The Chuck ToddCast

Chuck Todd takes a hard look at the state of American governance and institutional trust — or the lack of it. He starts by reflecting on the historical significance of three consecutive one-term presidents, ranking his top five most underrated commanders-in-chief and arguing that both Biden and Trump are unlikely to be viewed as consequential a century from now. From there, Todd pivots to a searing indictment of the current moment: from the Epstein reckoning exposing the government's inability to tell the truth, to DHS being treated as a political plaything by Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski, to the DOD endangering lives in the El Paso FAA incident with zero accountability, to Moderna alleging that HHS refused to even review an mRNA flu vaccine under RFK Jr.'s watch. He connects the dots across a pattern of institutional dishonesty — a Justice Department focused on narrative management, masked ICE agents no one can justify, a fired antitrust chief clearing the way for powerful interests, and a "hostage system" style of governing that holds federal paychecks as leverage — making the case that when the government lies this often, it forfeits the benefit of the doubt on everything, and that the Epstein scandal isn't just a story about one man, but a mirror reflecting a system designed to protect the powerful.
Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the publishing of the Communist Manifesto and argues that while its critiques of the excesses of capitalism were correct… it’s revolutionary prescriptions led to the worst authoritarian states in modern history. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!
Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
02:30 We’ve had 3 straight one term presidents, deem them all failures
03:45 Inability to win reelection will always be seen as an asterisk
04:45 Top 5 most underrated presidents
05:00 James Polk was the only voluntary one term president
05:45 James Garfield was a fierce advocate for civil rights
06:30 George H.W. Bush was accomplished, but not a good politician
07:30 John Quincy Adams laid out modern American infrastructure
08:00 Jimmy Carter did many things that have aged well
09:15 In 100 years, Biden & Trump likely won’t be viewed as consequential
10:45 Biden & Trump can’t be evaluated fairly for many years
11:30 What does a real reckoning look like in the Trump era?
12:45 The institution least capable of reckoning with Epstein is the government
13:15 The private sector is forcing accountability, the government isn’t
14:15 Trust is the currency of government, and Trump’s doesn’t have it
15:15 The Justice Department is only worried about narrative management
16:30 The system looks like a club, designed to protect the powerful
17:45 Epstein is a test of whether the government can tell the truth
19:00 DHS shutting down, politicians using paychecks as leverage
19:30 We a governing via a “hostage system”
20:45 There isn’t a single good argument for masking ICE agents
21:15 The Democrats’ demands are not extreme, they’re common sense
22:15 Noem & Lewandowski treating DHS like their personal plaything
23:00 Pattern of government saying one thing, facts saying another
24:15 Whatever Noem says first, you can’t believe it. She gaslights the public
25:00 The government has lied too many times, gets no benefit of the doubt
25:45 El Paso FAA incident is case study for public distrusting institutions
26:45 DoD was lying to the FAA, FAA pulled the emergency brakes
28:00 DoD put lives in danger with no accountability
28:30 Moderna says HHS refused to review MRNA flu vaccine
29:15 The U.S. is not a stable country to develop & release products
30:00 Kennedy only offers crackpot theories & totally unfit for office
31:00 We can’t trust the government to tell us the truth about anything
31:30 DOJ fired antitrust chief, powerful interests get what they want
33:00 Epstein isn’t just a scandal, it’s a mirror
42:15 What if Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie ran on “accountability” ticket
43:30 A bipartisan ticket of “pox on both their houses” could be powerful
44:15 ToddCast Time Machine February 21st, 1848
44:30 Marx & Engels publish the communist manifesto
45:15 Monarchies were colliding with modern economic forces
46:45 Marx argued that capitalism is destabilizing if left unchecked
47:45 If the manifesto was called something else, how would we view it?
