Reagan to Trump: Shaping the GOP's Future

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, former U.S. Ambassador and Reagan White House veteran Frank Lavin joins to reflect on the state of American politics and what lessons might be drawn from Ronald Reagan’s presidency. From Reagan’s approach to bipartisanship and his handling of foreign policy, to Trump’s transactional style and fixation on deference, Lavin weighs in on how today’s leaders measure up against the conservative legacy of the past. He explores what governing responsibly looks like in a narrowly divided nation and why Reagan’s emphasis on free trade and coalition-building still matters.

The conversation stretches from historical “what ifs”—like whether Reagan would have risen without Ford’s pardon of Nixon—to the present-day challenges of Ukraine, China, and the role of U.S. alliances in Asia. Lavin also tackles questions of Trump’s political lineage, whether there’s an heir to Trumpism, and how both parties are struggling with trade, borders, and identity. With insights from inside the Reagan administration and a sharp eye on today’s divisions, Lavin offers a wide-angle view on conservatism, leadership, and what the future of American politics might hold.

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Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Frank Lavin joins the Chuck ToddCast

03:15 Where are we as a country and how would Reagan have handled it?

04:30 Social media rewards audacity and “nutpicking”

05:45 We haven’t hit bottom yet

08:45 What would Reagan have done with full control of congress?

10:00 What is the responsibility of a 51-49 winner to the 49?

11:00 The problem with only governing for your base

12:15 Leaders should actively pursue their agenda despite opposition

13:30 Clinton and Reagan had to accommodate the other side

14:15 People like the idea of Trump more than him actually being president

15:30 If Ford doesn’t pardon Nixon, does Reagan win the primary?

18:30 Is a political/DC outsider best positioned to win in 2028?

20:15 Reagan would be pushing back on Putin in Ukraine

21:15 Our weakness on Ukraine will motivate China on Taiwan

22:00 Obama’s lack of action on Crimea green lit Putin on Ukraine

23:00 How do our Asian allies change their behavior without US security?

24:00 Asian countries will have to accommodate China 

25:00 Hosting US military base didn’t prevent strike on Qatar

26:45 Is Trump an heir to the Reagan lineage?

27:45 Reagan was for free trade, Trump is not

29:00 Trump’s premise that free trade hurts us is faulty

30:15 How often did you get time with Reagan as a staffer?

32:30 Reagan was dedicated to getting George Bush elected

34:30 Trump isn’t foreign policy oriented, he’s transactional

35:30 Trump has a 19th century style of foreign policy

37:45 Trump cares more about deference than achieving policy goals

38:30 Is Trump’s Republican party similar to the 1920’s GOP?

40:15 Democrats have been mixed messengers on free trade

41:00 Sherrod Brown is an “old” politician, been in politics forever

42:15 Should Democrats embrace Trump’s border policy

43:30 Obama likely benefitted from the “deporter in-chief” protests

45:45 What is the definition of traditional conservatism?

46:45 What could Romney/Ryan done better to prevent Trumpism?

47:45 Nobody permanently shifts US politics

49:00 Trump won on culture and by not going after entitlements

50:45 Cutting postal service is a place to cut spending

51:45 There’s little political reward for incrementalism

52:15 Trump isn’t a conservative, but rejects the left

54:00 Trump’s anti-crime policies are deliberately offensive

55:00 George H.W. Bush didn’t have communications skills like Reagan

56:00 Is there an heir to Trump?

59:00 The joy of teaching at USC

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