The Chuck ToddCast

Faiz Shakir — Bernie Sanders' 2020 campaign manager, former DNC chair candidate, and executive director of the progressive media organization More Perfect Union — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a bracingly honest conversation about what's wrong with the Democratic Party and what it would take to fix it. Shakir diagnoses a party that is functionally leaderless, with its top figures stuck in a "play dead" mentality while the Democratic brand polls worse than the Republican brand even as Trump's corruption grows more brazen by the day. He argues that Trump — like Biden before him — is finger-wagging at voters on the economy rather than addressing affordability, and that Democrats are blowing the opportunity to capitalize because they're terrible at picking fights and allergic to friction. Shakir is particularly scathing on the party's relationship with big tech and corporate power: He holds up Bernie Sanders' AI data center moratorium as the kind of fight Democrats should be waging, and Lina Khan's FTC tenure as the model of mission-driven disruption.
The conversation then turns to the future of the party and how to build a lasting majority. Shakir argues that the right candidate could move 7% of the electorate from right to left, that if Sanders were younger he'd likely win in 2028, and that Sanders has more credibility than AOC because he represents a rural state — though he praises both AOC's national appeal and Ro Khanna's political intelligence. He insists Democrats need to fight a class-based economic justice campaign, stop punishing candidates who aren't perfectly aligned on social issues, and recognize that "independent" doesn't mean centrist — younger voters are disillusioned with both parties and hungry for a working-class-first agenda. Shakir offers a detailed vision for DNC reform: fund state parties based on merit and metrics, move Nevada to first on the primary calendar because Vegas politics would orient the party toward working-class concerns, add Michigan and North Carolina to the early window,and invest in sun belt opportunities He closes by noting that James Talarico channeled Bernie's message with a religious-based framing, and that Democratic voters always gravitate toward outsiders — the party just needs to let them run.
Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
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!
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Faiz Shakir joins the Chuck ToddCast
01:45 Democratic party seems leaderless
02:15 Would you run again for DNC chair?
03:45 Leaders of the party have a bit of a “play dead” mentality
04:30 Democratic brand is still in worse shape than Republican brand
05:45 Trump having billionaires at inauguration was foreshadowing
06:15 Trump’s corruption is incredibly brazen
07:15 It’s obvious Trump doesn’t care about affordability
08:15 Trump, like Biden, is finger wagging at voters on the economy
09:30 Vance sold himself as an anti-interventionalist populist
10:15 Vance has had to completely go against his political identity
11:00 Trump’s corruption has totally undermined Vance
12:30 Trump’s argument of "imminent threat” from Iran is nonsense
14:00 Chuck Schumer told his caucus to “suck it up” on crypto
15:30 The public is far ahead of politicians in being skeptical of AI
16:15 Very little is being offered by AI that would improve lives of working class
17:00 Every candidate in Illinois senate race basically has a big tech sponsor
18:15 Democratic party is terrible at picking fights and don’t like friction
19:00 Bernie Sanders AI data center moratorium reflects the public sentiment
19:45 Democrats are so heady on policy they let their politics suffer
21:00 There’s a movement of independent candidates, but winning matters
21:45 Independents are offering a different, working class first agenda
23:00 Democrats punish candidates who aren’t perfectly aligned on social issues
24:30 Bernie Sanders is stronger candidate in a general election than a primary
25:30 The right candidate could move 7% of the electorate from right to left
27:15 If Sanders were younger and could run in 2028, he’d likely win
28:15 Sanders has more credibility than AOC because he’s from rural state
29:00 Democrats need to fight a class based, economic justice campaign
31:15 How would you make changes at the DNC?
32:30 How should Democrats approach secondary races in MT & NE?
34:00 Younger voters are disillusioned with both parties, are independent minded
34:45 Independent does not mean centrist
35:45 State by state redistricting will eventually need national overhaul
37:30 Democrats “adult in the room” status has helped them in some places
38:45 Democrats have been viewed as the status quo party
39:30 Who is the heir apparent to Bernie?
