The Chuck ToddCast

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The Chuck ToddCast is back! If you're looking for smart, no-nonsense political conversation, you've come to the right place. The Chuck ToddCast goes beyond the headlines, featuring conversations with top reporters, insiders, and newsmakers from D.C. to the heartland. No scripts, no spin—just real discussions about what’s shaping our politics and why it matters.

  1. Chuck’s Commentary - Trump Can’t Defend His Bad Economy + Democrats Have Lost Their “Reformer” Image

    7 HR AGO

    Chuck’s Commentary - Trump Can’t Defend His Bad Economy + Democrats Have Lost Their “Reformer” Image

    Chuck Todd opens with Trump getting visibly defensive with reporters over a brutal new inflation report — and argues the bad economy is in worse shape directly because of Trump's policies, with the president himself having zero answers for the data. He notes that AI investment is essentially the only thing propping up the economy, and that we are at least weeks away from the end of the Iran war. He warns we're only at the beginning of the inflation problem and that Democrats can simply point to Trump's broken promises of lower costs and no wars — they don't even need to make a "for" case, just a sustained "against" case — but cautions that despite all of this, Democrats still have a serious brand problem that no economic data alone will fix. He argues the failed Virginia redistricting effort exposed the deeper issue: Democrats talk like the resistance but are viewed as institutionalists, while Republicans still behave like raw partisans, and the rise of independent voters represents a fundamental protest against both available parties — something that should worry Democrats more than Republicans because the GOP has already shown a willingness to blow up the system. He makes a sweeping argument that until the last decade, Democrats were a reform-focused party, but the Trump era has pushed them into becoming defenders of institutions at exactly the moment when public trust in institutions had collapsed. He closes with observations from the Musk-Altman trial, which he says has been revealing about the personalities actually building AI — with OpenAI employees testifying to Altman's lying and the internal chaos, and so much tech ego on display that the public, already feeling burned by big tech, is only going to grow more skeptical.  Finally Chuck reveals his bonus TWO ToddCast Top 5 lists, the top 5 2028 Democratic hopefuls who have run for president before, and the top who haven’t. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.   Try ShipStation free for 60 days with full access to all features, No credit card needed! Go to https://ShipStation.com and use code TODDCAST for 60 days for free! 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 Trump gets defensive with reporters over bad inflation report 03:00 Economy is in worse shape directly because of Trump’s policies 03:45 Trump has zero answers for the bad state of the economy 04:45 Dow still hasn’t gotten back over 50k since Bondi’s viral moment 05:45 AI investment is the only thing propping up the economy 06:30 We are weeks away from the end of the Iran war… at minimum 07:45 Despite the bad economy, Democrats still have a brand problem 08:30 We are only at the beginning of the inflation problem 09:15 Dems can point to Trump breaking promise of lower costs & no wars 10:00 Dems don’t even have to make a “for” case, just an “against” case  11:00 Another variable is what the political maps look like by the midterms 12:15 The issue for the Dems is what the party stands for… what’s its identity? 13:00 Dems ‘28 hopefuls need to, and will jump in early 13:45 Dems failed redistricting in VA exposed a problem with the party 15:45 Dems talk like resistance but are viewed as institutionalists 16:30 GOP still behaves more like raw partisans 17:15 South Carolina would have risked disaster by carving up Clyburn’s seat 18:45 Backlash to SCOTUS gutting Voting Rights Act could juice Dem turnout 19:45 Why do both parties seem against reforming the system overall? 21:15 Politics has become completely nationalized and it’s a problem 21:45 Until the last decade, the Democrats were a reform focused party 23:00 The Trump era has pushed Dems into becoming defenders of institutions 23:45 Biden ran on preservation when trust in institutions had collapsed 25:15 The rise of independent voters shows protest for the two available parties 26:30 Rise of independents should worry Dems more than Republicans 27:45 Real reforms to the system would help rebuild trust with the public 29:30 Dems risk becoming custodians of a system people don’t trust 31:45 Dems took their eye off the ball, haven’t acted as reformers 35:30 The Musk/Altman trial has been revealing of the personalities building AI 36:00 OpenAI’s employees testified to Altman lying and chaos internally 37:15 So much tech ego on display at the trial 38:00 The public already feels burned by big tech 40:00 TWO ToddCast Top 5 lists today42:45 Winning Democratic presidential candidates are usually first time candidates46:45 Top 5 2028 Democratic candidates who have never run for president47:00 2026 results will dictate who will eventually have best prospects in 202850:00 #5 2026 TBD, could be Rob Sand, Mallory McMorrow…Colbert?50:30 #4 Josh Shapiro51:30 #3 Gavin Newsom52:45 #2 Wes Moore53:45 #1 AOC 55:45 Top 5 2028 Dem candidates who HAVE run for president56:00 #5 Amy Klobuchar57:00 #4 Cory Booker58:30 #3 Pete Buttigieg1:00:00 #2 Bernie Sanders1:01:00 #1 Kamala Harris1:02:30 Ask Chuck1:02:45 Modern equivalent of the “good government” groups of the 20th century?1:07:30 When should Dems make strategic adjustments vs compromising values?1:10:30 Is a socially conservative, fiscally liberal platform viable?1:13:00 Could co-op’s be a viable solution to modern economic challenges? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1hr 17min
  2. Full Episode - Trump Can’t Defend His Bad Economy + Can Government Effectively Regulate The AI Arms Race?

    7 HR AGO

    Full Episode - Trump Can’t Defend His Bad Economy + Can Government Effectively Regulate The AI Arms Race?

