The Chuck ToddCast

On this “TACO Trump Thursday” episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down how market pressure forced Donald Trump to abruptly back off his Greenland threats and announce a face-saving deal—one that looks suspiciously like what already existed—underscoring how easily Trump can be manipulated and how desperate he is to cement a sense of historical relevance. Even as Republicans in Congress continue to appease him, the damage to America’s relationships with Canada and Europe is already done, and Trump’s indifference to NATO and unilateral approach ensures lasting consequences well beyond any short-term retreat. The conversation then turns to the political fallout at home: the perilous midterm landscape for Democrats, a messy Minnesota Senate race, why conventional Republicans still can’t win blue-leaning states without a net-positive environment, and how figures like Bill Cassidy may have no path forward inside today’s GOP. Chuck also digs into the Democratic Party’s looming 2028 calendar fight, arguing the DNC should rethink its early-state strategy by looking hard at Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska—and remembering that winning rural America, not just big cities, is the only way to build a durable majority. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions and explains a gripe he has with the baseball Hall of Fame. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! 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. 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! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction - Welcome to TACO Thursday 00:30 Trump backs off Greenland threats & announces deal after markets tank 02:30 Mark Carney’s speech to Davos resonated & he won’t back off it 04:00 Trump is an easy mark, and a frustrating mark 04:30 They’re likely copy+pasting the same deal we had, but Trump signs it 05:30 Republicans in congress know they have to appease Trump 06:30 Trump is desperate to be historically relevant & will be 07:15 Trump did terrible damage to American relationship with Canada & Europe 08:15 Trump doesn’t care if NATO survives or will abide by the treaty 10:00 Trump backing down won’t change the trajectory of how other countries act 10:45 Trump’s unilateral actions will have consequences 12:15 Feels like a time the out party wins everything, but it’s a tough path for Dems 13:30 Democrats need to be careful with candidate selection to win midterms 14:15 Michelle Tafoya announces senate bid in Minnesota 15:00 Tafoya hasn’t announced much policy, mostly just anti-woke rhetoric 16:30 The Democratic senate primary in Minnesota has been messy 18:15 Conventional conservative Republican doesn’t win in Minnesota 19:30 Republicans would need to be in a net-positive environment to win Minnesota 21:15 If Susan Collins doesn’t run, Maine is off the board for Republicans 22:15 Julia Letlow announces race, promises to be rubber stamp for Trump 23:45 GOP establishment won’t get involved in helping Bill Cassidy 24:30 Cassidy’s only path to winning seat is to run as Independent 26:45 Paul Finnebaum will struggle to run in Alabama after Trump endorsement 28:30 Twelve states applied to be first in the nation for Democrats in 2028 29:30 Iowa should be the first in the nation Dem state 30:45 Iowa has been good to the Democratic party, just not the Clintons 32:45 Just winning Des Moines isn’t enough, you have to win rural areas 34:30 Big Super PAC money can overwhelm in the bigger states 37:15 DNC should look at Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska 45:00 Ask Chuck 45:45 Why are so many senators unwilling to challenge Trump on foreign policy? 51:15 Do political teams consult psychologists when dealing with Trump? 55:30 Why hasn’t Trump’s lack of student loan repayment program gotten attention? 58:45 Is it crazy to think that California could become a swing state? 1:02:45 Chances of Mike Johnson refusing to certify and seat a Democratic congress? 1:07:30 Baseball Hall of Fame has made itself irrelevantSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this “TACO Trump Thursday” episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down how market pressure forced Donald Trump to abruptly back off his Greenland threats and announce a face-saving deal—one that looks suspiciously like what already existed—underscoring how easily Trump can be manipulated and how desperate he is to cement a sense of historical relevance. Even as Republicans in Congress continue to appease him, the damage to America’s relationships with Canada and Europe is already done, and Trump’s indifference to NATO and unilateral approach ensures lasting consequences well beyond any short-term retreat. The conversation then turns to the political fallout at home: the perilous midterm landscape for Democrats, a messy Minnesota Senate race, why conventional Republicans still can’t win blue-leaning states without a net-positive environment, and how figures like Bill Cassidy may have no path forward inside today’s GOP. Chuck also digs into the Democratic Party’s looming 2028 calendar fight, arguing the DNC should rethink its early-state strategy by looking hard at Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska—and remembering that winning rural America, not just big cities, is the only way to build a durable majority. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss the unprecedented federal immigration enforcement crisis unfolding in his city as masked ICE and DHS agents have effectively occupied Minneapolis in what appears to be an operation designed more for political retribution than public safety. Frey explains the complex dynamics between city, state, and federal authority, noting that Minneapolis maintains a policy of not coordinating with federal immigration enforcement because police officers should focus on keeping communities safe rather than targeting immigrants. He reveals alarming constitutional violations, including non-white off-duty Minneapolis police officers being racially profiled and harassed by ICE agents and residents being stopped and asked for ID based on their accents. With Minneapolis already critically understaffed on police officers per capita, the massive imbalance between local law enforcement and ICE agents has created a tenuous situation where police are forced to respond to citizens being harassed while protesters exercise their First Amendment rights. The crisis has been compounded by what Frey describes as a weaponized Department of Justice that can't be trusted, evidenced by his office receiving a subpoena.The mayor emphasizes that much of the federal action stems from a fraud issue that had nothing to do with illegal immigration, yet racist attacks on the Somali community followed—despite the fact that Somalis in Minneapolis came legally as refugees and most are U.S. citizens. Frey has held discussions with Governor Tim Walz about potentially deploying the Minnesota National Guard and worries about his ability to conduct a real investigation into the shooting of Renee Good by ICE. Frey contends the operation is designed to whip the public into a frenzy rather than address genuine immigration concerns. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions and explains a gripe he has with the baseball Hall of Fame. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! 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. 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! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction - Welcome to TACO Thursday 00:30 Trump backs off Greenland threats & announces deal after markets tank 02:30 Mark Carney’s speech to Davos resonated & he won’t back off it 04:00 Trump is an easy mark, and a frustrating mark 04:30 They’re likely copy+pasting the same deal we had, but Trump signs it 05:30 Republicans in congress know they have to appease Trump 06:30 Trump is desperate to be historically relevant & will be 07:15 Trump did terrible damage to American relationship with Canada & Europe 08:15 Trump doesn’t care if NATO survives or will abide by the treaty 10:00 Trump backing down won’t change the trajectory of how other countries act 12:30 Trump’s unilateral actions will have consequences 14:00 Feels like a time the out party wins everything, but it’s a tough path for Dems 15:15 Democrats need to be careful with candidate selection to win midterms 16:00 Michelle Tafoya announces senate bid in Minnesota 16:45 Tafoya hasn’t announced much policy, mostly just anti-woke rhetoric 18:15 The Democratic senate primary in Minnesota has been messy 20:00 Conventional conservative Republican doesn’t win in Minnesota 21:15 Republicans would need to be in a net-positive environment to win Minnesota 23:00 If Susan Collins doesn’t run, Maine is off the board for Republicans 24:00 Julia Letlow announces race, promises to be rubber stamp for Trump 25:30 GOP establishment won’t get involved in helping Bill Cassidy 26:15 Cassidy’s only path to winning seat is to run as Independent 28:30 Paul Finnebaum will struggle to run in Alabama after Trump endorsement 30:15 Twelve states applied to be first in the nation for Democrats in 2028 31:15 Iowa should be the first in the nation Dem state 32:30 Iowa has been good to the Democratic party, just not the Clintons 34:30 Just winning Des Moines isn’t enough, you have to win rural areas 36:15 Big Super PAC money can overwhelm in the bigger states 39:00 DNC should look at Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska 47:15 Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joins the Chuck ToddCast 47:45 Structure of Minneapolis law enforcement & the mayor’s powers 49:00 What is the line between city & state, and federal vs. state/city authority? 49:45 Minneapolis officials don’t coordinate with feds on immigration 50:45 Police officers should keep community safe, not target immigrants 51:45 Would you release a proven criminal into ICE custody? 53:15 Escalation with ICE & DHS went from 0-100 in Minneapolis 54:00 OMB sent a letter threatening to cut all fed funds over DEI 55:00 DHS seems intent on political retribution, not safety or immigration 56:45 There was a real issue with fraud, & racist attacks on Somalis followed 57:30 Somalis in Minneapolis came legally as refugees, most are citizens 58:15 Fraud issue had nothing to do with illegal immigrants 59:30 Is ICE responsible for longer 911 wait times? 1:00:00 Minneapolis is very low on police officers per capita 1:00:30 There’s a massive imbalance between police officers & ICE agents 1:01:00 What are the police supposed to do if citizens are harassed by ICE? 1:02:15 Police are forced into a difficult & tenuous situation dealing with ICE 1:03:15 Do you believe the ICE operations are designed to provoke a response? 1:03:45 ICE are trying to whip the public into a frenzy 1:04:30 Is there a legal avenue for you to push back against DHS/ICE? 1:05:30 There have been unimaginable constitutional violations by ICE 1:06:30 Non-white off duty Minneapolis officers have been harassed by ICE 1:07:45 People are being racially profiled and asked for their ID 1:08:45 ICE needs to be better trained and have a moral compass 1:09:30 Police received a call from a 5 year old whose parents were taken 1:10:15 Worried that residents could take matters into their own hands? 1:11:15 Has the “No ICE on city property” policy worked? 1:12:15 There have been talks with Tim Walz over deploying MN national guard 1:13:30 What’s behind the subpoena received by the mayor’s office? 1:14:00 DOJ is being weaponized to target leaders that disagree with Trump 1:15:00 The current Department of Justice can’t be trusted 1:16:30 There’s so much value to having career civil servants over political loyalists 1:18:30 There’s been a failure to believe that Trump will do what he says he’ll do 1:19:15 Any end in sight to the ICE occupation of Minneapolis? 1:20:00 Will you be able to do a real investigation into the shooting of Renee Good? 1:22:00 Ask Chuck 1:22:45 Why are so many senators unwilling to challenge Trump on foreign policy? 1:28:15 Do political teams consult psychologists when dealing with Trump? 1:32:30 Why hasn’t Trump’s lack of student loan repayment program gotten attention? 1:35:45 Is it crazy to think that California could become a swing state? 1:39:45 Chances of Mike Johnson refusing to certify and seat a Democratic congress? 1:44:30 Baseball Hall of Fame has made itself irrelevantSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss the unprecedented federal immigration enforcement crisis unfolding in his city as masked ICE and DHS agents have effectively occupied Minneapolis in what appears to be an operation designed more for political retribution than public safety. Frey explains the complex dynamics between city, state, and federal authority, noting that Minneapolis maintains a policy of not coordinating with federal immigration enforcement because police officers should focus on keeping communities safe rather than targeting immigrants. He reveals alarming constitutional violations, including non-white off-duty Minneapolis police officers being racially profiled and harassed by ICE agents and residents being stopped and asked for ID based on their accents. With Minneapolis already critically understaffed on police officers per capita, the massive imbalance between local law enforcement and ICE agents has created a tenuous situation where police are forced to respond to citizens being harassed while protesters exercise their First Amendment rights. The crisis has been compounded by what Frey describes as a weaponized Department of Justice that can't be trusted, evidenced by his office receiving a subpoena. The mayor emphasizes that much of the federal action stems from a fraud issue that had nothing to do with illegal immigration, yet racist attacks on the Somali community followed—despite the fact that Somalis in Minneapolis came legally as refugees and most are U.S. citizens. Frey has held discussions with Governor Tim Walz about potentially deploying the Minnesota National Guard and worries about his ability to conduct a real investigation into the shooting of Renee Good by ICE. Frey contends the operation is designed to whip the public into a frenzy rather than address genuine immigration concerns. