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It feels like Groundhog Day in Washington, but with far higher stakes: Chuck Todd unpacks how the constant churn of déjà vu political scandals has morphed from quirky repetition into full-blown national exhaustion. This episode dives into a rapidly growing blue-wave electorate colliding with what may be the most consequential corruption story of our time—allegations that Trump-era public policy was effectively put up for sale. From a $500 million UAE investment in a Trump-linked company to the approval of advanced AI chip sales, lucrative pardons, and billions in defense contracts tied to the Trump family orbit, Chuck argues this isn’t a one-off scandal but a systemic pattern that dwarfs Watergate. As Congress looks away and enforcement agencies stay silent, the question becomes existential: when foreign money shapes national security decisions, is American policy still being made for the country—or for the first family? Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and Democratic candidate challenging Lindsey Graham for U.S. Senate in South Carolina, joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss why healthcare providers must lead the fight for reform in an era of collapsing trust in federal institutions. Andrews explains that pediatricians should be at the forefront because Medicaid—the largest insurer of children—has been gutted, and doctors are now disputing dangerous government vaccine policies from an administration where medical information can no longer be trusted. She argues the healthcare system is fundamentally broken, rewarding providers for delivering more treatment rather than better outcomes while facing what she describes as a coordinated attack on healthcare. As a physician countering "Dr. Internet" disinformation, Andrews discusses running as a Democrat despite the challenges, emphasizing that Democrats have a severe geographic disconnect with rural voters, particularly rural Black voters in South Carolina for whom nothing has improved. Andrews takes direct aim at Lindsey Graham, calling him a follower rather than a leader who simply follows Trump and supports unconstitutional actions while thinking he's politically invulnerable. She expresses disappointment that Nikki Haley and Nancy Mace couldn't stand up to Trump, noting both have "devolved in recent years." Drawing inspiration from the Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock blueprint for Democrats in the South, Andrews insists that if Democrats win the midterms they must be bold, hold Trump accountable, and not take impeachment off the table. Reflecting on her pandemic experience—a period she believes Americans still don't understand—Andrews criticizes D.C. politicians for being disconnected from the real world and argues that on issues like AI regulation, profits cannot be prioritized over common sense safety solutions. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the meeting at Yalta following World War 2 and why the “spheres of influence” world order prioritizes short-term stability over long-term legitimacy. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.  Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 It feels like “Groundhog Day” in Washington D.C. 03:00 Movie changed meaning from a quirky holiday to exhaustion 04:15 Political headlines just keep repeating themselves 05:00 Huge “blue wave” is building in the electorate 06:30 Trump bribery scandal should be seismic, likely gets ignored again 07:45 At what point does a policy decision become a product for sale? 09:00 Wall Street Journal stories are legally airtight 10:45 Every piece of public policy is for sale under Trump 12:30 UAE exec bought 49% stake in Trump company for $500m 13:15 Steve Witkoff also made millions from the deal 15:30 This scandal makes Watergate look like a third rate burglary 17:00 After deal, government agreed to sell 500k advanced AI chips to UAE 18:30 Whoever controls reserves of World Liberty Financial controls the yields 20:15 Shortly after deal, Trump pardons the co-founder of Binance 21:15 This isn’t an isolated incident, it’s part of a much larger pattern 22:15 Company linked to Donald Trump Jr received billions in defense contracts 23:00 The founders obsessed over corruption and foreign influence 25:00 Is American policy being made for first family, not the country 26:00 Republicans obsessed over Hunter Biden selling paintings 27:15 If AI race is existential, then Trump signed our death warrant for money 28:30 If Congress won’t investigate, FBI should… but they won’t 29:15 Deals like this undermine U.S. sovereignty, everything is for sale 36:15 Dr. Annie Andrews joins the Chuck ToddCast 37:30 When did you first want to enter politics? 39:45 Did you learn about the healthcare business in med school? 42:15 Pediatricians should be leading the way on healthcare reform 43:00 Medicaid is largest insurer of children & has been gutted 43:45 Pediatricians dispute government vaccine policy for kids 45:15 We can’t trust medical info from the federal government 46:15 Has any RFK proclamation or policy actually made sense? 47:30 How do you deal with “Dr. Internet”? 48:30 Doctors need an online presence to counter disinformation 50:15 Why is it more profitable to run a non-profit over for-profit hospital? 51:00 Healthcare system is rewarded for proving more treatment, not better 52:30 We’re seeing a coordinated attack on our healthcare system 53:15 Jaime Harrison’s campaign in SC was a disaster 54:30 Easiest way to run in the south is to erase the D by your name 55:15 Many challenges to running as an independent 56:45 Democrats have a geographic disconnect with rural voters 57:45 Nothing has gotten better for rural black voters in SC 59:45 The pandemic was a huge reason for Harrison’s bad loss 1:00:30 How do you win over a voter that supported Trump? 1:01:30 Lindsey Graham is supporting unconstitutional actions 1:02:15 Graham isn’t a leader, he’s a follower & he follows Trump 1:03:15 Disappointing Nikki Haley couldn’t stand up to Trump more 1:05:15 South Carolinians says they want outsiders, then vote for insiders 1:06:00 Graham thinks he’s politically invulnerable 1:07:15 People will have their lives negatively impacted by GOP policy 1:08:30 What do you make of Nancy Mace’s political saliency? 1:09:30 Nancy Mace has devolved in recent years 1:10:45 Thoughts on Chuck Schumer as Dem leader in senate? 1:12:00 Jon Ossoff & Raphael Warnock provide blueprint for Dems in south 1:13:45 Trump & the administration must be held accountable 1:15:00 Dems must be bold in their agenda if they win the midterms 1:15:45 Impeachment shouldn’t be off the table 1:17:45 Can you be both a fighter and a uniter as a candidate? 1:19:00 Too many D.C. politicians are disconnected from the real world 1:20:15 How should congress regulate AI? 1:22:00 Profits can’t be the priority over common sense safety solutions 1:23:00 Best TV doctor show that gets it right? E.R. & The Pitt 1:24:15 Americans don’t understand what hospitals were like during Covid 1:25:15 What’s your campaigning rhythm as a candidate? 1:26:30 Clemson or South Carolina? 1:27:30 This Trump bribery scandal needs a sharp name for it to stand up 1:28:30 The bribery story is too complex to explain in a few minutes 1:30:00 ToddCast Time Machine – February 4th 1945 1:30:30 Stalin, Roosevelt & Churchill meet in Yalta 1:31:00 Yalta legitimized “spheres of influence” 1:32:00 Why Yalta was a mistake 1:32:45 Eastern Europe traded rule by Nazis to rule by the Soviets 1:33:45 Could Yalta have been avoided? 1:35:15 Roosevelt gambled Stalin could be restrained 1:36:00 Yalta traded long term legitimacy for short term stability 1:37:30 Yalta avoided immediate catastrophe, planted seeds for future tumult 1:40:00 Ask Chuck 1:40:15 Would you consider having Ralph Nader on as a guest? 1:43:30 Any meaningful parallels between Minneapolis and Kent State? 1:46:00 Will there be an election or will Trump declare an emergency to stop it? 1:48:30 Will future president focus more on domestic issues if filibuster is removed? 1:53:00 Is it normal for a president to have so many cognitive exams? 1:56:00 Differences between charter schools and magnet schools? 1:59:00 College basketball thoughts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and Democratic candidate challenging Lindsey Graham for U.S. Senate in South Carolina, joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss why healthcare providers must lead the fight for reform in an era of collapsing trust in federal institutions. Andrews explains that pediatricians should be at the forefront because Medicaid—the largest insurer of children—has been gutted, and doctors are now disputing dangerous government vaccine policies from an administration where medical information can no longer be trusted. She argues the healthcare system is fundamentally broken, rewarding providers for delivering more treatment rather than better outcomes while facing what she describes as a coordinated attack on healthcare. As a physician countering "Dr. Internet" disinformation, Andrews discusses running as a Democrat despite the challenges, emphasizing that Democrats have a severe geographic disconnect with rural voters, particularly rural Black voters in South Carolina for whom nothing has improved. Andrews takes direct aim at Lindsey Graham, calling him a follower rather than a leader who simply follows Trump and supports unconstitutional actions while thinking he's politically invulnerable. She expresses disappointment that Nikki Haley and Nancy Mace couldn't stand up to Trump, noting both have "devolved in recent years." Drawing inspiration from the Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock blueprint for Democrats in the South, Andrews insists that if Democrats win the midterms they must be bold, hold Trump accountable, and not take impeachment off the table. Reflecting on her pandemic experience—a period she believes Americans still don't understand—Andrews criticizes D.C. politicians for being disconnected from the real world and argues that on issues like AI regulation, profits cannot be prioritized over common sense safety solutions. