The Chuck ToddCast

Chuck Todd begins with a critical assessment of the Democratic Party's first 100 days under the Trump administration, noting widespread discontent among Democratic voters with party leadership. He examines the positioning of potential 2028 contenders, with AOC emerging as Bernie Sanders' heir apparent, Buttigieg and Pritzker carefully laying groundwork, and Gavin Newsom attempting to distance himself from his progressive reputation. He highlights Arizona's Ruben Gallego as a potential breakthrough national figure while acknowledging the Democratic brand remains problematic with many voters despite individual politicians' popularity. Then he dives into a fascinating conversation with "Black Mirror" creator Charlie Brooker, who discusses his dystopian anthology series through the lens of human response to technology rather than the technology itself. Brooker reflects on social media's evolution from optimistic beginning to profit-driven outrage machine, and shares insights on artificial intelligence's most pressing concerns: job displacement and algorithmic management. The conversation covers wide-ranging topics including healthcare differences between the US and UK, AI's impact on education and emotional connections, and the accelerating pace of technological change that feels increasingly destabilizing. Throughout, Brooker maintains his characteristic blend of dark humor and thoughtful analysis about our relationship with technology, even touching on how the COVID pandemic influenced his creative perspective. The episode concludes with "Ask Chuck," where Todd addresses listener questions about the potential echo chamber effect in local news, the potential fracturing of the Republican Party, and speculation about Trump's relationship with stock market fluctuations. 00:00 Introduction 02:15 The first 100 days report card for the Democratic Party 03:00 Democratic voters are not happy with party leadership 04:30 Which democratic leaders have performed well? 07:20 AOC has become the heir apparent to Bernie Sanders 10:30 Pete Buttigieg, JB Pritzker teeing up a 2028 run? 12:45 Gavin Newsom is trying to distance himself from his progressive brand 15:00 Ruben Gallego could break through on the national stage 16:30 The Democratic brand is still toxic with voters 18:25 Charlie Brooker joins the show! 18:45 Is Charlie the 21st century George Orwell 20:25 Is Black Mirror meant to be a warning? 22:25 The show isn't about technology, it's about the human response to these tools 25:25 First episode concept came from a podcast Charlie listened to 28:25 The concept of paying for healthcare is foreign outside of America 29:55 Facebook and X were fun at first, but then they turned up the dials for anger and grievance for profit 31:55 How long did Charlie have Black Mirror as an idea before it came to fruition? 33:55 Parallels between Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone? 36:00 We thought social media would be great for society… then it turned out quite differently 37:00 How worried should we be about AI? 40:15 The worry with AI will be two things. Will it take my job, and will it be my boss? 41:45 Has Charlie used AI to help with writing on Black Mirror? 42:15 Charlie's writing 44:00 People will be willing to pay more for human customer service rather than dealing with AI 46:30 Is Charlie obsessed with privacy? 48:00 Technology will always put someone out of work 50:15 Will we have to teach spelling in the future? Have we taken away something from society? 52:45 Robocop was an influence on Black Mirror 54:45 The show deals with futuristic concepts, but also feels like it's taking place in the present 56:30 Is Charlie extrapolating the future on his own, or does he talk to experts? 58:00 The inspiration behind the honeybee episode 59:45 Will we see AI avatars teaching history? 1:02:15 People get emotionally attached to AI companions 1:04:30 Will AI conclude that humans are a threat to progress 1:05:15 Technology...

Chuck Todd begins the show with a candid assessment of President Trump's troubled first 100 days, suggesting that Trump's authoritarian tendencies may stem more from laziness than deliberate strategy. He questions what it would take for Trump to improve his approval ratings, noting that someone truly interested in maintaining power would be working harder to communicate with non-supporters. Then he’s joined by Dr. Jodi Vittori, an expert on kleptocracy – rule by thieves. Dr. Vittori explains why functioning democracies and kleptocracies cannot coexist, offering Russia as the clearest example while suggesting Hungary represents a more subtle version. She warns that America's potential kleptocracy would have unique characteristics, with the tariff exemption process potentially serving as a gateway. The discussion explores how the Constitution originally included anti-corruption measures, how the Supreme Court has eroded these protections, and specific warning signs of kleptocratic governance. Dr. Vittori highlights how crypto enables corruption, why state and local governments are particularly vulnerable, and offers concrete reforms to protect democratic institutions. Their conversation concludes with the provocative question of whether Trump initiated America's slide toward kleptocracy or simply accelerated an existing trend. The episode wraps with "Ask Chuck," tackling listener questions about whether politicians should face legal consequences for lying to the public, what it would take to end gerrymandering, the definition of political moderation in today's polarized climate, and lightens the mood by speculating about which elected officials are most knowledgeable about sports. 00:00 Introduction 01:15 Trump’s first 100 days have gone badly 03:00 Trump is mailing it in 05:00 Trump’s authoritarianism is a product of laziness 08:00 What would it take for Trump to improve his approval rating? 12:00 If Trump was truly interested in a third term, he’d be communicating to non-supporters… and he’s not 13:25 Dr. Jodi Vittori joins the show! 14:35 Define "kleptocracy" and what are some examples? 16:25 You can't have kleptocracy in a functioning democracy 17:35 Is Putin's Russia the clearest example of kleptocracy? 18:55 Hungary is the more subtle version of kleptocracy 19:55 The US kleptocracy will be unique 21:25 Is the tariff exemption process how we end up in kleptocracy? 23:10 Much of the constitution was set up for anti corruption as they knew it at the time 24:55 The Supreme Court laid the foundation for this crisis 26:25 How do you know when you're in a kleptocracy? 27:40 Lack of accountability for elites led us here 28:40 Conflict of interest is unethical but not a crime 30:25 Until 1992 members of Congress could pocket their campaign war chest 31:40 Citizens United made America unique compared to other democracies 32:45 What are the next steps on the road to kleptocracy? 33:55 Crypto is a massive enabler of corruption 35:40 State and local governments are particularly susceptible to corruption 37:05 Are there certain states that have the most corruption? 40:10 What are some reforms that we should look to pass? 44:55 Lobbying used to be corporation vs citizens, now it's corporation vs corporation 45:55 The interests of the citizens are now secondary 47:40 We've enabled corruption 49:25 The US has become a tax haven for overseas money laundering 50:55 Did Trump bring about kleptocracy, or were we already on our way there? 52:25 How did Dr. Vitorri end up specializing in anti-corruption? 55:50 Chuck's thoughts on the interview with Dr. Vittori 57:00 Ask Chuck 57:15 Should politicians or government officials be legally liable for lying to, or misleading the public? 1:01:25 What would it take to stop gerrymandering? 1:07:40 What does it mean to be a political moderate? 1:12:15 What elected official is the most knowledgeable about sports?

