The Chuck ToddCast

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck dives into the chaotic new reality of Trump’s second term — one defined by self-interest, spectacle, and staggering corruption. As the president literally tears down the East Wing of the White House to build a grander event space, Chuck explores how the optics reflect a leader consumed by vanity rather than governance. From meme coin millions and Gulf state real estate deals to the blatant abuse of the pardon power, the episode unpacks how Trump has turned the presidency into a personal profit machine. With billions made, laws bent, and supporters still loyal, the question looms: is there any line Trump can cross that will finally cost him his base? Finally, he answers listener’s questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and gives his weekend college football preview. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Trump is tearing down the entire east wing of the White House  01:45 Optics of the White House demolition are extremely jarring  03:00 Trump more consumed with himself and his image than voters  04:45 Over time, Trump always manages to wear out his welcome  06:00 Trump is not putting America first  07:15 Trump shaking down his own DOJ for over $200 million  09:00 WH needed a bigger event space, but not without permission  10:00 Trump has entered "Let them eat cake" territory  11:30 Trump family has made billions on meme coin  13:00 Meme coin purchases could be straight up bribery  14:30 Trump has made millions from settlements  15:45 Trump family has made multiple real estate deals with gulf states  17:00 Trump's personal fortune is now between 5-6 billion dollars  17:30 Trump's abuse of the pardon power has undone the rule of law  18:30 Pardoned J6'ers have gone on to commit crimes  20:00 Trump has pardoned scores of Republican politicians  21:45 Claiming "political persecution" earns you a pardon from Trump  23:15 Trump has traded America foreign policy for personal gain  25:15 Trump is testing the premise he can do anything and not lose support 29:00 Ask Chuck  30:00 Why aren't we mandating watermarks on every piece of AI content?  34:00 Where was the No Kings energy on election day?  38:45 How can you have meaningful debate when you can't agree on facts?  45:30 Why have Hegseth, Bondi and RFK Jr. been able to cement their roles?  49:15 Why not do a "Where Chuck was right/wrong" segment similar to Cowherd?  53:30 How can Democrats uphold core values without sounding preachy?  58:00 College football previewSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck dives into the chaotic new reality of Trump’s second term — one defined by self-interest, spectacle, and staggering corruption. As the president literally tears down the East Wing of the White House to build a grander event space, Chuck explores how the optics reflect a leader consumed by vanity rather than governance. From meme coin millions and Gulf state real estate deals to the blatant abuse of the pardon power, the episode unpacks how Trump has turned the presidency into a personal profit machine. With billions made, laws bent, and supporters still loyal, the question looms: is there any line Trump can cross that will finally cost him his base? Then, sports journalist and professor J.A. Adande joins Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging conversation on how money, media, and power are reshaping the world of sports. From the Big Ten’s potential $2 billion private equity deal to the rise of The Athletic and the collapse of local sports coverage, Adande explains how financial literacy has become essential for sports reporters — and why sports journalism remains one of the few thriving corners of the media industry. They dig into how gambling, influencer culture, and social media are transforming how fans consume sports — and how shows like Around the Horn and PTI paved the way for today’s single-voice, personality-driven debate model. Adande also reflects on the increased diversity in sports media, the tension between advocacy and escapism, and why issues like Latino discrimination and trans inclusion in sports are becoming defining cultural flashpoints. He also explains why the sports world has gotten out of the social justice advocacy business… and likely won’t be coming back. It’s a candid look at how sports coverage mirrors — and sometimes predicts — the shifts happening across American journalism. Finally, he answers listener’s questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and gives his weekend college football preview. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:30 Trump is tearing down the entire east wing of the White House 04:15 Optics of the White House demolition are extremely jarring 05:30 Trump more consumed with himself and his image than voters 07:15 Over time, Trump always manages to wear out his welcome 08:30 Trump is not putting America first 09:45 Trump shaking down his own DOJ for over $200 million 11:30 WH needed a bigger event space, but not without permission 12:30 Trump has entered “Let them eat cake” territory 14:00 Trump family has made billions on meme coin 15:30 Meme coin purchases could be straight up bribery 17:00 Trump has made millions from settlements  18:15 Trump family has made multiple real estate deals with gulf states 19:30 Trump’s personal fortune is now between 5-6 billion dollars 20:00 Trump’s abuse of the pardon power has undone the rule of law 21:00 Pardoned J6’ers have gone on to commit crimes 22:30 Trump has pardoned scores of Republican politicians   24:15 Claiming “political persecution” earns you a pardon from Trump 25:45 Trump has traded America foreign policy for personal gain 27:45 Trump is testing the premise he can do anything and not lose support 31:30 J.A. Adande joins the Chuck ToddCast  32:30 Big Ten seeking $2 billion dollar private equity infusion  33:45 Money would keep current Big Ten setup for 2 decades  35:00 Knowledge of finance & business is a must for sports reporters  37:30 Sports journalism is one of the only growth areas in journalism  40:00 Why ESPN was a better option for J.A. than Sports Illustrated  40:45 The Athletic is the final destination for sportswriting  42:00 The role of sports journalism in rebuilding local news/media  43:30 The Athletic is evolving into a national sports outlet  45:00 Local sports reporting doesn't scale  46:00 Where do sports fans go to now for localized coverage?  47:00 It's more efficient for teams to leak stories to one national reporter  48:00 There is plenty of localized sports discussion, but not breaking news  50:00 There's no FOIA in sports coverage, reporters aren't entitled to access  51:30 Teams can shut out journalists and still get word out to the public  53:30 The impact of the pandemic on journalism and in-person access  54:30 Sports is one of the last places where people are debating the facts  55:30 Sports talk has become formulaic and like pro wrestling  56:45 The template for PTI was Siskel & Ebert  58:30 Around the Horn premised on winning a subjective argument  1:00:30 There's a huge audience for fake, manufactured competition  1:01:30 Sports talk moving to the singular influencer model  1:02:15 Cutting production costs is reason for centering shows on one talent  1:03:30 News will likely move to the sports talk, licensing model  1:05:15 Streamers haven't moved to pick up sports debate shows  1:06:00 Podcasts are a more intimate experience for the audience  1:07:45 The impact of the infusion of sports gambling into sports journalism  1:08:45 Journalists have to be more precise with gambling coverage  1:10:30 Newspapers would discourage gambling & still publish lines  1:12:30 Sports gambling journalism is a form of service journalism  1:13:45 Far more gender diversity now in sports journalism schools  1:15:45 There's never been a better time to be a woman in sports media  1:18:15 There's been a retreat from social commentary in sports media  1:19:45 Trans women in sports debate is dividing women  1:21:00 Baseball should be leading the fight against latino discrimination  1:23:00 Latino integration or expulsion will be a defining fight of our time  1:26:30 Sports will not be at the forefront of fighting for social justice  1:28:45 Sports as a source for escape vs a source of advocacy 1:30:30 Chuck's thoughts on interview with J.A. Adande  1:31:15 Ask Chuck  1:32:15 Why aren't we mandating watermarks on every piece of AI content?  1:36:15 Where was the No Kings energy on election day?  1:41:00 How can you have meaningful debate when you can't agree on facts?  1:47:45 Why have Hegseth, Bondi and RFK Jr. been able to cement their roles?  1:51:30 Why not do a "Where Chuck was right/wrong" segment similar to Cowherd?  1:55:45 How can Democrats uphold core values without sounding preachy?  2:00:15 College football previewSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sports journalist and professor J.A. Adande joins Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging conversation on how money, media, and power are reshaping the world of sports. From the Big Ten’s potential $2 billion private equity deal to the rise of The Athletic and the collapse of local sports coverage, Adande explains how financial literacy has become essential for sports reporters — and why sports journalism remains one of the few thriving corners of the media industry. They dig into how gambling, influencer culture, and social media are transforming how fans consume sports — and how shows like Around the Horn and PTI paved the way for today’s single-voice, personality-driven debate model. Adande also reflects on the increased diversity in sports media, the tension between advocacy and escapism, and why issues like Latino discrimination and trans inclusion in sports are becoming defining cultural flashpoints. He also explains why the sports world has gotten out of the social justice advocacy business… and likely won’t be coming back. It’s a candid look at how sports coverage mirrors — and sometimes predicts — the shifts happening across American journalism. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: 00:00 J.A. Adande joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 Big Ten seeking $2 billion dollar private equity infusion 02:15 Money would keep current Big Ten setup for 2 decades 03:30 Knowledge of finance & business is a must for sports reporters 06:00 Sports journalism is one of the only growth areas in journalism 08:30 Why ESPN was a better option for J.A. than Sports Illustrated 09:15 The Athletic is the final destination for sportswriting 10:30 The role of sports journalism in rebuilding local news/media 12:00 The Athletic is evolving into a national sports outlet 13:30 Local sports reporting doesn’t scale 14:30 Where do sports fans go to now for localized coverage? 