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The Chuck ToddCast is back! If you're looking for smart, no-nonsense political conversation, you've come to the right place. The Chuck ToddCast goes beyond the headlines, featuring conversations with top reporters, insiders, and newsmakers from D.C. to the heartland. No scripts, no spin—just real discussions about what’s shaping our politics and why it matters.

The Chuck ToddCast

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck examines the deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis and the political, moral, and institutional failures surrounding it. As the administration rushes to rationalize the killing rather than investigate it—despite video evidence and eyewitness accounts that contradict its narrative—Chuck unpacks how DHS rhetoric, recruitment tactics, and targeted ICE deployments appear designed to provoke confrontation and fuel fear. The conversation moves beyond partisan lines to ask what accountability should look like when federal power is used this way, why affected communities are unlikely to trust the investigation, and how the tragedy is being exploited as propaganda. Ultimately, Chuck argues this moment reveals both the fragility and resilience of American democracy, the political danger facing Republicans, and why “whataboutism” has become one of the most corrosive forces in our national discourse.
 
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!
 
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
 
Timeline:
 
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
 
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction on ICE shooting in Minneapolis
 
01:00 Nobody in administration wants to investigate ICE shooting
 
02:15 J.D. Vance just idly speculated that ICE was in the right
 
04:15 DHS recruiting has a militaristic undertone
 
06:00 DHS has used propaganda to fuel rage in ICE recruits
 
07:15 Administration is rationalizing the death rather than lamenting it
 
08:30 There’s an intentionality to which cities are targeted by ICE
 
09:45 Administration is trying to create confrontation in order to crack down
 
10:30 This isn’t about left vs. right, it’s about right vs. wrong
 
11:30 Video contradicts Kristi Noem’s version of events, Tom Homan backtracks
 
12:15 Police forces don’t normally jump to conclusions
 
14:15 Campaign to demonize Somalis in Minneapolis led to ICE deployment
 
15:30 Deployments are meant to maximize, not minimize exposure for raids
 
16:30 Feds taking control of investigation, community won’t believe outcome
 
18:00 Administration is using woman’s death as a piece of propaganda
 
19:00 Trump is acting like his time is running out & he can do what he wants
 
20:15 No eyewitness accounts match story admin is telling
 
22:15 Republicans are in huge trouble politically
 
23:15 American democracy is both fragile and strong
 
25:00 Admin doesn’t have credibility to provide trustworthy investigation
 
27:30 ICE needs new leadership and a better code of conduct
 
29:15 Government is looking to exploit the difficulty in trying to find truth
 
30:30 Public is supportive of some of Trump’s goals, but appalled by tactics
 
32:30 Trump doesn’t tolerate any disagreement from within the GOP
 
35:00 The worst virus in American politics is “Whataboutism”

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Special Episode - ICE, Intimidation & Trump’s Politics of Fear EXPLODE In Minneapolis

Chuck Todd is on vacation but the fresh content keeps coming! Chuck empties the 2025 mailbag and answers a variety of listeners’ questions regarding media, politics, history and sports.
 
 
 
If you’d like to ask Chuck a question, shoot us an email at AskChuck@thechucktoddcast.com
 
 
 
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!
 
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
 
 
 
Timeline:
 
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
 
01:45 As a network on public airwaves, shouldn’t CBS News be neutral?
 
09:00 How should public figures react to being the targets of satire?
 
15:00 Why is there a mass exodus of staff from the Heritage Foundation?
 
18:30 Thoughts on the infusion of prediction markets with political coverage?
 
23:15 How long does it take for a presidential term to become irrelevant?
 
30:30 What if Biden stuck with 1 term promise and reformed the presidency?
 
35:15 What if Russia never sold Alaska to the United States?
 
38:00 Was the country really united in grief over Garfield’s passing?
 
42:30 Thoughts on LeBron episode? Magic Johnson should be in GOAT debate
 
45:15 What one word would you use to describe the year ahead?
 
49:15 Why don’t we see monopoly concerns over the trading card market?
 
