Trump Is "POISONING The Well" In Congress + Devastating Medicaid Cuts w/Ritchie Torres
05/19/25 • 88 min
1 Listener
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)
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)
Previous Episode
Why Vietnam Still HAUNTS American Politics: Inside Netflix’s 'Turning Point' | Chuck Todd
Chuck Todd opens with a personal reflection on his father's connection to Vietnam before welcoming distinguished guests Ambassador John Negroponte and filmmaker Brian Knappenberger to discuss the new documentary series Turning Point and the lasting impacts of the Vietnam and Iraq wars on American politics and society. The conversation explores how Vietnam fundamentally shifted America's perception of itself, with Ambassador Negroponte sharing his firsthand experiences from the conflict. They examine how televised coverage transformed public perception of war, debate whether Vietnam was "worth it" in the context of the Cold War, and analyze why America ultimately lost the conflict. The discussion dives deep into how Vietnam became the Baby Boomers' defining generational experience, shattering trust in government institutions.
They explore the military's evolution into a predominantly Republican constituency, the long-term political fallout of pardoning draft dodgers, and the devastating impact of drug use among soldiers during the conflict. The guests offer a rare perspective on how the Vietnamese people recovered from the war's effects and draw striking parallels between the withdrawals from Saigon and Afghanistan. They reflect on how these historical conflicts continue to shape modern American politics, noting that despite multiple Vietnam veterans running for president, none have ever won the office.
They conclude with a thought-provoking consideration of how future generations might commemorate the 75th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, leaving listeners with a deeper understanding of how America's past military engagements continue to influence its present and future.
Timeline:
00:00 Introduction
00:30 Chuck’s personal connection to Vietnam was his dad
02:30 Vietnam + Iraq still haunt American politics
04:10 John Negroponte and Brian Knappenberger join the Chuck Toddcast!
06:35 What do you hope people take away from Netflix's Turning Point?
08:55 Vietnam's shadow loomed over the Iraq wars
10:55 We rarely talk about the war itself, mostly just the fallout
12:40 Vietnam shifted America's perception of itself
13:25 Ambassador Negroponte's experience of being in Vietnam
16:55 Was Vietnam viewed as a proxy war at the time?
20:00 The Iraq war has the same effect on our political psyche as Vietnam
23:00 How did daily press coverage affect the ability to control the narrative
25:00 Vietnam being televised drastically changed the public's perception
27:00 Embedded reporters caused new challenges for managing the narrative
28:15 Was Vietnam worth it since we won the cold war?
30:05 Why did we lose the war?
32:45 Watergate ruined historians ability to document presidents
34:15 Vietnam was the boomer's coming of age story, shook their trust in government
35:30 Many January 6th rioters were Vietnam vets
37:40 The importance of equipping and training local forces
39:10 Why did the military become a Republican constituency?
40:40 Pardoning the draft dodgers had long term political impacts
42:40 The horrible impact of drug use by soldiers in Vietnam
47:40 The perspective from the side of the north?
49:10 When did the Vietnamese recover from the effects of the war?
52:25 No Vietnam vet has ever been president
55:10 The military is America's only institution that has bipartisan support
58:35 How similar/different were the withdrawals from Saigon and Afghanistan?
59:25 What will the retrospective be on the 75th anniversary of the fall of Saigon
1:02:35 Chuck’s thoughts on the interview
Next Episode
Meet The Democratic "Donald Trump" Running For Governor Of California
Chuck Todd begins the episode with an examination of the election landscape starting with the California gubernatorial race and a demographic breakdown that indicates Democrats could perform very well in both 2025 and 2026.
Then, is joined by businessman Stephen Cloobeck, who discusses his candidacy for California governor as the "only non-traditional candidate" in the race. Cloobeck offers sharp criticism of the Harris/Walz presidential campaign, which he characterizes as "tone deaf," while proposing concrete solutions for California's most pressing issues.
Cloobeck outlines his vision for a new department of "performance and results" to increase government accountability and presents his approach to addressing California's homelessness crisis. Drawing on lessons learned from his adopted father, former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Cloobeck positions himself as a Democrat who understands business concerns, directly addressing why corporate leaders are "tempted" to leave California while asserting that "you can't buy an election" and pledging not to self-fund his campaign.
Chuck presses Cloobeck on whether Democrats need their own version of "Donald Trump," and what the party should learn from Trump's political approach. He also offers insight into his success in the timeshare industry, explaining how Marriott ultimately copied his business model and addressing whether AirBnB has undermined the traditional timeshare market. Chuck challenges Cloobeck about potential competition from other business figures like Rick Caruso and former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, with Chuck speculating that by 2026, voters might be "burned out on bravado" after Trump's presidency.
Finally, Chuck digs into the mailbag of listeners’ questions in Ask Chuck and responds to questions about six year presidential terms, quirky personal preferences that lead to political preferences and whether it’s harder for him to land interviews with Republicans.
Timeline:
00:00 Introduction
00:30 The importance of the California gubernatorial race
01:15 Kloobeck intro
02:30 Kamala Harris preparing to run for governor in California?
03:45 Younger and infrequent voters were Trump’s “secret sauce”
05:00 Can a Democratic woman win the presidency?
06:30 Higher turnout is better for Republicans
08:15 Trends favor Democrats in non-presidential elections
09:30 Democrats became the “rules” party
11:15 Jared Golden not running for must-win Maine senate seat
12:30 Republicans are already writing off Virginia
13:30 Could New Jersey become a swing state?
14:30 Can the Trump coalition succeed without Trump on the ballot?
15:45 Could Senator Bill Cassidy retire for LSU chancellor job?
17:15 Stephen Cloobeck joins the Chuck ToddCast!
18:30 Why is he the only non-traditional candidate running for CA governor?
23:05 Are California's issues a governor issue or does it run deeper?
26:05 What should Gavin Newsom have done differently?
29:00 The Harris/Walz campaign was tone deaf
30:25 What did Gray Davis get right as governor?
31:55 Creating a department of "performance and results"
33:30 Solution to California's homelessness problem
35:00 Schwarzenegger was an outsider that ran into the bureaucracy
39:30 What makes him a democrat and not an independent?
41:55 Why are business leaders "tempted" to leave California?
44:35 What he learned from his adopted father, Harry Reid
46:15 Do we need a "Donald Trump" in the democratic party?
48:00 What should the democratic party learn from Trump?
48:45 You can't buy an election. Won't self fund his campaign.
51:00 Why couldn't Trump start a casino in Nevada?
53:20 Should people be skeptical of the timeshare industry?
54:35 Has AirBnB killed the timeshare industry?
58:00 Marriott copied his timeshare model
58:45 What would you say to Harris if she wanted help with the governor race?
1:02:00 Are you ready for the arrows coming your way
1:04:25 Did you have high expectations for Joe Biden?
1:07:15 If Rick Caruso jumps in, will you cannibalize each other's candidacies
1:10:35 Would Arnold Schwarzenegger be the front-runner if he ran?
1:11:35 By 2026 could voters be burned out on bravado by Trump
1:13:30 Chuck's thoughts on Stephen Kloobeck interview
1:14:45 Check out Chuck's interviews on Noosphere!
1:16:20 Ask Chuck
1:16:45 If congress was expanded, should the president get one 6 year term?
1:19:50 What odd voter personal preferences indicate their political preferences?
1:24:00 Do you find it harder to get interviews with Republicans?
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
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