Chuck opens with an analysis of growing global tensions, including armed conflict between India and Pakistan, and the power vacuum created by America's retreat from its traditional leadership role. He discusses Joe Biden's recent BBC comments on foreign affairs and the potential for Vladimir Putin to test NATO's Article 5 commitment in the Baltics, suggesting that increased global conflict may be on the horizon as China and Russia fill the void left by the United States.

Then he’s joined by the author of the new book "Heaven Help Us" and former Ohio Governor John Kasich, who offers candid insights on the lost art of political compromise and consensus-building. Kasich discusses the toxic partisanship exemplified by the Obama/Christie hug controversy, shares his perspective on healthcare reform, and explores how faith can inform governance without violating church-state separation. 

The conversation covers the prospects for the 2026 and 2028 elections, Ohio's political landscape, and the need for spiritual renewal in American culture. Kasich offers sharp criticism of both Trump's approach to tariffs and Biden's presidency, which he characterizes as a failure due to insulation from contrarian views.

Finally Chuck responds to listeners’ questions in the "Ask Chuck" segment, addressing questions about increasing the size of the House of Representatives, how organizations earn the "non-partisan" label, and whether the national debt will trigger economic catastrophe.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction

03:15 Armed conflict between India and Pakistan

07:30 We see more conflict when the U.S. is in retreat

09:00 If America doesn’t play the role of world police, Russia and China will

11:00 We’re likely to see more conflict around the world

13:35 Joe Biden weighs in on foreign affairs on BBC

14:45 Putin likely to test article 5 in the Baltics

16:45 Democrat loss was 10 years in the making

21:45 John Kasich joins the Chuck Toddcast! 

23:15 Why have we lost the art of politics and compromise? 

25:45 The Obama/Chris Christie hug shouldn't have been a controversy 

27:00 Government never finds a way to get money out of politics 

29:05 Faith in democracy? 

31:35 The next president has the opposite traits of the prior president 

33:05 What will the country look for in the next president? 

33:55 Advice for 2028 candidates? 

35:15 Could the MAGA candidates become toxic in the primaries by 2026? 

36:15 Vivek Ramaswamy's prospects in the Ohio governor's race? 

37:30 Ohio isn't ruby red 

39:45 Voters care less about issues and more about personal connection 

41:00 The issues John Kasich would focus most on addressing 

43:30 The healthcare system is broken 

46:15 For profit hospitals are less profitable than non-profits 

48:30 Healthcare stakeholders need to be forced to compromise 

49:55 We need politicians that can build consensus, not just offer a plan 

53:05 Integrating faith into governance without violating separation of church and state? 

56:15 The social gospel changed the culture from an "I" environment to a "we" society 

57:15 Local journalism is service journalism, national journalism is civics journalism 

1:00:30 How do we move America past its "I" culture? 

1:02:00 We need a spiritual renewal 

1:02:45 Pope Francis could be remembered as the most important of the century 

1:04:15 Trump's tariff implementation shows his inability to listen and win people over 

1:06:45 We've never updated the design for our public education system 

1:08:30 The education industrial complex resists reform 

1:11:00 Biden's staff kept him insulated from hearing contrarian views 

1:11:45 Biden's presidency was a failure 

1:16:15 College football has been turned into the minor leagues

1:20:20 Chuck's thoughts on the interview with John Kasich 

1:21:50 Ask Chuck 

1:22:00 How would increasing the size of the house of representatives work? 

1:24:40 How do entities/organizations earn the label "non-partisan"? 

1:29:00 Will the national debt cause economic catastrophe?

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Chuck Todd begins with analysis of the current travel chaos and President Trump's controversial comments on Alcatraz and movie tariffs. He highlights former Washington Governor Jay Inslee's successful tenure and discusses the evolving political landscape, including key Republican figures declining Senate runs and potential competitive races across the country that could reshape the balance of power.

Then, former Washington Governor Jay Inslee joins the podcast, where he discusses his climate policy achievements and the existential threat of climate change. Inslee offers sharp criticism of Trump's energy and trade policies, warning they could cede technological leadership to China and harm American businesses. The conversation expands to examine political courage, institutional challenges, and what Democrats should be doing now to prepare for future elections. 

