The Chuck ToddCast

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down the absurdity of the U.S. government repeatedly grinding to a halt over government shutdowns. He explains why disruptions like TSA slowdowns and flight delays could force a faster resolution, why this standoff likely won’t last beyond a couple of weeks, and how Republicans may try to negotiate, only to walk back agreements through budget rescissions—or even consider ending the filibuster to reopen government. Chuck also examines the Democrats’ post-Obama resilience, built on being seen as the “grown ups,” while Trump continues to erode norms, politicize governance, and set the tone for a crasser American culture. From the decisive swing of a 3-5 point “adult constituency” to Trump’s retributive budget plans, fundraising battles in Maine and Michigan, and even Trump’s transactional dealings with Qatar and Pfizer, this episode explores the fragile state of U.S. politics in an era where outrage is constant and functional governance feels increasingly out of reach. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and previews the upcoming weekend in college football. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Introduction 01:15 Ridiculous for world’s superpower to have their government shut down 02:00 Flight delays, TSA issues could cause the fastest resolution 04:00 Would be surprising if shutdown lasts longer than a couple weeks 05:00 Vance signaled some willingness to negotiate 06:30 Republicans can agree to demands, then use recissions to renege 07:30 Republicans could end the filibuster and reopen the government 08:30 Nominations should require a 75 vote threshold build consensus 10:00 2013 shutdown got Terry McCauliffe elected as VA governor 11:15 Trump has politicized every aspect of governance 12:00 Russ Vought targeting cuts to only blue states in retribution 14:45 What has kept the Democrats competitive post-Obama? 15:30 Dems have benefitted from being considered the “grown ups” 16:00 Dem activists feel like playing by the rules hasn’t helped them 18:30 Six week clean CR proposal was reasonable 19:45 The “adult” constituency may be 3-5 points, and could be decisive 21:30 Trump’s behavior has been outrageous, but we’ve become numb to it 22:45 We’re in a “political depression”, have a barely functioning government 24:45 There’s no lines Trump won’t cross, there are lines the left won’t 26:15 American culture has become more crass under Trump 28:15 Our sense of decorum is being set by Trump and online MAGA 30:15 Graham Platner raised $3.2 million in Maine senate race 32:00 Is Janet Mills the strongest candidate to beat Susan Collins? 33:00 Being an “outsider” will likely outweigh ideology 35:00 Michigan democratic senate candidates all have strong fundraising 36:00 Trump offers NATO style security guarantees to Qatar 37:00 Airplane gift to Trump paying dividends for the Qataris 38:00 Pfizer agrees to name website TrumpRX 40:30 Trump nominee pulled after opposition from crypto world 42:30 Ask Chuck 42:45 Has anyone else ever started run for president as early as Trump? 50:15 Thoughts on use of centralized databases for voter rolls? 55:00 Why do government workers get back pay after a shutdown? 1:00:00 If Josh Shapiro dominates re-election could he leapfrog the Dem field? 1:03:15 College football preview Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Teamsters president Sean O’Brien joins Chuck to talk about the future of organized labor in an era defined by Amazon, automation, and artificial intelligence. O’Brien warns that AI-driven job displacement could be the central issue of the 2028 campaign, and he argues that technology is being adopted without worker input—repeating mistakes unions made during NAFTA, when labor put too much trust in political leadership. He stresses that unions must be transactional, not partisan, as Democrats increasingly balance business interests while Republicans like Marco Rubio and Josh Hawley show new, if uneven, openness to labor. The conversation also dives into the political tightrope the Teamsters walk. With a membership that’s 65% behind Trump and Republicans, O’Brien explains why endorsing Kamala Harris was never on the table, why Democrats shouldn’t get credit for fixing problems they helped create, and how bad trade deals pushed states like Ohio from blue to red. From navigating tensions with other unions to weighing in on key 2026 races, O’Brien makes clear the Teamsters are willing to work with anyone who delivers for workers—and even open the door to college athletes unionizing by conference. This is a candid look at the shifting power and politics of America’s labor movement. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Sean O’Brien joins the Chuck ToddCast 00:30 Teamsters have reputation of being a less partisan union 02:00 Teamsters have a very diverse membership 03:15 Amazon could be the biggest threat to organized labor 04:30 The threat of AI to workers 05:45 AI job displacement could be central issue to 2028 campaign 07:15 What leverage do the unions have when it comes to AI? 09:15 3 Democratic governments vetoed bills for automated trucks 12:30 How are unions dealing with technological change & automation 14:00 Technology is being adopted without input for labor 15:30 What mistakes did labor make during NAFTA negotiations? 16:45 Labor made a mistake trusting political leadership with NAFTA 18:00 Democrats used to be the party of labor, now also a party of business 19:00 Labor needs to be transactional and not partisan 21:30 Republicans like Rubio have become more friendly to labor 22:45 Has the Republican shift been rhetorical or substantive? 25:15 Josh Hawley was persuaded to stop supporting Right to Work 26:30 Bad trade deals caused Ohio to flip from blue to red 27:30 No explanation for why Sean wasn’t invited to the DNC 29:00 The Teamsters were never going to co-endorse Kamala Harris 31:15 Teamsters have 65% Republican membership 32:45 Labor is the last group taken care of during a bankruptcy 34:30 Democrats don’t deserve credit for fixing a problem they created 36:30 What’s the relationship like with other labor unions? 38:00 There is some ill-will from other unions for not endorsing Harris 39:00 An endorsement wouldn’t move the needle with the members 39:30 How can Democrats win back union members? 41:15 The split between members and leadership over supporting D’s 43:30 How can you trust the Republicans? 