The Chuck ToddCast

Chuck Todd is on vacation but the fresh content keeps coming! Chuck empties the 2025 mailbag and answers a variety of listeners’ questions focused on politics & policy, the future of Trump & MAGA, and naturally… one on his beloved Green Bay Packers.

If you’d like to ask Chuck a question, shoot us an email at AskChuck@thechucktoddcast.com

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In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck tackles one of the most consequential counterfactuals in modern history: what if 9/11 never happened? He explores how the attacks fundamentally altered the American psyche, shattered a post–Cold War sense of security, and transformed how Americans consume news, driving the demand for instant information and accelerating the technologies that now dominate our lives. The conversation...

Jonathan Martin, the politics bureau chief and senior political columnist at POLITICO joins the Chuck ToddCast to walk through his bold predictions for the political landscape heading into 2026, starting with the idea that Donald Trump’s second term is less about governing and more about validation, legacy, and self-mythmaking. The conversation explores Trump as a pop-culture figure obsessed with monuments, family dynasty, an...

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck tackles one of the most consequential counterfactuals in modern history: what if 9/11 never happened? He explores how the attacks fundamentally altered the American psyche, shattered a post–Cold War sense of security, and transformed how Americans consume news, driving the demand for instant information and accelerating the technologies that now dominate our lives. The conversation...

Chuck Todd is on vacation, but the news never sleeps! Chuck gives his initial thoughts to the Trump administration's military operation in Venezuela to capture President Nicolas Maduro, the motivations behind it, and why the success of the operation may emboldened Trump to take even riskier actions.

Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off you...

Nuclear engineer & former Miss America, Grace Vanderhei joins Chuck Todd to break down the realities of nuclear energy—what’s safer than most people think, what genuinely needs fixing, and why public perception has lagged so far behind the science. From how she got into nuclear engineering to how disasters like Fukushima reshaped the industry’s momentum, Grace explains why rare accidents dominate the narrative...

In this special episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck continues his “What If” series, an exploration of how small decisions and turning points can radically reshape American history. Using the razor-thin 2000 election as a starting point, Chuck explains why counterfactuals are a powerful way to understand how we got here—and how different choices might have altered today’s polarized political landscape. The e...

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck examines Donald Trump’s holiday Truth Social spree as a revealing window into his worldview and leadership style. From angry, vaguely threatening posts tied to Epstein to Christmas messages laced with grievance and insults, Trump’s online behavior paints a picture of a lonely, aggrieved figure who often sounds less like a head of state and more like a mob boss issuing warning...

Yaron Weitzman, author of “A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers”, joins the Chuck ToddCast to unpack the remarkable rise, impact, and legacy of LeBron James—on the court, in Los Angeles, and far beyond basketball. Drawing from his reporting and authorship, Weitzman explains how access-driven sports journalism shapes the stories we’re told, why LeBron was always more than just another...

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck examines Donald Trump’s holiday Truth Social spree as a revealing window into his worldview and leadership style. From angry, vaguely threatening posts tied to Epstein to Christmas messages laced with grievance and insults, Trump’s online behavior paints a picture of a lonely, aggrieved figure who often sounds less like a head of state and more like a mob boss issuing warning...

In a replay of an interview Chuck Todd hosted during the summer, he’s joined by a rising star in the Democratic party, Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett. This interview was conducted prior to her announcement that she’ll be running for senate in Texas.

She provides insights into her rapidly growing Dallas district and discusses the economic benefits of immigration that contrast sharply with current policies. Crocket...

Chuck Todd digs into the growing crisis of trust in American media and politics, sparked by CBS News pulling a 60 Minutes episode amid controversy and perceptions of corporate and political pressure. He examines how Bari Weiss’s handling of the situation exposed a lack of understanding of television news culture, why 60 Minutes has become the ultimate measure of CBS’s credibility, and how ownership, mergers, and appeasi...

Mike Pesca, host of “The Gist” joins Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of media, technology, and trust at the end of 2025—and where things may be headed next. They dig into how legacy media is being reshaped by new owners, shrinking business models, and audience capture, with a close look at CBS, the Ellisons, and whether disruption is a threat or a lifeline for traditional news brands. Pe...

Chuck Todd digs into the growing crisis of trust in American media and politics, sparked by CBS News pulling a 60 Minutes episode amid controversy and perceptions of corporate and political pressure. He examines how Bari Weiss’s handling of the situation exposed a lack of understanding of television news culture, why 60 Minutes has become the ultimate measure of CBS’s credibility, and how ownership, mergers, and appeasi...

Chuck Todd examines the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files, the uneven political fallout, and why some stories break through while others—often more consequential—don’t. The discussion then turns to public health, RFK Jr.’s corrosive influence on vaccine trust, and how misinformation is putting kids at risk just as measles cases surge. Todd closes by unpacking the growing civil war with...

Chief Washington correspondent for Puck News, Leigh Ann Caldwell joins the Chuck ToddCast to unpack how Washington looks different when covered from outside the constraints of legacy media—and why independent journalism may be better suited to capture the dysfunction of Trump’s second term. Caldwell reflects on the groupthink and reaction-driven coverage that defined Trump’s first presidency, the erosion of Congre...

Chuck Todd examines the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files, the uneven political fallout, and why some stories break through while others—often more consequential—don’t. The discussion then turns to public health, RFK Jr.’s corrosive influence on vaccine trust, and how misinformation is putting kids at risk just as measles cases surge. Todd closes by unpacking the growing civil war with...

Chuck Todd breaks down Donald Trump’s prime-time address to the nation, arguing that it functioned less as a governing update and more as a rapid-fire campaign rally designed to rehab Trump’s political image. Todd explains how the speech sidestepped real policy challenges, leaned heavily into grievance, and once again spoke almost exclusively to Trump’s base—underscoring what he sees as the former president&...

Businessman, venture capitalist and political strategist Bradley Tusk joins Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership fatigue, the erosion of America’s rule of law, and the long-term consequences of the Trump era. Tusk argues that many of today’s institutional crises—from weakened economic pillars to America’s retreat from global leadership—are inseparable from Trump’s choices, ...