Author and writer for The New Yorker, Jason Zengerle joins the Chuck ToddCast for a deep dive into his book “Hated By All The Right People” about Tucker Carlson’s rise—and why he’s become the clearest avatar for the unraveling of modern American conservatism. The conversation traces how Carlson’s personal history, elite upbringing paired with outsider grievance, and long-running resentments toward figures like Bill Kristol helped shape a worldview centered on anger, masculinity, and cultural backlash. Though he styles himself as anti-establishment, Tucker remains very much a Washington insider, increasingly influential even after leaving Fox News and emerging as the true heir to Rush Limbaugh, with real political impact on figures like J.D. Vance.

Chuck and Zengerle also explore how Trump subsumed conservatism, why Tucker may be the figure best positioned to keep Trumpism alive after Trump, and how white male grievance now sits at the core of conservative cultural politics. From the Iraq War’s role in Carlson’s ideological shift to his calculated positioning on Israel, media, and elite power, the episode asks what “real America” conservatism even means anymore—and whether there’s any path back for Never Trumpers, institutional Republicans, or business leaders who’ve bent the knee to a movement that no longer resembles the party they once knew.

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!

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!

Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.

Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Jason Zengerle joins the Chuck ToddCast

01:30 Why Tucker Carlson is the avatar for unraveling of conservatism

03:00 Tucker was abandoned by his mother, how did that affect his journey?

03:45 That abandonment shaped his worldview about women

05:00 Tucker’s anger at Bill Kristol is a big part of his evolution

07:00 Kristol has become the stand in for media elites in Tucker’s mind

08:00 Tucker tried to be a younger, cooler version of George Will 

09:00 Carlson is very much a DC insider, but portrays himself as outsider

10:30 Tucker wasn’t a rich kid, but was raised like one

12:30 Tucker & Trump similarly hung with the elite, but felt like outsiders

13:15 Tucker trashed Trump in texts while praising him on the air

14:00 Tucker was more willing to criticize Trump than other Fox hosts

15:30 Tucker wasn’t viewed as a top-tier personality at Fox for years

16:15 Fox News is bigger than the on-air personalities

17:15 Leaving Fox didn’t diminish Tucker’s standing, more influential now

19:00 Tucker is the true heir to Rush Limbaugh

19:45 Tucker was influential in getting J.D. Vance elected in Ohio

20:45 Vance & Tucker are very ideologically aligned

22:00 White male grievance is central to conservative cultural politics

23:45 Tucker believes what he says & has a larger project for America

24:45 Tucker is more Pat Buchanon than Rush Limbaugh

25:30 Iraq war was very influential in changing Tucker’s ideology

26:45 Tucker needled Jewish Neocon Republicans by criticizing Israel

28:30 Tuckers sees party energy is anti-Israel & getting ahead of it

30:15 What is the definition of conservatism in “real America”?

31:15 Conservatism has been subsumed by Trump

32:30 Will conservatism snap back to its prior form after Trump is gone?

35:00 Tucker seems like the figure that could keep Trump’s politics alive

36:45 Tucker says he’s not mad at the Murdochs but he is

38:00 Tucker didn’t agree to be interviewed for the book, why?

40:45 Tucker likes to bash the media, but he’s one of their favorite sources

42:00 Tucker left D.C. after protestors showed up to his house

43:15 Who are the “camps” that will fight for control after Trump?

44:15 Ted Cruz & Rand Paul are the only two non “blood & soil” prominent R’s

45:30 Trump is the least “MAGA” person in the MAGA movement

47:15 Where do the Nikki Haley, John Kasich type voters go?

48:15 Business leaders have bent the knee to Trump

49:15 Who in conservative media world was most willing to talk?

50:30 Tucker doesn’t spend much time talking to people his disagrees with

52:00 Tucker wants to go back to a male & white dominated society

53:15 The Never Trumpers won’t be taking back the party

54:30 What Jason is working on at The New Yorker

57:30 Marco Rubio’s evolution has been fascinating

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck digs into the political fallout surrounding Kristi Noem, Stephen Miller, and a Trump White House that remains intensely reactive to public opinion. While Noem keeps her job—for now—new polling paints a bleak picture for both her and the administration, with Trump’s economic numbers underwater, disapproval near all-time highs, and even his own base increasingly uneasy with ICE’s aggressive tactics. Chuck unpacks why Noem’s performative politics may make her expendable, why Miller is untouchable as Trump’s “bizarro Dick Cheney,” and how Trump’s inner circle is once again showing signs of instability as voters question whether the president is focused on the issues that actually matter.

