The Chuck ToddCast

Chuck Todd begins by analyzing whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden will be a bigger political liability for their respective parties in the 2026 midterms. He also examines the trend of urban vs rural voters happening worldwide and reacts to some newsworthy quotes from American politics

Then, he welcomes Jane Coaston to the podcast for a wide-ranging conversation that spans college football, media, and politics. They dive deep into how conference realignment is reshaping college sports, discussing everything from the demise of the Pac-12 to whether Fox can maintain compelling broadcasts without marquee matchups. The conversation explores how football innovation happens from the ground up and why geographic realignment may be inevitable for smaller schools facing logistical nightmares.

The discussion then shifts to broader media and political dynamics, examining how algorithms and internet discourse are warping public conversation. They analyze why political hosts get captured by their audiences, how conspiracy theorists find community online, and why politically engaged people are actually the "weirdos" in American politics. They tackle tough questions about media coverage of Biden's age, the responsibility of press versus politicians in covering presidential fitness, and why treating voters as real people rather than demographic categories might be the key to better political communication.

Finally, he addresses listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment regarding consuming political interviews, whether Democrats need their own Project 2025 and whether a moderate Republican running third party would have enabled a Harris win in 2024.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction
02:00 Biden or Trump the bigger liability in 2026 midterms?

03:35 It’s rare for a former president to cast a bigger shadow than the current one

05:30 Democratic voters are still mad at Joe Biden

07:30 Trump won’t have much to sell in 2026

09:45 Voters won’t feel any impact from Trump’s tax cut

11:15 Democrats can’t sit back and expect to win in 2026

13:00 Trump is the bigger liability

14:00 Should Republicans have won 2024 in a landslide?

16:45 The rural vs. urban political divide is a worldwide phenomenon

18:30 Mexico to make all judges elected positions, terrible for rule of law

21:00 Character doesn’t matter to voters, results do

23:00 Joe Biden still believes he would have won the election

24:15 Tim Walz suggests Democrats should be a little meaner

27:15 Jane Coaston joins the Chuck ToddCast!

29:35 Mountain time is the best time zone for watching sports

32:15 Has college football hurt itself by losing the Pac-12?

34:15 Conference realignment really hurts the smaller schools logistically

35:45 Schools will be forced to realign into geographic regions

38:15 College football benefits from having fanbases in hundreds of markets

39:45 College football risks concentration only in the midwest and south

41:45 Football innovates from the bottom up

42:45 Can Fox's broadcast stand on its own without two marquee teams?

45:45 If CFB contracts were similar to NFL contracts, everyone makes more money

47:00 Money for college football isn't zero sum

48:15 How do you decide what your daily news lead will be?

49:15 The rhetoric around medicaid cuts is identical to welfare rhetoric

50:45 Many people on Medicaid have jobs that don't offer insurance

52:30 It's important to offer your audience views they don't always agree with

53:45 Algorithms are a major problem for public discourse

55:45 Hosts end up being captured by their audience and public criticism

57:15 The human psyche isn't equipped for the internet

58:15 Conspiracy theorists and cranks can find community online

59:45 The internet is not representative of real life people

1:00:45 Voters hold multiple conflicting views

1:03:00 High information, politically engaged people are weirdos

1:04:15 Politics has become too much like sports

1:06:15 In polling, the way a question is asked can distort responses

1:07:45 To reach voters, they need to be thought of as people and not voters

1:09:15 Political hobbyism has been terrible for our politics

1:09:55 Who owns blame for Biden decline cover up, media or Biden/Democrats?

1:12:45 Biden's age couldn't be viewed in a vacuum by the media

1:15:35 The criticism of the press over Biden has been overblown

1:16:15 Biden couldn't sell his accomplishments

1:18:15 How hot is the seat under Michigan's new coach?

1:23:20 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Jane Coaston

1:24:40 College football should motivate teams to play tougher schedules

1:25:55 Ask Chuck

1:26:25 What should viewers focus on when consuming political interviews...

Chuck Todd reacts to the escalating feud brewing between Donald Trump and Elon Musk after Elon’s departure from the administration. He warns the audience... NOBODY can predict where this will go from here.

