Kennedy is doing tremendous damage to public health

09:45 Hegseth and Bondi are doing most damage to Trump politically

11:00 Outsiders get eaten alive at the Pentagon

12:15 Joni Ernst is the most likely Hegseth replacement

13:00 MAGA media has turned on Pam Bondi over Epstein

15:00 Howard Lutnick’s media appearances have stopped

15:45 Scott Bessent could get the fed chair job

17:00 Will the Senate pick a fight with Trump over fed chair?

18:30 Bondi most likely to go in the short term

19:30 Democratic voters want drastic action from their representatives

21:30 Trump’s re-election is creating a reactionary revolution on the left

24:00 The Big Beautiful Bill could be a huge political loser for MAGA

26:30 Democrats will distance themselves from Biden

28:30 New poll mapping voter preferences was revealing

30:15 The “invisible primary” for 2028 presidential election

31:15 2028 Democratic hopefuls are visiting early primary states

33:15 Ruben Gallego is getting lots of buzz 

35:30 IRS won’t revoke churches’ tax-exempt status for practicing politics

37:00 Nathan Gonzalez joins the Chuck ToddCast! 

39:00 Anticipating any senate retirements prior to 2026? 

41:00 Joni Ernst most likely to replace Hegseth if he's fired? 

42:30 Hegseth and RFK Jr are causing problems for Trump 

44:00 What Kennedy is doing at HHS will be a big midterm issue 

46:30 The tariff bomb will hit hard, but hasn't hit yet 

49:30 Did Biden's team set up the bad debate on purpose? 

51:45 Will NY and NJ elections foreshadow the midterms? 

53:45 How Mikie Sherrill handles Zohran Mamdani will be telling 

56:00 Will we see more competitive Democratic primaries? 

57:30 Democrats are wrestling with finding a new identity 

58:15 IRS will allow candidate endorsements by churches 

1:00:00 Could other entities claim to be churches for political purposes? 

1:01:45 Politics and religion have always mixed, will be more overt now 

1:03:15 The IRS decision will be bad for churches 

1:05:45 How heavy will "Biden baggage" be in 2026? 

1:08:00 Will Biden ties sink Pete Buttigieg? 

1:09:30 Is a Ramaswamy victory a done deal in Ohio? 

1:10:30 Where should Musk target his money to boost third parties? 

1:13:45 Musk should support both the Libertarian and Forward parties 

1:16:15 Musk hasn't indicated what he's FOR 

1:17:30 Alaska and Maine could be ripe for third party success 

1:19:30 Dan Osborne's viability in Nebraska? 

1:21:30 Rural states could be in play due to tariff turmoil 

1:22:30 Dynamics of Michigan Democratic governor primary 

1:25:30 Are Mike Duggan's Biden ties a liability? 

1:26:30 What under the radar issues could bubble up in 2026? 

1:27:45 Aggressive deportations will hurt Republicans 

1:29:15 Republican voters care about immigration nationally, not locally 

1:30:45 Bigger sin for college conferences: misleading name or geography? 

1:33:00 What to expect in the Pac-12 this season? 

1:36:45 Oregon State and Washington State should be playing with big schools 

1:38:30 Where to find Nathan's work

1:40:00 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Nathan Gonzalez 

1:41:40 Ask Chuck 1:42:00 Why isn't the U.S. government tougher on Pakistan? 

1:46:45 Why don't leftist Democrats frame their politics as pre-Reagan Democrat? 

1:51:15 Why is anti-vax sentiment only framed as an RFK Jr. issue? 

1:55:00 James Wood in the home run derby a bright spot for Nats fans

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd begins with Donald Trump receiving criticism and backlash from his own base after essentially declaring “case closed” on the Epstein files and why it’s a “reap what you sow” situation after several members of the administration stoked Epstein conspiracies for years. He also provides Elon Musk with a roadmap for his “America Party” and highlights states where third party candidates would be viable as trust erodes in the two major parties.

