The Internet BROKE Politics + Will Streamers Hijack College Football?
06/04/25 • 97 min
1 Listener
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 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...
Previous Episode
Elon's Exit from Trump Administration + Amanda Litman on Recruiting the Next Democratic Leaders
Chuck Todd reacts to Elon Musk leaving the Trump Administration and discusses the valuable lessons to be learned from Elon’s tenure. Chuck also reacts to the recent pardons by Donald Trump and explains why they are bad for the country. Then he discusses the problems with the “big, beautiful bill”.
Then, Chuck is joined by Amanda Litman, co-founder and president of Run For Something, to discuss the future of Democratic leadership and the urgent need to recruit a new generation of candidates. They examine how Republicans, following the lead of Newt Gingrich’s GoPAC, have outpaced Democrats in preparing talent for public office — and why the Democratic bench remains so thin.
Litman shares insights into the challenges young progressives face, from lack of institutional support to financial and family pressures. They discuss the messy but well-intentioned efforts like David Hogg’s DNC initiative, the communication gap with younger voters, and why the information ecosystem is reshaping political engagement.
Together, they explore the mechanics of candidate recruitment, debates over ideological litmus tests, and how Run For Something navigates hot-button issues like trans rights and independent candidacies. From socioeconomic diversity in elected office to the underrepresentation of renters and working-class Americans, this conversation is a candid look at how Democrats can rebuild from the ground up — and what success might look like in the 2026 midterms.
Finally, in “Ask Chuck,” Chuck digs into the mailbag to answer one of the biggest questions about the state of politics.
00:00 - Chuck recaps his weekend
06:26 - Elon’s Exit from Trump Administration
14:43 - Reaction to Trump’s pardons
21:49 – Amanda Litman joins the Chuck Toddcast!
22:19 – What is “Run For Something”?
24:19 – Newt Gingrich started GoPAC to prep candidates on the right
25:19 – The DNC dropped the ball on prepping candidates
27:34 – Emily’s List was good for candidate training, but only for women
29:04 – There are very few young elected Democrats
30:04 – David Hogg’s DNC effort is a noble one, but messy for the DNC
32:19 – The generational divide in the Democratic party
33:49 – Democrats need younger leaders to speak to younger voters
34:49 – The Republican party changed drastically in ten years
35:49 – Voters under 35 have seen a lot of government failure
37:49 – Voters receive their information so differently now
39:04 – What is the process for recruiting and training candidates?
42:49 – Is there an ideological litmus test for prospective candidates?
44:04 – Trans issues have been very challenging for progressives
45:49 – What if a candidate's passion issue isn’t a voting issue?
47:04 – Will “Run For Something” recruit and run independent candidates?
49:49 – Could we see a lot of former federal employees run for office?
51:49 – Will Run For Something get involved in debates about updating the democracy
53:19 – Legislators should be paid more
55:19 – Lack of money and kids are a huge impediment to candidates under 40
57:19 – We need more socioeconomic diversity in elected office*
59:19 – Renters aren’t represented in Congress*
61:04 – The Democrats have become the “presidency or bust” party*
63:04 – If you want to improve the Democratic brand, you have to change the politicians
65:19 – What does success look like in 2026 midterms?
67:22 – “Ask Chuck”
Next Episode
Will a THIRD Party Ever Beat Democrats & Republicans?
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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