    Chuck Todd opens with Trump getting visibly defensive with reporters over a brutal new inflation report — and argues the bad economy is in worse shape directly because of Trump's policies, with the president himself having zero answers for the data. He notes that AI investment is essentially the only thing propping up the economy, and that we are at least weeks away from the end of the Iran war. He warns we're only at the beginning of the inflation problem and that Democrats can simply point to Trump's broken promises of lower costs and no wars — they don't even need to make a "for" case, just a sustained "against" case — but cautions that despite all of this, Democrats still have a serious brand problem that no economic data alone will fix. He argues the failed Virginia redistricting effort exposed the deeper issue: Democrats talk like the resistance but are viewed as institutionalists, while Republicans still behave like raw partisans, and the rise of independent voters represents a fundamental protest against both available parties — something that should worry Democrats more than Republicans because the GOP has already shown a willingness to blow up the system. He makes a sweeping argument that until the last decade, Democrats were a reform-focused party, but the Trump era has pushed them into becoming defenders of institutions at exactly the moment when public trust in institutions had collapsed. He closes with observations from the Musk-Altman trial, which he says has been revealing about the personalities actually building AI — with OpenAI employees testifying to Altman's lying and the internal chaos, and so much tech ego on display that the public, already feeling burned by big tech, is only going to grow more skeptical.  This episode of the Chuck Toddcast features a deep dive into the AI governance crisis with two of the leading experts in the field. First, Miriam Vogel — president and CEO of EqualAI — joins the show to explain her organization's mission of establishing meaningful AI guardrails at a moment when American consumers are deeply skeptical of big tech and less than 1% of companies have anything resembling strong AI governance policies. Vogel argues that good governance means corporate leadership must take direct responsibility for AI deployment, walks through her five best practices for responsible AI adoption, and pushes back on the idea that federal preemption should override state-level regulation — noting that companies are pushing hard against state regulation precisely because they know most of the actual rules will be written in court cases over the next few years. She warns that we're seeing tremendous investment in AI without commensurate ROI so far, that gender and regional gaps in AI adoption are already emerging, and that the public urgently needs to be empowered with real knowledge about AI's upsides as well as its risks. Vogel asks the question that should keep every executive up at night: are we actually ready for AI to make decisions without humans in the loop? And she argues that transparency — letting employees and consumers see how AI errors play out — will be absolutely essential to safe deployment. Then former Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger joins to discuss what global AI governance should look like between superpowers, and whether the arms race framing between the U.S. and China is actually helpful or harmful. Neuberger argues AI is fundamentally different from nuclear regulation because it's being developed by the private sector rather than by governments, and questions whether it was a mistake to let the private sector spearhead this technology in the first place. Drawing on her cybersecurity background, she walks through how governments learned to combat ransomware: extending existing rules for fiat currencies to cover cryptocurrencies (which had helped criminals evade detection), disincentivizing ransom payments, and helping companies recover without paying — a template she argues could apply to AI regulation. Neuberger says AI drug development should be an international win-win rather than a zero-sum arms race, but acknowledges the national security applications make competition unavoidable, with advantages now measured in months rather than years and dangerously inadequate military-to-military communication between the U.S. and China. They debate whether an "FDA for AI models" might be necessary, that existing regulations can be updated to cover AI without requiring new legislation, and that AI will ultimately transform defensive cybersecurity by allowing companies to double-check their infrastructure at scale. Her bottom line: laws always trail technology, but governments have key roles to play in identifying cyber risks, helping companies patch their infrastructure, and ensuring America's defenders aren't left behind as Chinese models close the six-month gap. Finally Chuck reveals his bonus TWO ToddCast Top 5 lists, the top 5 2028 Democratic hopefuls who have run for president before, and the top who haven’t. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Try ShipStation free for 60 days with full access to all features, No credit card needed! Go to https://ShipStation.com and use code TODDCAST for 60 days for free! 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 Trump gets defensive with reporters over bad inflation report 03:00 Economy is in worse shape directly because of Trump’s policies 03:45 Trump has zero answers for the bad state of the economy 04:45 Dow still hasn’t gotten back over 50k since Bondi’s viral moment 05:45 AI investment is the only thing propping up the economy 06:30 We are weeks away from the end of the Iran war… at minimum 07:45 Despite the bad economy, Democrats still have a brand problem 08:30 We are only at the beginning of the inflation problem 09:15 Dems can point to Trump breaking promise of lower costs & no wars 10:00 Dems don’t even have to make a “for” case, just an “against” case  11:00 Another variable is what the political maps look like by the midterms 12:15 The issue for the Dems is what the party stands for… what’s its identity? 13:00 Dems ‘28 hopefuls need to, and will jump in early 13:45 Dems failed redistricting in VA exposed a problem with the party 15:45 Dems talk like resistance but are viewed as institutionalists 16:30 GOP still behaves more like raw partisans 17:15 South Carolina would have risked disaster by carving up Clyburn’s seat 18:45 Backlash to SCOTUS gutting Voting Rights Act could juice Dem turnout 19:45 Why do both parties seem against reforming the system overall? 21:15 Politics has become completely nationalized and it’s a problem 21:45 Until the last decade, the Democrats were a reform focused party 23:00 The Trump era has pushed Dems into becoming defenders of institutions 23:45 Biden ran on preservation when trust in institutions had collapsed 25:15 The rise of independent voters shows protest for the two available parties 26:30 Rise of independents should worry Dems more than Republicans 27:45 Real reforms to the system would help rebuild trust with the public 29:30 Dems risk becoming custodians of a system people don’t trust 31:45 Dems took their eye off the ball, haven’t acted as reformers 33:30 The Musk/Altman trial has been revealing of the personalities building AI 34:00 OpenAI’s employees testified to Altman lying and chaos internally 35:15 So much tech ego on display at the trial 36:00 The public already feels burned by big tech 43:30 Chuck Todd’s introduction 46:15 Miriam Vogel joins the Chuck ToddCast 46:30 Equal AI’s mission is to establish AI guardrails 47:45 American consumers are extremely skeptical of big tech 48:30 Tech companies need to address users’ concerns & questions 50:30 Less than 1% of companies have strong AI governance policies 52:00 Some companies are working hard towards AI best practices 53:00 State vs. federal regulation for tech companies & AI 53:45 Why are companies pushing back against state level regulation? 55:45 Most of AI regulation will come down to the courts 57:30 We need more certainty of expectations from AI companies 59:45 AI is a disruptor, we can’t pretend it won’t be everywhere 1:01:00 Are we ready for AI to make decisions without humans in the loop? 1:01:45 Good governance means leadership must take responsibility for AI 1:02:45 If agentic AI without a human was outlawed, how would companies respond? 1:04:00 We’re seeing tremendous investment without the ROI so far 1:05:00 AI will scale at an exponential rate 1:05:45 We’re seeing gender and regional gaps in AI adoption 1:06:30 The public needs to be empowered with knowledge of AI’s upside 1:07:45 The five best practices for AI adoption 1:09:30 Employees and consumers will see how AI errors play out 1:10:45 Transparency will be key to safe AI deployment 1:12:15 Anne Neuberger joins the Chuck ToddCast 1:12:45 What should AI global governance look like between superpowers? 1:14:00 AI is different than nuclear regulation because it’s developed privately 1:14:45 Was it a mistake to let the private sector spearhead AI development? 1:16:00 Cybersecurity concerns and risks 1:17:15 Cryptocurrency helped criminals evade detection & enforcement 1:18:00 Every ransom payment encourages more cyber attacks & ransomware 1:19:15 Cyber threat intel was shared across governments 1:20:15 Governments extended rules for fiat currencies to cryptocurrencies 1:21:00 Governments had to disincentivize ransom payments 1:22:0