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! 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. 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! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joins the Chuck ToddCast 00:30 Structure of Minneapolis law enforcement & the mayor’s powers 01:45 What is the line between city & state, and federal vs. state/city authority? 02:30 Minneapolis officials don’t coordinate with feds on immigration 03:30 Police officers should keep community safe, not target immigrants 04:30 Would you release a proven criminal into ICE custody? 06:00 Escalation with ICE & DHS went from 0-100 in Minneapolis 06:45 OMB sent a letter threatening to cut all fed funds over DEI 07:45 DHS seems intent on political retribution, not safety or immigration 09:30 There was a real issue with fraud, & racist attacks on Somalis followed 10:15 Somalis in Minneapolis came legally as refugees, most are citizens 11:00 Fraud issue had nothing to do with illegal immigrants 12:15 Is ICE responsible for longer 911 wait times? 12:45 Minneapolis is very low on police officers per capita 13:15 There’s a massive imbalance between police officers & ICE agents 13:45 What are the police supposed to do if citizens are harassed by ICE? 15:00 Police are forced into a difficult & tenuous situation dealing with ICE 16:00 Do you believe the ICE operations are designed to provoke a response? 16:30 ICE are trying to whip the public into a frenzy 17:15 Is there a legal avenue for you to push back against DHS/ICE? 18:15 There have been unimaginable constitutional violations by ICE 19:15 Non-white off duty Minneapolis officers have been harassed by ICE 20:30 People are being racially profiled and asked for their ID 21:30 ICE needs to be better trained and have a moral compass 22:15 Police received a call from a 5 year old whose parents were taken 23:00 Worried that residents could take matters into their own hands? 24:00 Has the “No ICE on city property” policy worked? 25:00 There have been talks with Tim Walz over deploying MN national guard 26:15 What’s behind the subpoena received by the mayor’s office? 26:45 DOJ is being weaponized to target leaders that disagree with Trump 27:45 The current Department of Justice can’t be trusted 29:15 There’s so much value to having career civil servants over political loyalists 31:15 There’s been a failure to believe that Trump will do what he says he’ll do 32:00 Any end in sight to the ICE occupation of Minneapolis? 32:45 Will you be able to do a real investigation into the shooting of Renee Good?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck delivers a blunt warning about how Donald Trump’s erratic, ahistorical tariff strategy is pushing the United States toward a self-inflicted crisis—one that could even stumble into war. With none of the usual political penalties applying to Trump, elected Republicans have opted for fearful silence, becoming complicit as tariffs punish American taxpayers and U.S. credibility abroad rapidly erodes. Americans, worn down by “Trump Exhaustion Syndrome” and the lack of consequences after January 6th, are watching as the last real guardrail—the economy—buckles under market turmoil, while Congress and the Supreme Court delay or abdicate their responsibility to act.  The episode underscores the extraordinary global fallout: Canada openly questioning whether it can rely on the U.S., wargaming invasion scenarios, pursuing “strategic autonomy,” and calling for new middle-power alliances even as it reaffirms commitment to NATO. As isolationism spreads and the rules-based order America once led begins to fracture, Chuck argues that only a congressional reckoning—or a midterm revolt—can halt the damage and preserve the country’s democratic institutions. Finally, Chuck updates his ToddCast Top 5 senate seats Democrats are most likely to flip in the midterms, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and recaps his experience at the college football national championship game… and the insane prices being charged to attend.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! 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. 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!  Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:00 Trump is potentially stumbling into a war over tariffs 03:00 Trump’s strategy is erratic & detached from historical norms 03:45 None of the usual political penalties apply to Trump 04:15 Canada is preparing & worrying that U.S. could invade 04:45 Trump’s tariffs punish the American taxpayer 05:30 Elected Republicans are afraid of voicing dissent 06:45 Republicans choose silence & makes them complicit 08:00 Americans are numb, suffering from “Trump Exhaustion Syndrome” 09:00 Lack of consequences for January 6th emboldened Trump 10:45 Trump has weakened American credibility abroad 12:00 There’s little check left in the GOP to prevent damage 12:30 The only guardrail left is the economy and markets, which cratered 14:15 Isolationism is terrible politics and terrible for the country 15:15 Congress is the only institution that can stop Trump & is abdicating 16:15 SCOTUS delays ruling on tariffs, making them hard to unwind 17:15 It’s possible the midterms become a revolt & sober up the GOP 17:45 Trump is affected by the “political YOLO virus” 18:30 Mitch McConnell could have changed the course of history, and didn’t 19:30 Trump has made America most vulnerable & isolated in decades 21:00 Canadian PM gives Davos speech pleading with Americans 22:00 When America chooses isolationism, so will everyone else 23:00 Canada has shifted toward “strategic autonomy” 24:15 Carney is saying Canada can’t rely on the United States 25:00 Canada is wargaming for an invasion from the south 25:45 Canada proposes a middle power trading bloc 27:15 Carney says Canada stands committed to NATO’s Article 5 27:45 Canada looking for new partners to confront an aggressive U.S. 28:30 America has thrived atop the rules based order, and is risking everything 30:45 25th Amendment intended for true incapacitation 31:30 Congress has to do its job to preserve the America we love 38:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Gina Hinojosa 40:00 ToddCast Top 5 seats Democrats can win & flip senate 42:45 #1 North Carolina & #2 Maine 46:30 #3 Michigan 49:45 #4 Ohio 51:15 #5 Alaska 54:30 Ask Chuck 55:15 Which presidency would be more dangerous… Trump or Vance? 59:30 If most Americans are center left or right, why can’t we elect centrists? 1:04:15 Would military action against a treaty ally be considered an illegal order? 1:07:45 How should the country resolve insider trading on the prediction markets? 1:09:15 Reaction to Indiana winning National Championship over Miami 1:19:30 The prices at the National Championship were highway robberySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck delivers a blunt warning about how Donald Trump’s erratic, ahistorical tariff strategy is pushing the United States toward a self-inflicted crisis—one that could even stumble into war. With none of the usual political penalties applying to Trump, elected Republicans have opted for fearful silence, becoming complicit as tariffs punish American taxpayers and U.S. credibility abroad rapidly erodes. Americans, worn down by “Trump Exhaustion Syndrome” and the lack of consequences after January 6th, are watching as the last real guardrail—the economy—buckles under market turmoil, while Congress and the Supreme Court delay or abdicate their responsibility to act. The episode underscores the extraordinary global fallout: Canada openly questioning whether it can rely on the U.S., wargaming invasion scenarios, pursuing “strategic autonomy,” and calling for new middle-power alliances even as it reaffirms commitment to NATO. As isolationism spreads and the rules-based order America once led begins to fracture, Chuck argues that only a congressional reckoning—or a midterm revolt—can halt the damage and preserve the country’s democratic institutions. Gina Hinojosa, a Texas state representative and Democratic candidate for governor, joins Chuck to discuss how the school choice debate has created unexpected opportunities for Democrats in traditionally red states. Hinojosa, who entered politics through school board advocacy to save her son's school, argues that corruption—not ideology—is the biggest driver of Texas politics. She accuses Governor Greg Abbott of holding school funding hostage to push through a voucher program, forcing closures across the state while Texas ranks in the bottom three nationally for education funding. Hinojosa contends that vouchers lack transparency and accountability, and notes that even Trump-voting Texas women have joined the fight against them. She criticizes charter schools for cherry-picking students while taking public resources, and highlights how special education funding has been systematically cut, leaving expensive and crucial services unmet. Beyond education, Hinojosa paints a broader picture of dysfunction in Texas, claiming Abbott has awarded $1 billion in no-bid contracts to donors—what she calls the "Greg Abbott corruption tax"—and pointing to failures in the state's deregulated electric grid, border policy, and treatment of vulnerable communities. She argues that Texas operates as a three-party state, with two Republican wings and Democrats, and describes how Abbott used millions to primary moderate "Bush Republicans," successfully defeating nine incumbents who wouldn't toe the line. While acknowledging challenges like the border security issue that flipped the Rio Grande Valley toward Trump and ICE enforcement she describes as "terrorizing communities," Hinojosa sees opportunities in growing business community frustration over tariffs and deportations. She emphasizes that despite Texas's economic power and population growth—which will add 4-5 congressional districts—ordinary Texans aren't benefiting, with small business owners earning less than the national average and electric bills skyrocketing due to data center demand and grid mismanagement. Finally, Chuck updates his ToddCast Top 5 senate seats Democrats are most likely to flip in the midterms, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and recaps his experience at the college football national championship game… and the insane prices being charged to attend.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! 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. 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!  Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 06:00 Trump is potentially stumbling into a war over tariffs 07:00 Trump’s strategy is erratic & detached from historical norms 07:45 None of the usual political penalties apply to Trump 08:15 Canada is preparing & worrying that U.S. could invade 08:45 Trump’s tariffs punish the American taxpayer 09:30 Elected Republicans are afraid of voicing dissent 10:45 Republicans choose silence & makes them complicit 12:00 Americans are numb, suffering from “Trump Exhaustion Syndrome” 13:00 Lack of consequences for January 6th emboldened Trump 14:45 Trump has weakened American credibility abroad 16:00 There’s little check left in the GOP to prevent damage 16:30 The only guardrail left is the economy and markets, which crated 18:15 Isolationism is terrible politics and terrible for the country 19:15 Congress is the only institution that can stop Trump & is abdicating 20:15 SCOTUS delays ruling on tariffs, making them hard to unwind 21:15 It’s possible the midterms become a revolt & sober up the GOP 21:45 Trump is affected by the “political YOLO virus” 22:30 Mitch McConnell could have changed the course of history, and didn’t 23:30 Trump has made America most vulnerable & isolated in decades 25:00 Canadian PM gives Davos speech pleading with Americans 26:00 When America chooses isolationism, so will everyone else 27:00 Canada has shifted toward “strategic autonomy” 28:15 Carney is saying Canada can’t rely on the United States 29:00 Canada is wargaming for an invasion from the south 29:45 Canada proposes a middle power trading bloc 31:15 Carney says Canada stands committed to NATO’s Article 5 31:45 Canada looking for new partners to confront an aggressive U.S. 32:30 America has thrived atop the rules based order, and is risking everything 34:45 25th Amendment intended for true incapacitation 35:30 Congress has to do its job to preserve the America we love 42:45 Gina Hinojosa joins the Chuck ToddCast 43:45 School choice issue has opened the door for Dems in red states 45:15 Gina’s background in education & school board politics 46:45 Ran for school board to save her son’s school 47:15 Greg Abbott is reallocating money, forcing school closures 48:00 Corruption is biggest driver of politics in Texas 48:45 Consultants & vendors use part time legislators to make money 49:30 Schools closing all over Texas due to budget cuts & vouchers 50:45 Abbott held school funding hostage trying to pass voucher program 51:15 Texas is bottom 3 in the country for school funding 52:45 Texas women who voted Trump joined fight against vouchers 54:00 Vouchers have no transparency or accountability 55:15 The school funding model hasn’t changed since industrial age 56:30 Do you support Texas’s “recapture” funding model? 