15:30 It’s more efficient for teams to leak stories to one national reporter 16:30 There is plenty of localized sports discussion, but not breaking news 18:30 There’s no FOIA in sports coverage, reporters aren’t entitled to access 20:00 Teams can shut out journalists and still get word out to the public 22:00 The impact of the pandemic on journalism and in-person access 23:00 Sports is one of the last places where people are debating the facts 24:00 Sports talk has become formulaic and like pro wrestling 25:15 The template for PTI was Siskel & Ebert 27:00 Around the Horn premised on winning a subjective argument 29:00 There’s a huge audience for fake, manufactured competition 30:00 Sports talk moving to the singular influencer model 30:45 Cutting production costs is reason for centering shows on one talent 32:00 News will likely move to the sports talk, licensing model 33:45 Streamers haven’t moved to pick up sports debate shows 34:30 Podcasts are a more intimate experience for the audience 36:15 The impact of the infusion of sports gambling into sports journalism 37:15 Journalists have to be more precise with gambling coverage 39:00 Newspapers would discourage gambling & still publish lines 41:00 Sports gambling journalism is a form of service journalism 42:15 Far more gender diversity now in sports journalism schools 44:15 There’s never been a better time to be a woman in sports media 46:45 There’s been a retreat from social commentary in sports media 48:15 Trans women in sports debate is dividing women 49:30 Baseball should be leading the fight against latino discrimination 51:30 Latino integration or expulsion will be a defining fight of our time 55:00 Sports will not be at the forefront of fighting for social justice 57:15 Sports as a source for escape vs a source of advocacySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd breaks down how Donald Trump’s presidency has become more about global showmanship than governing at home. From pushing Argentinian beef over American ranchers to a fragile Israel-Hamas peace deal and secretive efforts at regime change in Venezuela, Todd argues the administration is setting a dangerous precedent—one where the president wields unchecked power. He exposes how the Department of Homeland Security has morphed into a political PR arm, spending millions on self-promotional ads and luxury jets for Kristi Noem, all while ignoring real crises. Then, the conversation shifts to the next major political flashpoint: artificial intelligence. As fear of AI grows, politicians like Florida’s Hector Mujica are making it a centerpiece issue. Todd explores how AI could fuel a new populist revolt, with both parties scrambling to offer answers to voters’ unease. From vanity projects to vanishing trust in technology, this Chuck paints a picture of a government distracted by power plays while the ground shifts beneath it. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 political TV shows of the past decade and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:30 Trump ignoring domestic issues in favor of international ones  01:45 Trump suggests buying Argentinian beef, hurting American ranchers  03:15 Trump's peace deal between Israel & Hamas may fall apart  04:30 Administration wants regime change in Venezuela, lying about it  06:15 Ecuador released survivor of navy attack in Caribbean, not a criminal  07:45 The precedent being set is the president has all the power  09:30 Dems painted Bush as caring more about other nations, can do same w/Trump  11:00 Trump administration spending huge money on themselves, not the public  11:45 DHS has spent $51m on direct to camera ads featuring Kristi Noem  13:30 DHS bought two Gulfstream private jets for Kristi Noem's use  15:30 When something goes wrong with DHS, Kristi Noem will get the blame  16:30 DHS has gotten lucky with an incredibly light hurricane season  17:45 Administration is using taxpayer dollars to promote a future presidential run  18:45 Republicans will be stuck defending Trump's vanity projects  20:00 There's a coming political & cultural war over AI  20:45 Companies already getting scrutiny for using AI avatars in ads  22:00 Florida Democrat Hector Mujica makes AI center of his campaign  23:00 Fear of AI could be strong political motivator for voters  24:00 Politicians will need a good answer to AI anxiety  25:00 The globalization "soft landing" never materialized, AI could be similar  26:15 Trump shaking down DOJ for 200 million over his indictments  27:30 Sora 2 is the exclamation point of tech ruining the information ecosystem  28:45 Tech companies failed on social media, need supervision on AI  29:45 AI will increase the value of human to human interaction  33:30 Humans won't be willing to marginalize themselves as a species  34:30 AI could create a massive populist revolt from across the spectrum 38:00 ToddCast Top 5 Political TV shows from the past 10 years  38:15 West Wing is incredibly unrealistic  39:45 #1 The Diplomat  42:45 #2 For All Mankind  45:00 #3 Veep  47:00 #4 Succession  48:30 #5 The Walking Dead  51:45 Ask Chuck  52:15 Thoughts on Trump's face on a coin or the "Arc De Trump"?  58:00 What will make Arkansas football great again?  1:00:30 Does message or experience matter more for a presidential candidate?  1:04:00 Has privatizing air traffic controllers been considered?  1:08:00 Thoughts on a local journalist breaking swastika flag story?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd breaks down how Donald Trump’s presidency has become more about global showmanship than governing at home. From pushing Argentinian beef over American ranchers to a fragile Israel-Hamas peace deal and secretive efforts at regime change in Venezuela, Todd argues the administration is setting a dangerous precedent—one where the president wields unchecked power. He exposes how the Department of Homeland Security has morphed into a political PR arm, spending millions on self-promotional ads and luxury jets for Kristi Noem, all while ignoring real crises. Then, the conversation shifts to the next major political flashpoint: artificial intelligence. As fear of AI grows, politicians like Florida’s Hector Mujica are making it a centerpiece issue. Todd explores how AI could fuel a new populist revolt, with both parties scrambling to offer answers to voters’ unease. From vanity projects to vanishing trust in technology, this Chuck paints a picture of a government distracted by power plays while the ground shifts beneath it. Then, he sits down with Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart to talk farming, politics, and the fight to keep Iowa relevant on the national stage. From corn and soybeans to caucuses and campaigns, Hart shares what it’s really like for farmers caught in the middle of tariffs, trade wars, and shrinking rural economies — and how Washington’s decisions have reshaped Iowa’s way of life. They discuss the state’s economic struggles, rural healthcare crisis, and the outsized impact of right-wing media, as well as the challenge of rebuilding trust in the Democratic brand across small towns that once went from Obama to Trump. Hart also dives into the future of Iowa’s political identity — why she thinks a rural state must remain among the first in the presidential primary calendar, how Democrats can connect urban and rural voters around shared values, and what success will look like for Iowa Democrats heading into 2026. It’s a candid, grounded look at where agriculture meets democracy, and how one state’s renewal could hold lessons for the entire country. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 political TV shows of the past decade and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:00 Trump ignoring domestic issues in favor of international ones 04:15 Trump suggests buying Argentinian beef, hurting American ranchers 05:45 Trump’s peace deal between Israel & Hamas may fall apart 07:00 Administration wants regime change in Venezuela, lying about it 08:45 Ecuador released survivor of navy attack in Caribbean, not a criminal 10:15 The precedent being set is the president has all the power 12:00 Dems painted Bush as caring more about other nations, can do same w/Trump 13:30 Trump administration spending huge money on themselves, not the public 14:15 DHS has spent $51m on direct to camera ads featuring Kristi Noem 16:00 DHS bought two Gulfstream private jets for Kristi Noem’s use 18:00 When something goes wrong with DHS, Kristi Noem will get the blame 19:00 DHS has gotten lucky with an incredibly light hurricane season 20:15 Administration is using taxpayer dollars to promote a future presidential run 21:15 Republicans will be stuck defending Trump’s vanity projects 22:30 There’s a coming political & cultural war over AI 23:15 Companies already getting scrutiny for using AI avatars in ads 24:30 Florida Democrat Hector Mujica makes AI center of his campaign 25:30 Fear of AI could be strong political motivator for voters 26:30 Politicians will need a good answer to AI anxiety 27:30 The globalization “soft landing” never materialized, AI could be similar 28:45 Trump shaking down DOJ for 200 million over his indictments 30:00 Sora 2 is the exclamation point of tech ruining the information ecosystem 31:15 Tech companies failed on social media, need supervision on AI 32:15 AI will increase the value of human to human interaction 36:00 Humans won’t be willing to marginalize themselves as a species 37:00 AI could create a massive populist revolt from across the spectrum 40:45 Rita Hart joins the Chuck ToddCast  41:45 Experience of working as farmers in Iowa  42:45 How much of your corn is for human consumption?  44:30 What can farmers do with soybeans if they can't find a buyer?  45:30 Tariffs & trade war can have dire consequences for farmers  47:00 What did government intervention look like last time & how does it work?  48:00 The trade war allowed foreign markets to take US ag customers  49:45 Targeted tariffs work for manufacturing but not for agriculture  51:30 Iowa's place in rebuilding the Democratic party in the midwest  52:25 The national brand has stained the Iowa brand  53:30 Iowa is nearly last in the nation for economic and income growth  54:15 Iowa's healthcare & childcare are increasingly unaffordable  55:15 Rural healthcare access is extremely limited in rural Iowa  56:15 Iowa has the most Obama to Trump voting counties in America  57:30 Iowa's local news has diminished, voters focused on national news  58:45 FOX News & right wing media have huge influence in Iowa  1:01:00 The national Democratic Party is in a state of transition  1:02:45 Iowa Democrats have been activated and engaged  1:03:45 Iowa has good primary candidates, DSCC should stay out of it  1:05:30 Rob Sand emphasized party credentials rather than go independent  1:07:30 What issues should Iowa Dems lean in, and lean out on?  1:09:45 Can't divide issues that affect everyone into "us vs. them"  1:12:15 How should Democrats talk about immigration  1:14:15 Need a sensible way for hard-working immigrants to get citizenship  1:16:15 Why has the DNC moved away from Iowa as first in the nation status  1:17:30 Iowa is a great testing ground for Democratic campaigns  1:19:30 Balancing targeting the urban centers vs the rural vote in campaigns  1:20:15 Why rural Iowa matters to a future presidential candidate  1:21:45 A rural state needs to be in the first four primary states  1:23:15 Will Iowa GOP work with Iowa Dems to keep first in nation status?  