The Chuck ToddCast

John Kasich, former Ohio Governor and author of 'Heaven Help Us', joins the discussion on political compromise and the dangers of toxic partisanship. He critiques Trump’s tariffs while labeling Biden's presidency a failure due to his detachment from diverse opinions. The conversation touches on the escalating geopolitical tensions and the role of faith in governance. Kasich also reflects on the importance of unity and empathy in political leadership, discussing the future of elections and the need for spiritual renewal in American culture.

Join former Washington Governor Jay Inslee as he discusses his significant achievements in climate policy and criticizes Trump's energy strategies, warning they may undermine American businesses and technology. The conversation dives into the complexities of political courage and how Democrats can prepare for upcoming elections. Inslee emphasizes the importance of grassroots action to confront the dual threats of climate change and authoritarianism, making a case for sustainable progress and accountability in governance.

Oren Cass, Chief economist and founder of American Compass, discusses the complexities of America's trade policy. He critiques the Trump administration's implementation of tariffs, arguing they're counter-productive to reindustrialization efforts. The conversation touches on the evolution of free trade in conservative thought, consumer behavior regarding domestic products, and trade's national security implications. Cass also explores the potential downsides of reshoring manufacturing and the changing dynamics with China, all while addressing listener questions on political accountability and media scrutiny.

Chuck Todd begins with a critical assessment of the Democratic Party's first 100 days under the Trump administration, noting widespread discontent among Democratic voters with party leadership. He examines the positioning of potential 2028 contenders, with AOC emerging as Bernie Sanders' heir apparent, Buttigieg and Pritzker carefully laying groundwork, and Gavin Newsom attempting to distance himself from his progressive reputation. He highlights Arizona's Ruben Gallego as a potential breakthrough national figure while acknowledging the Democratic brand remains problematic with many voters despite individual politicians' popularity.Then he dives into a fascinating conversation with "Black Mirror" creator Charlie Brooker, who discusses his dystopian anthology series through the lens of human response to technology rather than the technology itself. Brooker reflects on social media's evolution from optimistic beginning to profit-driven outrage machine, and shares insights on artificial intelligence's most pressing concerns: job displacement and algorithmic management. The conversation covers wide-ranging topics including healthcare differences between the US and UK, AI's impact on education and emotional connections, and the accelerating pace of technological change that feels increasingly destabilizing. Throughout, Brooker maintains his characteristic blend of dark humor and thoughtful analysis about our relationship with technology, even touching on how the COVID pandemic influenced his creative perspective. The episode concludes with "Ask Chuck," where Todd addresses listener questions about the potential echo chamber effect in local news, the potential fracturing of the Republican Party, and speculation about Trump's relationship with stock market fluctuations.00:00 Introduction02:15 The first 100 days report card for the Democratic Party03:00 Democratic voters are not happy with party leadership04:30 Which democratic leaders have performed well?07:20 AOC has become the heir apparent to Bernie Sanders10:30 Pete Buttigieg, JB Pritzker teeing up a 2028 run?12:45 Gavin Newsom is trying to distance himself from his progressive brand15:00 Ruben Gallego could break through on the national stage16:30 The Democratic brand is still toxic with voters18:25 Charlie Brooker joins the show! 18:45 Is Charlie the 21st century George Orwell 20:25 Is Black Mirror meant to be a warning? 22:25 The show isn't about technology, it's about the human response to these tools 25:25 First episode concept came from a podcast Charlie listened to 28:25 The concept of paying for healthcare is foreign outside of America 29:55 Facebook and X were fun at first, but then they turned up the dials for anger and grievance for profit 31:55 How long did Charlie have Black Mirror as an idea before it came to fruition? 33:55 Parallels between Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone?36:00 We thought social media would be great for society… then it turned out quite differently 37:00 How worried should we be about AI? 40:15 The worry with AI will be two things. Will it take my job, and will it be my boss? 41:45 Has Charlie used AI to help with writing on Black Mirror? 42:15 Charlie's writing 44:00 People will be willing to pay more for human customer service rather than dealing with AI 46:30 Is Charlie obsessed with privacy? 48:00 Technology will always put someone out of work 50:15 Will we have to teach spelling in the future? Have we taken away something from society? 52:45 Robocop was an influence on Black Mirror 54:45 The show deals with futuristic concepts, but also feels like it's taking place in the present 56:30 Is Charlie extrapolating the future on his own, or does he talk to experts? 58:00 The inspiration behind the honeybee episode 59:45 Will we see AI avatars teaching history? 1:02:15 People get emotionally attached to AI companions 1:04:30 Will AI conclude that humans are a threat to progress 1:05:15 Technology brought back the dire wolf from extinction 1:06:30 We're living through a period of accelerated technology 1:09:00 The pace of change feels dizzying and destabilizing 1:10:15 Whose to blame for this moment, tech CEO's or politicians? 1:11:00 Could AI rewrite history? 1:15:30 How did the COVID pandemic affect Charlie's thinking? 1:19:00 How long will Charlie continue making more Black Mirror?1:23:15 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Charlie Brooker1:24:00 Ask Chuck1:24:45 Does local news just become an echo chamber for that community?1:28:10 If the Republican party fractures, who would remain in the “traditional” wing of the party?*1:30:25 Is Trump manipulating the stock market so wealthy people can buy the dip?