45:15 Teamsters will definitely weigh in on senate and house races in 2026 46:45 Teamsters would happily accept student athletes as union members 48:45 College football union membership would likely be by conference Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down the absurdity of the U.S. government repeatedly grinding to a halt over government shutdowns. He explains why disruptions like TSA slowdowns and flight delays could force a faster resolution, why this standoff likely won’t last beyond a couple of weeks, and how Republicans may try to negotiate, only to walk back agreements through budget rescissions—or even consider ending the filibuster to reopen government. Chuck also examines the Democrats’ post-Obama resilience, built on being seen as the “grown ups,” while Trump continues to erode norms, politicize governance, and set the tone for a crasser American culture. From the decisive swing of a 3-5 point “adult constituency” to Trump’s retributive budget plans, fundraising battles in Maine and Michigan, and even Trump’s transactional dealings with Qatar and Pfizer, this episode explores the fragile state of U.S. politics in an era where outrage is constant and functional governance feels increasingly out of reach. Then, Teamsters president Sean O’Brien joins Chuck to talk about the future of organized labor in an era defined by Amazon, automation, and artificial intelligence. O’Brien warns that AI-driven job displacement could be the central issue of the 2028 campaign, and he argues that technology is being adopted without worker input—repeating mistakes unions made during NAFTA, when labor put too much trust in political leadership. He stresses that unions must be transactional, not partisan, as Democrats increasingly balance business interests while Republicans like Marco Rubio and Josh Hawley show new, if uneven, openness to labor. The conversation also dives into the political tightrope the Teamsters walk. With a membership that’s 65% behind Trump and Republicans, O’Brien explains why endorsing Kamala Harris was never on the table, why Democrats shouldn’t get credit for fixing problems they helped create, and how bad trade deals pushed states like Ohio from blue to red. From navigating tensions with other unions to weighing in on key 2026 races, O’Brien makes clear the Teamsters are willing to work with anyone who delivers for workers—and even open the door to college athletes unionizing by conference. This is a candid look at the shifting power and politics of America’s labor movement. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and previews the upcoming weekend in college football. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Introduction 01:15 Ridiculous for world’s superpower to have their government shut down 02:00 Flight delays, TSA issues could cause the fastest resolution 04:00 Would be surprising if shutdown lasts longer than a couple weeks 05:00 Vance signaled some willingness to negotiate 06:30 Republicans can agree to demands, then use recissions to renege 07:30 Republicans could end the filibuster and reopen the government 08:30 Nominations should require a 75 vote threshold build consensus 10:00 2013 shutdown got Terry McCauliffe elected as VA governor 11:15 Trump has politicized every aspect of governance 12:00 Russ Vought targeting cuts to only blue states in retribution 14:45 What has kept the Democrats competitive post-Obama? 15:30 Dems have benefitted from being considered the “grown ups” 16:00 Dem activists feel like playing by the rules hasn’t helped them 18:30 Six week clean CR proposal was reasonable 19:45 The “adult” constituency may be 3-5 points, and could be decisive 21:30 Trump’s behavior has been outrageous, but we’ve become numb to it 22:45 We’re in a “political depression”, have a barely functioning government 24:45 There’s no lines Trump won’t cross, there are lines the left...

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck unpacks the latest government shutdown and the political brinkmanship that created it. He explores how shutdowns—once unthinkable—have become a partisan weapon, wasting money while allowing leaders like Donald Trump to punish opponents and play to their base. With Democrats at risk of shouldering equal or greater blame, Chuck asks whether the public is even paying attention, and what role figures like Russ Vought could play in reshaping government permanently. Beyond the shutdown, the conversation turns to the bigger picture: why voters never saw Trump as an aberration, why 2020 wasn’t a full repudiation of 2016, and what Democrats must do to win back Trump voters in 2028. From Harris’s struggle to differentiate herself from Biden to Clinton’s careful dance with Reagan’s legacy, Chuck argues that Democrats may need to admit Trump identified real problems—even as his solutions and behavior, especially with military leaders, remain deeply troubling. Then, Chuck is joined by NewsNation host Leland Vittert, who opens up about his personal journey growing up on the autism spectrum, the struggles his family faced, and the lessons that shaped his outlook on life and journalism. From being misunderstood in school and learning to navigate social cues, to the pivotal role his mother played in holding the family together, Vittert reflects on why he chose to go public with his story and how his experiences inform his new book—a parenting guide told from the child’s perspective. He also explores how autism has served as both a challenge and, at times, a superpower in his career and personal life. The conversation widens to America’s media landscape, where Vittert argues for a “radical center” approach and a journalism that calls balls and strikes on both sides rather than chasing flashy headlines. He stresses the importance of reviving local news, curating coverage around what matters most, and confronting the biases not only in how stories are told, but in which stories get told at all. This candid discussion is part memoir, part media critique, and a call for greater honesty—both in parenting and in public life. Finally, Chuck presents his ToddCast Top 5 senate races most likely to flip parties, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and recaps a frustrating night at the Cowboys/Packers game. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Introduction - Government begins shutting down 01:15 Congress created shutdown conditions for political leverage 02:00 Could shutdown trigger the end of the senate filibuster rule? 02:45 Democrats have always messaged that shutdowns are bad 04:30 Democrats could shoulder equal or more blame for shutdown 06:30 Shutdowns are a massive waste of money 07:30 Trump seems excited for shutdown to punish opponents 09:15 Terrible trend of politicians only governing for their base 11:15 Independents are pretty sour on Trump’s presidency 13:00 Russ Vought at OMB could use shutdown to reorient gov’t permanently 14:30 Big danger for Democrats is whether the public is paying attention 15:30 Chuck Schumer is “Mitch McConnell” level unpopular 18:45 If Dems want to win in 28 they’ll have to win over some Trump voters 20:15 Democrats thought Trump was an aberration, voters didn’t 21:15 2020 wasn’t a repudiation of why Trump was elected in 2016 24:00 Voters don’t want status quo, which is why they elected Trump twice 26:15 Harris needed to prove she was different from Biden and didn’t 27:45 For Clinton to win, he couldn’t repudiate everything Reagan did 30:00 Trump’s behavior in front of military leaders was outrageous 31:30 The military leaders handled the situation exactly as...