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Dr. Annie Andrews joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:15 When did you first want to enter politics? 03:30 Did you learn about the healthcare business in med school? 06:00 Pediatricians should be leading the way on healthcare reform 06:45 Medicaid is largest insurer of children & has been gutted 07:30 Pediatricians dispute government vaccine policy for kids 09:00 We can’t trust medical info from the federal government 10:00 Has any RFK proclamation or policy actually made sense? 11:15 How do you deal with “Dr. Internet”? 12:15 Doctors need an online presence to counter disinformation 14:00 Why is it more profitable to run a non-profit over for-profit hospital? 14:45 Healthcare system is rewarded for proving more treatment, not better 16:15 We’re seeing a coordinated attack on our healthcare system 17:00 Jaime Harrison’s campaign in SC was a disaster 18:15 Easiest way to run in the south is to erase the D by your name 19:00 Many challenges to running as an independent 20:30 Democrats have a geographic disconnect with rural voters 21:30 Nothing has gotten better for rural black voters in SC 23:30 The pandemic was a huge reason for Harrison’s bad loss 24:15 How do you win over a voter that supported Trump? 25:15 Lindsey Graham is supporting unconstitutional actions 26:00 Graham isn’t a leader, he’s a follower & he follows Trump 27:00 Disappointing Nikki Haley couldn’t stand up to Trump more 29:00 South Carolinians says they want outsiders, then vote for insiders 29:45 Graham thinks he’s politically invulnerable 31:00 People will have their lives negatively impacted by GOP policy 32:15 What do you make of Nancy Mace’s political saliency? 33:15 Nancy Mace has devolved in recent years 34:30 Thoughts on Chuck Schumer as Dem leader in senate? 35:45 Jon Ossoff & Raphael Warnock provide blueprint for Dems in south 37:30 Trump & the administration must be held accountable 38:45 Dems must be bold in their agenda if they win the midterms 39:30 Impeachment shouldn’t be off the table 41:30 Can you be both a fighter and a uniter as a candidate? 42:45 Too many D.C. politicians are disconnected from the real world 44:00 How should congress regulate AI? 45:45 Profits can’t be the priority over common sense safety solutions 46:45 Best TV doctor show that gets it right? E.R. & The Pitt 48:00 Americans don’t understand what hospitals were like during Covid 49:00 What’s your campaigning rhythm as a candidate? 50:15 Clemson or South Carolina? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd reacts to the news of independent journalist and former CNN host Don Lemon being arrested and charged by Trump’s Department of Justice over the Minnesota church protest and calls it chilling. He argues this is a direct assault on the First Amendment right to freedom of the press, but believes Lemon will beat the charges. He believes the arrest is Trump’s way of trying to distract from a terrible month for the president. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Don Lemon’s arrest is pretty chilling 01:00 The 1st amendment is meant to protect speech you do & don’t like 02:15 This is a chilling moment for independent media 03:00 This feels like a desperate distraction from the administration 04:00 Journalists working for corporate media get some legal protection 05:15 One person’s journalist is another person’s activist 05:45 There’s a reason free speech and press is the FIRST amendment 06:45 If Lemon is somehow convicted, it’s an erosion of what America is 08:00 Trump had a terrible month & Republicans starting to break with him 09:45 Constitutional rights are for people we don’t like or agree with too 10:30 We’re going to find out who the “free speech” hypocrites are 11:45 White House is celebrating the government violating 1st amendment See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck digs into the political fallout surrounding Kristi Noem, Stephen Miller, and a Trump White House that remains intensely reactive to public opinion. While Noem keeps her job—for now—new polling paints a bleak picture for both her and the administration, with Trump’s economic numbers underwater, disapproval near all-time highs, and even his own base increasingly uneasy with ICE’s aggressive tactics. Chuck unpacks why Noem’s performative politics may make her expendable, why Miller is untouchable as Trump’s “bizarro Dick Cheney,” and how Trump’s inner circle is once again showing signs of instability as voters question whether the president is focused on the issues that actually matter. The conversation then zooms out to a broader diagnosis of America’s democratic dysfunction, drawing on Chuck’s recent campus speech about why this moment feels uniquely unstable. From razor-thin modern elections and the collapse of congressional responsibility to unsettling parallels with 19th-century politics, Chuck argues that the presidency has become overly powerful because Congress has failed to govern. Fixing what’s broken, he warns, won’t come from political elites—it will require engaged citizens, serious institutional reform, and possibly constitutional amendments to rebuild a government voters have been loudly signaling they no longer trust. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and expands on his Hall of Fame rant in light of Bill Belichick not getting in on the first ballot. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:00 Kristi Noem still has her job, but Trump is reactive to public opinion 04:15 Noem’s profile feels like someone Trump is willing to dump 05:15 Trump will never fire Stephen Miller 06:00 Miller understands how to work government like a bizarro Dick Cheney 07:30 Does Miller have a conservative vision, or is he just a reactionary? 09:00 Trump may use Kristi Noem as a heat shield 10:00 Noem’s theatrics have created terrible optics 12:15 New Fox News poll has terrible numbers for Trump 14:15 Numbers in the poll could spell doom for Kristi Noem 15:15 Only 61% of Republicans say country is better off today 16:00 Trump’s numbers on the economy are underwater 17:45 Trump’s disapproval near all-time highs 18:45 Voters don’t think Trump is spending enough time on the economy 20:30 Trump’s job rating higher than almost all the individual issues 21:45 59% think ICE has been too aggressive 24:00 Even parts of Trump’s base think ICE has been too aggressive 25:00 Support for abolishing ICE has doubled since 2018 26:00 Trump’s inner circle never stays around for long 27:00 If Fox runs the poll extensively on air, Noem is in trouble 28:45 Chuck’s campus speech on where we are now & how to get out of it 29:45 We may have grown up in a more stable outlier era of American history 31:30 The cold war kept both parties sober & more mainstream 32:45 Six of our 21st century presidential elections decided by 5pts or less 33:15 Politics today is more similar to the 19th century 34:00 We’re too occupied with the presidency due to congress failing 35:00 Congress is more occupied with keeping power than legislating 36:30 We aren’t getting out of this until congress becomes functional 37:00 We will need constitutional amendments to fix the democracy 38:30 The citizens will need to fix this, can’t depend on congress 39:15 Voters gave a primal scream that they wanted a better government 46:30 Ask Chuck 46:45 Who in real life is Veep’s Mike McClintock based on? 49:30 Impact of Native American voters on elections? 52:45 What signs will the GOP show if they think they’ll lose the senate? 56:00 The viral blue/yellow dress feels like a metaphor for politics 58:15 Any connection between income inequality and growing isolationism? 1:04:00 Why is Nathan’s Famous allowed to be bought by a Chinese company? 1:06:30 Hall of Fame rant See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck digs into the political fallout surrounding Kristi Noem, Stephen Miller, and a Trump White House that remains intensely reactive to public opinion. While Noem keeps her job—for now—new polling paints a bleak picture for both her and the administration, with Trump’s economic numbers underwater, disapproval near all-time highs, and even his own base increasingly uneasy with ICE’s aggressive tactics. Chuck unpacks why Noem’s performative politics may make her expendable, why Miller is untouchable as Trump’s “bizarro Dick Cheney,” and how Trump’s inner circle is once again showing signs of instability as voters question whether the president is focused on the issues that actually matter. The conversation then zooms out to a broader diagnosis of America’s democratic dysfunction, drawing on Chuck’s recent campus speech about why this moment feels uniquely unstable. From razor-thin modern elections and the collapse of congressional responsibility to unsettling parallels with 19th-century politics, Chuck argues that the presidency has become overly powerful because Congress has failed to govern. Fixing what’s broken, he warns, won’t come from political elites—it will require engaged citizens, serious institutional reform, and possibly constitutional amendments to rebuild a government voters have been loudly signaling they no longer trust. Then, author and writer for The New Yorker, Jason Zengerle joins the Chuck ToddCast for a deep dive into his book “Hated By All The Right People” about Tucker Carlson’s rise—and why he’s become the clearest avatar for the unraveling of modern American conservatism. The conversation traces how Carlson’s personal history, elite upbringing paired with outsider grievance, and long-running resentments toward figures like Bill Kristol helped shape a worldview centered on anger, masculinity, and cultural backlash. Though he styles himself as anti-establishment, Tucker remains very much a Washington insider, increasingly influential even after leaving Fox News and emerging as the true heir to Rush Limbaugh, with real political impact on figures like J.D. Vance. Chuck and Zengerle also explore how Trump subsumed conservatism, why Tucker may be the figure best positioned to keep Trumpism alive after Trump, and how white male grievance now sits at the core of conservative cultural politics. From the Iraq War’s role in Carlson’s ideological shift to his calculated positioning on Israel, media, and elite power, the episode asks what “real America” conservatism even means anymore—and whether there’s any path back for Never Trumpers, institutional Republicans, or business leaders who’ve bent the knee to a movement that no longer resembles the party they once knew. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and expands on his Hall of Fame rant in light of Bill Belichick not getting in on the first ballot. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 07:00 Kristi Noem still has her job, but Trump is reactive to public opinion 08:15 Noem’s profile feels like someone Trump is willing to dump 09:15 Trump will never fire Stephen Miller 10:00 Miller understands how to work government like a bizarro Dick Cheney 11:30 Does Miller have a conservative vision, or is he just a reactionary? 13:00 Trump may use Kristi Noem as a heat shield 14:00 Noem’s theatrics have created terrible optics 16:15 New Fox News poll has terrible numbers for Trump 18:15 Numbers in the poll could spell doom for Kristi Noem 19:15 Only 61% of Republicans say country is better off today 20:00 Trump’s numbers on the economy are underwater 21:45 Trump’s disapproval near all-time highs 22:45 Voters don’t think Trump is spending enough time on the economy 24:30 Trump’s job rating higher than almost all the individual issues 25:45 59% think ICE has been too aggressive 28:00 Even parts of Trump’s base think ICE has been too aggressive 29:00 Support for abolishing ICE has doubled since 2018 30:00 Trump’s inner circle never stays around for long 31:00 If Fox runs the poll extensively on air, Noem is in trouble 32:45 Chuck’s campus speech on where we are now & how to get out of it 33:45 We may have grown up in a more stable outlier era of American history 35:30 The cold war kept both parties sober & more mainstream 36:45 Six of our 21st century presidential elections decided by 5pts or less 37:15 Politics today is more similar to the 19th century 38:00 We’re too occupied with the presidency due to congress failing 39:00 Congress is more occupied with keeping power than legislating 40:30 We aren’t getting out of this until congress becomes functional 41:00 We will need constitutional amendments to fix the democracy 42:30 The citizens will need to fix this, can’t depend on congress 43:15 Voters gave a primal scream that they wanted a better government 50:30 Jason Zengerle joins the Chuck ToddCast 52:00 Why Tucker Carlson is the avatar for unraveling of conservatism 53:30 Tucker was abandoned by his mother, how did that affect his journey? 54:15 That abandonment shaped his worldview about women 55:30 Tucker’s anger at Bill Kristol is a big part of his evolution 57:30 Kristol has become the stand in for media elites in Tucker’s mind 58:30 Tucker tried to be a younger, cooler version of George Will 59:30 Carlson is very much a DC insider, but portrays himself as outsider 1:01:00 Tucker wasn’t a rich kid, but was raised like one 1:03:00 Tucker & Trump similarly hung with the elite, but felt like outsiders 1:03:45 Tucker trashed Trump in texts while praising him on the air 1:04:30 Tucker was more willing to criticize Trump than other Fox hosts 1:06:00 Tucker wasn’t viewed as a top-tier personality at Fox for years 1:06:45 Fox News is bigger than the on-air personalities 1:07:45 Leaving Fox didn’t diminish Tucker’s standing, more influential now 1:09:30 Tucker is the true heir to Rush Limbaugh 1:10:15 Tucker was influential in getting J.D. Vance elected in Ohio 1:11:15 Vance & Tucker are very ideologically aligned 1:12:30 White male grievance is central to conservative cultural politics 1:14:15 Tucker believes what he says & has a larger project for America 1:15:15 Tucker is more Pat Buchanan than Rush Limbaugh 1:16:00 Iraq war was very influential in changing Tucker’s ideology 1:17:15 Tucker needled Jewish Neocon Republicans by criticizing Israel 1:19:00 Tuckers sees party energy is anti-Israel & getting ahead of it 1:20:45 What is the definition of conservatism in “real America”? 1:21:45 Conservatism has been subsumed by Trump 1:23:00 Will conservatism snap back to its prior form after Trump is gone? 1:25:30 Tucker seems like the figure that could keep Trump’s politics alive 1:27:15 Tucker says he’s not mad at the Murdochs but he is 1:28:30 Tucker didn’t agree to be interviewed for the book, why? 1:31:15 Tucker likes to bash the media, but he’s one of their favorite sources 1:32:30 Tucker left D.C. after protestors showed up to his house 1:33:45 Who are the “camps” that will fight for control after Trump? 1:34:45 Ted Cruz & Rand Paul are the only two non “blood & soil” prominent R’s 1:36:00 Trump is the least “MAGA” person in the MAGA movement 1:37:45 Where do the Nikki Haley, John Kasich type voters go? 1:38:45 Business leaders have bent the knee to Trump 1:39:45 Who in conservative media world was most willing to talk? 1:41:00 Tucker doesn’t spend much time talking to people he disagrees with 1:42:30 Tucker wants to go back to a male & white dominated society 1:43:45 The Never Trumpers won’t be taking back the party 1:45:00 What Jason is working on at The New Yorker 1:48:00 Marco Rubio’s evolution has been fascinating 1:53:00 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Jason Zengerle 1:53:30 Ask Chuck 1:53:45 Who in real life is Veep’s Mike McClintock based on? 1:56:30 Impact of Native American voters on elections? 1:59:45 What signs will the GOP show if they think they’ll lose the senate? 2:03:00 The viral blue/yellow dress feels like a metaphor for politics 2:05:15 Any connection between income inequality and growing isolationism? 2:11:00 Why is Nathan’s Famous allowed to be bought by a Chinese company? 2:13:30 Hall of Fame rant See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author and writer for The New Yorker, Jason Zengerle joins the Chuck ToddCast for a deep dive into his book “Hated By All The Right People” about Tucker Carlson’s rise—and why he’s become the clearest avatar for the unraveling of modern American conservatism. The conversation traces how Carlson’s personal history, elite upbringing paired with outsider grievance, and long-running resentments toward figures like Bill Kristol helped shape a worldview centered on anger, masculinity, and cultural backlash. Though he styles himself as anti-establishment, Tucker remains very much a Washington insider, increasingly influential even after leaving Fox News and emerging as the true heir to Rush Limbaugh, with real political impact on figures like J.D. Vance. Chuck and Zengerle also explore how Trump subsumed conservatism, why Tucker may be the figure best positioned to keep Trumpism alive after Trump, and how white male grievance now sits at the core of conservative cultural politics. From the Iraq War’s role in Carlson’s ideological shift to his calculated positioning on Israel, media, and elite power, the episode asks what “real America” conservatism even means anymore—and whether there’s any path back for Never Trumpers, institutional Republicans, or business leaders who’ve bent the knee to a movement that no longer resembles the party they once knew. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Jason Zengerle joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 Why Tucker Carlson is the avatar for unraveling of conservatism 03:00 Tucker was abandoned by his mother, how did that affect his journey? 03:45 That abandonment shaped his worldview about women 05:00 Tucker’s anger at Bill Kristol is a big part of his evolution 07:00 Kristol has become the stand in for media elites in Tucker’s mind 08:00 Tucker tried to be a younger, cooler version of George Will  09:00 Carlson is very much a DC insider, but portrays himself as outsider 10:30 Tucker wasn’t a rich kid, but was raised like one 12:30 Tucker & Trump similarly hung with the elite, but felt like outsiders 13:15 Tucker trashed Trump in texts while praising him on the air 14:00 Tucker was more willing to criticize Trump than other Fox hosts 15:30 Tucker wasn’t viewed as a top-tier personality at Fox for years 16:15 Fox News is bigger than the on-air personalities 17:15 Leaving Fox didn’t diminish Tucker’s standing, more influential now 19:00 Tucker is the true heir to Rush Limbaugh 19:45 Tucker was influential in getting J.D. Vance elected in Ohio 20:45 Vance & Tucker are very ideologically aligned 22:00 White male grievance is central to conservative cultural politics 23:45 Tucker believes what he says & has a larger project for America 24:45 Tucker is more Pat Buchanon than Rush Limbaugh 25:30 Iraq war was very influential in changing Tucker’s ideology 26:45 Tucker needled Jewish Neocon Republicans by criticizing Israel 28:30 Tuckers sees party energy is anti-Israel & getting ahead of it 30:15 What is the definition of conservatism in “real America”? 31:15 Conservatism has been subsumed by Trump 32:30 Will conservatism snap back to its prior form after Trump is gone? 35:00 Tucker seems like the figure that could keep Trump’s politics alive 36:45 Tucker says he’s not mad at the Murdochs but he is 38:00 Tucker didn’t agree to be interviewed for the book, why? 40:45 Tucker likes to bash the media, but he’s one of their favorite sources 42:00 Tucker left D.C. after protestors showed up to his house 43:15 Who are the “camps” that will fight for control after Trump? 44:15 Ted Cruz & Rand Paul are the only two non “blood & soil” prominent R’s 45:30 Trump is the least “MAGA” person in the MAGA movement 47:15 Where do the Nikki Haley, John Kasich type voters go? 48:15 Business leaders have bent the knee to Trump 49:15 Who in conservative media world was most willing to talk? 50:30 Tucker doesn’t spend much time talking to people his disagrees with 52:00 Tucker wants to go back to a male & white dominated society 53:15 The Never Trumpers won’t be taking back the party 54:30 What Jason is working on at The New Yorker 57:30 Marco Rubio’s evolution has been fascinating See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down the mounting political fallout from a string of fatal and controversial shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, including the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti—an incident that has sparked protests, outrage, and deep questions about federal law-enforcement use of force. Bystander video and independent analysis have sharply contradicted official claims that Pretti posed a threat, amplifying criticism from local officials and national figures alike while the Trump administration has scrambled to contain the damage by removing the Border Patrol commander and sending veteran immigration official Tom Homan to Minneapolis to calm tensions. As Republicans in Congress publicly wrestle with how to respond—and some distance themselves from the administration’s actions—Chuck explores how Trump’s repeated emphasis on which voters supported him personally, rather than addressing the substance of the crisis, is complicating the situation politically. With Minneapolis emerging as a political disaster for Trump, the episode also looks at how Trump’s handling of Kristi Noem and broader GOP infighting could create openings for Democrats, especially as concern grows over civil liberties, federal overreach, and the credibility of government narratives in the face of widespread skepticism and media scrutiny.  