Dr. Jodi Vittori, a Georgetown University expert on kleptocracy, discusses the dangerous interplay of corruption and democracy. She warns that kleptocracies and functioning democracies can't coexist, using Russia and Hungary as examples. The conversation delves into how Trump's tenure could serve as a trigger for America's slide into kleptocracy. They explore the role of cryptocurrency in corruption, the erosion of anti-corruption laws, and propose significant reforms to protect democratic integrity.

New York Congressman Dan Goldman, former chief counsel for Trump's impeachment, discusses the rule of law and reforms needed to secure democracy against presidential overreach. He highlights the dangers of politicizing the Justice Department. Political analyst Dave Wasserman shares insights on the shifting electoral landscape, predicting potential Democratic gains in the House and emphasizing the importance of understanding local communities in predicting election outcomes. The conversation tackles the implications of Trump's presidency on political dynamics heading into 2026.

Alex Gibney, a legendary documentary filmmaker known for tackling complex subjects, discusses his latest project The Dark Money Game on HBO. He delves into the corrupting influence of dark money and its normalization due to the Citizens United ruling. The conversation explores a bribery scandal in Ohio, exposing how money manipulates politics and erodes trust. Gibney shares insights into his investigative process and hints at his upcoming focus on Elon Musk, all while emphasizing the urgent need for transparency in political funding.

Jon Tester, a former U.S. Senator and farmer from Montana, joins longtime journalist Maritsa Georgiou to discuss the state of local journalism and its decline. They highlight the void created by diminishing media representation in rural America and stress the importance of local reporters in fostering community trust. The duo also delves into the corrupting influence of dark money in politics and the pressing need for campaign finance reform. They wrap up with insights on the cultural impact of the TV show Yellowstone on their home state.

Chuck Todd is joined by Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, to discuss the damaging effects of President Donald Trump’s tariffs and trade war on the U.S. economy.Chuck opens the episode by framing the nation’s economic struggles as entirely self-inflicted, warning against political pressure on the Federal Reserve, and explaining why the consequences of current policy decisions could take years to reverse.Mark Zandi then joins to share his economic risk assessment, explore why markets failed to anticipate the trade war, and project the level of fallout the U.S. economy could face in the coming months and years.They break down why Trump’s push to reshore American manufacturing is unlikely to succeed, how China could emerge as the real winner of the trade war, and why troubling signals from the bond market spell concern for the broader economy.Zandi also outlines the risks of firing Fed Chair Jay Powell, explains why the trade war is a lose-lose scenario, and discusses why government intervention may be far less effective in responding to a self-inflicted economic crisis.Finally, Chuck wraps up with listener questions in the Ask Chuck segment.Don’t forget to like and subscribe to The Chuck ToddCast!Timeline:0:00 Introduction0:30 Why Chuck wanted to have Mark Zandi on the show1:30 We could have a man made economic disaster on our hands3:00 Pressuring the fed to lower interest rates is a bad idea5:15 Immigration has been a boon, not a negative for America7:00 Trade has helped America have a higher standard of living than anywhere else8:00 Rebuilding will take years8:45 Trump administration has been a mess11:55 Mark Zandi joins the show 12:55 What is Moody's Analytics? 15:55 How is a country's political system factored into economic risk assessments? 17:15 War gaming the trade war 19:10 Why didn't markets price in the trade war? 21:10 Tariffs in Trump 1.0 were more damaging than people realize due to pandemic. 22:55 When will the tariff impacts show up?24:25 Are any companies reshoring manufacturing due to tariffs? 26:10 How many companies are going to do whatever it takes to get an exemption? 27:25 Consumers and corporations are already changing their spending decisions 28:25 Government cuts are self defeating 29:55 How will this affect China's economy? 32:55 Will the EU spurn the US in favor of China? 34:25 Nixing the TPP was a mistake 35:40 What does the health of the bond market tell us? 37:10 We're in a crisis 38:10 How does this affect financing our debt? 39:10 What would stabilize the market? 39:55 What would happen if he fired fed chair Jay Powell?42:40 How similar is the current situation to the 1920's-30's? 45:25 US received more pushback from other countries in the 20's-30's 46:40 Which countries are most vulnerable to the trade war? 48:55 This is a lose-lose for everyone 49:55 In an emergency are the only choices inflation or recession? Which is preferable? 52:25 Government intervention will be less viable because government caused the crisis53:25 Chuck’s thoughts on conversation with Mark Zandi54:20 Ask Chuck - Will Trump’s trade war become the new normal or just a phase?55:55 Tariffs are a tool, and shouldn’t be used for everything57:30Trump’s goal is to replace income taxes with tariff revenue59:55 How can citizens not be part of the problem when it comes to hyperpartisan media?1:00:30 Diversifying your media diet is important1:04:45 If tariffs cause a severe recession, could Trump issue an EO to postpone the midterm elections?1:07:00 Trump can’t waive a magic wand and postpone elections(Timestamps vary based on advertisements)

