The Chuck ToddCast

Chuck Todd examines Zohran Mamdani's stunning primary victory as a seismic shift for the Democratic Party, analyzing how the young progressive candidate's win represents a broader rejection of establishment politics and legacy candidates. The discussion explores the Democratic establishment's lukewarm response to Mamdani's victory, their history of imposing flawed candidates on voters, and the growing disconnect between party leaders and their base. The conversation delves into whether the Democratic Party is ripe for a progressive takeover, the uncomfortable alliance between progressives and wealthy Democrats, and how Mamdani's success could inspire primary challenges against older politicians like Chuck Schumer, while also touching on the challenges of governing New York City and the unpopularity of recent legislative packages that fail to energize the Democratic base. Then, Reid Wilson, founder and editor of Pluribus News joins Chuck for a comprehensive discussion that spans from sports stadium financing to the future of artificial intelligence regulation. The conversation begins with lighter topics like public funding for entertainment complexes and the Seattle Mariners' playoff prospects, but quickly dives into substantive policy discussions about AI regulation at both federal and state levels. Wilson provides insights into how different industries are responding to AI oversight, the infrastructure challenges posed by data centers, and why state-level politics often achieves more bipartisan cooperation than federal governance. The discussion shifts to examine critical domestic policy issues, particularly the ongoing privatization of public education through school voucher programs that Wilson argues are draining state budgets while transferring wealth from poor to rich families. They also analyze upcoming gubernatorial races across multiple states, exploring how local issues like housing policy, education reform, and infrastructure development could influence political outcomes in Virginia, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Alabama, and Tennessee. The episode concludes with speculation about whether abortion rights will remain a driving force in state legislative sessions, offering listeners a thorough examination of how local and state politics are shaping America's political landscape. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment regarding politics in Louisiana, journalism, and bridging the gap between progressives and moderates! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Introduction 00:30 Zohran Mamdani is a political earthquake for the Democratic party 01:30 The Democratic party’s lukewarm reaction to Mamdani’s victory 03:30 The Democratic establishment has imposed flawed candidates on their voters 06:30 The establishment doesn’t understand how unpopular their candidates are 07:45 Voters never got due process for Cuomo 08:30 Republicans are trying to weaponize Mamdani 10:30 Democrats need to stop supporting legacy names/candidates 12:00 If the wealthy are upset, Mamdani is winning 13:00 Democrats want to embrace Mamdani without adopting his positions 15:00 Is the Democratic party ripe to be overtaken by progressive candidates? 16:30 The uncomfortable alliance between progressives and wealthy Democrats 20:45 Cuomo felt out of touch to the voters 22:30 Chuck Schumer has becoming the establishment punching bag 24:15 Who can replace Chuck Schumer in leadership? 26:30 Gerry Nadler endorses Mamdani 28:00 Governing New York City is incredibly difficult 29:30 Mamdani’s victory could inspire primaries against older politicians 31:30 The “Big Beautiful Bill” is incredibly unpopular 33:30 There’s nothing positive in the bill to sell to their base 34:30 Polling shows voters want the government to do MORE 36:15 Almost every pick in the NBA draft had been traded 38:15 Reid Wilson joins the Chuck ToddCast! 40:15 As a Seattle native, do you care about the OKC...

Chuck Todd begins with Zohran Mamdani’s stunning victory over Andrew Cuomo in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary. He points to Mamdani’s cost of living messaging and youth as major factors in the victory, but cautions the party against embracing the “socialist” label, and wonders whether the party establishment will embrace or shun Mamdani. Then, Chuck is joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, who shares his deeply personal journey of living as an undocumented immigrant in America and how it shaped his perspective on one of the nation's most divisive issues. Vargas, who publicly revealed his undocumented status over a decade ago, discusses the atmospheric shift in immigration discourse under Trump, the bipartisan failures that have plagued reform efforts, and why he believes coming out as gay was actually easier than revealing his immigration status. He offers a unique insider's view of working at major outlets like the Washington Post while hiding his legal status, living in constant fear of deportation. The conversation delves into the broader media and political landscape surrounding immigration, with Vargas arguing that Democrats have failed to provide a positive counter-narrative to right-wing messaging that has made anti-immigration sentiment central to Republican identity. He challenges both parties for using immigration as a political football rather than addressing the human reality of 40 million people of Mexican heritage living in America. Vargas advocates for journalism that goes beyond economic impact stories to humanize immigrants' experiences, while grappling with the tension between objective reporting and advocacy journalism. The discussion also touches on America's demographic future, the need for immigrant labor to offset declining birth rates, and whether the nation can reconcile its identity as both a country of immigrants and a Judeo-Christian society. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment regarding the viral Ted Cruz vs Tucker Carlson interview and addresses the conspiracy theory that Starlink hacked voting machines in the 2024 election. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Zohran Mamdani beats Andrew Cuomo in NYC mayoral primary 02:30 Multiple possible explanations for Mamdani’s victory 03:30 Cost of living messaging resonated 04:30 This will supercharge the young vs old debate in the party 05:30 Will the “democratic socialism” label become a liability for the party? 08:00 Moderates rallying around Cuomo made no sense 09:00 This should be a wake up call for the Democratic establishment 10:00 Democratic voters are looking for “new” 11:45 Mamdani fired first shot in battle to rebrand the party 13:30 Rallying around Eric Adams would be a bad move for the establishment 15:30 Mamdani needs to expand his tent 17:30 The big tent illusion - Both parties claim to be "big tent" but aren't 19:15 It's hard to not have a "label" in our current politics 21:00 The Republican party has become a cult of personality 21:45 Politicians can't ever agree with the other side 22:30 The only politicians with a big tent approach are governors 25:00 The coalition that elected Trump is big tent, he isn't governing like it 26:30 Our politics would be healthier if there was four parties 28:00 Politics wasn't designed to be winner-take-all 29:30 Bipartisanship would produce better, more durable legislation 33:30 John Cornyn may drop out, but only if he can stop Ken Paxton 35:45 If Ken Paxton is the nominee, Democrats could win the TX senate seat 37:00 Center-right voters in Texas are homeless 37:45 The TikTok extension via executive order is illegal 38:30 Donald Trump has refused to enforce the law with TikTok 39:45 Politicians are fearful of alienating TikTok users 41:30 Jose Antonio Vargas joins the Chuck ToddCast! 42:00 What year did you go public with your undocumented status? 44:00 The...

