The Chuck ToddCast

Olivia Nuzzi reported a must-read look inside the Trump campaign, for New York Magazine. NBC News Political Unit reporter Ben Kamisar updates on ad-spending and Steve Kornacki reacts to the first nights of the DNC.

In one week, one of the decisions that could have the most impact on the race is reportedly set to be announced: Biden’s VP pick.

Chuck Todd opens with a critical analysis of President Trump's approach to governance, suggesting that while his Middle East trip may yield positive results, his administration is missing crucial opportunities for bipartisan cooperation. He argues that Trump's executive order on prescription drugs lacks substance without legislative backing and that the president should "get caught trying" bipartisanship on issues where common ground exists. He also explores Putin's refusal of peace talks as a potential humiliation for Trump, and examines what recent political developments like the Omaha mayoral race might signal about Democratic prospects in upcoming elections.

Then, he’s joined by Congressman Ro Khanna, who delivers a candid assessment of the Democratic party's leadership crisis and brand damage. Khanna argues that Chuck Schumer has squandered his leadership position and addresses concerns about deportations in rural communities. The conversation delves into the economic realities facing the Midwest, and calls for Democrats to work more closely with business leaders.

Khanna argues that deplatforming Trump after January 6th was "a huge mistake" and discusses the rightward shift among tech leaders. They conclude with Khanna's perspectives on America's global retreat, the timeline for presidential campaigns, and Gen Z's trust issues with politics.

The episode wraps with "Ask Chuck," where Todd addresses questions about media coverage of Trump, potential Republican party fractures, and Chuck gives his thoughts on Pete Rose's posthumous Hall of Fame eligibility.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction

01:45 Trump’s middle east trip may net some positive results

02:30 Trump won’t work with Democrats on issues they agree on

04:15 Bipartisanship has become toxic

06:30 Trump’s executive order on prescription drugs is meaningless without legislation

07:45 Congress has been useless

08:30 Trump should “get caught trying” bipartisanship

10:00 There are multiple issues where Trump could make bipartisan deals

12:15 Trump made some great points in his middle east speech

13:45 Trump has been pragmatic with his middle east policy

16:30 Trump can’t pick and choose who to be pragmatic with

18:00 The ball is in Trump’s court after Putin turned down peace talks

19:15 Putin is humiliating Trump... will he sit back and take it?

19:50 Does the Omaha mayoral race show a blue wave building?

21:00 Pete Buttigieg admits Joe Biden is political baggage in Iowa town hall

23:30 Chuck Schumer punting on the Biden question was cowardly

25:30 Donald Trump is unpopular and the Democratic brand is still worse

26:15 Ro Khanna joins the Chuck Toddcast!

27:45 Who is the leader of the Democratic party?

28:45 Chuck Schumer has squandered his leadership position

31:30 Rural communities are highly concerned about deportations

32:15 Is Hakeem Jeffries stuck in Nancy Pelosi's shadow?

34:00 How damaged is the Democratic brand and how to fix it?

37:15 Do midwestern voters want to work multigenerational factory jobs?

40:30 NAFTA benefitted the south and hurt the midwest

43:15 Republicans have become the big government party

45:45 Democrats need to work with business leaders

46:45 What caused the rightward shift of the tech leaders?

48:30 Deplatforming Trump was a huge mistake

50:30 Should Kamala Harris be the next governor of California?

53:30 What characteristics will voters be looking for in 2028

55:15 Will Democratic voters want a "celebrity" president?

58:25 What's the lesson learned from Biden's communications failure?

1:00:15 How do Democrats win over independent voters?

1:03:00 One issue he'd work with Trump on?

1:03:45 Will he debate JD Vance?

1:05:45 America's retreat is making the world more dangerous

1:07:15 Rubio needs to step up and assert America globally

1:10:00 It will take a generation to repair America's reputation

1:10:45 When is it appropriate to begin a run for president?

1:12:15 Kamala Harris and her team were too cautious in 24

1:13:45 Gen Z has trust issues with politics

1:15:45 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Ro Khanna

1:16:15 Ask Chuck

1:16:55 Why are reporters not more combative with Trump?

1:19:05 If the Republican party fractures, who would be in the traditional wing?

