The Chuck ToddCast

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

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down why Washington feels paralyzed — and how Trump’s gravitational pull still dictates everything from congressional gridlock to campaign strategy. From Mike Johnson’s dependence on Trump to Democrats’ internal tug-of-war between moderates and progressives, Chuck explores how both parties are struggling to govern in a fractured information ecosystem. He also looks at growing calls among policy thinkers for constitutional reform — from term limits and age caps to rethinking the incentives that drive political behavior. Despite the chaos, Chuck makes the case for cautious optimism: America’s democracy may be clogged, but it’s not beyond repair. Then, filmmaker Billy Corben joins Chuck Todd to talk about his new documentary Men of War—a wild true story that Corben calls “Florida Man with international implications.” The film follows a group of would-be mercenaries and ex-soldiers who tried to stage a coup in Venezuela, exposing how Miami’s shadowy underworld collides with global politics. Corben and Todd dive into the cocaine-fueled chaos of Miami in the ’80s and ’90s, the psychological toll of endless war, and how one ex-Green Beret accidentally stumbled into Trump’s orbit while plotting regime change. From Marco Rubio’s precarious foreign policy balancing act to the ongoing collapse of the Democratic Party in Florida, Chuck and Billy explore how Latin American politics, disinformation, and corruption all intertwine in the Sunshine State. Plus, they discuss Miami’s misunderstood identity, Trump’s rumored presidential library, and whether the city’s mayoral race signals what’s next for Florida’s political future. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and looks ahead to the weekend in college football. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:15 When Trump is overseas, the news cycle feels slower & less urgent 03:15 The American government is clogged like a toilet 04:00 Mike Johnson can’t do anything without Trump 05:15 There are not enough empowered moderates in congress 07:00 Republicans haven’t created an ACA alternative for 10 years 08:30 Democrats could pay a price for SNAP benefit cut 10:00 Democrats can extend funding for 3 weeks, and keep their leverage 12:30 The political elite in DC has self segregated in Trump 2.0 13:45 There’s no security for companies holding government contracts  15:00 Grifters have flooded to DC 15:45 Some progressives feel they can take over the Democratic party 16:30 Moderate Dems trying to find a way to grow the coalition 17:15 Large group of policy analysts worried about information ecosystem 18:45 DC gatherings being held to discuss preventing another Trump 21:00 America desperately needs to update the constitution 22:30 We shouldn’t be afraid to ask voters to make big changes 23:15 Strong argument for a 75 year old age limit for office 25:00 Trump is too lazy to pursue the worst course of history 26:45 The case for optimism during a dark political moment 27:30 Reforming the constitution is an 80/20 issue 28:15 Case for reform needs to tied to voters day to day lives 30:30 A bull in the China shop personality cult can’t run a country 31:30 We need to update the blueprint of the democracy 33:15 We desperately need better incentive structures for leaders 35:15 A leader needs to make the case for reform that isn’t about themselves or Trump 40:30 Billy Corben joins the Chuck ToddCast  42:30 Men of War is basically "Bay of Pigs" for Venezuela  43:15 Men of War is perfectly timed for today's news cycle  44:15 Cocaine boom was huge in Miami in the 80's & 90's  45:30 Men of War is "Florida Man w/ international implications"  47:30 The psychological damage of multiple tour deployments  49:30 The main character Jordan is a "post-modern" version of a soldier  53:45 Protagonist accidentally entered Trump's high end orbit  58:00 Jordan needed to put together a trailer to find financiers for his coup  1:00:00 Shady international characters are common in Miami  1:00:45 Reception from the Venezuelan community for the doc?  1:02:45 Everybody in Miami wants to be president of a free Cuba  1:04:00 1950s cars are the only private possessions in Cuba  1:06:30 Chuck's grandfather worked in Cuba, had to display photos of Castro  1:09:00 Miami is misunderstood as a melting pot when it isn't  1:09:45 Miami has self segregated its neighborhoods  1:10:30 60% of Florida Venezuelans voted for Trump, now leaving the state  1:12:00 If ICE targets south Florida, there could be a massive political shift  1:13:15 Marco Rubio = Anakin Skywalker? Preventing the very worst of Trump  1:14:00 Rubio will be the fall guy for any major foreign policy failure  1:15:00 Administration is playing with fire in Venezuela  1:16:30 Congress has no idea what the administration is doing in Venezuela  1:18:00 The failed Venezuelan coup was memory holed because of Covid  1:20:00 Feels like we're redoing Latin American policy of the 80's  1:20:45 How has Jordan Goudreau not gotten a pardon from Trump?  