In this packed episode, Chuck opens with a sobering assessment of President Trump's plummeting approval ratings and questions about his administration's credibility before diving into critical structural concerns about the Department of Justice's independence and the need to expand the House of Representatives. He shifts to Florida politics, where a brewing corruption scandal threatens the governor's race and Republicans are increasingly willing to challenge Ron DeSantis's weakened political standing. New York Congressman Dan Goldman joins for an extended interview about the concept of rule of law before and after his experience during impeachment proceedings. Goldman offers insights into Trump's challenges to fundamental constitutional principles and proposes concrete reforms to better protect America's democratic institutions, including codifying limits on presidential interference in prosecutions, strengthening congressional subpoena powers, and potentially restructuring the Justice Department with Federal Reserve-like independence. The episode's second half features political handicapper Dave Wasserman analyzing the evolving electoral landscape heading into the midterms. Wasserman explains how understanding local communities is crucial to predicting election outcomes, while lamenting the lack of quality coverage in smaller markets. He delivers a forecast that Democrats could see sizable gains in the House, with Trump's tariff policies potentially hurting Republicans in farm states. The discussion explores gerrymandering's changing impact, with both parties now complaining about the practice, and examines how the 2030 census might reshape the electoral map. Finally, they discuss the prospect of a “blue wave” in the 2026 midterm elections and whether we could see one or both chambers of congress change hands. Timeline 00:00 Multiple polls show sharp approval rating drop for Trump 03:00 Trump’s spokespeople are losing credibility 05:00 Department of Justice needs more independence 7:30 The House of Representatives needs to be expanded 8:45 White House Correspondents weekend was awkward 12:15 Corruption scandal looming over Florida governor race 13:15 Florida Republicans are no longer afraid of Ron DeSantis 15:30 Ron DeSantis may be weaker, but Florida Democrats aren’t stronger 17:00 The Shedeur Sanders commentary was ridiculous 19:10 Congressman Dan Goldman joins the show 19:40 What are the highlights of his district, NY-10? 26:35 What did "rule of law" mean to you before and after working on the impeachment proceedings? 30:25 Fundamental tenets of rule of law are being challenged 31:00 Amendments 4-10 are about equal protection under the law, for citizens and non-citizens 34:20 Trump has exposed why government is susceptible to leaders willing to break their oath of office 36:10 We need to codify into law that the president can't weigh in on individual prosecutions 38:40 Enforcement of congressional subpoenas needs legal teeth 41:30 Should we set up Justice with a level of independence like we did with the Federal Reserve? 48:40 If impeachment couldn't hold Trump accountable, why would the justice system? 50:10 Trump's conduct warranted prosecution 52:55 The impeachment process is broken 54:10 Trump has an unexplained infatuation for Vladimir Putin 7:25 The Republican majority in the House has turned all of their authority over to Trump 1:01:40 What can Democratic members of congress do other than speak out? 1:05:25 If Democrats want to win in 2026, what should they be talking about? 1:08:55 Is Andrew Cuomo vs Eric Adams really the best that NYC can do? 1:14:45 Chuck’s thoughts on his conversation with Dan Goldman 1:17:35 Dave Wasserman joins the show! 1:19:35 Mainstreaming interest in political handicapping 1:24:05 Understanding a local community is crucial to handicapping 1:27:05 Smaller markets not getting coverage they deserve 1:28:20 Determining how competitive a race will...