53:30 Any book recommendations to help understand Roy Cohn?
 
57:00 Miami’s connection to the cold war portrayed in “Covert City”?
 
58:30 How does it feel to be an independent journalist after years with NBC?
 
59:30 Are more people “seeing the light” as MAGA’s coalition cracks?
 
1:00:45 What are your takeaways from interviewing Andy Beshear?
 
1:06:00 How did you become a Packers fan after growing up in Miami?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Special Mailbag Episode: CBS News, Political Satire, Heritage Foundation Shakeup & More

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
 
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!
 
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
 
Timeline:
 
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
 
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
 
01:30 The need for real fiscal reform to try to tackle the national debt?
 
06:15 Anyone in MAGA that could reunite the two wings of the GOP?
 
13:30 Would the ACA receive the same blowback if Romney was president?
 
18:00 Sources to track the Talarico vs. Crockett race in Texas?
 
22:30 Will Republicans make trans rights a central issue in 2026?
 
26:30 Will flawed AI content moderation become a bigger issue?
 
32:15 How could the Trump administration try to rig the 2026 election?
 
36:30 Thoughts on proposed constitutional amendments?
 
44:00 Is it a zero-sum game between legacy & independent media?
 
52:30 Concerns with the Packers?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Special Mailbag Episode: Reuniting The GOP, Legacy vs. Independent Media, AI Content Moderation & More

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, and loyalty—rather than policy—along with why the country proved vulnerable to a political huckster in the first place. Martin breaks down why a Supreme Court vacancy could reshape the cycle, why GOP turnout may sag without Trump on the ballot, and which Senate races—from Nebraska to Florida to Ohio—could unexpectedly come into play.
 
The episode also looks ahead to the fault lines inside both parties: potential Trump family bids, early jockeying for the post-Trump GOP, and Democratic candidates who may help—or hurt—their own chances. Martin weighs in on foreign policy flashpoints that could define the next two years, from Iran to Venezuela to Trump’s transactional approach with China, as well as internal administration instability and cabinet shakeups. Plus, sharp takes on approval ratings, California’s unsettled political bench, why political dynasties still matter, and—because it wouldn’t be a Chuck Todd conversation without it—a few college football predictions to close things out.
 
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 Jonathan Martin joins the Chuck ToddCast
 
02:15 Of his 16 predictions for 2026, which ones stood out the most?
 
03:00 Trump’s second term is a victory lap, more about validation
 
04:00 Trump is obsessed with building monuments to himself
 
05:30 Trump doesn’t take the job seriously
 
07:30 Trump will likely slap his name on the memorial bridge
 
08:00 Trump is most like Teddy Roosevelt
 
09:15 Trump is more a pop culture archetype than a political one
 
10:00 The country turned out to be vulnerable to a huckster
 
10:30 Prediction of a Supreme Court seat coming open in 2026
 
11:30 Alito more likely to retire than Thomas
 
12:45 By October, it will be clear that senate is in play
 
14:00 Nebraska Dems cleared field for Dan Osborne
 
15:00 Trump not being on ballot could really suppress GOP turnout
 
16:30 Rumors that Don Jr. could run in Wyoming?
 
18:30 Folks in Jackson Hole with money always exploring political runs
 
19:15 Potential SCOTUS nominees if there’s a retirement?
 
20:45 The senate appointees from FL & OH get no traction
 
22:00 Paxton vs. Crockett would be a fascinating race in TX
 
22:45 Dems have a much better shot of winning in OH than TX
 
25:00 Biden could have cut deals with McConnell if government was split
 
26:15 Predictions on next country Trump hits with air strikes?
 
26:45 Regime in Iran could collapse in 2026
 
28:30 Netanyahu could be seen as most unstable force in middle east
 
29:30 Venezuela could become a huge political problem for Trump
 
31:30 In 1st term, leaks were about Trump, now they’re about cabinet
 
32:15 Kash Patel, Kristi Noem most likely to get booted from administration
 
34:30 GOP has political liabilities in Florida, senate race could be interesting
 
36:45 Could Jared Moskowitz be the wild card in the FL senate race?
 