57:45 The recaptured money is being wasted 59:15 Student testing and NAEP scores are decreasing overall 1:00:30 Teachers deserve to be treated and paid like professional 1:01:15 Special needs students can attend private school funded by state 1:02:15 Special education is very expensive & requests go unmet 1:03:30 State cut corners to avoid paying for special ed students 1:05:00 Charter schools take public resources but not all kids 1:06:00 Charter schools deny admission to kids with disciplinary records 1:07:30 Education paid for by Texas property taxes which have skyrocketed 1:08:00 Texans pay the “Greg Abbott corruption tax” 1:08:45 Abbott has given $1 billion dollars in no-bid contracts to donors 1:10:30 The corruption issue is ripe but the electorate is cynical on both sides 1:12:00 Abbott’s corruption is the #1 talking point in the Republican primary 1:13:15 Gas companies let Texans freeze until prices spiked high enough 1:15:15 Border security issue led to Rio Grande valley voting for Trump 1:16:45 Biden was able to fix border issues, just took too long to do it 1:17:15 Deportations flipped political sentiment in Rio Grande valley 1:18:45 ICE is terrorizing communities 1:19:30 Masked law enforcement should be illegal 1:20:30 Texas is a three party state: Two GOP wings & Democrats 1:21:15 How can you grow the Democratic party in Texas? 1:22:30 The “Bush Republicans” in TX can’t vote their districts or conscience 1:23:00 Abbott used millions to primary Bush Republicans & 9 lost their race 1:24:15 Is the GOP nationalizing the race your biggest challenge? 1:25:15 Texas will gain 4-5 congressional districts due to growth 1:27:30 The business community in TX is mad at tariffs & deportations 1:28:15 People of Texas aren’t benefiting from their economic power 1:30:00 Small business owners make less than average nationally 1:30:30 Texas’s electric grid is a ticking time bomb 1:31:00 Deregulation & corruption have exacerbated issues with grid 1:31:45 Electric bills skyrocketing due to data centers 1:33:15 Thoughts on nuclear energy to address energy problems? 1:34:45 Favorite food on the campaign trail? 1:37:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Gina Hinojosa 1:39:00 ToddCast Top 5 seats Democrats can win & flip senate 1:41:45 #1 North Carolina & #2 Maine 1:45:30 #3 Michigan 1:48:45 #4 Ohio 1:50:15 #5 Alaska 1:53:30 Ask Chuck 1:54:15 Which presidency would be more dangerous… Trump or Vance? 1:58:30 If most Americans are center left or right, why can’t we elect centrists? 2:03:15 Would military action against a treaty ally be considered an illegal order? 2:06:45 How should the country resolve insider trading on the prediction markets? 2:08:15 Reaction to Indiana winning National Championship over Miami 2:18:30 The prices at the National Championship were highway robberySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gina Hinojosa, a Texas state representative and Democratic candidate for governor, joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss how the school choice debate has created unexpected opportunities for Democrats in traditionally red states. Hinojosa, who entered politics through school board advocacy to save her son's school, argues that corruption—not ideology—is the biggest driver of Texas politics. She accuses Governor Greg Abbott of holding school funding hostage to push through a voucher program, forcing closures across the state while Texas ranks in the bottom three nationally for education funding. Hinojosa contends that vouchers lack transparency and accountability, and notes that even Trump-voting Texas women have joined the fight against them. She criticizes charter schools for cherry-picking students while taking public resources, and highlights how special education funding has been systematically cut, leaving expensive and crucial services unmet. Beyond education, Hinojosa paints a broader picture of dysfunction in Texas, claiming Abbott has awarded $1 billion in no-bid contracts to donors—what she calls the "Greg Abbott corruption tax"—and pointing to failures in the state's deregulated electric grid, border policy, and treatment of vulnerable communities. She argues that Texas operates as a three-party state, with two Republican wings and Democrats, and describes how Abbott used millions to primary moderate "Bush Republicans," successfully defeating nine incumbents who wouldn't toe the line. While acknowledging challenges like the border security issue that flipped the Rio Grande Valley toward Trump and ICE enforcement she describes as "terrorizing communities," Hinojosa sees opportunities in growing business community frustration over tariffs and deportations. She emphasizes that despite Texas's economic power and population growth—which will add 4-5 congressional districts—ordinary Texans aren't benefiting, with small business owners earning less than the national average and electric bills skyrocketing due to data center demand and grid mismanagement. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! 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. 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!  Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Gina Hinojosa joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 School choice issue has opened the door for Dems in red states 02:30 Gina’s background in education & school board politics 04:00 Ran for school board to save her son’s school 04:30 Greg Abbott is reallocating money, forcing school closures 05:15 Corruption is biggest driver of politics in Texas 06:00 Consultants & vendors use part time legislators to make money 06:45 Schools closing all over Texas due to budget cuts & vouchers 08:00 Abbott held school funding hostage trying to pass voucher program 08:30 Texas is bottom 3 in the country for school funding 10:00 Texas women who voted Trump joined fight against vouchers 11:15 Vouchers have no transparency or accountability 12:30 The school funding model hasn’t changed since industrial age 13:45 Do you support Texas’s “recapture” funding model? 15:00 The recaptured money is being wasted  16:30 Student testing and NAEP scores are decreasing overall 17:45 Teachers deserve to be treated and paid like professional 18:30 Special needs students can attend private school funded by state 19:30 Special education is very expensive & requests go unmet 20:45 State cut corners to avoid paying for special ed students 22:15 Charter schools take public resources but not all kids 23:15 Charter schools deny admission to kids with disciplinary records 24:45 Education paid for by Texas property taxes which have skyrocketed 25:15 Texans pay the “Greg Abbott corruption tax” 26:00 Abbott has given $1 billion dollars in no-bid contracts to donors 27:45 The corruption issue is ripe but the electorate is cynical on both sides 29:15 Abbott’s corruption is the #1 talking point in the Republican primary 30:30 Gas companies let Texans freeze until prices spiked high enough 32:30 Border security issue led to Rio Grande valley voting for Trump 34:00 Biden was able to fix border issues, just took too long to do it 34:30 Deportations flipped political sentiment in Rio Grande valley  36:00 ICE is terrorizing communities 36:45 Masked law enforcement should be illegal 37:45 Texas is a three party state: Two GOP wings & Democrats 38:30 How can you grow the Democratic party in Texas? 39:45 The “Bush Republicans” in TX can’t vote their districts or conscience 40:15 Abbott used millions to primary Bush Republicans & 9 lost their race 41:30 Is the GOP nationalizing the race your biggest challenge? 42:30 Texas will gain 4-5 congressional districts due to growth 44:45 The business community in TX is mad at tariffs & deportations 45:30 People of Texas aren’t benefiting from their economic power 47:15 Small business owners make less than average nationally 47:45 Texas’s electric grid is a ticking time bomb 48:15 Deregulation & corruption have exacerbated issues with grid 49:00 Electric bills skyrocketing due to data centers 50:30 Thoughts on nuclear to address energy problems? 52:00 Favorite food on the campaign trail?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd sounds the alarm on how Trump’s aggressive use of tariffs and economic coercion could unintentionally push the U.S. and the world toward open conflict, drawing stark parallels to the Smoot-Hawley tariffs and the dangerous bloc-based thinking that preceded World War II. As Trump threatens NATO unity, wages economic war with Europe, and even uses tariffs as leverage in a pressure campaign over Greenland, the result isn’t strength but instability—risking retaliation, potentially weakening the dollar’s reserve status, and handing strategic advantages to China and Russia. Chuck argues that while Trump may not be trying to start a war, his isolationist instincts, economic bullying, and disregard for democratic norms are dismantling the postwar order America built and benefited from, creating a far more dangerous world. The episode also turns inward, examining Trump’s endorsement politics and fixation on retribution, even at the cost of GOP viability, as Senate Republicans quietly weigh whether stopping this madness—or walking away—is their last remaining option. Mechele Dickerson, professor at the University of Texas School of Law & author of the new book “The Middle Class New Deal” joins Chuck Todd to make the case that rebuilding the American middle class requires something bold and familiar. Drawing on history, Dickerson explains how the original New Deal didn’t just regulate markets but actively created the first stable American middle class, a reminder that free markets alone don’t guarantee broad prosperity. As today’s economy shifts risk onto workers through independent contracting, weakened unions, and employer-based benefits that no longer fit modern labor markets, she argues that financial security—not wealth—is what most Americans are actually chasing, and it’s essential for economic and democratic stability. The conversation digs into healthcare, education, and labor power as the pillars of a functioning middle class, from why employer-based health insurance is a historical accident to how government-guaranteed healthcare could actually relieve businesses, and why underused public schools and outdated calendars are weakening the future workforce. Dickerson warns that the erosion of unions, the weaponization of cultural divisions, and rising economic nihilism—especially among younger Americans—mirror dangerous Gilded Age dynamics, where extreme inequality hollowed out democracy. The takeaway is stark but hopeful: upward mobility is deeply American, but without intentional policy choices that put workers and families first, an eroding middle class can become fertile ground for political instability and authoritarianism. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the evolving public perception of Muhammed Ali, answers listeners’ questions in the Ask Chuck segment and preview the college football national championship between Indiana and his beloved Miami Hurricanes. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! 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. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:30 Could Trump’s tariffs accidentally stumble the U.S. into a war? 03:45 Bad economic policy could drive the world into war 04:30 Destroying NATO & economic war w/ Europe will create GOP defections 05:15 What Trump is doing is incredibly alarming 05:45 When tariffs are used as leverage, they can create security problems 06:15 Smoot-Hawley tariffs created lasting damage 07:30 Retaliation followed after the Smoot-Hawley tariffs 08:00 Smoot-Hawley didn’t cause WW2, but had a huge impact in creating it 09:00 When the world starts thinking in blocs, wars become more likely 10:00 In blocs, countries start prioritizing resource security 10:30 Trump is using tariffs as leverage for economic bullying to acquire Greenland 11:15 Macron calls for EU use of an anti-coercion law against the U.S. 12:15 Trump’s Greenland posture threatens trade with Europe 12:45 Republicans in the senate need to stop this madness 13:30 We’re risking the dollar as the world’s reserve currency 14:30 Canada has struck trade agreements with China in response to Trump 15:15 China will gain increased leverage in North America 16:30 Trade disputes risk becoming security grievances 17:15 Trump is risking stumbling the U.S. into a war 18:00 The world is more dangerous now than any time since WW2 19:00 Americans are taking a safe and stable world for granted 19:30 Trump has created the dream scenario for the Chinese & Russians 20:15 The world order America built & benefitted from is being dismantled 20:45 Trump’s actions, if not stopped…could set us back generations 22:00 Trump has proven he doesn’t care about democracy in Venezuela 23:30 When the biggest country goes isolationist, everyone else does too 24:15 Trump isn’t trying to get us into war, but his actions are taking us closer to one 27:30 Trump endorses against Bill Cassidy despite Cassidy’s deference 29:00 Cassidy may consider retirement after reviewing polling in Louisiana 30:30 Cassidy could have a shot at winning as an independent 33:30 Trump cares about retribution more than viability of the GOP 41:15 Mechele Dickerson joins the Chuck ToddCast 42:45 Both the left & right can learn from “The Middle Class New Deal” 44:15 What motivated you to put these ideas under a “New Deal” framework 45:15 The New Deal created the first American middle class 46:15 Free market economies don’t automatically create a middle class 47:45 Socialism & interfering with free markets created the middle class 48:15 A stable middle class is critical for stability 49:00 The uber wealthy can only consume so much & don’t drive spending 50:15 People struggling don’t want to be wealthy, just financially secure 52:00 Independent contractors don’t get same benefits as employees 53:30 Retirement security has been shifted from employers to employees 55:00 Big companies with lots of contractors have a ton of political leverage 56:15 Amazon’s delivery providers aren’t set up to have employees 58:15 CEO’s of big companies hate the cost of healthcare 59:45 Business could support a system where they aren’t responsible for healthcare 1:01:00 Employer based healthcare was born out of World War 2 wage controls 1:02:15 Government guaranteed health insurance has many upsides 1:04:30 The debate around government guaranteed education has stalled 1:05:15 What steps could be taken to make progress in public education? 