48:15 Marx doesn’t argue reform, says that capitalism will destroy itself
49:00 Communist states didn’t emerge until decades after manifesto
49:45 Manifesto gave dictators arguments to grab power
50:30 Marx talked in economics, dictators exploited his language
52:00 Communism took hold in places where industrialization fell behind
52:45 Manifesto gets invoked badly by both sides in American politics
53:30 Marx’s diagnosis was spot on, his solutions were questionable
55:00 Lack of regulation for AI will push people to radicalism
55:30 Ask Chuck
55:45 Does something seem off with the administration’s economic numbers?
1:00:00 Do we need a punchier title than “Gate” for political scandals?
1:02:30 Do we need to withhold congressional salaries during shutdowns?
1:06:30 Missing intellectuals like Rahm Emmanuel leading the country
1:08:30 What is the criteria for impeachment of cabinet members?
1:11:15 Favorite football/baseball players as a kid?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd takes a hard look at the state of American governance and institutional trust — or the lack of it. He starts by reflecting on the historical significance of three consecutive one-term presidents, ranking his top five most underrated commanders-in-chief and arguing that both Biden and Trump are unlikely to be viewed as consequential a century from now. From there, Todd pivots to a searing indictment of the current moment: from the Epstein reckoning exposing the government's inability to tell the truth, to DHS being treated as a political plaything by Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski, to the DOD endangering lives in the El Paso FAA incident with zero accountability, to Moderna alleging that HHS refused to even review an mRNA flu vaccine under RFK Jr.'s watch. He connects the dots across a pattern of institutional dishonesty — a Justice Department focused on narrative management, masked ICE agents no one can justify, a fired antitrust chief clearing the way for powerful interests, and a "hostage system" style of governing that holds federal paychecks as leverage — making the case that when the government lies this often, it forfeits the benefit of the doubt on everything, and that the Epstein scandal isn't just a story about one man, but a mirror reflecting a system designed to protect the powerful.
Then, Gene Sperling — the only person to serve as Director of the National Economic Council under two presidents (Clinton and Obama), a senior advisor to President Biden who oversaw the American Rescue Plan, and a consultant and co-writer on NBC's The West Wing — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation. Sperling shares the wild story of how he ended up in Santa Monica, his brush with Aaron Sorkin's legal troubles, and his insider take on how real Washington compares to its fictional portrayals. The conversation then turns to Sperling's deep expertise on the economy, from his defense of the Biden administration's "soft landing" amid global post-Covid inflation to the political lessons of how rising prices have sunk presidencies on both sides of the aisle — including Biden's own re-election bid.
The back half of the episode looks squarely at the future. Sperling, who says he's unlikely to serve in another Democratic administration, offers a forceful argument about what comes next: the rising threat of unchecked corporate and tech power, the urgent need for AI policy that puts working people first, and the lessons of globalization that policymakers can't afford to repeat. Drawing on themes from his book Economic Dignity, he makes the case that Americans are hungry for leaders who pair optimism with a real confrontation of economic injustice — and warns that a handful of AI and crypto companies, flush with lobbying dollars, could end up shaping the structure of the economy if left unchallenged.
Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the publishing of the Communist Manifesto and argues that while its critiques of the excesses of capitalism were correct… it’s revolutionary prescriptions led to the worst authoritarian states in modern history. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!
Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
03:30 We’ve had 3 straight one term presidents, deem them all failures
04:45 Inability to win reelection will always be seen as an asterisk
05:45 Top 5 most underrated presidents
06:00 James Polk was the only voluntary one term president
06:45 James Garfield was a fierce advocate for civil rights
07:30 George H.W. Bush was accomplished, but not a good politician
08:30 John Quincy Adams laid out modern American infrastructure
09:00 Jimmy Carter did many things that have aged well
10:15 In 100 years, Biden & Trump likely won’t be viewed as consequential
11:45 Biden & Trump can’t be evaluated fairly for many years
12:30 What does a real reckoning look like in the Trump era?