37:30 Trump could be at 30% approval by Labor Day
 
38:15 Dem candidates that could hurt their chances by writing a book?
 
39:00 Without Covid, Buttigieg is likely the nominee in 2020
 
40:30 Newsom is easy to create a caricature of
 
41:30 Buttigieg is too smart to win in electoral politics
 
42:30 CA governor’s race field still doesn’t feel set
 
45:15 Swalwell can raise money, has backing from Pelosi
 
47:15 "Former mayor of SF” is a title that will sink you nationally
 
48:45 Ro Khanna avoids being associated with California
 
49:30 Which Republicans most likely to challenge Vance?
 
50:45 A Trump will be a candidate, Donald obsessed with family name in politics
 
52:00 Trump won’t just hand off his coalition to Vance
 
53:15 Trump wants to create a political dynasty
 
55:30 Trump will get cozy with China, then claim he averted WW3
 
56:30 College football predictions

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interview Only w/ Jonathan Martin - Predictions For Trump & American Politics In 2026

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 examines how U.S. politics, foreign policy, and polarization might have evolved without the War on Terror—no Patriot Act, no Department of Homeland Security, no Iraq War—and whether the political forces that produced figures like Trump and Obama would have emerged at all. From global relationships with Russia and China to the delayed reckoning over economic inequality and partisan division, this episode traces the ripple effects of an event that reshaped everything, and asks what might have filled the vacuum if it had never occurred.
 
Then, 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, and loyalty—rather than policy—along with why the country proved vulnerable to a political huckster in the first place. Martin breaks down why a Supreme Court vacancy could reshape the cycle, why GOP turnout may sag without Trump on the ballot, and which Senate races—from Nebraska to Florida to Ohio—could unexpectedly come into play.
 
The episode also looks ahead to the fault lines inside both parties: potential Trump family bids, early jockeying for the post-Trump GOP, and Democratic candidates who may help—or hurt—their own chances. Martin weighs in on foreign policy flashpoints that could define the next two years, from Iran to Venezuela to Trump’s transactional approach with China, as well as internal administration instability and cabinet shakeups. Plus, sharp takes on approval ratings, California’s unsettled political bench, why political dynasties still matter, and—because it wouldn’t be a Chuck Todd conversation without it—a few college football predictions to close things out.
 
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
 
03:00 “What if” 9/11 never happened?
 
03:45 9/11 changed how Americans consumed information
 
04:30 9/11 was the first true “hit” on the homeland
 
05:30 9/11 create a new sense of vulnerability in America
 
06:45 The trauma from 9/11 changed the American psyche
 
08:45 Prior to 9/11, America was living in a post cold-war calm
 
09:30 In 2000, the west was trying to court Russia into joining them
 
10:15 Both parties will bullish on integrating China into the world
 
11:45 Bush would have been more western hemisphere focused
 
12:45 Without 9/11, Washington would have been more polarized
 
13:45 The Bush presidency essentially began on 9/11
 
15:30 9/11 triggered a “need” for immediate information
 
16:30 Social media is created to provide immediate info
 
17:15 There’s no Patriot Act, Iraq war, War on Terror without 9/11
 
18:30 There would be no Department of Homeland Security
 
19:45 Homeland Security eventually became an immigration agency
 
21:45 The isolationist strain of MAGA may not materialize
 
23:15 Some of the responses to 9/11 led to rise of MAGA politics
 
25:00 9/11 created a new sense of urgency for following the news
 
26:15 9/11 sped up the adoption of new information technologies
 
28:15 Do we not have Trump or Obama without hyper-engaged politics?
 
29:00 John Kerry probably isn’t the nominee in 2004 without 9/11
 
30:30 What replaces 9/11 if it never happened?
 