1:23:00 American intervention in Latin America never goes well  1:24:30 End of USAID is creating vacuum in poor countries being filled by China  1:26:00 What does a "free Venezuela" look like in the Trump 2.0 era?  1:27:30 Jordan Goudreau feels betrayed by the American government  1:28:30 Algorithms have ruined social media  1:29:30 Is Miami-Dade red, blue, purple or something else politically?  1:33:00 Trump's future presidential library slated for Miami  1:34:15 Miami is still a firm red county  1:36:30 Nothing is going well in Florida for the Democratic party  1:37:15 Trump is less popular in Florida than he was a year ago  1:38:30 Who wins the mayor's race in Miami?  1:40:15 Mayor's race will head to a December runoff  1:42:30 There's historically been brazen corruption in Miami mayoral races  1:44:00 Trump thinks "asylum" means mental institution  1:46:30 Thoughts on Mario Cristobal  1:49:00 Miami can survive 1 loss and make the playoff, but not 2  1:52:30 Reuben Bain feels like a vintage Miami player 1:58:00 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Billy Corben  1:58:30 Ask Chuck  1:59:15 Would Dems impeach with control of both houses of Congress in '27?  2:03:45 Should we be paying congress more to attract better candidates?  2:08:45 If possible, would you make the US a parliamentary system?  2:14:15 Is 60 Minutes devolving into a FOX style program that lobs softballs?  2:20:15 Violent and dangerous rhetoric not equal on both sides?  2:24:00 World series reaction  2:28:00 College football previewSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Filmmaker Billy Corben joins Chuck Todd to talk about his new documentary Men of War—a wild true story that Corben calls “Florida Man with international implications.” The film follows a group of would-be mercenaries and ex-soldiers who tried to stage a coup in Venezuela, exposing how Miami’s shadowy underworld collides with global politics. Corben and Todd dive into the cocaine-fueled chaos of Miami in the ’80s and ’90s, the psychological toll of endless war, and how one ex-Green Beret accidentally stumbled into Trump’s orbit while plotting regime change. From Marco Rubio’s precarious foreign policy balancing act to the ongoing collapse of the Democratic Party in Florida, Chuck and Billy explore how Latin American politics, disinformation, and corruption all intertwine in the Sunshine State. Plus, they discuss Miami’s misunderstood identity, Trump’s rumored presidential library, and whether the city’s mayoral race signals what’s next for Florida’s political future. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Billy Corben joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 Men of War is basically “Bay of Pigs” for Venezuela 02:45 Men of War is perfectly timed for today’s news cycle 03:45 Cocaine boom was huge in Miami in the 80’s & 90’s 05:00 Men of War is “Florida Man w/ international implications” 07:00 The psychological damage of multiple tour deployments 09:00 The main character Jordan is a “post-modern” version of a soldier 13:15 Protagonist accidentally entered Trump’s high end orbit 17:30 Jordan needed to put together a trailer to find financiers for his coup 19:30 Shady international characters are common to find in Miami 20:15 Reception from the Venezuelan community for the doc? 22:15 Everybody in Miami wants to be president of a free Cuba 23:30 1950s cars are the only private possessions in Cuba 26:00 Chuck’s grandfather worked in Cuba, had to display photos of Castro 28:30 Miami is misunderstood as a melting pot when it isn’t 29:15 Miami has self segregated its neighborhoods 30:00 60% of Florida Venezuelans voted for Trump, now leaving the state 31:30 If ICE targets south Florida, there could be a massive political shift 32:45 Marco Rubio = Anakin Skywalker? Preventing the very worst of Trump 33:30 Rubio will be the fall guy for any major foreign policy failure 34:30 Administration is playing with fire in Venezuela 36:00 Congress has no idea what the administration is doing in Venezuela 37:30 The failed Venezuelan coup was memory holed because of Covid 39:30 Feels like we’re redoing Latin American policy of the 80’s 40:15 How has Jordan Goudreau not gotten a pardon from Trump? 42:30 American intervention in Latin America never goes well 44:00 End of USAID is creating vacuum in poor countries being filled by China 45:30 What does a “free Venezuela” look like in the Trump 2.0 era? 47:00 Jordan Goudreau feels betrayed by the American government 48:00 Algorithms have ruined social media 49:00 Is Miami-Dade red, blue, purple or something else politically? 