Then, veteran Boston media personalities Jim Braude and Margery Eagan join Chuck for a wide-ranging discussion about the crisis facing American journalism and democracy. The conversation explores how journalists are compromising their ethics out of personal preservation, the devastating impact of local journalism's decline on political accountability, and the broader media landscape shaped by figures like Roger Ailes since Watergate. Braude and Eagan reflect on how toxic politics has driven good people away from public service, with harassment and threats becoming commonplace for public figures, while an increasingly uninformed public receives information through polarized channels like Fox News and social media.

The discussion turns to specific political dynamics, from the deteriorating Kennedy brand in Massachusetts—with RFK Jr. damaging the family legacy while Ted Kennedy's effectiveness as a politician is remembered—to broader questions about whether America can survive and recover from the Trump era. The hosts examine why Americans have become numb to Trump's inflammatory rhetoric, debate whether Democrats should break rules in defiance of Trump (citing the gun violence sit-in as an example of constructive rule-breaking), and discuss the messaging challenges facing the Democratic Party. They also explore how cultural issues rather than economics serve as the glue for both parties, why democratic socialist policies are popular but the socialist label is toxic, and whether politicians from Massachusetts can win nationally, before concluding with reflections on local Boston politics and the ultimate question of whether America can extract itself from its current political mess.

Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment regarding a cultural swap between the left and the right, whether we’re living through the fall of the American empire and what it would take to break Trump’s spell over MAGA.

Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Introduction

02:15 The right wing Epstein conspiracy theorists are turning on Trump 

03:30 The CIA withheld info on Lee Harvey Oswald for 60 years

05:30 Right wing media created atmosphere of distrust

06:15 The conspiracy theorists are now in power

07:15 The Trump administration won’t be believed by their followers

08:00 The administration is behaving like they have something to hide*

09:45 Misinformation has polluted the discourse

11:30 Trump acolytes lied about Epstein at some point

13:15 When you stoke conspiracies, you aren’t believable when in power

15:00 The government has earned its distrust

16:30 In a functional administration, Patel, Bondi and Bongino would be fired*

17:30 The two party system is on brink of collapse, and that’s a good thing

19:30 Musk isn’t wrong to want to break the two party system

21:15 The country would be better served by a four party system

23:00 There is a path for Elon to succeed due to his money

23:45 Texas and Florida are the two best states for a third party to succeed

25:15 Several other states are viable for third party senate candidates

29:30 The midterm electorate will be volatile

30:30 Jim Braude and Margery Eagan join the Chuck ToddCast! 

32:30 The state of journalism and public radio 

34:00 Journalists compromising ethics out of personal preservation 

36:00 The death of print journalism 

38:00 The impact of local journalism on political accountability 

39:30 John's background in politics led him to radio/journalism 

40:45 Media is harsher on activists than politicians 

42:00 John's experience in city council made him a better journalist 

43:15 Harassment/threats to public figures 

44:45 Politics is so toxic that good people don't run 

47:15 Toxic politics/liberal media discourse goes back to Roger Ailes & Watergate 

48:45 How do educated elected Republicans sleep at night? 

49:30 The country is woefully uninformed 

50:45 Fox News & social media have been incredibly effective for the right 

52:15 What's the state of the Kennedy brand in Massachusetts? 

54:30 Ted Kennedy was one of the most effective politicians ever 

56:30 RFK Jr. is doing tremendous damage to the family name 

57:30 Americans have become numb to Trump's outrages 

59:00 Will America survive and recover from the Trump era? 

1:00:45 The administration is reaping what they've sown with Epstein 

1:03:00 Trump gets away with "I hate Democrats" comments 

1:04:00 Should Dems break rules in defiance of Trump? 

1:06:00 Democrats sit-in over guns was an example of good rulebreaking 

1:07:30 Democrats are bad messengers 

1:08:45 Politicians have to be performative 

1:12:15 The left needs to have a socialism vs capitalism debate 

1:13:00 Cultural issues are the glue for both parties, not economics 

1:14:45 Democratic socialist policies are popular, the socialist label is not 

1:17:00 Can a Massachusetts politician win nationally? 