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, NewsNation host Leland Vittert opens up about his personal journey growing up on the autism spectrum, the struggles his family faced, and the lessons that shaped his outlook on life and journalism. From being misunderstood in school and learning to navigate social cues, to the pivotal role his mother played in holding the family together, Vittert reflects on why he chose to go public with his story and how his experiences inform his new book—a parenting guide told from the child’s perspective. He also explores how autism has served as both a challenge and, at times, a superpower in his career and personal life. The conversation widens to America’s media landscape, where Vittert argues for a “radical center” approach and a journalism that calls balls and strikes on both sides rather than chasing flashy headlines. He stresses the importance of reviving local news, curating coverage around what matters most, and confronting the biases not only in how stories are told, but in which stories get told at all. This candid discussion is part memoir, part media critique, and a call for greater honesty—both in parenting and in public life. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Leland Vittert joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:45 The public doesn’t grasp autism and child development issues 03:00 Autism wasn’t well understood in the 80s 03:45 Parents struggle to raise neurodivergent children 05:00 Adapting to the world you live in, not expecting world to adapt to you 06:45 Leland’s father didn’t want him to be defined by his disability 07:30 PE teacher put Leland in with the girls “to protect him” 08:15 The struggle with learning to pick up social queues 13:15 Everyone in DC always wanted to be student body president 14:00 Why go public with your story of being on the spectrum? 16:30 There’s a “parental reckoning” happening in America 17:30 There are lots of broken young men susceptible to radicalization 19:00 Nobody has definitive answers about causes of autism 21:15 Scientists need to be humble enough to say “I don’t know” 22:30 80% of parents with disabled children get divorced 24:30 Leland’s mother held the family together, hero of the story 26:30 Telling this story publicly is like going to therapy on live TV 28:00 How did you share the story of your autism with your wife? 31:00 You don’t “get over” autism 32:30 Where has autism showcased itself as a superpower in your life? 34:30 Book is a parenting book written from the child’s perspective 36:15 There’s no one answer to America’s media problem 37:45 What works and doesn’t work in the news media?? 39:00 There is a “radical center” that’s sick of extremes on both sides 39:45 Journalists should call balls and strikes and call out both sides 41:45 Cable news tends to obsess over stories that are flashy over substantive 43:00 Journalists should curate stories that are most important 44:45 Bias isn’t just how you cover the news, it’s what you cover 46:30 Local news was a character reference for the national network journalists 48:15 How to revive local news/journalism? 51:00 Leland really put himself out there with this book Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck unpacks the latest government shutdown and the political brinkmanship that created it. He explores how shutdowns—once unthinkable—have become a partisan weapon, wasting money while allowing leaders like Donald Trump to punish opponents and play to their base. With Democrats at risk of shouldering equal or greater blame, Chuck asks whether the public is even paying attention, and what role figures like Russ Vought could play in reshaping government permanently. Beyond the shutdown, the conversation turns to the bigger picture: why voters never saw Trump as an aberration, why 2020 wasn’t a full repudiation of 2016, and what Democrats must do to win back Trump voters in 2028. From Harris’s struggle to differentiate herself from Biden to Clinton’s careful dance with Reagan’s legacy, Chuck argues that Democrats may need to admit Trump identified real problems—even as his solutions and behavior, especially with military leaders, remain deeply troubling. Finally, Chuck presents his ToddCast Top 5 senate races most likely to flip parties, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and recaps a frustrating night at the Cowboys/Packers game. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Introduction - Government begins shutting down 01:15 Congress created shutdown conditions for political leverage 02:00 Could shutdown trigger the end of the senate filibuster rule? 02:45 Democrats have always messaged that shutdowns are bad 04:30 Democrats could shoulder equal or more blame for shutdown 06:30 Shutdowns are a massive waste of money 07:30 Trump seems excited for shutdown to punish opponents 09:15 Terrible trend of politicians only governing for their base 11:15 Independents are pretty sour on Trump’s presidency 13:00 Russ Vought at OMB could use shutdown to reorient gov’t permanently 14:30 Big danger for Democrats is whether the public is paying attention 15:30 Chuck Schumer is “Mitch McConnell” level unpopular 18:45 If Dems want to win in 28 they’ll have to win over some Trump voters 20:15 Democrats thought Trump was an aberration, voters didn’t 21:15 2020 wasn’t a repudiation of why Trump was elected in 2016 24:00 Voters don’t want status quo, which is why they elected Trump twice 26:15 Harris needed to prove she was different from Biden and didn’t 27:45 For Clinton to win, he couldn’t repudiate everything Reagan did 30:00 Trump’s behavior in front of military leaders was outrageous 31:30 The military leaders handled the situation exactly as they should 32:30 Hegseth lectured leaders of far higher rank than he earned in military 33:45 Democrats will have to admit that Trump correctly identified problems 34:45 Voters picked “political division” as the 2nd biggest problem after economy 37:30 ToddCast Top 5 Senate races most likely to flip parties 38:00 #1 North Carolina 39:45 #2 Georgia 41:45 #3 Michigan 43:30 #4 Maine 45:30 #5 New Hampshire 51:00 Honorable mentions 51:30 Ask Chuck 51:45 Why is the lie that shutdown is over money for illegal immigrants pervasive? 54:45 Democrats feeling disheartened after talking to Trump supporters? 58:45 Would the country be better off if Trump was reelected in 2020? 1:03:00 Will Des Moines superintendent arrest derail Iowa senate campaign? 1:04:45 Chuck's experience at Cowboys/Packers game in Dallas 1:10:00 It was a great weekend of college football Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck looks at new polling showing just how unsettled Americans feel heading into yet another potential government shutdown. With 93% of the country agreeing that political violence is a problem and a majority believing we’re in a full-blown political crisis, partisanship has hardened to the point where disagreement itself is seen as betrayal. Chuck traces how government shutdowns—once unheard of before 1980—became a recurring political weapon, thanks to Justice Department rulings, congressional maneuvering, and laws that reduced the political pain by exempting things like military pay and Social Security. The result: contractors left stranded, bipartisanship all but eliminated, and a system designed to fail. Finally, Chuck takes a trip in the ToddCast Time Machine to 1974, when congress gave the Freedom of Information Act teeth, plus answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Introduction 01:00 New polling out leading into potential government shutdown 02:00 93% of the country believe political violence is a problem 03:00 Majority of the country believes we're in a "political crisis" 04:00 Democrats less likely to talk politics across the aisle 05:30 Partisans believe you're on "the other side'' if you don't agree with them 07:45 People need to feel secure in having political debate 09:00 Independent voters are disenfranchised relative to D & R voters 11:15 Before 1980 America never had a government shutdown 12:30 Two Justice Department opinions created the legal basis for shutdowns 15:00 Government shutdown threats are now an annual occurrence 16:15 Two laws passed to make political cost of a shutdown less painful 17:45 Exemptions for military pay and social security make shutdowns easier 18:45 Proposals for automatic government funding haven't passed 21:15 Government contractors can't work under shutdowns or CR's 22:30 Politicians deliberately created the conditions that lead to shutdowns 23:45 Congressional leadership wanted to create artificial leverage 25:00 The incentive structures for bipartisan compromise are gone 27:30 Congress had the power to deal with shutdowns and didn't 30:30 The ToddCast Time Machine 31:00 October 5th, 1974 Congress put teeth in the Freedom of Information Act 32:30 Cheney and Rumsfeld argued transparency would hurt national security 33:00 Lawmakers overruled the presidential veto 35:00 Florida has some of the strongest government transparency laws 35:45 Multiple states created their own transparency laws after FOIA 37:00 Pentagon demanded restrictions on journalists, no outlets agree 39:00 We can't have a democracy without transparency 41:45 When your party is out of power you're more likely to believe nonsense 43:00 Ask Chuck 43:15 Parallels between LDS church in UT & OK nearly becoming a black state? 