30:45 Financial crisis still happens anyways
 
31:45 9/11 delayed the “uniparty reckoning”
 
32:45 Occupy Wall Street would supplant Tea Party as driving force in 2010
 
34:00 Without Iraq War, there’s less distinction between Clinton & Obama
 
35:30 9/11 delayed polarization, economic issues by a few years
 
37:30 “If 9/11 never happened” final conclusions
 
40:30 “What Ifs” left on the cutting room floor
 
49:00 Jonathan Martin joins the Chuck ToddCast
 
51:15 Of his 16 predictions for 2026, which ones stood out the most?
 
52:00 Trump’s second term is a victory lap, more about validation
 
53:00 Trump is obsessed with building monuments to himself
 
54:30 Trump doesn’t take the job seriously
 
56:30 Trump will likely slap his name on the memorial bridge
 
57:00 Trump is most like Teddy Roosevelt
 
58:15 Trump is more a pop culture archetype than a political one
 
59:00 The country turned out to be vulnerable to a huckster
 
59:30 Prediction of a Supreme Court seat coming open in 2026
 
1:00:30 Alito more likely to retire than Thomas
 
1:01:45 By October, it will be clear that senate is in play
 
1:03:00 Nebraska Dems cleared field for Dan Osborne
 
1:04:00 Trump not being on ballot could really suppress GOP turnout
 
1:05:30 Rumors that Don Jr. could run in Wyoming?
 
1:07:30 Folks in Jackson Hole with money always exploring political runs
 
1:08:15 Potential SCOTUS nominees if there’s a retirement?
 
1:09:45 The senate appointees from FL & OH get no traction
 
1:11:00 Paxton vs. Crockett would be a fascinating race in TX
 
1:11:45 Dems have a much better shot of winning in OH than TX
 
1:14:00 Biden could have cut deals with McConnell if government was split
 
1:15:15 Predictions on next country Trump hits with air strikes?
 
1:15:45 Regime in Iran could collapse in 2026
 
1:17:30 Netanyahu could be seen as most unstable force in middle east
 
1:18:30 Venezuela could become a huge political problem for Trump
 
1:20:30 In 1st term, leaks were about Trump, now they’re about cabinet
 
1:21:15 Kash Patel, Kristi Noem most likely to get booted from administration
 
1:23:30 GOP has political liabilities in Florida, senate race could be interesting
 
1:25:45 Could Jared Moskowitz be the wild card in the FL senate race?
 
1:26:30 Trump could be at 30% approval by Labor Day
 
1:27:15 Dem candidates that could hurt their chances by writing a book?
 
1:28:00 Without Covid, Buttigieg is likely the nominee in 2020
 
1:29:30 Newsom is easy to create a caricature of
 
1:30:30 Buttigieg is too smart to win in electoral politics
 
1:31:30 CA governor’s race field still doesn’t feel set
 
1:34:15 Swalwell can raise money, has backing from Pelosi
 
1:36:15 "Former mayor of SF” is a title that will sink you nationally
 
1:37:45 Ro Khanna avoids being associated with California
 
1:38:30 Which Republicans are most likely to challenge Vance?
 
1:39:45 A Trump will be a candidate, Donald obsessed with family name in politics
 
1:41:00 Trump won’t just hand off his coalition to Vance
 
1:42:15 Trump wants to create a political dynasty
 
1:44:30 Trump will get cozy with China, then claim he averted WW3
 
1:45:30 College football predictions
 
1:59:00 Chuck’s college football playoff reaction

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Full Episode - What If 9/11 Never Happened? + Predictions For Trump & American Politics In 2026

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 examines how U.S. politics, foreign policy, and polarization might have evolved without the War on Terror—no Patriot Act, no Department of Homeland Security, no Iraq War—and whether the political forces that produced figures like Trump and Obama would have emerged at all. From global relationships with Russia and China to the delayed reckoning over economic inequality and partisan division, this episode traces the ripple effects of an event that reshaped everything, and asks what might have filled the vacuum if it had never occurred.
 
Finally, Chuck reacts to his Miami Hurricanes upsetting Ohio State in the college football playoff and makes his predictions for the upcoming games.
 
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
 
03:00 “What if” 9/11 never happened?
 
