• Introducing Kamala: Next in Line
    Oct 5 2020

    As a bonus for Chuck ToddCast listeners, we’re sharing a special preview of Kamala: Next in Line, a six-part podcast from MSNBC and Wondery that goes inside the cross-cultural journey that led Senator Kamala Harris from her humble roots to become the first African-American woman to be the Vice Presidential nominee for a major party. From Oakland to Howard University, and California to Washington DC, experience her story as it has never been told before. Hosted by MSNBC's Joy Reid, the show features exclusive interviews with those who know her best, painting a picture of a woman who has fought her way to the top at every turn. Listen to the first episode, and subscribe to the series now: https://link.chtbl.com/description-kamala

    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    6 Min.
  • Wondery presents Bunga Bunga
    Sep 8 2020

    Silvio Berlusconi was a charismatic multi-millionaire real-estate mogul who upended the Italian political order and hypnotized an entire nation. He was the longest-serving prime minister of one of the world’s wealthiest countries, until he was brought down by three powerful women - and two words: “Bunga Bunga.” From Wondery, the makers of Dirty John and The Shrink Next Door, and hosted by comedian Whitney Cummings, “Bunga Bunga” is an eight part series on the incredible true story of the rise and fall of Silvio Berlusconi, told with Whitney’s signature wit and style. 