13:45 The institution least capable of reckoning with Epstein is the government
14:15 The private sector is forcing accountability, the government isn’t
15:15 Trust is the currency of government, and Trump’s doesn’t have it
16:15 The Justice Department is only worried about narrative management
17:30 The system looks like a club, designed to protect the powerful
18:45 Epstein is a test of whether the government can tell the truth
20:00 DHS shutting down, politicians using paychecks as leverage
20:30 We a governing via a “hostage system”
21:45 There isn’t a single good argument for masking ICE agents
22:15 The Democrats’ demands are not extreme, they’re common sense
23:15 Noem & Lewandowski treating DHS like their personal plaything
24:00 Pattern of government saying one thing, facts saying another
25:15 Whatever Noem says first, you can’t believe it. She gaslights the public
26:00 The government has lied too many times, gets no benefit of the doubt
26:45 El Paso FAA incident is case study for public distrusting institutions
27:45 DoD was lying to the FAA, FAA pulled the emergency brakes
29:00 DoD put lives in danger with no accountability
29:30 Moderna says HHS refused to review MRNA flu vaccine
30:15 The U.S. is not a stable country to develop & release products
31:00 Kennedy only offers crackpot theories & totally unfit for office
32:00 We can’t trust the government to tell us the truth about anything
32:30 DOJ fired antitrust chief, powerful interests get what they want
34:00 Epstein isn’t just a scandal, it’s a mirror
43:30 Gene Sperling joins the Chuck Toddcast
45:30 The wild story of how Gene ended up in Santa Monica
46:45 Aaron Sorkin couldn’t meet with Gene due to legal trouble
49:45 Real politics/news look nothing like “West Wing” or “The Newsroom”
51:00 The one truism about the West Wing is good people trying to do good
52:45 Politics is NOT like House of Cards
54:15 West Wing still remains viable, any chance of a reboot?
55:30 What’s the state of the economy? What do you look for?
56:15 Biden economy was strong growth, but high inflation
57:00 Biden achieved the “soft landing” they were trying for
58:15 Inflation was global and mostly due to Covid supply chain shocks
59:45 The American Rescue Plan had many positive effects
1:00:45 Every head of state poured money into economies during Covid
1:01:45 Covid was going to result in either inflation or recession
1:03:30 Obama couldn’t pass enough stimulus during Great Recession
1:04:30 A little extra stimulus can help offset future unknowns
1:05:15 Millennials’ future was permanently damaged by Great Recession
1:06:30 A generation had never seen high inflation until Covid
1:07:30 Anger over inflation sunk Biden’s re-election
1:08:30 Inflation is bipartisan, took down 3 different presidents
1:09:30 Inflation affects everyone, jobs & unemployment don’t
1:10:45 Every head of state suffered politically post pandemic
1:12:45 Will Biden baggage sink Pete Buttigieg, or is that overstated?
1:14:30 Biden’s conflict was empathy for suffering vs touting achievements
1:16:45 Biden had the tiniest of margins to pass major legislation
1:18:00 Gene is unlikely to work in a future Democratic administration
1:18:45 Pitchforks are being sharpened for corporations and big tech
1:19:30 Will worker rage fuel the next election?
1:20:30 Presidents that do well offer optimism, but confront economic injustice
1:22:00 People don’t want to feel like they are being extracted for profits
1:24:00 AI growth can’t come at the expense of working people
1:25:30 AI policy should be shaped around improving conditions for people
1:26:45 What lessons from globalization can be used to alleviate AI disruption?
1:28:30 Clinton believed in robust response to globalization
1:29:30 Clinton couldn’t implement strong safety net after losing congress
1:31:15 You have to have policies where people don’t feel left behind
1:33:00 We need to create and fund jobs that create dignity
1:33:45 We need to create an economic dignity floor for all Americans
1:35:45 When is a company too big to regulate?
1:38:00 If companies are disproportionately determining policies, they’re too big
1:38:45 Crypto & AI are getting what they want from huge lobbying money
1:39:30 A handful of AI companies could determine structure of the economy
1:41:45 The Trump White House has invited corporate influence
1:49:45 What if Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie ran on “accountability” ticket
1:51:00 A bipartisan ticket of “pox on both their houses” could be powerful
1:51:45 ToddCast Time Machine February 21st, 1848
1:52:00 Marx & Engels publish the communist manifesto
1:52:45 Monarchies were colliding with modern economic forces
1:54:15 Marx argued that capitalism is destabilizing if left unchecked
1:55:15 If the manifesto was called something else, how would we view it?