40:00 Bernie respects the national appeal of AOC
41:45 Ro Khanna is incredibly smart and calculating
42:30 Politics has become an entertainment industry as much as policy
44:15 Voters want a disrupter with goals that are attainable
45:00 Lina Khan had a sense of imagination at the FTC
46:15 Mission driven disruption is associated with the progressive wing
47:15 Gavin Newsom has become the anti-Trump Democratic candidate
48:00 Newsom fighting the wealth tax is probably hurting himself with base
49:00 Rahm Emmanuel will struggle to overcome his political baggage
49:45 Democrats have surrendered on education as a national issue
50:30 Democrats should be offering year round schooling with new curriculum
51:15 Democrats should propose public service jobs with good pay & benefits
53:00 Nevada is the ideal first state for Democratic primary calendar
54:00 Vegas politics would orient Democrats to working class concerns
54:30 Michigan & NC should be in the first four for Democrats
55:45 Iowa & NH were battlegrounds because of first in nation status
58:30 DNC needs to give state parties money based on merit & metrics
59:45 Democrats have to find somewhere in sun belt to invest in
1:01:15 Mississippi could be best value in the south for Dems
1:02:00 Mississippi has a strong labor base to be courted
1:03:15 More debate between Talarico & Crockett would have been good for party
1:03:45 Talarico channeled Bernie’s message with a religious based framing
1:05:15 If Talarico or Platner win senate race, they’re serious 2028 candidates
1:06:30 Democratic voters always like an outsider in their presidential candidates
1:08:00 What is More Perfect Union and where can people find your work?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd delivers a sweeping analysis of how the Iran war is metastasizing into an economic, military, and constitutional crisis all at once — warning that the Strait of Hormuz, the most important waterway in the world through which roughly a fifth of global oil supply flows, is Iran's ultimate point of leverage and one Trump catastrophically failed to account for. He argues that Trump mistakenly assumed the Iranian regime would be as transactional as he is and would capitulate the way Venezuela did, but Iran has no intention of walking away from its ability to make the strait dangerous to navigate — which is all it takes to send energy markets into chaos, threaten the tourism and banking economies of Gulf states, and risk the economic collapse of nuclear-armed Pakistan through energy shortages. He calls Pete Hegseth a "Baghdad Bob"-style propagandist presiding over the administration's grotesque "memeification" of war, then turns to what he calls FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's declaration of war on press freedom — Carr threatened Saturday to revoke broadcast licenses over Iran war coverage the administration deems unfavorable, drawing immediate condemnation from Democrats, free speech groups, and even some Republicans who called it "authoritarian" and "unconstitutional." Chuck warns that while courts will likely block Carr's most extreme threats, the mere act of launching investigations creates a chilling effect not dissimilar to how broadcasting works in Russia. He closes by acknowledging that the Iranian regime needs to go, but that Trump's disastrous decision to lift oil sanctions on Russia has only strengthened Moscow's position, and that the war has dramatically increased the likelihood of terrorist attacks against Americans
Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the creation of standardized time, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and gives his advice for building your NCAA tournament bracket.
Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
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!
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
04:15 The Iran War will impact nearly everything
05:00 Military, war has been a route but it’s become asymmetrical
05:45 The Strait of Hormuz is the most important waterway in the world
06:45 Trump mistakenly assumed Iranian regime would be transactional like him
08:00 Shutting the strait is Iran’s biggest point of deterrence
09:00 Shutting the strait can massively damage the world economy
09:45 Trump miscalculated Iran would capitulate like Venezuela
12:00 The strait is Iran’s leverage, they aren’t going to walk away from it
12:45 Trump talks a big game, but Iran can extract a huge price on the west
14:15 Pete Hegseth has become a “Baghdad Bob” style propagandist
15:30 Asymmetrical warfare is how America won the Revolutionary War
16:45 All Iran has to do is make the Strait of Hormuz dangerous to navigate
17:30 Reagan had to intervene in the Gulf in the 80s to secure shipping routes
18:15 Convoy protection missions rarely stay small
19:15 If keeping shipping lanes open is the goal, the timeline & operation expands
20:00 Gulf states has become tourism & banking hubs, that’s being threatened
21:15 War is both an economic and “image” blow to the gulf states
22:30 Energy shortages risk the economic collapse of nuclear armed Pakistan
23:30 Trump made a disastrous decision to lift oil sanctions on Russia
