The Chuck ToddCast

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck unpacks a tumultuous week for Donald Trump as newly released Epstein emails reignite old scandals — and this time, they may stick. With Speaker Mike Johnson appearing to serve Trump’s interests over his own members, and a worsening economy eroding public patience, Chuck explores whether we’re witnessing the beginning of Trump’s “lame duck” moment. He draws parallels between Trump’s endless stream of controversies, his history of corrupt pardons, and how even “teflon” presidents eventually turn “velcro” when conditions shift. As the cost of living rises and swing voters tune out partisan noise, scandals like Epstein’s are cutting through both sides’ information bubbles — forcing Republicans to reckon with Trump’s baggage. Chuck argues that if Democrats manage a midterm sweep, historians might look back on this very week as the turning point when Trump’s political luck finally began to run out. Then, Chuck sits down with Adam Jentleson, executive director of the new Searchlight Institute, to talk about how Democrats can build a broader, more durable governing coalition. Jentleson explains why Searchlight is designed to promote ideological diversity within the Democratic Party — and why policies that blend progressive and moderate ideas tend to last longer and win in more places. He warns that Democrats’ electoral path to the presidency and a 60-seat Senate majority is narrowing and argues the party’s best hope lies in economic populism — the same force that powered Trump’s rise but could be reclaimed with a focus on kitchen-table issues and fairness for working Americans. The conversation dives deep into the party’s messaging struggles during the government shutdown, the growing divide between “fight Trump” and “look past Trump” factions, and the need for Democrats to recruit candidates who can win in red and purple states — even if they don’t align perfectly on social issues. Jentleson also offers sharp insights on the filibuster’s evolution from a necessary safeguard to a legislative dead end, and why Democrats need to get more strategic — not louder — if they want to govern effectively and outlast Republican populism. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and breaks down the latest in college football. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. 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 02:00 New Epstein emails released referencing Trump 03:00 Mike Johnson’s actions are in service to WH, not his members 04:45 Trump has a laundry list of scandals & corrupt pardons, none stuck 07:00 Presidents can go from teflon to velcro 08:30 The bad economy could make Trump less resilient to scandals 10:00 JD Vance tweet demanding Epstein transparency has aged horribly 10:45 Trump’s involvement with Epstein has been baked into public opinion 12:00 High prices and bad economy mean less public patience for Trump 12:45 Every presidency hits their lame duck point, this could be the start 14:00 Winning the midterms for the Democrats means winning the senate 15:15 Trump has treated the party like his casinos, leveraged for his benefit 16:15 Trump is only worried about Trump, not the party or the voters* 17:30 Epstein is one of the only stories that breaks through both sides’...

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck sits down with Adam Jentleson, executive director of the new Searchlight Institute, to talk about how Democrats can build a broader, more durable governing coalition. Jentleson explains why Searchlight is designed to promote ideological diversity within the Democratic Party — and why policies that blend progressive and moderate ideas tend to last longer and win in more places. He warns that Democrats’ electoral path to the presidency and a 60-seat Senate majority is narrowing and argues the party’s best hope lies in economic populism — the same force that powered Trump’s rise but could be reclaimed with a focus on kitchen-table issues and fairness for working Americans. The conversation dives deep into the party’s messaging struggles during the government shutdown, the growing divide between “fight Trump” and “look past Trump” factions, and the need for Democrats to recruit candidates who can win in red and purple states — even if they don’t align perfectly on social issues. Jentleson also offers sharp insights on the filibuster’s evolution from a necessary safeguard to a legislative dead end, and why Democrats need to get more strategic — not louder — if they want to govern effectively and outlast Republican populism. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! 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 Adam Jentleson joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 Why choose the name “Searchlight Institute? 02:30 How is Searchlight different from the Center for American Progress? 06:00 Ideologically diverse policies tend to be more durable 08:00 Democrats must embrace ideological diversity to win in red states 11:00 Democrats have to make trade offs to win in more places 12:00 Democrats electoral path to presidency gets more narrow in ‘32 12:45 What does Democrats’ path to 60 senate seats look like? 13:45 Economic populism is a powerful force, it’s why Trump won 15:00 Economic populism beat out Republican orthodoxy 16:15 Populism hasn’t been transferable from Trump, but it’s durable 17:15 This economy is ok if you have money and horrid if not 19:00 The Kerry/Edwards economic policies are what are popular today 19:45 When Democrats succeed it’s on economic ideas 20:15 Is an economic downturn the only path for Dems to win presidency? 22:15 Democrats give Republicans ammo on cultural issues 23:15 Mamdani won by relentlessly focusing on kitchen table issues 24:30 Why weren’t Democrats able to sell their decision to reopen govt 26:15 Congressional leadership & communication are different skills 27:15 No side demanding a major concession in a shutdown got it 28:00 Dems succeeded in driving a message about healthcare 30:30 Divide on left is “look past Trump” or “fight Trump” 32:00 Democrats need to find issues they can run on in every state 33:45 The litmus test for Dems should be can they take back the senate 34:45 The path for Dems to take back the senate 36:15 Dems will have to embrace candidates with different social views 37:00 Gavin Newsom has been winning lately on tactics not policy 38:00 Dem candidates need to be fighters with broadly palatable policy 39:45 Any worries about an insurgent third party? 42:15 A third party candidate could certainly cause Dems to lose 43:45 The filibuster has become a pocket veto 45:45 The filibuster should require work and not be used passively 47:15 The filibuster started as needed reform, now is a problem 49:00 The origin of budget reconciliation 51:45 The...