Chuck Todd begins by reacting to President Donald Trump’s decision to order airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. He explains that diplomacy was still on the table, that Israel backed him into a corner, and why he believes that Kamala Harris would have made the same decision if she was president. He highlights the potential ways Iran could strike back, and debates whether this move actually will make the world safer. He also examines the state of the New York mayoral primary and why the Democratic establishment is scared of one particular candidate. Then CNN's Jake Tapper joins Chuck for an in-depth discussion that spans politics, media, and personal insights. The duo discuss Tapper’s bestselling new book “Original Sin” and explore critical questions about journalism's role in vetting political candidates, particularly examining President Biden's age and cognitive health, the media's coverage of his decline, and whether there was a coordinated effort to shield him from scrutiny. They offer their perspectives on Biden's decision to run for re-election, the dynamics surrounding Kamala Harris's selection as VP, and how the political establishment rewards seniority over merit in Congress. Beyond the serious political analysis, the conversation takes a more personal turn as Tapper discusses his approach to social media detox, his upcoming book about Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie, and his thoughts on political satire from South Park to SNL. They also dive into lighter territory, covering everything from Philadelphia sports fandom and memorabilia collecting to streaming recommendations and the challenges of maintaining work-life balance as a high-profile journalist. This episode offers both sharp political commentary and genuine personal insights from two veteran journalists reflecting on their craft and the current media landscape. Finally, he answers questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and reflects on the life of his family dog Ruby after her passing. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Trump orders attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities 02:00 Nobody wants a nuclear arms race in the middle east 02:30 Bombing was a choice, there were other options 03:45 The consequences will affect the entire globe 05:15 Other countries could race toward nukes 06:00 Israel cornered the US government into airstrikes 07:45 Kamala Harris probably would have ordered the airstrikes* 09:15 Israel would have forced the president’s hand either way 10:15 Trump didn’t make the case for strikes in remarks to the nation 12:00 Iran could strike back asymmetrically 12:45 Congress has been sidelined, this is Trump’s war 14:45 Did this make the U.S. and the world safer? 17:30 Trump violated the law by not notifying Democrats about the strike 19:30 Eric Swalwell issues an alarming statement about 2028 election 20:45 NYC mayoral primary will show where the energy in the party is 23:00 Mamdani’s candidacy scares the Democratic establishment 24:20 Jake Tapper joins the Chuck ToddCast! 25:20 How Jake and Chuck met 29:40 Covid set back younger generation's social development 31:35 Disengaging from social media 33:50 Negative feedback online vs. in-person 35:20 Are politicians constantly suspicious of journalists? 37:20 Give politicians the benefit of the doubt? 38:20 Congress won't pass the STOCK Act 39:05 Biden's decision to run was the "original sin" 40:35 Biden originally ran with his family under duress 42:35 There are myths in the legend of Joe Biden 43:50 Biden's resilience led him to the bad decision to run 44:35 The "blame the media" narrative around Biden 45:50 How should the media change its vetting process for candidates? 47:35 Presidential health reports should be subject to perjury 48:20 Biden never took a cognitive test 49:20 Age cap on politicians requires constitutional amendment 50:20 No evidence that autopen was used 51:35 There's a culture of coddling "too old"...

Chuck Todd is joined by former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of American politics and governance. McCrory, who describes himself as a Reagan conservative, discusses how modern politics has become trapped in rigid left/right binary thinking and reflects on his experience managing civil unrest during the 2016 Charlotte riots. The conversation explores the breakdown of civil discourse, the infiltration of legitimate protests by anarchists, and the failure of political leaders to work across party lines during crises like the recent LA fires. The discussion delves into pressing questions about federal disaster response, including whether states can manage without FEMA and how the two-party system is failing Americans. They argue that dark money has turned campaign finance into "legal corruption." He also weighs in on whether the Republican Party can be reformed or if America needs a viable third party, while addressing the political survival prospects of senators like Thom Tillis in an increasingly polarized landscape. Timeline 00:00 Governor Pat McCrory joins the Chuck ToddCast! 01:30 Everything in modern politics is framed in left/right binary terms 03:15 What type of conservative is he? 04:15 What attracted him to Reagan conservatism? 06:00 Americans don’t always demand their leaders show empathy or grace 07:15 We used to be able to have conversations with people we disagree with 10:00 Mayors have less power than people realize 11:00 Congress has given away too much power to the executive branch 12:00 Handling the 2016 riots in Charlotte over a police shooting 12:45 A handful of anarchists have infiltrated the LA protests 15:00 Anarchists try to turn legitimate protests into riots 16:00 Is there a playbook for managing protests and civil unrest? 19:30 Trump, Newsom and Bass should be working together during protests 20:15 The Trump administration views working with Democrats as weakness 21:30 Newsom + Bass not holding joint press conferences during fires was a mistake 23:00 Leaders have to go beyond politics during disasters 24:00 Can states manage disaster relief on their own without FEMA? 26:00 Does FEMA’s need for expediency make it ripe for waste and abuse? 27:00 Disasters are a money making venture for contractors 28:45 FEMA cuts will hurt Trump’s voters the most 30:00 Bad communications after a disaster endanger the public 30:45 Certain government roles shouldn’t be politically appointed 32:30 FEMA needs to be reformed, not eliminated 33:45 Would it be better to reform the GOP, or create a viable third party? 35:15 The two party system is failing America 36:15 The two parties are acting like the mafia 37:15 There is political correctness on both sides of the aisle 39:00 The protests end up being misrepresented on television 41:15 Is the Republican party redeemable? 42:30 Dark money has corrupted our politics 44:15 Crypto has become the top spending lobbying group 48:00 Is crypto really currency if you have to cash it out to spend it? 50:30 Campaign finance has turned into legal corruption 51:45 Can Tom Thillis survive a Republican primary challenge? 55:00 Thillis holds strong convictions about the separation of powers

Chuck Todd begins by reflecting on the 10th anniversary of Trump descending his golden escalator and the profound impact he’s had on both our politics and culture since. He argues that Trump has had the greatest impact of any president since FDR, why Trump’s “fake it til you make it” persona appeals to voters and believes the negative impacts Trump has had on society will last for decades. He also highlights the anniversaries of the Watergate break-in and the OJ Simpson chase, and the lasting impacts those two events have had on American media. Then, Chuck is joined by journalist and staff writer for The Atlantic, Mark Leibovich, for a wide-ranging conversation that seamlessly weaves together sports, politics, and cultural commentary. The discussion begins with Leibovich's criticism of Howard Schultz's role in Seattle losing the Sonics, before diving into whether Obama should be more vocal during this political moment. Leibovich argues that Obama's presence might actually reinforce elitist stereotypes about Democrats and questions whether the former president is out of touch with today's electorate. The conversation takes fascinating detours through Beatles history (with Leibovich making the case that Ringo was the band's essential glue), speculation about whether Biden's debate performance was intentionally designed to showcase his decline, and pointed observations about Trump 2.0 being "almost beyond satire." Leibovich doesn't hold back on Trump's blatant corruption or Chuck’s assessment that "Idiocracy was a documentary," while also analyzing the genuine nature of enthusiasm around Kamala Harris's campaign. The episode concludes with thoughts on baseball's pitch clock, the Red Sox's future, and advice for Democrats to meet voters where they are. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment about discrepancies in polling and why poor campaign finance laws allow for the outsized influence of money in Virginia’s gubernatorial race. Timeline: 00:00 Introduction 00:30 June 16th marks the 10th anniversary of Trump descending the escalator 01:45 Trump’s staying power isn’t an accident 02:30 Trump’s impact has been greater than any modern president 04:00 Trump’s “fake it til you make it” strategy worked* 05:45 Trump is comfortable being an outsider and disrespected 07:00 Trump remade the Republican party in his image 09:00 The poison he’s injected is division and politicization 11:00 The culture Trump built will shape politics for decades 13:00 June 17th the anniversary of Watergate break in 13:45 The biased liberal media narrative was manufactured by Nixon 15:15 Republicans mistake press neutrality with antagonism 16:30 Service journalism has become rare 18:15 June 17th also anniversary of OJ Simpson chase 19:30 OJ chase/trial massively changed media 23:00 CNN saw CourTV’s ratings and changed strategy 25:15 Before OJ, news networks didn’t chase ratings 29:00 Mark Leibovich joins the Chuck ToddCast! 32:30 Mark's homage to the Oklahoma City Thunder 33:45 Howard Schultz deserves the blame for Seattle losing the Sonics 35:00 Is there an NBA market that needs to be eliminated/moved? 37:30 Is it a mistake to brand teams to a state/region over a city? 39:30 Should Obama be speaking out more due to the vacuum of leadership? 41:30 Obama to blame for not grooming the next generation? 42:30 Obama favored Hillary Clinton more than Joe Biden 43:00 Obama didn't believe in identity politics 44:45 Can Obama lead by example at this moment? 46:15 Obama's presence reinforces elitist stereotypes about Democrats 48:45 If John Lennon had lived, would the Beatles have just been the Rolling Stones? 51:15 Ringo was the glue for the Beatles 53:30 Ringo is non judgemental and appeals to both sides 55:45 Ringo was a huge American football fan 58:00 Obama seems out of touch with the current electorate 59:15 Was the energy around Harris genuine enthusiasm, or just relief? 1:00:15 Biden probably...

