Safety, Platform Power, and the CDC Hearing

Chuck Todd unpacks the fallout from Charlie Kirk’s assassination and what it means for public displays of democracy, as lawmakers debate whether fear should keep them from showing up for their constituents. He also dives into explosive Senate testimony from former CDC director Dr. Monarez, who detailed political interference in vaccine policy under the Trump administration. The conversation shifts to the economic strain of tariffs and subsidy cuts—driving up everything from prescription drugs to coffee prices—alongside predictions of mass white-collar job losses fueled by AI. From Trump’s push to end quarterly earnings reports to the unresolved fight over TikTok, he highlights how politics, economics, and technology are colliding in ways that test both government accountability and public trust.

Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and previews the upcoming weekend in college football.

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Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 

00:00 Introduction

02:00 Will we have public displays of democracy after Kirk’s death?

02:30 Lawmakers are reconsidering public events

04:00 If public servants are afraid of the public, they need to leave public service

05:30 Lawmakers should take precautions, but they have to show up

06:30 Social media platforms suppress content criticizing them

08:30 Former CDC director Dr. Monarez testified before senate committee

09:30 Trump nominated Dr. Monarez in March 2025

11:00 Dr. Monarez was fired less than a month after swearing

12:45 Kennedy instructed Monarez not to interact with members of congress

14:00 Monarez testifies Kennedy had no science backing change in vaccine schedule

15:30 Chief of staff at HHS says there would be political review of scientific data

17:30 Monarez says the no evidence support change to under 2 vaccine schedule

18:45 Republican senators seemed troubled by the testimony

19:45 You have to be skeptical of any info that comes from the Trump admin

21:00 Prescription drug prices skyrocketing due to tariffs & subsidy cuts

23:00 Coffee prices will become the new gas prices as bellwether for economy

25:00 Tariff impacts are really starting to show up in the economy

26:00 Anthropic predicting massive job losses in the white collar sector

26:45 Mark Kelly proposes AI companies set up special fund to offset job losses

28:30 Trump comes out against quarterly earnings reports

29:30 Quarterly reports make companies focus on short term profits

31:15 Investors punish long term focus from companies and it’s unhealthy

32:00 Trump’s motives are always questionable, but this isn’t a bad policy

34:00 A functional congress, wouldn't let the Chinese run TikTok’s algorithm post-sale

36:00 Why bother with TikTok ban at all

37:15 Major corporations view fines as the cost of doing business

39:30 Ask Chuck 

39:45 If state senates duplicate their districts, why have the districts at all? 

45:00 Why doesn't Minnesota get swing state attention like other midwest states? 

53:15 Should we stop treating real debate the same as clickbait debate? 

57:15 Is there any benefit to parties besides the rich being able to push their agenda? 

1:02:45 College football preview - Miami vs. Florida 1:09:00 The Iron Skillet SMU vs TCU

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