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck unpacks a tumultuous week for Donald Trump as newly released Epstein emails reignite old scandals — and this time, they may stick. With Speaker Mike Johnson appearing to serve Trump’s interests over his own members, and a worsening economy eroding public patience, Chuck explores whether we’re witnessing the beginning of Trump’s “lame duck” moment. He draws parallels between Trump’s endless stream of controversies, his history of corrupt pardons, and how even “teflon” presidents eventually turn “velcro” when conditions shift. As the cost of living rises and swing voters tune out partisan noise, scandals like Epstein’s are cutting through both sides’ information bubbles — forcing Republicans to reckon with Trump’s baggage. Chuck argues that if Democrats manage a midterm sweep, historians might look back on this very week as the turning point when Trump’s political luck finally began to run out. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and breaks down the latest in college football. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! 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 New Epstein emails released referencing Trump 01:30 Mike Johnson’s actions are in service to WH, not his members 03:15 Trump has a laundry list of scandals & corrupt pardons, none stuck 05:30 Presidents can go from teflon to velcro 07:00 The bad economy could make Trump less resilient to scandals 08:30 JD Vance tweet demanding Epstein transparency has aged horribly 09:15 Trump’s involvement with Epstein has been baked into public opinion 10:30 High prices and bad economy mean less public patience for Trump 11:15 Every presidency hits their lame duck point, this could be the start 12:30 Winning the midterms for the Democrats means winning the senate 13:45 Trump has treated the party like his casinos, leveraged for his benefit 14:45 Trump is only worried about Trump, not the party or the voters* 16:00 Epstein is one of the only stories that breaks through both sides’ bubble 18:15 You can’t information silo your grocery bill, or the Epstein story 19:30 If Dems sweep midterms, we’ll point to this week as start of lame duck 20:30 By going soft on Ghislaine Maxwell, it just increases suspicion 23:00 Trump would have been better off playing “he said, she said” w/Maxwell 24:15 Stock market booming, but most of the economy is not succeeding 25:30 Trump doesn’t seem well, has aged quite a bit in past six months 27:30 A steady drip of Epstein stories/files will cause R’s to distance 29:00 Trump isn’t doing what he was elected to do, makes him vulnerable 34:00 Ask Chuck 34:15 Thought’s on Netflix’s Death By Lightning? 41:45 Can anything be done in the short term about electricity costs? 49:00 What is Trump’s motivation for intervening in Venezuela? 54:30 Did NYC Mayoral race show Dems issue with non college voters? 1:00:30 College football committee needs to go 1:07:15 College football preview See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former intelligence officer and Democratic senate candidate from Kentucky Joel Willett joins Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation — from his post-9/11 path into military service to the experiences that pushed him toward the Democratic Party. They highlight the parallels between his own story and JD Vance’s, offering candid thoughts on Hillbilly Elegy and how addiction, inequality, and disillusionment shape modern politics. He argues that the fentanyl crisis can’t be solved by policing supply alone — the real solution lies in investing in treatment, healthcare access, and rebuilding opportunity in communities like his home state of Kentucky. The conversation turns sharp as Willett critiques senate Democrats’ handling of the recent shutdown deal, calling it a “betrayal of the public,” and weighs in on the Democrats’ leadership struggles, the GOP’s subservience to Trump, and the erosion of national security norms. From the dangers of AI-era inequality to the growing politicization of the intelligence community, Willett warns that without courage and reform, even the institutions built to protect democracy could falter. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. 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 Joel Willett joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 Joel’s origin story 03:15 9/11 was what led Joel to join the armed services 05:00 Experiences in the military led him to join the Democratic party 07:00 Parallels between Joel’s origin story and JD Vance’s 08:00 Thoughts on Hillbilly Elegy? 09:45 It’s hard to square the JD Vance of 2016 vs Vance now 10:30 Politicians haven’t been able to address the fentanyl crisis 11:45 The conversation is only focused on supply side of overdose crisis 13:45 Investment needs to be made in treatment, not incarceration 15:45 It’s too tough to get access to quality rehab resources 17:30 You never get over the loss of a parent 18:15 Kentucky needs more healthcare facilities writ large 19:15 Administration has shown they don’t care about healthcare access 21:30 How should the government be thinking about future jobs in AI era? 23:30 AI is not the panacea that many think it is 25:15 Fascism grows in the fertile fields of inequality 26:30 Tax policy needs to address historic inequality 27:30 Capital gains should be taxed at least at the same rate as labor 29:45 Most people receiving benefits work or want to work 31:00 The system has been bought and paid for by entrenched interests 32:45 Why did Andy Beshear win and Amy McGrath lose? 34:30 Andy Beshear willing to speak his truth and show up 35:00 How would Joel try to win over Trump voters? 38:00 Shutdown deal struck by Democrats was a betrayal of the public 40:00 The shutdown fight isn’t technically over 41:45 8 Democrats who voted yes aren’t running for reelection in ‘26 42:30 ACA subsidies may actually get Republican votes in January 43:15 Republicans will do whatever Trump says to 44:45 Without a healthcare deal, Dems should shutdown govt in January 46:00 Should Chuck Schumer resign as senate minority leader? 47:15 Thoughts on Rand Paul and his distancing himself from Trumpworld? 49:00 Republicans aren’t governing for the entire country 51:15 Threats are being made to a free and fair election in ‘26 53:00 The state of the American intelligence...

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down the political fallout from the ending of the longest government shutdown in history— and what it revealed about both parties’ internal divides. He also answers listeners’ questions regarding the shutdown. Then, former intelligence officer and Democratic senate candidate from Kentucky Joel Willett joins Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation — from his post-9/11 path into military service to the experiences that pushed him toward the Democratic Party. They highlight the parallels between his own story and JD Vance’s, offering candid thoughts on Hillbilly Elegy and how addiction, inequality, and disillusionment shape modern politics. He argues that the fentanyl crisis can’t be solved by policing supply alone — the real solution lies in investing in treatment, healthcare access, and rebuilding opportunity in communities like his home state of Kentucky. The conversation turns sharp as Willett critiques senate Democrats’ handling of the recent shutdown deal, calling it a “betrayal of the public,” and weighs in on the Democrats’ leadership struggles, the GOP’s subservience to Trump, and the erosion of national security norms. From the dangers of AI-era inequality to the growing politicization of the intelligence community, Willett warns that without courage and reform, even the institutions built to protect democracy could falter. Finally, he gives his update ToddCast Top 5 Senate seats most likely to flip parties, and answers more non-shutdown related questions in “Ask Chuck” Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. 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 Shutdown fight wasn’t only about healthcare, Dems wanted a fight 05:00 Shutdown was impacting people who don’t follow politics & risky 05:45 Democrats are fighting over tactics, not policy 07:30 Democrats need a leadership change, but may not happen right away 08:30 There’s a growing divide amongst Republicans in congress 09:30 The trickle down economy isn’t working for most Americans 10:30 Voters will want more guardrails on economy to help inequality 11:30 Q&A - Shutdown related questions 11:45 Republicans control government, why aren’t they getting more blame? 13:00 Media mistakenly believes the public understands government 15:15 Johnson kept the house adjourned to avoid optics issues 17:15 Journalists need to explain politics in a way that’s accessible 18:15 How do you win a shutdown fight? Is it possible to win one? 20:00 Congress should find a way to make shutdowns impossible 21:30 Shutdowns are purely for partisan actors 24:30 Is a tough vote the only thing Democrats extracted from shutdown? 28:00 Schumer is a terrible communicator and can’t communicate the win 29:30 Why was the legislative process so dysfunctional? 33:45 We need a congressional leader to make the committee process work 39:00 Joel Willett joins the Chuck ToddCast 41:00 Joel’s origin story 42:15 9/11 was what led Joel to join the armed services 44:00 Experiences in the military led him to join the Democratic party 46:00 Parallels between Joel’s origin story and JD Vance’s 47:00 Thoughts on Hillbilly Elegy? 48:45 It’s hard to square the JD Vance of 2016 vs Vance now 49:30 Politicians haven’t been able to...