1:06:30 In rural areas there is no “school choice”, just home school 1:07:15 Public school facilities are underutilized 1:07:45 Public school calendar revolves around an agrarian calendar 1:09:00 Without good public education, we’ll have a poor labor force 1:11:00 Schools should add a voluntary summer trimester 1:12:45 Workers will only get equal treatment through collective bargaining 1:13:15 How do you bring back labor unions? 1:14:30 Middle & lower class have suffered since labor unions were gutted 1:15:15 Union culture is merged with corporate culture in Europe 1:16:30 Race & ethnicity have been used as wedges to advance a class argument 1:18:30 The entire middle class is suffering economically 1:20:15 How do you prioritize anti-poverty programs to revive the middle class? 1:21:15 Upward mobility is wired into the DNA of Americans 1:22:45 Billionaires aren’t incentivized to create a healthy middle class 1:23:45 There are parallels between the current moment & the Gilded Age 1:24:45 Should corporations build communities the way Hershey did? 1:26:45 Politicians have to help constituents be ok, not just tell them they’re ok 1:27:15 2016 election of Trump was the white middle class primal scream 1:28:15 An eroding middle class can drive societies into autocracy 1:29:15 Trump administration keeps having “let them eat cake” moments 1:30:15 Middle class support tax cuts for rich, thinking they’ll become rich 1:31:00 Younger Americans suffer from a sense of economic nihilism 1:31:45 Bill Clinton’s strength was understanding middle class, he came from it 1:32:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Mechele Dickerson1:33:15 ToddCast Time Machine - January 22nd, 19641:33:45 Cassius Clay announces conversion to Islam & name change1:34:45 Heavyweight champion of the world carried huge symbolic weight1:35:30 Muhammed Ali challenged the power structures1:36:15 Ali exposed unspoken rule - You have to be deferential & assimilate1:37:00 Press treated Ali as a problem to be managed1:37:45 Ali refusing to be drafted turned him into a villain1:38:30 Over time, Ali became vindicated by the public1:39:30 Ali carried conviction at great personal cost1:40:30 America changed its view of Ali, & speaks to America’s evolution1:41:30 Ask Chuck1:41:45 Thanks for the book recommendation for “The Barn”1:42:45 Could any Republicans defect to hand over control of the House?1:47:45 Packers/Bears rivalry goes way beyond football1:49:15 Indiana vs. Miami National Championship thoughtsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd sounds the alarm on how Trump’s aggressive use of tariffs and economic coercion could unintentionally push the U.S. and the world toward open conflict, drawing stark parallels to the Smoot-Hawley tariffs and the dangerous bloc-based thinking that preceded World War II. As Trump threatens NATO unity, wages economic war with Europe, and even uses tariffs as leverage in a pressure campaign over Greenland, the result isn’t strength but instability—risking retaliation, potentially weakening the dollar’s reserve status, and handing strategic advantages to China and Russia. Chuck argues that while Trump may not be trying to start a war, his isolationist instincts, economic bullying, and disregard for democratic norms are dismantling the postwar order America built and benefited from, creating a far more dangerous world. The episode also turns inward, examining Trump’s endorsement politics and fixation on retribution, even at the cost of GOP viability, as Senate Republicans quietly weigh whether stopping this madness—or walking away—is their last remaining option. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the evolving public perception of Muhammed Ali, answers listeners’ questions in the Ask Chuck segment and preview the college football national championship between Indiana and his beloved Miami Hurricanes. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! 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. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:30 Could Trump’s tariffs accidentally stumble the U.S. into a war? 03:45 Bad economic policy could drive the world into war 04:30 Destroying NATO & economic war w/ Europe will create GOP defections 05:15 What Trump is doing is incredibly alarming 05:45 When tariffs are used as leverage, they can create security problems 06:15 Smoot-Hawley tariffs created lasting damage 07:30 Retaliation followed after the Smoot-Hawley tariffs 08:00 Smoot-Hawley didn’t cause WW2, but had a huge impact in creating it 09:00 When the world starts thinking in blocs, wars become more likely 10:00 In blocs, countries start prioritizing resource security 10:30 Trump is using tariffs as leverage for economic bullying to acquire Greenland 11:15 Macron calls for EU use of an anti-coercion law against the U.S. 12:15 Trump’s Greenland posture threatens trade with Europe 12:45 Republicans in the senate need to stop this madness 13:30 We’re risking the dollar as the world’s reserve currency 14:30 Canada has struck trade agreements with China in response to Trump 15:15 China will gain increased leverage in North America 16:30 Trade disputes risk becoming security grievances 17:15 Trump is risking stumbling the U.S. into a war 18:00 The world is more dangerous now than any time since WW2 19:00 Americans are taking a safe and stable world for granted 19:30 Trump has created the dream scenario for the Chinese & Russians 20:15 The world order America built & benefitted from is being dismantled 20:45 Trump’s actions, if not stopped…could set us back generations 22:00 Trump has proven he doesn’t care about democracy in Venezuela 23:30 When the biggest country goes isolationist, everyone else does too 24:15 Trump isn’t trying to get us into war, but his actions are taking us closer to one 27:30 Trump endorses against Bill Cassidy despite Cassidy’s deference 29:00 Cassidy may consider retirement after reviewing polling in Louisiana 30:30 Cassidy could have a shot at winning as an independent 33:30 Trump cares about retribution more than viability of the GOP 37:30 ToddCast Time Machine - January 22nd, 1964 38:00 Cassius Clay announces conversion to Islam & name change 39:00 Heavyweight champion of the world carried huge symbolic weight 39:45 Muhammed Ali challenged the power structures 40:30 Ali exposed unspoken rule - You have to be deferential & assimilate 41:15 Press treated Ali as a problem to be managed 42:00 Ali refusing to be drafted turned him into a villain 42:45 Over time, Ali became vindicated by the public 43:45 Ali carried conviction at great personal cost 44:45 America changed its view of Ali, & speaks to America’s evolution 45:45 Ask Chuck 46:00 Thanks for the book recommendation for “The Barn” 47:00 Could any Republicans defect to hand over control of the House? 52:00 Packers/Bears rivalry goes way beyond football 53:30 Indiana vs. Miami National Championship thoughtsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mechele Dickerson, professor at the University of Texas School of Law & author of the new book “The Middle Class New Deal” joins Chuck Todd to make the case that rebuilding the American middle class requires something bold and familiar. Drawing on history, Dickerson explains how the original New Deal didn’t just regulate markets but actively created the first stable American middle class, a reminder that free markets alone don’t guarantee broad prosperity. As today’s economy shifts risk onto workers through independent contracting, weakened unions, and employer-based benefits that no longer fit modern labor markets, she argues that financial security—not wealth—is what most Americans are actually chasing, and it’s essential for economic and democratic stability. The conversation digs into healthcare, education, and labor power as the pillars of a functioning middle class, from why employer-based health insurance is a historical accident to how government-guaranteed healthcare could actually relieve businesses, and why underused public schools and outdated calendars are weakening the future workforce. Dickerson warns that the erosion of unions, the weaponization of cultural divisions, and rising economic nihilism—especially among younger Americans—mirror dangerous Gilded Age dynamics, where extreme inequality hollowed out democracy. The takeaway is stark but hopeful: upward mobility is deeply American, but without intentional policy choices that put workers and families first, an eroding middle class can become fertile ground for political instability and authoritarianism. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! 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. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code Timeline: 00:00 Mechele Dickerson joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 Both the left & right can learn from “The Middle Class New Deal” 03:00 What motivated you to put these ideas under a “New Deal” framework 04:00 The New Deal created the first American middle class 05:00 Free market economies don’t automatically create a middle class 06:30 Socialism & interfering with free markets created the middle class 07:00 A stable middle class is critical for stability 07:45 The uber wealthy can only consume so much & don’t drive spending 09:00 People struggling don’t want to be wealthy, just financially secure 10:45 Independent contractors don’t get same benefits as employees 12:15 Retirement security has been shifted from employers to employees 13:45 Big companies with lots of contractors have a ton of political leverage 15:00 Amazon’s delivery providers aren’t set up to have employees 17:00 CEO’s of big companies hate the cost of healthcare 18:30 Business could support a system where they aren’t responsible for healthcare 19:45 Employer based healthcare was born out of World War 2 wage controls 21:00 Government guaranteed health insurance has many upsides 23:15 The debate around government guaranteed education has stalled 24:00 What steps could be taken to make progress in public education? 25:15 In rural areas there is no “school choice”, just home school  26:00 Public school facilities are underutilized 26:30 Public school calendar revolves around an agrarian calendar 27:45 Without good public education, we’ll have a poor labor force 29:45 Schools should add a voluntary summer trimester  31:30 Workers will only get equal treatment through collective bargaining 32:00 How do you bring back labor unions? 33:15 Middle & lower class have suffered since labor unions were gutted 34:00 Union culture is merged with corporate culture in Europe 35:15 Race & ethnicity have been used as wedges to advance a class argument 37:15 The entire middle class is suffering economically 39:00 How do you prioritize anti-poverty programs to revive the middle class? 40:00 Upward mobility is wired into the DNA of Americans 41:30 Billionaires aren’t incentivized to create a healthy middle class 42:30 There are parallels between the current moment & the Gilded Age 43:30 Should corporations build communities the way Hershey did? 45:30 Politicians have to help constituents be ok, not just tell them they’re ok 46:00 2016 election of Trump was the white middle class primal scream 47:00 An eroding middle class can drive societies into autocracy48:00 Trump administration keeps having “let them eat cake” moments 49:00 Middle class support tax cuts for rich, thinking they’ll become rich 49:45 Younger Americans suffer from a sense of economic nihilism 50:30 Bill Clinton’s strength was understanding middle class, he came from itSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd unpacks a moment of foreign-policy whiplash as Donald Trump appears to ease off threats against Iran while simultaneously escalating his pressure campaign on Greenland—doubling down after meetings with Danish officials and even floating the idea of holding NATO hostage to get his way. The episode examines why Trump is unlikely to move militarily against Greenland, why Greenlanders are growing more defiant, and how this approach risks a serious rupture with Europe. From there, the conversation widens to a bigger question: what is America’s role in the world now that consensus has collapsed? With China as a peer competitor, alliances under strain, free trade weaponized at home, and isolationism creating dangerous vacuums, the U.S. is operating without a coherent grand strategy even as allies quietly hedge their bets. The second half turns inward, focusing on immigration and the politics of ICE. Drawing lessons from past messaging failures like “defund the police,” Chuck argues Democrats shouldn’t fall into the “abolish ICE” trap but instead run on reform—rethinking leadership, recruiting, and training that’s been slashed from months to weeks. The takeaway is blunt: ICE isn’t going away, the agency will remain a political wedge, and the real question for both parties is who’s in charge of it—and what kind of power they’re willing to wield at home and abroad. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and gets a few sports rants off his chest.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! 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. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the cod   Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Trump seemingly backing off threats to strike Iran 02:00 Trump meets with Danish & Greenland officials, then doubles down 03:30 Trump threatens to hold NATO hostage in exchange for Greenland 05:00 Greenlanders are more defiant in the face of Trump’s threats 05:30 Trump’s threats could risk severing U.S. ties with Europe 06:15 Unlikely Trump will take Greenland militarily 06:45 Everything Trump is doing now is bad politics 08:15 Latin American exiles in south Florida create a feedback loop for Trump 09:00 What should be America’s role in the world? 