Chuck Todd reacts to the bizarre limbo President Donald Trump has put the country and world into as he weighs bringing the United States military into the conflict between Israel and Iran. Chuck weighs the benefits and risks of such a move, explains why Israel can’t end Iran’s nuclear program without the U.S. and why Trump is treating foreign policy like reality TV. He provides some updates and analysis on several primaries and special elections across the country, and concludes by answering listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment about the ability of unknown candidates to emerge in a crowded media environment and why voters can’t impeach elected officials for bad behavior like we saw from Senator Mike Lee. Timeline: 00:00 Trump has put the country into a bizarre limbo over Iran 01:00 It feels like there is a drumbeat towards U.S. military action 01:50 Iran knows nuclear weapons are a powerful deterrent 04:05 Trump got traction in the Republican party by opposing the Bush doctrine 06:20 Iran is weaker than ever after Israel destroyed their proxies 07:20 Israel can't eradicate Iran's nuclear program without the U.S. 08:05 Congress isn't likely to confront him over war powers 09:50 This situation rhymes with the pretense of the Iraq war 11:20 Trump would be taking a great risk by accepting Israeli intelligence 12:50 Trump is treating foreign policy like it's a reality TV show 14:20 America playing world police worked… until it didn't 15:20 Trump has been backed into a corner 16:35 There are diverse opinions in the situation room 17:50 Trump making war decisions via tweet has been normalized 18:35 Virginia primaries have set up governor's race for later this year 19:20 Democrats should be poised for clean sweep in Virginia 20:20 Either way, Virginia will elect its first female governor 21:20 NY and NJ elections will be closer than Virginia 22:50 Ranked choice voting in NYC mayor's race creates unique coalitions 25:20 Ritchie Torres won't run for governor if Zoran Mandani wins mayoral race 26:50 Sen. Michael Bennett to leave Senate and run for Colorado governor 28:50 Byron Donalds is already running attack ads in Florida governor race 30:05 Ohio's gubernatorial race will be closer than you think 34:15 Ask Chuck 34:45 Can an unknown candidate emerge in this media ecosystem? 38:10 Why aren’t house members or senators impeached by their voters? 41:45 The need for straight shooters in media (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

Chuck Todd begins with a solemn observation… that the world and country are both in a very unstable and combustible moment and needs President Donald Trump to offer stable leadership to help turn the temperature down… but is likely incapable of, or unwilling of doing so. He also reflects on Trump’s role in creating an environment ripe for political violence and why he believes we’re living in an Orwellian moment where it’s hard to know what to believe. Then Chuck sits down with Mike Pesca, host of "The Gist," for a deep dive into media, politics, and culture. The conversation kicks off with observations about the podcast industry's shift toward video content and marketing strategies and how news has evolved from reporting to commentary, blurring the traditional lines between journalism and opinion. They explore the trend of audiences gravitating toward partisan content and echo chambers. They discuss cryptocurrency's similarities to collectibles and its role in financial privacy, to Trump's media strategy and the Democrats' failure to match his "everywhere" approach to communication. They examine specific policy proposals like DOGE's potential costs, Trump's penny elimination plan, and his willingness to negotiate with hostile nations. They conclude with an intriguing look at the potential politicization of sports media, Caitlin Clark's unexpected role as a political lightning rod and the rarity of overtly political sports coaches like Auburn’s Bruce Pearl. Finally, he concludes the show by answering listeners’ questions about Elon Musk’s access to government data, what may have been different if Trump hadn’t pulled America out of the Iran nuclear deal and his thoughts on podcasting compared to hosting Meet the Press. Timeline 00:00 Introduction 00:15 Nats swept by the Marlins 01:00 The country and the world depend on Donald Trump’s leadership 02:30 The only person who can end the Israel/Iran war is Trump 03:30 Trump has infused the Republican Party with isolationism 05:30 Israel can’t end Iran’s nuclear program without direct US support 07:15 Trump’s deportation policy is a major driver of instability 08:30 Economic damage could cause Trump to back off deportations 09:15 Minnesota shooter was radicalized online 10:45 Most of the political violence in the country has come from the right 12:15 Trump is not interested in lowering the temperature 13:30 Trump won’t accept that he’s contributed to the tension 14:30 Trump’s parade fell flat, but the No King’s protests were massive 15:30 Chuck ended up on the hit list of a radical in 2018 16:50 Trump has created an environment of violence with the J6 pardons 18:45 We’ve entered an Orwellian moment with disinformation online 19:45 Kristi Noem’s “liberate California” rhetoric was insane 21:15 When people don’t know what to believe, it makes democracy unstable 23:00 Mike Pesca joins the Chuck ToddCast! 25:00 Is video format actually good for podcasts? 28:00 Video feels like the only good way to market a podcast 30:30 The public hasn't published the podcast industry for not being in real time 32:15 News has become more commentary than news reporting 34:00 The lines between news and opinion have been blurred 37:00 Chuck's take on having two first names 38:30 What topic doesn't make the cut for "The Gist"? 40:25 Comedians are the modern day philosophers 43:00 So many podcasts are just people agreeing with each other 44:30 Audiences gravitate towards partisan content 47:00 AI will make the media ecosystem more efficient 48:45 There's a lack of ideological diversity in the two parties 50:15 The political duopoly has been bad for voters 52:45 Crypto is not much different from baseball cards and comic books 54:00 Crypto is inefficient but it's good for hiding money 58:00 Political criticisms aren't always partisan 59:30 DOGE will cost taxpayers more money than it saves 1:00:30 Trump is great a diagnosing problems but isn't interested in solving...

Chuck Todd criticizes the controversial military birthday parade planned by Trump in Washington, D.C., which marks both the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary and Trump’s 79th birthday. He calls out the event as a politicization of the military, a costly spectacle ($25–$45 million) that could have been spent addressing critical social needs such as homeless veterans, Medicaid funding, or infrastructure repair. He takes particular issue with the military personnel being vetted for political loyalty to Trump, which undermines the traditionally apolitical nature of the military and risks eroding public trust. Chuck examines the broader consequences of Trump’s actions, including his use of military intervention in domestic unrest and harsh rhetoric against protestors, which contributes to the dangerous polarization of Americans and threatens democratic norms. Chuck Todd sits down with former Congresswoman Barbara Comstock to discuss her ongoing efforts to reform the Republican Party from within and the challenges facing the GOP in the Trump era. Comstock argues that the party's fundamental problem isn't ideological but character-based, as Republicans have abandoned character as a voting issue and are now required to lie to their voters to maintain political viability. She believes reform must come from the bottom up through state and local politics, which have been less infected by Trumpism, and warns that MAGA Republicans' indifference to whether government actually works has created a dangerous dynamic where loyalty to Trump is the only qualification that matters. The conversation explores the practical consequences of Republican governance, from potential Medicaid cuts that could devastate rural hospitals and long-term care facilities, to the party's abandonment of Christian principles regarding care for the vulnerable. Comstock sees an opportunity for reform during the eventual succession fight after Trump, arguing that it will take just one person of character to begin rebuilding the party. She's particularly critical of figures like JD Vance, whom she describes as a charlatan who cannot represent the party's future, while expressing cautious optimism about leaders like Glenn Youngkin. Throughout the discussion, Comstock draws parallels to international politics, praising Zelenskyy as the world's greatest leader while condemning the Tucker Carlson wing of the party for siding with Putin, ultimately arguing that voters will punish incumbents of both parties if government continues to fail. 00:00 Introduction 01:05 The two types of ex-Repubicans 03:40 The bleak future of the two-party system 04:30 Trump's military birthday parade 07:20 Longterm damage of politicizing the military 08:55 Conservative's absurd renaming of Confederate bases 11:30 The HUGE price of this military parade 13:30 What the $45 million COULD have been used to fix 15:10 Why politicizing the military would be end of the republic 16:00 How this stunt is escalating tensions w/ ongoing protests 17:15 Why this Trump scandal is particularly un-American 19:45 Barbara Comstock joins the Chuck ToddCast! 20:45 Efforts to reform the Republican party from within 23:00 State and local level politics have been less infected by Trumpism 25:15 Republicans are required to lie to their voters 26:15 Reform will come from the bottom up 27:00 Character is a bigger problem for Republicans than ideology 28:30 Republicans have given up on character as a voting issue 30:30 Winsome Earle-Sears has capitulated to the Trump movement 33:15 Should Republicans embrace Trump’s ideology but with high character candidates? 35:15 MAGA Republicans don’t care if government doesn’t work 36:00 Loyalty is the only qualification Trump cares about 39:00 Attrition and incentives are a better way of cutting government 42:15 Emergency care for illegal immigrants is mandated by law 43:00 Christian Republicans want to kick the samaritan to the curb 44:00 Medicaid cuts will cause...