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down the political fallout from the ending of the longest government shutdown in history— and what it revealed about both parties’ internal divides. He also answers listeners’ questions regarding the shutdown. Finally, he gives his update ToddCast Top 5 Senate seats most likely to flip parties, and answers more non-shutdown related questions in “Ask Chuck” Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. 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 Shutdown fight wasn’t only about healthcare, Dems wanted a fight 02:45 Shutdown was impacting people who don’t follow politics & risky 03:30 Democrats are fighting over tactics, not policy 05:15 Democrats need a leadership change, but may not happen right away 06:15 There’s a growing divide amongst Republicans in congress 07:15 The trickle down economy isn’t working for most Americans 08:15 Voters will want more guardrails on economy to help inequality 09:15 Q&A - Shutdown related questions 09:30 Republicans control government, why aren’t they getting more blame? 10:45 Media mistakenly believes the public understands government 13:00 Johnson kept the house adjourned to avoid optics issues 15:00 Journalists need to explain politics in a way that’s accessible 16:00 How do you win a shutdown fight? Is it possible to win one? 17:45 Congress should find a way to make shutdowns impossible 19:15 Shutdowns are purely for partisan actors 22:15 Is a tough vote the only thing Democrats extracted from shutdown? 25:45 Schumer is a terrible communicator and can’t communicate the win 27:15 Why was the legislative process so dysfunctional? 31:30 We need a congressional leader to make the committee process work 36:00 ToddCast Top 5 Senate seats most likely to flip parties 37:15 #1 North Carolina 41:30 #2 Maine 43:30 #3 Georgia 45:15 #4 Michigan 47:30 #5 Ohio 49:30 Democrats can absolutely win the majority in the senate 50:30 Ask Chuck 50:45 How different would America be if we hadn’t ended the draft? 53:45 Which college football head coaching jobs are most attractive? 57:15 Viability of female presidential candidates? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down the latest in Washington as the government shutdown nears its end—and the political fallout begins. Democrats have shown more backbone than expected, while Donald Trump’s strategy has Republicans quietly questioning his grip on power. From his push to cut SNAP benefits for his own voters to his increasingly distorted view of the economy, Trump’s disconnect from reality is starting to cost him. Chuck also looks at the Democrats’ strong showing in the recent elections, what it says about voter sentiment heading into 2026, and whether we’re witnessing the beginning of Trump’s lame duck era. Plus, the ripple effects of Trump’s policies—from affordability to the upcoming World Cup—and what Mike Johnson’s loyalty to Trump means for the GOP’s future. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the surrender of the Ottoman Empire after World War 1 and the lasting implications for peace in the middle east, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and breaks down the weekend in college football. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. 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 End of the government shutdown seems imminent 02:15 Democrats have had a stiffer spine than expected 03:00 Surprising that Trump fought to cut SNAP, many were his voters 04:30 Trump ran on protecting benefits, has done the opposite during shutdown 05:15 Trump keeps claiming the economy is better than it is 06:00 Is Trump in an information bubble that’s not giving him reality? 07:00 Trump being out of touch is making Republicans start to distance from them 08:45 Mamdani’s election was not “the most important” result 09:45 New Jersey governor result was more revealing than Mamdani’s 10:30 Democrats win in Nov 4th election showed it was a referendum on Trump 12:00 Democrats should take the win and cut a deal to end shutdown 13:00 Are we entering the lame duck period of Donald Trump’s presidency? 14:45 Trump’s handling of the shutdown has been terrible politics for Republicans 16:15 The affordability message penetrated, culture war didn’t at all 17:30 Trump’s policies are creating a mess ahead of the 2026 World Cup 19:00 Trump is more focused on his image rather than affordability 19:45 Some Republicans are realizing they’ll have to break with Trump 22:15 Mike Johnson has basically become Donald Trump’s puppet 23:30 Trump is either losing his grip on reality, or trying to remake it 25:00 Trump falling asleep in meetings is a big deal 31:30 November 11th, 1918 World War 1 ends 32:15 Surrender of Ottoman Empire is largely forgotten, hugely consequential 33:15 Terms of surrender were incredibly harsh 34:00 European powers began carving up the middle east 34:45 Europe stopped fighting, the middle east didn't 36:15 In the US, World War 1 is only taught as a prequel to WW2 37:15 WW1 is the reason the middle east is still a mess today 39:15 We need to improve how we teach the history of World War 1 40:15 Ask Chuck 40:30 Can you explain why the senate has 60 vs. 50 vote thresholds? 45:45 Should the Virgin islands join with other islands to become a state? 46:45 Love for the election night livestream 48:00 Why haven't the 2026 federal appropriations been approved? 50:30 Chuck's experience at Vets for Tech event 59:45 College football...

Chuck Todd sits down with journalist and historian Garrett Graff, host of The Long Shadow, to unpack how America’s political scandals—from Watergate to Trump—have shaped the presidency and public trust. Graff reflects on the slow process of uncovering the truth about Nixon’s 1968 interference and how those lessons apply to Trump’s open defiance of the Presidential Records Act. The two dive into why history takes decades to judge leaders, how government secrecy really works, and why even the most shocking revelations—like Iran-Contra or January 6th—take years to fully understand. Graff also discusses the ripple effects of past scandals, from Monica Lewinsky’s mistreatment to the rise of political figures forged during the Clinton impeachment, and how the legacy of Trump may take a generation to contextualize. The conversation ends on the future of media itself—how O.J. Simpson changed television forever, how algorithms broke the internet, and what it means for truth in an age where everyone’s chasing clicks. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. 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 Garrett Graff joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 Getting started with The Long Shadow podcast 03:00 The importance of going back and covering recent history 05:45 Looking at pivotal, fork in the road moments in history 09:15 It took 50 years to answer two central questions about Watergate 12:00 Extent of Nixon’s treachery in ‘68 wasn’t exposed until recently 13:15 Watergate led to destruction of White House taping system 15:00 Trump is actively skirting the Presidential Records Act 17:30 Mike Johnson excuses Trump’s corruption because it’s in the open 19:00 Thoughts on looking back into Iran Contra? 21:30 CIA afraid that copping to Oswald could unravel other bad actions? 23:15 History says that meddling in Venezuela will go extremely poorly 24:30 Government conspiracies presuppose limited competence 25:15 Government can keep big secrets briefly or small secrets a long time 28:00 Is there more to be covered on Monica Lewinsky & impeachment? 29:30 No greater victim in a scandal than Lewinsky, Clinton’s never apologized 32:00 Much of the Supreme Court got their start with Clinton impeachment 33:00 The view of presidents changes greatly over the decades 35:00 Judging past presidents relative to poor recent leaders 37:00 The politics of the author color presidential biographies 39:30 The historical telling of January 6th won’t be ripe until Trump dies 40:30 There are so many January 6th villains whose stories must be told 41:30 Chuck’s “Love/Hate” relationship with Roger Stone 42:30 The best way to interview a serial liar 44:00 The only good sources around Trump always remain anonymous 46:00 How worried are you about the future of American democracy? 46:45 We’re underestimating how bad things are 9 months into Trump 48:30 We’ll never be the country we were before Trump, but still reason for hope 49:30 Trump has a strong grip on a weak hand 51:15 Don’t know whether we’re in the beginning, middle or end of Trump story 52:30 Trump is too lazy to build a lasting movement 54:15 Democrats won’t admit that Trump voters aren’t wrong about some things 55:30 Democrats put asterisks next to elections they lost to Trump 58:30 Any interest in covering anything outside of politics? 59:30 OJ Simpson fundamentally changed the TV news business 1:02:15...