Finally, Chuck updates his ToddCast Top 5 governor’s seats most likely to flip in 2026, weighs in on the massive looming cuts to the staff at the Washington Post and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Trump attends Iowa event with “affordability message” 01:45 Trump begins to try to walk back from chaos in Minneapolis 02:30 Greg Bovino removed from border patrol role in Minneapolis 03:15 Trump keeps highlighting that Renee Good’s parents voted for him 04:15 Trump sent Tom Homan to Minneapolis to try & calm things down 05:30 Republicans in congress speak out after killing of Alex Pretti 06:30 Trump signals support for Kristi Noem, but could change his mind 07:30 Resentment from Senate R’s over some cabinet secretaries 09:15 Political infighting could become contagious but Trump will back Miller 11:00 Trump is playing political cleanup, but not firing Noem is a mistake 13:00 Not firing Noem would be a political gift for Democrats 14:00 Trump’s trade policy is creating trade deals for other countries, not us 14:45 Minneapolis creates permission slip for Republicans to distance themselves  15:15 Trump’s stop in Iowa was supposed to be a pivot 16:15 Consumer confidence shows the public behaving like it’s a recession 17:00 Consumer confidence lowest since 2014, worse than during pandemic 18:00 Public doubts the job market & job security 20:00 Trump claims inflation is over, that’s not what the public is feeling 21:15 Iowa ranks 50th in nation for economic growth, worst since the 80’s 22:00 Tariffs have devastated Iowa farmers 23:30 If Iowa goes blue, Democrats will win the house and senate 24:15 Trump’s policies have hurt Iowa more than other states 25:00 Trump’s economic message isn’t resonating 26:00 Trump really messed up his gun politics  27:30 Trump will throw anybody under the bus to protect himself 34:45 ToddCast Top 5 governor’s seats most likely to flip 36:00 #1 Kansas 37:45 #2 Iowa 40:00 #3 Michigan 42:15 #4 Arizona #5 Nevada 44:30 The Washington Post announces major cuts to staff 45:15 Hard to understand what Bezos’s vision is for the Post 47:00 How can you be a local paper & not cover the community? 48:15 Post is losing $100m/year but Bezos’s burns tons of cash 48:45 Amazon set $75 million on fire for the Melania documentary 50:30 If Bezos wanted the Post to succeed he could have invested in it 52:45 Bezos should sell the Post rather than gutting it 54:45 The Post editorial page has been diminished under Bezos 56:30 Hopefully Bezos changes course 57:30 Ask Chuck 57:45 How long will this dark period of American history last? 1:04:00 At what point does a blatant lie from a politician qualify as fraud? 1:06:30 Chance that an Ossoff win could catapult him to nomination? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down the mounting political fallout from a string of fatal and controversial shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, including the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti—an incident that has sparked protests, outrage, and deep questions about federal law-enforcement use of force. Bystander video and independent analysis have sharply contradicted official claims that Pretti posed a threat, amplifying criticism from local officials and national figures alike while the Trump administration has scrambled to contain the damage by removing the Border Patrol commander and sending veteran immigration official Tom Homan to Minneapolis to calm tensions. As Republicans in Congress publicly wrestle with how to respond—and some distance themselves from the administration’s actions—Chuck explores how Trump’s repeated emphasis on which voters supported him personally, rather than addressing the substance of the crisis, is complicating the situation politically. With Minneapolis emerging as a political disaster for Trump, the episode also looks at how Trump’s handling of Kristi Noem and broader GOP infighting could create openings for Democrats, especially as concern grows over civil liberties, federal overreach, and the credibility of government narratives in the face of widespread skepticism and media scrutiny.  Then, historian Heather Ann Thompson discusses her new book “Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings and the Rebirth” that revisits the 1984 Bernie Goetz subway shooting and explains why it remains a chilling precursor to the racialized fear and political rage shaping America today. Thompson walks through who Goetz was, how he shot four unarmed Black teenagers, and how—without video evidence—the media constructed a vigilante narrative that erased the victims and fueled public support for Goetz despite his own recorded confession. She situates the case in a New York City gripped by crime, austerity, and racial anxiety, arguing that fear was real but deliberately misdirected by sensationalist media, tabloid culture, and political leaders who framed young Black men as the threat while stripping away public resources. The conversation traces how Reagan-era policies, talk radio, and the tabloidification of news helped turn crime into profitable outrage, laying the groundwork for stop-and-frisk, the Central Park Five, and ultimately the politics Donald Trump would later master. Thompson connects the Goetz case to today’s wealth inequality, media groupthink, and deep political divides over racialized violence, showing how these stories are not aberrations but part of a long continuum. The episode is a sobering examination of how fear, race, and media narratives can warp justice—and how understanding that history is essential to understanding where America is now. Finally, Chuck updates his ToddCast Top 5 governor’s seats most likely to flip in 2026, weighs in on the massive looming cuts to the staff at the Washington Post and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Trump attends Iowa event with “affordability message” 01:45 Trump begins to try to walk back from chaos in Minneapolis 02:30 Greg Bovino removed from border patrol role in Minneapolis 03:15 Trump keeps highlighting that Renee Good’s parents voted for him 04:15 Trump sent Tom Homan to Minneapolis to try & calm things down 05:30 Republicans in congress speak out after killing of Alex Pretti 06:30 Trump signals support for Kristi Noem, but could change his mind 07:30 Resentment from Senate R’s over some cabinet secretaries 09:15 Political infighting could become contagious but Trump will back Miller 11:00 Trump is playing political cleanup, but not firing Noem is a mistake 13:00 Not firing Noem would be a political gift for Democrats 14:00 Trump’s trade policy is creating trade deals for other countries, not us 14:45 Minneapolis creates permission slip for Republicans to distance themselves  15:15 Trump’s stop in Iowa was supposed to be a pivot 16:15 Consumer confidence shows the public behaving like it’s a recession 17:00 Consumer confidence lowest since 2014, worse than during pandemic 18:00 Public doubts the job market & job security 20:00 Trump claims inflation is over, that’s not what the public is feeling 21:15 Iowa ranks 50th in nation for economic growth, worst since the 80’s 22:00 Tariffs have devastated Iowa farmers 23:30 If Iowa goes blue, Democrats will win the house and senate 24:15 Trump’s policies have hurt Iowa more than other states 25:00 Trump’s economic message isn’t resonating 26:00 Trump really messed up his gun politics  27:30 Trump will throw anybody under the bus to protect himself 37:00 Heather Ann Thompson joins the Chuck ToddCast 38:30 Bernie Goetz was an early analog for the white rage we see today 39:30 Who was Bernie Goetz & what is the history of the story? 40:00 NYC felt like a city in crisis during the 80’s 41:00 Goetz shoots four unarmed black teenagers 42:00 There was no footage of the shooting & media shaped the event 43:00 Goetz was celebrated by white New Yorkers as a vigilante 43:45 Goetz gave lengthy video confession & still acquitted on most chargers 45:00 The victims have been completely written out of the story 46:00 Victims were denied compensation by the city’s crime victim fund 47:00 The shooting destroyed the victim’s lives even though they survived 48:45 New York felt like a city on the brink in the 1980’s 49:30 New Yorkers were living in fear of many parts of the city due to crime 50:45 Media clearly made the “threat” young black men 51:30 By 1984, trash was piling up and areas of NYC were underpoliced 52:30 The fear was warranted, but was misdirected by Rupert Murdoch, others 54:30 The Reagan administration doubled down on austerity 55:45 Eventually NYC experienced a renaissance, the “Guiliani miracle” 56:45 Austerity was sold on the idea of the “underserving” & criminal underbelly 57:45 Stop & frisk and other policies pushed underclass further away from Manhattan 58:30 Trump was a beneficiary of these politics & rode them to the White House 59:15 Trump is a creature of the 80’s since that era was best for him 1:00:30 Trump understood the power of television, fear & race baiting 1:01:15 Trump sells what the Reagan revolution sold, targeted working class whites 1:02:00 Impact of the Goetz story on the Central Park 5 story 1:03:30 The tabloidification of the national media was born out of 80’s NYC 1:04:30 Talk radio was central in turning crime into high rating media content 1:05:15 Subway shootings were rare, but everyone feared them 1:06:30 Reagan’s policies stripped away resources that led to working class crises 1:07:15 Reagan gutted multiple public programs 1:08:15 Under Reagan, the tax burden was shifted away from the wealthy 1:09:00 Similarities between the early 1900’s and early 2000’s 1:10:15 America is in a wealth inequality crisis & target of misinformation campaign 1:11:30 Media groupthink was a contributing factor to Bernie Goetz’s acquittal 1:12:15 Goetz case peeled back the veneer hiding overt racism 1:13:15 Media sands the edges of stories to avoid controversy over coverage 1:14:00 Sensationalist, conservative media has become very successful 1:15:30 Alternative press covered the Goetz story much differently 1:16:15 Bronx jury awarded one of the victims $43 million 1:17:00 Goetz shooting was an unhinged story, but shows how we got here 1:19:00 There are political dividing lines over racialized shootings 1:20:15 Society meant to aspire to wealth, but live with suspicion & fear on streets 1:21:00 What’s the thread between the urban stories that you’ve told? 1:22:00 There was a massive cover up at Attica 1:22:45 If it wasn’t Goetz, it would have been another similar incident 1:24:00 How long after an event do you think is the sweet spot for telling story? 