Chuck Todd speaks with legendary documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney about his newest project The Dark Money Game on HBO and the influence of legalized bribery in American politics. First, Chuck gives his own thoughts on the corrupting influence of money in politics, why Donald Trump’s memecoin is a bribery scheme in plain sight and why money has fueled distrust in politics from both sides of the aisle Then, Chuck and Alex dive into the Ohio scandal at the center of The Dark Money Game, exploring why Americans have grown numb to the Citizens United ruling—and how it effectively legalized bribery in politics. They discuss how money has become a deeply corrosive force in American democracy. Alex shares his process for selecting the story, what he uncovered during his investigation, and why the project ultimately became a two-part series. The conversation also touches on the troubling alliance between organized religion and dark money, the Trump administration’s open embrace of corruption, and, finally, Alex reveals the focus of his next big project: Elon Musk. Finally, Chuck answers a listener question in the Ask Chuck segment! 0:00 Introduction 1:00 Citizen's United created the dark money era 1:45 Reform efforts have failed 3:00 Campaigns used to cost millions, not billions 5:00 Money has cut voters out of the equation 9:00 Trump’s memecoin is a bribery scam in plain sight 10:30 We need strong disclosure laws 13:00 Public funding of elections is an all or nothing propositionv 14:30 Distrust in politics centers on money in the system 17:40 Alex Gibney joins the show! 18:40 Dark Money is the best attempt at telling the story of money corrupting politics 19:40 How hard is it to make this story accessible to the public? 20:40 Campaign finance should be rebranded as bribery 21:40 Ohio state legislature captured by special interests 24:10 Why did First Energy execs not end up in prison? 25:25 Huge money ensured GOP candidates in Ohio won, then were beholden 26:40 The bribe was a good investment 28:10 How did Alex access the wiretaps? 28:55 Investigators stumbled into the case 30:55 We've accepted money in politics and are numb to it 31:40 Citizens United opened the floodgates to corruption via PACs 33:40 Bribery is now legal 35:25 We're in a kleptocracy now 35:55 Reed Hoffman donated millions to Harris and wanted Lina Khan fired at FTC 37:40 Big money interests can just buy their own news coverage 40:10 Ohio whistleblower turned in his friend in service to his state 41:10 Florida gambling initiatives bought and sold petition signatures 42:40 Money in politics is like the mob bribing cops 45:10 Candidates don't run on an anti corruption/campaign finance platform 46:40 Billionaires shouldn't get define the world for the rest of us 47:55 Bernie/AOC turning out huge crowds tapping into anger against a rigged system 49:40 Dark money started as one film and became two because there was too much material 50:55 Evangelical grifters became fused with dark money in exchange for political influence 53:55 Corrupt Religious leaders "bless" political corruption to their followers 55:40 Society is driven by, and consumed by money 56:40 Law firms and universities have capitulated to Trump over their financial interests 59:10 Alex's advice for young documentarians 1:00:40 Lobbying is now corporation vs corporation 1:03:25 Elon Musk is Alex's next topic 1:04:25 Chuck's thoughts on conversation with Alex Gibney 1:05:25 Ask Chuck - How can voters in states with later primaries feel involved in choosing presidential candidates? 1:06:55 A rotating system for primaries based on region is a potential solution 1:09:55 There are ways to make the system fair, but the people in charge don't want a fair system. 1:12:55 Voters in early states take the process very seriously

Chuck begins by weighing in on a new Pew Research poll showing a significant drop in President Donald Trump’s approval rating since his inauguration. He highlights the erosion of support among non-voters as a potential warning sign for the president. Chuck also shares his concerns about the administration’s apparent deference to Russia in the latest Ukraine peace agreement. Next, he’s joined by Jon Tester and Maritsa Georgiou to discuss their new podcast, the underrepresentation of middle America in the media, and why members of Congress should spend more time outside the Washington, D.C. bubble. They explore the loss of trust in national media due to the decline of strong local journalism, Congress’s tendency to cede power to the executive branch, the corrupting influence of dark money in politics, and the urgent need for campaign finance reform. The conversation wraps with a discussion about the TV show Yellowstone and its impact—both positive and negative—on their home state of Montana. Finally, Chuck closes out the show by answering a few listener questions in the "Ask Chuck" segment. Timeline: 0:00 Introduction 2:25 New Pew Research poll released on Trump’s first 100 days 3:45 Not surprising Trump’s approval has dropped 4:15 Non-voters souring on Trump quickly 6:15 Incompetency is defining his first 100 days 7:30 Erratic decision making doesn’t inspire confidence 9:15 Low information voters are a good barometer 10:15 Republican party still has a higher favorability ratings than the Democratic party 14:00 Trump is tarnishing the country’s reputation 16:15 Trump needs to make some trade deals and put points on the board 17:45 The United States government is taking Russia’s side against Ukraine 20:40 Jon Tester and Maritsa Georgiou join the show! 21:10 Why start a podcast? 23:10 Most rewarding part? 25:25 Need more voices in media from all over the country, not just the coasts 27:55 The state of local news in Montana 29:10 "The middle" is underrepresented in media 30:40 Where the media is located can warp the perspective 33:10 If Congress convened in places other than DC, things would be very different 34:10 Politicians pit urban vs rural against one another 34:55 Journalists are pulled to the big markets 36:40 Local media was a character reference for the national media 37:55 Without local reporters, important stories can't reach the national media 39:10 There are no more local reporters telling communities what DC is doing for them 41:25 Why has Congress been willing to cede power to the executive? 43:40 Congress has rolled over in the 21st century due to campaign finance 44:40 Dark money's influence on Montana politics 47:05 Money has skewed the system* 48:40 Local news stations run on two year budgets due to election spending 49:40 Campaign finance reform efforts always result in loopholes 50:40 Campaign finance isn't a voting issue 53:10 Media has to be an educator 54:55 Voters of both parties are worried about money in politics 55:55 Congress needs a NASCAR rule for disclosing donors 56:55 Why is fixing campaign finance so hard? 57:40 Candidates have limits, donors do not 58:40 Most members of Congress have good motivations individually, collectively they become irrational 1:00:20 Senator Lisa Murkowski's comments about fear of retaliation 1:02:40 Founders would be appalled by what's happening in DC 1:03:55 Media needs to listen and rebuild trust 1:04:40 The media needs to stand with the AP 1:05:30 Montana's star turn in pop culture due to Taylor Sheridan 1:07:40 What is Sen. Tester watching on TV? 1:10:20 Montana has been "discovered" by the wealthy 1:10:50 Chuck’s thoughts on the interview 1:11:25 Ask Chuck 1:11:55 If you were in charge of the DNC, what changes would you like to see improve their brand? 1:13:30 The Democrats haven’t tried to be a 50 state party, they need to go on a listening tour 1:17:25 If elections were held a week earlier in 1976 and 2016,...