The conversation then zooms out to a broader diagnosis of America’s democratic dysfunction, drawing on Chuck’s recent campus speech about why this moment feels uniquely unstable. From razor-thin modern elections and the collapse of congressional responsibility to unsettling parallels with 19th-century politics, Chuck argues that the presidency has become overly powerful because Congress has failed to govern. Fixing what’s broken, he warns, won’t come from political elites—it will require engaged citizens, serious institutional reform, and possibly constitutional amendments to rebuild a government voters have been loudly signaling they no longer trust.

Then, author and writer for The New Yorker, Jason Zengerle joins the Chuck ToddCast for a deep dive into his book “Hated By All The Right People” about Tucker Carlson’s rise—and why he’s become the clearest avatar for the unraveling of modern American conservatism. The conversation traces how Carlson’s personal history, elite upbringing paired with outsider grievance, and long-running resentments toward figures like Bill Kristol helped shape a worldview centered on anger, masculinity, and cultural backlash. Though he styles himself as anti-establishment, Tucker remains very much a Washington insider, increasingly influential even after leaving Fox News and emerging as the true heir to Rush Limbaugh, with real political impact on figures like J.D. Vance.

Chuck and Zengerle also explore how Trump subsumed conservatism, why Tucker may be the figure best positioned to keep Trumpism alive after Trump, and how white male grievance now sits at the core of conservative cultural politics. From the Iraq War’s role in Carlson’s ideological shift to his calculated positioning on Israel, media, and elite power, the episode asks what “real America” conservatism even means anymore—and whether there’s any path back for Never Trumpers, institutional Republicans, or business leaders who’ve bent the knee to a movement that no longer resembles the party they once knew.

Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and expands on his Hall of Fame rant in light of Bill Belichick not getting in on the first ballot.

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!

Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.

Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction

07:00 Kristi Noem still has her job, but Trump is reactive to public opinion

08:15 Noem’s profile feels like someone Trump is willing to dump

09:15 Trump will never fire Stephen Miller

10:00 Miller understands how to work government like a bizarro Dick Cheney

11:30 Does Miller have a conservative vision, or is he just a reactionary?

13:00 Trump may use Kristi Noem as a heat shield

14:00 Noem’s theatrics have created terrible optics

16:15 New Fox News poll has terrible numbers for Trump

18:15 Numbers in the poll could spell doom for Kristi Noem

19:15 Only 61% of Republicans say country is better off today

20:00 Trump’s numbers on the economy are underwater

21:45 Trump’s disapproval near all-time highs

22:45 Voters don’t think Trump is spending enough time on the economy

24:30 Trump’s job rating higher than almost all the individual issues

25:45 59% think ICE has been too aggressive

28:00 Even parts of Trump’s base think ICE has been too aggressive

29:00 Support for abolishing ICE has doubled since 2018

30:00 Trump’s inner circle never stays around for long

31:00 If Fox runs the poll extensively on air, Noem is in trouble

32:45 Chuck’s campus speech on where we are now & how to get out of it

33:45 We may have grown up in a more stable outlier era of American history

35:30 The cold war kept both parties sober & more mainstream

36:45 Six of our 21st century presidential elections decided by 5pts or less

37:15 Politics today is more similar to the 19th century

38:00 We’re too occupied with the presidency due to congress failing

39:00 Congress is more occupied with keeping power than legislating

40:30 We aren’t getting out of this until congress becomes functional

41:00 We will need constitutional amendments to fix the democracy

42:30 The citizens will need to fix this, can’t depend on congress

43:15 Voters gave a primal scream that they wanted a better government

50:30 Jason Zengerle joins the Chuck ToddCast

52:00 Why Tucker Carlson is the avatar for unraveling of conservatism

53:30 Tucker was abandoned by his mother, how did that affect his journey?

54:15 That abandonment shaped his worldview about women

55:30 Tucker’s anger at Bill Kristol is a big part of his evolution

57:30 Kristol has become the stand in for media elites in Tucker’s mind

58:30 Tucker tried to be a younger, cooler version of George Will

59:30 Carlson is very much a DC insider, but portrays himself as outsider

1:01:00 Tucker wasn’t a rich kid, but was raised like one

1:03:00 Tucker & Trump similarly hung with the elite, but felt like outsiders

1:03:45 Tucker trashed Trump in texts while praising him on the air

1:04:30 Tucker was more willing to criticize Trump than other Fox hosts

1:06:00 Tucker wasn’t viewed as a top-tier personality at Fox for years

1:06:45 Fox News is bigger than the on-air personalities

1:07:45 Leaving Fox didn’t diminish Tucker’s standing, more influential now

1:09:30 Tucker is the true heir to Rush Limbaugh

1:10:15 Tucker was influential in getting J.D. Vance elected in Ohio

1:11:15 Vance & Tucker are very ideologically aligned

1:12:30 White male grievance is central to conservative cultural politics

1:14:15 Tucker believes what he says & has a larger project for America

1:15:15 Tucker is more Pat Buchanan than Rush Limbaugh

1:16:00 Iraq war was very influential in changing Tucker’s ideology

1:17:15 Tucker needled Jewish Neocon Republicans by criticizing Israel

1:19:00 Tuckers sees party energy is anti-Israel & getting ahead of it

1:20:45 What is the definition of conservatism in “real America”?