1:26:15 As a society, we don’t have patience for context 1:26:45 Checking personal bias when reporting a historical event 1:29:30 What Heather is working on next 1:34:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Heather Ann Thompson 1:35:15 ToddCast Top 5 governor’s seats most likely to flip 1:36:30 #1 Kansas 1:38:15 #2 Iowa 1:40:30 #3 Michigan 1:42:45 #4 Arizona #5 Nevada 1:45:00 The Washington Post announces major cuts to staff 1:45:45 Hard to understand what Bezos’s vision is for the Post 1:47:30 How can you be a local paper & not cover the community? 1:48:45 Post is losing $100m/year but Bezos’s burns tons of cash 1:49:15 Amazon set $75 million on fire for the Melania documentary 1:51:00 If Bezos wanted the Post to succeed he could have invested in it 1:53:15 Bezos should sell the Post rather than gutting it 1:55:15 The Post editorial page has been diminished under Bezos 1:57:00 Hopefully Bezos changes course 1:58:00 Ask Chuck 1:58:15 How long will this dark period of American history last? 2:04:30 At what point does a blatant lie from a politician qualify as fraud? 2:07:00 Chance that an Ossoff win could catapult him to nomination? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, historian Heather Ann Thompson discusses her new book “Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings and the Rebirth” that revisits the 1984 Bernie Goetz subway shooting and explains why it remains a chilling precursor to the racialized fear and political rage shaping America today. Thompson walks through who Goetz was, how he shot four unarmed Black teenagers, and how—without video evidence—the media constructed a vigilante narrative that erased the victims and fueled public support for Goetz despite his own recorded confession. She situates the case in a New York City gripped by crime, austerity, and racial anxiety, arguing that fear was real but deliberately misdirected by sensationalist media, tabloid culture, and political leaders who framed young Black men as the threat while stripping away public resources. The conversation traces how Reagan-era policies, talk radio, and the tabloidification of news helped turn crime into profitable outrage, laying the groundwork for stop-and-frisk, the Central Park Five, and ultimately the politics Donald Trump would later master. Thompson connects the Goetz case to today’s wealth inequality, media groupthink, and deep political divides over racialized violence, showing how these stories are not aberrations but part of a long continuum. The episode is a sobering examination of how fear, race, and media narratives can warp justice—and how understanding that history is essential to understanding where America is now. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Heather Ann Thompson joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 Bernie Goetz was an early analog for the white rage we see today 02:30 Who was Bernie Goetz & what is the history of the story? 03:00 NYC felt like a city in crisis during the 80’s 04:00 Goetz shoots four unarmed black teenagers 05:00 There was no footage of the shooting & media shaped the event 06:00 Goetz was celebrated by white New Yorkers as a vigilante 06:45 Goetz gave lengthy video confession & still acquitted on most chargers 08:00 The victims have been completely written out of the story 09:00 Victims were denied compensation by the city’s crime victim fund 10:00 The shooting destroyed the victim’s lives even though they survived 11:45 New York felt like a city on the brink in the 1980’s 12:30 New Yorkers were living in fear of many parts of the city due to crime 13:45 Media clearly made the “threat” young black men 14:30 By 1984, trash was piling up and areas of NYC were underpoliced 15:30 The fear was warranted, but was misdirected by Rupert Murdoch, others 17:30 The Reagan administration doubled down on austerity 18:45 Eventually NYC experienced a renaissance, the “Guiliani miracle” 19:45 Austerity was sold on the idea of the “underserving” & criminal underbelly 20:45 Stop & frisk and other policies pushed underclass further away from Manhattan 21:30 Trump was a beneficiary of these politics & rode them to the White House 22:15 Trump is a creature of the 80’s since that era was best for him 23:30 Trump understood the power of television, fear & race baiting 24:15 Trump sells what the Reagan revolution sold, targeted working class whites 25:00 Impact of the Goetz story on the Central Park 5 story 26:30 The tabloidification of the national media was born out of 80’s NYC 27:30 Talk radio was central in turning crime into high rating media content 28:15 Subway shootings were rare, but everyone feared them 29:30 Reagan’s policies stripped away resources that led to working class crises 30:15 Reagan gutted multiple public programs 31:15 Under Reagan, the tax burden was shifted away from the wealthy 32:00 Similarities between the early 1900’s and early 2000’s  33:15 America is in a wealth inequality crisis & target of misinformation campaign 34:30 Media groupthink was a contributing factor to Bernie Goetz’s acquittal 35:15 Goetz case peeled back the veneer hiding overt racism 36:15 Media sands the edges of stories to avoid controversy over coverage 37:00 Sensationalist, conservative media has become very successful 38:30 Alternative press covered the Goetz story much differently 39:15 Bronx jury awarded one of the victims $43 million 40:00 Goetz shooting was an unhinged story, but shows how we got here 42:00 There are political dividing lines over racialized shootings 43:15 Society meant to aspire to wealth, but live with suspicion & fear on streets 44:00 What’s the thread between the urban stories that you’ve told? 45:00 There was a massive cover up at Attica 45:45 If it wasn’t Goetz, it would have been another similar incident 47:00 How long after an event do you think is the sweet spot for telling story? 49:15 As a society, we don’t have patience for context 49:45 Checking personal bias when reporting a historical event 52:30 What Heather is working on next See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this urgent and unsettling episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck argues that America is in the midst of a historic “Great Unraveling,” marked by the collapse of trust, consent, and the basic social contract that has held the country together for generations. He examines a chilling series of events in Minneapolis—two fatal shootings by federal agents in three weeks, including the killing of Alex Pretti, who was legally carrying a firearm—raising profound questions about accountability, constitutional rights, and whether the federal government can still be trusted to tell the truth when video evidence directly contradicts official accounts. As administration officials stumble through indefensible explanations, Chuck connects the domestic breakdown to a broader global rupture: allies like Canada openly describing relations with the U.S. as “ruptured,” the post–World War II rules-based order splintering, science and public health consensus eroding, and political power being wielded through favoritism and fear. The episode paints a stark picture of a country growing weaker, more isolated, and more vulnerable—not because of fate, but because unraveling is a process, and it’s happening in real time. Finally, Chuck weighs in on the political disaster that is unfolding for Republicans, hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to draw parallels between modern America and Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland in the 70’s and answers listeners’ question in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:45 America is going through a “Great Unraveling” 03:30 January 2026 has been a horrendous month in American history 04:30 We’re watching the collapse of consent 05:00 Federal agents involved in 2 fatal shootings in 3 week in Minneapolis 05:45 Alex Pretti was shot 10 times, this was an assassination 06:15 No consequences for agent that shot Renee Good sent a message 07:00 The federal government won’t uphold the law or constitutional rights 08:15 Administration officials make fools of themselves defending this 09:00 Alex Pretti was legally carrying his firearm 09:30 January 6th protestors were also armed 10:30 The federal government is behaving like fascists 11:30 What remains of the social contract? 