1:24:30 Iowa Democrats should get to choose between a caucus or a primary  1:27:15 Improving the caucus process to increase participation  1:28:30 What does success look like for Iowa Democrats in 2026?  1:30:30 There's a reason both Kim Reynolds and Joni Ernst dropped out  1:31:15 What is the job of a state party chair?  1:34:45 Avoiding burnout during the constant state of fundraising 1:37:45 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Rita Hart  1:40:15 ToddCast Top 5 Political TV shows from the past 10 years  1:40:30 West Wing is incredibly unrealistic  1:42:00 #1 The Diplomat  1:45:00 #2 For All Mankind  1:47:15 #3 Veep  1:49:15 #4 Succession  1:50:45 #5 The Walking Dead  1:54:00 Ask Chuck  1:54:30 Thoughts on Trump's face on a coin or the "Arc De Trump"?  2:00:15 What will make Arkansas football great again?  2:02:45 Does message or experience matter more for a presidential candidate?  2:06:15 Has privatizing air traffic controllers been considered?  2:10:15 Thoughts on a local journalist breaking the swastika flag story?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd sits down with Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart to talk farming, politics, and the fight to keep Iowa relevant on the national stage. From corn and soybeans to caucuses and campaigns, Hart shares what it’s really like for farmers caught in the middle of tariffs, trade wars, and shrinking rural economies — and how Washington’s decisions have reshaped Iowa’s way of life. They discuss the state’s economic struggles, rural healthcare crisis, and the outsized impact of right-wing media, as well as the challenge of rebuilding trust in the Democratic brand across small towns that once went from Obama to Trump. Hart also dives into the future of Iowa’s political identity — why she thinks a rural state must remain among the first in the presidential primary calendar, how Democrats can connect urban and rural voters around shared values, and what success will look like for Iowa Democrats heading into 2026. It’s a candid, grounded look at where agriculture meets democracy, and how one state’s renewal could hold lessons for the entire country. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Rita Hart joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 Experience of working as farmers in Iowa  02:00 How much of your corn is for human consumption? 03:45 What can farmers do with soybeans if they can’t find a buyer? 04:45 Tariffs & trade war can have dire consequences for farmers 06:15 What did government intervention look like last time & how does it work? 07:15 The trade war allowed foreign markets to take US ag customers 09:00 Targeted tariffs work for manufacturing but not for agriculture 10:45 Iowa’s place in rebuilding the Democratic party in the midwest 11:40 The national brand has stained the Iowa brand 12:45 Iowa is nearly last in the nation for economic and income growth 13:30 Iowa’s healthcare & childcare are increasingly unaffordable 14:30 Rural healthcare access is extremely limited in rural Iowa 15:30 Iowa has the most Obama to Trump voting counties in America 16:45 Iowa’s local news has diminished, voters focused on national news 18:00 FOX News & right wing media have huge influence in Iowa 20:15 The national Democratic Party is in a state of transition 22:00 Iowa Democrats have been activated and engaged 23:00 Iowa has good primary candidates, DSCC should stay out of it 24:45 Rob Sand emphasized party credentials rather than go independent 26:45 What issues should Iowa Dems lean in, and lean out on? 29:00 Can’t divide issues that affect everyone into “us vs. them” 31:30 How should Democrats talk about immigration  33:30 Need a sensible way for hard-working immigrants to get citizenship 35:30 Why has the DNC moved away from Iowa as first in the nation status 36:45 Iowa is a great testing ground for Democratic campaigns 38:45 Balancing targeting the urban centers vs the rural vote in campaigns 39:30 Why rural Iowa matters to a future presidential candidate 41:00 A rural state needs to be in the first four primary states 42:30 Will Iowa GOP work with Iowa Dems to keep first in nation status? 43:45 Iowa Democrats should get to choose between a caucus or a primary 46:30 Improving the caucus process to increase participation 47:45 What does success look like for Iowa Democrats in 2026? 49:45 There’s a reason both Kim Reynolds and Joni Ernst dropped out 50:30 What is the job of a state party chair? 54:00 Avoiding burnout during the constant state of fundraisingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Massive “No Kings” protests swept across the country this weekend — peaceful, organized, and impossible to ignore. Chuck Todd breaks down what the demonstrations say about growing frustration with Trump’s leadership as his administration faces a government shutdown, soaring insurance costs, and a controversial new military campaign in the Caribbean. As Trump retweets crude AI videos and governs for only half the country, Congress remains silent on legally dubious strikes against Venezuela, an operation critics say has more to do with ousting Maduro than fighting drugs. Todd examines how America’s history of self-interest in Latin America and declining democratic norms at home have converged to create a moment of moral and political reckoning — and why ignoring it might come at a cost. Then, Ars Technica space journalist Eric Berger joins Chuck Todd to unpack the new global race to the moon — and why it’s about power as much as science. With China poised to beat the U.S. back to the lunar surface, NASA’s Artemis program faces both technological and geopolitical pressure. Berger and Todd explore how space has become the next great stage for competition, where the first shots of a future war could be fired — not on Earth, but in orbit. From SpaceX’s dominance and Elon Musk’s influence, to Blue Origin’s lagging efforts and Boeing’s uncertain role, the conversation digs into who will actually shape humanity’s future beyond Earth. They also discuss the growing role of private companies in both space exploration and weather forecasting, how AI is reshaping meteorology, and whether we’ll ever see space-based energy or asteroid mining become viable. It’s a sweeping look at how politics, technology, and ambition are colliding — in a sky that’s getting more crowded by the day. Finally, Chuck Todd hops in the ToddCast Time Machine to recap the history of the Teapot Dome scandal and how it closely mirrors the corruption of the Trump administration, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and recaps the weekend in college football. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:30 No Kings protests held around the country 02:15 Protests were timed deliberately in advance of elections 04:30 Huge turnout numbers at the protests 08:30 No incidents at protests that led to confrontations with police 09:45 Trump retweets AI video of himself flying plane and dropping poop 10:45 Trump has the mentality of a 13 year old boy 12:00 Trump has no lifelong friends 13:15 Trump isn’t traveling the country to sell his agenda, unlike first term 14:15 Remarkable that so many people are willing to protest on a Saturday 16:00 Republicans would be wise not to dismiss the protests 16:30 Controversy grows around Trump’s military strikes in Caribbean 17:45 Congress is failing to provide any oversight of the executive 19:00 Insurance notices indicating massive premium spikes coming soon 20:00 Shocking there’s less outrage Trump governs for only half the country 20:45 Government shutdown has turned into a giant mess 22:15 Trump’s administration hints they aren’t sure boat strikes are legal 23:45 Venezuela story would get more attention if it was anywhere else 24:30 Administration refuses to call the strikes “war” 25:15 Repatriating captives helps administration avoid legal questions 26:45 Legality of strikes will be eventually be determined in US courts 28:00 Claiming cartels are “terrorists” doesn’t meet legal definition 28:45 Venezuela isn’t part of the fentanyl drug trade 29:30 Trump & Rubio’s obsession is actually about getting rid of Nicolas Maduro 31:00 The U.S. military has never gone after narcoterrorists before 32:00 Congress has not authorized use of military force in Caribbean 33:30 Members of congress not convinced by rationale for strikes 35:00 Trump is greenlighting killings without making case for it 37:30 If overdose deaths are the rationale, the problem is with Mexico 39:00 Trump hasn’t ruled out striking the Venezuelan mainland 41:00 The US had never designated a cartel as terrorists until this year 44:30 America’s history in Latin America is atrocious and self-interested 48:15 Eric Berger joins the Chuck ToddCast  49:15 China is on track to beat the U.S. back to the moon  50:45 NASA is still pursuing the Artemis program  52:00 Both the U.S. and China are targeting the moon's south pole  54:15 If you want to be a superpower, needs a presence on the moon  54:45 SpaceX's Starship is best equipped for Mars mission  55:30 Best methods of propulsion for long distance space missions  56:45 The biggest reason for lunar landing is geopolitics/flexing  57:30 Treaty says that no country can claim ownership of the moon  58:30 How would a private company stake a resource claim on the moon?  1:00:00 Has low earth orbit gotten too crowded with man made satellites?  1:01:00 In the next big war, the first shots will likely be fired into space  1:02:45 Cooperation in space has diminished, become more nationalistic  1:04:45 Most countries forced to rely on US, Russia and China for space launches  1:05:45 UAE is developing space capabilities with NASA's help  1:06:30 NASA can't get to space without private contractors/SpaceX  1:07:00 Elon Musk is the most important person to spacefight globally  1:08:30 Blue Origin is far behind SpaceX in capabilities for lunar lander  1:09:15 Will Boeing's space program ever deliver?  1:10:15 Will the first space hotel be in orbit or on the moon?  1:11:15 There's very little demand for orbital tourism, very expensive  1:12:45 Mars missions are incredibly different, will likely be one-way to start  1:14:15 There are no resources on Mars worth the cost of mining and shipping back  1:15:00 The only reason to go to Mars is to make humans a space-faring species  1:16:00 Robots are far superior to humans for scientific research missions  1:17:15 There's more water on Europa than Earth, life could be there  1:18:45 Best places in solar system for humans to possibly create bases  1:20:30 Is Bezos's idea of heavy manufacturing on the moon a pipe dream?  1:21:45 Mining asteroids could provide all the metals we'd ever need  1:22:30 SpaceX's Falcon9 rocket made cost of accessing space far lower  1:23:45 Are energy production advances the best way to sell space costs to taxpayers?  