Chief Washington correspondent for Puck News, Leigh Ann Caldwell joins the Chuck ToddCast to unpack how Washington looks different when covered from outside the constraints of legacy media—and why independent journalism may be better suited to capture the dysfunction of Trump’s second term. Caldwell reflects on the groupthink and reaction-driven coverage that defined Trump’s first presidency, the erosion of Congress’s authority in Trump 2.0, and the deep personal animus now defining relationships on Capitol Hill. Together, she and Chuck examine how social media has shaped a younger generation of staffers, why Speaker Mike Johnson may be remembered as one of the weakest in history, and how Congress has willingly made itself irrelevant in the face of executive power.
The conversation also digs into healthcare politics, looming shutdown risks, and why Republicans remain unable to act without Trump’s approval—even as he digs in against ACA subsidies out of lingering grievance toward Obama. Caldwell and Todd explore the brewing chaos inside the GOP, from mass retirements and redistricting fights to the staggering cost of House races and the nonstop fundraising grind. The episode closes with a candid assessment of party leadership heading into 2026, why a third Trump impeachment would be a mistake, and why covering Congress—rather than the White House—may now offer the clearest window into where American politics is headed.
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Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Leigh Ann Caldwell joins the Chuck ToddCast
01:30 Covering politics as independent media vs legacy media
04:45 There was little ability for original thought doing network news
05:45 Legacy media gets stuck in groupthink
07:30 People blame the Gingrich years for our current political dysfunction
09:00 Covering Trump’s 1st term was asking for reactions to Trump
09:30 Congress has handed away their authority in Trump 2.0
10:15 The personal animus between the two parties is very real
11:30 Young staffers had their politics formed by social media
13:30 Mike Johnson will go down as one of the weakest speakers ever
14:30 Johnson has willingly made congress irrelevant
16:15 Are we underplaying the chances of a January shutdown?
17:30 With premiums set to rise, why couldn’t Dems corner the GOP?
18:15 Dems know healthcare is good politics for them
19:15 Trump is digging in rather than caving on ACA subsidies
21:00 Trump doesn’t want to prop up the ACA because Obama passed it
22:00 Lots of Republicans have “Obama Derangement Syndrome”
23:30 The framework of the ACA came from the Heritage Foundation
24:00 Trump comes close to advocating for single payer healthcare
26:15 Republicans can’t do anything on healthcare without Trump
27:15 Trump is done with congress, thinks he can do everything via EO
29:15 Trump lied and claimed military bonuses came from tariff revenue
30:15 If SCOTUS takes tariff power from Trump, will he go to congress?
31:15 Congress unlikely to hand tariff authority to Trump
32:15 Republican bracing for another 20 retirement announcements
33:45 Texas & California members are mad about redistricting
35:30 House races will likely cost $60 million in 2026
37:00 Members of congress spend 50% of their time fundraising
39:30 Democrats would be stupid to try to impeach Trump a third time
41:00 Which congressional leaders will still be in place in 2027?
42:30 Johnson won’t be speaker in a new congress
43:30 Jim Jordan is the quiet favorite to be the house GOP leader
45:00 It’d be shocking if Chuck Schumer ran again
46:30 DSCC botched their oppo release on Graham Platner
48:45 There are doubts about Jeffries, but unlikely to be challenged
50:30 Schumer & Jeffries botched the NYC mayors race
52:15 Does John Thune have support in the senate?
55:00 Covering the hill is a better beat than the White House
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The Chuck ToddCast