10:45 Trump is not and has never been a multilateralist 11:30 Trump doesn’t care about NATO or see Russia as a threat 12:15 Consensus on America’s role in the world has collapsed 13:15 Free trade has been weaponized domestically in America 14:15 Domestic exhaustion in America with leadership rule 15:30 America is operating without a grand foreign policy strategy 16:30 The “primacy” strategy doesn’t apply now that China is a peer competitor 17:30 The rules based order hasn’t tamed China, Russia or Iran 18:15 Isolationism creates security vacuums that rarely stay empty 19:00 Nationalism assumes you can separate from the rest of the world 19:15 Trumpism is a mix of all of the above, but up to Trump’s whims 21:15 China is a competitor & nothing the U.S. does can change that 22:15 Trump wants to remake Venezuelan, Iranian and Cuban society 23:15 U.S. still most powerful country and China couldn’t create global alliance 25:45 Free trade, security & innovation trump protectionism 27:45 The Indo-Pacific will be the theatre of great power competition 28:30 America doesn’t get to choose whether it shapes the world 29:15 U.S. allies are hedging 30:00 Presidential candidates need to lay out strategy for US role in the world 33:00 Memo argues Democrats shouldn't fall for the “Abolish ICE” messaging 34:30 ICE training has been reduced from 5 months to 6 weeks 35:15 Dems should run on plan to reform and retrain ICE 36:30 Democrats need to learn from the “defund the police” mistake 38:30 The issue isn’t ICE, it’s who’s in charge of it & their recruiting 40:00 If you get rid of ICE you’ll need a similar agency to replace it 40:45 ICE will become a wedge issue in primary elections 46:30 Iran clears airspace, U.S. attack imminent? 48:00 Ask Chuck 48:15 Why do you think Mississippi could become politically competitive? 51:45 ICE’s actions in Minnesota don’t feel like training issues? 54:15 If Dems win both chambers what are the chances of martial law? 1:01:15 If Europe put a blockade around Greenland, would we still attack? 1:05:30 Why do Americans find the far-left more repugnant than the far-right? 1:10:00 Concerned the market shrugged at threats to Fed independence? 1:15:00 Sports updateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd unpacks a moment of foreign-policy whiplash as Donald Trump appears to ease off threats against Iran while simultaneously escalating his pressure campaign on Greenland—doubling down after meetings with Danish officials and even floating the idea of holding NATO hostage to get his way. The episode examines why Trump is unlikely to move militarily against Greenland, why Greenlanders are growing more defiant, and how this approach risks a serious rupture with Europe. From there, the conversation widens to a bigger question: what is America’s role in the world now that consensus has collapsed? With China as a peer competitor, alliances under strain, free trade weaponized at home, and isolationism creating dangerous vacuums, the U.S. is operating without a coherent grand strategy even as allies quietly hedge their bets. The second half turns inward, focusing on immigration and the politics of ICE. Drawing lessons from past messaging failures like “defund the police,” Chuck argues Democrats shouldn’t fall into the “abolish ICE” trap but instead run on reform—rethinking leadership, recruiting, and training that’s been slashed from months to weeks. The takeaway is blunt: ICE isn’t going away, the agency will remain a political wedge, and the real question for both parties is who’s in charge of it—and what kind of power they’re willing to wield at home and abroad. Then, geopolitical expert and president of The Eurasia Group, Ian Bremmer joins Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging, clear-eyed look at a world entering genuinely uncharted territory—where old rules no longer apply and the United States itself has become a central source of global instability. From Venezuela and Mexico to Europe and Greenland, Bremmer explains how Trump’s transactional, coercive approach is reshaping alliances, undermining collective security, and forcing other countries to adapt fast. The conversation explores why regime change remains elusive in places like Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti; how Latin American elections are increasingly driven by domestic security; and why Europe, shaken by Trump’s unpredictability, is funding Ukraine and rethinking its own defense posture. The discussion then turns to the Middle East and beyond: the durability of the Iranian regime, the limits of U.S. military power, Saudi Arabia’s rapid modernization, and what comes next for Israel once Netanyahu exits the stage. Bremmer also assesses Trump’s surprising effectiveness in Middle East dealmaking, the long-term damage to Israel’s global standing, Russia’s tightening economic squeeze amid continued political repression, and rising far-right momentum in Europe. The episode closes with a sobering look at China, Taiwan, and whether the next few years bring deterrence—or a historic rupture. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and gets a few sports rants off his chest.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! 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. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the cod Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Trump seemingly backing off threats to strike Iran 02:00 Trump meets with Danish & Greenland officials, then doubles down 03:30 Trump threatens to hold NATO hostage in exchange for Greenland 05:00 Greenlanders are more defiant in the face of Trump’s threats 05:30 Trump’s threats could risk severing U.S. ties with Europe 06:15 Unlikely Trump will take Greenland militarily 06:45 Everything Trump is doing now is bad politics 08:15 Latin American exiles in south Florida create a feedback loop for Trump 09:00 What should be America’s role in the world? 10:45 Trump is not and has never been a multilateralist 11:30 Trump doesn’t care about NATO or see Russia as a threat 12:15 Consensus on America’s role in the world has collapsed 13:15 Free trade has been weaponized domestically in America 14:15 Domestic exhaustion in America with leadership rule 15:30 America is operating without a grand foreign policy strategy 16:30 The “primacy” strategy doesn’t apply now that China is a peer competitor 17:30 The rules based order hasn’t tamed China, Russia or Iran 18:15 Isolationism creates security vacuums that rarely stay empty 19:00 Nationalism assumes you can separate from the rest of the world 19:15 Trumpism is a mix of all of the above, but up to Trump’s whims 21:15 China is a competitor & nothing the U.S. does can change that 22:15 Trump wants to remake Venezuelan, Iranian and Cuban society 23:15 U.S. still most powerful country and China couldn’t create global alliance 25:45 Free trade, security & innovation trump protectionism 27:45 The Indo-Pacific will be the theatre of great power competition 28:30 America doesn’t get to choose whether it shapes the world 29:15 U.S. allies are hedging 30:00 Presidential candidates need to lay out strategy for US role in the world 33:00 Memo argues Democrats shouldn't fall for the “Abolish ICE” messaging 34:30 ICE training has been reduced from 5 months to 6 weeks 35:15 Dems should run on plan to reform and retrain ICE 36:30 Democrats need to learn from the “defund the police” mistake 38:30 The issue isn’t ICE, it’s who’s in charge of it & their recruiting 40:00 If you get rid of ICE you’ll need a similar agency to replace it 40:45 ICE will become a wedge issue in primary elections 47:45 Ian Bremmer joins the Chuck ToddCast 49:00 Where we’re going… there are no roads 50:00 The middle east could be heading towards a better place 50:45 Trump gave a wake up call to Europe & others 51:30 America is the top risk to the world & center of instability 52:45 There hasn’t been regime change in Venezuela 54:00 The Venezuelan regime will behave while threatened 55:00 The Venezuelan regime has no interest in sharing power 56:30 National elections could be held in Venezuela in a year 58:00 How much will anti-Americanism affect Latin American elections? 59:15 Domestic security is the #1 voting issue in Latin America 1:02:45 Brazil’s election will be very close 1:04:15 Claudia Scheinbaum has been deft in dealing with Trump 1:05:15 Mexico has been cooperating effectively, negating potential strikes 1:06:15 Talk of strikes in Mexico has ramped up post-Venezuela 1:08:00 There’s been a huge number of political assassinations in Mexico 1:08:45 Trade relations would take a huge hit if America strikes militarily 1:09:45 There’s less urgency from Trump admin for regime change in Cuba 01:10:30 Venezuela and Mexico have been propping up the Cuban regime 1:13:00 Why haven’t we pushed harder for changes in Haiti? 1:14:15 Almost zero chance there are elections in Haiti this year 1:15:00 Chance of military invasion of Greenland is extremely low 1:15:45 A coercion campaign towards Greenland is much more likely 1:17:00 Denmark very open to negotiations addressing American concerns 1:18:15 It’d be very easy to ramp up military operation in Greenland 1:19:00 Trump is undermining the concept of collective security 1:19:45 Greenland is a legacy play for Trump 1:20:15 Trump is causing permanent damage to relationship with Europe 1:21:45 Will the Iranian regime survive the calendar year? 1:23:00 Iranian regime has large capacity to repress the population 1:23:45 Looks like the US military will target Iranian police & paramilitary 1:24:30 Nobody has ever targeted the Iranian judges that send people to die 1:25:15 Collapse of regime doesn’t feel imminent, but likely within a few years 1:26:45 Is the US military stretched thin right now? 1:27:15 What collapse of Iranian regime would mean for the region 1:28:45 Saudi Arabia is speed running a modernization & reform process 1:29:45 Any chance Bibi Netanyahu is out in Israel soon? 1:30:45 Normalization with Saudi Arabia is on the table once Bibi is out 1:31:45 The Israel/Gaza ceasefire was improbable win for Trump 1:32:15 Trump’s transactional negotiating works well in the middle east 1:34:15 Settlements expanding in west bank, that won’t be unwound 1:36:00 Nobody has done more damage to Israel’s reputation than Bibi 1:36:45 Russians giving Trump nothing in negotiations over Ukraine 1:37:15 Europeans are funding Ukraine after Trump cut them off 1:38:15 Europeans bought a veto over Trump selling out Ukraine 1:39:30 Still very little meaningful dissent inside Russia over the war 1:40:30 Russian economy is starting to take more of a hit 1:41:30 Giorgia Meloni is probably most secure leader in western Europe 1:42:45 Far right in Germany will do well in elections 1:43:15 Does China take Taiwan in 2027 & does Trump stand in the way? 1:46:15 Iran clears airspace, U.S. attack imminent? 1:47:45 Ask Chuck 1:48:00 Why do you think Mississippi could become politically competitive? 1:51:00 ICE’s actions in Minnesota don’t feel like training issues? 1:54:00 If Dems win both chambers what are the chances of martial law? 2:01:00 If Europe put a blockade around Greenland, would we still attack? 2:05:15 Why do Americans find the far-left more repugnant than the far-right? 2:09:45 Concerned the market shrugged at threats to Fed independence? 2:14:45 Sports updateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Geopolitical expert and president of The Eurasia Group, Ian Bremmer joins Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging, clear-eyed look at a world entering genuinely uncharted territory—where old rules no longer apply and the United States itself has become a central source of global instability. From Venezuela and Mexico to Europe and Greenland, Bremmer explains how Trump’s transactional, coercive approach is reshaping alliances, undermining collective security, and forcing other countries to adapt fast. The conversation explores why regime change remains elusive in places like Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti; how Latin American elections are increasingly driven by domestic security; and why Europe, shaken by Trump’s unpredictability, is funding Ukraine and rethinking its own defense posture. The discussion then turns to the Middle East and beyond: the durability of the Iranian regime, the limits of U.S. military power, Saudi Arabia’s rapid modernization, and what comes next for Israel once Netanyahu exits the stage. Bremmer also assesses Trump’s surprising effectiveness in Middle East dealmaking, the long-term damage to Israel’s global standing, Russia’s tightening economic squeeze amid continued political repression, and rising far-right momentum in Europe. The episode closes with a sobering look at China, Taiwan, and whether the next few years bring deterrence—or a historic rupture. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! 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. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the cod Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Ian Bremmer joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:15 Where we’re going… there are no roads 02:15 The middle east could be heading towards a better place 03:00 Trump gave a wake up call to Europe & others 03:45 America is the top risk to the world & center of instability 05:00 There hasn’t been regime change in Venezuela 06:15 The Venezuelan regime will behave while threatened 07:15 The Venezuelan regime has no interest in sharing power 08:45 National elections could be held in Venezuela in a year 10:15 How much will anti-Americanism affect Latin American elections? 11:30 Domestic security is the #1 voting issue in Latin America 15:00 Brazil’s election will be very close 16:30 Claudia Scheinbaum has been deft in dealing with Trump 17:30 Mexico has been cooperating effectively, negating potential strikes 18:30 Talk of strikes in Mexico has ramped up post-Venezuela 20:15 There’s been a huge number of political assassinations in Mexico 21:00 Trade relations would take a huge hit if America strikes militarily 22:00 There’s less urgency from Trump admin for regime change in Cuba 22:45 Venezuela and Mexico have been propping up the Cuban regime 25:15 Why haven’t we pushed harder for changes in Haiti? 