Chuck Todd reflects on his recent conversation with Steve Bannon and proposes his theory for what Donald Trump and his MAGA movement's populism is really tapping into not just in America, but as a global phenomenon. Chuck says that the Democrats have an opportunity to position themselves as an opposition party that taps into the American populace's skepticism of concentrated power, and that if the current Democratic leadership isn't equipped to navigate the moment, they could set themselves up to get steamrolled by Trumpism the same way that the George Bush and Mitt Romney wing of the Republican Party did. Chuck goes on to look at some of the races he's most excited for in 2026. Chuck Todd welcomes filmmakers Lindsay Utz and Michelle Walshe to discuss their documentary "Prime Minister," an intimate portrait of former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's extraordinary leadership during some of the most challenging moments in recent history. The film, built around Ardern's personal audio diaries that weren't meant to be released until after her death, chronicles her navigation through three defining crises: the Christchurch shooting, the COVID-19 pandemic, and giving birth while in office. The filmmakers had unprecedented access to Ardern, capturing her reflections on leading a nation through tragedy and global upheaval, while New Zealand became the first country to eradicate COVID-19 through decisive leadership and strong public health measures. The conversation explores the broader themes of the documentary, including the misogynistic backlash Ardern faced both for her COVID response and her decision to ban semi-automatic weapons after Christchurch. Utz and Walshe discuss the challenge of misinformation during the pandemic, the export of American political mistrust to other democracies, and how Ardern's millennial confidence shaped her leadership style. Despite her international popularity, the filmmakers reveal that Ardern has sworn off politics forever, making this documentary a crucial historical record of her tenure. The film serves as both a case study in crisis leadership and an inspiration for young women considering political careers, showcasing how Ardern became a global role model while navigating the unique pressures facing female leaders in the modern political landscape. Finally, he addresses listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment! 00:00 Introduction 03:50 Steve Bannon's theory about Trump & the global populist movement 06:10 Why Trump's character is a distraction for Democrats 08:10 Democrats' advantage as an outsider party 10:45 New Jersey gubernatorial race 14:30 Democratic Senate candidates popping up in Iowa 18:30 Minnesota Senate Democratic primary 20:45 New candidate alert in Georgia! 23:00 Louisiana getting rid of runoffs? 24:10 Mark Green stepping down in Tennesee 29:30 Lindsay Utz and Michelle Walshe join the Chuck Toddcast! 30:30 What was the origin story of their documentary “Prime Minister” 31:30 How often did they have access to Jacinda Ardern? 32:50 Ardern’s audio diaries weren’t supposed to be released until she died 34:00 Ardern showed extraordinary leadership after the Christchurch shooting 35:30 Adrern’s story wasn’t local and could resonate worldwide 37:30 Was Ardern surprised when reflecting on her diaries? 38:30 Ardern had to lead through 2 crises 39:30 The tentpoles of the documentary are Covid, Christchurch and giving birth in office 42:30 Great responsibility to get the story right due to historic nature 44:30 Was Arden’s book coordinated with the release of the documentary? 45:30 What was the hardest thing to leave out? 47:30 New Zealand’s great response to Covid relied on strong leadership 49:30 New Zealand was the first country to eradicate Covid 51:00 Citizens of every country blamed their leaders for Covid 52:30 Misinformation was a huge problem during Covid 53:30 Was there an anti-vax community in NZ prior to Covid? 54:45 Was the...

DC/DOX Film Festival Kicks Off Its THIRD Year! | Chuck Todd Politics Podcast Chuck Todd reacts to Donald Trump’s escalating conflict with the state of California and Governor Gavin Newsom over the ICE raids and protests. Chuck warns that if Trump makes good on his threats to arrest Newsom, he could make him a powerful martyr. He also weighs in Barack Obama’s lack of presence for the Democrats while they struggle with a leadership vacuum. Then sits down with Jamie Shor and Sky Sitney, the co-founders of DC/DOX, Washington D.C.'s premier documentary film festival now in its third year. The duo discusses how they merged their individual visions to create a festival that perfectly captures the capital city's unique position as a hub for storytelling about politics, power, and social change. They explore how modern film festivals have evolved from simple showcases to essential curators in an era where the barrier to entry for documentary filmmaking has never been lower, yet the challenge of finding distribution and audience has never been greater. The conversation highlights some of the festival's most compelling offerings, from the visceral war documentary "2000 Meters To Adiivka" to the humorous AI exploration "Deepfaking Sam Altman," and the shocking government surveillance tale "The Spies Among Us." Shor and Sitney discuss the delicate balance between activism and entertainment in documentary filmmaking, the importance of transparency around AI usage in film production, and how their curation reflects the current cultural moment. They also address the ongoing distribution crisis facing independent filmmakers and explain how festivals like DC/DOX provide crucial visibility for smaller creators who lack major studio backing, while partners like Netflix and National Geographic help amplify important voices in documentary storytelling. Finally, he addresses listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment! Timeline: 00:00 Introduction 02:30 Trump is in a showdown with the state of California 03:30 The “Newscum” nickname makes Trump look unserious 05:30 The first amendment doesn’t only apply to citizens 07:30 The Trump recession has begun 08:30 The Big Beautiful Bill fight is going poorly for Republicans 09:30 Trump wants to make California a political punching bag 10:15 Trumpworld wants to make Gavin Newsom the face of the Democratic party 11:30 If Trump arrests Newsom, Newsom could become a martyr 12:00 Should Barack Obama be filling the Democratic leadership vacuum? 13:30 DNC leadership seems to be paralyzed 14:30 Obama is the only leader the entire coalition trusts 17:45 There’s not enough faith in the Democratic bench 18:45 Obama has stayed above the fray 19:20 Obama speaking out would raise the alarm amongst disengaged voters 20:30 Biden failed to make the country turn the page on Trump 22:45 If Trump tries to seek a third term, so can Barack Obama 24:00 Jamie Shor & Sky Sitney join the Chuck ToddCast! 25:45 What is DC/DOX and how has it evolved over three years? 28:20 How did Jamie and Sky meld their visions into one? 30:00 Why D.C. is the perfect host city for the festival. 32:30 The barrier to entry for making documentaries is lower than ever 34:30 Modern film festivals are a curator for films rather than just a showcase 36:30 Most of the documentaries presented don't have major studio backing 37:45 Netflix and NatGeo were early partners of DC/DOX 40:15 Festivals provide visibility for smaller filmmakers 41:00 Sky's favorite feature length films being featured at DC/DOX? 42:30 "2000 Meters To Adiivka" is a visceral war documentary 44:15 Jamie's favorite films being featured at DC/DOX? 47:00 What is "Andy Kaufman Is Me" about? 49:00 What is "Barbara Walters Tells Me Everything" about? 51:00 "Deepfaking Sam Altman" is a great and funny exploration of AI 53:00 "The Spies Among Us" is a shocking tale of government surveillance 54:15 What are the best documentary shorts featured at...