1:21:45 Conservatism has been subsumed by Trump

1:23:00 Will conservatism snap back to its prior form after Trump is gone?

1:25:30 Tucker seems like the figure that could keep Trump’s politics alive

1:27:15 Tucker says he’s not mad at the Murdochs but he is

1:28:30 Tucker didn’t agree to be interviewed for the book, why?

1:31:15 Tucker likes to bash the media, but he’s one of their favorite sources

1:32:30 Tucker left D.C. after protestors showed up to his house

1:33:45 Who are the “camps” that will fight for control after Trump?

1:34:45 Ted Cruz & Rand Paul are the only two non “blood & soil” prominent R’s

1:36:00 Trump is the least “MAGA” person in the MAGA movement

1:37:45 Where do the Nikki Haley, John Kasich type voters go?

1:38:45 Business leaders have bent the knee to Trump

1:39:45 Who in conservative media world was most willing to talk?

1:41:00 Tucker doesn’t spend much time talking to people he disagrees with

1:42:30 Tucker wants to go back to a male & white dominated society

1:43:45 The Never Trumpers won’t be taking back the party

1:45:00 What Jason is working on at The New Yorker

1:48:00 Marco Rubio’s evolution has been fascinating

1:53:00 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Jason Zengerle

1:53:30 Ask Chuck

1:53:45 Who in real life is Veep’s Mike McClintock based on?

1:56:30 Impact of Native American voters on elections?

1:59:45 What signs will the GOP show if they think they’ll lose the senate?

2:03:00 The viral blue/yellow dress feels like a metaphor for politics

2:05:15 Any connection between income inequality and growing isolationism?

2:11:00 Why is Nathan’s Famous allowed to be bought by a Chinese company?

2:13:30 Hall of Fame rant

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck digs into the political fallout surrounding Kristi Noem, Stephen Miller, and a Trump White House that remains intensely reactive to public opinion. While Noem keeps her job—for now—new polling paints a bleak picture for both her and the administration, with Trump’s economic numbers underwater, disapproval near all-time highs, and even his own base increasingly uneasy with ICE’s aggressive tactics. Chuck unpacks why Noem’s performative politics may make her expendable, why Miller is untouchable as Trump’s “bizarro Dick Cheney,” and how Trump’s inner circle is once again showing signs of instability as voters question whether the president is focused on the issues that actually matter.

The conversation then zooms out to a broader diagnosis of America’s democratic dysfunction, drawing on Chuck’s recent campus speech about why this moment feels uniquely unstable. From razor-thin modern elections and the collapse of congressional responsibility to unsettling parallels with 19th-century politics, Chuck argues that the presidency has become overly powerful because Congress has failed to govern. Fixing what’s broken, he warns, won’t come from political elites—it will require engaged citizens, serious institutional reform, and possibly constitutional amendments to rebuild a government voters have been loudly signaling they no longer trust.

Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and expands on his Hall of Fame rant in light of Bill Belichick not getting in on the first ballot.

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!

Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.

Timeline:

00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction

03:00 Kristi Noem still has her job, but Trump is reactive to public opinion

04:15 Noem’s profile feels like someone Trump is willing to dump

05:15 Trump will never fire Stephen Miller

06:00 Miller understands how to work government like a bizarro Dick Cheney

07:30 Does Miller have a conservative vision, or is he just a reactionary?