1:25:30 Space based energy production is far from being commercially viable  1:26:45 The Europeans surpassed the U.S. at meteorology  1:27:45 Can AI tools help fill the gaps after U.S. cut funding for NOAA?  1:28:30 AI hurricane modeling seems to be just as good as physics based models  1:29:30 Private sector still relies on the government for weather forecasting  1:30:45 We need better data collection for our weather forecasting  1:33:00 Private companies are hiring their own meteorologists  1:35:45 Microforecasting has gotten much better due to the internet  1:36:53 What does Ars Technica cover and what is its mission?  1:39:00 Do we know more about the solar system or the oceans? 1:43:15 Chuck's thoughts on the interview with Eric Berger  1:43:30 ToddCast Time Machine  1:43:45 October 25th, 1929 - Jury convicts the first cabinet secretary to prison  1:45:15 Teapot Dome scandal  1:46:30 Harding signed executive order transferring oil fields, leased to oil barons  1:47:45 Fall received $7 million dollars in exchange for oil leases  1:49:15 Harding's death spawned conspiracy theories about corruption  1:49:45 Albert Fall convicted of bribery  1:50:30 Comparing teapot dome to Trump's modern day corruption  1:51:45 The "out" party should always be the one in charge of oversight  1:53:00 Watergate isn't the parallel to Trump's corruption, Teapot Dome is  1:53:15 Ask Chuck  1:53:30 Will the No Kings protests have any real effect on politics?  1:56:00 How can Democrats regain control of the political narrative?  2:01:00 College football updateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Massive “No Kings” protests swept across the country this weekend — peaceful, organized, and impossible to ignore. Chuck Todd breaks down what the demonstrations say about growing frustration with Trump’s leadership as his administration faces a government shutdown, soaring insurance costs, and a controversial new military campaign in the Caribbean. As Trump retweets crude AI videos and governs for only half the country, Congress remains silent on legally dubious strikes against Venezuela, an operation critics say has more to do with ousting Maduro than fighting drugs. Todd examines how America’s history of self-interest in Latin America and declining democratic norms at home have converged to create a moment of moral and political reckoning — and why ignoring it might come at a cost. Finally, Chuck Todd hops in the ToddCast Time Machine to recap the history of the Teapot Dome scandal and how it closely mirrors the corruption of the Trump administration, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and recaps the weekend in college football. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:30 No Kings protests held around the country 02:15 Protests were timed deliberately in advance of elections 04:30 Huge turnout numbers at the protests 08:30 No incidents at protests that led to confrontations with police 09:45 Trump retweets AI video of himself flying plane and dropping poop 10:45 Trump has the mentality of a 13 year old boy 12:00 Trump has no lifelong friends 13:15 Trump isn’t traveling the country to sell his agenda, unlike first term 14:15 Remarkable that so many people are willing to protest on a Saturday 16:00 Republicans would be wise not to dismiss the protests 16:30 Controversy grows around Trump’s military strikes in Caribbean 17:45 Congress is failing to provide any oversight of the executive 19:00 Insurance notices indicating massive premium spikes coming soon 20:00 Shocking there’s less outrage Trump governs for only half the country 20:45 Government shutdown has turned into a giant mess 22:15 Trump’s administration hints they aren’t sure boat strikes are legal 23:45 Venezuela story would get more attention if it was anywhere else 24:30 Administration refuses to call the strikes “war” 25:15 Repatriating captives helps administration avoid legal questions 26:45 Legality of strikes will be eventually be determined in US courts 28:00 Claiming cartels are “terrorists” doesn’t meet legal definition 28:45 Venezuela isn’t part of the fentanyl drug trade 29:30 Trump & Rubio’s obsession is actually about getting rid of Nicolas Maduro 31:00 The U.S. military has never gone after narcoterrorists before 32:00 Congress has not authorized use of military force in Caribbean 33:30 Members of congress not convinced by rationale for strikes 35:00 Trump is greenlighting killings without making case for it 37:30 If overdose deaths are the rationale, the problem is with Mexico 39:00 Trump hasn’t ruled out striking the Venezuelan mainland 41:00 The US had never designated a cartel as terrorists until this year 44:30 America’s history in Latin America is atrocious and self-interested 47:00 ToddCast Time Machine  47:15 October 25th, 1929 - Jury convicts the first cabinet secretary to prison  48:45 Teapot Dome scandal  50:00 Harding signed executive order transferring oil fields, leased to oil barons  51:15 Fall received $7 million dollars in exchange for oil leases  52:45 Harding's death spawned conspiracy theories about corruption  53:15 Albert Fall convicted of bribery  54:00 Comparing teapot dome to Trump's modern day corruption  55:15 The "out" party should always be the one in charge of oversight  56:30 Watergate isn't the parallel to Trump's corruption, Teapot Dome is  56:45 Ask Chuck  57:00 Will the No Kings protests have any real effect on politics?  59:30 How can Democrats regain control of the political narrative?  1:04:30 College football updateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ars Technica space journalist Eric Berger joins Chuck Todd to unpack the new global race to the moon — and why it’s about power as much as science. With China poised to beat the U.S. back to the lunar surface, NASA’s Artemis program faces both technological and geopolitical pressure. Berger and Todd explore how space has become the next great stage for competition, where the first shots of a future war could be fired — not on Earth, but in orbit. From SpaceX’s dominance and Elon Musk’s influence, to Blue Origin’s lagging efforts and Boeing’s uncertain role, the conversation digs into who will actually shape humanity’s future beyond Earth. They also discuss the growing role of private companies in both space exploration and weather forecasting, how AI is reshaping meteorology, and whether we’ll ever see space-based energy or asteroid mining become viable. It’s a sweeping look at how politics, technology, and ambition are colliding — in a sky that’s getting more crowded by the day. Timeline: 00:00 Eric Berger joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 China is on track to beat the U.S. back to the moon 02:30 NASA is still pursuing the Artemis program 03:45 Both the U.S. and China are targeting the moon’s south pole 06:00 If you want to be a superpower, needs a presence on the moon 06:30 SpaceX’s Starship is best equipped for Mars mission 07:15 Best methods of propulsion for long distance space missions 08:30 The biggest reason for lunar landing is geopolitics/flexing 09:15 Treaty says that no country can claim ownership of the moon 10:15 How would a private company stake a resource claim on the moon? 11:45 Has low earth orbit gotten too crowded with man made satellites? 12:45 In the next big war, the first shots will likely be fired into space 14:30 Cooperation in space has diminished, become more nationalistic 16:30 Most countries forced to rely on US, Russia and China for space launches 17:30 UAE is developing space capabilities with NASA’s help 18:15 NASA can’t get to space without private contractors/SpaceX 18:45 Elon Musk is the most important person to spacefight globally 20:15 Blue Origin is far behind SpaceX in capabilities for lunar lander 21:00 Will Boeing’s space program ever deliver? 22:00 Will the first space hotel be in orbit or on the moon? 23:00 There’s very little demand for orbital tourism, very expensive 24:30 Mars missions are incredibly different, will likely be one-way to start 26:00 There are no resources on Mars worth the cost of mining and shipping back 26:45 The only reason to go to Mars is to make humans a space-faring species 27:45 Robots are far superior to humans for scientific research missions 29:00 There’s more water on Europa than Earth, life could be there 30:30 Best places in solar system for humans to possibly create bases 32:15 Is Bezos’s idea of heavy manufacturing on the moon a pipe dream? 33:30 Mining asteroids could provide all the metals we’d ever need 34:15 SpaceX’s Falcon9 rocket made cost of accessing space far lower 35:30 Are energy production advances the best way to sell space costs to taxpayers? 37:15 Space based energy production is far from being commercially viable 38:30 The Europeans surpassed the U.S. at meteorology  39:30 Can AI tools help fill the gaps after U.S. cut funding for NOAA? 40:15 AI hurricane modeling seems to be just as good as physics based models  41:15 Private sector still relies on the government for weather forecasting 42:30 We need better data collection for our weather forecasting 44:45 Private companies are hiring their own meteorologists 47:30 Microforecasting has gotten much better due to the internet 48:38 What does Ars Technica cover and what is its mission? 50:45 Do we know more about the solar system or the oceans?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down a week that feels like a case study in America’s democratic backslide. With the government shutdown dragging on and Donald Trump disengaged from any real effort to end it, Republicans in Congress are paralyzed — and Democrats risk losing ground the longer it continues. Chuck examines how Trump’s brand of politics has reshaped the culture, from congressional dysfunction to GOP leaders dodging accountability on everything from Epstein files to free speech hypocrisy. Later, he dives into the Supreme Court’s looming decision on the Voting Rights Act, the ripple effects of potential gerrymandering shifts in the Sun Belt, and the latest shake-ups in Democratic primaries — from Janet Mills’ funding alliances to Florida’s Hector Mujica making AI a centerpiece of his campaign. It’s a snapshot of a democracy under strain — and a politics struggling to evolve. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and previews the upcoming weekend in college football. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:45 The government shutdown non-update update  01:30 Trump is not engaged at all in trying to end the government shutdown  03:15 Prior presidents didn't engage in foreign trips during shutdowns  04:45 Republicans in congress can't negotiate without Trump  06:15 The longer the shutdown goes, the more Dems lose what they gained  07:30 Trump received more votes in LA county than 15 states he carried  08:30 Trump is punishing his own voters in blue states/cities  11:00 Mike Johnson's refusal to convene house gives Epstein theory credence  12:15 Johnson doesn't want members to have to take vote on Epstein files  13:45 Republicans trying to brand No Kings protests as a "Hate America" rally  14:15 Saying protestors "hate america"…is un-American 16:15 Donald Trump has culturally changed America for the worse  17:00 Release of abhorrent group chat from young Republican leaders  18:00 MAGA argues for "no speech police", but only for themselves  19:15 Speech should always be free, but speech does carry consequences  21:15 SCOTUS hearing case that could potentially end the Voting Rights Act  22:00 Fears over gerrymandering from SCOTUS ruling may be overblow  23:15 Gerrymandering could create many more swing seats in sun belt  25:45 We don't yet know whether the ruling will disenfranchise black voters  26:30 DSCC set up joint fundraising committee with Janet Mills in Maine  27:45 UAW has already endorsed Platner over Mills  28:00 Seth Moulton mounts primary challenge against Ed Markey  29:15 Generational vs. Ideological change in Democratic primaries?  30:00 New ads running for VA DA race addressing Jay Jones texts  31:00 Ad highlights Spanberger's refusal to endorse Jones  33:30 Democrat Hector Mujica enters Florida senate race  34:45 Mujica highlights federal job cuts and AI job displacement in ad  36:45 Mujica is the first candidate to really centralize AI in their pitch  38:15 AI advances might remind people of importance of human connectivity 40:15 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Michael McFaul  40:45 Ask Chuck  41:00 How closely does "The Morning Show" reflect an actual newsroom?  47:00 Do FCS and Div 2 & 3 programs more accurately rep college football?  51:15 Is Greg Abbot sending troops to Chicago to build a national profile?  56:45 What podcasts do you regularly listen to?  1:00:00 Why are conservatives attacking Bad Bunny's citizenship when he's American?  1:05:00 College football previewSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down a week that feels like a case study in America’s democratic backslide. With the government shutdown dragging on and Donald Trump disengaged from any real effort to end it, Republicans in Congress are paralyzed — and Democrats risk losing ground the longer it continues. Chuck examines how Trump’s brand of politics has reshaped the culture, from congressional dysfunction to GOP leaders dodging accountability on everything from Epstein files to free speech hypocrisy. Later, he dives into the Supreme Court’s looming decision on the Voting Rights Act, the ripple effects of potential gerrymandering shifts in the Sun Belt, and the latest shake-ups in Democratic primaries — from Janet Mills’ funding alliances to Florida’s Hector Mujica making AI a centerpiece of his campaign. It’s a snapshot of a democracy under strain — and a politics struggling to evolve. Then, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul joins Chuck Todd for a sweeping conversation about whether the world is slipping back into a pre–World War II world order marked by isolationism, power struggles, and a fading commitment to democracy. McFaul argues we’ve entered a new era of great power competition, with China offering an alternative world order and America retreating from its role as the global stabilizer. The two discuss how Trump’s “strong vs. weak” worldview reshapes alliances, why autocracy is gaining ideological ground inside the U.S., and what happens when America stops believing in exporting democracy. From the growing unity of the European Union post-Ukraine to Taiwan’s fears of being sold out to Beijing, Todd and McFaul explore whether it will take another crisis to “sober up” American politics. They also debate Trump’s paradoxical legacy — destabilizing allies while showing skill in Middle East negotiations — and what kind of leadership it will take to rebuild collective security and moral credibility in an increasingly unstable world. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and previews the upcoming weekend in college football. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:15 It’s strange having an American president that’s not pro-democracy 04:15 The government shutdown non-update update 05:00 Trump is not engaged at all in trying to end the government shutdown 06:45 Prior presidents didn’t engage in foreign trips during shutdowns 08:15 Republicans in congress can’t negotiate without Trump 09:45 The longer the shutdown goes, the more Dems lose what they gained 11:00 Trump received more votes in LA county than 15 states he carried 12:00 Trump is punishing his own voters in blue states/cities 14:30 Mike Johnson’s refusal to convene house gives Epstein theory credence 15:45 Johnson doesn’t want members to have to take vote on Epstein files 17:15 Republicans trying to brand No Kings protests as a “Hate America” rally 17:45 Saying protestors “hate america”…is un-American  19:45 Donald Trump has culturally changed America for the worse 20:30 Release of abhorrent group chat from young Republican leaders 21:30 MAGA argues for “no speech police”, but only for themselves 22:45 Speech should always be free, but speech does carry consequences 24:45 SCOTUS hearing case that could potentially end the Voting Rights Act 25:30 Fears over gerrymandering from SCOTUS ruling may be overblow 26:45 Gerrymandering could create many more swing seats in sun belt 29:15 We don’t yet know whether the ruling will disenfranchise black voters  30:00 DSCC set up joint fundraising committee with Janet Mills in Maine 31:15 UAW has already endorsed Platner over Mills 31:30 Seth Moulton mounts primary challenge against Ed Markey 32:45 Generational vs. Ideological change in Democratic primaries? 33:30 New ads running for VA DA race addressing Jay Jones texts 34:30 Ad highlights Spanberger’s refusal to endorse Jones 37:00 Democrat Hector Mujica enters Florida senate race 38:15 Mujica highlights federal job cuts and AI job displacement in ad 40:15 Mujica is the first candidate to really centralize AI in their pitch 41:45 AI advances might remind people of importance of human connectivity 44:00 Michael McFaul joins the Chuck ToddCast  45:00 Are we in a similar set of conditions to pre-WW2?  46:00 We've entered a new era of great power competition  47:15 In some ways we're in a cold war, in some way we're not  48:00 Our economy is highly intertwined with China's  48:45 America's isolationism similar to 1930's  51:00 Was the cold war an outlier period for American & world history?  52:30 Everyone understood the USSR as an adversary during cold war  53:15 America was the great power during cold war, underestimated ourselves  54:15 The "law of the jungle" is returning as the US retreats from the world  56:00 No unity around "small d" Democracy in America, can't export it  57:15 Trump defines the world by "strong leaders vs. weak leaders"  58:15 Trump's style of diplomacy works in middle east, not with allies  59:30 China is another hegemon, and offering a different world order  1:00:30 Autocrats vs Democrats fight is between countries & domestic  1:01:45 Many Americans now closer to Putin ideologically than Democrats  1:03:15 Venezuelan activist wins Nobel, her message to Trump was brilliant  1:04:15 We should have done more to help democracy in Venezuela  1:07:00 Trump shut down NGOs that promote democracy on world stage  1:07:45 America needs to run a better pro-democracy campaign worldwide  1:08:30 America's security arrangement w/Europe was working well  1:09:45 Something bad will have to happen to sober up American politics  1:12:30 There's a fear of debate in American politics & on campuses  1:14:15 The importance of debate on college campuses  1:16:45 The EU has gathered collective strength as America retreats  1:17:45 Russia invasion of Ukraine + Reelection of Trump recalibrated Europe  1:19:45 Europe has gained unity and clarity  1:21:15 Trump deserves credit for trying to end the Russia/Ukraine war  1:23:00 How will the great power conflict play out in Asia  1:24:30 We need more alliances and collective security in Asia to counter China  1:25:15 Taiwan is nervous the US will sell them out to China  1:26:00 Invasion of Taiwan might be the event to wake up the west  1:26:45 Trump's skill set is uniquely suited to negotiations in middle east 1:28:30 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Michael McFaul  1:29:00 Ask Chuck  1:29:15 How closely does "The Morning Show" reflect an actual newsroom?  1:35:15 Do FCS and Div 2 & 3 programs more accurately rep college football?  1:39:30 Is Greg Abbot sending troops to Chicago to build a national profile?  1:45:00 What podcasts do you regularly listen to?  1:48:15 Why are conservatives attacking Bad Bunny's citizenship when he's American?  1:53:15 College football previewSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul joins Chuck Todd for a sweeping conversation about whether the world is slipping back into a pre–World War II world order marked by isolationism, power struggles, and a fading commitment to democracy. McFaul argues we’ve entered a new era of great power competition, with China offering an alternative world order and America retreating from its role as the global stabilizer. The two discuss how Trump’s “strong vs. weak” worldview reshapes alliances, why autocracy is gaining ideological ground inside the U.S., and what happens when America stops believing in exporting democracy. From the growing unity of the European Union post-Ukraine to Taiwan’s fears of being sold out to Beijing, Todd and McFaul explore whether it will take another crisis to “sober up” American politics. They also debate Trump’s paradoxical legacy — destabilizing allies while showing skill in Middle East negotiations — and what kind of leadership it will take to rebuild collective security and moral credibility in an increasingly unstable world. Timeline: 00:00 Michael McFaul joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 Are we in a similar set of conditions to pre-WW2? 02:00 We’ve entered a new era of great power competition 03:15 In some ways we’re in a cold war, in some way we’re not 04:00 Our economy is highly intertwined with China’s 04:45 America’s isolationism similar to 1930’s 07:00 Was the cold war an outlier period for American & world history? 