    Subscribe today: Wondery.fm/BungaBunga_NBCTC

    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    6 Min.
  • Zohran Mamdani’s Win Is A Political Earthquake + How Will America Regulate Artificial Intelligence?
    Jun 26 2025
    Chuck Todd examines Zohran Mamdani's stunning primary victory as a seismic shift for the Democratic Party, analyzing how the young progressive candidate's win represents a broader rejection of establishment politics and legacy candidates. The discussion explores the Democratic establishment's lukewarm response to Mamdani's victory, their history of imposing flawed candidates on voters, and the growing disconnect between party leaders and their base. The conversation delves into whether the Democratic Party is ripe for a progressive takeover, the uncomfortable alliance between progressives and wealthy Democrats, and how Mamdani's success could inspire primary challenges against older politicians like Chuck Schumer, while also touching on the challenges of governing New York City and the unpopularity of recent legislative packages that fail to energize the Democratic base.Then, Reid Wilson, founder and editor of Pluribus News joins Chuck for a comprehensive discussion that spans from sports stadium financing to the future of artificial intelligence regulation. The conversation begins with lighter topics like public funding for entertainment complexes and the Seattle Mariners' playoff prospects, but quickly dives into substantive policy discussions about AI regulation at both federal and state levels. Wilson provides insights into how different industries are responding to AI oversight, the infrastructure challenges posed by data centers, and why state-level politics often achieves more bipartisan cooperation than federal governance.The discussion shifts to examine critical domestic policy issues, particularly the ongoing privatization of public education through school voucher programs that Wilson argues are draining state budgets while transferring wealth from poor to rich families. They also analyze upcoming gubernatorial races across multiple states, exploring how local issues like housing policy, education reform, and infrastructure development could influence political outcomes in Virginia, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Alabama, and Tennessee. The episode concludes with speculation about whether abortion rights will remain a driving force in state legislative sessions, offering listeners a thorough examination of how local and state politics are shaping America's political landscape.Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment regarding politics in Louisiana, journalism, and bridging the gap between progressives and moderates!Timeline:(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)00:00 Introduction00:30 Zohran Mamdani is a political earthquake for the Democratic party01:30 The Democratic party’s lukewarm reaction to Mamdani’s victory03:30 The Democratic establishment has imposed flawed candidates on their voters06:30 The establishment doesn’t understand how unpopular their candidates are07:45 Voters never got due process for Cuomo08:30 Republicans are trying to weaponize Mamdani10:30 Democrats need to stop supporting legacy names/candidates12:00 If the wealthy are upset, Mamdani is winning13:00 Democrats want to embrace Mamdani without adopting his positions15:00 Is the Democratic party ripe to be overtaken by progressive candidates?16:30 The uncomfortable alliance between progressives and wealthy Democrats20:45 Cuomo felt out of touch to the voters22:30 Chuck Schumer has becoming the establishment punching bag24:15 Who can replace Chuck Schumer in leadership?26:30 Gerry Nadler endorses Mamdani28:00 Governing New York City is incredibly difficult29:30 Mamdani’s victory could inspire primaries against older politicians31:30 The “Big Beautiful Bill” is incredibly unpopular33:30 There’s nothing positive in the bill to sell to their base34:30 Polling shows voters want the government to do MORE36:15 Almost every pick in the NBA draft had been traded38:15 Reid Wilson joins the Chuck ToddCast! 40:15 As a Seattle native, do you care about the OKC Thunder? 42:00 Public financing for sports stadiums 43:45 Teams aren’t just building stadiums, they build entertainment complexes 45:45 Adding housing to complexes makes them easier to pass politically 47:00 Members of Congress didn't read the "Big Beautiful Bill" 47:45 Will a ban on AI regulation make it into the final bill? 50:15 Is any other industry trying to push back against AI? 52:15 There's more bipartisanship in state level politics 54:15 State lawmakers make the best legislators in Congress 55:15 What AI regulation has been easiest to pass? 56:45 Who will enforce AI regulation? 58:30 Urgency to get AI in place to compensate for boomers retiring 59:15 Meeting power requirements for data centers 01:01:30 Public pushback against data centers 01:03:15 NIMBY's fighting against ADUs as solution for housing crisis 01:05:15 Housing policy fights take a LONG time 01:06:45 The privatization of the public school system 01:08:15 Red state legislatures are all pushing school vouchers 01:09:45 Voucher ...
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    1 Std. und 52 Min.
  • Zohran Mamdani STUNS With Victory Over Andrew Cuomo + The NIGHTMARE Of Living Undocumented In Trump’s America
    Jun 25 2025
    Chuck Todd begins with Zohran Mamdani’s stunning victory over Andrew Cuomo in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary. He points to Mamdani’s cost of living messaging and youth as major factors in the victory, but cautions the party against embracing the “socialist” label, and wonders whether the party establishment will embrace or shun Mamdani.Then, Chuck is joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, who shares his deeply personal journey of living as an undocumented immigrant in America and how it shaped his perspective on one of the nation's most divisive issues. Vargas, who publicly revealed his undocumented status over a decade ago, discusses the atmospheric shift in immigration discourse under Trump, the bipartisan failures that have plagued reform efforts, and why he believes coming out as gay was actually easier than revealing his immigration status. He offers a unique insider's view of working at major outlets like the Washington Post while hiding his legal status, living in constant fear of deportation.The conversation delves into the broader media and political landscape surrounding immigration, with Vargas arguing that Democrats have failed to provide a positive counter-narrative to right-wing messaging that has made anti-immigration sentiment central to Republican identity. He challenges both parties for using immigration as a political football rather than addressing the human reality of 40 million people of Mexican heritage living in America. Vargas advocates for journalism that goes beyond economic impact stories to humanize immigrants' experiences, while grappling with the tension between objective reporting and advocacy journalism. The discussion also touches on America's demographic future, the need for immigrant labor to offset declining birth rates, and whether the nation can reconcile its identity as both a country of immigrants and a Judeo-Christian society.Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment regarding the viral Ted Cruz vs Tucker Carlson interview and addresses the conspiracy theory that Starlink hacked voting machines in the 2024 election.Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)00:00 Introduction01:00 Zohran Mamdani beats Andrew Cuomo in NYC mayoral primary02:30 Multiple possible explanations for Mamdani’s victory03:30 Cost of living messaging resonated04:30 This will supercharge the young vs old debate in the party05:30 Will the “democratic socialism” label become a liability for the party?08:00 Moderates rallying around Cuomo made no sense09:00 This should be a wake up call for the Democratic establishment10:00 Democratic voters are looking for “new”11:45 Mamdani fired first shot in battle to rebrand the party13:30 Rallying around Eric Adams would be a bad move for the establishment15:30 Mamdani needs to expand his tent17:30 The big tent illusion - Both parties claim to be "big tent" but aren't 19:15 It's hard to not have a "label" in our current politics 21:00 The Republican party has become a cult of personality 21:45 Politicians can't ever agree with the other side 22:30 The only politicians with a big tent approach are governors 25:00 The coalition that elected Trump is big tent, he isn't governing like it 26:30 Our politics would be healthier if there was four parties 28:00 Politics wasn't designed to be winner-take-all 29:30 Bipartisanship would produce better, more durable legislation 33:30 John Cornyn may drop out, but only if he can stop Ken Paxton 35:45 If Ken Paxton is the nominee, Democrats could win the TX senate seat 37:00 Center-right voters in Texas are homeless 37:45 The TikTok extension via executive order is illegal 38:30 Donald Trump has refused to enforce the law with TikTok 39:45 Politicians are fearful of alienating TikTok users41:30 Jose Antonio Vargas joins the Chuck ToddCast! 42:00 What year did you go public with your undocumented status? 44:00 The atmospheric shift around immigration under Trump 45:30 George W. Bush was much more compassionate to immigrants 46:30 Immigration has been a bipartisan mess 47:30 Immigration has been the central issue in right wing media 49:00 Democrats haven't provided a positive counter narrative 50:15 Being undocumented is living a life of fear 51:45 Nobody at the Washington Post knew he was undocumented 53:30 People following the proper process are being arrested 56:00 Backlash to demographic changes 58:00 White immigrants can hide in plain sight 59:00 Anti-immigration is the currency of the Republican party 01:00:30 Immigration wasn't always covered politically 01:03:30 Jose was shocked he wasn't contacted by ICE 01:04:30 Both parties have used immigration to score political points 01:06:30 Coming out as gay was easier than coming out as undocumented 01:09:00 Obligation to be doing advocacy journalism? 01:11:30 We haven't felt the economic effects of mass deportation yet 01:13:45 Why is...
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    1 Std. und 58 Min.
  • Trump CHOOSES War With Iran + Too OLD For Office w/ Jake Tapper
    Jun 23 2025
    Chuck Todd begins by reacting to President Donald Trump’s decision to order airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. He explains that diplomacy was still on the table, that Israel backed him into a corner, and why he believes that Kamala Harris would have made the same decision if she was president. He highlights the potential ways Iran could strike back, and debates whether this move actually will make the world safer. He also examines the state of the New York mayoral primary and why the Democratic establishment is scared of one particular candidate.Then CNN's Jake Tapper joins Chuck for an in-depth discussion that spans politics, media, and personal insights. The duo discuss Tapper’s bestselling new book “Original Sin” and explore critical questions about journalism's role in vetting political candidates, particularly examining President Biden's age and cognitive health, the media's coverage of his decline, and whether there was a coordinated effort to shield him from scrutiny. They offer their perspectives on Biden's decision to run for re-election, the dynamics surrounding Kamala Harris's selection as VP, and how the political establishment rewards seniority over merit in Congress.Beyond the serious political analysis, the conversation takes a more personal turn as Tapper discusses his approach to social media detox, his upcoming book about Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie, and his thoughts on political satire from South Park to SNL. They also dive into lighter territory, covering everything from Philadelphia sports fandom and memorabilia collecting to streaming recommendations and the challenges of maintaining work-life balance as a high-profile journalist. This episode offers both sharp political commentary and genuine personal insights from two veteran journalists reflecting on their craft and the current media landscape.Finally, he answers questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and reflects on the life of his family dog Ruby after her passing. Timeline:(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)00:00 Introduction01:00 Trump orders attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities02:00 Nobody wants a nuclear arms race in the middle east02:30 Bombing was a choice, there were other options03:45 The consequences will affect the entire globe05:15 Other countries could race toward nukes06:00 Israel cornered the US government into airstrikes07:45 Kamala Harris probably would have ordered the airstrikes*09:15 Israel would have forced the president’s hand either way10:15 Trump didn’t make the case for strikes in remarks to the nation12:00 Iran could strike back asymmetrically 12:45 Congress has been sidelined, this is Trump’s war14:45 Did this make the U.S. and the world safer?17:30 Trump violated the law by not notifying Democrats about the strike19:30 Eric Swalwell issues an alarming statement about 2028 election20:45 NYC mayoral primary will show where the energy in the party is23:00 Mamdani’s candidacy scares the Democratic establishment24:20 Jake Tapper joins the Chuck ToddCast! 25:20 How Jake and Chuck met 29:40 Covid set back younger generation's social development 31:35 Disengaging from social media 33:50 Negative feedback online vs. in-person 35:20 Are politicians constantly suspicious of journalists? 37:20 Give politicians the benefit of the doubt? 38:20 Congress won't pass the STOCK Act 39:05 Biden's decision to run was the "original sin" 40:35 Biden originally ran with his family under duress 42:35 There are myths in the legend of Joe Biden 43:50 Biden's resilience led him to the bad decision to run 44:35 The "blame the media" narrative around Biden 45:50 How should the media change its vetting process for candidates? 47:35 Presidential health reports should be subject to perjury 48:20 Biden never took a cognitive test 49:20 Age cap on politicians requires constitutional amendment 50:20 No evidence that autopen was used 51:35 There's a culture of coddling "too old" members in congress 53:50 The system rewards seniority over accomplishment 55:50 Kay Granger being in a dementia center was covered up 57:20 Loss of local urgency in political coverage 59:20 Older politicians are less invested in the future 1:00:50 In any other sphere, Biden's decline is disqualifying 1:02:20 Was the cover up a lack of faith in Harris? 1:03:35 Harris VP choice was for political reasons, not governing 1:05:20 VP pick was between Harris and Whitmer 1:07:05 The super original sin was Obama endorsing Clinton 1:10:35 Start of Biden's decline can be traced back to Beau's death 1:12:20 Obama has never spoken on Biden's decline 1:14:50 What style of book do you like to write the most? 1:18:05 Jake's next book is about Klaus Barbie 1:19:05 Best current political satire? 1:22:35 South Park is the best at capturing the culture 1:24:20 Trump bit on SNL is worn out 1:26:20 Jake's streaming recommendations 1:30:20 Does Jake ever stop working? 1:31:50 Staying off social media 1:...
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    1 Std. und 58 Min.
  • What Trump’s FEMA Cuts ACTUALLY Mean w/ Governor Pat McCrory
    Jun 20 2025