52:30 Trump’s future presidential library slated for Miami 53:45 Miami is still a firm red county  56:00 Nothing is going well in Florida for the Democratic party 56:45 Trump is less popular in Florida than he was a year ago 58:00 Who wins the mayor’s race in Miami? 59:45 Mayor’s race will head to a December runoff 1:02:00 There’s historically been brazen corruption in Miami mayoral races 1:03:30 Trump thinks “asylum” means mental institution 1:06:00 Thoughts on Mario Cristobal  1:08:30 Miami can survive 1 loss and make the playoff, but not 2 1:12:00 Reuben Bain feels like a vintage Miami playerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd breaks down why this year’s elections may be local—but their impact will be national. From Virginia’s bellwether governor’s race to key contests in New Jersey and New York City, these results will offer a preview of the political mood heading into the 2026 midterms. Chuck dives into Abigail Spanberger’s cautious campaign strategy, Winsome Earle-Sears’ grievance-fueled messaging, and why Virginia voters rarely reward extremes. Plus, a look at how third-party candidates could shake up the New Jersey race and why Zohran Mamdani’s performance in NYC will signal the direction of the progressive movement. Finally, Chuck reveals his ToddCast Top 5 list of American political scions running in upcoming election and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:00 Chuck will be LIVE on Youtube & X on election night!  05:30 The 2025 elections are local, but will have national impact  06:15 Virginia is a fairly good bellwether state for national politics  07:00 Virginia is purple but is not MAGA  07:30 Party controlling White House almost always loses VA governor race  08:45 Spanberger has run a very cautious campaign  09:45 Winsome Earle-Sears has been throwing things at the wall  10:45 Virginia voters don't reward grievance politics  12:15 Virginia hasn't split ticket amongst big three races since 2005  14:15 Spanberger has kept Jay Jones at arms length  17:00 Virginia will give us preview of which way field is tilting for midterms  17:30 2018 class of Democrats has produced some high profile candidates  18:45 Mikie Sherill has run a more contested race than Spanberger  19:45 Ciaterreli outperformed polls in 2021, could happen again  21:45 Third party candidates could swing the NJ governor race  22:00 Mamdani will win in NYC, it's a matter of whether he clears 50%  24:00 Mamdani needs a big margin in order to have a mandate  25:15 What the results will tell us about the 2026 midterm landscape 29:00 ToddCast Top 5 - Top 5 American Political Scions  30:45 It's been a bad run lately for run for political scions  31:30 #1 Maine governor race features 3 political scions  33:30 #2 Georgia governor race features 2 political scions  34:45 #3 Beau Bayh 36:00 #4 Jack Schlossberg  37:45 #5 Chip Keating  38:45 Honorable mention - Andrew White  39:45 Ask Chuck  40:00 What if we had public debates where only verified facts are allowed?  43:30 Would state level Democratic parties create a separate platform from DNC  47:00 How do you define "short term" and "long term" when describing politics?  50:30 Will markets dip in Trump's second year like it does historically?  56:15 Who are three modern political thinkers best suited to express our ideals?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd breaks down why this year’s elections may be local—but their impact will be national. From Virginia’s bellwether governor’s race to key contests in New Jersey and New York City, these results will offer a preview of the political mood heading into the 2026 midterms. Chuck dives into Abigail Spanberger’s cautious campaign strategy, Winsome Earle-Sears’ grievance-fueled messaging, and why Virginia voters rarely reward extremes. Plus, a look at how third-party candidates could shake up the New Jersey race and why Zohran Mamdani’s performance in NYC will signal the direction of the progressive movement. Veteran Nevada journalist and author of the upcoming book “The Game Changer”, Jon Ralston joins to break down how the Silver State became America’s ultimate political bellwether — and what that means heading into 2026. They explore how the state’s service-based economy, booming Hispanic population, and explosion of non-affiliated voters have reshaped Nevada politics, plus how “No Tax on Tips” gave Trump an unexpected foothold. Ralston explains why Vegas’ tourism slump could upend the next governor’s race and how corporatization has changed the city’s character. They also dig into the state of local journalism — from the challenges of nonprofit reporting to competing against hedge fund-owned outlets — and reflect on the late Harry Reid’s political legacy. From power-hungry governors to the fight for Nevada’s “first-in-the-nation” status, this episode reveals why what happens in Vegas won’t be staying there in 2026. Finally, Chuck reveals his ToddCast Top 5 list of American political scions running in upcoming election and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:45 Chuck will be LIVE on Youtube & X on election night! 