46:00 Chances the Republican gerrymanders backfire? 50:45 How can Americans abroad stay civically engaged and bring about change? 55:45 Where do you get your optimism from in this political climate? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, veteran journalist for The Economist, James Bennet joins Chuck to break down Donald Trump’s scathing U.N. speech and what it reveals about his worldview: not isolationist, but relentlessly self-centered, with his personal interest framed as national interest. Bennet warns that Trump’s grip on power is existential for him and his administration, and if institutions like the Supreme Court allow unchecked presidential firings, the rule of law itself could unravel. From the Cold War’s stabilizing influence to the fractures of today’s four-party system crammed into two, Bennet and Chuck explore whether America can navigate its political turmoil without mass violence, and how drone warfare, refugee flows, and the collapse of the international rules-based order are reshaping global politics. The conversation also turns inward, examining how journalism has struggled to adapt in the Trump era. Bennet reflects on writing for international audiences, the dangers of catering to niche media bubbles, and why legacy outlets must rediscover local reporting. He argues that deplatforming Trump was a massive mistake that accelerated the collapse of resistance, while public pressure against platforming controversial voices continues to erode open debate. From Biden’s misunderstood mandate to the Senate’s paralysis and the rise of cult-of-personality politics, this episode considers what reforms will be necessary both in government and in journalism. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 James Bennet joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 Trump scolds other nations in scathing U.N. speech 02:30 Trump behaved like Hugo Chavez in U.N. speech 03:45 Trump is not an isolationist, but it’s all centered around him 04:30 Trump sees his interest as the national interest 06:15 How alarmed should we be? 07:15 Things have gotten pretty dark in the past two weeks 08:00 Staying in power is existential for Trump & his administration 09:30 If you lose the rule of law, you lose the country 10:15 If SCOTUS allows fed firing, there’s no going back 11:00 John Roberts desperate to avoid constitutional showdown 12:30 Government will require major reform after Trump 15:00 The cold war was a stabilizing force in American politics 17:00 America is a four party system crammed into two parties 19:00 Public sentiment has been pessimistic the entire 21st century 20:45 Can we get through this without mass violence? 22:30 It’s hard to imagine a productive modern constitutional convention 24:00 The last “protectionist race” led to a world war 25:15 We’re no longer living in the international rules based order 26:30 Drones are massively changing the dynamics of warfare 28:00 Refugee flows are causing political instability worldwide 28:30 Trump has no interest in leading internationally 30:00 Trump is constantly campaigning and only for his base 32:00 Did we export our politics to Israel, or the other way around? 33:45 Only Obama had a majority of the vote in the 21st century 34:45 Governors are the only politicians that campaign beyond their base 37:00 Biden misunderstood his 2020 mandate and overreached 38:30 Who is the Economist reader? 40:30 Writing about American politics for an international audience 42:30 If you had more resources, what would you focus on covering? 43:30 Legacy media needs to give more attention beyond D.C. and NYC 45:00 Need to find a new model in order to bring back local journalism 47:45 There’s too many journalists in D.C. and not enough in America 49:30 Journalism now caters to niche audiences 51:15 Deplatforming Trump was a massive mistake 52:00 Once ABC caved in lawsuit, resistance to Trump collapsed 54:00 Public...

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck looks at new polling showing just how unsettled Americans feel heading into yet another potential government shutdown. With 93% of the country agreeing that political violence is a problem and a majority believing we’re in a full-blown political crisis, partisanship has hardened to the point where disagreement itself is seen as betrayal. Chuck traces how government shutdowns—once unheard of before 1980—became a recurring political weapon, thanks to Justice Department rulings, congressional maneuvering, and laws that reduced the political pain by exempting things like military pay and Social Security. The result: contractors left stranded, bipartisanship all but eliminated, and a system designed to fail. Then, veteran journalist for The Economist, James Bennet joins Chuck to break down Donald Trump’s scathing U.N. speech and what it reveals about his worldview: not isolationist, but relentlessly self-centered, with his personal interest framed as national interest. Bennet warns that Trump’s grip on power is existential for him and his administration, and if institutions like the Supreme Court allow unchecked presidential firings, the rule of law itself could unravel. From the Cold War’s stabilizing influence to the fractures of today’s four-party system crammed into two, Bennet and Chuck explore whether America can navigate its political turmoil without mass violence, and how drone warfare, refugee flows, and the collapse of the international rules-based order are reshaping global politics. The conversation also turns inward, examining how journalism has struggled to adapt in the Trump era. Bennet reflects on writing for international audiences, the dangers of catering to niche media bubbles, and why legacy outlets must rediscover local reporting. He argues that deplatforming Trump was a massive mistake that accelerated the collapse of resistance, while public pressure against platforming controversial voices continues to erode open debate. From Biden’s misunderstood mandate to the Senate’s paralysis and the rise of cult-of-personality politics, this episode considers what reforms will be necessary both in government and in journalism. Finally, Chuck takes a trip in the ToddCast Time Machine to 1974, when congress gave the Freedom of Information Act teeth, plus answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Introduction 06:00 New polling out leading into potential government shutdown 07:00 93% of the country believe political violence is a problem 08:00 Majority of the country believes we’re in a “political crisis” 09:00 Democrats less likely to talk politics across the aisle 10:30 Partisans believe you’re on “the other side’’ if you don’t agree with them 12:45 People need to feel secure in having political debate 14:00 Independent voters are disenfranchised relative to D & R voters 16:15 Before 1980 America never had a government shutdown 17:30 Two Justice Department opinions created the legal basis for shutdowns 20:00 Government shutdown threats are now an annual occurrence 21:15 Two laws passed to make political cost of a shutdown less painful 22:45 Exemptions for military pay and social security make shutdowns easier 23:45 Proposals for automatic government funding haven’t passed 26:15 Government contractors can’t work under shutdowns or CR’s 27:30 Politicians deliberately created the conditions that lead to shutdowns 28:45 Congressional leadership wanted to create artificial leverage 30:00 The incentive structures for bipartisan compromise are gone 32:30 Congress had the power to deal with shutdowns and didn’t 35:00 James Bennet joins the...