08:30 Everyone understood the USSR as an adversary during cold war 09:15 America was the great power during cold war, underestimated ourselves 10:15 The “law of the jungle” is returning as the US retreats from the world 12:00 No unity around “small d”  Democracy in America, can’t export it 13:15 Trump defines the world by “strong leaders vs. weak leaders” 14:15 Trump’s style of diplomacy works in middle east, not with allies 15:30 China is another hegemon, and offering a different world order 16:30 Autocrats vs Democrats fight is between countries & domestic 17:45 Many Americans now closer to Putin ideologically than Democrats 19:15 Venezuelan activist wins Nobel, her message to Trump was brilliant 20:15 We should have done more to help democracy in Venezuela 23:00 Trump shut down NGOs that promote democracy on world stage 23:45 America needs to run a better pro-democracy campaign worldwide 24:30 America’s security arrangement w/Europe was working well 25:45 Something bad will have to happen to sober up American politics 28:30 There’s a fear of debate in American politics & on campuses 30:15 The importance of debate on college campuses 32:45 The EU has gathered collective strength as America retreats 33:45 Russia invasion of Ukraine + Reelection of Trump recalibrated Europe 35:45 Europe has gained unity and clarity 37:15 Trump deserves credit for trying to end the Russia/Ukraine war 39:00 How will the great power conflict play out in Asia 40:30 We need more alliances and collective security in Asia to counter China 41:15 Taiwan is nervous the US will sell them out to China 42:00 Invasion of Taiwan might be the event to wake up the west 42:45 Trump’s skill set is uniquely suited to negotiations in middle eastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd examines the mounting political and institutional strain as the government shutdown drags on — and why Democrats may need to declare a partial victory just to move forward. The episode explores how Trump’s rise has exposed deep vulnerabilities in the American system, from unchecked profiteering and politicized justice to the growing entanglement of big tech, big money, and government power. Todd breaks down the Democrats’ limited leverage, the GOP’s dependence on Trump’s engagement, and the urgent need for new constitutional and institutional guardrails. Plus, he looks at the emerging generational clash in the Democratic Party senate primary in Maine, as Janet Mills and Graham Platner become avatars for an “old vs. new” fight that could reshape the party’s future. Finally, he gives his ToddCast Top 5 list of potential political comebacks where politicians could win their old seat back, then answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:15 Democrats need to find a way to declare victory and end shutdown  03:30 Democrats drew attention to healthcare, but will see diminishing returns  04:15 Trump's rise has exposed tremendous vulnerabilities in our system  05:45 There's nobody in Trump's feedback loop that will expose him to bad info  07:00 Democrats need how to learn to embrace small victories  09:30 Democrats only have the power to win the argument  11:15 Republicans won't move without Trump engaging on shutdown  12:30 Trump takes victory lap on Israel, hard part is making agreement stick  13:30 If profiting off the presidency goes unchecked, we risk more in the future  14:45 Emoluments clause is not enough, need a constitutional amendment  15:30 Big tech, big money and the government have all become intertwined  18:00 Two big reforms that could help fix the democracy  20:00 We need to reform the Justice Department to prevent politicization  21:30 Companies that capitulated to Trump had the law on their side  23:00 The country needs to build new guardrails  24:00 Janet Mills vs Graham Platner will become avatars for "old vs new"  25:45 The older generation of Democratic leaders refuses to retire  27:30 If Mills wins, she'll be the oldest freshman senator of all time  28:15 Graham Platner already has released attack ad against Mills  29:30 Platner vs. Mills will become a headache and money sink for Democrats 32:30 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Tom Bonier  33:30 ToddCast Top 5 - Most Likely Political Comebacks  35:00 #1 Jesse Jackson Jr.  37:00 #2 Cori Bush  38:15 #3 John E. Sununu  41:15 #4 Sherrod Brown  42:15 Honorable mentions  43:00 #5 Javier Suarez  49:15 Ask Chuck  49:30 Why aren't presidential debates moderated as vigorously as local debates?  53:45 What are legal repercussions for violations of the HATCH Act?  59:00 Appreciation for interview with Paul Glastris on higher education  1:01:30 What is likely for Universal Basic Income as AI takes jobs?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd examines the mounting political and institutional strain as the government shutdown drags on — and why Democrats may need to declare a partial victory just to move forward. The episode explores how Trump’s rise has exposed deep vulnerabilities in the American system, from unchecked profiteering and politicized justice to the growing entanglement of big tech, big money, and government power. Todd breaks down the Democrats’ limited leverage, the GOP’s dependence on Trump’s engagement, and the urgent need for new constitutional and institutional guardrails. Plus, he looks at the emerging generational clash in the Democratic Party senate primary in Maine, as Janet Mills and Graham Platner become avatars for an “old vs. new” fight that could reshape the party’s future. Then, Chuck sits down with veteran Democratic strategist and data expert Tom Bonier to unpack one of the biggest political mysteries of the Trump era: why Democrats are losing voter registrations—and how the GOP got so good at winning them. From the fallout of the Bernie-Clinton primary to the brand erosion under Biden, Bonier traces how Democrats’ messaging, outsourcing, and demographic targeting have backfired while Republicans quietly built lasting grassroots infrastructure, particularly among younger and working-class voters. The conversation dives deep into the changing dynamics of party loyalty and political identity—why Gen Z and Latino voters are shifting, how Trump reactivated the “missing white vote,” and why college campuses have become unlikely conservative battlegrounds. Todd and Bonier also explore the Democrats’ shrinking Senate map, the Midwest’s populist tilt, and how data-driven strategies like “mixed mode” polling could determine which party defines the next generation of American politics. Finally, he gives his ToddCast Top 5 list of potential political comebacks where politicians could win their old seat back, then answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 06:15 Democrats need to find a way to declare victory and end shutdown 07:30 Democrats drew attention to healthcare, but will see diminishing returns 08:15 Trump’s rise has exposed tremendous vulnerabilities in our system 09:45 There’s nobody in Trump’s feedback loop that will expose him to bad info 11:00 Democrats need how to learn to embrace small victories 13:30 Democrats only have the power to win the argument 15:15 Republicans won’t move without Trump engaging on shutdown 16:30 Trump takes victory lap on Israel, hard part is making agreement stick 17:30 If profiting off the presidency goes unchecked, we risk more in the future 18:45 Emoluments clause is not enough, need a constitutional amendment 19:30 Big tech, big money and the government have all become intertwined 22:00 Two big reforms that could help fix the democracy 24:00 We need to reform the Justice Department to prevent politicization 25:30 Companies that capitulated to Trump had the law on their side 27:00 The country needs to build new guardrails 28:00 Janet Mills vs Graham Platner will become avatars for “old vs new” 29:45 The older generation of Democratic leaders refuses to retire 31:30 If Mills wins, she’ll be the oldest freshman senator of all time 32:15 Graham Platner already has released attack ad against Mills 33:30 Platner vs. Mills will become a headache and money sink for Democrats 36:30 Tom Bonier joins the Chuck Toddcast  38:15 Where did trend of Democrats shedding voter registrations begin?  39:15 Bernie/Clinton primary was when Dem brand took initial hit  40:30 Downturn in Dem brand came during Biden's four years  42:15 Democrats outsource their registration efforts more than GOP  43:30 Registration efforts targeted friendly demographics  44:30 Registered partisan turnout between 20' and 24' was 1 point  45:30 What can Dems learn from Republicans registration tactics?  46:30 The 2012 GOP autopsy was right, but didn't foresee Trump  47:15 Obama's campaign targeted younger voters & won  48:00 GOP created a consistent presence on college campuses  48:45 For Gen Z, their first interaction with government was Covid  49:30 Gender gap amongst younger voters was 25+ points  50:30 Trump won big with voters who don't consume much news  52:00 Why Gen X became the generation that most supports Trump  53:00 When someone registers for a party, that tends to stick  55:00 Trump brought out the "missing white vote"  56:00 Dems dominating with higher educated, higher propensity voters  57:45 Younger white men are overwhelmingly registering Republican  59:30 Younger voters are generally registering as unaffiliated  1:00:45 Are Dems counting on Trump voters only showing up for Trump?  1:01:30 Climate looks similar to 17' except Dems are more unpopular  1:02:30 What is causing the Democrats "brand problem"?  1:03:15 Voters didn't know about Biden's accomplishments  1:04:30 The importance of branding your agenda  1:05:30 Are there a "hard 7" number of swing states, or could others join?  1:07:00 Texas trending more blue, Florida trending more red  1:07:45 Migration patterns have made Florida tough for Democrats  1:08:30 Democrats have almost no margin for error to win the senate  1:09:15 What 4-6 states should Dems target to expand senate map?  1:11:30 Is the midwest out of reach for Dems for a generation?  1:12:45 Midwest voters are populist more than D or R  1:14:00 How and where can Dems stem losses in blue states?  1:15:45 Voter mobilization is easier to fix than persuasion  1:16:30 Why have Georgia and Arizona become more friendly to Dems?  1:17:45 API voters swung toward Trump in 24' but are swinging back  1:18:30 Latino voters are economically sensitive and more swingySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd sits down with veteran Democratic strategist and data expert Tom Bonier to unpack one of the biggest political mysteries of the Trump era: why Democrats are losing voter registrations—and how the GOP got so good at winning them. From the fallout of the Bernie-Clinton primary to the brand erosion under Biden, Bonier traces how Democrats’ messaging, outsourcing, and demographic targeting have backfired while Republicans quietly built lasting grassroots infrastructure, particularly among younger and working-class voters. The conversation dives deep into the changing dynamics of party loyalty and political identity—why Gen Z and Latino voters are shifting, how Trump reactivated the “missing white vote,” and why college campuses have become unlikely conservative battlegrounds. Todd and Bonier also explore the Democrats’ shrinking Senate map, the Midwest’s populist tilt, and how data-driven strategies like “mixed mode” polling could determine which party defines the next generation of American politics. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Tom Bonier joins the Chuck Toddcast 01:45 Where did trend of Democrats shedding voter registrations begin? 02:45 Bernie/Clinton primary was when Dem brand took initial hit 04:00 Downturn in Dem brand came during Biden’s four years 05:45 Democrats outsource their registration efforts more than GOP 07:00 Registration efforts targeted friendly demographics 08:00 Registered partisan turnout between 20’ and 24’ was 1 point 09:00 What can Dems learn from Republicans registration tactics? 