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down the latest in Washington as the government shutdown nears its end—and the political fallout begins. Democrats have shown more backbone than expected, while Donald Trump’s strategy has Republicans quietly questioning his grip on power. From his push to cut SNAP benefits for his own voters to his increasingly distorted view of the economy, Trump’s disconnect from reality is starting to cost him. Chuck also looks at the Democrats’ strong showing in the recent elections, what it says about voter sentiment heading into 2026, and whether we’re witnessing the beginning of Trump’s lame duck era. Plus, the ripple effects of Trump’s policies—from affordability to the upcoming World Cup—and what Mike Johnson’s loyalty to Trump means for the GOP’s future. Then, Chuck sits down with journalist and historian Garrett Graff, host of The Long Shadow, to unpack how America’s political scandals—from Watergate to Trump—have shaped the presidency and public trust. Graff reflects on the slow process of uncovering the truth about Nixon’s 1968 interference and how those lessons apply to Trump’s open defiance of the Presidential Records Act. The two dive into why history takes decades to judge leaders, how government secrecy really works, and why even the most shocking revelations—like Iran-Contra or January 6th—take years to fully understand. Graff also discusses the ripple effects of past scandals, from Monica Lewinsky’s mistreatment to the rise of political figures forged during the Clinton impeachment, and how the legacy of Trump may take a generation to contextualize. The conversation ends on the future of media itself—how O.J. Simpson changed television forever, how algorithms broke the internet, and what it means for truth in an age where everyone’s chasing clicks. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the surrender of the Ottoman Empire after World War 1 and the lasting implications for peace in the middle east, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and breaks down the weekend in college football. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. 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 End of the government shutdown seems imminent 02:15 Democrats have had a stiffer spine than expected 03:00 Surprising that Trump fought to cut SNAP, many were his voters 04:30 Trump ran on protecting benefits, has done the opposite during shutdown 05:15 Trump keeps claiming the economy is better than it is 06:00 Is Trump in an information bubble that’s not giving him reality? 07:00 Trump being out of touch is making Republicans start to distance from them 08:45 Mamdani’s election was not “the most important” result 09:45 New Jersey governor result was more revealing than Mamdani’s 10:30 Democrats win in Nov 4th election showed it was a referendum on Trump 12:00 Democrats should take the win and cut a deal to end shutdown 13:00 Are we entering the lame duck period of Donald Trump’s presidency? 14:45 Trump’s handling of the shutdown has been terrible politics for Republicans 16:15 The affordability message penetrated, culture war didn’t at all 17:30 Trump’s policies are creating a mess ahead of the 2026 World Cup 19:00 Trump is more focused on his image rather than affordability 19:45 Some Republicans are realizing they’ll have to break with...

D.C. representative Oye Owolewa and Executive Director for Puerto Rico 51st George Laws Garcia join Chuck Todd for a deep dive into one of America’s most overlooked democratic debates — the fight for statehood for Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. With over 3 million Americans lacking full representation in Congress, Chuck explores the political, constitutional, and cultural hurdles standing in the way. From Puerto Rico’s 58% support for statehood to the District’s struggle under federal oversight, the episode unpacks how history, partisanship, and outdated systems continue to stall progress. The conversation dives into whether D.C. and Puerto Rico would need to enter as a political “duo”, why half measures like expanded autonomy wouldn’t hold up, and how the economic and tax inequalities faced by both territories have real-world consequences. With bipartisan murmurs of support and the next generation of lawmakers pushing the issue, Chuck asks: is America finally ready to welcome its 51st — and maybe 52nd — states? Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. 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 Rep. Oye Owolewa and George Laws Garcia join the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 Over 3 million Americans don’t have representation 04:15 The status of Puerto Rico’s fight for statehood 06:30 Public split in Puerto Rico over its status 08:45 DC can pass local laws governing DC and Puerto Rico 09:30 Puerto Rico’s residents have 58% support for statehood 11:45 Should DC be holding more referendums on this issue? 12:45 The importance of lobbying people in other states 14:15 Muriel Bowser has been boxed in by the administration 15:30 DC and neighboring states don’t want to integrate 16:30 Should Virgin Islands join the fight for statehood? 19:30 DC would be solidly Democratic, Puerto Rico is more up in the air 20:15 Would DC & Puerto Rico have to both get statehood at the same time? 22:00 A new constitutional amendment may need to be passed 23:00 States are only added as duos due to political considerations 24:00 The GOP won’t add DC as a state without a Republican counterpart 26:15 Puerto Rico’s politics would be a huge question mark if admitted 27:45 How would the four congressional seats in PR split politically? 29:15 Is there a middle ground that would grant rights without statehood? 31:30 Why half measures wouldn’t work, Congress could claw things back 33:00 Statehood admission much easier to pass than an amendment 35:30 There is some bipartisan support for statehood 38:00 Could the PR statehood push get a boost from NY and FL? 39:00 DC lost out on huge amounts of Covid money by not being a state 41:30 Puerto Rico receives massively unequal funding relative to states 44:15 Puerto Rico pays more in federal taxes than at least 3 states 46:15 Tax base in DC would be stronger with statehood 47:00 Business are hesitant to operate in DC without statehood status 49:00 Puerto Rico had a huge manufacturing base that has diminished 51:00 Statehood wouldn’t harm people living in other states 53:00 States were added in 19th century where English wasn’t primary language See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck reacts to Democrats outperforming expectations across the board in Tuesday’s elections — from New Jersey to Georgia — signaling a sharp political rebuke of Donald Trump and his influence over the GOP. He breaks down why the results were more than just a good night for Democrats, how high electric bills and cost-of-living concerns shaped key races, and why even Republican strongholds are starting to shift. With Trump’s tariffs facing likely Supreme Court scrutiny and voters blaming Republicans for the government shutdown, this week’s results could reshape not just the midterm landscape but the future of both parties. D.C. representative Oye Owolewa and Executive Director for Puerto Rico 51st George Laws Garcia join Chuck Todd for a deep dive into one of America’s most overlooked democratic debates — the fight for statehood for Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. With over 3 million Americans lacking full representation in Congress, Chuck explores the political, constitutional, and cultural hurdles standing in the way. From Puerto Rico’s 58% support for statehood to the District’s struggle under federal oversight, the episode unpacks how history, partisanship, and outdated systems continue to stall progress. The conversation dives into whether D.C. and Puerto Rico would need to enter as a political “duo”, why half measures like expanded autonomy wouldn’t hold up, and how the economic and tax inequalities faced by both territories have real-world consequences. With bipartisan murmurs of support and the next generation of lawmakers pushing the issue, Chuck asks: is America finally ready to welcome its 51st — and maybe 52nd — states? Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and previews the upcoming weekend in college football. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. 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 07:30 Tuesday’s elections went even better than expected for Democrats 09:00 Ciaterreli hit all his targets from 2021 and still got blown out 12:00 High electric bills could have resulted in Dem wins in Georgia 15:00 Election results were a repudiation of Donald Trump 16:45 Donald Trump creates the political weather, and voters don’t like it 17:15 Trump blamed the shutdown for the losses, giving Dems more leverage 19:00 Voters blame R’s over D’s for the shutdown by 10 point margin 21:45 We could see more Republican retirements from congress 23:15 Likely the Supreme Court rules against Trump’s tariffs 25:00 Election results could reshape the redistricting fight 26:00 When dust settles, redistricting may not swing advantage to either side 27:30 Cost of living is going to be the defining issue in the midterms 29:15 Democrats mistake with Latinos was appealing to identity, not class 30:00 It wasn’t a good night for Democrats, it was a GREAT night 31:30 Republican candidates will start to distance themselves from Trump 34:15 Democrats now have a reasonable shot at winning the senate 38:00 Rep. Oye Owolewa and George Laws Garcia join the Chuck ToddCast 40:00 Over 3 million Americans don't have representation 42:15 The status of Puerto Rico's fight for statehood 44:30 Public split in Puerto Rico over its status 46:45 DC can pass local laws governing DC and Puerto Rico 47:30 Puerto Rico's residents have 58% support for statehood 49:45 Should DC be holding more referendums on this issue? 50:45 The importance of lobbying people in other states 52:15 Muriel Bowser has been boxed in by the administration 53:30...