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck unpacks how Donald Trump’s Department of Justice has become a political weapon, from targeting perceived enemies like James Comey to sweeping bribery cases under the rug, all while eroding public trust in law enforcement. He explores how Trump’s strategy of framing his own criminal charges as political has worn down the public and set fire to the credibility of the legal system. Chuck also looks at the Democratic Party’s internal strife over whether to embrace figures like Zohran Mamdani, the rising prospects of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and even murmurs of Lisa Murkowski eyeing a gubernatorial run. And beyond politics, he flags troubling signals in the economy—from surging Hamburger Helper sales to a slump in cardboard demand—that suggest things may not be as strong as the stock market makes them appear. Then, Dr. Michael Osterholm, one of the nation’s foremost infectious disease experts, joins Chuck to confront the unsettling reality that Covid-19 was not “the big one.” From SARS and MERS as early warnings to the looming possibility of coronaviruses that are far more deadly than Covid, Osterholm argues that pandemics are inevitable—and the U.S. is dangerously unprepared. He discusses the political failures that prevented a serious after-action review, the collapse of government vaccine infrastructure, and why misinformation and anti-vaccine sentiment have left public health more vulnerable than ever. The conversation also looks forward: how mRNA technology could still be a game-changer, why developing respirators and updating building codes matter, and the urgent need for leadership with real bio-threat experience. Osterholm warns that everything from resurging childhood diseases to the rise of avian flu and the risk of bioterrorism are on the horizon, and he offers a sobering reminder—science is not fixed truth, it’s the pursuit of truth. This episode is a wake-up call about what it will take to be ready for the next pandemic, which could be far worse than Covid-19. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and previews an incredible weekend of sports. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Introduction 04:00 Trump’s DOJ targeting his perceived enemies 05:15 Trump convinced his base that all his criminal charges were political 06:45 Poor coordination by law enforcement allowed Trump to evade charges 07:45 Trump fired attorney who wouldn’t bring charges against enemies 08:15 DOJ wants to charge James Comey with lying to congress 10:00 Trump has telegraphed this prosecution 13:15 Trump accused Biden DOJ of politicization, now his DOJ is overtly political 14:00 Trump’s DOJ swept Homan bribery under the rug 15:00 Public trust in law enforcement is being destroyed 16:30 Trump is wearing out the public 17:30 Comey did his share of damage to the FBI’s credibility 18:30 We need a better system for staffing top law enforcement job 19:45 Christopher Wray serving under Biden was good thing 20:45 Trump is taking a blowtorch to the credibility of the legal system 21:30 Mainstream Democrats are refusing to endorse Zohran Mamdani 23:00 Kamala Harris gives tepid endorsement of Mamdani 25:15 Party either wants the Dem socialists in the coalition or they don’t 26:30 Fence sitting on Mamdani makes everybody mad 28:00 Leadership can’t have it both ways 30:15 Democratic handwringing over Mamdani doesn’t inspire confidence 30:45 AOC may run for senate or the presidency 31:45 AOC could win Chuck Schumer’s seat 33:15 Don’t expect Chuck Schumer will run again 34:15 Lisa Murkowski won’t rule out gubernatorial run in 2026 36:45 Senators looking for options to get out of D.C. 38:00 Sales...

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck unpacks how Donald Trump’s Department of Justice has become a political weapon, from targeting perceived enemies like James Comey to sweeping bribery cases under the rug, all while eroding public trust in law enforcement. He explores how Trump’s strategy of framing his own criminal charges as political has worn down the public and set fire to the credibility of the legal system. Chuck also looks at the Democratic Party’s internal strife over whether to embrace figures like Zohran Mamdani, the rising prospects of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and even murmurs of Lisa Murkowski eyeing a gubernatorial run. And beyond politics, he flags troubling signals in the economy—from surging Hamburger Helper sales to a slump in cardboard demand—that suggest things may not be as strong as the stock market makes them appear. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and previews an incredible weekend of sports. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Introduction 01:15 Trump's DOJ targeting his perceived enemies 02:30 Trump convinced his base that all his criminal charges were political 04:00 Poor coordination by law enforcement allowed Trump to evade charges 05:00 Trump fired attorney who wouldn't bring charges against enemies 05:30 DOJ wants to charge James Comey with lying to congress 07:15 Trump has telegraphed this prosecution 10:30 Trump accused Biden DOJ of politicization, now his DOJ is overtly political 11:15 Trump's DOJ swept Homan bribery under the rug 12:15 Public trust in law enforcement is being destroyed 13:45 Trump is wearing out the public 14:45 Comey did his share of damage to the FBI's credibility 15:45 We need a better system for staffing top law enforcement job 17:00 Christopher Wray serving under Biden was good thing 18:00 Trump is taking a blowtorch to the credibility of the legal system 18:45 Mainstream Democrats are refusing to endorse Zohran Mamdani 20:15 Kamala Harris gives tepid endorsement of Mamdani 22:30 Party either wants the Dem socialists in the coalition or they don't 23:45 Fence sitting on Mamdani makes everybody mad 25:15 Leadership can't have it both ways 27:30 Democratic handwringing over Mamdani doesn't inspire confidence 28:00 AOC may run for senate or the presidency 29:00 AOC could win Chuck Schumer's seat 30:30 Don't expect Chuck Schumer will run again 31:30 Lisa Murkowski won't rule out gubernatorial run in 2026 34:00 Senators looking for options to get out of D.C. 35:15 Sales of Hamburger Helper way up, warning sign for economy 37:30 Cardboard box demand slumping, another warning sign 38:30 Economy looks better than it is due to AI boost to stock market 41:30 Chuck's thoughts on the interview with Dr. Osterholm 42:00 Ask Chuck 42:15 Will Trump ever target podcasts the way he targets other media? 49:15 Comparing party platforms vs what they actually do while governing? 53:30 Why have Republican voters gone along with Trump's authoritarianism? 1:03:00 Weekend sports preview Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Dr. Michael Osterholm, one of the nation’s foremost infectious disease experts, joins Chuck to confront the unsettling reality that Covid-19 was not “the big one.” From SARS and MERS as early warnings to the looming possibility of coronaviruses that are far more deadly than Covid, Osterholm argues that pandemics are inevitable—and the U.S. is dangerously unprepared. He discusses the political failures that prevented a serious after-action review, the collapse of government vaccine infrastructure, and why misinformation and anti-vaccine sentiment have left public health more vulnerable than ever. The conversation also looks forward: how mRNA technology could still be a game-changer, why developing respirators and updating building codes matter, and the urgent need for leadership with real bio-threat experience. Osterholm warns that everything from resurging childhood diseases to the rise of avian flu and the risk of bioterrorism are on the horizon, and he offers a sobering reminder—science is not fixed truth, it’s the pursuit of truth. This episode is a wake-up call about what it will take to be ready for the next pandemic, which could be far worse than Covid-19. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Dr. Michael Osterholm joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:15 Are American leaders ready for the next pandemic? 02:30 Covid wasn’t “the big one” pandemic 03:30 SARS & MERS gave a warning about coronaviruses 04:30 Coronaviruses in the wild that are as infectious as covid but more deadly 05:15 Death rate of Covid was relatively low, could be much worse 06:45 Pandemics are inevitable, and could be much worse than covid 07:30 Politics didn’t allow for an after action report on pandemic response 09:00 We’ll never know if covid was from a lab or nature 10:30 We could have vaccines ready before pandemics begin, not doing the work 11:15 Did you write your book assuming a crank like Kennedy would run HHS? 11:45 Kennedy is the biggest challenge public health has faced in decades 12:30 Pandemics cause society to lose its collective mind 14:00 Anti vaxx anger came from people being angry about the pandemic 14:30 How do you prepare for a pandemic if the government isn’t leading? 15:15 MRNA vaccines are easier to produce at scale 15:45 $500 million in funding cut for MRNA vaccines 16:45 CDC vaccine board is now completely dysfunctional 19:15 Where does medical research go without government backing? 19:45 PEPFAR was one of the best uses of American soft power 21:00 There’s nobody in the White House with bio threat experience 21:45 Trump 1.0 had a credible pandemic response plan. 2.0 doesn't. 23:00 We will see diseases come back that we thought were gone 24:45 What preventative measures can be taken without the government? 25:30 Lockdowns don’t work, surges of cases are inevitable 26:15 Lockdowns were over by June, impact was overstated 27:30 Lockdowns should only be based on hospital use/capacity 29:15 Don’t do lockdowns, maximize medical care instead 30:30 Public misconception that vaccine would make people immune 31:30 News media needs to be better at messaging public health info 33:30 Risk to kids raised significantly with new covid variants 34:45 Updates to scientific info get labeled as “flip flopping” when it’s normal 35:30 Science is not truth, it’s the pursuit of truth 36:30 Kennedy now linking acetaminophen to autism 38:30 People dismiss health risks that fit their lifestyle, like drinking red wine 39:45 Half the country was anti-expert, now anti-expert’s are in charge 41:30 BARDA was the envy of the world 43:00 What else should we be doing in preparation for the next “big” pandemic? 44:45 We need to...

Chuck Todd unpacks the escalating chaos around Donald Trump’s second term, from his doom-and-gloom rhetoric to the brazen decisions that have left few guardrails in place. Voters may not reject Trump’s ideas outright, but his nonstop turbulence—from shaming pregnant women over Tylenol to undermining global allies—has created deep political vulnerabilities. Todd explores how small businesses, foreign policy, and even health guidance have been rattled by Trump’s need for instability, while noting that divided government historically forces presidents to govern more broadly. The monologue also turns to Vice President Kamala Harris, whose new book reveals her frustrations with the 2020 ticket and her uneasy positioning for the future, raising tough questions about her political style and prospects. Then, Congressman Chris Deluzio joins Chuck 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. Finally, he gives his “ToddCast Top 5” football coaches on the hot-seat and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Introduction 02:45 Trump speeches create heightened sense of doom & gloom 04:00 Trump’s actions the past few weeks have been brazen 05:00 Far fewer people standing up to Trump in his second term 06:45 Voters don’t reject Trump’s ideas, they disapprove of the chaos 09:00 Trump’s political prospects are deflating every day 11:00 The last 3-4 elections have been “vote against” elections 12:45 Divided government forces presidents to govern broadly 14:30 The goal of bringing order to chaos is popular 15:00 Trump has brought nothing but chaos to health & vaccine policy 16:00 Trump & team shamed pregnant women & blamed Tylenol for autism 17:30 Trump showed no evidence to support Tylenol recommendation 18:30 Trump only tries to please his base 19:00 Trump trashes Europe and UN in speech to the UN 20:15 Trump wants constant instability & chaos 22:00 The lack of certainty is upending small businesses 23:15 Trump is incapable of preaching a message of unity 26:00 The constant chaos is Trump’s biggest political vulnerability 27:15 Voters wanted Trump 1.0, a Trump with guardrails 28:00 A voters lived experience will Trump perception 30:00 Trump’s post on Ukraine didn’t sound like it was written by Trump 31:00 Trump’s post cancelling meeting with Schumer had a Trump tone 32:30 Marco Rubio is clear eyed about the threat from Russia 34:30 Trump cancels meeting with Democrats, headed for gov’t shutdown 35:45 Trump is not interested in negotiating with Democrats 37:00 Kamala Harris reveals her true feelings in new book 38:30 Harris admits she settled for Tim Walz, Buttigieg...

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. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! 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...

Chuck Todd unpacks the escalating chaos around Donald Trump’s second term, from his doom-and-gloom rhetoric to the brazen decisions that have left few guardrails in place. Voters may not reject Trump’s ideas outright, but his nonstop turbulence—from shaming pregnant women over Tylenol to undermining global allies—has created deep political vulnerabilities. Todd explores how small businesses, foreign policy, and even health guidance have been rattled by Trump’s need for instability, while noting that divided government historically forces presidents to govern more broadly. The monologue also turns to Vice President Kamala Harris, whose new book reveals her frustrations with the 2020 ticket and her uneasy positioning for the future, raising tough questions about her political style and prospects. Finally, he gives his “ToddCast Top 5” football coaches on the hot-seat and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Introduction 00:15 Trump speeches create heightened sense of doom & gloom 01:30 Trump's actions the past few weeks have been brazen 02:30 Far fewer people standing up to Trump in his second term 04:15 Voters don't reject Trump's ideas, they disapprove of the chaos 06:30 Trump's political prospects are deflating every day 08:30 The last 3-4 elections have been "vote against" elections 10:15 Divided government forces presidents to govern broadly 12:00 The goal of bringing order to chaos is popular 12:30 Trump has brought nothing but chaos to health & vaccine policy 13:30 Trump & team shamed pregnant women & blamed Tylenol for autism 15:00 Trump showed no evidence to support Tylenol recommendation 16:00 Trump only tries to please his base 16:30 Trump trashes Europe and UN in speech to the UN 17:45 Trump wants constant instability & chaos 19:30 The lack of certainty is upending small businesses 20:45 Trump is incapable of preaching a message of unity 23:30 The constant chaos is Trump's biggest political vulnerability 24:45 Voters wanted Trump 1.0, a Trump with guardrails 25:30 A voters lived experience will Trump perception 27:30 Trump's post on Ukraine didn't sound like it was written by Trump 28:30 Trump's post cancelling meeting with Schumer had a Trump tone 30:00 Marco Rubio is clear eyed about the threat from Russia 32:00 Trump cancels meeting with Democrats, headed for gov't shutdown 33:15 Trump is not interested in negotiating with Democrats 34:30 Kamala Harris reveals her true feelings in new book 36:00 Harris admits she settled for Tim Walz, Buttigieg was her first choice 37:30 The book makes it harder for her to win the presidency is the future 39:00 Harris's style doesn't match the mood of the voters 40:00 Harris was put in a near impossible situation 41:45 ToddCast Top 5 football coach hot seats 42:15 Mike Gundy fired by Oklahoma State 44:45 #1 Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins 45:45 #2 Brian Callahan of the Tennessee Titans 46:45 #3 Luke Fickell of Wisconsin 48:30 #4 Dabo Swinney of Clemson 51:30 #5 Billy Napier of Florida + Honorable mentions 55:15 Ask Chuck 55:30 Why has the term "writ large" become used so much in news & podcasts? 