    Chuck Todd is joined by former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of American politics and governance. McCrory, who describes himself as a Reagan conservative, discusses how modern politics has become trapped in rigid left/right binary thinking and reflects on his experience managing civil unrest during the 2016 Charlotte riots. The conversation explores the breakdown of civil discourse, the infiltration of legitimate protests by anarchists, and the failure of political leaders to work across party lines during crises like the recent LA fires.

    The discussion delves into pressing questions about federal disaster response, including whether states can manage without FEMA and how the two-party system is failing Americans. They argue that dark money has turned campaign finance into "legal corruption." He also weighs in on whether the Republican Party can be reformed or if America needs a viable third party, while addressing the political survival prospects of senators like Thom Tillis in an increasingly polarized landscape.

    Timeline

    00:00 Governor Pat McCrory joins the Chuck ToddCast!

    01:30 Everything in modern politics is framed in left/right binary terms

    03:15 What type of conservative is he?

    04:15 What attracted him to Reagan conservatism?

    06:00 Americans don’t always demand their leaders show empathy or grace

    07:15 We used to be able to have conversations with people we disagree with

    10:00 Mayors have less power than people realize

    11:00 Congress has given away too much power to the executive branch

    12:00 Handling the 2016 riots in Charlotte over a police shooting

    12:45 A handful of anarchists have infiltrated the LA protests

    15:00 Anarchists try to turn legitimate protests into riots

    16:00 Is there a playbook for managing protests and civil unrest?

    19:30 Trump, Newsom and Bass should be working together during protests

    20:15 The Trump administration views working with Democrats as weakness

    21:30 Newsom + Bass not holding joint press conferences during fires was a mistake

    23:00 Leaders have to go beyond politics during disasters

    24:00 Can states manage disaster relief on their own without FEMA?