10:00 The 2012 GOP autopsy was right, but didn’t foresee Trump 10:45 Obama’s campaign targeted younger voters & won 11:30 GOP created a consistent presence on college campuses 12:15 For Gen Z, their first interaction with government was Covid 13:00 Gender gap amongst younger voters was 25+ points 14:00 Trump won big with voters who don’t consume much news 15:30 Why Gen X became the generation that most supports Trump 16:30 When someone registers for a party, that tends to stick 18:30 Trump brought out the “missing white vote” 19:30 Dems dominating with higher educated, higher propensity voters 21:15 Younger white men are overwhelmingly registering Republican 23:00 Younger voters are generally registering as unaffiliated 24:15 Are Dems counting on Trump voters only showing up for Trump? 25:00 Climate looks similar to 17’ except Dems are more unpopular 26:00 What is causing the Democrats “brand problem”? 26:45 Voters didn’t know about Biden’s accomplishments 28:00 The importance of branding your agenda 29:00 Are there a “hard 7” number of swing states, or could others join? 30:30 Texas trending more blue, Florida trending more red 31:15 Migration patterns have made Florida tough for Democrats 32:00 Democrats have almost no margin for error to win the senate 32:45 What 4-6 states should Dems target to expand senate map? 35:00 Is the midwest out of reach for Dems for a generation? 36:15 Midwest voters are populist more than D or R 37:30 How and where can Dems stem losses in blue states? 39:15 Voter mobilization is easier to fix than persuasion 40:00 Why have Georgia and Arizona become more friendly to Dems? 41:15 API voters swung toward Trump in 24’ but are swinging back 42:00 Latino voters are economically sensitive and more swingy 43:30 What’s happening with the “Chamber of Commerce” GOP voter? 45:00 Preferred methodology for public opinion polling? 47:00 What is “mixed mode” polling? 48:30 What are the three polls you always make sure to analyze?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd breaks down the latest political and global chaos as the government shutdown drags on with no resolution in sight—because, as he puts it, “nothing moves without Trump.” From Trump’s trade threats against China and his transactional diplomacy in the Middle East to Netanyahu’s political freefall in Israel, the episode examines how American and global politics are increasingly driven by short-term leverage over long-term stability. Todd also exposes how Trump’s team has weaponized government institutions—from Russ Vought’s reckless layoffs to Pam Bondi’s politicized DOJ—and how Trump’s online behavior, including an embarrassing Truth Social blunder, raises national security concerns. With the rule of law eroding and America’s moral authority slipping away, Chuck warns that the U.S. may be entering an era where power, not principle, defines governance. Then, Moody’s chief economist Mark Zandi joins Chuck to assess an economy that looks strong on paper—but feels weak for most Americans. While the top third of earners are doing well, lower-income households are tightening their belts as consumer spending slows and job creation stagnates. Zandi warns of a 30–40% chance of a recession by 2026, citing the drag from federal job cuts, the drying up of COVID relief funds, and the destabilizing effects of rising tariffs and electricity costs. They also dig into the booming—but risky—AI sector, where soaring valuations and limited job growth may be setting up the next market correction. Gold prices are surging, commercial real estate is slumping, and housing shortages are widening for middle-class renters. With Americans increasingly unable to move for better opportunities and faith in Washington deteriorating, Zandi and Todd explore whether the U.S. economy can remain the world’s “safe haven” — or if 2026 could be the year that confidence finally cracks. Finally, Chuck goes back to the 1987 market crash in the ToddCast Time Machine to compare the conditions then to current market conditions, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and gives his college football update. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction - New addition to the Todd household 03:45 Trump/China threaten trade retaliation, just posturing? 04:45 Government remains shutdown, no resolution without Trump 06:00 Trump sensitive to tariff price hikes on pharmaceuticals  07:00 Trump’s transactional diplomacy works well in the middle east 09:15 Can Netanyahu survive politically without an active war? 10:15 2/3rds of Israeli voters want Netanyahu to resign 11:15 Many of Israel’s threats are gone, but is now very isolated 12:45 Trump’s government has weaponized/politicized everything 14:00 Russ Vought’s mass layoffs were sloppy, overfired at CDC 16:00 Pam Bondi has overtly weaponized the Justice Department 18:15 DOJ indicting Trump enemies he named in social media post 19:45 Trump was DMing Bondi on Truth Social, mistakenly posted publicly 21:30 Trump’s communications far more insecure than Hilary’s emails 24:15 The current Republican congress just rolls over for Trump 25:15 Trump is destroying the rule of law & reputation of the GOP 26:30 If roles were reversed Republicans would be apoplectic 27:45 US has lost moral authority & credibility on the world stage 29:15 Most military leaders would resign quietly if given illegal orders 30:45 Presidents used to respect their predecessors… not Trump 31:45 Trump’s supposed to govern for the entire country, refuses to 34:15 Trump believes two wrongs make a right 35:15 Trump started a trade war with China, and nobody wins a trade war 36:45 United States is far too reliant on China for rare earth metals 40:00 Mark Zandi joins the Chuck ToddCast  41:00 The economy is only good for the top 1/3rd of earners  42:00 Lower income earners are struggling  43:30 Signs of a consumer pullback are starting to show up  45:00 The economy isn't creating many jobs  45:30 Chance of a recession is forecast at 30-40% in 2026  47:15 The economic impact of the cuts to federal workforce  49:00 Loss of 100k+ federal jobs will be a drag on the economy  50:00 Covid money is drying up in state and local government budgets  50:30 AI is starting to have impact on the job force  53:00 Data center investment creates wealth but not jobs  54:30 Are the AI stocks creating a bubble?  55:30 Investors may be a bit over their skis with AI  56:45 Stock market could be headed for a massive correction  58:00 Stock price to earnings ratios are at historic high  59:30 Tariff impacts starting to show up, AI providing a tailwind for economy  1:01:00 Economy is very vulnerable to unforeseen shocks  1:01:45 Price of gold at all time high, a warning sign?  1:03:30 Uncertainty around American economy driving up gold price  1:04:45 Risk of American economy not being considered a "Safe Haven"  1:06:00 Loss of safe haven status means higher interest rates  1:06:30 Impact of rising electricity prices on the economy  1:08:30 Oil and gas prices have stayed relatively low  1:09:30 Why haven't investors flocked to real estate as an investment?  1:10:30 The price of commercial real estate is down substantially  1:11:45 High interest rates have cooled demand for residential real estate  1:13:15 The high end rental market is oversupplied  1:14:00 Workforce/middle income housing is in short supply  1:15:30 Housing issues vary by city and region, hard to address nationally  1:16:45 How much would the economy benefit from domestic migration?  1:18:30 Aging population a big factor in lack of domestic migration  1:19:00 Most Americans can't afford to move  1:20:15 Impact of America's broken politics on the economy  1:22:00 Will issues with China's economy affect the globe?  1:23:00 Level of risk going into 2026? 1:24:30 ToddCast Time Machine  1:25:15 October 19th, 1987 - U.S. stock market crash  1:26:00 Crash resulted in added financial regulation and safeguards  1:27:45 In week leading up to crash, markets had seen sharp declines  1:28:15 Computerized trades contributed to crashed  1:29:45 Crash wasn't rooted in one singular event/issue  1:30:45 Crash didn't result in wider problems like banking crisis  1:31:30 Lesson learned was "Don't Panic", market came back  1:32:45 Current market is dominated by algorithmic trading, creates risks  1:33:45 Market is highly concentrated in tech  1:34:45 Why 1987 isn't a corollary for 2025  1:36:45 Market will always have volatility  1:37:15 Ask Chuck  1:37:30 Should more candidates not run under the D or R label?  1:42:00 What practices would you suggest to reform ballot access?  1:45:30 Is the risk of China owning Tiktok any worse than Trump allies?  1:49:45 Were Biden's infrastructure projects halted by Big Beautiful Bill?  1:52:45 College football updateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd breaks down the latest political and global chaos as the government shutdown drags on with no resolution in sight—because, as he puts it, “nothing moves without Trump.” From Trump’s trade threats against China and his transactional diplomacy in the Middle East to Netanyahu’s political freefall in Israel, the episode examines how American and global politics are increasingly driven by short-term leverage over long-term stability. Todd also exposes how Trump’s team has weaponized government institutions—from Russ Vought’s reckless layoffs to Pam Bondi’s politicized DOJ—and how Trump’s online behavior, including an embarrassing Truth Social blunder, raises national security concerns. With the rule of law eroding and America’s moral authority slipping away, Chuck warns that the U.S. may be entering an era where power, not principle, defines governance. Finally, Chuck goes back to the 1987 market crash in the ToddCast Time Machine to compare the conditions then to current market conditions, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and gives his college football update. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction - New addition to the Todd household 02:45 Trump/China threaten trade retaliation, just posturing?  