    2h 27m
  3. Interview Only w/ Miriam Vogel & Anne Neuberger - Can Government Effectively Regulate The AI Arms Race?

    7 HR AGO

    Interview Only w/ Miriam Vogel & Anne Neuberger - Can Government Effectively Regulate The AI Arms Race?

    This episode of the Chuck Toddcast features a deep dive into the AI governance crisis with two of the leading experts in the field. First, Miriam Vogel — president and CEO of EqualAI — joins the show to explain her organization's mission of establishing meaningful AI guardrails at a moment when American consumers are deeply skeptical of big tech and less than 1% of companies have anything resembling strong AI governance policies. Vogel argues that good governance means corporate leadership must take direct responsibility for AI deployment, walks through her five best practices for responsible AI adoption, and pushes back on the idea that federal preemption should override state-level regulation — noting that companies are pushing hard against state regulation precisely because they know most of the actual rules will be written in court cases over the next few years. She warns that we're seeing tremendous investment in AI without commensurate ROI so far, that gender and regional gaps in AI adoption are already emerging, and that the public urgently needs to be empowered with real knowledge about AI's upsides as well as its risks. Vogel asks the question that should keep every executive up at night: are we actually ready for AI to make decisions without humans in the loop? And she argues that transparency — letting employees and consumers see how AI errors play out — will be absolutely essential to safe deployment. Then former Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger joins to discuss what global AI governance should look like between superpowers, and whether the arms race framing between the U.S. and China is actually helpful or harmful. Neuberger argues AI is fundamentally different from nuclear regulation because it's being developed by the private sector rather than by governments, and questions whether it was a mistake to let the private sector spearhead this technology in the first place. Drawing on her cybersecurity background, she walks through how governments learned to combat ransomware: extending existing rules for fiat currencies to cover cryptocurrencies (which had helped criminals evade detection), disincentivizing ransom payments, and helping companies recover without paying — a template she argues could apply to AI regulation. Neuberger says AI drug development should be an international win-win rather than a zero-sum arms race, but acknowledges the national security applications make competition unavoidable, with advantages now measured in months rather than years and dangerously inadequate military-to-military communication between the U.S. and China. They debate whether an "FDA for AI models" might be necessary, that existing regulations can be updated to cover AI without requiring new legislation, and that AI will ultimately transform defensive cybersecurity by allowing companies to double-check their infrastructure at scale. Her bottom line: laws always trail technology, but governments have key roles to play in identifying cyber risks, helping companies patch their infrastructure, and ensuring America's defenders aren't left behind as Chinese models close the six-month gap. Try ShipStation free for 60 days with full access to all features, No credit card needed! Go to https://ShipStation.com and use code TODDCAST for 60 days for free! 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 02:45 Miriam Vogel joins the Chuck ToddCast 03:00 Equal AI’s mission is to establish AI guardrails 04:15 American consumers are extremely skeptical of big tech 05:00 Tech companies need to address users’ concerns & questions 07:00 Less than 1% of companies have strong AI governance policies 08:30 Some companies are working hard towards AI best practices 09:30 State vs. federal regulation for tech companies & AI 10:15 Why are companies pushing back against state level regulation? 12:15 Most of AI regulation will come down to the courts 14:00 We need more certainty of expectations from AI companies 16:15 AI is a disruptor, we can’t pretend it won’t be everywhere 17:30 Are we ready for AI to make decisions without humans in the loop? 18:15 Good governance means leadership must take responsibility for AI 19:15 If agentic AI without a human was outlawed, how would companies respond? 20:30 We’re seeing tremendous investment without the ROI so far 21:30 AI will scale at an exponential rate 22:15 We’re seeing gender and regional gaps in AI adoption 23:00 The public needs to be empowered with knowledge of AI’s upside  24:15 The five best practices for AI adoption 26:00 Employees and consumers will see how AI errors play out 27:15 Transparency will be key to safe AI deployment 28:45 Anne Neuberger joins the Chuck ToddCast 29:15 What should AI global governance look like between superpowers? 30:30 AI is different than nuclear regulation because it’s developed privately 31:15 Was it a mistake to let the private sector spearhead AI development? 32:30 Cybersecurity concerns and risks  33:45 Cryptocurrency helped criminals evade detection & enforcement 34:30 Every ransom payment encourages more cyber attacks & ransomware 35:45 Cyber threat intel was shared across governments 36:45 Governments extended rules for fiat currencies to cryptocurrencies 37:30 Governments had to disincentivize ransom payments 38:30 Goal was to help companies recover without paying a ransom 39:15 Both companies & government should share burden of security 40:45 AI is being framed as an arms race between U.S. and China 41:30 AI drug development should be an international win-win 42:30 The arms race framing applies to national security applications 44:15 The speed of innovation is so fast, a race feels unwinnable 45:30 Advantages in AI race will be measured in months, not years 46:15 There’s no good military to military comms between U.S. & China 48:30 Does government have any chance to effectively regulate AI? 49:15 It took a major cyberattack for government to figure out cybersecurity 50:00 Government took existing regulations and updated them for digital age 52:00 Existing regulations can also be updated to regulate AI without legislation 53:00 Should there be an FDA for AI models? 54:15 There needs to be a balance between innovation and regulation 55:15 Laws trail tech. Need to find regulation that protects the public 56:45 AI will transform defensive cybersecurity 57:30 AI can double check defensive cyber infrastructure at scale 59:15 We need to prepare our defenders, China’s models are 6 months behind 1:00:15 Companies will need help to patch and update their infrastructure 1:01:15 The government has a very key role to play in AI cybersecurity 1:02:15 Government has to clearly identify where the cyber risks are See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1hr 9min
  4. Chuck’s Commentary - Democrats Wasted Political Capital In Virginia…For Nothing + Why SCOTUS Is Forced To Do The Job Of Congress