09:00 Trump may use Kristi Noem as a heat shield

10:00 Noem’s theatrics have created terrible optics

12:15 New Fox News poll has terrible numbers for Trump

14:15 Numbers in the poll could spell doom for Kristi Noem

15:15 Only 61% of Republicans say country is better off today

16:00 Trump’s numbers on the economy are underwater

17:45 Trump’s disapproval near all-time highs

18:45 Voters don’t think Trump is spending enough time on the economy

20:30 Trump’s job rating higher than almost all the individual issues

21:45 59% think ICE has been too aggressive

24:00 Even parts of Trump’s base think ICE has been too aggressive

25:00 Support for abolishing ICE has doubled since 2018

26:00 Trump’s inner circle never stays around for long

27:00 If Fox runs the poll extensively on air, Noem is in trouble

28:45 Chuck’s campus speech on where we are now & how to get out of it

29:45 We may have grown up in a more stable outlier era of American history

31:30 The cold war kept both parties sober & more mainstream

32:45 Six of our 21st century presidential elections decided by 5pts or less

33:15 Politics today is more similar to the 19th century

34:00 We’re too occupied with the presidency due to congress failing

35:00 Congress is more occupied with keeping power than legislating

36:30 We aren’t getting out of this until congress becomes functional

37:00 We will need constitutional amendments to fix the democracy

38:30 The citizens will need to fix this, can’t depend on congress

39:15 Voters gave a primal scream that they wanted a better government

46:30 Ask Chuck

46:45 Who in real life is Veep’s Mike McClintock based on?

49:30 Impact of Native American voters on elections?

52:45 What signs will the GOP show if they think they’ll lose the senate?

56:00 The viral blue/yellow dress feels like a metaphor for politics

58:15 Any connection between income inequality and growing isolationism?

1:04:00 Why is Nathan’s Famous allowed to be bought by a Chinese company?

1:06:30 Hall of Fame rant

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, historian Heather Ann Thompson discusses her new book “Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings and the Rebirth” that revisits the 1984 Bernie Goetz subway shooting and explains why it remains a chilling precursor to the racialized fear and political rage shaping America today. Thompson walks through who Goetz was, how he shot four unarmed Black teenagers, and how—without video evidence—the media constructed a vigilante narrative that erased the victims and fueled public support for Goetz despite his own recorded confession. She situates the case in a New York City gripped by crime, austerity, and racial anxiety, arguing that fear was real but deliberately misdirected by sensationalist media, tabloid culture, and political leaders who framed young Black men as the threat while stripping away public resources.

The conversation traces how Reagan-era policies, talk radio, and the tabloidification of news helped turn crime into profitable outrage, laying the groundwork for stop-and-frisk, the Central Park Five, and ultimately the politics Donald Trump would later master. Thompson connects the Goetz case to today’s wealth inequality, media groupthink, and deep political divides over racialized violence, showing how these stories are not aberrations but part of a long continuum. The episode is a sobering examination of how fear, race, and media narratives can warp justice—and how understanding that history is essential to understanding where America is now.

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!

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 Heather Ann Thompson joins the Chuck ToddCast

01:30 Bernie Goetz was an early analog for the white rage we see today

02:30 Who was Bernie Goetz & what is the history of the story?

03:00 NYC felt like a city in crisis during the 80’s

04:00 Goetz shoots four unarmed black teenagers

05:00 There was no footage of the shooting & media shaped the event

06:00 Goetz was celebrated by white New Yorkers as a vigilante

06:45 Goetz gave lengthy video confession & still acquitted on most chargers

08:00 The victims have been completely written out of the story

09:00 Victims were denied compensation by the city’s crime victim fund

10:00 The shooting destroyed the victim’s lives even though they survived

11:45 New York felt like a city on the brink in the 1980’s

12:30 New Yorkers were living in fear of many parts of the city due to crime

13:45 Media clearly made the “threat” young black men

14:30 By 1984, trash was piling up and areas of NYC were underpoliced

15:30 The fear was warranted, but was misdirected by Rupert Murdoch, others

17:30 The Reagan administration doubled down on austerity

18:45 Eventually NYC experienced a renaissance, the “Guiliani miracle”

19:45 Austerity was sold on the idea of the “underserving” & criminal underbelly

20:45 Stop & frisk and other policies pushed underclass further away from Manhattan

21:30 Trump was a beneficiary of these politics & rode them to the White House

22:15 Trump is a creature of the 80’s since that era was best for him

23:30 Trump understood the power of television, fear & race baiting

24:15 Trump sells what the Reagan revolution sold, targeted working class whites

25:00 Impact of the Goetz story on the Central Park 5 story

26:30 The tabloidification of the national media was born out of 80’s NYC

27:30 Talk radio was central in turning crime into high rating media content

28:15 Subway shootings were rare, but everyone feared them

29:30 Reagan’s policies stripped away resources that led to working class crises

30:15 Reagan gutted multiple public programs

31:15 Under Reagan, the tax burden was shifted away from the wealthy

32:00 Similarities between the early 1900’s and early 2000’s 

33:15 America is in a wealth inequality crisis & target of misinformation campaign

34:30 Media groupthink was a contributing factor to Bernie Goetz’s acquittal

35:15 Goetz case peeled back the veneer hiding overt racism

36:15 Media sands the edges of stories to avoid controversy over coverage

37:00 Sensationalist, conservative media has become very successful

38:30 Alternative press covered the Goetz story much differently

39:15 Bronx jury awarded one of the victims $43 million

40:00 Goetz shooting was an unhinged story, but shows how we got here

42:00 There are political dividing lines over racialized shootings

43:15 Society meant to aspire to wealth, but live with suspicion & fear on streets

44:00 What’s the thread between the urban stories that you’ve told?