24:00 War in Iran is strengthening Russia’s position in the Ukraine war
24:45 Energy prices affect the entire economy. Will raise inflation in America
25:30 This war is a major economic gamble
26:30 FCC Chair declares war on freedom of the press
27:15 Carr threatens to pull broadcast licenses over unfavorable war coverage
28:15 Carr’s threats aren’t dissimilar to how broadcasting works in Russia
30:00 FCC just launching investigations can put pressure on networks
31:15 ABC settling with Trump was a massive mistake
32:30 Project 2025 proposed “broadcast regulation” similar to this
33:45 Administration’s “memeification” of war is gross & embarrassing
35:00 War has increased likelihood of terrorist attacks against American
35:30 American Jews & Muslims have had to spend millions on security
36:15 Administration hiding terrorism reports should scare us*
37:45 The courts will stop Brendan Carr from violating press freedom
38:45 Administration owes the people an explanation
39:30 The Iranian regime needs to go, but war has serious costs
46:00 Illinois primary livestream with DDHQ & Chris Cillizza on Tuesday
47:15 ToddCast Time Machine - When time back standardized
48:00 March 19, 1918 Congress passes the Standard Time Act
48:45 Local time standards were a problem with development of railroads
49:30 Coordinating trains wasn’t just difficult, it was dangerous
50:00 Sanford Fleming proposed dividing globe into timezones
50:30 Railroads imposed standardized times before government did
52:00 Train crash near Tipton, Ohio showed issues with timekeeping
53:15 Railroad safety become dependant on pocketwatches
54:00 Daylight savings time is adopted during WW1
54:45 World War required standardized time to coordinate
55:15 Congress formalized standard time after entering WW1
56:15 Daylight savings time was eliminated, but returns in WW2
56:45 Congress passes the Uniform Time Act in 1966
57:30 States can opt out of the Uniform Time Act
59:00 World clocks are now synchronized via atomic clocks
1:00:00 Ask Chuck
1:00:15 Are the Democrats walking into a trap by elevating Graham Platner?
1:07:15 The Perfect Neighbor told a gripping story via bodycam footage
1:10:00 How do you feel about Trump claiming credit for you becoming independent?
1:15:00 NCAA bracket advice
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd delivers a sweeping analysis of how the Iran war is metastasizing into an economic, military, and constitutional crisis all at once — warning that the Strait of Hormuz, the most important waterway in the world through which roughly a fifth of global oil supply flows, is Iran's ultimate point of leverage and one Trump catastrophically failed to account for. He argues that Trump mistakenly assumed the Iranian regime would be as transactional as he is and would capitulate the way Venezuela did, but Iran has no intention of walking away from its ability to make the strait dangerous to navigate — which is all it takes to send energy markets into chaos, threaten the tourism and banking economies of Gulf states, and risk the economic collapse of nuclear-armed Pakistan through energy shortages. He calls Pete Hegseth a "Baghdad Bob"-style propagandist presiding over the administration's grotesque "memeification" of war, then turns to what he calls FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's declaration of war on press freedom — Carr threatened Saturday to revoke broadcast licenses over Iran war coverage the administration deems unfavorable, drawing immediate condemnation from Democrats, free speech groups, and even some Republicans who called it "authoritarian" and "unconstitutional." Chuck warns that while courts will likely block Carr's most extreme threats, the mere act of launching investigations creates a chilling effect not dissimilar to how broadcasting works in Russia. He closes by acknowledging that the Iranian regime needs to go, but that Trump's disastrous decision to lift oil sanctions on Russia has only strengthened Moscow's position, and that the war has dramatically increased the likelihood of terrorist attacks against Americans
Then, Faiz Shakir — Bernie Sanders' 2020 campaign manager, former DNC chair candidate, and executive director of the progressive media organization More Perfect Union — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a bracingly honest conversation about what's wrong with the Democratic Party and what it would take to fix it. Shakir diagnoses a party that is functionally leaderless, with its top figures stuck in a "play dead" mentality while the Democratic brand polls worse than the Republican brand even as Trump's corruption grows more brazen by the day. He argues that Trump — like Biden before him — is finger-wagging at voters on the economy rather than addressing affordability, and that Democrats are blowing the opportunity to capitalize because they're terrible at picking fights and allergic to friction. Shakir is particularly scathing on the party's relationship with big tech and corporate power: He holds up Bernie Sanders' AI data center moratorium as the kind of fight Democrats should be waging, and Lina Khan's FTC tenure as the model of mission-driven disruption.