    2 DAYS AGO

    Chuck’s Commentary - Democrats Wasted Political Capital In Virginia…For Nothing + Why SCOTUS Is Forced To Do The Job Of Congress

    Chuck Todd delivers an analysis of the Virginia Supreme Court's decision tossing out the Democratic redistricting map — arguing Democrats pissed away enormous political capital for absolutely nothing and that the reaction on the left has been wildly out of proportion, treating the ruling like an election loss when it was actually a predictable consequence of trying to fight fire with fire. He notes that Democrats passed the Virginia map without ever bothering to figure out how the courts would rule, and that both Obama and Governor Spanberger spent serious political capital pushing a referendum that was always legally vulnerable. He pushes back hard on left-wing commentary framing the ruling as partisan: the Virginia Supreme Court isn't full of partisans — they're technocrats, and Democrats just spent years arguing for norms and process and then ignored norms and process. His central argument is that Democrats will never win a race to the bottom with Trump's GOP, that the "fight fire with fire" mentality is a huge strategic mistake, and that Democrats can absolutely win in newly created swing districts with the right candidates if they go back to persuading voters and building coalitions rather than treating voters as the problem. He argues that Democrats are still likely to win both the House and Senate in the midterms — proof that Trump has done nothing to improve the GOP's image and that the path back to a winning Democratic coalition is still wide open if the party chooses to take it.  Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the Supreme Court’s Brown vs. Board of Education decision and explains that the courts have been forced to rule on major structural changes to American society when congress refuses to legislate. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Try ShipStation free for 60 days with full access to all features, No credit card needed! Go to https://ShipStation.com and use code TODDCAST for 60 days for free! 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 01:45 Democrats pissed away political capital in VA, then map was tossed 05:30 Reaction on the left to Virginia ruling has been like an election loss 07:00 It’s understandable that Democrats wanted to fight fire with fire 07:45 Democrats passed VA map without knowing how the courts would rule 08:30 Obama and Spanberger wasted political capital for nothing 09:45 Dems have argued for norms + process that court said they didn’t follow 10:30 Electing the judiciary is terrible for the rule of law 11:15 The VA Supreme Court aren’t partisans, they’re technocrats 12:30 Left wing commentary assumes it was a partisan decision… it wasn’t 14:00 Dem leadership in VA misled the party & the public on referendum 15:45 We still don’t know what the maps will look like in the south after redistricting 16:30 GOP has the redistricting advantage now, but courts may intervene 17:30 VA court may give courage to other courts to stop the gerrymandering 18:45 Democrats will never win a race to the bottom with Trump’s GOP 20:15 Democrats can win in newly created swing districts with right candidates 22:00 The “fight fire with fire” mentality is a huge mistake by the Dems 23:00 Democracy is eroded when both parties play scorched earth politics 24:15 Dems should be trying to persuade and coalition build 26:00 Republicans treat voters as the problem, Dems shouldn’t do the same 27:15 Dems want to be held to a higher standard, but don’t like it when they are 28:30 Dems did real damage to their credibility with Virginia redistricting 30:00 Trump has done nothing to improve the GOP’s image, Dems can still win 31:45 Democrats know what they’re against, but not what they’re for 33:30 Spanberger was put in an impossible position by her party 35:00 Spanberger knew that swing voters didn’t like the redistricting chaos 36:15 Dems practiced politics of addition under Obama, now in survival mode 37:45 Voters viewed the Democratic party as more principled, VA jeopardizes that 38:30 Dems still more likely to win both house and senate despite the ruling 42:15 ToddCast Time Machine - May 17th, 195443:00 Brown vs. Board was the court pushing back against a legal fiction43:30 Plessy vs. Ferguson was the foundation for segregation44:15 Segregation had to end via the courts, congress refused to end it45:30 Southern Democrats held enormous power in the 50s46:00 The system challenged by Brown had too much power in congress46:45 The NAACP was chipping away at segregation one case at a time47:30 The court needed a unanimous decision for Brown to have legitimacy48:30 The US was championing freedom abroad while segregated at home49:00 Without the cold war, we don’t desegregate or pass the Voting Rights Act49:30 Court rules 9-0 on Brown, didn’t end segregation but delegitimized it50:30 Southern politicians organized massive resistance51:00 Federal troops sent into Little Rock to escort black students into school51:45 Brown changed how Americans thought about the power of the court52:30 Courts became more like political actors in decades after Brown53:45 The ruling in Brown was definitive, its implementation was not54:30 Ask Chuck54:45 How much could voter suppression affect juiced Democratic turnout?1:01:00 What if Trump never becomes a lame duck president?1:05:30 Is gerrymandering creating better chances for moderates?1:12:00 What are the most realistic options for scaling back entitlements?1:17:15 Predictions for the political futures of Nikki Haley & Ron DeSantis?1:23:15 Is there a scenario for a bipartisan impeachment to avoid bad pardons?1:28:00 Greg Olsen was commencement speaker at Chuck’s daughters graduation1:29:30 Thoughts on the NBA playoffs & NCAA tournament expansion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1hr 35min
  5. Full Episode - Democrats Wasted Political Capital In Virginia…For Nothing + What Makes The Rolling Stones “The World’s Greatest Rock Band”

    2 DAYS AGO

    Full Episode - Democrats Wasted Political Capital In Virginia…For Nothing + What Makes The Rolling Stones “The World’s Greatest Rock Band”