06:15 The 2025 elections are local, but will have national impact 07:00 Virginia is a fairly good bellwether state for national politics 07:45 Virginia is purple but is not MAGA 08:15 Party controlling White House almost always loses VA governor race 09:30 Spanberger has run a very cautious campaign 10:30 Winsome Earle-Sears has been throwing things at the wall 11:30 Virginia voters don’t reward grievance politics 13:00 Virginia hasn’t split ticket amongst big three races since 2005 15:00 Spanberger has kept Jay Jones at arms length 17:45 Virginia will give us preview of which way field is tilting for midterms 18:15 2018 class of Democrats has produced some high profile candidates 19:30 Mikie Sherill has run a more contested race than Spanberger 20:30 Ciaterreli outperformed polls in 2021, could happen again 22:30 Third party candidates could swing the NJ governor race 22:45 Mamdani will win in NYC, it’s a matter of whether he clears 50% 24:45 Mamdani needs a big margin in order to have a mandate 26:00 What the results will tell us about the 2026 midterm landscape 30:15 Jon Ralston joins the Chuck ToddCast  32:15 Adapting to the breakneck speed of the news cycle  34:15 Nevada has become the preeminent swing state in America  37:00 The service industry & growing hispanic population define Vegas  37:45 Nevada is a bellwether for the Democratic party  39:30 Nevada continuing to lobby for first in the nation status  41:00 Las Vegas natives are a rarity, Vegas is a destination  42:45 Trump was able to connect with NV voters via "No Tax on Tips"  43:45 NV voters felt Democratic party took them for granted  44:45 Nevada's governor has a lot of power  47:15 There's been an explosion of non affiliated voters in Nevada  48:45 Is either major party making a strong case to non affiliated voters?  50:15 How competitive will the Nevada governor's race be?  52:45 Does Joe Lombardo have ambition outside the state of Nevada?  53:45 Lombardo's strategy could look similar to Glenn Youngkin's  55:45 What's behind the drop in tourism to Vegas?  56:45 Canada, immigration policy and lack of value proposition hurting Vegas  57:45 Corporatization of casinos & high prices have driven away tourists  58:45 Tourism drop could greatly impact the governor's race  59:15 Any progress on diversifying the Nevada economy?  1:00:30 Making Vegas "Hollywood East" comes with huge challenges  1:02:00 Would energy be the best way to diversify the Vegas economy?  1:02:45 Warren Buffet has monopoly on NV utilities, preventing new investment  1:03:45 Nonprofit vs for profit journalism  1:05:15 Dealing with big moneyed interests as a nonprofit journalists  1:07:15 Local journalism in Nevada has mostly been hollowed out  1:08:00 Dealing with "donor fatigue" as a nonprofit journalist  1:09:30 Journalism skills translate well to uncomfortable fundraising asks  1:11:15 Challenges in the advertising space for journalism  1:13:15 Why have advertising dollars been harder to get for news orgs?  1:15:45 Hedge funds acquired newspapers for their real estate  1:17:45 Journalism has to be done in-person and in the field  1:18:30 What would Harry Reid's advice be for the Dem party of today?  1:20:00 Reid died early on into the process of Jon writing "The Game Changer"  1:21:00 Reid wouldn't be happy with what Chuck Schumer is doing  1:23:15 Reid and McConnell collectively delegitimized the judicial branch  1:25:15 How would Reid have handled confrontation with Trump?  1:29:30 How are you feeling about your Buffalo Bills? 1:35:00 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Jon Ralston  1:35:30 ToddCast Top 5 - Top 5 American Political Scions  1:37:15 It's been a bad run lately for run for political scions  1:38:00 #1 Maine governor race features 3 political scions  1:40:00 #2 Georgia governor race features 2 political scions  1:41:15 #3 Beau Bayh  1:42:30 #4 Jack Schlossberg  1:44:15 #5 Chip Keating  1:45:15 Honorable mention - Andrew White  1:46:15 Ask Chuck  1:46:30 What if we had public debates where only verified facts are allowed?  1:50:00 Would state level Democratic parties create a separate platform from DNC  1:53:30 How do you define "short term" and "long term" when describing politics?  1:57:00 Will markets dip in Trump's second year like it does historically?  2:02:45 Who are three modern political thinkers best suited to express our ideals?  2:06:30 How can Trump try to disrupt the election and how effective will he be?  2:10:00 Is it more likely that Kirk's shooter was part of Trump's community?