1:02:15 Are journalists who stay silent in face of authoritarianism showing cowardice? 1:06:15 Shrinkflation showing up now at Costco Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck delves into the recent developments surrounding Donald Trump, beginning with his confrontational rhetoric against adversaries and the implications of his actions over the past week, which some argue could have driven impeachment efforts. He explores notable incidents such as Tom Homan’s controversial cash exchange and highlights the fundamental challenges to our constitutional principles. The discussion also covers Trump’s use of legal charges like mortgage fraud to target enemies, as well as his aggressive, and possibly legally unfounded, attacks on Venezuelan drug boats. He analyzes how such actions may have numbed the public to attacks and assess whether Trump's political standing is now eroding amidst these controversies Then, journalist and historian Caleb Gayle joins to discuss his new book which highlights the power of untold history and the forgotten story of Edward McCabe—known by some as “Black Moses.” Gayle traces McCabe’s ambitious but ultimately failed dream of building a “Black state” in Oklahoma, a vision that drew freedmen west during Reconstruction and briefly united Black settlers and Native Americans. From McCabe’s hard-nosed political maneuvering to the competing interests that saw Oklahoma as a battleground for power, Gayle paints a picture of ambition, resistance, and the forces that shaped the region. The conversation also explores how Oklahoma’s history—from the possibility of a Black state to the devastating Tulsa massacre—has been distorted or stripped down in traditional teaching. Gayle explains the deep tensions between northern Black elites and freed southern Blacks, the lingering influence of Jim Crow, and the ways Native tribes wielded wealth and power. Looking ahead, he reflects on how today’s political climate shapes the writing of history, why context matters more than ever, and what stories he hopes to bring to light in the next decade. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment” Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Introduction 03:00 Trump targets his adversaries 12:00 Trump's actions in the past week would have driven impeachments 14:30 Tom Homan took a bag of cash 16:00 We have basic challenges to our constitution 17:30 Trump target enemies with mortgage fraud charges 22:00 Trump attacks Venezuelan drug boats without legal basis 25:00 Unclear that there’s legal basis for attacks 30:30 Trump has numbed public to attacks 36:00 Trump’s political standing is eroding 39:00 Caleb Gayle joins the Chuck ToddCast 40:45 What made you want to become a history biographer/writer? 42:00 History teaching in Oklahoma is stripped down to its most jingoistic parts 43:30 When did you discover the Edward McCabe/ "Black Moses" story? 46:30 McCabe was a polarizing dreamer who wanted a place to belong 47:30 Blacks and native Americans found common cause in Oklahoma 49:15 Many blacks moved west to escape tumult during reconstruction 49:45 How did Edward McCabe get to Oklahoma? 52:00 McCabe was a hard nosed political tactician but struggled to win office 52:45 Senators told McCabe that Oklahoma could be a "black state" 54:30 McCabe sold a vision of "if you build it they will come" 56:00 The Republican party was hesitant to create a black state 57:00 Why McCabe was the wrong person to create the black state 59:15 The role of the native American tribes in the early Oklahoma territory 1:01:00 Powerful interests competed to control Oklahoma knowing it'd become a state 1:03:15 McCabe spent his resources trying to fight Jim Crow up to the Supreme Court 1:04:00 McCabe concludes Oklahoma won't be a black state or place for black people 1:05:00 What...

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck delves into the recent developments surrounding Donald Trump, beginning with his confrontational rhetoric against adversaries and the implications of his actions over the past week, which some argue could have driven impeachment efforts. He explores notable incidents such as Tom Homan’s controversial cash exchange and highlights the fundamental challenges to our constitutional principles. The discussion also covers Trump’s use of legal charges like mortgage fraud to target enemies, as well as his aggressive, and possibly legally unfounded, attacks on Venezuelan drug boats. He analyzes how such actions may have numbed the public to attacks and assess whether Trump's political standing is now eroding amidst these controversies Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment” Timeline: 00:00 Introduction 03:00 Trump targets his adversaries 12:00 Trump's actions in the past week would have driven impeachments 14:30 Tom Homan took a bag of cash 16:00 We have basic challenges to our constitution 17:30 Trump target enemies with mortgage fraud charges 22:00 Trump attacks Venezuelan drug boats without legal basis 25:00 Unclear that there’s legal basis for attacks 30:30 Trump has numbed public to attacks 36:00 Trump’s political standing is eroding 37:30 Ask Chuck 37:45 Could Mamdani’s style of politics help independents? 46:45 What do local news organizations need to be successful? 54:30 College football update Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, journalist and historian Caleb Gayle joins to discuss his new book which highlights the power of untold history and the forgotten story of Edward McCabe—known by some as “Black Moses.” Gayle traces McCabe’s ambitious but ultimately failed dream of building a “Black state” in Oklahoma, a vision that drew freedmen west during Reconstruction and briefly united Black settlers and Native Americans. From McCabe’s hard-nosed political maneuvering to the competing interests that saw Oklahoma as a battleground for power, Gayle paints a picture of ambition, resistance, and the forces that shaped the region. The conversation also explores how Oklahoma’s history—from the possibility of a Black state to the devastating Tulsa massacre—has been distorted or stripped down in traditional teaching. Gayle explains the deep tensions between northern Black elites and freed southern Blacks, the lingering influence of Jim Crow, and the ways Native tribes wielded wealth and power. Looking ahead, he reflects on how today’s political climate shapes the writing of history, why context matters more than ever, and what stories he hopes to bring to light in the next decade. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Caleb Gayle joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:45 What made you want to become a history biographer/writer? 03:00 History teaching in Oklahoma is stripped down to its most jingoistic parts 04:30 When did you discover the Edward McCabe/ “Black Moses” story? 