Chuck Todd is joined by Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, to discuss the damaging effects of President Donald Trump’s tariffs and trade war on the U.S. economy. Chuck opens the episode by framing the nation’s economic struggles as entirely self-inflicted, warning against political pressure on the Federal Reserve, and explaining why the consequences of current policy decisions could take years to reverse. Mark Zandi then joins to share his economic risk assessment, explore why markets failed to anticipate the trade war, and project the level of fallout the U.S. economy could face in the coming months and years. They break down why Trump’s push to reshore American manufacturing is unlikely to succeed, how China could emerge as the real winner of the trade war, and why troubling signals from the bond market spell concern for the broader economy. Zandi also outlines the risks of firing Fed Chair Jay Powell, explains why the trade war is a lose-lose scenario, and discusses why government intervention may be far less effective in responding to a self-inflicted economic crisis. Finally, Chuck wraps up with listener questions in the Ask Chuck segment. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to The Chuck ToddCast! Timeline: 0:00 Introduction 0:30 Why Chuck wanted to have Mark Zandi on the show 1:30 We could have a man made economic disaster on our hands 3:00 Pressuring the fed to lower interest rates is a bad idea 5:15 Immigration has been a boon, not a negative for America 7:00 Trade has helped America have a higher standard of living than anywhere else 8:00 Rebuilding will take years 8:45 Trump administration has been a mess 11:55 Mark Zandi joins the show 12:55 What is Moody's Analytics? 15:55 How is a country's political system factored into economic risk assessments? 17:15 War gaming the trade war 19:10 Why didn't markets price in the trade war? 21:10 Tariffs in Trump 1.0 were more damaging than people realize due to pandemic. 22:55 When will the tariff impacts show up? 24:25 Are any companies reshoring manufacturing due to tariffs? 26:10 How many companies are going to do whatever it takes to get an exemption? 27:25 Consumers and corporations are already changing their spending decisions 28:25 Government cuts are self defeating 29:55 How will this affect China's economy? 32:55 Will the EU spurn the US in favor of China? 34:25 Nixing the TPP was a mistake 35:40 What does the health of the bond market tell us? 37:10 We're in a crisis 38:10 How does this affect financing our debt? 39:10 What would stabilize the market? 39:55 What would happen if he fired fed chair Jay Powell? 42:40 How similar is the current situation to the 1920's-30's? 45:25 US received more pushback from other countries in the 20's-30's 46:40 Which countries are most vulnerable to the trade war? 48:55 This is a lose-lose for everyone 49:55 In an emergency are the only choices inflation or recession? Which is preferable? 52:25 Government intervention will be less viable because government caused the crisis 53:25 Chuck’s thoughts on conversation with Mark Zandi 54:20 Ask Chuck - Will Trump’s trade war become the new normal or just a phase? 55:55 Tariffs are a tool, and shouldn’t be used for everything 57:30Trump’s goal is to replace income taxes with tariff revenue 59:55 How can citizens not be part of the problem when it comes to hyperpartisan media? 1:00:30 Diversifying your media diet is important 1:04:45 If tariffs cause a severe recession, could Trump issue an EO to postpone the midterm elections? 1:07:00 Trump can’t waive a magic wand and postpone elections (Timestamps vary based on advertisements)

Chuck Todd is joined by Benjamin Wittes, editor-in-chief of Lawfare, to break down the widespread legal violations committed by the Trump administration during Donald Trump’s first three months in office. Chuck opens the episode by underscoring the gravity of the moment and why Trump appears to show little respect for the law or the authority of the courts. Ben Wittes then joins the conversation to discuss the constitutional amendments the administration may have violated, whether Trump is defying Supreme Court rulings, and what a potential legal showdown over his immigration policies could look like. They examine the administration’s targeting of law firms and universities, where institutional pressure could serve as a check on executive overreach, and whether lawsuits filed by state attorneys general stand a chance in court. Finally, they unpack Trump’s use of executive orders against his critics, why the U.S. is losing its reputation as a global “beacon of freedom,” and Ben shares one reason he still holds onto a sense of optimism. 0:00 First 90 days of the Trump administration has been tumultuous 1:45 Congress is sitting on its hands 2:45 The administration is slowing down routine investigations 4:00 This is a dangerous moment for the country 5:30 Trump is “flooding the zone” 8:15 There are legal ways to handle deportations but Trump isn’t interested 9:30 They’ve violated amendments four through nine 11:30 Trump left Biden a legal quagmire over the border, but Biden didn’t handle it well 12:30 Prices will rise in the next 60-90 days 14:00 Incompetence has defined Trump’s administration thus far 15:00 Administration is trending toward monarchy 16:45 Lindsey Graham has gone radio silent 18:55 Benjamin Wittes joins the show! 21:10 Trump is violating multiple constitutional amendments 23:30 Is Trump violating the Supreme Court ruling? 25:55 Did the Supreme Court water down their ruling? 27:05 All 9 justices agreed on the premise 28:05 What would satisfy the court's order to "facilitate" the return of Abrego Garcia? 29:40 If Trump asked for the prisoner back, Bukele wouldn't say no 30:45 The White House is brazenly violating court orders 32:10 The administration is extorting law firms 36:45 How will Harvard's decision to fight back affect them? 38:35 Is the administration going out of their way to pick fights? 39:55 They're creating criminal impunity for allies 40:45 Administration is using civil litigation to target enemies 41:55 The government will pay more in damages than money saved by DOGE 45:00 John Roberts is issuing rulings meant to avoid confrontation with Trump 46:25 SCOTUS justices are aware Trump is flaunting their ruling 48:45 Trump is putting tremendous stress on his own party 49:25 Are Trump's actions uniting SCOTUS against him? 52:25 What to make of the three liberal justices putting out a press release? 54:55 How alarmed are the six conservative justices? 56:05 Expectations for California's tariff lawsuit? 58:55 The president has civil immunity from defamation lawsuits 1:01:15 Targeting Krebs and Taylor are two of the most egregious acts so far 1:05:25 Trump 2.0 is an entirely different proposition 1:06:55 What authoritarian model does Trump most emulate? 1:07:55 Ben projected "Trump and Vance betrayed the country" on the Washington monument 1:10:55 The beacon of freedom has been turned off 1:12:25 Ben's hammock studio 1:14:15 Administration is targeting people the public doesn't care much about 1:16:05 The goal is to stop it from getting worse 1:18:03 Showdown with SCOTUS looming? 1:19:30 Chuck’s Nats rant - Fix the bullpen! (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