1:20:15 State of the Boston mayoral race 

1:23:45 Should Michelle Wu be worried about being an incumbent 

1:25:45 Can Andrew Cuomo make a comeback against Mamdani? 

1:27:45 Can America get itself out of this mess?

1:32:30 Thoughts on interview with Jim and Margery 

1:33:00 Ask Chuck 

1:33:15 Why did the left take the "hall monitor" vibe from the right? 

1:37:15 Are we living through the fall of the American empire? 

1:42:15 What would it take to break Trump's hold over MAGA? 

1:44:00 How and where can Musk succeed with a third party?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd begins with the flooding disaster in Texas and why America’s toxic political landscape makes preparing for extreme weather events unlikely, if not impossible. He also reacts to Elon Musk launching the “America Party” and expresses doubts about Musk’s motives, while applauding the idea of launching a viable third party. Finally, he blasts Florida governor Ron DeSantis for vetoing funding for a veterans program over a personal gripe with another Florida lawmaker.

Then, directors Cecilia Aldarondo, Salima Koroma, and Alice Gu join Chuck to discuss their HBO documentary "Dear Ms.: A Revolution In Print," which chronicles the groundbreaking feminist magazine that launched in 1972. The filmmakers share the origins of their collaboration and the challenges of distilling Ms. magazine's complex 50-year legacy into a cohesive narrative, using iconic covers as launching points for exploring three main themes. They discuss how Ms. magazine differentiated itself from traditional women's publications focused on homemaking, instead tackling controversial subjects like pornography, workplace harassment, and the objectification of women—topics that generated significant male backlash and revealed the deep cultural resistance to feminist ideas.

The conversation explores how the documentary's themes resonate in today's political climate, examining whether the Trump era represents a step backward for women's rights or simply exposed hidden truths about persistent inequality. The directors reflect on the evolution of feminist discourse, from the magazine's early battles against normalized harassment to contemporary debates about pornography, violence, and the #MeToo movement. They also consider Gloria Steinem's enduring legacy and discuss how early feminists faced far greater challenges than modern advocates, while acknowledging ongoing struggles around pay gaps in sports and the need for systemic rather than merely optical changes. The filmmakers conclude by reflecting on what didn't make the final cut and speculating about what a future installment might explore, including the recent rise of women's sports as a potential focal point.

Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment about a potential second civil war, what life in an authoritarian state actually looks like, and why the American media has completely neglected the conflict between Rwanda and Congo.

To help support the Santa Rose Veterans Treatment Court, visit santarosavtc.com

Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Introduction

03:00 Politics is making tragedies like Texas even worse

04:30 No evidence that budget cuts played a role in the tragedy

05:30 We’re not prepared for the extreme weather that’s coming

06:30 Voters don’t reward “preventative” policy

09:00 The insurance industry is sounding the alarm on climate

10:30 The climate/disaster debate will only grow

12:30 It’s not “too soon for politics”, we need to be better prepared

13:45 Elon Musk launches the “America Party”

15:15 Musk wants to own, not share a movement

17:00 We need TWO new parties

20:00 Only a few defections to third parties would force change

21:30 There’s massive interest in a third party

23:30 Trump says he “hates” Democrats

25:30 Ron DeSantis vetoes veterans treatment over personal dispute

27:45 Lawmaker blew the whistle on the DeSantis charity

30:00 Line-item vetoes are fraught for political corruption

32:00 Petty politics is being used to harm veterans

34:30 Cecilia Aldarondo, Salima Koroma & Alice Gu join the Chuck Toddcast! 

35:00 What was the origin of "Dear Ms.: A Revolution In Print"? 

37:00 The biggest challenge making Dear Ms. 

39:45 HBO wanted iconic covers as the launching point for storytelling 

41:00 The three main themes of the documentary? 