1:55:45 Marx doesn’t argue reform, says that capitalism will destroy itself
1:56:30 Communist states didn’t emerge until decades after manifesto
1:57:15 Manifesto gave dictators arguments to grab power
1:58:00 Marx talked in economics, dictators exploited his language
1:59:30 Communism took hold in places where industrialization fell behind
2:00:15 Manifesto gets invoked badly by both sides in American politics
2:01:00 Marx’s diagnosis was spot on, his solutions were questionable
2:02:30 Lack of regulation for AI will push people to radicalism
2:03:00 Ask Chuck
2:03:15 Does something seem off with the administration’s economic numbers?
2:07:30 Do we need a punchier title than “Gate” for political scandals?
2:10:00 Do we need to withhold congressional salaries during shutdowns?
2:14:00 Missing intellectuals like Rahm Emmanuel leading the country
2:16:00 What is the criteria for impeachment of cabinet members?
2:18:45 Favorite football/baseball players as a kid?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gene Sperling — the only person to serve as Director of the National Economic Council under two presidents (Clinton and Obama), a senior advisor to President Biden who oversaw the American Rescue Plan, and a consultant and co-writer on NBC's The West Wing — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation. Sperling shares the wild story of how he ended up in Santa Monica, his brush with Aaron Sorkin's legal troubles, and his insider take on how real Washington compares to its fictional portrayals. The conversation then turns to Sperling's deep expertise on the economy, from his defense of the Biden administration's "soft landing" amid global post-Covid inflation to the political lessons of how rising prices have sunk presidencies on both sides of the aisle — including Biden's own re-election bid.
The back half of the episode looks squarely at the future. Sperling, who says he's unlikely to serve in another Democratic administration, offers a forceful argument about what comes next: the rising threat of unchecked corporate and tech power, the urgent need for AI policy that puts working people first, and the lessons of globalization that policymakers can't afford to repeat. Drawing on themes from his book Economic Dignity, he makes the case that Americans are hungry for leaders who pair optimism with a real confrontation of economic injustice — and warns that a handful of AI and crypto companies, flush with lobbying dollars, could end up shaping the structure of the economy if left unchallenged.
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!
Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Gene Sperling joins the Chuck Toddcast
02:00 The wild story of how Gene ended up in Santa Monica
03:15 Aaron Sorkin couldn’t meet with Gene due to legal trouble
06:15 Real politics/news look nothing like “West Wing” or “The Newsroom”
07:30 The one truism about the West Wing is good people trying to do good
09:15 Politics is NOT like House of Cards
10:45 West Wing still remains viable, any chance of a reboot?
12:00 What’s the state of the economy? What do you look for?
12:45 Biden economy was strong growth, but high inflation
13:30 Biden achieved the “soft landing” they were trying for
14:45 Inflation was global and mostly due to Covid supply chain shocks
16:15 The American Rescue Plan had many positive effects
17:15 Every head of state poured money into economies during Covid
18:15 Covid was going to result in either inflation or recession
20:00 Obama couldn’t pass enough stimulus during Great Recession
21:00 A little extra stimulus can help offset future unknowns
21:45 Millennials’ future was permanently damaged by Great Recession
23:00 A generation had never seen high inflation until Covid
24:00 Anger over inflation sunk Biden’s re-election
25:00 Inflation is bipartisan, took down 3 different presidents
26:00 Inflation affects everyone, jobs & unemployment don’t
27:15 Every head of state suffered politically post pandemic
29:15 Will Biden baggage sink Pete Buttigieg, or is that overstated?
31:00 Biden’s conflict was empathy for suffering vs touting achievements
33:15 Biden had the tiniest of margins to pass major legislation
34:30 Gene is unlikely to work in a future Democratic administration
35:15 Pitchforks are being sharpened for corporations and big tech
36:00 Will worker rage fuel the next election?