The conversation then turns to the future of the party and how to build a lasting majority. Shakir argues that the right candidate could move 7% of the electorate from right to left, that if Sanders were younger he'd likely win in 2028, and that Sanders has more credibility than AOC because he represents a rural state — though he praises both AOC's national appeal and Ro Khanna's political intelligence. He insists Democrats need to fight a class-based economic justice campaign, stop punishing candidates who aren't perfectly aligned on social issues, and recognize that "independent" doesn't mean centrist — younger voters are disillusioned with both parties and hungry for a working-class-first agenda. Shakir offers a detailed vision for DNC reform: fund state parties based on merit and metrics, move Nevada to first on the primary calendar because Vegas politics would orient the party toward working-class concerns, add Michigan and North Carolina to the early window,and invest in sun belt opportunities He closes by noting that James Talarico channeled Bernie's message with a religious-based framing, and that Democratic voters always gravitate toward outsiders — the party just needs to let them run.
Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the creation of standardized time, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and gives his advice for building your NCAA tournament bracket.
Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
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!
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
05:30 The Iran War will impact nearly everything
06:15 Military, war has been a route but it’s become asymmetrical
07:00 The Strait of Hormuz is the most important waterway in the world
08:00 Trump mistakenly assumed Iranian regime would be transactional like him
09:15 Shutting the strait is Iran’s biggest point of deterrence
10:15 Shutting the strait can massively damage the world economy
11:00 Trump miscalculated Iran would capitulate like Venezuela
13:15 The strait is Iran’s leverage, they aren’t going to walk away from it
14:00 Trump talks a big game, but Iran can extract a huge price on the west
15:30 Pete Hegseth has become a “Baghdad Bob” style propagandist
16:45 Asymmetrical warfare is how America won the Revolutionary War
18:00 All Iran has to do is make the Strait of Hormuz dangerous to navigate
18:45 Reagan had to intervene in the Gulf in the 80s to secure shipping routes
19:30 Convoy protection missions rarely stay small
20:30 If keeping shipping lanes open is the goal, the timeline & operation expands
21:15 Gulf states has become tourism & banking hubs, that’s being threatened
22:30 War is both an economic and “image” blow to the gulf states
23:45 Energy shortages risk the economic collapse of nuclear armed Pakistan
24:45 Trump made a disastrous decision to lift oil sanctions on Russia
25:15 War in Iran is strengthening Russia’s position in the Ukraine war
26:00 Energy prices affect the entire economy. Will raise inflation in America
26:45 This war is a major economic gamble
27:45 FCC Chair declares war on freedom of the press
28:30 Carr threatens to pull broadcast licenses over unfavorable war coverage
29:30 Carr’s threats aren’t dissimilar to how broadcasting works in Russia
31:15 FCC just launching investigations can put pressure on networks
32:30 ABC settling with Trump was a massive mistake
33:45 Project 2025 proposed “broadcast regulation” similar to this
35:00 Administration’s “memeification” of war is gross & embarrassing
36:15 War has increased likelihood of terrorist attacks against American
36:45 American Jews & Muslims have had to spend millions on security
37:30 Administration hiding terrorism reports should scare us*
39:00 The courts will stop Brendan Carr from violating press freedom
40:00 Administration owes the people an explanation
40:45 The Iranian regime needs to go, but war has serious costs
47:30 Faiz Shakir joins the Chuck ToddCast
49:15 Democratic party seems leaderless
49:45 Would you run again for DNC chair?
51:15 Leaders of the party have a bit of a “play dead” mentality
52:00 Democratic brand is still in worse shape than Republican brand
53:15 Trump having billionaires at inauguration was foreshadowing
53:45 Trump’s corruption is incredibly brazen
54:45 It’s obvious Trump doesn’t care about affordability
55:45 Trump, like Biden, is finger wagging at voters on the economy
57:00 Vance sold himself as an anti-interventionalist populist
57:45 Vance has had to completely go against his political identity
58:30 Trump’s corruption has totally undermined Vance
1:00:00 Trump’s argument of "imminent threat” from Iran is nonsense
1:01:30 Chuck Schumer told his caucus to “suck it up” on crypto
1:03:00 The public is far ahead of politicians in being skeptical of AI
1:03:45 Very little is being offered by AI that would improve lives of working class
1:04:30 Every candidate in Illinois senate race basically has a big tech sponsor
1:05:45 Democratic party is terrible at picking fights and don’t like friction
1:06:30 Bernie Sanders AI data center moratorium reflects the public sentiment
1:07:15 Democrats are so heady on policy they let their politics suffer
1:08:30 There’s a movement of independent candidates, but winning matters
1:09:15 Independents are offering a different, working class first agenda
1:10:30 Democrats punish candidates who aren’t perfectly aligned on social issues
1:12:00 Bernie Sanders is stronger candidate in a general election than a primary
1:13:00 The right candidate could move 7% of the electorate from right to left
1:14:45 If Sanders were younger and could run in 2028, he’d likely win
1:15:45 Sanders has more credibility than AOC because he’s from rural state
1:16:30 Democrats need to fight a class based, economic justice campaign
1:18:45 How would you make changes at the DNC?