    Chuck Todd delivers an analysis of the Virginia Supreme Court's decision tossing out the Democratic redistricting map — arguing Democrats pissed away enormous political capital for absolutely nothing and that the reaction on the left has been wildly out of proportion, treating the ruling like an election loss when it was actually a predictable consequence of trying to fight fire with fire. He notes that Democrats passed the Virginia map without ever bothering to figure out how the courts would rule, and that both Obama and Governor Spanberger spent serious political capital pushing a referendum that was always legally vulnerable. He pushes back hard on left-wing commentary framing the ruling as partisan: the Virginia Supreme Court isn't full of partisans — they're technocrats, and Democrats just spent years arguing for norms and process and then ignored norms and process. His central argument is that Democrats will never win a race to the bottom with Trump's GOP, that the "fight fire with fire" mentality is a huge strategic mistake, and that Democrats can absolutely win in newly created swing districts with the right candidates if they go back to persuading voters and building coalitions rather than treating voters as the problem. He argues that Democrats are still likely to win both the House and Senate in the midterms — proof that Trump has done nothing to improve the GOP's image and that the path back to a winning Democratic coalition is still wide open if the party chooses to take it.  Then, acclaimed music biographer Bob Spitz — author of definitive biographies of The Beatles and Led Zeppelin and now The Rolling Stones: The Biography, his five-year deep dive into the world's greatest rock and roll band — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a deeply enjoyable conversation about why the Stones have endured for over six decades and what their longevity says about the state of music itself. Spitz argues that the Stones gave us the foundation of the rock and roll sound and that, in many ways, there is no rock and roll today — modern musicians are producers more than performers, and now in their 80s the Stones are essentially one of the last bands keeping the form alive. He explains why their decision to flirt with politics in the 60s and then back off actually helped them endure, traces their close friendship with The Beatles , and describes Mick and Keith's strange but enduring marriage as the central engine of the band — held together by their shared love of playing live. The conversation digs into the surprising musical and cultural backstory of how the Stones became the Stones — including the fascinating history of how white British kids embraced the blues more than American kids did. Spitz pays beautiful tribute to drummer Charlie Watts as the heart and soul of the group — a jazz lover who only played rock because it paid the bills and who, along with Ian Stewart, kept the band in line for decades — and discusses the profound effect of losing him on the band's chemistry. He explains why the Stones keep playing well into their 80s, why great guitarists are now a rare commodity with no real innovators emerging, and why Mick has stayed in such great shape. Spitz offers his verdict on the Stones' place in music history — they've come to understand themselves as the greatest rock band, and he agrees — and reveals what's next for him: a book about John Lennon's second act. He closes with a fascinating thought experiment posed by Chuck: if Mick Jagger had been killed and John Lennon had lived, would the trajectories of the two bands have completely switched? Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the Supreme Court’s Brown vs. Board of Education decision and explains that the courts have been forced to rule on major structural changes to American society when congress refuses to legislate. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Try ShipStation free for 60 days with full access to all features, No credit card needed! Go to https://ShipStation.com and use code TODDCAST for 60 days for free! 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 01:45 Democrats pissed away political capital in VA, then map was tossed 05:30 Reaction on the left to Virginia ruling has been like an election loss 07:00 It’s understandable that Democrats wanted to fight fire with fire 07:45 Democrats passed VA map without knowing how the courts would rule 08:30 Obama and Spanberger wasted political capital for nothing 09:45 Dems have argued for norms + process that court said they didn’t follow 10:30 Electing the judiciary is terrible for the rule of law 11:15 The VA Supreme Court aren’t partisans, they’re technocrats 12:30 Left wing commentary assumes it was a partisan decision… it wasn’t 14:00 Dem leadership in VA misled the party & the public on referendum 15:45 We still don’t know what the maps will look like in the south after redistricting 16:30 GOP has the redistricting advantage now, but courts may intervene 17:30 VA court may give courage to other courts to stop the gerrymandering 18:45 Democrats will never win a race to the bottom with Trump’s GOP 20:15 Democrats can win in newly created swing districts with right candidates 22:00 The “fight fire with fire” mentality is a huge mistake by the Dems 23:00 Democracy is eroded when both parties play scorched earth politics 24:15 Dems should be trying to persuade and coalition build 26:00 Republicans treat voters as the problem, Dems shouldn’t do the same 27:15 Dems want to be held to a higher standard, but don’t like it when they are 28:30 Dems did real damage to their credibility with Virginia redistricting 30:00 Trump has done nothing to improve the GOP’s image, Dems can still win 31:45 Democrats know what they’re against, but not what they’re for 33:30 Spanberger was put in an impossible position by her party 35:00 Spanberger knew that swing voters didn’t like the redistricting chaos 36:15 Dems practiced politics of addition under Obama, now in survival mode 37:45 Voters viewed the Democratic party as more principled, VA jeopardizes that 38:30 Dems still more likely to win both house and senate despite the ruling 46:00 Bob Spitz (Rolling Stones Biographer) joins the Chuck ToddCast 48:00 How long have you been thinking about writing this biography? 49:15 Keith Richards biography was a phenomenal book, but only Keith’s view 50:30 The Stones longevity as a group makes them more compelling 52:00 The Stones gave us the foundation of the rock and roll sound 53:15 There is no rock and roll today, musicians are producers now 55:15 In their 80’s, the Stones are still keeping rock and roll alive 56:30 The Stones flirted with being political, then backed off 57:15 Their lack of taking a stand actually helped them endure 58:45 The Stones became great friends with the Beatles 1:00:00 Mick Jagger & Paul McCartney explored joint business ventures 1:01:30 Without Paul or Mick, both bands may not have been financially viable 1:02:15 Mick & Keith seemed like a strange marriage, but they made it work 1:04:15 The music kept the band together, they love to play and perform 1:05:30 You have to see the Stones in concert to truly appreciate them 1:06:45 They’ve had countless “Farewell Tours” and always come back 1:08:00 Mick has kept in great shape, his father was a fitness celebrity 1:09:30 Fans pitted the Beatles vs. The Stones, but the bands never did 1:11:30 How did white British kids embrace the blues more than American kids? 1:12:15 American GI’s left their blues records behind in the UK 1:13:45 Chuck Berry was a massive influence on the Stones becoming rock 1:14:30 Charlie Watts was the heart and soul of the band 1:16:00 Charlie loved jazz, only played rock because it paid the bills 1:17:30 Charlie and Ian Stewart kept the band in line 1:18:45 The effect of losing Charlie Watts on the Stones 1:20:45 They keep playing because it sustains them as humans, not for the money 1:22:15 Does it bother Keith that everyone sits down when Jagger isn’t performing? 1:23:30 Great guitarists are a rare commodity these days, no innovators 1:24:30 Modern music doesn’t emphasize live instrumental performance 1:26:45 What is the Stones' place in the music universe? 1:27:15 They’ve come to understand themselves as the greatest rock band 1:28:15 Secret to the Stones longevity? 1:30:00 The Stones wouldn’t participate in an extended “Dead & Company” style 1:30:45 Mick is about to have great grandkids, and has a 30 year old girlfriend 1:31:15 Next project is a book about John Lennon’s second act 1:32:30 Beatles had an aversion to talking to the press 1:33:30 If Jagger had been killed & Lennon lived, would the bands switch trajectories?  1:38:15 ToddCast Time Machine - May 17th, 1954 1:39:00 Brown vs. Board was the court pushing back against a legal fiction 1:39:30 Plessy vs. Ferguson was the foundation for segregation 1:40:15 Segregation had to end via the courts, congress refused to end it 1:41:30 Southern Democrats held enormous power in the 50s 1:42:00 The system challenged by Brown had too much power in congress 1:42:45 The NAACP was chipping away at segregation one case at a time 1:43:30 The court needed a unanimous decision for Brown to have legitimacy 1:44:30 The US was championing freedom abroad while segregated at home 1:45:00 Without the cold war, we don’t desegregate or pass the Voting Rights Act 1:45:30 Court rules 9-0 on Brown, didn’t end segregation but delegitimized it 1:46:30 Southe