1:21:45 Pete Rose finally eligible for Hall of Fame posthumously

(Timestamps vary based on advertisements)

Chuck Todd welcomes Congressman Ritchie Torres for a wide-ranging conversation that begins with a tour of New York's 15th district and the unique challenges of representing one of America's most diverse urban areas. Torres offers candid insights on governance, highlighting how term limits disadvantage legislators compared to lobbyists. The conversation shifts to the current political landscape, with Torres expressing deep concerns about President Trump's approach to his second term, arguing that Trump is "poisoning the well" for bipartisanship despite Biden's successful record of cross-party legislation. Torres delivers a stark warning that America is "planting the seed of its own decline" and characterizes the consequences of proposed GOP Medicaid cuts as "barbaric," particularly in light of the brewing long-term care crisis.

They weigh the merits of pragmatism versus idealism in American foreign policy and scrutinize Qatar's growing financial influence in American politics. Torres argues that "Republicans would impeach Joe Biden if he had accepted a plane" while addressing whether Democrats should adopt Trump's aggressive approach to wielding power. Torres acknowledges that Democrats "should have spoken out sooner about Biden's decline" and offers his vision for how the party can project strength moving forward.

They conclude with Torres addressing his political future—including speculation about mayoral and gubernatorial ambitions—before outlining his solutions for New York's housing crisis, crime concerns, and utility costs.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction

00:50 Joe Biden diagnosed with aggressive form of cancer

02:00 Was Biden’s decline covered up, or just willful ignorance?

03:00 Robert Hur recording has supercharged the Biden story

06:45 Joe Biden couldn’t assure voters he was up to the job

08:30 Chris Murphy says it’s the Democrats fault that Trump was re-elected

11:45 Democrats need to do soul searching like they did with Bill Clinton

13:30 Clinton had to run against the party and its prior leadership

15:00 Democrats misread the 2020 election result

18:00 Democrats will take some blame for problems Trump causes

19:00 Democrats need to reinvent themselves

21:00 Trump released the Hur tapes as a distraction

23:00 Democrats should be angrier about Biden than Republicans

25:00 Mike Johnson needs Trump to pressure members of congress

26:00 Ritchie Torres joins the Chuck ToddCast

26:30 Tour of the NY-15 district

28:30 The enormity of the New York city council

30:00 Would he support expanding the size of the house?

32:00 Term limits disadvantage legislators compared to lobbyists

33:00 Can any bipartisan agreement be reached with Trump

34:30 Biden had multiple pieces of bipartisan legislation

35:30 Trump is poisoning the well in his second term

37:30 America is planting the seed of its own decline

38:00 Medicaid cuts will be devastating

40:00 Will the Medicaid cuts be delayed where a future congress could fix it?

41:30 Medicaid work requirements don't work

42:45 The consequences of the GOP budget will be barbaric

44:45 How do we address the long-term care crisis?

47:00 Should America's foreign policy be pragmatic or idealistic?

49:45 How should we view Qatar's infusion of money into American politics?

51:30 Republicans would impeach Joe Biden if he had accepted a plane

54:15 Should Democrats wield power like Trump when they're in charge?

55:50 Democrats should have spoken out sooner about Biden's decline

1:00:00 How can the Democrats project strength as a party?

1:01:15 Democrats need to let the cream rise to the top

1:02:30 Campaigning makes candidates sharper

1:03:30 Why aren't you running for NYC mayor?

1:05:30 Andrew Cuomo is a great "builder"

1:07:30 Will you run for governor in 2026?

1:08:00 How would you address the housing crisis in New York?

1:10:30 Addressing crime in New York

1:13:00 New York's budget has increased, the quality of services hasn't

1:14:45 Public ownership of utilities would lower costs for New Yorkers

1:16:30 Progressives have overprioritized ideological purity over results

1:19:15 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Ritchie Torres

1:20:00 If Torres faces Hochul 1 on 1 he could beat her

1:21:00 Rumors that Kamala Harris could run for governor of California

1:21:45 CA governor race will be tough for Harris

1:25:15 If Harris loses governor race, her political career is over

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

NBC News Senior Washington Correspondent Andrea Mitchell and NBC News Political Embed Deepa Shivaram join Chuck to talk about Sen. Kamala Harris. Washington Post Sports Columnist Sally Jenkins discusses the changes to the fall college sports season.