1:20:00 How should Democrats approach secondary races in MT & NE?
1:21:30 Younger voters are disillusioned with both parties, are independent minded
1:22:15 Independent does not mean centrist
1:23:15 State by state redistricting will eventually need national overhaul
1:25:00 Democrats “adult in the room” status has helped them in some places
1:26:15 Democrats have been viewed as the status quo party
1:27:00 Who is the heir apparent to Bernie?
1:27:30 Bernie respects the national appeal of AOC
1:29:15 Ro Khanna is incredibly smart and calculating
1:30:00 Politics has become an entertainment industry as much as policy
1:31:45 Voters want a disrupter with goals that are attainable
1:32:30 Lina Khan had a sense of imagination at the FTC
1:33:45 Mission driven disruption is associated with the progressive wing
1:34:45 Gavin Newsom has become the anti-Trump Democratic candidate
1:35:30 Newsom fighting the wealth tax is probably hurting himself with base
1:36:30 Rahm Emmanuel will struggle to overcome his political baggage
1:37:15 Democrats have surrendered on education as a national issue
1:38:00 Democrats should be offering year round schooling with new curriculum
1:38:45 Democrats should propose public service jobs with good pay & benefits
1:40:30 Nevada is the ideal first state for Democratic primary calendar
1:41:30 Vegas politics would orient Democrats to working class concerns
1:42:00 Michigan & NC should be in the first four for Democrats
1:43:15 Iowa & NH were battlegrounds because of first in nation status
1:46:00 DNC needs to give state parties money based on merit & metrics
1:47:15 Democrats have to find somewhere in sun belt to invest in
1:48:45 Mississippi could be best value in the south for Dems
1:49:30 Mississippi has a strong labor base to be courted
1:50:45 More debate between Talarico & Crockett would have been good for party
1:51:15 Talarico channeled Bernie’s message with a religious based framing
1:52:45 If Talarico or Platner win senate race, they’re serious 2028 candidates
1:54:00 Democratic voters always like an outsider in their presidential candidates
1:55:30 What is More Perfect Union and where can people find your work?
1:56:45 Illinois primary livestream with Decision Desk HQ & Chris Cillizza on Tuesday
1:58:00 ToddCast Time Machine - When time back standardized
1:58:45 Standard Time Act passed by Congress on March 19, 1918
1:59:30 Local time standards were a problem with development of railroads
2:00:15 Coordinating trains wasn’t just difficult, it was dangerous
2:00:45 Sanford Fleming proposed dividing globe into timezones
2:01:15 Railroads imposed standardized times before government did
2:02:45 Train crash near Tipton, Ohio showed issues with timekeeping
2:04:00 Railroad safety become dependant on pocketwatches
2:04:45 Daylight Saving Time is adopted during World War I
2:05:30 World War required standardized time to coordinate
2:06:00 Congress formalized standard time after entering World War I
2:07:00 Daylight savings time was eliminated, but returns in World War II
2:07:30 Congress passes the Uniform Time Act in 1966
2:08:15 States can opt out of the Uniform Time Act
2:09:45 World clocks are now synchronized via Atomic clock
2:10:45 Ask Chuck
2:11:00 Are the Democrats walking into a trap by elevating Graham Platner?
2:18:00 The The Perfect Neighbor told a gripping story via bodycam footage
2:20:45 How do you feel about Donald Trump claiming credit for you becoming independent?