Timeline:

00:00 Trump and Elon attack each other on social media

01:00 Trump threatens to terminate Elon’s government contracts

01:20 Elon accuses Trump of being in the Epstein files

02:30 Trump and Elon think they’ve bought each other's loyalty

04:15 Trump and Elon are basically the same guy

05:00 This was the most predictable split

07:15 Elon doesn’t understand how politics work

08:45 This feud will run into a reality check at some point

09:45 They are basically teenagers fighting

Chuck Todd opens with two issues he calls “dead rail” issues; issues that voters care about but don’t vote on... campaign finance reform and the national debt. He explains why both parties aren’t incentivized to address either issue, and provides a brief update on the latest developments for the upcoming midterm and presidential elections.

Then, he sits down with acclaimed television writer and producer Debora Cahn, the creative force behind both "The West Wing" and Netflix's hit series "The Diplomat." Cahn shares behind-the-scenes insights from her time in Aaron Sorkin's writers' room, revealing how the team worked to make "The West Wing" realistic and even infused elements of musical theater into the show. She discusses the origins and development of "The Diplomat," explaining how her experience working on "Homeland" prepared her for tackling international diplomacy, and how COVID-19 unexpectedly helped with the show's early development process.

They delve into how real-world events have shaped "The Diplomat's" narrative, particularly Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which completely changed the show's plot trajectory. Cahn explores the challenges of creating "news adjacent" content in today's rapidly changing political landscape, where she notes that satire feels off-limits for this decade. She also discusses her approach to writing strong but complex female characters, the differences between working with Shonda Rhimes versus Aaron Sorkin, and how she uses storytelling to give voice to government workers. The interview touches on everything from using real UK embassy locations for filming to incorporating recent political events and the casting of Michael McKean in a Biden-inspired role.

Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the Ask Chuck segment, addressing topics like the best path to learning journalism, whether Kamala Harris could lose the California gubernatorial race and how to maximize black voter turnout in the south.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction

00:30 The “third-rail” issues in American politics that are untouchable

01:45 Medicaid is a lifeline for more than just poor people

02:20 Dead rail issues are issues that you can ignore and voters don’t care

03:10 Voters agree on need for campaign finance reform, but don’t vote on it

05:00 Both parties only care about the national debt when they’re out of power

07:00 Voters don’t care about campaign finance or the debt until it affects them

09:00 The Republicans are more fiscally irresponsible than Democrats

10:30 New campaign ad rolls out with purely AI generated people

11:30 Senator Jeff Merkeley may step down

12:30 Senator Ed Markey may face primary challenge

13:00 Rahm Emmanuel attending Iowa event, could it regain 1st primary status?

14:30 Debora Cahn joins the Chuck ToddCast!

15:45 How did she create "The Diplomat" and "West Wing"?

17:00 How important was it to make the West Wing realistic?

19:00 How did you infuse musical theater into West Wing?

20:15 What was the writers' room like?

22:30 How long has she been working on The Diplomat?

25:15 How did working on Homeland prepare her for The Diplomat?

28:30 The origin of The Diplomat

30:00 Covid actually HELPED with early development

31:00 Were the characters modeled off real people?

33:45 Using a real embassy for the set

36:30 Has the narrative arc changed from the original vision?

38:45 Russia's invasion of Ukraine changed the show's entire plot

40:45 Using the PM of the UK character to caricature Trump

42:15 Satire is off the table for this decade

43:30 Giving voice to government workers via storytelling

47:00 Has the UK foreshadowed trends in US politics?

48:15 The downside to being "news adjacent"?

49:45 Writing about strong women but making it messy

51:15 Working with Shonda Rhimes vs Aaron Sorkin

53:30 Whose story would she like to tell?

56:00 Traditional journalism vs. influencer culture

56:45 The Newsroom wasn't an accurate portrayal of TV journalism

58:00 What events from the past few months does she want to incorporate?

59:45 Michael McKean is great as the Biden character

57:50 Chuck's thoughts on the interview with Debora Cahn

58:20 Ask Chuck

58:40 Is college or an apprenticeship better for learning journalism?

1:02:30 Could Kamala Harris lose in the primary for CA governor?