42:00 Pornography was the most difficult issue for the magazine to cover 

44:30 1972 was an iconic year for women 

46:45 It was hard to have a black woman on the cover of a magazine 

48:30 Most women's magazines were about homemaking 

51:30 Ms. highlighted the objectification of women 

53:00 Culture has evolved significantly since the release of Animal House 

54:00 Harassment used to be commonplace and accepted 

56:15 Technology has supercharged pornography into the mainstream 

57:30 The backlash against feminism rose with the evangelical movement 

59:00 There's still plenty of sexual taboos, but also more sexual content 

1:00:30 The effort to draw a distinction between violence and pornography 

1:02:30 Anti-porn sentiment puts women in danger 

1:03:45 Would the documentary be different if we weren't in the Trump era? 

1:06:45 The false sense that America had achieved equal rights 

1:08:00 The feminist focus on women's rights over other rights 

1:09:00 Is the Trump era a step back? Or has it revealed the hidden truth? 

1:12:00 "Me too" should have been "Them Too" 

1:14:00 Gloria Steinham's legacy 

1:16:45 Early feminists faced far greater challenges than modern feminists 

1:18:00 The emergence of women in elected politics 

1:20:30 The importance of this film coming out now 

1:21:45 If there's a Part 4 in ten years, would it be the rise in women's sports? 

1:23:15 The pay gap in sports is massive 

1:26:00 Sports politics has focused on optical change over systemic change 

1:28:00 What didn't make the cut for Dear Ms.?

1:34:15 Chuck's thoughts on the interview 

1:34:45 Nats announce they are firing the manager and GM 

1:37:30 Ask Chuck 

1:37:45 If the country descends into civil war, who would the "sides" be? 

1:41:30 What does life look like in authoritarian/kleptocratic countries? 

1:45:00 Why is there no coverage of the Congo/Rwanda conflict?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd begins by reacting to Paramount agreeing to settle Trump’s bogus 60 Minutes lawsuit and explains why it’s demoralizing for journalists and delegitimizing for corporate owned media. He also dives into the news that Trump has cut off weapons shipments to Ukraine despite a large majority of Americans supporting Ukraine and why it makes strategic sense to do so.

Then, Chuck is joined by Florida gubernatorial candidate David Jolly for an in-depth conversation about Florida's evolving political landscape and his own remarkable transformation from GOP loyalist to Democratic candidate. Jolly shares his Florida origin story and analyzes how the state's politics have shifted, exploring whether Miami's political evolution offers hope for broader American reconciliation. The discussion delves into immigration dynamics, examining why some immigrant communities have gravitated toward Republicans and the potential backlash from deportation policies, while also addressing whether Democratic socialism remains politically toxic in South Florida.

Jolly recounts his political evolution, emphasizing that while his policy positions have changed, his core values remain constant. He reflects on pivotal moments including the Pulse nightclub shooting that served as a reckoning for his views on gun ownership, his departure from the NRA after rejecting their "quid pro quo" offer for an A rating, and his decision to run as a Democrat rather than an Independent. Throughout, Jolly offers candid insights into Florida's systemic challenges—from the unaffordable "Florida dream" and housing crisis exacerbated by hurricane risks, to 27 years of Republican trifecta rule that he argues has led to corruption, gutted public schools through voucher programs, and political interference with state universities. The discussion also touches on everything from NIL regulations in college sports to public financing for professional stadiums, painting a comprehensive picture of Florida's political and social complexities.

Finally, in homage to Independence Day, Chuck examines the state of “independents” and third-parties and explains why the appetite for candidates outside the two party system is higher than ever.

Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Introduction 

01:45 Paramount agrees to pay off Trump’s CBS lawsuit to secure merger

03:00 The pay off stains all corporate media and news

04:15 It is a gut punch for practicing journalists

06:00 Corporate owned media are losing their legitimacy

08:15 There’s no good explanation for capitulation

10:30 For media to have credibility, they have to be ethical

11:30 Trump cuts off military aid to Ukraine

13:00 A majority of the American public supports Ukraine

15:45 Supporting Ukraine makes strategic sense for the U.S.

17:30 The Russians helped Trump in 20016, even if there wasn’t collusion

19:00 American news doesn’t prioritize covering the war

20:30 David Jolly joins the Chuck ToddCast! 

21:15 David's Florida origin story 

23:00 The current state of Florida's politics 

24:45 The "Florida dream" is becoming out of reach 

27:30 Is Miami's political evolution a sign of hope for the rest of America? 