Chuck Todd takes a deep dive into the JFK assassination conspiracy and the latest document release with Jeff Morley, founder of JFK Facts. He opens the episode by exploring how the government’s lack of transparency and honesty has fueled public distrust—and why that environment often breeds conspiratorial thinking. Chuck and Jeff then examine the government's decades-long effort to keep a tight lid on records related to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, and how skepticism from high-ranking officials at the time continues to cast doubt on the CIA’s official account. They break down the most recent document releases, discuss why both Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden delayed their full release, and analyze what the timing and redactions might suggest about what the government could still be hiding. The conversation takes a closer look at Lee Harvey Oswald, his potential ties to the CIA, and why the agency has remained evasive about those connections. Finally, they review the key findings from the newly released documents, assess whether any revelations have truly been groundbreaking, and preview what might come next in the ongoing evolution of this historic conspiracy theory. Like and subscribe to The Chuck ToddCast! Timeline: 0:00 Introduction 02:00 What led to massive distrust of the U.S. government 04:00 Chuck’s big questions about the JFK assassination 8:40 How did Jeff Morley become JFKfacts? 10:10 Oliver Stone’s movie led to congress passing the JFK records act in 1992 11:40 Released CIA records were a reporting gold mine 14:55 Until the internet, the government kept a closed fist on the records 15:55 Oswald denied the killing, case was never adjudicated 19:10 Chuck welcoming his son to the conspiracy 21:50 The books that informed Jeff’s thinking on the assassination 24:45 Bobby Kennedy never believed the official story 25:55 How did Oswald not end up in jail after going to Russia? 28:45 Oswald was a known quantity to CIA officials before the assassination 29:55 Robert Kennedy asked the CIA director directly about CIA involvement 32:10 CIA’s fear was their awful operations being brought to light 33:40 Lyndon Johnson didn’t believe the Warren commission 34:50 Why did the CIA cover up its affiliation with Oswald? 35:40 What did Trump hold off on releasing? 37:30 Trump and Biden both punted on releasing files 40:40 Trump got back on board after RFK Jr. joined the campaign 43:10 The timeline for redactions shows what the government prioritized protecting 45:10 Hoover sanctioned FBI agents for their handling of Oswald 45:55 Why did the FBI + CIA remove Oswald from the watch list? 47:40 Oswald clearly was a CIA asset 48:40 Oswald did 5 things that should have landed him in trouble 49:55 Oswald goes public with the Fair Play for Cuba Committee 51:50 4 people confronting Oswald in the courtroom had CIA connections 54:20 Bay of Pigs is the root of Cuban-American support for Republicans 59:00 Did we learn anything from old Soviet files? 1:01:00 Soviets surveilled Oswald while he was in Minsk 1:03:45 Tulsi Gabbard implied new files had been found 1:05:30 CIA hasn’t produced new records that aren’t at the national archives 1:06:00 What are we missing on Jack Ruby? 1:08:10 CIA motivations for cover up? 1:10:15 What if Oswald did it and was part of a conspiracy? 1:10:40 There’s no smoking gun proof Oswald did it? 1:11:10 Compelling evidence that shots came from in front of Kennedy 1:13:10 Investigators botched the chain of possession for evidence 1:17:25 Jeff’s experience testifying in front of congress 1:18:55 Trump’s motive for declassifying the records 1:21:40 Where to find Jeff’s work 1:23:10 The CIA was a rogue agency in the 50s 1:24:55 Chuck’s closing thoughts