12:00 Trump’s leadership is destroying everything we knew about America 12:45 Canada’s PM Mark Carney describes relations with U.S. as “ruptured” 13:30 The rules based order in splintering 14:00 TikTok deal was purely favoritism & media alignment for Trump allies 15:00 CDC now discarding science, openly questioning the polio vaccine 15:45 Government shutdown is coming later this week 16:45 100 years of consensus is shattering 17:45 Alex Pretti was carrying, not brandishing his weapon 18:30 Alex Pretti was killed in cold blood 19:15 Thank god there was video, you can’t trust the federal government 19:45 Bystander video contradicts federal government account 20:30 Patel and Noem have no credibility outside of Trump’s base 21:30 Federal agents violated half the bill of rights in one incident 23:15 Middle powers can’t assume alignment with US gives stability 24:15 Canada’s response to Trump is seismic & entirely rational 25:15 The post WW2 order was held together by trust, & that’s been shattered 27:00 Trump’s appointees are making us vulnerable to eradicated diseases 28:15 TikTok will be used by Trump allies for political alignment 29:30 Unraveling isn’t destiny… it’s process 30:15 Trump is making us weaker, more vulnerable and poorer 31:30 We’re losing our country… literally 32:15 We can’t believe anything the federal government says 36:30 Elected Republicans trying to distance from Trump’s DHS 38:00 Marjorie Taylor-Greene argues the small c conservative position 39:00 MTG uses hypothetical shooting of a MAGA by Biden’s DOJ 41:00 Trump’s defenders try to blame Trump’s advisors rather than Trump 42:00 The administration is trampling the Bill of Rights 43:00 Minneapolis is a political disaster for Trump 44:00 Conservative pundits are pitching a Minneapolis off-ramp 45:45 Greg Bovino is trying invoke violence in the way he dresses 47:00 Trump’s coalition is breaking apart 48:45 ToddCast Time Machine 49:30 January 30th, 1972 — Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland 50:45 British army turned into an occupying force 51:30 Unarmed civilians were shot by soldiers 52:00 Bloody Sunday ended the belief that the government could be neutral 53:00 When the state lies about violence, radicalism ensues 54:30 U2’s anthem about Bloody Sunday is expression of moral fatigue 55:30 Trump is the only person that can de-escalate and he refuses to 57:00 States tell themselves they are restoring order, consequences are permanent 57:45 Trust collapsed in Northern Island & happening now in Minneapolis 58:45 Ask Chuck 59:15 Agents involved in shootings weren’t new recruits? 1:05:00 How naive were we to think “it can’t happen here” How do we navigate it? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this urgent and unsettling episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck argues that America is in the midst of a historic “Great Unraveling,” marked by the collapse of trust, consent, and the basic social contract that has held the country together for generations. He examines a chilling series of events in Minneapolis—two fatal shootings by federal agents in three weeks, including the killing of Alex Pretti, who was legally carrying a firearm—raising profound questions about accountability, constitutional rights, and whether the federal government can still be trusted to tell the truth when video evidence directly contradicts official accounts. As administration officials stumble through indefensible explanations, Chuck connects the domestic breakdown to a broader global rupture: allies like Canada openly describing relations with the U.S. as “ruptured,” the post–World War II rules-based order splintering, science and public health consensus eroding, and political power being wielded through favoritism and fear. The episode paints a stark picture of a country growing weaker, more isolated, and more vulnerable—not because of fate, but because unraveling is a process, and it’s happening in real time. Then, documentary filmmaker Adam Bhala Lough joins the Chuck ToddCast for a provocative, darkly funny, and unsettling conversation about AI, power, and the people building the future faster than anyone can regulate it. Lough unpacks the thinking behind his documentary Deepfaking Sam Altman, exploring why artificial intelligence inspires both awe and terror, how tech elites quietly prepare for social backlash, and why many of the skills we once told young people to master—like coding—may soon be obsolete. From Silicon Valley’s obsession with immortality and bunker-building to the fear that any job done on a computer could disappear within a few years, the discussion confronts what happens when innovation outruns accountability. The episode also dives deep into Sam Altman’s mystique, Silicon Valley’s moral blind spots, and how fear—of China, regulation, or losing dominance—is used to shape public debate around AI. Lough explains how deepfakes are made, why AI-driven scams are about to explode, and what lawmakers fundamentally misunderstand about regulating rapidly evolving technology. Ultimately, this conversation argues that the antidote to AI anxiety isn’t panic or denial—but transparency, literacy, and a serious public reckoning with who controls the tools reshaping human society. Finally, Chuck weighs in on the political disaster that is unfolding for Republicans, hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to draw parallels between modern America and Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland in the 70’s and answers listeners’ question in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:45 America is going through a “Great Unraveling” 04:45 January 2026 has been a horrendous month in American history 05:45 We’re watching the collapse of consent 06:15 Federal agents involved in 2 fatal shootings in 3 week in Minneapolis 07:00 Alex Pretti was shot 10 times, this was an assassination 07:30 No consequences for agent that shot Renee Good sent a message 08:15 The federal government won’t uphold the law or constitutional rights 09:30 Administration officials make fools of themselves defending this 10:15 Alex Pretti was legally carrying his firearm 10:45 January 6th protestors were also armed 11:45 The federal government is behaving like fascists 12:45 What remains of the social contract? 13:15 Trump’s leadership is destroying everything we knew about America 14:00 Canada’s PM Mark Carney describes relations with U.S. as “ruptured” 14:45 The rules based order in splintering 15:15 TikTok deal was purely favoritism & media alignment for Trump allies 16:15 CDC now discarding science, openly questioning the polio vaccine 17:00 Government shutdown is coming later this week 18:00 100 years of consensus is shattering 19:00 Alex Pretti was carrying, not brandishing his weapon 19:45 Alex Pretti was killed in cold blood   20:30 Thank god there was video, you can’t trust the federal government 21:00 Bystander video contradicts federal government account 21:45 Patel and Noem have no credibility outside of Trump’s base 22:45 Federal agents violated half the bill of rights in one incident 24:30 Middle powers can’t assume alignment with US gives stability 25:30 Canada’s response to Trump is seismic & entirely rational 26:30 The post WW2 order was held together by trust, & that’s been shattered 28:15 Trump’s appointees are making us vulnerable to eradicated diseases 29:30 TikTok will be used by Trump allies for political alignment 30:45 Unraveling isn’t destiny… it’s process 31:30 Trump is making us weaker, more vulnerable and poorer 32:45 We’re losing our country… literally 33:30 We can’t believe anything the federal government says 40:00 Adam Bhala Lough joins the Chuck ToddCast 42:30 Tech titans know the pitchforks are coming & are building bunkers 43:15 Did you create “Deepfaking Sam Altman” assuming the worst about AI? 45:00 The phrase Artificial Intelligence is great branding, but creates fear 46:15 How did you find funding for the documentary? 46:45 AI was one of the reasons the writer’s guild was protesting 47:30 Kids who grew up learning to code won’t have a job due to AI 48:15 Coding is now a useless skill when it was THE skill to have 10 years ago 50:15 Any job done on a computer could be gone within 3 years 50:45 Teaching critical thinking skills when a machine can do it for you? 53:00 Humans won’t be ok with robots replacing, but may not have a choice 53:30 If AI destroys humanity, it wouldn’t be deliberate 54:15 There’s a theory that AI would keep us around & find a use for us 55:00 Sam Altman has a giant collection of guns & weapons, like a prepper 55:45 Wealth creates a “prepper” mentality 57:00 There’s an obsession Silicon Valley with living forever 57:45 Was trying to interview Sam Altman always the premise of the doc? 58:45 Thought getting an interview with Sam Altman would be easy 59:15 Still haven’t heard from Altman in light of the documentary 1:00:45 What made you so threatening that Altman avoided you? 1:02:30 Other tech companies were more open to talking than OpenAI 1:03:15 Altman uses AI to read and summarize his emails, he doesn’t read them 1:04:00 Tech CEO’s tend to be antisocial, created platforms to compensate? 1:04:45 Many created products the world didn’t need just to get rich 1:06:00 Social media causes problems, but also have positives like Arab Spring 1:06:45 Totalitarian regimes found a way to weaponize social media 1:07:45 Chinese documentarian used AI to avoid government crackdown 1:09:15 Altman uses fear of China’s use of AI to avoid regulation & get investment 1:10:15 Sam Altman is a Marvel level super villain 1:10:45 Elon Musk is even more of a villain than Altman 1:11:15 Altman doesn’t have a personality, Elon has a crazy one 1:12:00 Google’s Gemini has caught up and surpassed ChatGPT 1:12:45 Altman could be a flash in the pan, or the next Steve Jobs 1:14:30 Steve Jobs and Sam Altman share a similar drive 1:15:45 Apple wouldn’t have been as successful under Wozniak, he’s too nice 1:17:00 You don’t have to be an asshole to be a successful tech CEO 1:18:30 Political leaders have given business leaders permission to be awful 1:19:00 What do you want people to take away from the documentary? 1:19:45 The best way to cure AI anxiety is to create a conversation about it 1:20:45 Concerned about legal exposure from the documentary? 1:21:15 The documentary shows how the deepfake was made 1:22:30 AI image & video generators should be forced to include a logo 1:23:15 What should politicians understand about AI regulation? 1:24:30 AI slop is getting harder than ever to identify as fake 1:26:15 AI will be an incredible tool for scamming people 1:27:00 People should have a safeword to avoid deepfake scams 1:29:15 AI will be very useful in creating archival footage 1:31:00 AI gets dystopian when you put it into weapons 1:32:30 What topics are you interested in covering next? 1:35:00 Terms & conditions that force arbitration is very coercive 1:37:15 Deepfaking Sam Altman took 18 months to create 1:41:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Adam Bhala Lough 1:43:30 Elected Republicans trying to distance from Trump’s DHS 1:45:00 Marjorie Taylor-Greene argues the small c conservative position 1:46:00 MTG uses hypothetical shooting of a MAGA by Biden’s DOJ 1:48:00 Trump’s defenders try to blame Trump’s advisors rather than Trump 1:49:00 The administration is trampling the Bill of Rights 1:50:00 Minneapolis is a political disaster for Trump 1:51:00 Conservative pundits are pitching a Minneapolis off-ramp 1:52:45 Greg Bovino is trying invoke violence in the way he dresses 1:54:00 Trump’s coalition is breaking apart 1:55:45 ToddCast Time Machine 1:56:30 January 30th, 1972 - Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland 1:57:45 British army turned into an occupying force 1:58:30 Unarmed civilians were shot by soldiers 1:59:00 Bloody Sunday ended the belief that the government could be neutral 2:00