26:30 Almost zero chance there are elections in Haiti this year 27:15 Chance of military invasion of Greenland is extremely low 28:00 A coercion campaign towards Greenland is much more likely 29:15 Denmark very open to negotiations addressing American concerns 30:30 It’d be very easy to ramp up military operation in Greenland 31:15 Trump is undermining the concept of collective security 32:00 Greenland is a legacy play for Trump 32:30 Trump is causing permanent damage to relationship with Europe 34:00 Will the Iranian regime survive the calendar year? 35:15 Iranian regime has large capacity to repress the population 36:00 Looks like the US military will target Iranian police & paramilitary 36:45 Nobody has ever targeted the Iranian judges that send people to die 37:30 Collapse of regime doesn’t feel imminent, but likely within a few years 39:00 Is the US military stretched thin right now? 39:30 What collapse of Iranian regime would mean for the region 41:00 Saudi Arabia is speed running a modernization & reform process 42:00 Any chance Bibi Netanyahu is out in Israel soon? 43:00 Normalization with Saudi Arabia is on the table once Bibi is out 44:00 The Israel/Gaza ceasefire was improbable win for Trump 44:30 Trump’s transactional negotiating works well in the middle east 46:30 Settlements expanding in west bank, that won’t be unwound 48:15 Nobody has done more damage to Israel’s reputation than Bibi 49:00 Russians giving Trump nothing in negotiations over Ukraine 49:30 Europeans are funding Ukraine after Trump cut them off 50:30 Europeans bought a veto over Trump selling out Ukraine 51:45 Still very little meaningful dissent inside Russia over the war 52:45 Russian economy is starting to take more of a hit 53:45 Giorgia Meloni is probably most secure leader in western Europe 55:00 Far right in Germany will do well in elections 55:30 Does China take Taiwan in 2027 & does Trump stand in the way?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the country hurtles toward the 2026 midterms, Chuck Todd breaks down why winning in this moment may be more about margins than movements—and why messaging is about to get brutally hard. With a fragmented, exhausted electorate and a president acting emboldened despite weak political standing, Democrats face a defining choice: run as resistance to Donald Trump or position themselves as problem-solvers ready to turn the page. History suggests forward-looking messages work best, especially with independents who vote in self-interest and are tired of constant political warfare, even as Trump continues to dominate GOP primaries and sideline Congress. The conversation also looks at why Republicans’ razor-thin majority leaves them unable to govern, how Trump’s grip on the party could backfire in a general election, and why Democrats are increasingly optimistic about putting the Senate in play—with strong recruiting wins and favorable midterm math. New polling on the Renee Good shooting and ICE shows Trump-aligned tactics playing poorly outside the MAGA base, particularly with independents and women, underscoring just how volatile—and opportunity-rich—the political landscape could be heading into 2026. Then, Jon Slavet, a tech entrepreneur and Republican candidate for California governor, joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss why he's entering one of the nation's most challenging political races. Slavet argues that while national politics dominates headlines, state and local governance has far more impact on people's daily lives—yet California's local politics receives inadequate attention despite intense interest from outsiders. He advocates for radical transparency in government, criticizing the use of NDAs in taxpayer-funded projects and calling out the influence of union spending. Addressing his controversial pursuit of Trump's endorsement despite never voting for him, Slavet positions himself as someone who sees Trump as an effective disrupter but not a builder, and he aligns with the administration on housing policy, particularly prioritizing temporary shelter over California's $1 million-per-unit permanent housing approach. Running as a Republican in deep-blue California, Slavet believes the state's pleasant weather has masked serious problems affecting middle and lower-income residents while the wealthy thrive. He proposes declaring an "affordability emergency" on day one, scrapping the high-speed rail project, and using AI to root out the billions lost to waste and fraud in California's healthcare system. Slavet defends his decision to run as a Republican rather than an independent, arguing that party identification remains essential for effectiveness despite his moderate positions on social issues like same-sex marriage and abortion. He contends that polls show half of Californians would support the "right kind" of Republican, and he's betting his business success and willingness to challenge both parties' orthodoxies will resonate with voters frustrated by the state's affordability crisis and regulatory burdens on small businesses. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 championship winning Miami Hurricanes football teams & answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! 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. 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!  Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:45 Messaging will be incredibly difficult in this political environment 04:15 If Dems only win house, it will be considered a partial rebuke of Trump 05:15 Trump is weak politically but acting like he has a ton of capital 06:00 Trump feels emboldened to play “Risk” with the world 06:45 Administration will likely back off investigation into Jay Powell 08:00 Talking to a fragmented and exhausted electorate will be tough 09:15 Elections are always won on the margins, not just by the base 10:30 Analysts project their preferences onto the electorate & swing voters 11:30 What is the most effective way to win elections in 2026? 12:30 Democrats will have to balance accountability vs. forward facing 14:15 “Would you work with Donald Trump?” a defining question for Dems 16:15 Dems have to decide whether they are resistance or problem solvers 18:00 History suggests forward looking messages are more effective 19:00 Most voters vote in self-interest, not for the greater good 19:45 After 10 years of Trump, the public is exhausted by politics 20:45 "Turn the page” messaging may appeal to independents 22:30 GOP primaries will be all about Trump, but cause problem in general 24:00 Trump can break ideological rules other Republicans can’t 25:00 GOP majority is so narrow they can’t really govern 25:45 Trump is increasingly uninterested in working with congress 27:15 “Vote GOP to stop impeachment” isn’t enough to woo swing voters 28:00 Growing number of R’s uncomfortable with Trump’s actions 28:45 Dems got a huge recruiting victory in Alaska with Mary Peltola 30:30 Peltola puts Alaska in play, making senate control more possible 31:45 Sherrod Brown has won in midterm years in Ohio 33:15 Democrats much further along in putting senate in play 34:30 Historically the party out of power picks up 4 seats, Dems need 4 36:30 Majority of Americans say Renee Good shooting not justified 37:15 Majority of independents & women say it was unjustified 38:15 82% of respondents were aware of the Renee Good shooting 39:15 57% disapprove of ICE 40:30 ICE + Minneapolis not playing well outside MAGA base 41:30 Kristi Noem is an easy scapegoat, could get dumped 49:00 Jon Slavet joins the Chuck ToddCast 50:45 Why enter politics and run for governor of California? 52:30 It’s fraught & dangerous to run for office in this political climate 53:15 National politics get attention, state & local more impactful 54:45 Serious lack of attention to local politics in California 56:00 There’s a ton of interest in California from people outside it 57:15 NDA’s should not be allowed in taxpayer funded projects 58:45 Major government discussions need more transparency in CA 59:15 Unions raise $1B in CA and spend $300 on political donations 1:00:00 Why seek Trump’s endorsement after not voting for him 3x? 1:01:15 Trump is good as a disrupter but not as a builder 1:02:00 Where do you agree with Trump on policy? 1:02:30 HUD’s new policy prioritizes temporary, not permanent housing 1:03:30 Permanent housing for homeless costs $1M per unit in CA 1:05:00 The priority should be getting homeless into temp housing ASAP 1:06:00 Could you have been as successful in a state other than CA? 1:07:15 California’s great weather masks many of its problems 1:08:30 Tech doesn’t suffer from regulatory issues like other industries 1:09:15 Middle & lower income Californians are suffering, rich doing great 1:11:30 Half of California’s work for small businesses that are overtaxed 1:14:00 Where will you find the money to fund your proposals? 1:14:30 California should scrap the high speed rail to nowhere 1:15:30 Jon would declare an affordability emergency on day 1 1:17:00 California’s healthcare costs $160B, Medicare fraud is 10–15% 1:18:30 AI can be used to root out waste, fraud and abuse in state budget 1:20:00 Californians pay huge taxes on fuel & energy 1:21:30 Why run as a Republican and not an independent? 1:23:00 We should be way beyond the same-sex marriage debate 1:24:00 Abortion is settled law in California 1:25:30 Why Jon was against Prop 50 in California 1:26:30 Gerrymandering is terrible for democracy 1:28:15 Running as independent isn’t effective, people identify w/ parties 1:29:45 The race will be a Trump referendum, how does a Republican win? 1:31:30 Polls show half of CA will vote for the “right kind” of Republican 1:32:45 CA has had plenty of billionaires run & fail to win elections 1:35:00 Has Silicon Valley been regulated enough? 1:36:15 AI boom has been critical for San Francisco’s comeback 1:37:45 Would you ban social media for kids under 16? 1:39:30 Would you ban phones in schools? 1:40:15 How do you convince CA voters the wealth tax is a bad idea? 1:42:15 How would you work in a bipartisan manner with Dem state house? 1:45:00 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Jon Slavet 1:45:30 There’s a lack of star power in CA governor race 1:46:15 ToddCast Top 5 Miami Hurricanes football teams if ’25 team wins title 1:49:00 #1 2001 1:51:00 #2 1987 1:52:30 #3 1993 1:54:00 #4 1983 1:55:00 #5 2025 1:58:30 Ask Chuck 1:58:45 In today’s climate would it benefit a candidate to avoid negative ads? 2:02:15 Are traditional Republicans missing a chance to push back on Trump? 2:09:15 Did Biden cater too much to the far left & hurt appeal with swing voters? 2:11:15 How is public media likely to continue on? 2:13:45 Can Democrats make Mississippi competitive? 2:19:30 Are we still capable of recognizing normalization of democratic collapse?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the country hurtles toward the 2026 midterms, Chuck Todd breaks down why winning in this moment may be more about margins than movements—and why messaging is about to get brutally hard. With a fragmented, exhausted electorate and a president acting emboldened despite weak political standing, Democrats face a defining choice: run as resistance to Donald Trump or position themselves as problem-solvers ready to turn the page. History suggests forward-looking messages work best, especially with independents who vote in self-interest and are tired of constant political warfare, even as Trump continues to dominate GOP primaries and sideline Congress. The conversation also looks at why Republicans’ razor-thin majority leaves them unable to govern, how Trump’s grip on the party could backfire in a general election, and why Democrats are increasingly optimistic about putting the Senate in play—with strong recruiting wins and favorable midterm math. New polling on the Renee Good shooting and ICE shows Trump-aligned tactics playing poorly outside the MAGA base, particularly with independents and women, underscoring just how volatile—and opportunity-rich—the political landscape could be heading into 2026. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 championship winning Miami Hurricanes football teams & answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! 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. 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!  Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 1:30 Messaging will be incredibly difficult in this political environment 2:00 If Dems only win house, it will be considered a partial rebuke of Trump 3:00 Trump is weak politically but acting like he has a ton of capital 3:45 Trump feels emboldened to play “Risk” with the world 4:30 Administration will likely back off investigation into Jay Powell 5:45 Talking to a fragmented and exhausted electorate will be tough 7:00 Elections are always won on the margins, not just by the base 8:15 Analysts project their preferences onto the electorate & swing voters 9:15 What is the most effective way to win elections in 2026? 10:15 Democrats will have to balance accountability vs. forward facing 12:00 “Would you work with Donald Trump?” a defining question for Dems 14:00 Dems have to decide whether they are resistance or problem solvers 15:45 History suggests forward looking messages are more effective 16:45 Most voters vote in self-interest, not for the greater good 17:30 After 10 years of Trump, the public is exhausted by politics 18:30 “Turn the page” messaging may appeal to independents 20:15 GOP primaries will be all about Trump, but cause problem in general 21:45 Trump can break ideological rules other Republicans can’t 22:45 GOP majority is so narrow they can’t really govern 23:30 Trump is increasingly uninterested in working with congress 25:00 “Vote GOP to stop impeachment” isn’t enough to woo swing voters 25:45 Growing number of R’s uncomfortable with Trump’s actions 26:30 Dems got a huge recruiting victory in Alaska with Mary Peltola 28:15 Peltola puts Alaska in play, making senate control more possible 29:30 Sherrod Brown has won in midterm years in Ohio 31:00 Democrats much further along in putting senate in play 32:15 Historically the party out of power picks up 4 seats, Dems need 4 34:15 Majority of Americans say Renee Good shooting not justified 35:00 Majority of independents & women say it was unjustified 36:00 82% of respondents were aware of the Renee Good shooting 37:00 57% disapprove of ICE 38:15 ICE + Minneapolis not playing well outside MAGA base 39:15 Kristi Noem is an easy scapegoat, could get dumped 47:00 ToddCast Top 5 Miami Hurricanes football teams if 25’ team wins title 49:45 #1 2001 51:45 #2 1987 53:15 #3 1993 54:45 #4 1983 55:45 #5 2025 59:15 Ask Chuck 59:30 In today’s climate would it benefit a candidate to avoid negative ads? 1:03:00 Are traditional Republicans missing a chance to push back on Trump? 