Can Democrats Focus Primarily on Economics?

Congressman Chris Deluzio joins Chuck Todd to talk about the political transformation of Western Pennsylvania, the challenges of running as a Democrat in a swing district, and the lessons he’s learned since succeeding Conor Lamb. From the hollowing out of factory towns to the rare but pivotal swing voters who decide elections, Deluzio reflects on the realignment that has reshaped the region’s politics. He also opens up about how 9/11 led him to serve in the Navy, why he believes American democracy is at risk, and the urgent need for reforms to restore voter trust.

The conversation also dives into big debates in Washington: partisan gerrymandering, government shutdown brinkmanship, establishing limits on presidential power, and the dangers of politicizing the military. Deluzio weighs in on rail safety after East Palestine, social media’s effect on kids, and congressional corruption—from stock trading to pay structures that keep working-class Americans from serving. Plus, Chuck gets his take on the rising cost of energy, Pittsburgh sports, and whether Democrats can win back voters by focusing squarely on economic issues.

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Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Congressman Chris Deluzio joins the Chuck ToddCast

00:45 How much has your district changed since Connor Lamb won it?
01:45 How did the Pittsburgh area swing from Democratic to Republican?

02:30 The hollowing out of factory towns was key to political realignment in PA

03:15 Who is the McCormick/Deluzio voter?

04:15 Swing voters still exist but are rare

06:00 How difficult is it to talk to voters with the “D” next to your name?

07:45 9/11 sealed Chris’s decision to join the navy

09:45 We should be very concerned about the state of American democracy

11:00 Younger generations will have a worse standard of living than their parents

12:45 Democrats mixed message on redistricting

13:30 We should have a federal ban on partisan gerrymandering

14:15 Democrats can’t unilaterally disarm

15:15 Gerrymandering makes it hard to earn trust back with voters

16:45 Senate Democrats should use their leverage in shutdown fight

17:45 Only open to six week extension if Republicans willing to work with Dems

19:00 Thoughts on Fetterman’s intention to vote to fund the government

20:30 There’s been a scrambling of the centrist & progressive wings of the party

22:00 The fissure in the party is more about fighting than ideology

22:45 Fighting the imperial presidency is the priority

24:30 We need to put limits on the executive to prevent overreach

25:45 We can’t be at the mercy of the whims of the president

26:15 Kash Patel’s FBI shut down investigation into Tom Homan taking cash bribe

27:30 We need to formal guardrails and can’t rely on norms

28:15 Trump’s efforts to politicize the naval academy and military

30:00 Efforts to politicize the military are dangerous and erode trust

30:45 Military lawyers ignored,extrajudicial killings in Caribbean are illegal

32:45 Presidents have abused war powers for years, Congress needs to intervene

34:00 Defense is one of the few areas of bipartisan cooperation

34:45 Republicans willing to work on rail safety after East Palestine derailment

36:15 Can congress work together on internet/social media safety for kids?

37:15 Banning smartphones in classrooms has 80/20 support

38:45 There’s a huge concentration of power in tech and media

39:45 It’s harder for a president to bully a diverse market that isn’t consolidated

41:15 Voters agree that there’s corruption, but they think all politicians are corrupt

42:15 We should ban congressional stock trading, corruption breeds distrust

43:30 Congress deserve pay raise in exchange for stock trading ban

46:15 You shouldn’t have to be wealthy to serve in congress

47:00 Working class candidates need to be supported

47:45 Can Democrats drop cultural issues and purely run on economics?

49:30 The rise in energy bills could become a huge issue in coming months

50:30 The Big Beautiful Bill will make the energy prices problem worse

51:30 Tempted to go to the Steelers game in Ireland?

53:00 Pittsburgh Pirates ownership issue

55:00 More PSU or Pitt fans in your district?

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