2:25:45 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament bracket advice
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fiona Hill — who served on the National Security Council under three presidents and became a household name during Trump's first impeachment — joins the Chuck ToddCast for a deeply alarming assessment of the Iran war now entering its second week, with Operation Epic Fury having metastasized into a multi-front conflict spanning nine countries, oil prices surging past $100 a barrel, and hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded across the Middle East. Hill dismantles the geopolitical chessboard with surgical precision, explaining that while there is no formal alliance between Russia and Iran and that the relationship is deeply transactional, with Iran having provided Russia with Shahed drones and helped build a drone factory. She argues that China is letting the U.S. "rope-a-dope" itself, sitting back alongside Russia to watch America bleed resources and credibility in yet another Middle Eastern quagmire. She flags the glaring double standard in the administration's diplomacy: envoy Steve Witkoff refused to take the Iranians at their word during nuclear negotiations in Geneva but accepted Russian assurances at face value.
The conversation turns existential as Hill warns that Trump's adventurism — which never faced serious consequences through Venezuela or the June 2025 strikes that made Iran look like a paper tiger — has now collided with reality. Trump saw the opportunity to kill Khamenei and took it, hoping for either a popular uprising or a pliant successor, but none of those hopes have materialized. Hill calls it an Afghanistan-and-Iraq-level jam with even less global credibility.. They raise the chilling question of whether Xi Jinping might prioritize seizing Taiwan while America is overextended, observes that NORAD doesn't function without Canada and the Nordic countries that Trump has alienated, warns that the damage to America's reputation will last decades, and notes that individual U.S. states are already setting up their own diplomatic representation with foreign countries to fill the vacuum. They close with a striking contrast: unlike Russians, Americans can still vote their way out of tyranny — but the window in which that remains true may be narrowing, as we are likely entering a post-American empire period.
Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
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!

Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Fiona Hill joins the Chuck ToddCast
01:15 There is no formal alliance between Russia and Iran
02:00 Historically, Russia and Iran clashed over territory
03:45 Iran provided Russia with Shahed drones & helped build factory
04:30 Trump views his relationship with Russia & Putin in a vacuum
05:30 Iran’s relationship with China & Russia is very transactional
06:15 Iran sees itself as a civilization, not just a country
08:00 China is letting the U.S. “rope a dope” itself
09:15 China doesn’t do favors without a cost
10:00 Witkoff didn’t take Iranians at their word but did with Russia
10:30 China & Russia are sitting back and watching what happens in Iran
11:30 Special military operations often become quagmires
12:45 Trump hasn’t thought about the knock-on consequences in Iran
15:00 Administration thinks they can figure it out as they go
15:45 Trump’s adventurism never had serious consequences until now
17:30 9/11 shaped the frame for American thinking for 25 years
18:30 Do you buy that MBS pushed Trump into striking Iran?
19:30 The Chinese didn’t see unintended effects of war in Ukraine
20:30 Russia has 20x casualty rate in Ukraine that USSR had in Afghanistan
22:30 The Israelis are clear that they want regime change
22:45 Outside of eliminating the nuclear program… What's the rest of our aim?
24:15 Without regime change, Iranian and Venezuelan people will turn on Trump
25:15 There’s a large Iranian population is many countries
25:45 Trump is in a Afghanistan/Iraq level jam with no plan
26:30 Gutting of national security council effects on Trump’s planning
27:45 We’ve lost grip of our political system, congress has abdicated
29:00 High oil prices could be a boon to Russia, but shipping is an issue
31:15 Putin doesn’t want to end the war in Ukraine unless its on his terms
32:00 Ukraine has been an incredibly tough fighting force
32:45 The rich & powerful forget that the other 8 billion people have agency
34:15 Ukraine won’t have a peace imposed on it by outsiders
35:00 Trump assumes everyone else is as transactional as he is
36:00 Khamenei is a religious leader, his killing has religious implications
39:00 Asymmetrical war feels unwinnable
41:15 The damage to America’s reputation in the world will last decades
42:15 NORAD doesn’t work without Canada & Nordic countries
44:45 How can a future president try to fix the damage with allies?
45:45 Individual states are setting up representation with foreign countries
47:45 If you’re Xi, do you prioritize seizing Taiwan while Trump’s in office?
49:30 We’re likely in a post-American empire period
50:15 Is there any heir apparent to Putin?