Chuck Todd begins with the apparent de-escalation of the feud between Donald Trump and Elon and why the power imbalance between the two meant that Elon would be forced to back down. Then, he explains why Trump is deliberately manufacturing a crisis by federalizing the National Guard and sending them to LA to deal with protests over ICE raids. He calls it a “political trap” set by Stephen Miller and that the administration has chosen to use California as a political punching bag. He also weighs in on the crisis of leadership at the DNC after an internal call was leaked to the press and why it could be the end of Ken Martin’s time as chair. Then, Chuck welcomes filmmaker Chase Joynt and Congresswoman Sarah McBride to discuss the documentary "State of Firsts," which chronicles McBride's historic journey as the first openly transgender person elected to Congress. Joynt explains the origins of the film and the decision to focus on McBride's political coming of age amid the intensifying national debate over trans rights. The conversation explores the broader LGBTQ civil rights movement, the challenges of media coverage around trans issues, and how Trump has weaponized transgender Americans as political scapegoats. They discuss the ongoing tensions within the gay community about whether the fight for trans rights is "worth it," and examine how civil rights have historically advanced incrementally through strategic battles. McBride joins the conversation to reflect on the personal toll of being thrust into the spotlight as a symbol for an entire community while trying to serve her Delaware constituents effectively. She discusses the unique pressures that come with being the "first" of any identity group in Congress, the performance incentives that can bring out the worst in politicians, and her approach to picking battles strategically rather than fighting on every front. The discussion touches on Delaware's distinctive political dynamics, her relationship with President Biden, the complexities of the trans women in sports debate, and whether she would accept a meeting with Trump. Throughout, both guests emphasize the importance of seeing transgender people as whole individuals rather than reducing them to a single issue, while acknowledging the weight of representation in advancing civil rights. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment regarding filibuster reform in the Senate, whether age limits for lawmakers are a good idea, and whether Trump would be best served resigning the presidency in order to receive a pardon from JD Vance. Timeline: 00:00 Introduction 01:15 Trump backs off when dealing with rich and powerful people 02:15 Elon is a bridge between MAGA and the tech elite 03:00 Steve Bannon says Musk’s money might have made the difference in election 05:00 Trump is always for sale, but the deals aren’t stable 06:15 Musk is powerful but not irreplaceable 07:00 Trump could destroy Musk’s companies before his term ends 08:45 The fate of our country hinges on a pissing match between two powerful people 10:15 Voters think all politicians are equally corrupt 11:00 The Trump administration is trying to manufacture a crisis in Los Angeles 12:30 What you’re reading and seeing online isn’t what’s happening on the ground 13:30 Majority of voters want immigration enforced, but humanely and with due process 15:00 Stephen Miller believes he’s setting up a political trap 16:15 The administration wants to use California as a cultural punching bag 18:00 DNC chair Ken Martin caught on recording saying he might not be up to the job 20:00 Martin defined himself as a placeholder with doubts 20:45 Democrats don’t know who’s in charge, or who they want to be in charge 21:45 Ken Martin will be defined by this moment 24:00 Chase Joynt joins the Chuck ToddCast! 25:00 What was the origin of "State of Firsts"? 26:45 Were there any ground rules or "no goes" when creating the film? 28:00 Sarah's ascent...

Chuck Todd reacts to the escalating feud brewing between Donald Trump and Elon Musk after Elon’s departure from the administration. He warns the audience… NOBODY can predict where this will go from here. Timeline: 00:00 Trump and Elon attack each other on social media 01:00 Trump threatens to terminate Elon’s government contracts 01:20 Elon accuses Trump of being in the Epstein files 02:30 Trump and Elon think they’ve bought each other's loyalty 04:15 Trump and Elon are basically the same guy 05:00 This was the most predictable split 07:15 Elon doesn’t understand how politics work 08:45 This feud will run into a reality check at some point 09:45 They are basically teenagers fighting

Chuck Todd begins by trying to make sense of the Elon Musk vs. Donald Trump public feud and why Trump will likely be muted in his criticism. Chuck also weighs in on the NYC mayoral race, why Andrew Cuomo shouldn’t be allowed to run this soon after resigning in disgrace and why voters were deprived of closure in the Cuomo scandal. Then, Chuck sits down with Lindsey Williams Drath, CEO of the Forward Party, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing America's newest third-party movement. Williams discusses the party's "purple" approach to politics, rejecting traditional left-right labels while focusing on governance over party affiliation. The conversation covers the significant barriers third parties face, from institutional pushback to the infrastructure advantages held by Republicans and Democrats, who have "pulled the ladder up behind them" through restrictive ballot access requirements and partisan primaries. Looking ahead to the 2026 and 2028 elections, Drath outlines the Forward Party's strategic approach to building from the ground up at the state level, targeting swing districts and disaffected voters from both major parties. The discussion touches on fusion voting, potential mergers with other independent groups, and the party's unique challenge of maintaining unity without a rigid ideology. Williams also addresses whether candidates with contradictory positions can coexist under one party banner, the role of money in politics, and how the Forward Party plans to avoid becoming a spoiler while building toward federal party status and meaningful electoral competition. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ question in the “Ask Chuck” segment regarding whether he’d ever consider working in the White House comms shop, what type of leader could best correct the erosion of American democracy, and who he thinks are the top 3 candidates to be at the top of the Democratic ticket in 2028. Timeline: 00:00 Introduction 02:30 There is tremendous dissatisfaction with both political parties 04:00 What to make of the Elon Musk vs Donald Trump feud? 05:00 One party governance breeds bad governance 07:30 Trump vs Musk was always going to be a test of wills 08:30 Trump isn’t as aggressive with people wealthier than him 10:15 Democrats likely won’t forgive Elon if he turns on Trump 11:30 Winner of the Democratic NYC mayoral primary will be the mayor 12:45 Andrew Cuomo hasn’t lived in NYC in 35 years 13:45 Cuomo shouldn’t have resigned because we never got closure on accusations 15:45 If you resign in disgrace, there needs to be an electoral penalty 16:30 Cuomo never faced an impeachment trial 18:30 Multiple governors have resigned in order to dodge investigations 21:00 We never got an accounting of Al Franken’s ethics committee report 23:00 Cuomo shouldn’t be able to run again so soon 24:00 Lindsey Williams Drath joins the Chuck ToddCast! 24:50 What is the Forward Party and what do they believe? 26:30 Barriers to entry for a third party 27:10 There's growing sentiment for the need for a third party 28:30 There's major institutional pushback to third parties 29:30 Republicans and Democrats have an infrastructure advantage 30:20 10-year goal. What is success? 31:15 Built the party from the ground up at the state level 32:30 Andrew Yang's role in building the party 35:30 Administrative roles in Forward Party 37:45 Goal for the midterms is not a third party spoiler; but party-building; state level 40:15 Working toward federal party status; looking at seats in 2026 & 2028 42:10 What districts will they be targeting? 44:30 How Forward candidates can register for ballot access 47:00 Major parties have pulled the ladder up behind them. 47:50 Partisan primaries are unconstitutional 49:30 Defining fusion voting 51:30 Merging with the Independence Party? 53:15 There are lots of disaffected voters; and many "formers" in the Forward Party 55:45 We need to prioritize governance over party affiliation 57:30...