45:00 There was a massive cover up at Attica

45:45 If it wasn’t Goetz, it would have been another similar incident

47:00 How long after an event do you think is the sweet spot for telling story?

49:15 As a society, we don’t have patience for context

49:45 Checking personal bias when reporting a historical event

52:30 What Heather is working on next

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down the mounting political fallout from a string of fatal and controversial shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, including the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti—an incident that has sparked protests, outrage, and deep questions about federal law-enforcement use of force. Bystander video and independent analysis have sharply contradicted official claims that Pretti posed a threat, amplifying criticism from local officials and national figures alike while the Trump administration has scrambled to contain the damage by removing the Border Patrol commander and sending veteran immigration official Tom Homan to Minneapolis to calm tensions.

As Republicans in Congress publicly wrestle with how to respond—and some distance themselves from the administration’s actions—Chuck explores how Trump’s repeated emphasis on which voters supported him personally, rather than addressing the substance of the crisis, is complicating the situation politically. With Minneapolis emerging as a political disaster for Trump, the episode also looks at how Trump’s handling of Kristi Noem and broader GOP infighting could create openings for Democrats, especially as concern grows over civil liberties, federal overreach, and the credibility of government narratives in the face of widespread skepticism and media scrutiny. 

Then, historian Heather Ann Thompson discusses her new book “Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings and the Rebirth” that revisits the 1984 Bernie Goetz subway shooting and explains why it remains a chilling precursor to the racialized fear and political rage shaping America today. Thompson walks through who Goetz was, how he shot four unarmed Black teenagers, and how—without video evidence—the media constructed a vigilante narrative that erased the victims and fueled public support for Goetz despite his own recorded confession. She situates the case in a New York City gripped by crime, austerity, and racial anxiety, arguing that fear was real but deliberately misdirected by sensationalist media, tabloid culture, and political leaders who framed young Black men as the threat while stripping away public resources.

The conversation traces how Reagan-era policies, talk radio, and the tabloidification of news helped turn crime into profitable outrage, laying the groundwork for stop-and-frisk, the Central Park Five, and ultimately the politics Donald Trump would later master. Thompson connects the Goetz case to today’s wealth inequality, media groupthink, and deep political divides over racialized violence, showing how these stories are not aberrations but part of a long continuum. The episode is a sobering examination of how fear, race, and media narratives can warp justice—and how understanding that history is essential to understanding where America is now.

Finally, Chuck updates his ToddCast Top 5 governor’s seats most likely to flip in 2026, weighs in on the massive looming cuts to the staff at the Washington Post and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.

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!

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

01:00 Trump attends Iowa event with “affordability message”

01:45 Trump begins to try to walk back from chaos in Minneapolis

02:30 Greg Bovino removed from border patrol role in Minneapolis

03:15 Trump keeps highlighting that Renee Good’s parents voted for him

04:15 Trump sent Tom Homan to Minneapolis to try & calm things down

05:30 Republicans in congress speak out after killing of Alex Pretti

06:30 Trump signals support for Kristi Noem, but could change his mind

07:30 Resentment from Senate R’s over some cabinet secretaries

09:15 Political infighting could become contagious but Trump will back Miller

11:00 Trump is playing political cleanup, but not firing Noem is a mistake

13:00 Not firing Noem would be a political gift for Democrats

14:00 Trump’s trade policy is creating trade deals for other countries, not us

14:45 Minneapolis creates permission slip for Republicans to distance themselves 

15:15 Trump’s stop in Iowa was supposed to be a pivot

16:15 Consumer confidence shows the public behaving like it’s a recession

17:00 Consumer confidence lowest since 2014, worse than during pandemic

18:00 Public doubts the job market & job security

20:00 Trump claims inflation is over, that’s not what the public is feeling

21:15 Iowa ranks 50th in nation for economic growth, worst since the 80’s

22:00 Tariffs have devastated Iowa farmers

23:30 If Iowa goes blue, Democrats will win the house and senate

24:15 Trump’s policies have hurt Iowa more than other states

25:00 Trump’s economic message isn’t resonating

26:00 Trump really messed up his gun politics 

27:30 Trump will throw anybody under the bus to protect himself

37:00 Heather Ann Thompson joins the Chuck ToddCast

38:30 Bernie Goetz was an early analog for the white rage we see today

39:30 Who was Bernie Goetz & what is the history of the story?