1:06:05 What can Democrats do to maximize the black vote in the south?

1:11:50 NBA playoffs reaction

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 begins by trying to make sense of the Elon Musk vs. Donald Trump public feud and why Trump will likely be muted in his criticism. Chuck also weighs in on the NYC mayoral race, why Andrew Cuomo shouldn’t be allowed to run this soon after resigning in disgrace and why voters were deprived of closure in the Cuomo scandal.

Then, Chuck sits down with Lindsey Williams Drath, CEO of the Forward Party, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing America's newest third-party movement. Williams discusses the party's "purple" approach to politics, rejecting traditional left-right labels while focusing on governance over party affiliation. The conversation covers the significant barriers third parties face, from institutional pushback to the infrastructure advantages held by Republicans and Democrats, who have "pulled the ladder up behind them" through restrictive ballot access requirements and partisan primaries.

Looking ahead to the 2026 and 2028 elections, Drath outlines the Forward Party's strategic approach to building from the ground up at the state level, targeting swing districts and disaffected voters from both major parties. The discussion touches on fusion voting, potential mergers with other independent groups, and the party's unique challenge of maintaining unity without a rigid ideology. Williams also addresses whether candidates with contradictory positions can coexist under one party banner, the role of money in politics, and how the Forward Party plans to avoid becoming a spoiler while building toward federal party status and meaningful electoral competition.

Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ question in the “Ask Chuck” segment regarding whether he’d ever consider working in the White House comms shop, what type of leader could best correct the erosion of American democracy, and who he thinks are the top 3 candidates to be at the top of the Democratic ticket in 2028.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction

02:30 There is tremendous dissatisfaction with both political parties

04:00 What to make of the Elon Musk vs Donald Trump feud?

05:00 One party governance breeds bad governance

07:30 Trump vs Musk was always going to be a test of wills

08:30 Trump isn’t as aggressive with people wealthier than him

10:15 Democrats likely won’t forgive Elon if he turns on Trump

11:30 Winner of the Democratic NYC mayoral primary will be the mayor

12:45 Andrew Cuomo hasn’t lived in NYC in 35 years

13:45 Cuomo shouldn’t have resigned because we never got closure on accusations

15:45 If you resign in disgrace, there needs to be an electoral penalty

16:30 Cuomo never faced an impeachment trial

18:30 Multiple governors have resigned in order to dodge investigations

21:00 We never got an accounting of Al Franken’s ethics committee report

23:00 Cuomo shouldn’t be able to run again so soon

24:00 Lindsey Williams Drath joins the Chuck ToddCast!

24:50 What is the Forward Party and what do they believe?

26:30 Barriers to entry for a third party

27:10 There's growing sentiment for the need for a third party

28:30 There's major institutional pushback to third parties

29:30 Republicans and Democrats have an infrastructure advantage

30:20 10-year goal. What is success?

31:15 Built the party from the ground up at the state level

32:30 Andrew Yang's role in building the party

35:30 Administrative roles in Forward Party

37:45 Goal for the midterms is not a third party spoiler; but party-building; state level

40:15 Working toward federal party status; looking at seats in 2026 & 2028

42:10 What districts will they be targeting?

44:30 How Forward candidates can register for ballot access

47:00 Major parties have pulled the ladder up behind them.

47:50 Partisan primaries are unconstitutional

49:30 Defining fusion voting

51:30 Merging with the Independence Party?

53:15 There are lots of disaffected voters; and many "formers" in the Forward Party

55:45 We need to prioritize governance over party affiliation

57:30 What did the Problem Solvers Caucus fail at?

59:00 Lisa Murkowski building trust from her base while caucusing with both parties

59:45 John Cornyn missing opportunity to be more independent from GOP

1:01:45 What's stopping candidates from working with the Forward party?

1:03:45 What candidates do they want to target? What's the win?

1:05:30 Voters have closer relationships with mayors & governors

1:08:50 The Forward Party is planning a convention

1:10:45 Can you be a political party that doesn't have an ideology or candidates that contradict?

1:14:30 Money in politics & government debt are linked

1:27:45 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Lindsey Willams Drath

1:30:30 Ask Chuck

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