Chuck Todd begins by analyzing whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden will be a bigger political liability for their respective parties in the 2026 midterms. He also examines the trend of urban vs rural voters happening worldwide and reacts to some newsworthy quotes from American politics Then, he welcomes Jane Coaston to the podcast for a wide-ranging conversation that spans college football, media, and politics. They dive deep into how conference realignment is reshaping college sports, discussing everything from the demise of the Pac-12 to whether Fox can maintain compelling broadcasts without marquee matchups. The conversation explores how football innovation happens from the ground up and why geographic realignment may be inevitable for smaller schools facing logistical nightmares. The discussion then shifts to broader media and political dynamics, examining how algorithms and internet discourse are warping public conversation. They analyze why political hosts get captured by their audiences, how conspiracy theorists find community online, and why politically engaged people are actually the "weirdos" in American politics. They tackle tough questions about media coverage of Biden's age, the responsibility of press versus politicians in covering presidential fitness, and why treating voters as real people rather than demographic categories might be the key to better political communication. Finally, he addresses listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment regarding consuming political interviews, whether Democrats need their own Project 2025 and whether a moderate Republican running third party would have enabled a Harris win in 2024. Timeline: 00:00 Introduction 02:00 Biden or Trump the bigger liability in 2026 midterms? 03:35 It’s rare for a former president to cast a bigger shadow than the current one 05:30 Democratic voters are still mad at Joe Biden 07:30 Trump won’t have much to sell in 2026 09:45 Voters won’t feel any impact from Trump’s tax cut 11:15 Democrats can’t sit back and expect to win in 2026 13:00 Trump is the bigger liability 14:00 Should Republicans have won 2024 in a landslide? 16:45 The rural vs. urban political divide is a worldwide phenomenon 18:30 Mexico to make all judges elected positions, terrible for rule of law 21:00 Character doesn’t matter to voters, results do 23:00 Joe Biden still believes he would have won the election 24:15 Tim Walz suggests Democrats should be a little meaner 27:15 Jane Coaston joins the Chuck ToddCast! 29:35 Mountain time is the best time zone for watching sports 32:15 Has college football hurt itself by losing the Pac-12? 34:15 Conference realignment really hurts the smaller schools logistically 35:45 Schools will be forced to realign into geographic regions 38:15 College football benefits from having fanbases in hundreds of markets 39:45 College football risks concentration only in the midwest and south 41:45 Football innovates from the bottom up 42:45 Can Fox's broadcast stand on its own without two marquee teams? 45:45 If CFB contracts were similar to NFL contracts, everyone makes more money 47:00 Money for college football isn't zero sum 48:15 How do you decide what your daily news lead will be? 49:15 The rhetoric around medicaid cuts is identical to welfare rhetoric 50:45 Many people on Medicaid have jobs that don't offer insurance 52:30 It's important to offer your audience views they don't always agree with 53:45 Algorithms are a major problem for public discourse 55:45 Hosts end up being captured by their audience and public criticism 57:15 The human psyche isn't equipped for the internet 58:15 Conspiracy theorists and cranks can find community online 59:45 The internet is not representative of real life people 1:00:45 Voters hold multiple conflicting views 1:03:00 High information, politically engaged people are weirdos 1:04:15 Politics has become too much like sports 1:06:15 In polling, the way a question is asked can...

Chuck Todd reacts to Elon Musk leaving the Trump Administration and discusses the valuable lessons to be learned from Elon’s tenure. Chuck also reacts to the recent pardons by Donald Trump and explains why they are bad for the country. Then he discusses the problems with the “big, beautiful bill”. Then, Chuck is joined by Amanda Litman, co-founder and president of Run For Something, to discuss the future of Democratic leadership and the urgent need to recruit a new generation of candidates. They examine how Republicans, following the lead of Newt Gingrich’s GoPAC, have outpaced Democrats in preparing talent for public office — and why the Democratic bench remains so thin. Litman shares insights into the challenges young progressives face, from lack of institutional support to financial and family pressures. They discuss the messy but well-intentioned efforts like David Hogg’s DNC initiative, the communication gap with younger voters, and why the information ecosystem is reshaping political engagement. Together, they explore the mechanics of candidate recruitment, debates over ideological litmus tests, and how Run For Something navigates hot-button issues like trans rights and independent candidacies. From socioeconomic diversity in elected office to the underrepresentation of renters and working-class Americans, this conversation is a candid look at how Democrats can rebuild from the ground up — and what success might look like in the 2026 midterms. Finally, in “Ask Chuck,” Chuck digs into the mailbag to answer one of the biggest questions about the state of politics. 00:00 - Chuck recaps his weekend 06:26 - Elon’s Exit from Trump Administration 14:43 - Reaction to Trump’s pardons 21:49 – Amanda Litman joins the Chuck Toddcast! 22:19 – What is “Run For Something”? 24:19 – Newt Gingrich started GoPAC to prep candidates on the right 25:19 – The DNC dropped the ball on prepping candidates 27:34 – Emily’s List was good for candidate training, but only for women 29:04 – There are very few young elected Democrats 30:04 – David Hogg’s DNC effort is a noble one, but messy for the DNC 32:19 – The generational divide in the Democratic party 33:49 – Democrats need younger leaders to speak to younger voters 34:49 – The Republican party changed drastically in ten years 35:49 – Voters under 35 have seen a lot of government failure 37:49 – Voters receive their information so differently now 39:04 – What is the process for recruiting and training candidates? 42:49 – Is there an ideological litmus test for prospective candidates? 44:04 – Trans issues have been very challenging for progressives 45:49 – What if a candidate's passion issue isn’t a voting issue? 47:04 – Will “Run For Something” recruit and run independent candidates? 49:49 – Could we see a lot of former federal employees run for office? 51:49 – Will Run For Something get involved in debates about updating the democracy 53:19 – Legislators should be paid more 55:19 – Lack of money and kids are a huge impediment to candidates under 40 57:19 – We need more socioeconomic diversity in elected office* 59:19 – Renters aren’t represented in Congress* 61:04 – The Democrats have become the “presidency or bust” party* 63:04 – If you want to improve the Democratic brand, you have to change the politicians 65:19 – What does success look like in 2026 midterms? 67:22 – “Ask Chuck”