52:30 Next leader of Russia will likely keep the same system in place
54:00 Unlike Russians, Americans can still vote their way out of tyranny
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with a grim inventory of an administration besieged on every front as the Iran war enters its twelfth day with no exit strategy in sight. He then pivots to the SAVE Act — the Republican voting bill that has 50 Senate votes but faces a filibuster John Thune admits he likely can't break. He walks through the details that go well beyond simple voter ID: the bill requires documentary proof of citizenship to register, treats women who change their name through marriage as first-time voters, and Trump is demanding additions including a near-total ban on mail-in voting — turning what polls show is an 80%-popular concept into a toxic package that could disenfranchise millions. He notes that John Cornyn flipped his filibuster position to chase Trump's Texas endorsement, warns that if Republicans nuke the filibuster and Democrats later win the Senate they won't restore it, and argues that Republicans are essentially writing legislation to make Trump's false fraud claims real — while Trump is already setting up the SAVE Act's inevitable failure as his preemptive excuse for midterm losses that have nothing to do with voting rules and everything to do with an unpopular war, a tanking economy, and a completely unserious leader running the Pentagon. Ultimately, he argues that partisan changes to voting rule destroy trust in democracy, whether it be the SAVE Act, or Democrats efforts to pass HR1.
Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and celebrates the start of March Madness.
Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
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!

Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
04:30 There’s no easy way for Trump to get out of Iran
05:30 It’s become clear US responsible for bombing Iranian school
06:15 FBI warns California law enforcement of threat of Iranian drone strikes
07:15 The fallout from the war is complicated & Trump can’t just turn it off
08:30 Drone attack that killed US soldiers far more serious than initially reported
09:15 Republicans in congress are demoralized & don’t know what to run on
10:45 Pentagon bars press for publishing “unflattering” photos of Pete Hegseth
12:00 We have a serious war and a completely unserious leader of the Pentagon
12:45 Republican senators knew Hegseth was unqualified & confirmed him anyway
14:15 It’s important to explain the details of the Republican SAVE Act
15:00 John Cornyn flipped position on the filibuster to try to earn Trump endorsement
15:30 Republicans likely don’t have the votes to kill the filibuster
16:15 Contrasting and comparing Democrats HR1 vs Republicans SAVE Act
18:15 SAVE Act requires proof of citizenship to vote
19:00 Trump wants a total ban on mail in voting and all voting on one day
20:00 If GOP kills filibuster & Dems win senate, Dems won’t restore it
20:45 If passed in a partisan vote, SAVE Act would delegitimize democracy
21:45 If rules change based on who’s in power, the public will lose faith in process
23:30 We’re seeing a collision of two partisan visions over who gets to vote
24:30 SAVE Act makes voter registration a “show your papers” event
25:30 There’s a massive gap between bill passed in house & what Trump wants
26:00 Trump is demanding a bill loaded with culture war items
27:30 If Republicans jam through the SAVE Act, it could juice Democratic turnout
29:00 Voter ID isn’t controversial with the public
29:45 There’s 80% support for proof of citizenship when registering to vote
30:15 Republicans believe it should be harder to vote, Dems think it should be easier
31:30 Trump is taking popular ideas and packaging them in a bill that is toxic
32:30 Stability in a democracy doesn’t come from a 51% majority
33:45 34k people in Arizona were barred from state elections, but had federal carve out
35:00 Almost no voter fraud has actually been found
36:00 If you change name or get married, SAVE Act treats you as first time voter
37:30 America already makes life harder on women, SAVE Act makes it worse
38:15 The SAVE Act goes WELL beyond voter ID
39:00 Republicans are writing a bill to make Trump’s bullshit real
39:45 Trump will blame failure to pass SAVE Act for election losses in midterms
41:00 SAVE Act would disenfranchise or add barriers for millions of voters
42:00 Individual citizens have no constitutional right to vote
42:45 State constitutions provide voting guarantees, SAVE Act contradicts that
44:15 Changes to voting rules need bipartisan public consensus
50:00 Ask Chuck
50:15 How is the psyche of the American people able to handle constant crisis?
55:30 Are the war and Epstein files just distracting from importance of midterms?
59:00 Have larger sums of money started to become irrelevant in elections?
1:03:00 At what point does fundraising advantage stop matter?
1:07:15 Chances of false flag blamed on Iran to provide pretext to mess with elections?
1:13:00 Thanks for giving me hope while feeling like we’re living through fall of Rome
1:16:30 How can a future president reverse course on tariffs?
1:19:00 Thoughts on March Madness
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