    26:00 Does FEMA’s need for expediency make it ripe for waste and abuse?

    27:00 Disasters are a money making venture for contractors

    28:45 FEMA cuts will hurt Trump’s voters the most

    30:00 Bad communications after a disaster endanger the public

    30:45 Certain government roles shouldn’t be politically appointed

    32:30 FEMA needs to be reformed, not eliminated

    33:45 Would it be better to reform the GOP, or create a viable third party?

    35:15 The two party system is failing America

    36:15 The two parties are acting like the mafia

    37:15 There is political correctness on both sides of the aisle

    39:00 The protests end up being misrepresented on television

    41:15 Is the Republican party redeemable?

    42:30 Dark money has corrupted our politics

    44:15 Crypto has become the top spending lobbying group

    48:00 Is crypto really currency if you have to cash it out to spend it?

    50:30 Campaign finance has turned into legal corruption

    51:45 Can Tom Thillis survive a Republican primary challenge?

    55:00 Thillis holds strong convictions about the separation of powers

    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    58 Min.
  • In This Moment Of Trump Turmoil, Where Is Barack Obama? + 10 Years Of Trump
    Jun 19 2025
    Chuck Todd begins by reflecting on the 10th anniversary of Trump descending his golden escalator and the profound impact he’s had on both our politics and culture since. He argues that Trump has had the greatest impact of any president since FDR, why Trump’s “fake it til you make it” persona appeals to voters and believes the negative impacts Trump has had on society will last for decades. He also highlights the anniversaries of the Watergate break-in and the OJ Simpson chase, and the lasting impacts those two events have had on American media.Then, Chuck is joined by journalist and staff writer for The Atlantic, Mark Leibovich, for a wide-ranging conversation that seamlessly weaves together sports, politics, and cultural commentary. The discussion begins with Leibovich's criticism of Howard Schultz's role in Seattle losing the Sonics, before diving into whether Obama should be more vocal during this political moment. Leibovich argues that Obama's presence might actually reinforce elitist stereotypes about Democrats and questions whether the former president is out of touch with today's electorate.The conversation takes fascinating detours through Beatles history (with Leibovich making the case that Ringo was the band's essential glue), speculation about whether Biden's debate performance was intentionally designed to showcase his decline, and pointed observations about Trump 2.0 being "almost beyond satire." Leibovich doesn't hold back on Trump's blatant corruption or Chuck’s assessment that "Idiocracy was a documentary," while also analyzing the genuine nature of enthusiasm around Kamala Harris's campaign. The episode concludes with thoughts on baseball's pitch clock, the Red Sox's future, and advice for Democrats to meet voters where they are.Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment about discrepancies in polling and why poor campaign finance laws allow for the outsized influence of money in Virginia’s gubernatorial race.Timeline:00:00 Introduction00:30 June 16th marks the 10th anniversary of Trump descending the escalator01:45 Trump’s staying power isn’t an accident02:30 Trump’s impact has been greater than any modern president04:00 Trump’s “fake it til you make it” strategy worked*05:45 Trump is comfortable being an outsider and disrespected07:00 Trump remade the Republican party in his image09:00 The poison he’s injected is division and politicization11:00 The culture Trump built will shape politics for decades13:00 June 17th the anniversary of Watergate break in13:45 The biased liberal media narrative was manufactured by Nixon15:15 Republicans mistake press neutrality with antagonism 16:30 Service journalism has become rare18:15 June 17th also anniversary of OJ Simpson chase19:30 OJ chase/trial massively changed media23:00 CNN saw CourTV’s ratings and changed strategy25:15 Before OJ, news networks didn’t chase ratings29:00 Mark Leibovich joins the Chuck ToddCast! 32:30 Mark's homage to the Oklahoma City Thunder 33:45 Howard Schultz deserves the blame for Seattle losing the Sonics 35:00 Is there an NBA market that needs to be eliminated/moved? 37:30 Is it a mistake to brand teams to a state/region over a city? 39:30 Should Obama be speaking out more due to the vacuum of leadership? 41:30 Obama to blame for not grooming the next generation? 42:30 Obama favored Hillary Clinton more than Joe Biden 43:00 Obama didn't believe in identity politics 44:45 Can Obama lead by example at this moment? 46:15 Obama's presence reinforces elitist stereotypes about Democrats 48:45 If John Lennon had lived, would the Beatles have just been the Rolling Stones? 51:15 Ringo was the glue for the Beatles 53:30 Ringo is non judgemental and appeals to both sides 55:45 Ringo was a huge American football fan 58:00 Obama seems out of touch with the current electorate 59:15 Was the energy around Harris genuine enthusiasm, or just relief? 1:00:15 Biden probably loses 6-8 more states than Harris 1:02:30 Was the Biden debate intentional to showcase he wasn't up to it? 1:05:15 There was no cover up of Biden's decline, it was obvious 1:06:00 Will "Biden baggage" sink Pete Buttigieg or other Biden alum? 1:08:00 Trump 2.0 is almost beyond satire 1:09:00 Idiocracy was a documentary 1:10:15 Why is there no mass outrage over Trump's blatant corruption? 1:13:00 What traits will the next Democratic president have post-Trump? 1:14:00 Trump's skill set isn't transferable within the Republican party 1:15:45 Trump is the definition of "Fake it til you make it" 1:19:00 Trump weaponized the NFL in the culture war 1:21:00 The pitch clock has been great for baseball 1:22:30 Thoughts on the Devers trade 1:25:00 Are the Red Sox for sale? 1:26:00 Democrats need to meet voters where they are 1:26:45 You can't write off Gavin Newsom1:28:00 Chuck's thoughts on the interview with Mark Leibovich 1:28:30 Ask Chuck 1:28:45 How can two respected polling ...
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    1 Std. und 40 Min.
  • Will Trump Drag The United States Into WAR With Iran?
    Jun 18 2025