37:00 Presidents that do well offer optimism, but confront economic injustice
38:30 People don’t want to feel like they are being extracted for profits
40:30 AI growth can’t come at the expense of working people
42:00 AI policy should be shaped around improving conditions for people
43:15 What lessons from globalization can be used to alleviate AI disruption?
45:00 Clinton believed in robust response to globalization
46:00 Clinton couldn’t implement strong safety net after losing congress
47:45 You have to have policies where people don’t feel left behind
49:30 We need to create and fund jobs that create dignity
50:15 We need to create an economic dignity floor for all Americans
52:15 When is a company too big to regulate?
54:30 If companies are disproportionately determining policies, they’re too big
55:15 Crypto & AI are getting what they want from huge lobbying money
56:00 A handful of AI companies could determine structure of the economy
58:15 The Trump White House has invited corporate influence
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Chuck Todd unpacks a week where political theater carried real consequences, from Pam Bondi’s high-profile hearing and the Justice Department’s bruised credibility to renewed controversy over the Epstein files and why Trump appears uneasy about what could surface. Chuck explores how Trump’s actions—from refusing to help key Republicans like John Cornyn in Texas to escalating trade and tariff fights that split his own party—may be doing tactical damage to GOP midterm prospects, even putting critical races in Michigan and beyond at risk. He also examines donor frustration, the political fallout of Trump’s UAE corruption scandal, and why internal Republican divisions could shape whether Democrats win a narrow or sizable House majority. Finally, Chuck looks at the surprisingly strong jobs report, the murky influence of prediction markets, and why, if Democrats ultimately capture the Senate, Trump himself may be the biggest reason why.
Then, founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Paul Rieckhoff joins for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from the football field to the battlefield and into the halls of power. Paul shares how his family's experience with Vietnam shaped his own path into the military and explores why the scars of Iraq and Afghanistan haven't left the same political mark as Vietnam did. The discussion dives into the state of today's all-volunteer military, raising concerns about recruiting under Pete Hegseth's leadership at the Pentagon, the politicization of military culture, and the promotion of a specific ideological agenda within the Department of Defense—including what it means for democracy when the most powerful military in the world operates with fewer checks than ever.
The conversation then shifts to the growing power of political independents, with Paul making the case that unaffiliated voters and veteran candidates could serve as a moderating force in American politics. From the potential impact of just a handful of independent senators to why no military veteran has won the presidency since George H.W. Bush, Paul and Chuck explore what it would take to break the two-party stranglehold. They also touch on the challenges of independent media, how national security can be a clarifying lens for consuming news, and why Paul believes every voter should consider declaring independence—arguing it gives them more power, not less.
Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!
Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
2:00 The Pam Bondi hearing was all theater, but it did matter
3:30 Trump’s cabinet hearings have an audience of one…Trump
4:00 DOJ’s credibility took a massive hit this week
4:45 Grand jury refused to indict Democratic members of congress
6:15 Bondi fanned the flames over Epstein files, now she’s backtracking
7:00 Trump seems awfully nervous about the files, like he’s hiding something
8:30 The question is do the Dems get a large or small majority in the house
10:00 There is a ceiling for Democratic gains
10:45 Trump isn’t interested in helping Republicans in the midterms
11:15 Trump not endorsing Cornyn in Texas put the senate seat in play
12:45 Republican donors are upset Trump won’t help in Texas
14:15 Trump’s UAE corruption scandal the worst of all time
15:45 Trump’s threats over bridge to Canada hurts GOP in Michigan
17:00 Owner of other bridge lobbied Lutnick, now Trump threatens shutdown
17:30 New bridge is good for Michigan, this put Mike Rogers in jeopardy
18:30 Trump is doing tactical harm to their midterm election chances
19:15 Trump’s tariff mess has divided his own party
20:30 Mike Johnson couldn’t stop vote in the house on tariffs
22:00 Trump doesn’t care about the future of the Republican party
23:45 Trump says no to another reconciliation bill, also bad for GOP
25:30 Jobs report was good despite admin officials previewing a bad one
26:15 Are administration officials cashing in on the prediction markets?