Chuck Todd is joined by Benjamin Wittes, editor-in-chief of Lawfare, to break down the widespread legal violations committed by the Trump administration during Donald Trump’s first three months in office.Chuck opens the episode by underscoring the gravity of the moment and why Trump appears to show little respect for the law or the authority of the courts.Ben Wittes then joins the conversation to discuss the constitutional amendments the administration may have violated, whether Trump is defying Supreme Court rulings, and what a potential legal showdown over his immigration policies could look like.They examine the administration’s targeting of law firms and universities, where institutional pressure could serve as a check on executive overreach, and whether lawsuits filed by state attorneys general stand a chance in court.Finally, they unpack Trump’s use of executive orders against his critics, why the U.S. is losing its reputation as a global “beacon of freedom,” and Ben shares one reason he still holds onto a sense of optimism.0:00 First 90 days of the Trump administration has been tumultuous 1:45 Congress is sitting on its hands2:45 The administration is slowing down routine investigations 4:00 This is a dangerous moment for the country5:30 Trump is “flooding the zone”8:15 There are legal ways to handle deportations but Trump isn’t interested9:30 They’ve violated amendments four through nine11:30 Trump left Biden a legal quagmire over the border, but Biden didn’t handle it well12:30 Prices will rise in the next 60-90 days 14:00 Incompetence has defined Trump’s administration thus far15:00 Administration is trending toward monarchy 16:45 Lindsey Graham has gone radio silent18:55 Benjamin Wittes joins the show! 21:10 Trump is violating multiple constitutional amendments 23:30 Is Trump violating the Supreme Court ruling? 25:55 Did the Supreme Court water down their ruling? 27:05 All 9 justices agreed on the premise 28:05 What would satisfy the court's order to "facilitate" the return of Abrego Garcia? 29:40 If Trump asked for the prisoner back, Bukele wouldn't say no 30:45 The White House is brazenly violating court orders 32:10 The administration is extorting law firms 36:45 How will Harvard's decision to fight back affect them? 38:35 Is the administration going out of their way to pick fights? 39:55 They're creating criminal impunity for allies 40:45 Administration is using civil litigation to target enemies 41:55 The government will pay more in damages than money saved by DOGE45:00 John Roberts is issuing rulings meant to avoid confrontation with Trump 46:25 SCOTUS justices are aware Trump is flaunting their ruling 48:45 Trump is putting tremendous stress on his own party 49:25 Are Trump's actions uniting SCOTUS against him? 52:25 What to make of the three liberal justices putting out a press release? 54:55 How alarmed are the six conservative justices? 56:05 Expectations for California's tariff lawsuit? 58:55 The president has civil immunity from defamation lawsuits 1:01:15 Targeting Krebs and Taylor are two of the most egregious acts so far 1:05:25 Trump 2.0 is an entirely different proposition 1:06:55 What authoritarian model does Trump most emulate? 1:07:55 Ben projected "Trump and Vance betrayed the country" on the Washington monument1:10:55 The beacon of freedom has been turned off1:12:25 Ben's hammock studio 1:14:15 Administration is targeting people the public doesn't care much about 1:16:05 The goal is to stop it from getting worse1:18:03 Showdown with SCOTUS looming?1:19:30 Chuck’s Nats rant - Fix the bullpen!(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)