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck reacts to Democrats outperforming expectations across the board in Tuesday’s elections — from New Jersey to Georgia — signaling a sharp political rebuke of Donald Trump and his influence over the GOP. He breaks down why the results were more than just a good night for Democrats, how high electric bills and cost-of-living concerns shaped key races, and why even Republican strongholds are starting to shift. With Trump’s tariffs facing likely Supreme Court scrutiny and voters blaming Republicans for the government shutdown, this week’s results could reshape not just the midterm landscape but the future of both parties. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and previews the upcoming weekend in college football. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. 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 Tuesday's elections went even better than expected for Democrats 05:00 Ciaterreli hit all his targets from 2021 and still got blown out 08:00 High electric bills could have resulted in Dem wins in Georgia 11:00 Election results were a repudiation of Donald Trump 12:45 Donald Trump creates the political weather, and voters don't like it 13:15 Trump blamed the shutdown for the losses, giving Dems more leverage 15:00 Voters blame R's over D's for the shutdown by 10 point margin 17:45 We could see more Republican retirements from congress 19:15 Likely the Supreme Court rules against Trump's tariffs 21:00 Election results could reshape the redistricting fight 22:00 When dust settles, redistricting may not swing advantage to either side 23:30 Cost of living is going to be the defining issue in the midterms 25:15 Democrats mistake with Latinos was appealing to identity, not class 26:00 It wasn't a good night for Democrats, it was a GREAT night 27:30 Republican candidates will start to distance themselves from Trump 30:15 Democrats now have a reasonable shot at winning the senate 33:30 Ask Chuck 34:00 Was Mamdani's political skill the difference vs other progressives who lost? 44:45 Thoughts on Elise Stefanik running for governor of New York? 49:45 How will Biden's presidency be viewed in 30-40 years? 55:30 What would Ronald Reagan think about Trump? 1:04:00 College football preview See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rich Thau, moderator of the Swing Voter Project joins Chuck Todd to dig into what America’s elusive swing voters are really thinking heading into 2028. Thau, known for his in-depth focus group research, explains how his team identifies true persuadable voters and what he’s hearing from them behind closed doors — from deep economic anxiety to their conflicted feelings about both Trump and Harris. He shares why many voters still give Trump credit for “doing something,” why Biden’s messaging never landed, and how gender and race remain stubborn barriers for Democratic candidates. Chuck and Rich also explore how social media has replaced traditional news, why most swing voters can’t name a single Biden accomplishment, and how reform ideas like limiting presidential pardons or setting age caps for candidates could reshape American politics. It’s an eye-opening look at how frustrated, distracted, and disillusioned voters might once again decide the direction of the 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 Rich Thau joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 The value of focus groups in understanding voter opinions 03:15 The pandemic made it easier to conduct focus groups remotely 04:30 The challenges of remote focus groups 05:30 How to prevent one loud person from hijacking a focus group 07:30 Can you be an effective moderator if people know who you are? 09:30 Do you check voter files to ensure people are swing voters? 10:30 The screening process for focus group participants 13:15 Voters express anti-Trump comments but wouldn’t change vote to Harris 17:30 Voters will twist themselves into pretzels for why they couldn’t vote Harris 18:00 Many voters wouldn’t vote Harris due to her race and gender 19:00 Gender was a disqualifier for Clinton & Harris 22:15 Voters are following tariff news very closely 22:45 Nearly half of voters couldn’t name a Biden achievement 23:15 Only Biden achievement voters were aware of was student debt relief 24:00 Voters think that Trump is at least doing something 26:00 Biden wasn’t built for the modern media, couldn’t message his wins 27:00 Trump has mastered the attention economy 27:45 Candidates can’t rely on the media to communicate for them 31:15 Voters thought Obama & Biden overreached as much as Trump 32:45 Trump’s consolidation of power doesn’t seem unusual to swing voters 34:15 Many voters are getting their news exclusively from social media 36:45 Swing voters completely miss the process part of government 38:15 If voters could ask Trump anything, Epstein question most common 40:15 Swing voters bake in the worst things about Trump and vote for him anyway 41:00 Biggest concern of swing voters is the economy and cost of living 43:15 Swing voters viewed both Harris and Trump as unpleasant choices 44:00 No Democrats are breaking through positively to swing voters 44:45 Swing voters didn’t like Gavin Newsom’s trolling social posts 47:15 Are swing voters skeptical of big tech and consolidated power 48:15 Swing voters are easily dissatisfied and looking for someone new 50:15 Most swing voters don’t know the people in Trump’s cabinet 51:30 Swing voters aren’t pining for a third party alternative 52:45 Setting age limits for presidents would be popular 48:30 Biden & Trump pardons have enraged swing voters 56:15 Voters could be looking for another major change in 2028 56:45 Voters could be open to several new constitutional amendments 58:45 Pardon power could be shifted from president to a board 59:45 Reform and corruption could be a powerful message 1:01:00 Candidates will need a good answer for AI 1:02:15 Regional trends in swing voters? 