40:00 NYC felt like a city in crisis during the 80’s

41:00 Goetz shoots four unarmed black teenagers

42:00 There was no footage of the shooting & media shaped the event

43:00 Goetz was celebrated by white New Yorkers as a vigilante

43:45 Goetz gave lengthy video confession & still acquitted on most chargers

45:00 The victims have been completely written out of the story

46:00 Victims were denied compensation by the city’s crime victim fund

47:00 The shooting destroyed the victim’s lives even though they survived

48:45 New York felt like a city on the brink in the 1980’s

49:30 New Yorkers were living in fear of many parts of the city due to crime

50:45 Media clearly made the “threat” young black men

51:30 By 1984, trash was piling up and areas of NYC were underpoliced

52:30 The fear was warranted, but was misdirected by Rupert Murdoch, others

54:30 The Reagan administration doubled down on austerity

55:45 Eventually NYC experienced a renaissance, the “Guiliani miracle”

56:45 Austerity was sold on the idea of the “underserving” & criminal underbelly

57:45 Stop & frisk and other policies pushed underclass further away from Manhattan

58:30 Trump was a beneficiary of these politics & rode them to the White House

59:15 Trump is a creature of the 80’s since that era was best for him

1:00:30 Trump understood the power of television, fear & race baiting

1:01:15 Trump sells what the Reagan revolution sold, targeted working class whites

1:02:00 Impact of the Goetz story on the Central Park 5 story

1:03:30 The tabloidification of the national media was born out of 80’s NYC

1:04:30 Talk radio was central in turning crime into high rating media content

1:05:15 Subway shootings were rare, but everyone feared them

1:06:30 Reagan’s policies stripped away resources that led to working class crises

1:07:15 Reagan gutted multiple public programs

1:08:15 Under Reagan, the tax burden was shifted away from the wealthy

1:09:00 Similarities between the early 1900’s and early 2000’s

1:10:15 America is in a wealth inequality crisis & target of misinformation campaign

1:11:30 Media groupthink was a contributing factor to Bernie Goetz’s acquittal

1:12:15 Goetz case peeled back the veneer hiding overt racism

1:13:15 Media sands the edges of stories to avoid controversy over coverage

1:14:00 Sensationalist, conservative media has become very successful

1:15:30 Alternative press covered the Goetz story much differently

1:16:15 Bronx jury awarded one of the victims $43 million

1:17:00 Goetz shooting was an unhinged story, but shows how we got here

1:19:00 There are political dividing lines over racialized shootings

1:20:15 Society meant to aspire to wealth, but live with suspicion & fear on streets

1:21:00 What’s the thread between the urban stories that you’ve told?

1:22:00 There was a massive cover up at Attica

1:22:45 If it wasn’t Goetz, it would have been another similar incident

1:24:00 How long after an event do you think is the sweet spot for telling story?

1:26:15 As a society, we don’t have patience for context

1:26:45 Checking personal bias when reporting a historical event

1:29:30 What Heather is working on next

1:34:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Heather Ann Thompson

1:35:15 ToddCast Top 5 governor’s seats most likely to flip

1:36:30 #1 Kansas

1:38:15 #2 Iowa

1:40:30 #3 Michigan

1:42:45 #4 Arizona #5 Nevada

1:45:00 The Washington Post announces major cuts to staff

1:45:45 Hard to understand what Bezos’s vision is for the Post

1:47:30 How can you be a local paper & not cover the community?

1:48:45 Post is losing $100m/year but Bezos’s burns tons of cash

1:49:15 Amazon set $75 million on fire for the Melania documentary

1:51:00 If Bezos wanted the Post to succeed he could have invested in it

1:53:15 Bezos should sell the Post rather than gutting it

1:55:15 The Post editorial page has been diminished under Bezos

1:57:00 Hopefully Bezos changes course

1:58:00 Ask Chuck

1:58:15 How long will this dark period of American history last?

2:04:30 At what point does a blatant lie from a politician qualify as fraud?

2:07:00 Chance that an Ossoff win could catapult him to nomination?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down the mounting political fallout from a string of fatal and controversial shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, including the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti—an incident that has sparked protests, outrage, and deep questions about federal law-enforcement use of force. Bystander video and independent analysis have sharply contradicted official claims that Pretti posed a threat, amplifying criticism from local officials and national figures alike while the Trump administration has scrambled to contain the damage by removing the Border Patrol commander and sending veteran immigration official Tom Homan to Minneapolis to calm tensions.