Documentary filmmaker Adam Bhala Lough joins the Chuck ToddCast for a provocative, darkly funny, and unsettling conversation about AI, power, and the people building the future faster than anyone can regulate it. Lough unpacks the thinking behind his documentary Deepfaking Sam Altman, exploring why artificial intelligence inspires both awe and terror, how tech elites quietly prepare for social backlash, and why many of the skills we once told young people to master—like coding—may soon be obsolete. From Silicon Valley’s obsession with immortality and bunker-building to the fear that any job done on a computer could disappear within a few years, the discussion confronts what happens when innovation outruns accountability. The episode also dives deep into Sam Altman’s mystique, Silicon Valley’s moral blind spots, and how fear—of China, regulation, or losing dominance—is used to shape public debate around AI. Lough explains how deepfakes are made, why AI-driven scams are about to explode, and what lawmakers fundamentally misunderstand about regulating rapidly evolving technology. Ultimately, this conversation argues that the antidote to AI anxiety isn’t panic or denial—but transparency, literacy, and a serious public reckoning with who controls the tools reshaping human society. Timeline: 00:00 Adam Bhala Lough joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:30 Tech titans know the pitchforks are coming & are building bunkers 03:15 Did you create “Deepfaking Sam Altman” assuming the worst about AI? 05:00 The phrase Artificial Intelligence is great branding, but creates fear 06:15 How did you find funding for the documentary? 06:45 AI was one of the reasons the writer’s guild was protesting 07:30 Kids who grew up learning to code won’t have a job due to AI 08:15 Coding is now a useless skill when it was THE skill to have 10 years ago 10:15 Any job done on a computer could be gone within 3 years 10:45 Teaching critical thinking skills when a machine can do it for you? 13:00 Humans won’t be ok with robots replacing, but may not have a choice 13:30 If AI destroys humanity, it wouldn’t be deliberate 14:15 There’s a theory that AI would keep us around & find a use for us 15:00 Sam Altman has a giant collection of guns & weapons, like a prepper 15:45 Wealth creates a “prepper” mentality 17:00 There’s an obsession Silicon Valley with living forever 17:45 Was trying to interview Sam Altman always the premise of the doc? 18:45 Thought getting an interview with Sam Altman would be easy 19:15 Still haven’t heard from Altman in light of the documentary 20:45 What made you so threatening that Altman avoided you? 22:30 Other tech companies were more open to talking than OpenAI 23:15 Altman uses AI to read and summarize his emails, he doesn’t read them 24:00 Tech CEO’s tend to be antisocial, created platforms to compensate? 24:45 Many created products the world didn’t need just to get rich 26:00 Social media causes problems, but also have positives like Arab Spring 26:45 Totalitarian regimes found a way to weaponize social media 27:45 Chinese documentarian used AI to avoid government crackdown 29:15 Altman uses fear of China’s use of AI to avoid regulation & get investment 30:15 Sam Altman is a Marvel level super villain 30:45 Elon Musk is even more of a villain than Altman 31:15 Altman doesn’t have a personality, Elon has a crazy one 32:00 Google’s Gemini has caught up and surpassed ChatGPT 32:45 Altman could be a flash in the pan, or the next Steve Jobs 34:30 Steve Jobs and Sam Altman share a similar drive 35:45 Apple wouldn’t have been as successful under Wozniak, he’s too nice 37:00 You don’t have to be an a*****e to be a successful tech CEO 38:30 Political leaders have given business leaders permission to be awful 39:00 What do you want people to take away from the documentary? 39:45 The best way to cure AI anxiety is to create a conversation about it 40:45 Concerned about legal exposure from the documentary? 41:15 The documentary shows how the deepfake was made 42:30 AI image & video generators should be forced to include a logo 43:15 What should politicians understand about AI regulation? 44:30 AI slop is getting harder than ever to identify as fake 46:15 AI will be an incredible tool for scamming people 47:00 People should have a safeword to avoid deepfake scams 49:15 AI will be very useful in creating archival footage 51:00 AI gets dystopian when you put it into weapons 52:30 What topics are you interested in covering next? 55:00 Terms & conditions that force arbitration is very coercive 57:15 Deepfaking Sam Altman took 18 months to create See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck addresses the latest fatal shooting by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, the third such incident in recent weeks amid the Trump administration’s intensified enforcement operations. A man was shot and killed by federal officers during an ICE-linked operation, reigniting outrage and controversy over the use of force by federal law enforcement and further eroding trust in the Department of Homeland Security’s narrative after Minneapolis residents and officials disputed the official account and demanded transparency. Chuck unpacks why video and witness accounts have raised serious questions about the necessity and proportionality of deadly force, why many critics call for a neutral, third-party investigation rather than relying on the federal government’s account, and how this incident compounds public concerns about aggressive policing tactics and civil liberties in enforcement operations. He also explores how the recurring confrontations between federal agents and Minneapolis residents are fueling broader political backlash, deepening tensions between local and federal authorities, and challenging Americans’ confidence in how federal agencies conduct operations on U.S. soil. Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:30 Another Minneapolis resident shot dead by federal agents 01:15 Video is disturbing. Man looked to be subdued before being shot 01:45 DHS says man was armed, didn’t say he was brandishing it 02:15 Conceal carry & open carry are allowed in Minnesota with permit 03:15 DHS has very low credibility with the press & the public 04:30 Why did agents back away and shoot rather than cuff the suspect 05:15 We need a neutral investigation into the shooting 06:00 We can’t trust the story from the federal government 07:00 The grotesque policing by ICE is incredibly unpopular 07:30 DHS used bloodthirsty rhetoric in recruiting videos 09:00 The administration has deliberately put Minneapolis in harm’s way 10:30 ICE are untrained thugs attacking Americans 11:30 Trump donors that employ undocumented workers aren’t targeted 12:30 It feels like ICE is looking for a fight 13:45 American wants law enforcement to follow the law 14:30 The federal government & their agents are on a power trip 16:00 How DHS words their statements is very telling 16:45 Need a third party investigation since DHS can’t be trusted 18:00 The reputation of every law enforcement agency has been tarnished 18:45 Kristi Noem is the obvious scapegoat if Trump wants an offramp 19:30 Where are all the libertarians and small government conservatives? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this “TACO Trump Thursday” episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down how market pressure forced Donald Trump to abruptly back off his Greenland threats and announce a face-saving deal—one that looks suspiciously like what already existed—underscoring how easily Trump can be manipulated and how desperate he is to cement a sense of historical relevance. Even as Republicans in Congress continue to appease him, the damage to America’s relationships with Canada and Europe is already done, and Trump’s indifference to NATO and unilateral approach ensures lasting consequences well beyond any short-term retreat. The conversation then turns to the political fallout at home: the perilous midterm landscape for Democrats, a messy Minnesota Senate race, why conventional Republicans still can’t win blue-leaning states without a net-positive environment, and how figures like Bill Cassidy may have no path forward inside today’s GOP. Chuck also digs into the Democratic Party’s looming 2028 calendar fight, arguing the DNC should rethink its early-state strategy by looking hard at Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska—and remembering that winning rural America, not just big cities, is the only way to build a durable majority. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions and explains a gripe he has with the baseball Hall of Fame. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction - Welcome to TACO Thursday 00:30 Trump backs off Greenland threats & announces deal after markets tank 02:30 Mark Carney’s speech to Davos resonated & he won’t back off it 04:00 Trump is an easy mark, and a frustrating mark 04:30 They’re likely copy+pasting the same deal we had, but Trump signs it 05:30 Republicans in congress know they have to appease Trump 06:30 Trump is desperate to be historically relevant & will be 07:15 Trump did terrible damage to American relationship with Canada & Europe 08:15 Trump doesn’t care if NATO survives or will abide by the treaty 10:00 Trump backing down won’t change the trajectory of how other countries act 10:45 Trump’s unilateral actions will have consequences 12:15 Feels like a time the out party wins everything, but it’s a tough path for Dems 13:30 Democrats need to be careful with candidate selection to win midterms 14:15 Michelle Tafoya announces senate bid in Minnesota 15:00 Tafoya hasn’t announced much policy, mostly just anti-woke rhetoric 16:30 The Democratic senate primary in Minnesota has been messy 18:15 Conventional conservative Republican doesn’t win in Minnesota 19:30 Republicans would need to be in a net-positive environment to win Minnesota 21:15 If Susan Collins doesn’t run, Maine is off the board for Republicans 22:15 Julia Letlow announces race, promises to be rubber stamp for Trump 23:45 GOP establishment won’t get involved in helping Bill Cassidy 24:30 Cassidy’s only path to winning seat is to run as Independent 26:45 Paul Finnebaum will struggle to run in Alabama after Trump endorsement 28:30 Twelve states applied to be first in the nation for Democrats in 2028 29:30 Iowa should be the first in the nation Dem state 30:45 Iowa has been good to the Democratic party, just not the Clintons 32:45 Just winning Des Moines isn’t enough, you have to win rural areas 34:30 Big Super PAC money can overwhelm in the bigger states 37:15 DNC should look at Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska 45:00 Ask Chuck 45:45 Why are so many senators unwilling to challenge Trump on foreign policy? 51:15 Do political teams consult psychologists when dealing with Trump? 55:30 Why hasn’t Trump’s lack of student loan repayment program gotten attention? 58:45 Is it crazy to think that California could become a swing state? 1:02:45 Chances of Mike Johnson refusing to certify and seat a Democratic congress? 1:07:30 Baseball Hall of Fame has made itself irrelevant See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this “TACO Trump Thursday” episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down how market pressure forced Donald Trump to abruptly back off his Greenland threats and announce a face-saving deal—one that looks suspiciously like what already existed—underscoring how easily Trump can be manipulated and how desperate he is to cement a sense of historical relevance. Even as Republicans in Congress continue to appease him, the damage to America’s relationships with Canada and Europe is already done, and Trump’s indifference to NATO and unilateral approach ensures lasting consequences well beyond any short-term retreat. The conversation then turns to the political fallout at home: the perilous midterm landscape for Democrats, a messy Minnesota Senate race, why conventional Republicans still can’t win blue-leaning states without a net-positive environment, and how figures like Bill Cassidy may have no path forward inside today’s GOP. Chuck also digs into the Democratic Party’s looming 2028 calendar fight, arguing the DNC should rethink its early-state strategy by looking hard at Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska—and remembering that winning rural America, not just big cities, is the only way to build a durable majority. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss the unprecedented federal immigration enforcement crisis unfolding in his city as masked ICE and DHS agents have effectively occupied Minneapolis in what appears to be an operation designed more for political retribution than public safety. Frey explains the complex dynamics between city, state, and federal authority, noting that Minneapolis maintains a policy of not coordinating with federal immigration enforcement because police officers should focus on keeping communities safe rather than targeting immigrants. He reveals alarming constitutional violations, including non-white off-duty Minneapolis police officers being racially profiled and harassed by ICE agents and residents being stopped and asked for ID based on their accents. With Minneapolis already critically understaffed on police officers per capita, the massive imbalance between local law enforcement and ICE agents has created a tenuous situation where police are forced to respond to citizens being harassed while protesters exercise their First Amendment rights. The crisis has been compounded by what Frey describes as a weaponized Department of Justice that can't be trusted, evidenced by his office receiving a subpoena.The mayor emphasizes that much of the federal action stems from a fraud issue that had nothing to do with illegal immigration, yet racist attacks on the Somali community followed—despite the fact that Somalis in Minneapolis came legally as refugees and most are U.S. citizens. Frey has held discussions with Governor Tim Walz about potentially deploying the Minnesota National Guard and worries about his ability to conduct a real investigation into the shooting of Renee Good by ICE. Frey contends the operation is designed to whip the public into a frenzy rather than address genuine immigration concerns. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions and explains a gripe he has with the baseball Hall of Fame. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction - Welcome to TACO Thursday 00:30 Trump backs off Greenland threats & announces deal after markets tank 02:30 Mark Carney’s speech to Davos resonated & he won’t back off it 04:00 Trump is an easy mark, and a frustrating mark 04:30 They’re likely copy+pasting the same deal we had, but Trump signs it 05:30 Republicans in congress know they have to appease Trump 06:30 Trump is desperate to be historically relevant & will be 07:15 Trump did terrible damage to American relationship with Canada & Europe 08:15 Trump doesn’t care if NATO survives or will abide by the treaty 10:00 Trump backing down won’t change the trajectory of how other countries act 12:30 Trump’s unilateral actions will have consequences 14:00 Feels like a time the out party wins everything, but it’s a tough path for Dems 15:15 Democrats need to be careful with candidate selection to win midterms 16:00 Michelle Tafoya announces senate bid in Minnesota 16:45 Tafoya hasn’t announced much policy, mostly just anti-woke rhetoric 18:15 The Democratic senate primary in Minnesota has been messy 20:00 Conventional conservative Republican doesn’t win in Minnesota 21:15 Republicans would need to be in a net-positive environment to win Minnesota 23:00 If Susan Collins doesn’t run, Maine is off the board for Republicans 24:00 Julia Letlow announces race, promises to be rubber stamp for Trump 25:30 GOP establishment won’t get involved in helping Bill Cassidy 26:15 Cassidy’s only path to winning seat is to run as Independent 28:30 Paul Finnebaum will struggle to run in Alabama after Trump endorsement 30:15 Twelve states applied to be first in the nation for Democrats in 2028 31:15 Iowa should be the first in the nation Dem state 32:30 Iowa has been good to the Democratic party, just not the Clintons 34:30 Just winning Des Moines isn’t enough, you have to win rural areas 36:15 Big Super PAC money can overwhelm in the bigger states 39:00 DNC should look at Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska 47:15 Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joins the Chuck ToddCast 47:45 Structure of Minneapolis law enforcement & the mayor’s powers 49:00 What is the line between city & state, and federal vs. state/city authority? 49:45 Minneapolis officials don’t coordinate with feds on immigration 50:45 Police officers should keep community safe, not target immigrants 51:45 Would you release a proven criminal into ICE custody? 53:15 Escalation with ICE & DHS went from 0-100 in Minneapolis 54:00 OMB sent a letter threatening to cut all fed funds over DEI 55:00 DHS seems intent on political retribution, not safety or immigration 56:45 There was a real issue with fraud, & racist attacks on Somalis followed 57:30 Somalis in Minneapolis came legally as refugees, most are citizens 58:15 Fraud issue had nothing to do with illegal immigrants 59:30 Is ICE responsible for longer 911 wait times? 1:00:00 Minneapolis is very low on police officers per capita 1:00:30 There’s a massive imbalance between police officers & ICE agents 1:01:00 What are the police supposed to do if citizens are harassed by ICE? 1:02:15 Police are forced into a difficult & tenuous situation dealing with ICE 1:03:15 Do you believe the ICE operations are designed to provoke a response? 1:03:45 ICE are trying to whip the public into a frenzy 1:04:30 Is there a legal avenue for you to push back against DHS/ICE? 1:05:30 There have been unimaginable constitutional violations by ICE 1:06:30 Non-white off duty Minneapolis officers have been harassed by ICE 1:07:45 People are being racially profiled and asked for their ID 1:08:45 ICE needs to be better trained and have a moral compass 1:09:30 Police received a call from a 5 year old whose parents were taken 1:10:15 Worried that residents could take matters into their own hands? 1:11:15 Has the “No ICE on city property” policy worked? 1:12:15 There have been talks with Tim Walz over deploying MN national guard 1:13:30 What’s behind the subpoena received by the mayor’s office? 1:14:00 DOJ is being weaponized to target leaders that disagree with Trump 1:15:00 The current Department of Justice can’t be trusted 1:16:30 There’s so much value to having career civil servants over political loyalists 1:18:30 There’s been a failure to believe that Trump will do what he says he’ll do 1:19:15 Any end in sight to the ICE occupation of Minneapolis? 1:20:00 Will you be able to do a real investigation into the shooting of Renee Good? 1:22:00 Ask Chuck 1:22:45 Why are so many senators unwilling to challenge Trump on foreign policy? 1:28:15 Do political teams consult psychologists when dealing with Trump? 1:32:30 Why hasn’t Trump’s lack of student loan repayment program gotten attention? 1:35:45 Is it crazy to think that California could become a swing state? 1:39:45 Chances of Mike Johnson refusing to certify and seat a Democratic congress? 1:44:30 Baseball Hall of Fame has made itself irrelevant See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.