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Veteran Nevada journalist and author of the upcoming book “The Game Changer”, Jon Ralston joins Chuck Todd to break down how the Silver State became America’s ultimate political bellwether — and what that means heading into 2026. They explore how the state’s service-based economy, booming Hispanic population, and explosion of non-affiliated voters have reshaped Nevada politics, plus how “No Tax on Tips” gave Trump an unexpected foothold. Ralston explains why Vegas’ tourism slump could upend the next governor’s race and how corporatization has changed the city’s character. They also dig into the state of local journalism — from the challenges of nonprofit reporting to competing against hedge fund-owned outlets — and reflect on the late Harry Reid’s political legacy. From power-hungry governors to the fight for Nevada’s “first-in-the-nation” status, this episode reveals why what happens in Vegas won’t be staying there in 2026. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: 00:00 Jon Ralston joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 Adapting to the breakneck speed of the news cycle 04:00 Nevada has become the preeminent swing state in America 06:45 The service industry & growing hispanic population define Vegas 07:30 Nevada is a bellwether for the Democratic party 09:15 Nevada continuing to lobby for first in the nation status 10:45 Las Vegas natives are a rarity, Vegas is a destination 12:30 Trump was able to connect with NV voters via “No Tax on Tips” 13:30 NV voters felt Democratic party took them for granted 14:30 Nevada’s governor has a lot of power 17:00 There’s been an explosion of non affiliated voters in Nevada 18:30 Is either major party making a strong case to non affiliated voters? 20:00 How competitive will the Nevada governor’s race be? 22:30 Does Joe Lombardo have ambition outside the state of Nevada? 23:30 Lombardo’s strategy could look similar to Glenn Youngkin’s 25:30 What’s behind the drop in tourism to Vegas? 26:30 Canada, immigration policy and lack of value proposition hurting Vegas 27:30 Corporatization of casinos & high prices have driven away tourists 28:30 Tourism drop could greatly impact the governor’s race 29:00 Any progress on diversifying the Nevada economy? 30:15 Making Vegas “Hollywood East” comes with huge challenges 31:45 Would energy be the best way to diversify the Vegas economy? 32:30 Warren Buffet has monopoly on NV utilities, preventing new investment 33:30 Nonprofit vs for profit journalism 35:00 Dealing with big moneyed interests as a nonprofit journalists 37:00 Local journalism in Nevada has mostly been hollowed out 37:45 Dealing with “donor fatigue” as a nonprofit journalist 39:15 Journalism skills translate well to uncomfortable fundraising asks 41:00 Challenges in the advertising space for journalism 43:00 Why have advertising dollars been harder to get for news orgs? 45:30 Hedge funds acquired newspapers for their real estate 47:30 Journalism has to be done in-person and in the field 48:15 What would Harry Reid’s advice be for the Dem party of today? 49:45 Reid died early on into the process of Jon writing “The Game Changer” 50:45 Reid wouldn’t be happy with what Chuck Schumer is doing 53:00 Reid and McConnell collectively delegitimized the judicial branch 55:00 How would Reid have handled confrontation with Trump? 59:15 How are you feeling about your Buffalo Bills?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd breaks down the ongoing government shutdown and the deep dysfunction gripping Washington. With the shutdown dragging into late October, Trump is reportedly tapping private donors to pay the military, while Speaker Mike Johnson keeps the House out of session — a move Chuck calls a major political blunder. As Trump consolidates control over both the presidency and Congress, Republicans appear more focused on shielding him than exercising oversight. Meanwhile, the Oversight Committee under James Comer has devolved into partisan theater, investigating the Bidens while ignoring blatant corruption in Trump’s orbit. Chuck argues that without real congressional checks, America risks drifting toward the kind of pre-revolutionary rot the Founders warned about — where power, privilege, and impunity rule unchecked. Then, filmmaker Raoul Peck joins Chuck to discuss his powerful new documentary Orwell: 2+2=5 — an exploration of truth, propaganda, and power in the age of Trump. Peck, whose work often examines systems of control and colonialism, draws from Orwell’s life and letters to reveal how 1984 was never just a warning about the future — it was a reflection of the present. He and Chuck unpack how doublespeak, “alternative facts,” and the rewriting of history have crept into modern democracies, from the U.S. to Russia, and what Orwell’s insights reveal about the fragility of truth today. Peck also reflects on his own Haitian roots and how the legacy of colonialism still shapes global politics, from America’s interference in Haiti to its uneasy role as an arbiter of democracy abroad. The conversation turns to the media’s complicity in enabling authoritarian narratives, the dangers of AI-driven misinformation, and why reclaiming truth — and teaching future generations to defend it — may be the defining struggle of our time. Finally, he hops in the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the publication of the Federalist Papers and why their lessons are extremely pertinent in the Trump era, answers questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and gives his college football recap.  