Finally, Chuck concludes with an "Ask Chuck" segment covering the promotion of moderate candidates, Glenn Youngkin's legacy, and papal politics

00:00 Introduction

01:15 The US travel situation is a mess

03:15 Trump’s alcatraz comment was a distraction

07:00 Reopening Alcatraz isn’t feasible

07:20 Jay Inslee was wildly successful as governor

09:20 Brian Kemp + Chris Sununu pass on senate run

11:45 The political landscape is terrible for Republicans

13:05 Senate map isn’t great for Democrats

15:45 If Ken Paxton beats Cornyn, Texas could be in play

19:15 4 states where Democrats could put senate seats in play

19:55 Joni Ernst in line to replace Pete Hegseth?

22:20 200 house districts within a 20 point margin

24:50 Jay Inslee joins the Chuck ToddCast 

26:05 Do you feel less constrained outside of politics? 

28:50 Inslee's biggest achievements achieved 60%+ support 

31:10 What are the details of his Climate Commitment Act? 

33:20 The potential of fusion power 

35:50 Donald Trump's plan to kill clean energy makes no sense 

37:50 Trump is ceding clean energy tech and production to China 

38:50 Why aren't Americans in the streets en masse? 

41:20 Americans will suffer under Trump's policies 

42:35 A bad economy will wake up the public 

43:50 We'll see empty shelves within weeks 

45:50 Institutions capitulating to Trump only enables him 

49:35 NAFTA created winners and losers 

51:20 Trump is grossly incompetent 

52:05 Trump gave away his leverage 

53:20 Tariffs generally aren't productive for the economy 

56:50 Flooding in WA a direct result of climate change 

1:00:50 Americans don't truly understand climate change 

1:02:50 The insurance industry will force the government's hand

1:04:50 People in power KNOW climate will be a problem 

1:08:50 What should the Democrats be doing? 

1:10:20 What can we learn from Canada when dealing with Trump? 

1:12:05 Trump took ownership of the economy at his own peril 

1:13:05 There's a lot of talent in the Democratic Party 

1:13:50 Republicans will get wiped out in the midterms 

1:16:20 Congress is now a country club 

1:18:20 Voters on each side have self-segregated 

1:20:05 We need a president who follows the law

1:22:00 Chuck's thoughts on Inslee interview 

1:22:30 Ask Chuck 

1:22:45 How can we promote more moderate candidates? 

1:28:20 What will Glenn Youngkin's legacy be? 

1:31:50 Thoughts on "Conclave" and papal politics?

Chuck begins with analysis of the Trump administration's tariff implementation and personnel changes, including Mike Waltz's removal as national security advisor and Marco Rubio's expanding role within the administration. 

Then, he’s joined by Oren Cass, a leading conservative economic thinker, on America's trade policy and the challenges of reindustrialization. Cass argues that while tariffs and reindustrialization may be sound concepts, the Trump administration's implementation has been completely counter-productive. They discuss how traditional right-of-center thinking on free trade has evolved, questions whether China's integration into global markets has delivered promised benefits, and explores the regional winners and losers of trade agreements like NAFTA.

Cass tackles questions about America's trade deficit, consumer willingness to pay more for domestic products, and whether reshoring manufacturing is practical for the American economy. The conversation examines the national security implications of trade agreements, the potential for losing allies to China's influence, and what realistic reindustrialization might look like in today's economy.

Finally, Chuck answers listener questions on the executive branch's guardrails, expectations for "Resistance 2.0," potential federal intervention in college sports, and whether media scrutiny of public officials' backgrounds has gone too far.

00:00 Introduction

02:00 If tariffs actually are a good idea, the way they’ve been implemented hasn’t given it a chance to succeed

03:30 The administration is only interested in communicating to their base

07:30 What should we take away from Mike Waltz being removed as national security advisor?