    Chuck Todd reacts to the bizarre limbo President Donald Trump has put the country and world into as he weighs bringing the United States military into the conflict between Israel and Iran. Chuck weighs the benefits and risks of such a move, explains why Israel can’t end Iran’s nuclear program without the U.S. and why Trump is treating foreign policy like reality TV.

    He provides some updates and analysis on several primaries and special elections across the country, and concludes by answering listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment about the ability of unknown candidates to emerge in a crowded media environment and why voters can’t impeach elected officials for bad behavior like we saw from Senator Mike Lee.

    Timeline:

    00:00 Trump has put the country into a bizarre limbo over Iran

    01:00 It feels like there is a drumbeat towards U.S. military action

    01:50 Iran knows nuclear weapons are a powerful deterrent

    04:05 Trump got traction in the Republican party by opposing the Bush doctrine

    06:20 Iran is weaker than ever after Israel destroyed their proxies

    07:20 Israel can't eradicate Iran's nuclear program without the U.S.

    08:05 Congress isn't likely to confront him over war powers

    09:50 This situation rhymes with the pretense of the Iraq war

    11:20 Trump would be taking a great risk by accepting Israeli intelligence

    12:50 Trump is treating foreign policy like it's a reality TV show

    14:20 America playing world police worked… until it didn't

    15:20 Trump has been backed into a corner

    16:35 There are diverse opinions in the situation room

    17:50 Trump making war decisions via tweet has been normalized

    18:35 Virginia primaries have set up governor's race for later this year

    19:20 Democrats should be poised for clean sweep in Virginia

    20:20 Either way, Virginia will elect its first female governor

    21:20 NY and NJ elections will be closer than Virginia

    22:50 Ranked choice voting in NYC mayor's race creates unique coalitions

    25:20 Ritchie Torres won't run for governor if Zoran Mandani wins mayoral race

    26:50 Sen. Michael Bennett to leave Senate and run for Colorado governor

    28:50 Byron Donalds is already running attack ads in Florida governor race

    30:05 Ohio's gubernatorial race will be closer than you think

    34:15 Ask Chuck

    34:45 Can an unknown candidate emerge in this media ecosystem?

    38:10 Why aren’t house members or senators impeached by their voters?

    41:45 The need for straight shooters in media

    (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    45 Min.