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 06:00 The government shutdown continues into the end of October 06:45 Trump tapping private donor to pay the military 07:45 Democrats have earned the leverage to reopen the government 08:15 Mike Johnson making a huge mistake by keeping House out of session 10:00 Voters want Congress to serve as a check on an unpopular president 11:45 House Republicans look like they’re out to lunch & on vacation 12:45 Trump says he’s both the speaker and the president 15:30 Sen. Lankford admits R’s would be furious if Biden was doing what Trump is 16:30 Everything now is viewed or ignored through a partisan lens 18:45 Without congressional oversight, we lose our founding framework 19:30 Qatari jet gift was the type of bribe our founders warned about 20:30 Republicans in charge of oversight ignoring plane bribe 21:30 Trump using coin scheme to build international bribery racket, R’s ignore it 23:00 The oversight committee under Comer has become a partisan weapon 23:45 Trump is ordering the DOJ to compensate his own business 25:15 Trump is using his power to direct money to his companies 26:00 The double standard from Republicans is insulting to the American people 28:45 Trump’s orbit is giving pre-revolutionary France vibes 29:30 Oversight is still investigating the Biden family 30:15 Democrats aren’t on moral high ground after Biden’s family pardons 31:15 If the Bidens were doing anything Trump was doing, R’s would impeach 32:00 Oversight has become partisan entertainment 32:45 Democrats weren’t interested in Epstein until it entangled Trump 33:30 Trump’s desperation to hold the house is to avoid oversight 34:15 Trump could stonewall oversight, but private companies can’t 35:00 Private companies can’t go to law enforcement when extorted 35:45 Mike Johnson is the weakest speaker in the modern era 37:45 Raoul Peck joins the Chuck ToddCast  39:15 How did you end up directing Orwell 2+2=5?  41:15 Coming from Haiti, you have a real understanding of abuse of power  42:45 Working with legendary documentarian Alex Gibney on the project  44:15 Would the film have been released if Kamala Harris had one?  45:45 Americans are becoming familiar with "doublespeak" under Trump  46:45 The contradiction of leading democracies being colonial  47:30 Orwell grew up in India, saw colonialism firsthand  48:45 Orwell joined Imperial Police Force in Burma  50:00 Orwell's letters revealed his inspiration and thought process  51:00 Orwell struggled to finish 1984 while very sick  52:00 Using historical media to create the documentary, no re-enactments  54:30 Why not tell this story in a movie? Does 1984 need to be re-made?  55:45 1984 was only a portion of the story  56:45 Orwell was writing about the present and warning about the future  58:30 US story starting with lies about the Iraq War using propaganda  1:00:00 Americans think authoritarianism only comes from "the other side"  1:00:45 Language sets the stage for the erosion of democracy  1:01:30 Authoritarians seek to remake and revise history  1:02:30 Russian citizens have basically given up on truth, don't believe anything  1:03:15 Trump's use of "alternative facts" is incredibly Orwellian  1:04:15 Trump accuses any negative coverage of being "fake news"  1:05:00 U.S. government purging certain words from their websites  1:07:00 Authoritarian takeovers can move very quickly  1:07:45 Journalism and discourse are controlled by a few tech companies  1:08:30 Trouble distributing the documentary in the current political climate?  1:10:00 Documentary breaking records…. But what does that say?  1:11:30 Too many people are tuning out during Trump's second term  1:12:00 People take democracy and their freedoms for granted  1:13:15 Mike Pence saved democracy… temporarily  1:14:15 AI generated videos will make people questions everything  1:15:15 Most of the press is captive to a few billionaires  1:16:15 The technology isn't the problem, lack of regulation is  1:17:45 Humans will want interpersonal contact in AI era  1:19:45 There is no such thing as neutrality in politics  1:21:15 Beating authoritarianism will take a generation in America  1:23:00 Why have Haiti and the Dominican Republic gone so differently?  