Sarah McBride On Becoming First Trans Member Of Congress, Trump LGBTQ Policies, Biden

Chuck Todd begins with the apparent de-escalation of the feud between Donald Trump and Elon and why the power imbalance between the two meant that Elon would be forced to back down. Then, he explains why Trump is deliberately manufacturing a crisis by federalizing the National Guard and sending them to LA to deal with protests over ICE raids. He calls it a “political trap” set by Stephen Miller and that the administration has chosen to use California as a political punching bag. He also weighs in on the crisis of leadership at the DNC after an internal call was leaked to the press and why it could be the end of Ken Martin’s time as chair.

Then, Chuck welcomes filmmaker Chase Joynt and Congresswoman Sarah McBride to discuss the documentary "State of Firsts," which chronicles McBride's historic journey as the first openly transgender person elected to Congress. Joynt explains the origins of the film and the decision to focus on McBride's political coming of age amid the intensifying national debate over trans rights. The conversation explores the broader LGBTQ civil rights movement, the challenges of media coverage around trans issues, and how Trump has weaponized transgender Americans as political scapegoats. They discuss the ongoing tensions within the gay community about whether the fight for trans rights is "worth it," and examine how civil rights have historically advanced incrementally through strategic battles.

McBride joins the conversation to reflect on the personal toll of being thrust into the spotlight as a symbol for an entire community while trying to serve her Delaware constituents effectively. She discusses the unique pressures that come with being the "first" of any identity group in Congress, the performance incentives that can bring out the worst in politicians, and her approach to picking battles strategically rather than fighting on every front. The discussion touches on Delaware's distinctive political dynamics, her relationship with President Biden, the complexities of the trans women in sports debate, and whether she would accept a meeting with Trump. Throughout, both guests emphasize the importance of seeing transgender people as whole individuals rather than reducing them to a single issue, while acknowledging the weight of representation in advancing civil rights.

Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment regarding filibuster reform in the Senate, whether age limits for lawmakers are a good idea, and whether Trump would be best served resigning the presidency in order to receive a pardon from JD Vance.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction

01:15 Trump backs off when dealing with rich and powerful people

02:15 Elon is a bridge between MAGA and the tech elite

03:00 Steve Bannon says Musk’s money might have made the difference in election

05:00 Trump is always for sale, but the deals aren’t stable 

06:15 Musk is powerful but not irreplaceable 

07:00 Trump could destroy Musk’s companies before his term ends

08:45 The fate of our country hinges on a pissing match between two powerful people

10:15 Voters think all politicians are equally corrupt

11:00 The Trump administration is trying to manufacture a crisis in Los Angeles

12:30 What you’re reading and seeing online isn’t what’s happening on the ground

13:30 Majority of voters want immigration enforced, but humanely and with due process

15:00 Stephen Miller believes he’s setting up a political trap

16:15 The administration wants to use California as a cultural punching bag

18:00 DNC chair Ken Martin caught on recording saying he might not be up to the job

20:00 Martin defined himself as a placeholder with doubts

20:45 Democrats don’t know who’s in charge, or who they want to be in charge

21:45 Ken Martin will be defined by this moment

24:00 Chase Joynt joins the Chuck ToddCast! 

25:00 What was th