1:10:00 Did Biden cater too much to the far left & hurt appeal with swing voters? 1:12:00 How is public media likely to continue on? 1:14:30 Can Democrats make Mississippi competitive? 1:20:15 Are we still capable of recognizing normalization of democratic collapse?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jon Slavet, a tech entrepreneur and Republican candidate for California governor, joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss why he's entering one of the nation's most challenging political races. Slavet argues that while national politics dominates headlines, state and local governance has far more impact on people's daily lives—yet California's local politics receives inadequate attention despite intense interest from outsiders. He advocates for radical transparency in government, criticizing the use of NDAs in taxpayer-funded projects and calling out the influence of union spending. Addressing his controversial pursuit of Trump's endorsement despite never voting for him, Slavet positions himself as someone who sees Trump as an effective disrupter but not a builder, and he aligns with the administration on housing policy, particularly prioritizing temporary shelter over California's $1 million-per-unit permanent housing approach. Running as a Republican in deep-blue California, Slavet believes the state's pleasant weather has masked serious problems affecting middle and lower-income residents while the wealthy thrive. He proposes declaring an "affordability emergency" on day one, scrapping the high-speed rail project, and using AI to root out the billions lost to waste and fraud in California's healthcare system. Slavet defends his decision to run as a Republican rather than an independent, arguing that party identification remains essential for effectiveness despite his moderate positions on social issues like same-sex marriage and abortion. He contends that polls show half of Californians would support the "right kind" of Republican, and he's betting his business success and willingness to challenge both parties' orthodoxies will resonate with voters frustrated by the state's affordability crisis and regulatory burdens on small businesses. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! 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. 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!  Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Jon Slavet joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:45 Why enter politics and run for governor of California? 03:30 It’s fraught & dangerous to run for office in this political climate 04:15 National politics get attention, state & local more impactful 05:45 Serious lack of attention to local politics in California 07:00 There’s a ton of interest in California from people outside it 08:15 NDA’s should not be allowed in taxpayer funded projects 09:45 Major government discussions need more transparency in CA 10:15 Unions raise $1B in CA and spend $300 on political donations 11:00 Why seek Trump’s endorsement after not voting for him 3x? 12:15 Trump is good as a disrupter but not as a builder 13:00 Where do you agree with Trump on policy? 13:30 HUD’s new policy prioritizes temporary, not permanent housing 14:30 Permanent housing for homeless costs $1M per unit in CA 16:00 The priority should be getting homeless into temp housing ASAP 17:00 Could you have been as successful in a state other than CA? 18:15 California’s great weather masks many of its problems  19:30 Tech doesn’t suffer from regulatory issues like other industries 20:15 Middle & lower income California’s are suffering, rich doing great 22:30 Half of California’s work for small businesses that are overtaxed 25:00 Where will you find the money to fund your proposals? 25:30 California should scrap the high speed rail to nowhere 26:30 Jon would declare an affordability emergency on day 1 28:00 California’s healthcare costs $160B, Medicare fraud is 10-15% 29:30 AI can be used to root out waste, fraud and abuse in state budget 31:00 Californians pay huge taxes on fuel & energy 32:30 Why run as a Republican and not an independent? 34:00 We should be way beyond the same-sex marriage debate 35:00 Abortion is settled law in California  36:30 Why Jon was against Prop 50 in California 37:30 Gerrymandering is terrible for democracy 39:15 Running as independent isn’t effective, people identify w/parties 40:45 The race will be a Trump referendum, how does a Republican win? 42:30 Polls show half of CA will vote for the “right kind” of Republican 43:45 CA has had plenty of billionaires run & fail to win elections 46:00 Has Silicon Valley been regulated enough? 47:15 AI boom has been critical for San Francisco’s comeback 48:45 Would you ban social media for kids under 16? 50:30 Would you ban phones in schools? 51:15 How do you convince CA voters the wealth tax is a bad idea? 53:15 How would you work in a bipartisan manner with Dem state house?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Chuck ToddCast, Chuck Todd digs into a growing sense of unease shared across the political spectrum, as 2026 looms as a “year of living dangerously” at home and abroad. From mass migration, rising nationalism, and AI-driven economic fear to flashpoints in Venezuela, Iran, and beyond, the conversation explores why so many global and domestic headlines feel like potential tipping points. Chuck argues the world is less stable—and America more divided—under Donald Trump, whose administration he says views chaos and division as sources of power rather than problems to solve. The episode draws stark parallels between the Minneapolis ICE shooting and the Ruby Ridge standoff, examining how the rush to control narratives, the politicization of law enforcement, and the erosion of civil liberties can fracture public trust. The warning is sobering: America may ultimately be okay, but right now it’s a tinderbox—and a country that fails to protect the rights of its own citizens risks losing its moral authority everywhere else. Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi joins Chuck Todd to break down what the numbers actually say about the U.S. economy—and why the headline optimism may be masking deeper problems. Zandi explains how upcoming tax refunds and delayed tax cuts will temporarily juice growth, even as that stimulus is entirely deficit-financed. Interest rate cuts are likely coming, but cautiously, and while AI stocks are soaring, the broader market is barely treading water. Beneath the surface, job creation has stalled, manufacturing jobs are shrinking under tariffs, and deportations aren’t translating into more employment for native-born workers as many expected. The conversation widens to a fragile global outlook, with Trump-era protectionism accelerating deglobalization and reshaping trade, housing, and labor markets. Zandi details why college-educated workers are now seeing the sharpest rise in unemployment, how AI skills will define the next generation of jobs, and why renting often makes more sense than buying right now. Looking ahead to 2026, he warns of elevated geopolitical and financial-system risks, an AI-driven stock market that could be vulnerable to a correction, GDP growth likely under 3%, and a job market that may struggle to grow at all. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit Woodrow Wilson’s “Fourteen Points” speech that laid out the vision for the 20th century world order & warns that retreating from it could be devastating for both the United State & the world. He also answers listeners’ questions in the Ask Chuck segment & previews the national championship between Indiana & Miami. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! 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! 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. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 05:30 People on both sides of the aisle worried if we’ll be ok 07:00 2026 will be the “year of living dangerously” 07:45 We are in uncharted waters and don’t know where it’s headed 09:30 Mass migration has led to rising nationalism in USA & Europe 10:00 Globalization caused a sense of displacement 11:00 AI will create even more fear than globalization 12:15 The political response to economic anxiety has failed 14:00 We still don’t know what will happen with Venezuela 14:30 Iranian regime likely will fall in 2026 15:45 It’s clear Trump has no plan for Venezuela 17:30 Latin America is deeply skeptical of American power 19:00 Every headline feels like a tipping point 20:00 Trump could take military action against many countries 20:30 The world is less safe because Donald Trump is president 21:45 Trump admin believes division bolsters their power 23:00 On social media, it feels like America is on the brink of civil war 24:00 America feels like a tinderbox 25:45 ICE is being trained to treat citizens as threats, not constituents 27:30 Law enforcement is supposed to be a deescalator  30:15 We’ve been living through a “vote against” political roller coaster 32:00 Voters don’t like chaos, & Trump is neither calm or stable 33:00 Elements of the American right have given up on democracy 34:15 America will eventually be ok, but is not ok in this moment 34:45 The sparks of military clash are burning around the world 37:00 Parallels between Ruby Ridge standoff & Minneapolis ICE shooting 39:15 A confrontation occurred between Weaver’s son & law enforcement 40:00 FBI sniper shot Weaver’s wife while holding her baby 40:30 Unlike Minneapolis, government held investigations after Ruby Ridge 41:30 Ruby Ridge led to militia formations & deep state conspiracies 42:15 Administration tried to solidify narrative before facts in Minneapolis 44:00 The left sees Renee Good as a victim, the right sees justification 45:00 The Trump administration has politicized the rule of law 46:00 If U.S. doesn’t respect rights of its citizens, it can’t take moral high ground 53:15 Mark Zandi joins the Chuck ToddCast 54:30 What do the numbers say about the state of the economy? 55:15 Big Beautiful Bill tax cuts about to start showing up 56:00 Tax refunds will add juice to the economy 56:45 All the “juice” is deficit financed and will only be temporary 57:45 Interest rates cuts likely to be cautious but will continue 59:00 AI stocks on fire, rest of the stocks are just up slightly 1:00:45 The economy isn’t creating any jobs despite investment 1:01:30 Job creation flatlined after “Liberation Day” 1:02:45 Manufacturing has been losing jobs due to tariffs 1:04:00 Are deportations creating more jobs for native born workers? 1:04:45 Jobs normally taken by foreign born workers aren’t being filled 1:06:00 Companies aren’t laying off, they’re just not hiring new employees 1:07:15 Trade deficit reportedly down, but is that actually a good thing? 1:08:00 Imports of pharmaceuticals have collapsed due to tariffs 1:08:45 Tariffs haven’t actually addressed the trade deficit 1:10:15 Tariff revenue shows the stated tariff rates aren’t holding true 1:11:30 Will the K-shaped economy continue through 2026? 1:13:00 Economy is affecting different income groups wildly different 1:14:15 Partisans believe economy is better depending on who is president 1:15:30 How do you price in Trump taking Greenland & ending NATO? 1:16:15 Economies around the world are in a similar, fragile place like the U.S. 1:17:15 The U.S. is rapidly pulling away from the rest of the world 1:18:15 Trump’s protectionism has been contagious to other countries 1:19:30 The world is preparing for a deglobalization 1:21:30 China hasn’t really taken advantage of U.S. global retreat 1:22:15 Countries that embrace immigration are the most successful 1:23:15 No country benefited more from globalization than China 1:25:00 USMCA has to be renegotiated, will probably remain status quo 1:27:15 Job market for new college graduates is very tough 1:28:00 Rise in unemployment is almost exclusively college educated 1:29:00 Proficiency in AI will be critical in future jobs 1:30:00 Classical higher education could make a comeback 1:32:00 Home ownership is unaffordable for many Americans 1:32:45 It’s better to rent than to buy in this market 1:33:45 There’s not a lot of buyers for prospective home sellers 1:34:30 Raising the capital gains exclusion could generate more sellers 1:37:00 There’s a chance the GOP could lose house majority before November 1:37:30 What risks that could upend the economy that concern you the most? 1:38:15 Geopolitical risk is very elevated 1:38:45 Stock market being buoyed by AI, could be ripe for correction 1:40:15 If there’s a major problem it will be in the financial system 1:40:45 If an AI company defaults, it could change the psychology of lenders 1:43:00 GDP growth will be under 3% in 2026 1:44:00 Will be tough to imagine positive job growth in 2026 1:46:15 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Mark Zandi 1:47:00 ToddCast Time Machine – January 8th, 1918 1:47:45 Woodrow Wilson lays out blueprint for 20th century world order 1:48:30 America tried to shape the world with ideas, not empire 1:49:45 Wilson’s Fourteen Points speech rejected premise that caused WW1 1:51:15 Wilson advances transparency, diplomacy & idealistic foreign policy 1:52:15 Wilson calls for economic interdependence & free trade 1:53:15 Wilson proposes self-determination over empires 1:54:30 Some American conservatives have rejected Wilsonianism for 100 years 1:56:00 Wilson wanted America’s role to be an arbiter, not a conqueror 1:57:00 In 1919, Wilson’s vision was confronted by power politics 1:57:45 The U.S. proposes the League of Nations but doesn’t join it 1:58:30 Every global geopolitical debate traces back to Wilson’s speech 1:59:45 The post-WW2 world order benefitted America, & it’s falling apart 2:01:15 Ask Chuck 2:02:00 Reaction to the ICE shooting in Minneapolis? 