28:45 Backlash to deportations from Florida's immigrant communities? 

29:45 What caused immigrants to gravitate towards Republicans?

 31:15 Cruelty and broken promises are the two themes of deportations 

32:30 Is Democratic socialism politically toxic in south Florida? 

34:15 Balancing housing affordability with hurricane safety 

36:30 Private insurers can't keep up with risk 

37:45 Remove hurricane damage from private insurance policies 

38:45 David's political evolution from Republican to Democrat 

42:15 His policy positions have changed, his values have not 

43:30 What do responsible gun ownership laws look like? 

44:15 Differences between a Bush 41 and Bush 43 Republican? 

45:15 The NRA's "quid pro quo" offer for A rating 

46:30 Pulse nightclub shooting was a reckoning for him 

48:30 Running as a Democrats vs an Independent 

53:00 Too many Floridians are living paycheck to paycheck 

54:15 Republicans have had a trifecta in Florida for 27 years 

55:15 Corruption in Florida politics 

57:15 Florida's public school system has been gutted due to voucher program 

59:15 Vouchers have just subsidized the private schools 

1:01:00 There's no vetting process for charter/private schools 

1:03:30 Republican meddling with Florida's universities 

1:05:45 De-politicizing government job appointments 

1:08:45 Should the state play a role in regulating NIL in college sports? 

1:11:45 Public financing for professional sport stadiums? 

1:13:15 Would the Rays be more successful in Tampa or Orlando? 

1:14:30 Favorite governors you'd lean on if elected?

1:16:00 What's happening in third party and independent politics 

1:17:00 Ballot access is a huge deterrent for third party candidates 

1:18:45 Update on independent candidates around the country 

1:21:00 Huge appetite for independent & third party candidates 

1:22:00 Many states have big pools of independent voters 

1:31:15 If voters want change, they have to challenge the status quo 

1:34:00 Democratic socialists need a rebrand, not a new agenda

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd begins by reacting to the senate passing Trump’s signature piece of legislation: “The Big Beautiful Bill.” He reviews the excuses and rationales given by the senators who had expressed issues with the bill but still voted for it, and explains why the fear of Donald Trump’s wrath is enough to get lawmakers to fall in line and explains why the bill’s passage is emblematic of the broken state of Congress.

Then, Chuck is joined by political scientist and Eurasia Group president Ian Bremmer to dissect the most pressing geopolitical challenges facing the world today. The discussion begins with analysis of recent Iranian strikes and the Middle East conflict, exploring whether Iran has been exposed as a "paper tiger" and examining the complex dynamics between Trump, Netanyahu, and regional powers like Saudi Arabia. Bremmer offers insights into Iran's domestic vulnerabilities—noting the regime's mere 20% public support—while assessing the likelihood of nuclear developments and potential exit strategies from current conflicts.

The conversation expands to cover Trump's relationship with NATO allies, the slowly deteriorating situation in Ukraine, and Putin's potential next moves, including the concerning possibility of nuclear escalation if his regime faces existential threats. Bremmer and Todd also tackle the rise of populist movements globally, the erosion of democratic guardrails in America, and the fundamental shift toward reactionary politics that may define a generation. Throughout, Bremmer provides his characteristic blend of realpolitik analysis and concern for democratic institutions, culminating in a sobering assessment of how America's political system now rewards winners over leaders and creates conditions where "socialists can't beat capitalists, but they can beat kleptocrats."

Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment regarding the potential for erosion of Trump’s support, election denialism and a fun alternate history theory where legendary Bears coach Mike Ditka beat Barack Obama for state office in Illinois.

Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Introduction

00:15 90 days from Liberation Day and “90 deals in 90 days”, there are two deals

01:30 Trump will back off on tariffs again to avoid economic damage

02:30 The Big Beautiful Bill passes the Senate

04:15 Josh Hawley votes for bill despite promises not to cut health care

06:00 Lisa Murkowski cites tax break expiration for her yes vote

08:15 Murkowski has always been Alaska first over America first

09:30 Republicans fall in line out of fear of Trump

11:00 Congress is broken 

13:00 Bipartisanship is dead in the 21st century

14:30 Both parties have weaponized partisanship

16:15 How do we fix the broken congress?