1:05:15 Where to find Rich’s work See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Chuck Todd breaks down the latest NBC News poll, which paints a grim picture for both parties — and especially for Donald Trump’s second term. With only 37% of Americans believing the country is on the right track and financial pessimism at record highs, the public seems to have made up its mind: Trump 2.0 isn’t winning new fans. Chuck examines how Republicans are holding stronger favorability than Trump himself, why immigration remains his only issue advantage, and what Democrats can learn from the midterm mood. As two-thirds of voters say they’re falling behind, Chuck argues that the path to victory this cycle may depend on who runs against Washington — not just who runs it. Then, Rich Thau, moderator of the Swing Voter Project joins Chuck Todd to dig into what America’s elusive swing voters are really thinking heading into 2028. Thau, known for his in-depth focus group research, explains how his team identifies true persuadable voters and what he’s hearing from them behind closed doors — from deep economic anxiety to their conflicted feelings about both Trump and Harris. He shares why many voters still give Trump credit for “doing something,” why Biden’s messaging never landed, and how gender and race remain stubborn barriers for Democratic candidates. Chuck and Rich also explore how social media has replaced traditional news, why most swing voters can’t name a single Biden accomplishment, and how reform ideas like limiting presidential pardons or setting age caps for candidates could reshape American politics. It’s an eye-opening look at how frustrated, distracted, and disillusioned voters might once again decide the direction of the country. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to examine America’s role in creating the country of Panama and why it’s left a lasting sense of suspicion of the United States in Latin America. He answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and unloads on his Miami Hurricanes after their loss to SMU. 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 02:00 New NBC poll 03:15 The ToddCast will be live on election night! 07:00 First year report card for Donald Trump 07:30 Only 37% of the public believes country is headed in right direction 09:15 Wrong track polling nearly at an all-time high 10:15 The country has made up its mind about Donald Trump, low poll variance 13:00 40% of the country feels positively about Trump 15:30 Republican party has a higher positive rating than the Democrats 17:45 Some voters feel more favorably about the GOP than Trump 20:00 Voters thought they were getting Trump 1.0, Trump 2.0 is not popular 20:45 Top issues voters are worried about aren’t favorable to Trump 23:00 Border security/immigration is the only issue where Trump is above water 25:00 R’s know Trump’s Venezuela actions are unconstitutional and roll over 27:00 More than half of voters think Trump is undermining the constitution 27:45 2/3rds of the country says they are falling behind financially 29:00 Midterm atmosphere is ripe for the Democrats 31:00 Trump’s high floor is enough to protect him 33:15 Winning Democrats will need to run against Washington 36:30 Rich Thau joins the Chuck ToddCast 38:30 The value of focus groups in understanding voter opinions 39:45 The pandemic made it easier to conduct focus groups remotely 41:00 The challenges of remote focus groups 42:00 How to prevent one loud person from hijacking a focus group 44:00 Can you be an effective moderator if people know who you are? 46:00 Do you check voter files to ensure people are swing voters? 47:00 The screening process for focus group participants 49:45 Voters express anti-Trump comments but wouldn't...

Chuck Todd breaks down the latest NBC News poll, which paints a grim picture for both parties — and especially for Donald Trump’s second term. With only 37% of Americans believing the country is on the right track and financial pessimism at record highs, the public seems to have made up its mind: Trump 2.0 isn’t winning new fans. Chuck examines how Republicans are holding stronger favorability than Trump himself, why immigration remains his only issue advantage, and what Democrats can learn from the midterm mood. As two-thirds of voters say they’re falling behind, Chuck argues that the path to victory this cycle may depend on who runs against Washington — not just who runs it. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to examine America’s role in creating the country of Panama and why it’s left a lasting sense of suspicion of the United States in Latin America. He answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and unloads on his Miami Hurricanes after their loss to SMU. 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 02:00 New NBC poll 03:15 The ToddCast will be live on election night! 07:00 First year report card for Donald Trump 07:30 Only 37% of the public believes country is headed in right direction 09:15 Wrong track polling nearly at an all-time high 10:15 The country has made up its mind about Donald Trump, low poll variance 13:00 40% of the country feels positively about Trump 15:30 Republican party has a higher positive rating than the Democrats 17:45 Some voters feel more favorably about the GOP than Trump 20:00 Voters thought they were getting Trump 1.0, Trump 2.0 is not popular 20:45 Top issues voters are worried about aren’t favorable to Trump 23:00 Border security/immigration is the only issue where Trump is above water 25:00 R’s know Trump’s Venezuela actions are unconstitutional and roll over 27:00 More than half of voters think Trump is undermining the constitution 27:45 2/3rds of the country says they are falling behind financially 29:00 Midterm atmosphere is ripe for the Democrats 31:00 Trump’s high floor is enough to protect him 33:15 Winning Democrats will need to run against Washington 34:30 ToddCast Time Machine 35:00 This week in 1903 - The US helped create the country of Panama 35:45 America built nations in Latin America to serve its own interests 36:30 Winning Spanish-American war turned the U.S. into an empire 38:00 Roosevelt didn't like Colombia's offer for the canal 38:45 US warships backed up Colombian separatists 40:00 Panama Canal opens in 1914 40:30 Origin of the term "banana republic" 41:15 Panama was built to serve American commerce 43:15 It's clear the Trump administration wants to remove Maduro 44:00 Latin America doesn't trust America's self serving behavior 46:15 Ask Chuck 46:45 Are some Republicans finally starting to find their spine? 52:45 Has anyone been polling independent voters? 54:15 Why don't Dems agree to open the government for a week or two? 59:15 Thoughts on Oversight committee members being selected by other party? 1:01:45 As a father, do you fear for the future and what gives you hope? 1:06:30 College football recap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Filmmaker Billy Corben joins Chuck Todd to talk about his new documentary Men of War—a wild true story that Corben calls “Florida Man with international implications.” The film follows a group of would-be mercenaries and ex-soldiers who tried to stage a coup in Venezuela, exposing how Miami’s shadowy underworld collides with global politics. Corben and Todd dive into the cocaine-fueled chaos of Miami in the ’80s and ’90s, the psychological toll of endless war, and how one ex-Green Beret accidentally stumbled into Trump’s orbit while plotting regime change. From Marco Rubio’s precarious foreign policy balancing act to the ongoing collapse of the Democratic Party in Florida, Chuck and Billy explore how Latin American politics, disinformation, and corruption all intertwine in the Sunshine State. Plus, they discuss Miami’s misunderstood identity, Trump’s rumored presidential library, and whether the city’s mayoral race signals what’s next for Florida’s political future. 