03:45 9/11 changed how Americans consumed information
 
04:30 9/11 was the first true “hit” on the homeland
 
05:30 9/11 create a new sense of vulnerability in America
 
06:45 The trauma from 9/11 changed the American psyche
 
08:45 Prior to 9/11, America was living in a post cold-war calm
 
09:30 In 2000, the west was trying to court Russia into joining them
 
10:15 Both parties will bullish on integrating China into the world
 
11:45 Bush would have been more western hemisphere focused
 
12:45 Without 9/11, Washington would have been more polarized
 
13:45 The Bush presidency essentially began on 9/11
 
15:30 9/11 triggered a “need” for immediate information
 
16:30 Social media is created to provide immediate info
 
17:15 There’s no Patriot Act, Iraq war, War on Terror without 9/11
 
18:30 There would be no Department of Homeland Security
 
19:45 Homeland Security eventually became an immigration agency
 
21:45 The isolationist strain of MAGA may not materialize
 
23:15 Some of the responses to 9/11 led to rise of MAGA politics
 
25:00 9/11 created a new sense of urgency for following the news
 
26:15 9/11 sped up the adoption of new information technologies
 
28:15 Do we not have Trump or Obama without hyper-engaged politics?
 
29:00 John Kerry probably isn’t the nominee in 2004 without 9/11
 
30:30 What replaces 9/11 if it never happened?
 
30:45 Financial crisis still happens anyways
 
31:45 9/11 delayed the “uniparty reckoning”
 
32:45 Occupy Wall Street would supplant Tea Party as driving force in 2010
 
34:00 Without Iraq War, there’s less distinction between Clinton & Obama
 
35:30 9/11 delayed polarization, economic issues by a few years
 
37:30 “If 9/11 never happened” final conclusions
 
40:30 “What Ifs” left on the cutting room floor
 
49:15 Chuck’s college football playoff reaction

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck’s Commentary - What If 9/11 Never Happened? + College Football Playoff Reaction

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 your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonus Episode - Reaction To Trump's Actions In Venezuela

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, even as nuclear power remains one of the safest jobs in the country. The conversation explores America’s aging nuclear infrastructure, the challenges of upgrading decades-old plants, and why rising grid demand from AI is pushing utilities to restart and refurbish reactors instead of building new ones. Chuck and Grace also dig into the promise and limits of small modular reactors, the unresolved problem of nuclear waste storage, and how pop culture—from Homer Simpson to Hollywood—has warped the way we think about nuclear energy, all while pointing listeners to where they can follow Grace’s work and research.
 
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
 
Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.
 
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.
 
Timeline:
 
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
 
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
 
00:45 Why the ToddCast decided to do the “New Voices” series
 
01:45 Grace Vanderhei is a former Miss America, now promoting nuclear energy
 
02:30 Nuclear energy is generally safe, but when it’s not safe it’s catastrophic
 
03:30 Environmentalists are split on nuclear power
 
04:45 Demand for power is way up, nuclear power will be needed to meet it
 
8:15 Grace Vanderhei joins the Chuck ToddCast
 
9:30 How Grace got into nuclear engineering
 
13:00 Advances in the tools engineers use
 
14:30 Fukushima disaster set back momentum in nuclear industry
 
15:45 Every nuclear facility stores emergency backup parts close by
 
17:15 Disasters are rare, but capture the public perception of nuclear
 
18:45 Nuclear tends to be more associated with weapons than energy
 
20:45 How big of a concern is America’s aging nuclear infrastructure?
 
23:15 Difficulties with updating decades old nuclear pants?
 
24:45 Grid demand from AI has led to restarting old nuclear plants
 
25:30 Refurbishing vs. building new nuclear plants
 
26:45 The nuclear plant decommissioning process
 
28:45 Three mile island wasn’t far into decommissioning before refurbishment
 
30:45 The development of small, modular nuclear reactors
 
32:15 Small modular reactors are on submarines, not used commercially yet
 
33:45 Safe, workable SMR’s are still a few years away
 
35:30 Other countries have surpassed US’s ability to build nuclear power
 
36:15 Which popular misconceptions are easiest to debunk?
 