17:30 The public needs to understand WHY congress is broken

19:00 Independents could force congress to function better

21:00 Bill was rushed due to Trump’s impatience

22:30 We’re in the kleptocracy stage, headed toward authoritarianism

24:00 Dysfunction in congress has created a more powerful presidency

26:00 Ian Bremmer joins the Chuck ToddCast! 

28:00 Media cycle has already moved on from the Iran strike 

29:15 The strike wasn't meant to be a war 

30:15 Steve Bannon's theory that we're on the brink of WW3 

31:45 Trump wanted a negotiated settlement with Iran 

33:00 Netanyahu was always going to force the US's hand 

34:30 Trump is capable of telling Bibi "no" 

36:15 Would Trump support a two state solution? 

38:30 Iran has no friends on the global stage willing to support them 

40:15 After investigators access Gaza, Israel will lose support 

41:45 Saudis will demand a two state solution 

43:15 Did we expose Iran as a "paper tiger"? 

45:30 The Iranian regime only has 20% support from the public 

46:30 Iran's strong enough to put down an uprising 

47:30 The U.S. won't put boots on the ground in Iran 

49:00 What is Iran's exit strategy from this conflict? 

52:00 Iran is likely 3 years away from a bomb 

53:15 Iran may be a theocracy, but doesn't act irrationally 

54:45 The state of Iraq's leadership? 

56:15 Is there global investment in Iraq? 

57:15 Status of Trump + NATO? 

59:30 Europe underinvested in defense for decades 

1:01:15 Pushing Europe to spend more on defense is one of Trump's best achievements 1:02:00 Status of Russia/Ukraine war? 

1:03:00 Ukraine is losing slowly 

1:04:15 Chances Putin would attack one of the Baltic states? 

1:06:15 Putin could use a nuke if he felt his regime was at risk 

1:08:15 The rise of left wing populism 

1:10:00 American elections will be free and fair, but public won't think so 

1:12:00 Guardrails on the executive branch have been weakened 

1:13:15 Are we stuck with reactionary politics for a generation? 

1:14:45 Trump didn't attend funeral for assassinated Minnesota lawmakers 

1:15:45 The U.S. doesn't create leaders, it creates winners 

1:18:30 The lack of bipartisanship creates bad legislation 

1:19:45 The Big Beautiful Bill will create more Mamdanis 

1:20:45 Socialists can't beat capitalists, but they can beat kleptocrats

1:23:30 Thoughts on conversation with Ian Bremmer 

1:24:00 Mamdani beat Cuomo by double digits in final tally 

1:25:30 There will be a fight for the soul of the Democratic party 

1:26:15 Ask Chuck 

1:26:30 Could Trump's support erode like Marion Barry's? 

1:30:30 Election denialism now coming from both sides regularly? 

1:36:30 How different would things look if Mike Ditka had beat Obama in Illinois?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd reacts to the news that North Carolina senator Thom Tillis won’t seek reelection, why harassment from the Trump team led to his decision, and why his decision gives Democrats another opportunity to pick up a senate seat in the 2026 midterm elections. He also highlights the path for Democrats to win the senate in 26’ and cautions Republicans about the potential of a Democratic president abusing their power in a similar way to Trump.

Then, Chuck sits down with renowned pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson to dissect the seismic shifts in American politics following the 2024 election. They dive deep into the surprising demographic realignments that defined Trump's victory, including his unprecedented gains with young and Latino voters, while exploring whether traditional demographic-based political messaging has become obsolete. Anderson shares insights from Pew Research's unique voter validation methodology and explains why the biggest story of 2024 wasn't who showed up to vote, but rather the millions of Biden 2020 supporters who stayed home.