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 Billy Corben joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 Men of War is basically “Bay of Pigs” for Venezuela 02:45 Men of War is perfectly timed for today’s news cycle 03:45 Cocaine boom was huge in Miami in the 80’s & 90’s 05:00 Men of War is “Florida Man w/ international implications” 07:00 The psychological damage of multiple tour deployments 09:00 The main character Jordan is a “post-modern” version of a soldier 13:15 Protagonist accidentally entered Trump’s high end orbit 17:30 Jordan needed to put together a trailer to find financiers for his coup 19:30 Shady international characters are common to find in Miami 20:15 Reception from the Venezuelan community for the doc? 22:15 Everybody in Miami wants to be president of a free Cuba 23:30 1950s cars are the only private possessions in Cuba 26:00 Chuck’s grandfather worked in Cuba, had to display photos of Castro 28:30 Miami is misunderstood as a melting pot when it isn’t 29:15 Miami has self segregated its neighborhoods 30:00 60% of Florida Venezuelans voted for Trump, now leaving the state 31:30 If ICE targets south Florida, there could be a massive political shift 32:45 Marco Rubio = Anakin Skywalker? Preventing the very worst of Trump 33:30 Rubio will be the fall guy for any major foreign policy failure 34:30 Administration is playing with fire in Venezuela 36:00 Congress has no idea what the administration is doing in Venezuela 37:30 The failed Venezuelan coup was memory holed because of Covid 39:30 Feels like we’re redoing Latin American policy of the 80’s 40:15 How has Jordan Goudreau not gotten a pardon from Trump? 42:30 American intervention in Latin America never goes well 44:00 End of USAID is creating vacuum in poor countries being filled by China 45:30 What does a “free Venezuela” look like in the Trump 2.0 era? 47:00 Jordan Goudreau feels betrayed by the American government 48:00 Algorithms have ruined social media 49:00 Is Miami-Dade red, blue, purple or something else politically? 52:30 Trump’s future presidential library slated for Miami 53:45 Miami is still a firm red county 56:00 Nothing is going well in Florida for the Democratic party 56:45 Trump is less popular in Florida than he was a year ago 58:00 Who wins the mayor’s race in Miami? 59:45 Mayor’s race will head to a December runoff 1:02:00 There’s historically been brazen corruption in Miami mayoral races 1:03:30 Trump thinks “asylum” means mental institution 1:06:00 Thoughts on Mario Cristobal 1:08:30 Miami can survive 1 loss and make the playoff, but not 2 1:12:00 Reuben Bain feels like a vintage Miami player See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down why Washington feels paralyzed — and how Trump’s gravitational pull still dictates everything from congressional gridlock to campaign strategy. From Mike Johnson’s dependence on Trump to Democrats’ internal tug-of-war between moderates and progressives, Chuck explores how both parties are struggling to govern in a fractured information ecosystem. He also looks at growing calls among policy thinkers for constitutional reform — from term limits and age caps to rethinking the incentives that drive political behavior. Despite the chaos, Chuck makes the case for cautious optimism: America’s democracy may be clogged, but it’s not beyond repair. Then, filmmaker Billy Corben joins Chuck Todd to talk about his new documentary Men of War—a wild true story that Corben calls “Florida Man with international implications.” The film follows a group of would-be mercenaries and ex-soldiers who tried to stage a coup in Venezuela, exposing how Miami’s shadowy underworld collides with global politics. Corben and Todd dive into the cocaine-fueled chaos of Miami in the ’80s and ’90s, the psychological toll of endless war, and how one ex-Green Beret accidentally stumbled into Trump’s orbit while plotting regime change. From Marco Rubio’s precarious foreign policy balancing act to the ongoing collapse of the Democratic Party in Florida, Chuck and Billy explore how Latin American politics, disinformation, and corruption all intertwine in the Sunshine State. Plus, they discuss Miami’s misunderstood identity, Trump’s rumored presidential library, and whether the city’s mayoral race signals what’s next for Florida’s political future. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and looks ahead to 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: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:15 When Trump is overseas, the news cycle feels slower & less urgent 03:15 The American government is clogged like a toilet 04:00 Mike Johnson can’t do anything without Trump 05:15 There are not enough empowered moderates in congress 07:00 Republicans haven’t created an ACA alternative for 10 years 08:30 Democrats could pay a price for SNAP benefit cut 10:00 Democrats can extend funding for 3 weeks, and keep their leverage 12:30 The political elite in DC has self segregated in Trump 2.0 13:45 There’s no security for companies holding government contracts 15:00 Grifters have flooded to DC 15:45 Some progressives feel they can take over the Democratic party 16:30 Moderate Dems trying to find a way to grow the coalition 17:15 Large group of policy analysts worried about information ecosystem 18:45 DC gatherings being held to discuss preventing another Trump 21:00 America desperately needs to update the constitution 22:30 We shouldn’t be afraid to ask voters to make big changes 23:15 Strong argument for a 75 year old age limit for office 25:00 Trump is too lazy to pursue the worst course of history 26:45 The case for optimism during a dark political moment 27:30 Reforming the constitution is an 80/20 issue 28:15 Case for reform needs to tied to voters day to day lives 30:30 A bull in the China shop personality cult can’t run a country 31:30 We need to update the blueprint of the democracy 33:15 We desperately need better incentive structures for leaders 35:15 A leader needs to make the case for reform that isn’t about themselves or Trump 40:30 Billy Corben joins the Chuck ToddCast 42:30 Men of War is basically "Bay of Pigs" for Venezuela 43:15 Men of War is perfectly timed for today's news cycle 44:15 Cocaine boom was huge in Miami in the 80's & 90's 45:30 Men of War is "Florida Man w/ international implications" 47:30 The...