37:30 There are only 6 safer jobs than working at a nuclear plant
 
38:45 Environmental community has always been divided over nuclear
 
40:15 Challenges of storing nuclear waste
 
41:15 There aren’t great current options for storing commercial nuclear waste
 
43:45 Is Homer Simpson good or bad for perception of nuclear energy?
 
45:15 Where you can find Grace’s work

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Voices - Is Nuclear Energy The Key To Powering The Age Of AI?

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 episode then dives into two alternate histories surrounding the 2020 election, examining the butterfly effects of outcomes that almost happened but didn’t.
 
First, Chuck asks what America might look like if Donald Trump had lost in 2020 and accepted the result—no “stop the steal,” no January 6th, and a very different Biden presidency likely constrained by a Republican Senate and a weaker Democratic coalition. Then he flips the premise and explores a more provocative scenario: what if Trump had actually won in 2020? With stronger institutional guardrails, a less sycophantic cabinet, and immediate lame-duck pressures, Chuck argues the country may have experienced less chaos at home and abroad, even as major global questions—from Afghanistan to Ukraine—would still loom. The episode ultimately shows how January 6th became a hinge point that reshaped both Biden’s presidency and Trump’s second term, leaving open the unsettling possibility that American politics—and even the 2024 race—could look entirely different today.
 
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
 
Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.
 
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.
 
Timeline:
 
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
 
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
 
02:45 Why Chuck launched the “What If” series
 
03:45 The 2000 election started the deep partisan divide in America
 
05:30 If Florida had a Dem sec of state the election result could be different
 
07:00 Gore’s decision to only recount certain counties was a mistake
 
08:15 “What If” examines butterfly effect of political events going differently
 
10:15 Alternative scenarios are a great way to teach history
 
11:30 Examining two alternate histories in this What If episode
 
14:30 What if Trump won in 2020, or accepted his loss in 2020?
 
16:15 November 2020, Trump was faced with three scenarios
 
17:00 PART ONE: What if Trump loses, but accepts the loss?
 
17:30 There’s no stop the steal, fake electors or January 6th
 
19:00 Trump wouldn’t have been deplatformed on social media
 
20:00 Trump would likely have faded away like Al Gore did in 2001
 
21:00 Trump’s grip over GOP tightened because he lost & didn’t accept it
 
22:30 What Biden presidency looks like if Trump accepted election result
 
23:15 Democrats may not win both Georgia runoffs & control congress
 
24:00 Biden’s entire presidency looks different without senate control
 
25:45 Biden would have been boxed into being a center-left president
 
27:45 Biden wouldn’t have gotten the “rally around the flag” effect from J6
 
30:15 Likely the midterms go worse for Dems without ghost of Trump
 
31:15 Biden likely still doesn’t win second term 
 
32:45 Biden would likely have faced serious primary challenges
 
34:00 Border might have been handled better with GOP Senate
 
36:30 The big question would be how much power Trump retained over GOP
 
37:30 PART TWO: What if Trump had WON in 2020 with the same result as ‘24?
 
40:00 The GOP would likely have retained senate, Dems get the house
 
40:30 Mike Pence is still the vice president, staffing at WH would be very different
 
42:00 The chief of staff would have still put some guardrails around the WH
 
44:30 There wouldn’t be a cabinet full of Trump sycophants 
 
45:30 There would be no weaponization of ICE after border surge
 
47:00 Vaccine rollout could have been more chaotic but w/ higher compliance
 
48:30 There would be early flood of GOP presidential candidates
 
51:00 Afghanistan withdrawal would fall at Trump’s feet
 
53:00 Trump’s lame duckness would have kicked in right away
 
54:30 Strong argument America would be better off if Trump won in 2020
 
55:45 There’s less tumult in the military, no Hegseth as SecDef
 
57:30 Trump may have had more ability to reign in Bibi Netanyahu
 
59:30 Would the Russia/Ukraine war have gone differently? Probably not
 
1:02:30 Putin may have taken Ukraine piecemeal, but no full scale invasion
 
1:04:00 Trump still hasn’t acknowledged that Russia is the invader
 
1:05:30 America may not have shared advance knowledge of invasion
 
1:09:00 Biden’s governance changed by J6, Trump’s 2nd term massively different
 
1:13:30 Pete Buttigieg might be president in 2024

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Special Episode - What If Trump Accepted His Loss In 2020? + What If Trump Won In 2020?