The conversation spans from foreign policy contradictions—where only 8% support attacking Iran but majorities back preventing Iranian nuclear weapons—to the evolving nature of political coalitions and whether we're witnessing a return to pre-Obama era electoral patterns. Anderson and Todd examine the psychological profile of different generations, particularly Gen Z's political malleability and loss of societal trust shaped by COVID, while discussing the future challenges facing pollsters as AI technology threatens traditional survey methodology. They conclude by analyzing whether 2024 represented a "vote for" or "vote against" election, and how both parties must adapt to meet an increasingly anti-establishment electorate.

Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment about baseball, the media, and the prospects of Republican congressman Mike Lawler running for governor in New York.

Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Introduction

01:00 Senator Thom Tillis won’t seek reelection

02:00 Tillis struggled to fully embrace Trumpism/MAGA

03:00 Tillis felt harassed by the Trump team

05:30 Rep. Don Bacon also not seeking reelection

08:00 Tillis retirement makes Roy Cooper senate run more likely

09:15 Lara Trump may run for Tillis’s seat

11:00 Trump has caused multiple senate seats to flip blue

12:15 How Democrats can pick up the seats to flip the senate

13:15 North Carolina, Texas, Maine could all be in play for Democrats

15:30 Susan Collin managed to make both sides mad

17:00 Louisiana probably out of reach for Democrats

18:30 Other states Democrats can target

22:00 Budget cuts to rural states could create openings for Democrats

24:15 It’s an uphill battle for Democrats, but they’re in the game

28:00 It’s been a tumultuous week in politics

28:30 Trump has pushed the limits of his powers

29:30 Trump has created a blueprint for successors to follow

31:00 We’ve grown numb to power being used for personal gain

32:00 Politics was becoming less corrupt until Trump

34:00 After Nixon, the country wanted a high character president

35:15 The constitutional guardrails are being weakened

37:00 Is the ability to get attention the most important skill in politics?

37:45 Kristen Soltis Anderson joins the Chuck ToddCast! 

39:15 How Pew Research's voter validation poll works 

41:15 Why Pew's poll is the best survey of both voters and non-voters 

42:30 Voters have an Iraq hangover when viewing the Iran strikes 

43:30 Public opinion on foreign policy is complicated and contradictory 

44:15 Only 8% of the public supports attacking Iran 

45:00 The public supports intervention to prevent Iran nuclear weapon 

46:45 Are Republican voters party first, or Trump supporters? 

48:30 Polling on Iran hinges on what we actually achieved with strikes 

50:00 Huge jump in Hispanic support for Trump in 2024 

52:15 Trump gained most with young and latino voters 53:45 

Has the electorate reverted to the pre-Obama era? 

55:30 Are demographics overrated in messaging? 

57:15 Urban/rural divide shrank in 2024 

1:00:15 Biggest story of 24' was Biden 20' voters that didn't show up

1:02:15 The parties need to meet voters where they are 

1:03:15 Takeaways from Mamdani's victory in NYC? 

1:04:30 Bullish on media savvy populists 

1:06:15 AOC is a 5 star political athlete 

1:08:45 Was 2024 a "vote for" or "vote against" election? 

1:10:15 Voters continue to vote against the status quo 

1:11:30 Where is the electorate stable/unstable? 

1:14:00 Has Trump changed the perception of what government should do? 

1:16:00 Republicans want state intervention in "woke" business over illegality 

1:17:15 What is the best methodology for conducting polls? 

1:20:30 Best way to contact people for polls? 

1:22:30 Generative AI will cause major problems for pollsters 

1:25:15 Can averaging polls be helpful? 

1:27:45 Averaging national polls vs. state polls 

1:29:15 Impact of millennials becoming largest voting bloc 

1:30:30 Gen Z is politically malleable 

1:31:15 The COVID effect on Gen-Z's politics 

1:33:15 Gen Z has lost trust and faith in society 

1:35:15 How lasting is someone's "coming of age" moment in politics?

1:38:45 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Kristen Soltis Anderson 

1:41:45 Ask Chuck 1:42:15 Naming the Florida Marlins the "Miami Marlins"? 

1:47:15 Is the media failing to handle Trump's flood the zone strategy?  

1:51:30 Could Mike Lawler win in New York or rise in the Republican party?

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