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down why Washington feels paralyzed — and how Trump’s gravitational pull still dictates everything from congressional gridlock to campaign strategy. From Mike Johnson’s dependence on Trump to Democrats’ internal tug-of-war between moderates and progressives, Chuck explores how both parties are struggling to govern in a fractured information ecosystem. He also looks at growing calls among policy thinkers for constitutional reform — from term limits and age caps to rethinking the incentives that drive political behavior. Despite the chaos, Chuck makes the case for cautious optimism: America’s democracy may be clogged, but it’s not beyond repair. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and looks ahead to 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 02:15 When Trump is overseas, the news cycle feels slower & less urgent 03:15 The American government is clogged like a toilet 04:00 Mike Johnson can’t do anything without Trump 05:15 There are not enough empowered moderates in congress 07:00 Republicans haven’t created an ACA alternative for 10 years 08:30 Democrats could pay a price for SNAP benefit cut 10:00 Democrats can extend funding for 3 weeks, and keep their leverage 12:30 The political elite in DC has self segregated in Trump 2.0 13:45 There’s no security for companies holding government contracts 15:00 Grifters have flooded to DC 15:45 Some progressives feel they can take over the Democratic party 16:30 Moderate Dems trying to find a way to grow the coalition 17:15 Large group of policy analysts worried about information ecosystem 18:45 DC gatherings being held to discuss preventing another Trump 21:00 America desperately needs to update the constitution 22:30 We shouldn’t be afraid to ask voters to make big changes 23:15 Strong argument for a 75 year old age limit for office 25:00 Trump is too lazy to pursue the worst course of history 26:45 The case for optimism during a dark political moment 27:30 Reforming the constitution is an 80/20 issue 28:15 Case for reform needs to tied to voters day to day lives 30:30 A bull in the China shop personality cult can’t run a country 31:30 We need to update the blueprint of the democracy 33:15 We desperately need better incentive structures for leaders 35:15 A leader needs to make the case for reform that isn’t about themselves or Trump 37:45 Ask Chuck 38:30 Would Dems impeach with control of both houses of Congress in '27? 43:00 Should we be paying congress more to attract better candidates? 48:00 If possible, would you make the US a parliamentary system? 53:30 Is 60 Minutes devolving into a FOX style program that lobs softballs? 59:30 Violent and dangerous rhetoric not equal on both sides? 1:03:15 World series reaction See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Veteran Nevada journalist and author of the upcoming book “The Game Changer”, Jon Ralston joins Chuck Todd to break down how the Silver State became America’s ultimate political bellwether — and what that means heading into 2026. They explore how the state’s service-based economy, booming Hispanic population, and explosion of non-affiliated voters have reshaped Nevada politics, plus how “No Tax on Tips” gave Trump an unexpected foothold. Ralston explains why Vegas’ tourism slump could upend the next governor’s race and how corporatization has changed the city’s character. They also dig into the state of local journalism — from the challenges of nonprofit reporting to competing against hedge fund-owned outlets — and reflect on the late Harry Reid’s political legacy. From power-hungry governors to the fight for Nevada’s “first-in-the-nation” status, this episode reveals why what happens in Vegas won’t be staying there in 2026. 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 Jon Ralston joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 Adapting to the breakneck speed of the news cycle 04:00 Nevada has become the preeminent swing state in America 06:45 The service industry & growing hispanic population define Vegas 07:30 Nevada is a bellwether for the Democratic party 09:15 Nevada continuing to lobby for first in the nation status 10:45 Las Vegas natives are a rarity, Vegas is a destination 12:30 Trump was able to connect with NV voters via “No Tax on Tips” 13:30 NV voters felt Democratic party took them for granted 14:30 Nevada’s governor has a lot of power 17:00 There’s been an explosion of non affiliated voters in Nevada 18:30 Is either major party making a strong case to non affiliated voters? 20:00 How competitive will the Nevada governor’s race be? 22:30 Does Joe Lombardo have ambition outside the state of Nevada? 23:30 Lombardo’s strategy could look similar to Glenn Youngkin’s 25:30 What’s behind the drop in tourism to Vegas? 26:30 Canada, immigration policy and lack of value proposition hurting Vegas 27:30 Corporatization of casinos & high prices have driven away tourists 28:30 Tourism drop could greatly impact the governor’s race 29:00 Any progress on diversifying the Nevada economy? 30:15 Making Vegas “Hollywood East” comes with huge challenges 31:45 Would energy be the best way to diversify the Vegas economy? 32:30 Warren Buffet has monopoly on NV utilities, preventing new investment 33:30 Nonprofit vs for profit journalism 35:00 Dealing with big moneyed interests as a nonprofit journalists 37:00 Local journalism in Nevada has mostly been hollowed out 37:45 Dealing with “donor fatigue” as a nonprofit journalist 39:15 Journalism skills translate well to uncomfortable fundraising asks 41:00 Challenges in the advertising space for journalism 43:00 Why have advertising dollars been harder to get for news orgs? 45:30 Hedge funds acquired newspapers for their real estate 47:30 Journalism has to be done in-person and in the field 48:15 What would Harry Reid’s advice be for the Dem party of today? 49:45 Reid died early on into the process of Jon writing “The Game Changer” 50:45 Reid wouldn’t be happy with what Chuck Schumer is doing 53:00 Reid and McConnell collectively delegitimized the judicial branch 55:00 How would Reid have handled confrontation with Trump? 59:15 How are you feeling about your Buffalo Bills? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd breaks down why this year’s elections may be local—but their impact will be national. From Virginia’s bellwether governor’s race to key contests in New Jersey and New York City, these results will offer a preview of the political mood heading into the 2026 midterms. Chuck dives into Abigail Spanberger’s cautious campaign strategy, Winsome Earle-Sears’ grievance-fueled messaging, and why Virginia voters rarely reward extremes. Plus, a look at how third-party candidates could shake up the New Jersey race and why Zohran Mamdani’s performance in NYC will signal the direction of the progressive movement. Veteran Nevada journalist and author of the upcoming book “The Game Changer”, Jon Ralston joins to break down how the Silver State became America’s ultimate political bellwether — and what that means heading into 2026. They explore how the state’s service-based economy, booming Hispanic population, and explosion of non-affiliated voters have reshaped Nevada politics, plus how “No Tax on Tips” gave Trump an unexpected foothold. Ralston explains why Vegas’ tourism slump could upend the next governor’s race and how corporatization has changed the city’s character. They also dig into the state of local journalism — from the challenges of nonprofit reporting to competing against hedge fund-owned outlets — and reflect on the late Harry Reid’s political legacy. From power-hungry governors to the fight for Nevada’s “first-in-the-nation” status, this episode reveals why what happens in Vegas won’t be staying there in 2026. Finally, Chuck reveals his ToddCast Top 5 list of American political scions running in upcoming election 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 02:45 Chuck will be LIVE on Youtube & X on election night! 06:15 The 2025 elections are local, but will have national impact 07:00 Virginia is a fairly good bellwether state for national politics 07:45 Virginia is purple but is not MAGA 08:15 Party controlling White House almost always loses VA governor race 09:30 Spanberger has run a very cautious campaign 10:30 Winsome Earle-Sears has been throwing things at the wall 11:30 Virginia voters don’t reward grievance politics 13:00 Virginia hasn’t split ticket amongst big three races since 2005 15:00 Spanberger has kept Jay Jones at arms length 17:45 Virginia will give us preview of which way field is tilting for midterms 18:15 2018 class of Democrats has produced some high profile candidates 19:30 Mikie Sherill has run a more contested race than Spanberger 20:30 Ciaterreli outperformed polls in 2021, could happen again 22:30 Third party candidates could swing the NJ governor race 22:45 Mamdani will win in NYC, it’s a matter of whether he clears 50% 24:45 Mamdani needs a big margin in order to have a mandate 26:00 What the results will tell us about the 2026 midterm landscape 30:15 Jon Ralston joins the Chuck ToddCast 32:15 Adapting to the breakneck speed of the news cycle 34:15 Nevada has become the preeminent swing state in America 37:00 The service industry & growing hispanic population define Vegas 37:45 Nevada is a bellwether for the Democratic party 39:30 Nevada continuing to lobby for first in the nation status 41:00 Las Vegas natives are a rarity, Vegas is a destination 42:45 Trump was able to connect with NV voters via "No Tax on Tips" 43:45 NV voters felt Democratic party took them for granted 44:45 Nevada's governor has a lot of power 47:15 There's been an explosion of non affiliated voters in Nevada 48:45 Is either major party making a strong case to non affiliated voters? 50:15 How competitive will the Nevada governor's race...