As Republicans in Congress publicly wrestle with how to respond—and some distance themselves from the administration’s actions—Chuck explores how Trump’s repeated emphasis on which voters supported him personally, rather than addressing the substance of the crisis, is complicating the situation politically. With Minneapolis emerging as a political disaster for Trump, the episode also looks at how Trump’s handling of Kristi Noem and broader GOP infighting could create openings for Democrats, especially as concern grows over civil liberties, federal overreach, and the credibility of government narratives in the face of widespread skepticism and media scrutiny. 

Finally, Chuck updates his ToddCast Top 5 governor’s seats most likely to flip in 2026, weighs in on the massive looming cuts to the staff at the Washington Post and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.

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Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction

01:00 Trump attends Iowa event with “affordability message”

01:45 Trump begins to try to walk back from chaos in Minneapolis

02:30 Greg Bovino removed from border patrol role in Minneapolis

03:15 Trump keeps highlighting that Renee Good’s parents voted for him

04:15 Trump sent Tom Homan to Minneapolis to try & calm things down

05:30 Republicans in congress speak out after killing of Alex Pretti

06:30 Trump signals support for Kristi Noem, but could change his mind

07:30 Resentment from Senate R’s over some cabinet secretaries

09:15 Political infighting could become contagious but Trump will back Miller

11:00 Trump is playing political cleanup, but not firing Noem is a mistake

13:00 Not firing Noem would be a political gift for Democrats

14:00 Trump’s trade policy is creating trade deals for other countries, not us

14:45 Minneapolis creates permission slip for Republicans to distance themselves 

15:15 Trump’s stop in Iowa was supposed to be a pivot

16:15 Consumer confidence shows the public behaving like it’s a recession

17:00 Consumer confidence lowest since 2014, worse than during pandemic

18:00 Public doubts the job market & job security

20:00 Trump claims inflation is over, that’s not what the public is feeling

21:15 Iowa ranks 50th in nation for economic growth, worst since the 80’s

22:00 Tariffs have devastated Iowa farmers

23:30 If Iowa goes blue, Democrats will win the house and senate

24:15 Trump’s policies have hurt Iowa more than other states

25:00 Trump’s economic message isn’t resonating

26:00 Trump really messed up his gun politics 

27:30 Trump will throw anybody under the bus to protect himself

34:45 ToddCast Top 5 governor’s seats most likely to flip

36:00 #1 Kansas

37:45 #2 Iowa

40:00 #3 Michigan

42:15 #4 Arizona #5 Nevada

44:30 The Washington Post announces major cuts to staff

45:15 Hard to understand what Bezos’s vision is for the Post

47:00 How can you be a local paper & not cover the community?

48:15 Post is losing $100m/year but Bezos’s burns tons of cash

48:45 Amazon set $75 million on fire for the Melania documentary

50:30 If Bezos wanted the Post to succeed he could have invested in it

52:45 Bezos should sell the Post rather than gutting it

54:45 The Post editorial page has been diminished under Bezos

56:30 Hopefully Bezos changes course

57:30 Ask Chuck

57:45 How long will this dark period of American history last?

1:04:00 At what point does a blatant lie from a politician qualify as fraud?

1:06:30 Chance that an Ossoff win could catapult him to nomination?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Documentary filmmaker Adam Bhala Lough joins the Chuck ToddCast for a provocative, darkly funny, and unsettling conversation about AI, power, and the people building the future faster than anyone can regulate it. Lough unpacks the thinking behind his documentary Deepfaking Sam Altman, exploring why artificial intelligence inspires both awe and terror, how tech elites quietly prepare for social backlash, and why many of the skills we once told young people to master—like coding—may soon be obsolete. From Silicon Valley’s obsession with immortality and bunker-building to the fear that any job done on a computer could disappear within a few years, the discussion confronts what happens when innovation outruns accountability.

The episode also dives deep into Sam Altman’s mystique, Silicon Valley’s moral blind spots, and how fear—of China, regulation, or losing dominance—is used to shape public debate around AI. Lough explains how deepfakes are made, why AI-driven scams are about to explode, and what lawmakers fundamentally misunderstand about regulating rapidly evolving technology. Ultimately, this conversation argues that the antidote to AI anxiety isn’t panic or denial—but transparency, literacy, and a serious public reckoning with who controls the tools reshaping human society.

Timeline:

00:00 Adam Bhala Lough joins the Chuck ToddCast

02:30 Tech titans know the pitchforks are coming & are building bunkers

03:15 Did you create “Deepfaking Sam Altman” assuming the worst about AI?