27:00 Prediction markets are extraordinarily corruptable
28:30 Higher tax refunds will get eaten by higher costs, not politically helpful
29:45 If Democrats win the senate, they’ll have Donald Trump to thank
31:00 Far right candidate beat the center left coalition in Japan
32:30 Independents need to assert their political power in America
35:00 The country’s political affiliations don’t fix neatly into two boxes
44:00 Races with independents to track
45:15 Ask Chuck
45:30 Isn’t congress responsible for border policy?
51:45 Is the reason Noem hasn’t been fired, that Trump wants on Mt. Rushmore?
54:15 Why do celebrities lend their names to companies that hurt their customers?
59:30 Would moderate Democrats do better running as independents?
1:04:45 Does Utah law to expand Supreme Court open the door for court packing?
1:08:30 What can be done to modernize education, add national service?
1:20:00 Thoughts on sports post-football
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is The Most Dangerous Thing Trump Can Do
In this episode, Chuck Todd unpacks a week where political theater carried real consequences, from Pam Bondi’s high-profile hearing and the Justice Department’s bruised credibility to renewed controversy over the Epstein files and why Trump appears uneasy about what could surface. Chuck explores how Trump’s actions—from refusing to help key Republicans like John Cornyn in Texas to escalating trade and tariff fights that split his own party—may be doing tactical damage to GOP midterm prospects, even putting critical races in Michigan and beyond at risk. He also examines donor frustration, the political fallout of Trump’s UAE corruption scandal, and why internal Republican divisions could shape whether Democrats win a narrow or sizable House majority. Finally, Chuck looks at the surprisingly strong jobs report, the murky influence of prediction markets, and why, if Democrats ultimately capture the Senate, Trump himself may be the biggest reason why.
Then, founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Paul Rieckhoff joins for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from the football field to the battlefield and into the halls of power. Paul shares how his family's experience with Vietnam shaped his own path into the military and explores why the scars of Iraq and Afghanistan haven't left the same political mark as Vietnam did. The discussion dives into the state of today's all-volunteer military, raising concerns about recruiting under Pete Hegseth's leadership at the Pentagon, the politicization of military culture, and the promotion of a specific ideological agenda within the Department of Defense—including what it means for democracy when the most powerful military in the world operates with fewer checks than ever.
The conversation then shifts to the growing power of political independents, with Paul making the case that unaffiliated voters and veteran candidates could serve as a moderating force in American politics. From the potential impact of just a handful of independent senators to why no military veteran has won the presidency since George H.W. Bush, Paul and Chuck explore what it would take to break the two-party stranglehold. They also touch on the challenges of independent media, how national security can be a clarifying lens for consuming news, and why Paul believes every voter should consider declaring independence—arguing it gives them more power, not less.
Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!
Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.

Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
03:00 The Pam Bondi hearing was all theater, but it did matter
04:30 Trump’s cabinet hearings have an audience of one…Trump
05:00 DOJ’s credibility took a massive hit this week
05:45 Grand jury refused to indict Democratic members of congress
07:15 Bondi fanned the flames over Epstein files, now she’s backtracking
08:00 Trump seems awfully nervous about the files, like he’s hiding something
09:30 The question is do the Dems get a large or small majority in the house
11:00 There is a ceiling for Democratic gains
11:45 Trump isn’t interested in helping Republicans in the midterms
12:15 Trump not endorsing Cornyn in Texas put the senate seat in play
13:45 Republican donors are upset Trump won’t help in Texas
15:15 Trump’s UAE corruption scandal the worst of all time
16:45 Trump’s threats over bridge to Canada hurts GOP in Michigan
18:00 Owner of other bridge lobbied Lutnick, now Trump threatens shutdown
18:30 New bridge is good for Michigan, this put Mike Rogers in jeopardy
19:30 Trump is doing tactical harm to their midterm election chances
20:15 Trump’s tariff mess has divided his own party
21:30 Mike Johnson couldn’t stop vote in the house on tariffs
23:00 Trump doesn’t care about the future of the Republican party
24:45 Trump says no to another reconciliation bill, also bad for GOP
26:30 Jobs report was good despite admin officials previewing a bad one
27:15 Are administration officials cashing in on the prediction markets?