    2h 31m
  6. Interview Only w/ Bob Spitz - What Makes The Rolling Stones “The World’s Greatest Rock Band”

    2 DAYS AGO

    Interview Only w/ Bob Spitz - What Makes The Rolling Stones “The World’s Greatest Rock Band”

    Acclaimed music biographer Bob Spitz — author of definitive biographies of The Beatles and Led Zeppelin and now The Rolling Stones: The Biography, his five-year deep dive into the world's greatest rock and roll band — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a deeply enjoyable conversation about why the Stones have endured for over six decades and what their longevity says about the state of music itself. Spitz argues that the Stones gave us the foundation of the rock and roll sound and that, in many ways, there is no rock and roll today — modern musicians are producers more than performers, and now in their 80s the Stones are essentially one of the last bands keeping the form alive. He explains why their decision to flirt with politics in the 60s and then back off actually helped them endure, traces their close friendship with The Beatles , and describes Mick and Keith's strange but enduring marriage as the central engine of the band — held together by their shared love of playing live. The conversation digs into the surprising musical and cultural backstory of how the Stones became the Stones — including the fascinating history of how white British kids embraced the blues more than American kids did. Spitz pays beautiful tribute to drummer Charlie Watts as the heart and soul of the group — a jazz lover who only played rock because it paid the bills and who, along with Ian Stewart, kept the band in line for decades — and discusses the profound effect of losing him on the band's chemistry. He explains why the Stones keep playing well into their 80s, why great guitarists are now a rare commodity with no real innovators emerging, and why Mick has stayed in such great shape. Spitz offers his verdict on the Stones' place in music history — they've come to understand themselves as the greatest rock band, and he agrees — and reveals what's next for him: a book about John Lennon's second act. He closes with a fascinating thought experiment posed by Chuck: if Mick Jagger had been killed and John Lennon had lived, would the trajectories of the two bands have completely switched? Try ShipStation free for 60 days with full access to all features, No credit card needed! Go to https://ShipStation.com and use code TODDCAST for 60 days for free! 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 Bob Spitz (Rolling Stones Biographer) joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 How long have you been thinking about writing this biography? 03:15 Keith Richards biography was a phenomenal book, but only Keith’s view 04:30 The Stones longevity as a group makes them more compelling 06:00 The Stones gave us the foundation of the rock and roll sound 07:15 There is no rock and roll today, musicians are producers now 09:15 In their 80’s, the Stones are still keeping rock and roll alive 10:30 The Stones flirted with being political, then backed off 11:15 Their lack of taking a stand actually helped them endure 12:45 The Stones became great friends with the Beatles 14:00 Mick Jagger & Paul McCartney explored joint business ventures 15:30 Without Paul or Mick, both bands may not have been financially viable 16:15 Mick & Keith seemed like a strange marriage, but they made it work 18:15 The music kept the band together, they love to play and perform 19:30 You have to see the Stones in concert to truly appreciate them 20:45 They’ve had countless “Farewell Tours” and always come back 22:00 Mick has kept in great shape, his father was a fitness celebrity 23:30 Fans pitted the Beatles vs. The Stones, but the bands never did 25:30 How did white British kids embrace the blues more than American kids? 26:15 American GI’s left their blues records behind in the UK 27:45 Chuck Berry was a massive influence on the Stones becoming rock 28:30 Charlie Watts was the heart and soul of the band 30:00 Charlie loved jazz, only played rock because it paid the bills 31:30 Charlie and Ian Stewart kept the band in line 32:45 The effect of losing Charlie Watts on the Stones 34:45 They keep playing because it sustains them as humans, not for the money 36:15 Does it bother Keith that everyone sits down when Jagger isn’t performing? 37:30 Great guitarists are a rare commodity these days, no innovators 38:30 Modern music doesn’t emphasize live instrumental performance 40:45 What is the Stones' place in the music universe? 41:15 They’ve come to understand themselves as the greatest rock band 42:15 Secret to the Stones longevity? 44:00 The Stones wouldn’t participate in an extended “Dead & Company” style 44:45 Mick is about to have great grandkids, and has a 30 year old girlfriend 45:15 Next project is a book about John Lennon’s second act 46:30 Beatles had an aversion to talking to the press 47:30 If Jagger had been killed & Lennon lived, would the bands switch trajectories? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    57 min
  7. Chuck’s Commentary- Chuck’s Message To The Class Of 2026 + Trump’s DOJ Has No Credibility

    6 DAYS AGO

    Chuck’s Commentary- Chuck’s Message To The Class Of 2026 + Trump’s DOJ Has No Credibility

