Chuck Todd begins with a rant about his beloved Washington Nationals before pivoting to Trump strong-arming congressman Zach Nunn into running for reelection and Texas into holding a mid decade restricting process to try and maintain control of the house. He weighs in on California governor Gavin Newsom’s threat to gerrymander his state in response to Texas and why that plan may not work. He also surveys the state of several 2026 races.
Then, Chuck is joined by renowned CBS News Capitol Hill correspondent Scott MacFarlane who delivers an unflinching analysis of American politics in the post-January 6th era and recounts his harrowing experience of being in attendance during the assassination attempt of Donald Trump. MacFarlane, drawing from his extensive experience covering the insurrection trials and congressional proceedings, explores how the events of January 6th continue to reshape the political landscape, from Trump's recent blanket pardons to the ongoing divisions within the Republican Party. He provides insider perspectives on the Secret Service's challenges during campaign season, the diverse backgrounds of January 6th defendants, and the broader implications of political violence in American democracy.
The conversation spans critical topics including the decline of local journalism, the judiciary's politicization, and the increasingly siloed information ecosystem that defines modern American politics. MacFarlane offers candid insights into the DOJ's handling of January 6th prosecutions under Merrick Garland, the death threats faced by trial witnesses, and how Trump's survival of the Butler assassination attempt reinforced his supporters' belief in divine intervention. The discussion also touches on contemporary challenges facing journalists, from the pressure to develop personal brands to declining morale in newsrooms, while examining ongoing political realignments and the future of democratic institutions in America.
Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment about Trump trying to rescind some of Biden’s late-term pardons, Gavin Newsom’s political evolution and why Dan Osborne is running for senate rather than governor in Nebraska.
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Introduction
00:45 James Wood didn’t have competent pitching in HR derby
02:00 Lack of summer sports programming
04:45 Trump has unprecedented control over the Republican party
07:30 Zach Nunn flirting with run with Iowa governor or switching seats
09:30 Trump forced Nunn into seeking reelection
10:30 Trump strong arming Texas into mid decade redistricting
11:45 Additional gerrymandering is risky for Texas Republicans
13:30 Gavin Newsom threatens to gerrymander CA in response to Texas
15:15 Newsom’s rhetoric may not match the political reality
16:30 Republicans are trying to rig their house majority
17:30 Donald Trump is dictating all of these actions
18:15 Trump is trying to destroy Thomas Massie for no vote on BBB
19:15 Republicans risk candidates being tied to an unpopular president
21:15 Democrats are grappling with whether to fight fire with fire
23:15 Gerrymandering fights are popping up around the country
24:30 The White House is obsessed with holding the house
26:00 Trumpworld will stoke fear of impeachment to juice turnout
27:00 NRSC has gone all-in on stopping Ken Paxton in Texas
28:15 John Cornyn could walk away and back Wesley Hunt
30:30 Susan Collins is raising money as if she’s seeking reelection
31:30 Jonathan Bush may run for governor in Maine
32:45 Mary Peltola may run for governor or senate in Alaska
35:15 The PGA Tour announcing a new tournament at Trump Doral
38:00 Scott MacFarlane joins the Chuck ToddCast!
38:30 Scott's origin story 40:30 Local news has been decimated in recent years
42
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!