Chuck Todd is joined by geopolitical expert and Eurasia Group founder Ian Bremmer to unpack the global implications of President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape the international order. Chuck opens the episode by examining how Trump’s use of tariffs and his zero-sum approach to foreign policy are dismantling decades of established U.S. trade and diplomatic norms. Ian then joins the conversation to assess the ripple effects of Trump’s tariffs on global trade, how key U.S. allies and rivals are likely to respond, and whether China stands to benefit in the long run. He explains how Trump’s policies may be inadvertently strengthening Xi Jinping, why the U.S. is ill-equipped to operate in a “law of the jungle” environment, and what kind of economic damage could be on the horizon. The discussion turns to the rise of anti-American sentiment abroad, the erosion of the rule of law at home, and why the economic fallout may disproportionately affect red states. They then take a global tour of hotspots: debating the prospects for a renewed nuclear deal with Iran, whether Turkey has fully slipped into autocracy, and the likelihood of a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire in 2025. To wrap up the episode, Chuck answers listener questions in the "Ask Chuck" segment. Timeline 0:00 Introduction 1:00 Trump is creating a new world order 2:00 Trump has a zero-sum view of foreign policy 4:00 Could Trump break with Putin over lack of ceasefire? 6:00 Trump 2.0 and Trump 1.0 are completely different 9:00 Ian Bremmer joins the show 10:00 Has Trump broken the world economic order, or temporarily disrupted it? 11:15 Countries will begin to de-risk away from the US 13:30 Trump using emergency powers to unilaterally break international agreements 18:00 China will become dominant in the old architecture built by the U.S. 21:15 People voting for a second “Trump 1.0” and are getting something vastly different 22:30 Instability will force unity on the EU 23:30 Americans don’t understand how good we have it* 24:30 The future of power seems to lie with the autocracies and not the democracies 25:30 Is Trump throwing a lifeline to Xi Jinping? 29:30 The U.S. doesn’t have the right political system to operate in the “law of the jungle” 32:00 China’s surveillance state will check any type of middle class uprising 34:30 How different would things look if we had the TPP? 38:00 How should companies navigate the uncertainty Trump is creating? 39:30 Products from China are already becoming unavailable 41:00 Companies are all lobbying for exemptions 42:00 The hit to the US economy is going to be massive 44:20 The rise of anti-American sentiment 45:45 The first amendment only applies to citizens now? 46:45 The hit to American tourism will be substantial 48:00 Economic damage will hit red states the hardest 49:30 Mexican government has been willing to cooperate 51:45 Trump wants to cut a deal with Iran, even if it makes Israel unhappy 54:20 Will Erdogan get away with smashing democracy in Turkey? 56:15 What to make of the political turmoil in South Korea? 58:00 Will Bolsanaro/Le Pen have their charges stick, or could they win office in the future? 1:00:30 Biggest risks to the world? Is Trump at the top of that list? 1:02:30 Will the Ukraine/Russia war achieve a ceasefire this year? 1:06:20 Ask Chuck 1:06:40 What books do you assign your class to best understand this political moment? 1:12:00 Are we in a competitive autocracy similar to Erdogan’s Turkey? (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

First, Chuck reacts to President Trump’s announcement that smartphones, computers, and other electronics will be exempt from tariffs. He also previews what we can expect this week in political news, and breaks down what all these developments mean for our democracy as a whole. Then, Chuck is joined by The Atlantic staff writer McKay Coppins to discuss his latest story, “Growing Up Murdoch,” which delves into the Succession-style drama surrounding Rupert Murdoch, his children, and the future of their media empire. They examine Fox News’ enormous influence on American politics, how the network evolved during the Trump era, and how it could undergo major changes once Murdoch’s children take the reins. The conversation explores striking parallels between the Murdoch family and the Roys from HBO’s Succession, including a looming legal battle over the family trust and what it could mean for the company’s direction. McKay explains how Fox News shifted after the departure of longtime CEO Roger Ailes, while Chuck highlights how the potential loss of NFL broadcasting rights could pose an existential threat to the network. Finally, they turn to the Trump family and discuss why its own brewing succession drama might ultimately eclipse that of the Murdochs.

On this episode of The Chuck ToddCast, Chuck Todd is joined by Marc Caputo, Senior White House Reporter for Axios. Chuck begins by breaking down how the personnel guardrails that existed during Donald Trump’s first term are now gone—and why a potential second Trump administration would look dramatically different from the first. He and Marc then explore which Trump official is most likely to take the blame for the administration’s disastrous tariff rollout, and outline three key factors that led Trump to temporarily reverse course with a 90-day delay. They also explain why Trump can no longer credibly pin economic challenges on President Biden, and why his plan to boost domestic manufacturing may fall short. The conversation turns to Trump’s use of executive orders to target whistleblowers and critics, and who might be managing his so-called “enemies list.” Finally, they assess which members of Trump’s inner circle are gaining or losing favor with the president, and preview a looming controversy that could shake up the Florida governor’s race. Timeline: 0:00 Introduction 2:00 Trump 1.0 was NOT a blueprint for Trump 2.0 4:40 This is a brand new style of governing 6:22 Was there insider trading based on Trump’s tweet? 8:28 The market and rich people are serving as a guardrail 10:00 Anti-american sentiment will affect American businesses 11:30 Marc Caputo joins the show 12:55 The “dear leader” quality to the administration 17:37 Howard Lutnick the likely fall guy for tariffs? 18:36 Three factors caused Trump to change course on tariffs 23:07 Trump 1.0 was completely different compared to Trump 2.0 27:50 Does the administration regret that they didn’t pass the tax cut first? 29:22 Trump gave up the ability to blame Biden for the economy 30:00 Manufacturing plants take years to build 31:15 Trump working through an “enemies list”? 35:05 Revenge agenda is a slippery slope 37:00 Is RJK Jr. being reeled in by the White House? 39:56 Trump changes his mind constantly 43:31 What is Elon Musk’s current standing within the administration? 45:46 Is Rubio’s stock rising or falling? 48:09 The administration is using AI to monitor social media feeds 50:30 Scandal looming over the Florida governor’s race 52:55 Chuck’s final thoughts