07:30 McCabe was a polarizing dreamer who wanted a place to belong 08:30 Blacks and native Americans found common cause in Oklahoma 10:15 Many blacks moved west to escape tumult during reconstruction 10:45 How did Edward McCabe get to Oklahoma? 13:00 McCabe was a hard nosed political tactician but struggled to win office 13:45 Senators told McCabe that Oklahoma could be a “black state” 15:30 McCabe sold a vision of “if you build it they will come” 17:00 The Republican party was hesitant to create a black state 18:00 Why McCabe was the wrong person to create the black state 20:15 The role of the native American tribes in the early Oklahoma territory 22:00 Powerful interests competed to control Oklahoma knowing it’d become a state 24:15 McCabe spent his resources trying to fight Jim Crow up to the Supreme Court 25:00 McCabe concludes Oklahoma won’t be a black state or place for black people 26:00 What happened to McCabe’s benefactors in the north? 27:30 What would it look like if McCabe had succeeded in making OK a black state? 30:30 The creation of “Black Wall Street” in Tulsa 32:00 The Tulsa massacre upended the idea of Oklahoma being a safe haven 34:15 The wealth of the tribes gave them political power 35:15 Gambling licenses were one of the only reparations tribes received 37:15 Oklahoma was a crossroads state 39:00 What other untold history stories are you diving into, what’s next? 42:30 The divide between northern black elites and freed blacks in south 44:45 The conflict between lineage and freedom in American history 46:00 The influence of the current political climate when writing a historical book 48:00 Handling the source material knowing media bias at the time 50:30 What do you want to cover in the next ten years? 51:00 The importance of history for giving context to the present Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this special episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck reacts with alarm to ABC’s decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel off the air after FCC Chair Brendan Carr issued unconstitutional, mob boss–style threats. Though Kimmel’s comments weren’t in violation of FCC rules, Carr’s pressure—amplified by Trump’s threats and Nexstar’s influence—sparked a firestorm over government coercion, corporate capitulation, and the chilling effect on free speech. From the Nexstar/Tegna merger and Disney’s vulnerability to the broader shift of “cancel culture” from the left to the right, Chuck examines how Trump and his allies are using state power to silence dissent in violation of the 1st amendment—and what it means for media credibility, democracy, and the rule of law. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 ABC pulls Kimmel off air after threats from FCC chair Brendan Carr 02:30 Kimmel’s comments were pretty benign, not against FCC regulations 03:15 Each side is finger pointing over whose ideology causes violence 04:30 Brendan Carr issued unconstitutional, mob boss like threats 05:45 Carr didn’t like that MAGA was criticized 06:45 Nexstar’s cancellation put pressure on Disney 07:15 Disney opened the door to coercion by settling court case 08:45 Nexstar/Tegna merger needs FCC approval 10:00 If Carr didn’t go public, public backlash could have been avoided 11:15 JD Vance has encouraged doxxing people for their free speech 12:15 Trump threatened Kimmel would “be next” after Colbert 13:00 Trump is using the power of the state to silence dissent 15:15 Media corporations that won’t stand up to Trump should sell 17:15 News organizations bowing to Trump have lost credibility 19:00 Republicans used to push back on unconstitutional actions by Trump 22:00 Trump didn’t get 50% of the popular vote, but governs like he got 100% 23:30 “Cancel culture” has moved from the left to the right 24:30 Deplatforming Trump after J6 was a massive mistake 25:45 Stephen Miller and Brendan Carr are drunk with power 26:30 This is an extraordinarily unconstitutional act Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck is joined by former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Rohit Chopra for a deep dive into the role of the agency and the broader fight to regulate powerful financial institutions. Chopra explains why the agency has struggled to gain footing in Washington, the skepticism the public feels toward banks, and how past regulatory failures contributed to the 2008 financial crisis. They discuss how the CFPB uncovered systemic abuses, the resistance it faces from well-funded interests, and the ongoing debate over who should regulate emerging sectors like cryptocurrency and consumer data. The conversation also tackles the independence of the Federal Reserve, the risks of politicizing monetary policy, and how unchecked corporate power—from Wall Street to Silicon Valley—continues to shape the economy. Chopra pulls back the curtain on algorithmic lending practices, the dangers of personalized pricing, and why fines alone aren’t enough to hold companies accountable. From junk fees to crypto, from AI abuse to executive impunity, this episode explores why Americans are increasingly demanding regulators who stand up to entrenched financial interests—and why another populist economic revolt may be closer than we think. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Rohit Chopra joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:45 Why has it been so difficult for the CFPB to take root in DC? 02:30 The public is skeptical of financial institutions 03:15 What exactly is the CFPB and what is it supposed to do? 04:45 The fed board wasn’t regulating leading up to financial crisis 06:00 Why were prior regulators ineffective? 06:45 The CFPB has discovered multiple systemic abuses 07:30 Multiple companies settled, and new head of CFPB is ripping them up 08:30 Russ Vought is currently running the CFPB 09:45 What’s the difference between the FTC and the CFPB? 10:45 CFPB is responsible for regulating all financial institutions/lenders 12:30 Voters from both parties benefit from the CFPB protecting them 13:15 Deep pocketed interests want to defang the regulators 13:45 Who should be regulating crypto? 14:30 Is crypto a stock or a commodity? 16:00 Data from stablecoins can be used for targeting consumers 17:00 Which agency should protect Americans from abuse of their data? 18:45 Trump attempting to make more direct control of the Fed 19:30 The founders were against the president controlling the money supply 21:45 Federal Reserve hasn’t been independent under Trump 23:15 The fed has saved the economy twice, but may not if corrupted 24:15 Inflation is just one piece of the equation if the fed loses independence 26:15 Libertarians argue against having a fed, what’s the counter argument? 28:15 The fed should be focused on the entire economy and not just Wall St 30:00 Big moneyed interests wield huge power to avoid regulation 31:00 Did you ever look under the hood of a lending company's algorithm? 34:00 We need to outlaw AI being used for personal pricing 35:00 What is the legal justification for personalizing pricing? 37:30 The administration is destroying financial law enforcement 38:45 No consequences for bad behavior by banks & corporations 40:00 Fines aren’t a deterrent, criminal charges are 42:15 Tech companies are never held accountable 43:45 How did you become a financial regulator? 46:45 Prior generations had an easier path to financial stability 48:00 Who deserved to be brought up on criminal charges for the financial crisis? 49:00 So many investigations were never even started after crisis 51:00 Potential market disruptions dissuaded DOJ from prosecuting executives 53:00 Federal agencies give white glove treatment to...