Chuck Todd starts with new polling showing Trump’s damaging down ballot effect on the Republican party and highlights some key races for the upcoming midterm elections. Then, he sits down with New York Times reporters Michael Schwirtz and Jane Bradley to discuss their explosive investigation into Russia's sophisticated "spy factory" operation in Brazil. The reporters reveal how they uncovered a years-long Russian intelligence program that used Brazil as the perfect cover to create false identities for spies who would then be deployed around the world. The discussion explores how the Ukraine war may have intensified efforts to uncover these operations, and details the meticulous process Russian operatives used to obtain authentic Brazilian birth certificates and build elaborate backstories for their agents. The conversation delves into the remarkable scope of this espionage network, including how one spy successfully infiltrated Johns Hopkins University as a student, before being caught by Brazilian authorities. Schwirtz and Bradley discuss the similarities between their real-world investigation and the plot of "The Americans," the complaints from captured spies about their Russian handlers, and how this program's roots trace back to Cold War tactics. The interview also touches on broader questions about American engagement in Latin America, Brazil's surprisingly robust rule of law, and the ongoing challenges facing international journalism, including reporting in conflict zones like Ukraine and the risks of travel to Russia. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the Ask Chuck segment regarding small state primaries, whether an atheist could ever be elected president and Democratic messaging. Timeline: 00:00 Introduction 01:30 Trump is putting the Republican party in a precarious position for midterms 03:30 Trump’s only big win is the border 04:00 Swing voters wanted lower prices and aren’t getting them 04:30 Every election is now a “change” election 06:30 Trump has become the party 08:00 Republicans won’t have anything that’s easy to sell to the public 09:30 New Texas poll shows Trump’s growing unpopularity 12:00 Shrinking the size of government is popular with voters 13:15 Bad economic approval is a warning for Republicans 16:00 Incumbency may be a big problem for John Cornyn 18:00 New Michigan poll released on senate race 19:30 Michigan poll shows anti-incumbent bias in voters 20:30 Lindsay Graham in a closer than expected race 22:15 Michael Schwirtz & Jane Bradley join the Chuck ToddCast! 23:55 What is the origin story of their story on Brazil's "Spy Factory" 24:45 Did the Ukraine war cause countries to double efforts to uncover spies? 27:15 Were the feds in Brazil aware of this spy operation? 30:25 Brazil was the perfect place to create cover identities for spies 31:45 The spy operation was years in the making 32:45 Investigations into spies' birth certificates showed they weren't doctored 34:45 Other Latin American countries are investigating as well 35:45 Was the spy ring uncovered in America in 2010 related to this program? 37:15 The goal wasn't to infiltrate Brazil specifically, but move spies abroad 38:15 The most "successful" spy was arrested by Brazilian authorities 39:30 One spy infiltrated John Hopkins university posing as a student 41:30 Has Putin punished any of the spies that were caught? 43:15 It feels like this story was a plot ripped straight from "The Americans" 44:30 The spies that talked complained about their bosses 45:30 Does America run similar "spy factories?" 48:15 Western agencies don't have the same spy budgets as the Russians 50:15 The seeds of the spy program go back to the Cold War 52:30 Are Brazilian authorities extra motivated to get to the bottom of this? 53:45 Brazil's rule of law is stronger than we give it credit for 55:15 Is this a failure of American engagement in Latin America? 58:00 What other threads are they pulling in their...

Chuck Todd opens with two issues he calls “dead rail” issues; issues that voters care about but don’t vote on… campaign finance reform and the national debt. He explains why both parties aren’t incentivized to address either issue, and provides a brief update on the latest developments for the upcoming midterm and presidential elections. Then, he sits down with acclaimed television writer and producer Debora Cahn, the creative force behind both "The West Wing" and Netflix's hit series "The Diplomat." Cahn shares behind-the-scenes insights from her time in Aaron Sorkin's writers' room, revealing how the team worked to make "The West Wing" realistic and even infused elements of musical theater into the show. She discusses the origins and development of "The Diplomat," explaining how her experience working on "Homeland" prepared her for tackling international diplomacy, and how COVID-19 unexpectedly helped with the show's early development process. They delve into how real-world events have shaped "The Diplomat's" narrative, particularly Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which completely changed the show's plot trajectory. Cahn explores the challenges of creating "news adjacent" content in today's rapidly changing political landscape, where she notes that satire feels off-limits for this decade. She also discusses her approach to writing strong but complex female characters, the differences between working with Shonda Rhimes versus Aaron Sorkin, and how she uses storytelling to give voice to government workers. The interview touches on everything from using real UK embassy locations for filming to incorporating recent political events and the casting of Michael McKean in a Biden-inspired role. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the Ask Chuck segment, addressing topics like the best path to learning journalism, whether Kamala Harris could lose the California gubernatorial race and how to maximize black voter turnout in the south. Timeline: 00:00 Introduction 00:30 The “third-rail” issues in American politics that are untouchable 01:45 Medicaid is a lifeline for more than just poor people 02:20 Dead rail issues are issues that you can ignore and voters don’t care 03:10 Voters agree on need for campaign finance reform, but don’t vote on it 05:00 Both parties only care about the national debt when they’re out of power 07:00 Voters don’t care about campaign finance or the debt until it affects them 09:00 The Republicans are more fiscally irresponsible than Democrats 10:30 New campaign ad rolls out with purely AI generated people 11:30 Senator Jeff Merkeley may step down 12:30 Senator Ed Markey may face primary challenge 13:00 Rahm Emmanuel attending Iowa event, could it regain 1st primary status? 14:30 Debora Cahn joins the Chuck ToddCast! 15:45 How did she create "The Diplomat" and "West Wing"? 17:00 How important was it to make the West Wing realistic? 19:00 How did you infuse musical theater into West Wing? 20:15 What was the writers' room like? 22:30 How long has she been working on The Diplomat? 25:15 How did working on Homeland prepare her for The Diplomat? 28:30 The origin of The Diplomat 30:00 Covid actually HELPED with early development 31:00 Were the characters modeled off real people? 33:45 Using a real embassy for the set 36:30 Has the narrative arc changed from the original vision? 38:45 Russia's invasion of Ukraine changed the show's entire plot 40:45 Using the PM of the UK character to caricature Trump 42:15 Satire is off the table for this decade 43:30 Giving voice to government workers via storytelling 47:00 Has the UK foreshadowed trends in US politics? 48:15 The downside to being "news adjacent"? 49:45 Writing about strong women but making it messy 51:15 Working with Shonda Rhimes vs Aaron Sorkin 53:30 Whose story would she like to tell? 56:00 Traditional journalism vs. influencer culture 56:45 The Newsroom wasn't an accurate portrayal of TV journalism 58:00 What events...

Chuck Todd begins by examining whether Democrats have lost by enough to force meaningful change or if they're simply tinkering around the edges. He covers Trump's recent controversial moves, including hosting dinners for his memecoin buyers and politicizing his West Point commencement speech, while exploring how "whataboutism" and Trump creating a culture of fear have become pervasive in our political discourse. Chuck analyzes new polling data on potential Democratic matchups and discusses why being an incumbent may be a liability in upcoming elections. Then, he’s joined by political analyst and author of “Where Have All The Democrats Gone”, Ruy Texeira, who provides insights into America's ongoing political realignment and the challenges facing both major parties. They explore whether Democrats need to move toward the center to win back working-class voters, discuss the possibility of party collapse similar to what happened with the UK's Tories, and examine why neither party seems capable of forming a truly dominant coalition. The conversation covers everything from the Democrats' branding problems and communication failures to Trump's enduring influence on American politics and the potential for viable independent candidates in 2028. Chuck concludes with upcoming Republican primary dynamics, including Senator John Cornyn's hiring of Trump's campaign manager and why it could be an UGLY campaign. Timeline: 00:00 Introduction 02:00 Have Democrats lost by enough to force them to change? 04:30 Democrats seem intent on tinkering rather than an overhaul 05:45 Trump hosts dinner for buyers of his memecoin 06:45 Mike Johnson defends corruption if it’s “done in the open” * (14:30) 08:30 Trump politicizes his West Point commencement speech 10:30 “Whataboustism” is plaguing our politics 12:00 Neither party has a monopoly on crazy or violence 12:45 Trump has created a culture of fear which mutes criticism 14:30 The public has become numb to Trump’s bad behavior 15:45 Corruption will eat away the credibility of the MAGA movement* 16:30 New poll released on AOC vs Schumer and Torres vs Hochul 18:30 Being an incumbent will be a negative in 2026 and 2028 22:10 Ruy Texeira joins the Chuck Toddcast 23:40 What is the current state of America's political realignment? 26:25 Do Democrats need to move to the center to win working class voters? 28:10 Lower turnout benefits Democrats 29:55 Democrats have only changed rhetoric, not their positions 31:40 Neither party can form a dominant coalition 32:40 Despite the chaos, Trump's approval rating isn't that bad 34:25 Could we see one party collapse like the Tories in the UK? 36:10 Could a third party replace one of our two parties 37:55 Voters in the western world feel the system is broken 38:40 Democrats are viewed as the status quo party 41:10 What are some lessons Democrats can take from the early 90's? 43:10 Neither party loses by enough to change 46:40 The DNC doesn't grasp how bad the brand has become 47:40 The problem is bigger than communications 49:40 Trump is the towering figure of 21st century American politics 51:10 What to make of Gavin Newsom's political maneuvering? 52:30 Who could be the Democrats next Bill Clinton? 54:40 What states should Democrats be targeting for future elections? 57:10 Democrats made a mistake not having Iowa first in their primary calendar 58:10 Why has Wisconsin stayed so competitive? 1:00:10 What to make of the red shift in blue states where they didn't campaign? 1:02:40 Party strategists are too out of step with the voters 1:04:25 What will we learn from statewide elections in 2025? 1:07:25 Will Joe Biden become a pariah like Jimmy Carter for the Democratic party? 1:09:10 Being a cabinet member for Biden will tank Pete Buttigieg's presidential hopes 1:10:10 The cover up of Biden's decline will haunt the Democrats for years 1:11:25 Any positives for the Democrats? 1:12:25 There could be a viable independent candidate...