On this episode of The Chuck ToddCast, Chuck reacts to President Donald Trump’s decision to pause his sweeping tariff regime — and explains why it reveals his continued responsiveness to the wealthy political donor class. He also reflects on how the O.J. Simpson trial forever changed the news media landscape, incentivizing networks to prioritize profits and ratings over journalistic value. Finally, Chuck answers listener questions in another edition of Ask Chuck. 0:00 Trump rescinds the tariffs 0:45 Trump blinked 2:15 First term personnel guardrails are gone 4:00 Congress feeling heat from donor class 6:15 Trump still cares what rich people think 8:45 Trump should have passed tax cuts before tariffs 10:15 If tariffs come back, they’ll be more methodical 11:30 Business leaders are preparing for worst case scenarios 12:45 The OJ trial changed the media 15:00 CNN chased ratings and changed TV journalism 19:30 Trump tariffs could fracture GOP 20:00 Colin Allred could beat Ken Paxton in Texas, Senate in play? 22:12 Ask Chuck 22:45 What can news consumers do to be the solution to partisanship? 25:40 Did Obama not going after banks in 2008 lead to Trump? 27:40 Do you think Bernie would have beaten Trump? 30:30 Have voters shown they won’t elect a woman for president? (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

On this episode of The Chuck ToddCast, Chuck dives into the new waters he’s swimming in—the world of independent media and journalism. He shares his concerns about attacks on the free press by the Donald Trump administration and the lack of a unified pushback from the media. He explains how the erosion of local news sowed the seeds of public distrust, and he expresses his goal to help rebuild media from the ground up. Later, he’s joined by independent journalist Tara Palmeri to dissect the new media landscape. Tara describes her journey into independent media and why authenticity resonates more than polish with digital news consumers. They discuss bias in journalism, why the WHCA made a mistake in selecting comedian Amber Ruffin to host the Correspondents’ Dinner, and why the Trump administration’s adversarial stance toward the media is a façade. Finally, Chuck explains his theories behind the “SignalGate” scandal, asks Tara how her relatives in Poland are processing the threat of the Ukraine war on their border, and discusses why both of them find the American right's embrace of Russia deeply disturbing. Timeline: 0:00 Introduction 1:45 Kicking AP out of press briefings is unconstitutional 4:00 Traditional media has capitulated, lost trust 7:00 Appeal of independent media 11:00 OJ trial + Craigslist changed everything 12:00 Loss of local news broke trust 16:15 Local media was a character reference for national media 19:00 Need to rebuild local media 21:57 Tara Palmeri joins the show 22:57 Going independent as a journalist 27:56 Lack of trust in mainstream media 30:52 Authenticity resonates on social media 34:32 All journalism is affected by bias 37:17 Is mainstream media pulling punches? 41:36 Mistake picking Amber Ruffin for WH correspondents dinner 45:26 Trump administration officials court the media 50:07 Anchors were drinking before reporting Bin Laden was killed 52:15 Where Tara gets her news 57:11 Is there more to “SignalGate” 59:25 Trump DOESN’T like to fire people 1:02:41 Tara’s Polish citizenship/How are Poles feeling about the Ukraine war? 1:08:30 American right’s embrace of Russia 1:10:47 Where to find Tara’s work 1:13:16 Chuck’s closing thoughts (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

On this episode of The Chuck ToddCast, Chuck explores why America is undergoing a major political realignment, and why President Donald Trump’s approval rating may never recover following the disastrous rollout of sweeping tariffs. Later, Republican Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) joins the show to discuss the impact of those tariffs on his constituents in Omaha and whether Congress could move to limit the president’s tariff powers. They also talk about the need for moral clarity from the U.S. in the Russia-Ukraine war and why abandoning the global order that has benefited America for the past 80 years is a mistake. Rep. Bacon shares his deep concerns about the recent firing of top military and intelligence officials, and they debate whether one—or both—of America's political parties could be headed for a split. Finally, in the “Ask Chuck” segment, Chuck responds to a listener question about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez outpolling Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in New York—and whether Democrats should rethink their strategy as a result. Timeline: 0:00 Introduction 3:15 We’re in the middle of a political realignment 6:00 What if America was a 4 party system? 10:30 Tariffs are Trump’s Afghanistan withdrawal - He won’t recover from it* 16:15 Could the turbulence from the tariff destruction fracture the R party? 17:04 Rep. Don Bacon joins the show! 19:42 How will tariffs negatively impact 21:38 Did the White House notify congress before imposing the tariffs? 22:45 What is the goal of the tariffs? 26:11 Will congress take its tariff power back from Trump? 31:42 We need moral clarity in the Russia/Ukraine war 34:11 Does Trump have a mobster mentality when it comes to geopolitics? 36:27 The last 80 years have been great for America. Why do people think otherwise? 38:30 Lack of official US government response to the crisis of democracy in Turkey 41:28 Does Rep. Bacon consult with his wealthiest constituent, Warren Buffet? 44:02 Concern about firing top military leaders and Laura Loomer’s influence 48:59 Could we see a fracture in one or both political parties? 55:00 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Rep. Bacon and potential cracks in both of America’s political parties 57:30 “Ask Chuck” - Does the latest poll showing AOC beating Chuck Schumer by 19 points could cause a change in direction or strategy for the Democrats? (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