03:45 Government remains shutdown, no resolution without Trump  05:00 Trump sensitive to tariff price hikes on pharmaceuticals 06:00 Trump's transactional diplomacy works well in the middle east  08:15 Can Netanyahu survive politically without an active war?  09:15 2/3rds of Israeli voters want Netanyahu to resign  10:15 Many of Israel's threats are gone, but is now very isolated  11:45 Trump's government has weaponized/politicized everything  13:00 Russ Vought's mass layoffs were sloppy, overfired at CDC  15:00 Pam Bondi has overtly weaponized the Justice Department  17:15 DOJ indicting Trump enemies he named in social media post  18:45 Trump was DMing Bondi on Truth Social, mistakenly posted publicly  20:30 Trump's communications far more insecure than Hilary's emails  23:15 The current Republican congress just rolls over for Trump  24:15 Trump is destroying the rule of law & reputation of the GOP  25:30 If roles were reversed Republicans would be apoplectic  26:45 US has lost moral authority & credibility on the world stage  28:15 Most military leaders would resign quietly if given illegal orders  29:45 Presidents used to respect their predecessors… not Trump  30:45 Trump's supposed to govern for the entire country, refuses to  33:15 Trump believes two wrongs make a right  34:15 Trump started a trade war with China, and nobody wins a trade war  35:45 United States is far too reliant on China for rare earth metals 38:30 ToddCast Time Machine  39:15 October 19th, 1987 - U.S. stock market crash  40:00 Crash resulted in added financial regulation and safeguards  41:45 In week leading up to crash, markets had seen sharp declines  42:15 Computerized trades contributed to crashed  43:45 Crash wasn't rooted in one singular event/issue  44:45 Crash didn't result in wider problems like banking crisis  45:30 Lesson learned was "Don't Panic", market came back  46:45 Current market is dominated by algorithmic trading, creates risks  47:45 Market is highly concentrated in tech  48:45 Why 1987 isn't a corollary for 2025  50:45 Market will always have volatility  51:15 Ask Chuck  51:30 Should more candidates not run under the D or R label?  56:00 What practices would you suggest to reform ballot access?  59:30 Is the risk of China owning Tiktok any worse than Trump allies?  1:03:45 Were Biden's infrastructure projects halted by Big Beautiful Bill?  1:06:45 College football updateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moody’s chief economist Mark Zandi joins Chuck Todd to assess an economy that looks strong on paper—but feels weak for most Americans. While the top third of earners are doing well, lower-income households are tightening their belts as consumer spending slows and job creation stagnates. Zandi warns of a 30–40% chance of a recession by 2026, citing the drag from federal job cuts, the drying up of COVID relief funds, and the destabilizing effects of rising tariffs and electricity costs. They also dig into the booming—but risky—AI sector, where soaring valuations and limited job growth may be setting up the next market correction. Gold prices are surging, commercial real estate is slumping, and housing shortages are widening for middle-class renters. With Americans increasingly unable to move for better opportunities and faith in Washington deteriorating, Zandi and Todd explore whether the U.S. economy can remain the world’s “safe haven” — or if 2026 could be the year that confidence finally cracks. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Mark Zandi joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 The economy is only good for the top 1/3rd of earners 02:00 Lower income earners are struggling 03:30 Signs of a consumer pullback are starting to show up 05:00 The economy isn’t creating many jobs 05:30 Chance of a recession is forecast at 30-40% in 2026 07:15 The economic impact of the cuts to federal workforce 09:00 Loss of 100k+ federal jobs will be a drag on the economy 10:00 Covid money is drying up in state and local government budgets 10:30 AI is starting to have impact on the job force 13:00 Data center investment creates wealth but not jobs 14:30 Are the AI stocks creating a bubble? 15:30 Investors may be a bit over their skis with AI 16:45 Stock market could be headed for a massive correction 18:00 Stock price to earnings ratios are at historic high 19:30 Tariff impacts starting to show up, AI providing a tailwind for economy 21:00 Economy is very vulnerable to unforeseen shocks 21:45 Price of gold at all time high, a warning sign? 23:30 Uncertainty around American economy driving up gold price 24:45 Risk of American economy not being considered a “Safe Haven” 26:00 Loss of safe haven status means higher interest rates 26:30 Impact of rising electricity prices on the economy 28:30 Oil and gas prices have stayed relatively low 29:30 Why haven’t investors flocked to real estate as an investment? 30:30 The price of commercial real estate is down substantially 31:45 High interest rates have cooled demand for residential real estate 33:15 The high end rental market is oversupplied 34:00 Workforce/middle income housing is in short supply 35:30 Housing issues vary by city and region, hard to address nationally 36:45 How much would the economy benefit from domestic migration? 38:30 Aging population a big factor in lack of domestic migration 39:00 Most Americans can’t afford to move 40:15 Impact of America’s broken politics on the economy 42:00 Will issues with China’s economy affect the globe? 43:00 Level of risk going into 2026?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd sits down with Washington Monthly editor-in-chief Paul Glastris to unpack how America’s college ranking system went off the rails—and how it’s warping higher education itself. Glastris argues that U.S. News & World Report rewards wealth, not value, pushing schools to chase prestige over affordability and teaching quality. He highlights Berea College as a model for what higher ed could be: a well-endowed school that actually invests in its students rather than its brand.The two also explore how higher ed’s obsession with research grants and graduate programs has left undergrads behind, and why community and regional universities—where most Americans actually study—deserve more attention and funding. From the decline of community colleges to the disappearance of local journalism, Glastris and Todd make the case for a “New Deal for Higher Education” that values mobility, access, and public service over profit and rankings.Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win!Timeline:(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)00:00 Paul Glastris joins the Chuck ToddCast01:00 Best colleges for the buck?03:15 US News ranks colleges in a horrific way04:30 Schools prioritize wealth when doing admissions07:30 Upward mobility matters more when ranking colleges09:15 Schools freak out when they lose ranking status10:45 Berea College is best bang for the buck school in America12:45 Berea has a massive endowment, but it’s used for education15:30 Schools focus on post-grad programs rather than undergrad17:00 Research institutions should be put in their own category17:30 Trump administration is going after schools with research grants19:00 We’ve never seen an administration target college research20:15 It costs a ton of money to send kids to college now21:30 Do colleges prioritize hiring researchers or teachers?24:15 We overproduce academic talent in America26:15 Smaller schools face massive financial challenges28:30 Many schools border on predatory30:00 We need a “new deal” for higher education32:30 Most people get their BA’s at local & regional universities34:00 America didn’t get to making 2 years of college free35:15 The state of the community college system36:45 Florida never built a good state system, has no prestige schools37:45 Florida standardized passing courses counting at every school39:45 There’s a wide disparity of outcomes between community colleges40:15 Community colleges offer community building activities42:45 College rankings are an important example of service journalism44:45 Local journalism was the foundational piece of the profession46:00 The economic underpinnings of local journalism have been wiped out48:30 Government and philanthropy can underwrite local journalism50:30 National opinion journalism undermined local journalism52:00 Small towns can’t afford good journalismSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the government shutdown stretches on, Chuck Todd breaks down how both parties are calculating the political costs — and why Democrats may have already achieved what they wanted. With air travel disruptions mounting and healthcare debates pulling in new Republican attention, the public’s patience is wearing thin. Meanwhile, tensions between Trump and Illinois leaders have escalated, raising questions about the politicization of the military and fairness in immigration enforcement.He also examines Democrats’ deeper strategic struggles heading into 2026 and beyond — from misreading voters’ frustration with cost of living to failing to invest early in registration and outreach. Inside the party, Virginia rallies around Jay Jones, while figures like Elissa Slotkin and Gavin Newsom position for future national influence. But viral missteps, like Katie Porter’s interview fallout, reveal how Democrats are still struggling to master modern media and messaging in an increasingly short-form political world.Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and previews the upcoming weekend in college football.Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win!Timeline:(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)00:00 Introduction00:30 Government shutdown lingers on, Dems accomplished what they wanted 01:45 Air travel starting to be impacted by shutdown 03:00 The healthcare issue has gotten the attention of Republicans 04:00 General public only cares about issues that directly impact them 05:00 Either party could end the shutdown now 07:15 Showdown between Trump & leaders in Chicago escalates 08:15 Using Texas national guard in Illinois is a bridge too far 09:15 Too many leaders on both sides are way too online 10:30 ICE found by judge to be making warrantless arrests 12:45 Trump and Stephen Miller overplaying threat to the public 13:30 Public doesn't support deployments, wants apolitical military 14:45 Majority of voters think deportation process hasn't been fair 16:15 Politics getting personal between Trump & Illinois leaders 18:15 There are political risks for both sides 19:15 DNC believes they didn't spend early & enough to engage voters in 24' 21:45 Democrats takeaways are wrong. Biden was the biggest issue 23:00 Biden team misread the room, voters were upset at cost of living 24:15 DNC has put enough effort into voter registration 25:00 Appears party leaders in VA will rally around Jay Jones 26:45 Democrats willing to engage in GOP style "whataboutism" 28:00 There's still a vast chunk of America that cares about ethics 29:30 Elisa Slotkin headlining dinner in NH, eyeing run for president? 30:30 Looking like Gavin Newsom will win redistricting referendum 32:30 If California votes yes, it looks like R's will only pick up 3-4 seats in 26' 33:15 Katie Porter crashes out in viral interview clip, both parties pile on 35:00 Has Porter spent too much time in friendly interview spaces? 36:30 Porter's response to losing senate primary to Schiff was revealing38:00 Former Bernie strategist says Dems struggling with short form video41:00 Ask Chuck 41:15 Should we offer a tax credit for voting to incentivize participation? 45:15 Thoughts on an "American Unity" platform? What would you include? 52:00 Trump modeling terrible behavior & character for young people? 59:45 Military pay during government shutdown? 1:02:15 College football previewSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.