08:55 Marco Rubio is now holding four jobs in the administration

09:45 Rubio has earned Trump’s trust

13:15 Is the new model to move staff to new roles rather than fire them?

15:15 Abigail Spanberger may have had the best 100 days of any Democrat

17:55 Wes Moore announces he won’t run in 2028

20:35 Oren Cass joins the Chuck ToddCast! 

22:35 Tools for achieving re-industrialization 

23:35 Tariffs and reindustrialization is a good idea, Trump's rollout has been disastrous 

25:35 The U.S. needs credible and sustainable trade policy 

27:20 Right of center thinking for 40 years was simply "Free trade is good" 

29:05 Has free and open trade been a net positive worldwide? 

30:35 Does trade policy of the early 20th century make sense in the 21st century 

32:20 Bringing China into the world market didn't lead to liberalization 

33:50 Will we be forced to cut an unfavorable trade deal with China? 

36:35 Wouldn't it make sense that the US had a trade deficit based on our consumption? 

38:35 If we aren't selling other countries goods we produce, they buy our assets and debt 

40:50 NAFTA produced winners and losers regionally in the United States 

41:50 What could we have done differently to minimize the negative impacts of NAFTA? 

44:35 Production has shifted from country to country based on lower costs 

46:05 Will American consumers actually be willing to pay more for American made products? 48:50 How can we unwind globalization without severely damaging the U.S. economy? 

50:50 The Toyota Camry has more American made parts than the Detroit built cars 

52:35 Does reshoring low-cost manufacturing make sense for consumers and American businesses? 

53:50 Will poor implementation of policy hurt the goal of reshoring manufacturing? 

56:35 How do you weigh the benefits of national security provided by trade agreements? 1:01:05 Does America risk losing allies to China's sphere of influence? 

1:02:05 Should our allies get a better deal than those that are unaligned or adversarial? 

1:04:15 Does more trade equal less war? 

1:07:05 What type of reindustrialization is realistic and what isn't? 

1:10:05 Lack of competition has led to problems with Boeing 

1:12:35 How long will it take to reindustrialize? 

1:13:35 Would TPP have furthered the goal of isolating China?

1:16:35 Chuck's thoughts on the interview Oren Cass 

1:17:27 Ask Chuck 

1:17:35 Were the guardrails on the executive branch always this frail? 

1:20:35 What do you expect out of Resistance 2.0? 

1:21:30 Will the federal government intervene in college sports? 

1:22:50 Does the media go too deep into the background of public officials prior to their public service?

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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 brought back the dire wolf from extinction 

1:06:30 We're living through a period of accelerated technology 

1:09:00 The pace of change feels dizzying and destabilizing 

1:10:15 Whose to blame for this moment, tech CEO's or politicians? 

1:11:00 Could AI rewrite history? 

1:15:30 How did the COVID pandemic affect Charlie's thinking? 

1:19:00 How long will Charlie continue making more Black Mirror?

1:23:15 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Charlie Brooker

1:24:00 Ask Chuck

1:24:45 Does local news just become an echo chamber for that community?

1:28:10 If the Republican party fractures, who would remain in the “traditional” wing of the party?*

1:30:25 Is Trump manipulating the stock market so wealthy people can buy the dip?

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 be? 

1:31:05 House map is less skewed than it used to be 

1:34:35 Complaining about gerrymandering has become more bipartisan 

1:36:05 Democrats could see sizeable midterm gains 

1:42:50 How will retirements affect the midterms? 

1:4:05 Tariffs will cost Republicans in the farm states 

1:45:05 Kansas headed toward swing state status? 

1:48:05 Reappropriation from 2030 census could add several new red seats 

1:49:35 Can Republicans further gerrymander states like Texas and Florida? 

1:53:35 Virginia governor race isn't that competitive 

1:58:50 Conventional wisdom is that Democrats shouldn't choose a woman for 28 

1:59:50 Is a blue wave developing? 

2:01:05 Trump doesn't care about Republicans other than himself

2:03:16 Chuck’s final thoughts

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, would Ford and Clinton have won?

(Timestamps vary based on advertisements)

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.

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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

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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!

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