Chuck Todd analyzes the sweeping tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, discussing their historic impact. He argues that free trade has made America safer and more prosperous and predicts significant political backlash for Trump and Republicans. He outlines key political developments to watch in the coming months, highlighting an opportunity for Democrats to regain control in Washington. He also examines how Trump’s promised tax cuts are now at risk, and why his presidency will be even more challenging. Timeline: 0:00 Introduction 3:20 America has benefitted massively from global trade 4:20 The last time we had a similar tariff regime, it led to WW2 5:48 What political fallout will come from the tariffs? 6:32 Could congress take tariff authority back? 8:25 What to watch for the next 3-6 months 9:18 Trump faces huge blowback from older voters 10:18 The tariffs will tank Trump’s approval rating 11:52 Elected Republicans will be vulnerable 13:36 Trump has no guardrails 15:13 Alienating allies and partners will be incredibly damaging 16:39 The Republican party is courting disaster 19:46 Trump’s tax cuts are in jeopardy 21:05 Getting rid of the tariffs won’t solve the problem 21:50 If Democrats win the house, congress will take the tariffs keys away from the mad king

On episode 2 of the brand-new Chuck Toddcast, Chuck is joined by Jake Sherman, founder of Punchbowl News and one of the most well-connected reporters on Capitol Hill. But first, Chuck reflects on the results of the special elections in Florida and the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, which showed that the base of the out-of-power party is fired up. He explains why this suggests voters are more inclined to vote against a party rather than for one. He also discusses why the party in question is in desperate need of soul-searching and possible realignment to build a winning coalition. Then, Jake Sherman joins the conversation to discuss the latest from D.C. They begin by examining Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to send the House home for the week after a dispute over proxy voting for members of Congress—and why Johnson’s power is tied directly to President Donald Trump. They also explore the revenge-driven mindset that has shaped decision-making on Capitol Hill and the lack of Republican pushback against Trump’s sweeping tariffs. They dive into how the dynamics of the current Congress differ from those of years past and why some Republicans might view their loss in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race through rose-colored glasses—thanks in part to Elon Musk. They wrap up by discussing whether Democrats could see a shake-up in leadership and the timeline for passing a tax cut and a debt ceiling extension. Finally, Chuck wraps up with a listener question in the “Ask Chuck” segment by giving his take on whether the debate around a Trump third term was a smokescreen to knock “Signalgate” out of the news cycle. Timeline: 0:00 Introduction 2:00 Voters are telling us what they DON’T like 5:00 Democrats need to do some soul searching 9:45 Democrats can’t just be “anti-Trump” 11:17 Jake Sherman joins the show 15:50 Mike Johnson sends the house home 20:30 Is Johnson powerless without Trump? 23:10 Revenge is the mindset of Republicans 25:50 Any appetite in Congress to take back authority from the executive branch? 28:15 Will economic downturn/tariffs scare elected Republicans 31:20 Lack of experience in Trump’s cabinet 38:00 Could we see a deluge of Republican retirements from Congress 41:25 Members of Congress are different now 43:28 Republicans secretly happy they can blame Elon Musk for the Wisconsin loss? 46:28 Would Chuck Schumer win a leadership vote in the Senate? 49:05 Timeline for passing tax cuts/debt ceiling extension? 56:05 Ask Chuck: Was the “Trump third term” debate a smokescreen to knock “Signalgate” out of the news” (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

On the debut episode of the newly relaunched Chuck ToddCast, Chuck sits down with Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman. But first, Chuck reacts to the special election results for US Congress in Florida that saw Republicans Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine beat out Democrats Gay Valimont and Josh Weil for the seats vacated by Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz. He also discusses the hotly contested Wisconsin Supreme Court race, where liberal judge Susan Crawford won her race against Brad Schimel, who had millions of dollars of support from Elon Musk. Then, he and Sen. Fetterman discuss a wide range of important issues, beginning with his message to Democrats who are alarmed by the actions of Donald Trump’s administration. He shares his reaction to the “Signalgate” scandal and his assessment of what went wrong for Democrats in the 2024 election. Fetterman gives his take on Elon Musk and Doge performing massive cuts across the federal government, as well as the looming tariffs that President Trump is threatening to impose on America’s top trading partners. They also try to make sense of the administration’s 180-degree turn on longstanding U.S. foreign policy and the president’s fixation on Greenland. Finally, they discuss the current lack of a true leader for the Democratic Party, the role of billionaires in politics, and whether Senator Fetterman is considering a run for president in 2028. Timeline: 0:00 Introduction 2:30 Special elections in Florida 8:42 Wisconsin Supreme Court race 14:48 Start of John Fetterman interview 18:00 Aaron Rodgers to the Steelers? 19:00 Message to Democrats that are freaking out 23:44 Reaction to “Signalgate” 27:10 What happened in 2024? 30:44 Elon Musk and DOGE 35:22 America’s 180-degree turn on foreign policy 40:38 President Trump’s fixation on Greenland 44:28 Fetterman’s Mar-A-Lago visit 46:45 Who’s the leader of the Democratic party? 51:04 Influence of billionaires in politics 54:08 Will Fetterman run for president in 2028? 56:09 Do Democrats need to move to the center? 1:01:09 Chuck’s final thoughts on the interview with John Fetterman

The Chuck Toddcast is back! If you’re looking for smart, no-nonsense political conversations, you’ve come to the right place. The Chuck Toddcast goes beyond the headlines—talking with top reporters, insiders, and newsmakers from D.C. to the heartland. No scripts, no spin—just real conversations about what’s shaping our politics and why it matters.