28:00 Prediction markets are extraordinarily corruptable
29:30 Higher tax refunds will get eaten by higher costs, not politically helpful
30:45 If Democrats win the senate, they’ll have Donald Trump to thank
32:00 Far right candidate beat the center left coalition in Japan
33:30 Independents need to assert their political power in America
36:00 The country’s political affiliations don’t fix neatly into two boxes
45:00 Paul Rieckhoff joins the Chuck Toddcast
47:00 Why football is the most selfless sport
48:45 Defense in football feels like it has caught up to offense
51:00 How & why did you get into the military?
52:45 Nobody feels the acute impact of politics more than military members
54:00 Impact of Vietnam on Paul’s father & family
56:00 Anyone eligible for the draft in Vietnam were obsessive over details
57:30 No Vietnam vet ever won the presidency, but came close
59:15 Scars from Iraq/Afghanistan haven’t affected politics like Vietnam did
59:45 All-volunteer military is good for military but terrible for democracy
1:00:30 Shunning NATO would have been unthinkable just a decade ago
1:01:15 Worried about military recruiting under Pete Hegseth
1:02:00 Hegseth is waging a culture war from the Pentagon
1:03:15 Recruiting tactics are recruiting a very specific type of candidate
1:04:30 Changes in policy are politicizing the military & changing culture
1:05:45 Hegseth is prioritizing & promoting christianity at the Pentagon
1:06:15 Trump has the most powerful military & can do what he wants with it
1:06:45 Most dangerous thing Trump can do is invoke Insurrection Act
1:07:30 Pentagon press corp has been replaced with propogandists
1:09:45 The only thing checking Trump is himself & Chairman of Joint Chiefs
1:11:00 Trump has been more strategic this term, & is ahead of schedule
1:12:30 Military culture & families historically tend to lean right politically
1:13:45 Many veterans remain politically unaffiliated
1:14:45 We haven’t elected a military veteran since George H.W. Bush
1:15:45 Combat service gives you a true sense of the cost of war
1:17:30 Washington & Eisenhower closest to being “independent” presidents
1:18:45 Efforts to get veterans elected to local/state office
1:21:00 Independents have their leanings but reject the two parties
1:23:00 A true independent could be the most powerful member of senate
1:23:45 4-6 independent’s could be a moderating fulcrum in senate
1:25:30 Even two independents breaking with their caucus would be huge
1:28:00 How can each party appeal to independent veterans?
1:31:00 Every voter should declare independence, gives them more power
1:32:00 Balancing creating vs. ingestion working in independent media
1:35:00 National security is a great clarifier when consuming news
1:36:15 Waking up early is the best way to avoid distractions
1:37:30 Israel’s citizen-military culture creates a lot of activism
1:38:30 Instability created by Trump has engaged the electorate
1:40:45 ICE has made the danger posed by administration very immediate
1:41:45 If running for office was viable for independents, Paul would consider it
1:43:30 Veterans that want to service should run for office, not join ICE
1:47:45 Races with independents to track
1:49:00 Ask Chuck
1:49:15 Isn’t congress responsible for border policy?
1:55:30 Is the reason Noem hasn’t been fired, that Trump wants on Mt. Rushmore?
1:58:00 Why do celebrities lend their names to companies that hurt their customers?
2:03:15 Would moderate Democrats do better running as independents?
2:08:30 Does Utah law to expand Supreme Court open the door for court packing?
2:12:15 What can be done to modernize education, add national service?
2:23:45 Thoughts on sports post-football
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