2:03:30 Why hasn’t the US taken action to remove the leader of Haiti? 2:08:00 Could Rahm Emanuel beat Gavin Newsom for Dem nomination? 2:11:15 Would an attack on Colombia be a mistake for the Trump administration? 2:17:15 Miami vs Indiana national championship previewSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Chuck ToddCast, Chuck Todd digs into a growing sense of unease shared across the political spectrum, as 2026 looms as a “year of living dangerously” at home and abroad. From mass migration, rising nationalism, and AI-driven economic fear to flashpoints in Venezuela, Iran, and beyond, the conversation explores why so many global and domestic headlines feel like potential tipping points. Chuck argues the world is less stable—and America more divided—under Donald Trump, whose administration he says views chaos and division as sources of power rather than problems to solve. The episode draws stark parallels between the Minneapolis ICE shooting and the Ruby Ridge standoff, examining how the rush to control narratives, the politicization of law enforcement, and the erosion of civil liberties can fracture public trust. The warning is sobering: America may ultimately be okay, but right now it’s a tinderbox—and a country that fails to protect the rights of its own citizens risks losing its moral authority everywhere else. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit Woodrow Wilson’s “Fourteen Points” speech that laid out the vision for the 20th century world order & warns that retreating from it could be devastating for both the United State & the world. He also answers listeners’ questions in the Ask Chuck segment & previews the national championship between Indiana & Miami. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! 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! 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. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 05:30 People on both sides of the aisle worried if we’ll be ok 07:00 2026 will be the “year of living dangerously” 07:45 We are in uncharted waters and don’t know where it’s headed 09:30 Mass migration has led to rising nationalism in USA & Europe 10:00 Globalization caused a sense of displacement 11:00 AI will create even more fear than globalization 12:15 The political response to economic anxiety has failed 14:00 We still don’t know what will happen with Venezuela 14:30 Iranian regime likely will fall in 2026 15:45 It’s clear Trump has no plan for Venezuela 17:30 Latin America is deeply skeptical of American power 19:00 Every headline feels like a tipping point 20:00 Trump could take military action against many countries 20:30 The world is less safe because Donald Trump is president 21:45 Trump admin believes division bolsters their power 23:00 On social media, it feels like America is on the brink of civil war 24:00 America feels like a tinderbox 25:45 ICE is being trained to treat citizens as threats, not constituents 27:30 Law enforcement is supposed to be a deescalator  30:15 We’ve been living through a “vote against” political roller coaster 32:00 Voters don’t like chaos, & Trump is neither calm or stable 33:00 Elements of the American right have given up on democracy 34:15 America will eventually be ok, but is not ok in this moment 34:45 The sparks of military clash are burning around the world 37:00 Parallels between Ruby Ridge standoff & Minneapolis ICE shooting 39:15 A confrontation occurred between Weaver’s son & law enforcement 40:00 FBI sniper shot Weaver’s wife while holding her baby 40:30 Unlike Minneapolis, government held investigations after Ruby Ridge 41:30 Ruby Ridge led to militia formations & deep state conspiracies 42:15 Administration tried to solidify narrative before facts in Minneapolis 44:00 The left sees Renee Good as a victim, the right sees justification 45:00 The Trump administration has politicized the rule of law 46:00 If U.S. doesn’t respect rights of its citizens, it can’t take moral high ground 52:45 ToddCast Time Machine – January 8th, 1918 53:30 Woodrow Wilson lays out blueprint for 20th century world order 54:15 America tried to shape the world with ideas, not empire 55:30 Wilson’s Fourteen Points speech rejected premise that caused WW1 57:00 Wilson advances transparency, diplomacy & idealistic foreign policy 58:00 Wilson calls for economic interdependence & free trade 59:00 Wilson proposes self-determination over empires 1:00:15 Some American conservatives have rejected Wilsonianism for 100 years 1:01:45 Wilson wanted America’s role to be an arbiter, not a conqueror 1:02:45 In 1919, Wilson’s vision was confronted by power politics 1:03:30 The U.S. proposes the League of Nations but doesn’t join it 1:04:15 Every global geopolitical debate traces back to Wilson’s speech 1:05:30 The post WW2 world order benefitted America, & it’s falling apart 1:07:00 Ask Chuck 1:07:45 Reaction to the ICE shooting in Minneapolis? 1:09:15 Why hasn’t the US taken action to remove the leader of Haiti? 1:13:45 Could Rahm Emmanuel beat Gavin Newsom for Dem nomination? 1:17:00 Would an attack on Colombia be a mistake for the Trump administration? 1:23:00 Miami vs Indiana national championship previewSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi joins Chuck Todd to break down what the numbers actually say about the U.S. economy—and why the headline optimism may be masking deeper problems. Zandi explains how upcoming tax refunds and delayed tax cuts will temporarily juice growth, even as that stimulus is entirely deficit-financed. Interest rate cuts are likely coming, but cautiously, and while AI stocks are soaring, the broader market is barely treading water. Beneath the surface, job creation has stalled, manufacturing jobs are shrinking under tariffs, and deportations aren’t translating into more employment for native-born workers as many expected. The conversation widens to a fragile global outlook, with Trump-era protectionism accelerating deglobalization and reshaping trade, housing, and labor markets. Zandi details why college-educated workers are now seeing the sharpest rise in unemployment, how AI skills will define the next generation of jobs, and why renting often makes more sense than buying right now. Looking ahead to 2026, he warns of elevated geopolitical and financial-system risks, an AI-driven stock market that could be vulnerable to a correction, GDP growth likely under 3%, and a job market that may struggle to grow at all. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! 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! 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. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Mark Zandi joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:15 What do the numbers say about the state of the economy? 02:00 Big Beautiful Bill tax cuts about to start showing up 02:45 Tax refunds will add juice to the economy 03:30 All the “juice” is deficit financed and will only be temporary 04:30 Interest rates cuts likely to be cautious but will continue 05:45 AI stocks on fire, rest of the stocks are just up slightly 07:30 The economy isn’t creating any jobs despite investment 08:15 Job creation flatlined after “Liberation Day” 09:30 Manufacturing has been losing jobs due to tariffs 10:45 Are deportations creating more jobs for native born workers? 11:30 Jobs normally taken by foreign born workers aren’t being filled 12:45 Companies aren’t laying off, they’re just not hiring new employees 14:00 Trade deficit reportedly down, but is that actually a good thing? 14:45 Imports of pharmaceuticals have collapsed due to tariffs 15:30 Tariffs haven’t actually addressed the trade deficit 17:00 Tariff revenue shows the stated tariff rates aren’t holding true 18:15 Will the K-shaped economy continue through 2026? 19:45 Economy is affecting different income groups wildly different 21:00 Partisans believe economy is better depending on who is president 22:15 How do you price in Trump taking Greenland & ending NATO? 23:00 Economies around the world are in a similar, fragile place like the U.S. 24:00 The U.S. is rapidly pulling away from the rest of the world 25:00 Trump’s protectionism has been contagious to other countries 26:15 The world is preparing for a deglobalization 28:15 China hasn’t really taken advantage of U.S. global retreat 29:00 Countries that embrace immigration are the most successful 30:00 No country benefited more from globalization than China 31:45 USMCA has to be renegotiated, will probably remain status quo 34:00 Job market for new college graduates is very tough 34:45 Rise in unemployment is almost exclusively college educated 35:45 Proficiency in AI will be critical in future jobs 36:45 Classical higher education could make a comeback 38:45 Home ownership is unaffordable for many Americans 39:30 It’s better to rent than to buy in this market 40:30 There’s not a lot of buyers for prospective home sellers 41:15 Raising the capital gains exclusion could generate more sellers 43:45 There’s a chance the GOP could lose house majority before November 44:15 What risks that could upend the economy that concern you the most? 45:00 Geopolitical risk is very elevated 45:30 Stock market being buoyed by AI, could be ripe for correction 47:00 If there’s a major problem it will be in the financial system 47:30 If an AI company defaults, it could change the psychology of lenders 49:45 GDP growth will be under 3% in 2026 50:45 Will be tough to imagine positive job growth in 2026See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck examines the deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis and the political, moral, and institutional failures surrounding it. As the administration rushes to rationalize the killing rather than investigate it—despite video evidence and eyewitness accounts that contradict its narrative—Chuck unpacks how DHS rhetoric, recruitment tactics, and targeted ICE deployments appear designed to provoke confrontation and fuel fear. The conversation moves beyond partisan lines to ask what accountability should look like when federal power is used this way, why affected communities are unlikely to trust the investigation, and how the tragedy is being exploited as propaganda. Ultimately, Chuck argues this moment reveals both the fragility and resilience of American democracy, the political danger facing Republicans, and why “whataboutism” has become one of the most corrosive forces in our national discourse. 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! Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction on ICE shooting in Minneapolis 01:00 Nobody in administration wants to investigate ICE shooting 02:15 J.D. Vance just idly speculated that ICE was in the right 04:15 DHS recruiting has a militaristic undertone 06:00 DHS has used propaganda to fuel rage in ICE recruits 07:15 Administration is rationalizing the death rather than lamenting it 08:30 There’s an intentionality to which cities are targeted by ICE 09:45 Administration is trying to create confrontation in order to crack down 10:30 This isn’t about left vs. right, it’s about right vs. wrong 11:30 Video contradicts Kristi Noem’s version of events, Tom Homan backtracks 12:15 Police forces don’t normally jump to conclusions 14:15 Campaign to demonize Somalis in Minneapolis led to ICE deployment 15:30 Deployments are meant to maximize, not minimize exposure for raids 16:30 Feds taking control of investigation, community won’t believe outcome 18:00 Administration is using woman’s death as a piece of propaganda 19:00 Trump is acting like his time is running out & he can do what he wants 20:15 No eyewitness accounts match story admin is telling 22:15 Republicans are in huge trouble politically 23:15 American democracy is both fragile and strong 25:00 Admin doesn’t have credibility to provide trustworthy investigation 27:30 ICE needs new leadership and a better code of conduct 29:15 Government is looking to exploit the difficulty in trying to find truth 30:30 Public is supportive of some of Trump’s goals, but appalled by tactics 32:30 Trump doesn’t tolerate any disagreement from within the GOP 35:00 The worst virus in American politics is “Whataboutism”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd is on vacation but the fresh content keeps coming! Chuck empties the 2025 mailbag and answers a variety of listeners’ questions regarding media, politics, history and sports.   If you’d like to ask Chuck a question, shoot us an email at AskChuck@thechucktoddcast.com   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! Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!   Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:45 As a network on public airwaves, shouldn’t CBS News be neutral? 09:00 How should public figures react to being the targets of satire? 15:00 Why is there a mass exodus of staff from the Heritage Foundation? 18:30 Thoughts on the infusion of prediction markets with political coverage? 23:15 How long does it take for a presidential term to become irrelevant? 30:30 What if Biden stuck with 1 term promise and reformed the presidency? 35:15 What if Russia never sold Alaska to the United States? 38:00 Was the country really united in grief over Garfield’s passing? 42:30 Thoughts on LeBron episode? Magic Johnson should be in GOAT debate 45:15 What one word would you use to describe the year ahead? 49:15 Why don’t we see monopoly concerns over the trading card market? 53:30 Any book recommendations to help understand Roy Cohn? 57:00 Miami’s connection to the cold war portrayed in “Covert City”? 58:30 How does it feel to be an independent journalist after years with NBC? 59:30 Are more people “seeing the light” as MAGA’s coalition cracks? 1:00:45 What are your takeaways from interviewing Andy Beshear? 1:06:00 How did you become a Packers fan after growing up in Miami?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.