Chuck begins with house Republicans struggling to pass their “Big Beautiful Bill” and reflecting on the president’s ability to influence the culture versus imposing on the culture. Then, Chuck welcomes Spencer Kornhaber, staff writer at The Atlantic to discuss his piece on contemporary pop culture and its perceived decline in quality. They dive into the impact of streaming algorithms impacting music discovery, revealing that old music now earns three times the streams of new releases as algorithms trigger nostalgia rather than innovation. The conversation explores how the music industry has lost its traditional gatekeepers, leading to a landscape where new music often sounds "rehashed and doesn't move the ball forward," while examining whether rock music has stopped evolving and how country music is experiencing a resurgence. They also tackle the growing influence of AI on music production and debate whether algorithms, despite their flaws, are actually helping people discover music in different languages and cultures. The discussion expands to examine whether television represents the one area where pop culture is genuinely "better than ever," with prestige TV becoming the cultural center and episodic storytelling reshaping moviemaking. They explore the "Barbenheimer summer" phenomenon as evidence that theatrical experiences still matter, before diving into literature's current state amid declining readership among younger generations. They debate whether high-resolution photography and AI are diminishing visual arts, speculate about experiences becoming the next major art form for Gen Z, and examine how competition with AI might actually make human artists more innovative. They conclude by discussing the enduring popularity of live elements in sports and music—with Bad Bunny and Taylor Swift reigning as pop royalty—while questioning who truly rules Hollywood and acknowledging the surprising innovations happening in live theater. Finally he addresses listeners’ questions in the Ask Chuck segment, weighing in on Europe’s race to rearm itself, his preferred voting method to incentivize legislative compromise and whether the questions surrounding Joe Biden’s decline will loom over the 2028 presidential race. Timeline: 00:00 Introduction 00:30 Republicans struggling to pass the “Big Beautiful Bill” 02:00 Partisan governance is bad governance 03:30 The bill will pass, it’s just a matter of when 05:45 We’re in a “culture cold war” 08:00 Should political leaders impose culture, or influence it? 09:45 Who we elect as president is reflective of the culture 11:45 If a president imposes on culture, they impose on speech 14:45 The public will want a president who doesn’t impose on culture 17:40 Spencer Kornhaber joins the Chuck ToddCast 18:40 What inspired his piece on current pop culture being terrible? 22:25 Algorithms are terrible at introducing new music 23:10 Old music earns 3x the streams of new music 24:40 Algorithms use music to trigger nostalgia 26:10 New music sounds rehashed and doesn't move the ball forward 28:10 The music industry lost its gatekeepers 29:55 Algorithms help people discover music in a different language 32:10 Has rock music stopped evolving? 33:20 Country music is having a resurgence 34:00 The impact of AI on music production 35:40 Is television the one area of pop culture that's better than ever? 36:55 Prestige TV has become the center of the culture 38:25 How has episodic tv impacted moviemaking? 40:40 "Barbenheimer summer" wasn't a fluke 42:40 Are we also in a golden age of literature? 45:25 Younger generations are reading less 46:10 Do high resolution pictures + AI diminish the visual arts? 48:55 Will experiences become the next big artform for Gen Z 50:25 How well will his piece age? 51:55 Will competition with AI make human artists more innovative? 54:25 Will society decide to reinvest in the arts? 55:25 Gaming and sports are more popular than ever 57:10 Is the live...

Chuck Todd begins the episode with an examination of the election landscape starting with the California gubernatorial race and a demographic breakdown that indicates Democrats could perform very well in both 2025 and 2026. Then, is joined by businessman Stephen Cloobeck, who discusses his candidacy for California governor as the "only non-traditional candidate" in the race. Cloobeck offers sharp criticism of the Harris/Walz presidential campaign, which he characterizes as "tone deaf," while proposing concrete solutions for California's most pressing issues. Cloobeck outlines his vision for a new department of "performance and results" to increase government accountability and presents his approach to addressing California's homelessness crisis. Drawing on lessons learned from his adopted father, former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Cloobeck positions himself as a Democrat who understands business concerns, directly addressing why corporate leaders are "tempted" to leave California while asserting that "you can't buy an election" and pledging not to self-fund his campaign. Chuck presses Cloobeck on whether Democrats need their own version of "Donald Trump," and what the party should learn from Trump's political approach. He also offers insight into his success in the timeshare industry, explaining how Marriott ultimately copied his business model and addressing whether AirBnB has undermined the traditional timeshare market. Chuck challenges Cloobeck about potential competition from other business figures like Rick Caruso and former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, with Chuck speculating that by 2026, voters might be "burned out on bravado" after Trump's presidency. Finally, Chuck digs into the mailbag of listeners’ questions in Ask Chuck and responds to questions about six year presidential terms, quirky personal preferences that lead to political preferences and whether it’s harder for him to land interviews with Republicans. Timeline: 00:00 Introduction 00:30 The importance of the California gubernatorial race 01:15 Kloobeck intro 02:30 Kamala Harris preparing to run for governor in California? 03:45 Younger and infrequent voters were Trump’s “secret sauce” 05:00 Can a Democratic woman win the presidency? 06:30 Higher turnout is better for Republicans 08:15 Trends favor Democrats in non-presidential elections 09:30 Democrats became the “rules” party 11:15 Jared Golden not running for must-win Maine senate seat 12:30 Republicans are already writing off Virginia 13:30 Could New Jersey become a swing state? 14:30 Can the Trump coalition succeed without Trump on the ballot? 15:45 Could Senator Bill Cassidy retire for LSU chancellor job? 17:15 Stephen Cloobeck joins the Chuck ToddCast! 18:30 Why is he the only non-traditional candidate running for CA governor? 23:05 Are California's issues a governor issue or does it run deeper? 26:05 What should Gavin Newsom have done differently? 29:00 The Harris/Walz campaign was tone deaf 30:25 What did Gray Davis get right as governor? 31:55 Creating a department of "performance and results" 33:30 Solution to California's homelessness problem 35:00 Schwarzenegger was an outsider that ran into the bureaucracy 39:30 What makes him a democrat and not an independent? 41:55 Why are business leaders "tempted" to leave California? 44:35 What he learned from his adopted father, Harry Reid 46:15 Do we need a "Donald Trump" in the democratic party? 48:00 What should the democratic party learn from Trump? 48:45 You can't buy an election. Won't self fund his campaign. 51:00 Why couldn't Trump start a casino in Nevada? 53:20 Should people be skeptical of the timeshare industry? 54:35 Has AirBnB killed the timeshare industry? 58:00 Marriott copied his timeshare model 58:45 What would you say to Harris if she wanted help with the governor race? 1:02:00 Are you ready for the arrows coming your way 1:04:25 Did you have high expectations for Joe Biden? 1:07:15 If...