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 superstar chasing rings, and how the Lakers–LeBron partnership became a mutually saving force for two global institutions. The conversation traces LeBron’s path from Miami to Cleveland to Los Angeles, the myths around his ambition and loyalty, and how “The Decision” reshaped the power dynamics between players and franchises.
 
The episode also looks ahead to LeBron’s next chapter: his eventual role as an owner, the possibility of a farewell tour, how Bronny factors into his decisions, and what a post-LeBron Lakers era might look like. Weitzman and Todd explore LeBron’s business instincts, cultural influence, complicated relationship with fans and social media, and why—despite universal respect—he’s never been universally beloved. In the end, they ask the defining question of any icon: how history will remember LeBron James, and who gets to tell that story.
 
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Timeline:
 
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
 
00:00 Yaron Weitzman joins the Chuck ToddCast
 
02:30 How Yaron got started as an author
 
04:15 Sports journalists now have to trade accountability for access
 
05:15 Sports journalists don’t have a Freedom of Information Act
 
06:30 Yaron wasn’t dependent on the Lakers for a credential
 
08:30 Original LeBron pitch was for the Big 3 Heat, not the Lakers
 
11:30 LeBron is a cultural icon, not just a basketball icon
 
12:45 LeBron and the Lakers are both institutions
 
13:45 LeBron’s brand is even bigger than the Lakers brand
 
14:30 LeBron’s post basketball life was always going to be in SoCal
 
15:45 LeBron will be involved in an ownership group eventually
 
17:45 The Lakers/LeBron pairing was a win-win
 
19:00 Jerry Buss was not as rich as he portrayed himself to be
 
20:30 How accurate the Lakers TV shows portray real life
 
21:30 LeBron was a lifeline for a struggling Lakers franchise
 
23:00 Lakers are the team LeBron has spent most consecutive years
 
24:30 LeBron wasn’t a ring chaser despite his reputations
 
25:00 LeBron turned down the Warriors
 
26:15 LeBron offended Pat Riley during his time in Miami
 
27:30 LeBron’s return to Cleveland
 
29:30 Which franchises will be putting up LeBron statues?
 
30:15 Lakers fans were slow to warm to LeBron due to Kobe rivalry
 
31:15 Not all Kobe fans are Lakers fans
 
32:30 LeBron lived up to his sky high expectations and with no scandals
 
33:45 “The Decision” was the event that made LeBron polarizing
 
34:45 After The Decision fans started siding with players over franchises
 
35:45 LeBron showed that greatness and longevity require hard work
 
37:00 LeBron is universally respected but not universally beloved
 
38:00 Is this LeBron’s last year?
 
39:00 Farewell tour only makes sense with Lakers or Cavs
 
40:30 LeBron could remain a bench player for several more years
 
41:00 How Bronny will factor into his decision
 
43:00 Bronny is beloved by other players and the organization
 
44:45 LeBron’s relationship with Luka Doncic
 
46:30 Lakers began preparing for the post-LeBron era before Luka trade
 
48:30 Does Magic Johnson still have a relationship with the Lakers?
 
51:30 LeBron has mostly stayed away from politics
 
53:45 LeBron lets social media get under his skin from time to time
 
56:30 LeBron is reactive politically, not proactive
 
58:15 LeBron made smart business decisions starting at 20 years old
 
58:45 LeBron’s legacy
 
1:01:45 Lakers threatened to sue over the book
 
1:04:45 LeBron likely won’t ever run for office
 
1:06:15 LeBron will be doing his own documentary version of The Last Dance

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Bonus Episode - Reaction To Trump's Actions In Venezuela

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