1:24:45 The slave rebellion caused the U.S. to treat Haiti as a pariah  1:26:15 Haiti suffered from "cannon diplomacy" from colonial powers  1:27:00 The U.S. meddling in Haiti has always caused problems  1:29:15 U.S. has always asserted control in the western hemisphere  1:30:45 Next project is doc about assasination of Haiti's president  1:31:45 Using AI as a tool in creating films?  1:33:45 Government has performed almost no oversight of AI 1:36:00 ToddCast Time Machine  1:36:45 This week, in 1787 was the initial publication of the Federalist Papers  1:37:30 The papers were America's first political blog  1:38:30 Hamilton began by debating whether reason or rage would win out  1:39:45 Federalist #51 argued ambition must be made to counteract ambition  1:41:00 America's biggest problem now is an extraordinarily weak congress  1:41:45 Hamilton warned of political parties & can't limit it to one or two  1:42:45 Federalist #70 warned against an overly powerful executive  1:43:45 Federalist #65 worried that impeachment would become a partisan exercise  1:45:45 Federalist #78 argued that judges should never be elected  1:47:00 Madison argued in favor of slow deliberation  1:48:30 Founders warned that too few representatives breeds corruption  1:50:00 Hamilton argued that rights are only guaranteed by people enforcing them  1:52:00 Ask Chuck  1:52:15 Should Democrats flip the script and use "America First" messaging?  1:54:45 Should Democrats reign in ActBlue for advertising?  1:58:45 Why are there no consequences for cabinet members lying to congress?  2:00:45 Will Trump governing only for supporters backfire in the midterms?  2:04:15 College football updateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd breaks down the ongoing government shutdown and the deep dysfunction gripping Washington. With the shutdown dragging into late October, Trump is reportedly tapping private donors to pay the military, while Speaker Mike Johnson keeps the House out of session — a move Chuck calls a major political blunder. As Trump consolidates control over both the presidency and Congress, Republicans appear more focused on shielding him than exercising oversight. Meanwhile, the Oversight Committee under James Comer has devolved into partisan theater, investigating the Bidens while ignoring blatant corruption in Trump’s orbit. Chuck argues that without real congressional checks, America risks drifting toward the kind of pre-revolutionary rot the Founders warned about — where power, privilege, and impunity rule unchecked. Finally, he hops in the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the publication of the Federalist Papers and why their lessons are extremely pertinent in the Trump era, answers questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and gives his college football recap.  Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:00 The government shutdown continues into the end of October  02:45 Trump tapping private donor to pay the military  03:45 Democrats have earned the leverage to reopen the government  04:15 Mike Johnson making a huge mistake by keeping House out of session  06:00 Voters want Congress to serve as a check on an unpopular president  07:45 House Republicans look like they're out to lunch & on vacation  08:45 Trump says he's both the speaker and the president  11:30 Sen. Lankford admits R's would be furious if Biden was doing what Trump is  12:30 Everything now is viewed or ignored through a partisan lens  14:45 Without congressional oversight, we lose our founding framework  15:30 Qatari jet gift was the type of bribe our founders warned about  16:30 Republicans in charge of oversight ignoring plane bribe  17:30 Trump using coin scheme to build international bribery racket, R's ignore it  19:00 The oversight committee under Comer has become a partisan weapon  19:45 Trump is ordering the DOJ to compensate his own business  21:15 Trump is using his power to direct money to his companies  22:00 The double standard from Republicans is insulting to the American people  24:45 Trump's orbit is giving pre-revolutionary France vibes  25:30 Oversight is still investigating the Biden family  26:15 Democrats aren't on moral high ground after Biden's family pardons  27:15 If the Bidens were doing anything Trump was doing, R's would impeach  28:00 Oversight has become partisan entertainment  28:45 Democrats weren't interested in Epstein until it entangled Trump  29:30 Trump's desperation to hold the house is to avoid oversight  30:15 Trump could stonewall oversight, but private companies can't  31:00 Private companies can't go to law enforcement when extorted  31:45 Mike Johnson is the weakest speaker in the modern era 34:00 ToddCast Time Machine  34:45 This week, in 1787 was the initial publication of the Federalist Papers  35:30 The papers were America's first political blog  36:30 Hamilton began by debating whether reason or rage would win out  37:45 Federalist #51 argued ambition must be made to counteract ambition  39:00 America's biggest problem now is an extraordinarily weak congress  39:45 Hamilton warned of political parties & can't limit it to one or two  40:45 Federalist #70 warned against an overly powerful executive  41:45 Federalist #65 worried that impeachment would become a partisan exercise  43:45 Federalist #78 argued that judges should never be elected  45:00 Madison argued in favor of slow deliberation  46:30 Founders warned that too few representatives breeds corruption  48:00 Hamilton argued that rights are only guaranteed by people enforcing them  50:00 Ask Chuck  50:15 Should Democrats flip the script and use "America First" messaging?  