    Chuck Todd opens with the latest from the Iran war: the Saudis have now denied the U.S. military access to strikes from their bases and airspace, the U.S. cannot claim any net positive from this conflict, and Trump's best realistic outcome is some version of the Obama nuclear deal 2.0. He notes that both sides are being squeezed — Iran can't keep this going forever either — but warns that beyond the immediate political damage to Trump, the war has handed China tremendous long-term leverage, AI spending is the only reason the U.S. economy hasn't already tanked, and asymmetric warfare has once again proven it can beat superpower militaries. He argues Trump's request for $1 billion in taxpayer funds for a White House ballroom is political suicide — if Obama had made the same ask, the media firestorm would have been deafening — and that Congress approving the money would be handing Democrats an enormous political gift. He flags the FBI's new investigation into Virginia Democrat Louise Lucas, warns that nothing coming from Trump's DOJ can be trusted at face value, and argues the trumped-up charges against James Comey create reasonable doubt about every other case the administration brings. He warns the administration is actively poking the bear with African American voters in ways that could supercharge Black turnout and reshape the midterm calculus, flags the FBI investigation related to The Atlantic's story on Kash Patel's drinking (the bureau denies investigating the reporter, but the careful language suggests a leak investigation exists. He closes with a beautiful and personal commencement-style address to the graduating class of 2026 as his daughter prepares to walk. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Try ShipStation free for 60 days with full access to all features, No credit card needed! Go to https://ShipStation.com and use code TODDCAST for 60 days for free! 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. 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 Saudis have denied U.S. military access to bases & airspace 06:00 Trump is only going to get the nuclear deal 2.0 at best 07:30 Iran can’t keep this going as well, both sides being squeezed 08:30 U.S. can’t claim any net positive from this war 09:30 This is bad for Trump politically, but it’s bad for the US long-term 10:15 Trump has handed China tremendous leverage 11:00 AI spending is the only reason the U.S. economy hasn’t tanked 12:30 Asymmetric warfare beats superpower militaries 14:15 Greenlighting $1B in taxpayer funds for ballroom is political suicide 15:15 If Obama made the same ask, there would be a media firestorm 16:00 Congress giving Dems a huge political gift by approving funds 17:15 FBI launches investigation into Virginia dem Louise Lucas 18:30 You can’t trust the narratives from Trump’s DOJ 20:00 Trumped up charges against Comey create doubt in other cases 20:45 Administration is poking the bear with African Americans voters 22:00 Supercharged black turnout would change midterm election calculus 23:00 FBI investigation into Atlantic story about Kash Patel’s drinking 23:45 FBI denies investigating the reporter who broke the story 24:30 Denial language suggests a leak investigation exists 26:00 Worried about the future and for this graduating class 28:30 Chuck’s advice for the graduating class of 2026 29:15 Graduates are heading into a very uncertain future 29:45 Adulthood is not a race, don’t always need to hurry 31:00 The first job you take isn’t your forever job 32:00 Don’t confuse a setback with failure 32:45 Respect your elders and respect experience 35:00 Don’t be embarrassed by your struggles or disregard someone else’s 36:00 Life happens. Don’t wait for the perfect time for something 37:15 Road trips are the best way to learn about America 38:15 Don’t be a “Yeah, but” person 40:00 Life is not a competition with your friends’ lives 40:45 It takes a lot of hard work to get lucky 42:00 Sorry that we’ve brought grads into a very angry America 42:30 Talk to people who disagree with you 43:30 If you only experience America through an algorithm, you’ll misunderstand it 47:45 Ask Chuck 48:00 How would you approach teaching, more depth or more breadth? 52:30 Should we pay members of congress more? 56:15 What can make local law enforcement a more enticing job? 1:01:45 How does Trump’s drift towards lame-duck status play out? 1:06:15 Why do you think redistricting would create an electoral backlash? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1hr 12min
  8. Full Episode - Chuck’s Message To The Class Of 2026 + Trump Has No Way Out Iran War Without Humiliation

    6 DAYS AGO

    Full Episode - Chuck’s Message To The Class Of 2026 + Trump Has No Way Out Iran War Without Humiliation

