Chuck’s Commentary - Anti-vaxx Has Become The New Prohibition Movement + Ask Chuck

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck unpacks the growing unease in the GOP over RFK Jr.’s influence and Florida’s decision to drop school vaccine mandates, raising the question of how the once-fringe anti-vax movement went mainstream. Drawing historical parallels to the prohibition era, he examines how framing the issue as “personal freedom” and missteps like the COVID mandate fueled a cultural backlash that could take decades to undo, threatening long-term public health. The conversation then shifts to politics, with Trump maneuvering to dominate the NYC mayoral race—pressuring rivals, exploiting ranked-choice voting debates, and turning contests in New York and California into referendums on his influence, just as Democrats look to tie special elections back to Trump himself.

Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction

02:30 Alarm over RFK growing in GOP congress, but don’t expect action

03:15 Florida dropping the vaccine mandate for kids in schools

06:30 How did the kooky anti-vax movement go mainstream?

07:00 Anti-vaxx movement has historical parallel in prohibition movement

08:30 Anti-alcohol movement seized on a particular moment in time

09:15 Anti-vaxx movement has been framed as a personal freedom issue

10:15 Biggest mistake by public health officials was the Covid vaccine mandate

11:30 Prohibition created crime & deaths from bootlegged alcohol

14:00 Officials know potential harm, and made the decision anyway

15:30 Older generation has memories of deaths from these diseases

16:45 It could take decades to reverse the damage to public health

18:30 Pro vaccine messaging needs to not be political

20:00 Trump trying to clear field in NYC mayoral to beat Mamdani

21:00 NYC voters should get ranked choice voting in general election

22:45 If Trump gets Adams to drop out, race will become all about Trump

24:00 NYC mayoral and CA redistricting could become Trump referendums

26:00 Democrats are making special elections all about Trump

27:15 Ask Chuck 

27:45 Are Dems just living in "the world as it is" when it comes to redistricting? 

33:30 Are Trump's attacks on mail-in voting an effort to contest 2026 results? 

38:00 Is there a line where Democrats fighting will be the "wrong" move? 

44:00 Why is Lisa Cook being targeted for mortgage fraud when Trump did it? 

49:45 How long would it take the DNC to find viable candidates in light red districts? 

53:15 Could Texas/CA gerrymander backfire and put more safe seats in play