52:45 Should Democrats reign in ActBlue for advertising?  56:45 Why are there no consequences for cabinet members lying to congress?  58:45 Will Trump governing only for supporters backfire in the midterms?  1:02:15 College football updateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, filmmaker Raoul Peck joins Chuck to discuss his powerful new documentary Orwell: 2+2=5 — an exploration of truth, propaganda, and power in the age of Trump. Peck, whose work often examines systems of control and colonialism, draws from Orwell’s life and letters to reveal how 1984 was never just a warning about the future — it was a reflection of the present. He and Chuck unpack how doublespeak, “alternative facts,” and the rewriting of history have crept into modern democracies, from the U.S. to Russia, and what Orwell’s insights reveal about the fragility of truth today. Peck also reflects on his own Haitian roots and how the legacy of colonialism still shapes global politics, from America’s interference in Haiti to its uneasy role as an arbiter of democracy abroad. The conversation turns to the media’s complicity in enabling authoritarian narratives, the dangers of AI-driven misinformation, and why reclaiming truth — and teaching future generations to defend it — may be the defining struggle of our time. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Raoul Peck joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 How did you end up directing Orwell 2+2=5? 03:30 Coming from Haiti, you have a real understanding of abuse of power 05:00 Working with legendary documentarian Alex Gibney on the project 06:30 Would the film have been released if Kamala Harris had one? 08:00 Americans are becoming familiar with “doublespeak” under Trump 09:00 The contradiction of leading democracies being colonial 09:45 Orwell grew up in India, saw colonialism firsthand 11:00 Orwell joined Imperial Police Force in Burma 12:15 Orwell’s letters revealed his inspiration and thought process 13:15 Orwell struggled to finish 1984 while very sick 14:15 Using historical media to create the documentary, no re-enactments 16:45 Why not tell this story in a movie? Does 1984 need to be re-made? 18:00 1984 was only a portion of the story 19:00 Orwell was writing about the present and warning about the future 20:45 US story starting with lies about the Iraq War using propaganda 22:15 Americans think authoritarianism only comes from “the other side” 23:00 Language sets the stage for the erosion of democracy 23:45 Authoritarians seek to remake and revise history 24:45 Russian citizens have basically given up on truth, don’t believe anything 25:30 Trump’s use of “alternative facts” is incredibly Orwellian 26:30 Trump accuses any negative coverage of being “fake news” 27:15 U.S. government purging certain words from their websites 29:15 Authoritarian takeovers can move very quickly 30:00 Journalism and discourse are controlled by a few tech companies 30:45 Trouble distributing the documentary in the current political climate? 32:15 Documentary breaking records…. But what does that say? 33:45 Too many people are tuning out during Trump’s second term 34:15 People take democracy and their freedoms for granted 35:30 Mike Pence saved democracy… temporarily 36:30 AI generated videos will make people questions everything 37:30 Most of the press is captive to a few billionaires 38:30 The technology isn’t the problem, lack of regulation is 40:00 Humans will want interpersonal contact in AI era 42:00 There is no such thing as neutrality in politics 43:30 Beating authoritarianism will take a generation in America 45:15 Why have Haiti and the Dominican Republic gone so differently? 47:00 The slave rebellion caused the U.S. to treat Haiti as a pariah 48:30 Haiti suffered from “cannon diplomacy” from colonial powers 49:15 The U.S. meddling in Haiti has always caused problems 51:30 U.S. has always asserted control in the western hemisphere 53:00 Next project is doc about assasination of Haiti’s president 54:00 Using AI as a tool in creating films? 56:00 Government has performed almost no oversight of AISee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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