    Chuck Todd opens with the latest from the Iran war: the Saudis have now denied the U.S. military access to strikes from their bases and airspace, the U.S. cannot claim any net positive from this conflict, and Trump's best realistic outcome is some version of the Obama nuclear deal 2.0. He notes that both sides are being squeezed — Iran can't keep this going forever either — but warns that beyond the immediate political damage to Trump, the war has handed China tremendous long-term leverage, AI spending is the only reason the U.S. economy hasn't already tanked, and asymmetric warfare has once again proven it can beat superpower militaries. He argues Trump's request for $1 billion in taxpayer funds for a White House ballroom is political suicide — if Obama had made the same ask, the media firestorm would have been deafening — and that Congress approving the money would be handing Democrats an enormous political gift. He flags the FBI's new investigation into Virginia Democrat Louise Lucas, warns that nothing coming from Trump's DOJ can be trusted at face value, and argues the trumped-up charges against James Comey create reasonable doubt about every other case the administration brings. He warns the administration is actively poking the bear with African American voters in ways that could supercharge Black turnout and reshape the midterm calculus, flags the FBI investigation related to The Atlantic's story on Kash Patel's drinking (the bureau denies investigating the reporter, but the careful language suggests a leak investigation exists. He closes with a beautiful and personal commencement-style address to the graduating class of 2026 as his daughter prepares to walk. Then, conservative writer Kevin Williamson — National Correspondent for The Dispatch and one of the sharpest voices on the right — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging and characteristically blunt conversation about Trump's Iran disaster, the collapse of the political parties, and what kind of country America is becoming. Williamson argues Trump made a colossal mistake getting into the Iran war and there's now no way out without national humiliation: the goals of the conflict have constantly been changing, and Trump effectively told the Iranians where his political weaknesses were and they called his bluff. He notes the absurdity of America blockading the Strait specifically because we're mad that it's been blockaded, observes that the firing hasn't actually ceased despite the supposed ceasefire, and offers a withering verdict on the president himself: "Trump is just not a smart guy, he's an insult artist," surrounded by people who don't have the nation's interests in mind. They explore whether China could end up being the country Trump needs to bail him out in Iran, whether a nuclear Iran could benefit Putin (would he actually sell them one?), and notes the Gulf states are tired of this. He warns that securing the Strait of Hormuz requires ground troops Trump is too afraid to commit, that the Iranian regime is nothing like Venezuela's and won't fold, and that Trump never prepared the country for pain at the pump. The conversation broadens into Williamson's structural diagnosis of American politics, and his unsentimental view of where this is all headed. He argues that politics has become like religion, especially for the most religious, which is why Trump's coalition won't fracture even when farmers are being destroyed by Trump's own policies and still vote for him. He says Trump's declining popularity isn't restraining his decision-making at all, that Republicans are already assuming a midterm wipeout, and that Trump will be impeached if Democrats take the House — and should be — though he acknowledges it may not be the smartest political move. They dig into whether both American parties are at genuine risk of collapse, arguing their decline has been a huge loss for the country: celebrity and social media have filled the vacuum, with communication ability now mattering more than actual governing competence. He half-jokes that Taylor Swift could be president if she wanted to be, dismisses the idea that Stephen Colbert could carry a progressive banner, and closes with a genuinely dark prediction: America is losing its identity, may simply be too rich for its own good, and is heading for a low so bad that most Americans aren't prepared for it. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Try ShipStation free for 60 days with full access to all features, No credit card needed! Go to https://ShipStation.com and use code TODDCAST for 60 days for free! 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. 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 Saudis have denied U.S. military access to bases & airspace 06:00 Trump is only going to get the nuclear deal 2.0 at best 07:30 Iran can’t keep this going as well, both sides being squeezed 08:30 U.S. can’t claim any net positive from this war 09:30 This is bad for Trump politically, but it’s bad for the US long-term 10:15 Trump has handed China tremendous leverage 11:00 AI spending is the only reason the U.S. economy hasn’t tanked 12:30 Asymmetric warfare beats superpower militaries 14:15 Greenlighting $1B in taxpayer funds for ballroom is political suicide 15:15 If Obama made the same ask, there would be a media firestorm 16:00 Congress giving Dems a huge political gift by approving funds 17:15 FBI launches investigation into Virginia dem Louise Lucas 18:30 You can’t trust the narratives from Trump’s DOJ 20:00 Trumped up charges against Comey create doubt in other cases 20:45 Administration is poking the bear with African Americans voters 22:00 Supercharged black turnout would change midterm election calculus 23:00 FBI investigation into Atlantic story about Kash Patel’s drinking 23:45 FBI denies investigating the reporter who broke the story 24:30 Denial language suggests a leak investigation exists 26:00 Worried about the future and for this graduating class 28:30 Chuck’s advice for the graduating class of 2026 29:15 Graduates are heading into a very uncertain future 29:45 Adulthood is not a race, don’t always need to hurry 31:00 The first job you take isn’t your forever job 32:00 Don’t confuse a setback with failure 32:45 Respect your elders and respect experience 35:00 Don’t be embarrassed by your struggles or disregard someone else’s 36:00 Life happens. Don’t wait for the perfect time for something 37:15 Road trips are the best way to learn about America 38:15 Don’t be a “Yeah, but” person 40:00 Life is not a competition with your friends’ lives 40:45 It takes a lot of hard work to get lucky 42:00 Sorry that we’ve brought grads into a very angry America 42:30 Talk to people who disagree with you 43:30 If you only experience America through an algorithm, you’ll misunderstand it 47:45 Kevin Williamson (The Dispatch) joins The Chuck ToddCast 49:00 Trump made a colossal mistake with Iran war 49:30 We can’t get out of Iran war without being humiliated 50:45 The goals of the war have constantly been changing 52:15 Iran can’t win a battle with the U.S. but its sphere of influence is bigger 53:45 Trump told the Iranians what his weaknesses are, they called his bluff 54:45 The firing has not ceased, there’s no actual ceasefire 55:15 We’re blockading a Strait because we’re mad it’s blockaded… 56:15 Trump is just not a smart guy, he’s an insult artist 57:00 The people around Trump don’t have the nation's interests in mind 57:45 Rubio looks good because the people around Trump are so bad 59:45 Will China be the country Trump needs to bail him out in Iran? 1:00:45 Iran having a nuke could benefit Putin, would he sell them one? 1:02:15 Trump didn’t prepare the country for pain at the pump 1:03:30 We could really use our European allies that we spurned 1:04:15 Unclear if Iran would accept a JCPOA style deal now 1:07:15 50 years after the revolution, Iranian regime hasn’t changed priorities 1:08:45 The gulf states have influence over Trump and they’re tired of this 1:11:00 Gulf states probably assumed Trump would go for regime change 1:12:15 The Iranian regime is nothing like the regime in Venezuela 1:13:45 The rural vs urban divide leads to failed democratic states 1:15:30 Trump’s declining popularity isn’t restraining his decision making 1:16:30 Republicans are already assuming a wipeout in the midterms 1:17:00 Trump will be impeached with a Dem majority in the house, and should be 1:17:45 Impeaching Trump may not be best option politically, but the right thing to do 1:20:15 Securing the Strait requires ground troops, which is terrible politics 1:21:00 Trump is a coward, and afraid of the risk of using ground troops 1:22:45 Trump doesn’t want to get into an open ended occupation of Iran 1:23:15 Unlikely that Trump’s coalition fractures, it’s a personality cult 1:24:30 Farmers are being destroyed by Trump, yet many still support him 1:25:45 Politics has become like religion, especially to the most religious 1:27:00 Kevin quit the GOP over Arlen Spector, which now seems quaint 1:28:45 What kind of conservative do you consider yourself to be? 1:33:15 Are both American parties at risk of collapse? Could another party emerge? 1:34:00 The parties matter less now than before Trump was elected 1:34:45 The decline of the parties has been a huge loss 1:35:45 Celebrity & social media has filled the gap left by the parties 1:37:00 Stephen Colbert is unlikely to be the celebrity to carry the progressive banner 1:38:15 Taylor Swift could be presid

    2h 12m
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The Chuck ToddCast is back! If you're looking for smart, no-nonsense political conversation, you've come to the right place. The Chuck ToddCast goes beyond the headlines, featuring conversations with top reporters, insiders, and newsmakers from D.C. to the heartland. No scripts, no spin—just real discussions about what’s shaping our politics and why it matters.

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  • Creator
    iHeartPodcasts
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    414
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    2026 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia
  • Show Website
    The Chuck ToddCast

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