05:00 The phrase Artificial Intelligence is great branding, but creates fear

06:15 How did you find funding for the documentary?

06:45 AI was one of the reasons the writer’s guild was protesting

07:30 Kids who grew up learning to code won’t have a job due to AI

08:15 Coding is now a useless skill when it was THE skill to have 10 years ago

10:15 Any job done on a computer could be gone within 3 years

10:45 Teaching critical thinking skills when a machine can do it for you?

13:00 Humans won’t be ok with robots replacing, but may not have a choice

13:30 If AI destroys humanity, it wouldn’t be deliberate

14:15 There’s a theory that AI would keep us around & find a use for us

15:00 Sam Altman has a giant collection of guns & weapons, like a prepper

15:45 Wealth creates a “prepper” mentality

17:00 There’s an obsession Silicon Valley with living forever

17:45 Was trying to interview Sam Altman always the premise of the doc?

18:45 Thought getting an interview with Sam Altman would be easy

19:15 Still haven’t heard from Altman in light of the documentary

20:45 What made you so threatening that Altman avoided you?

22:30 Other tech companies were more open to talking than OpenAI

23:15 Altman uses AI to read and summarize his emails, he doesn’t read them

24:00 Tech CEO’s tend to be antisocial, created platforms to compensate?

24:45 Many created products the world didn’t need just to get rich

26:00 Social media causes problems, but also have positives like Arab Spring

26:45 Totalitarian regimes found a way to weaponize social media

27:45 Chinese documentarian used AI to avoid government crackdown

29:15 Altman uses fear of China’s use of AI to avoid regulation & get investment

30:15 Sam Altman is a Marvel level super villain

30:45 Elon Musk is even more of a villain than Altman

31:15 Altman doesn’t have a personality, Elon has a crazy one

32:00 Google’s Gemini has caught up and surpassed ChatGPT

32:45 Altman could be a flash in the pan, or the next Steve Jobs

34:30 Steve Jobs and Sam Altman share a similar drive

35:45 Apple wouldn’t have been as successful under Wozniak, he’s too nice

37:00 You don’t have to be an asshole to be a successful tech CEO

38:30 Political leaders have given business leaders permission to be awful

39:00 What do you want people to take away from the documentary?

39:45 The best way to cure AI anxiety is to create a conversation about it

40:45 Concerned about legal exposure from the documentary?

41:15 The documentary shows how the deepfake was made

42:30 AI image & video generators should be forced to include a logo

43:15 What should politicians understand about AI regulation?

44:30 AI slop is getting harder than ever to identify as fake

46:15 AI will be an incredible tool for scamming people

47:00 People should have a safeword to avoid deepfake scams

49:15 AI will be very useful in creating archival footage

51:00 AI gets dystopian when you put it into weapons

52:30 What topics are you interested in covering next?

55:00 Terms & conditions that force arbitration is very coercive

57:15 Deepfaking Sam Altman took 18 months to create

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this urgent and unsettling episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck argues that America is in the midst of a historic “Great Unraveling,” marked by the collapse of trust, consent, and the basic social contract that has held the country together for generations. He examines a chilling series of events in Minneapolis—two fatal shootings by federal agents in three weeks, including the killing of Alex Pretti, who was legally carrying a firearm—raising profound questions about accountability, constitutional rights, and whether the federal government can still be trusted to tell the truth when video evidence directly contradicts official accounts. As administration officials stumble through indefensible explanations, Chuck connects the domestic breakdown to a broader global rupture: allies like Canada openly describing relations with the U.S. as “ruptured,” the post–World War II rules-based order splintering, science and public health consensus eroding, and political power being wielded through favoritism and fear. The episode paints a stark picture of a country growing weaker, more isolated, and more vulnerable—not because of fate, but because unraveling is a process, and it’s happening in real time.

Then, documentary filmmaker Adam Bhala Lough joins the Chuck ToddCast for a provocative, darkly funny, and unsettling conversation about AI, power, and the people building the future faster than anyone can regulate it. Lough unpacks the thinking behind his documentary Deepfaking Sam Altman, exploring why artificial intelligence inspires both awe and terror, how tech elites quietly prepare for social backlash, and why many of the skills we once told young people to master—like coding—may soon be obsolete. From Silicon Valley’s obsession with immortality and bunker-building to the fear that any job done on a computer could disappear within a few years, the discussion confronts what happens when innovation outruns accountability.

The episode also dives deep into Sam Altman’s mystique, Silicon Valley’s moral blind spots, and how fear—of China, regulation, or losing dominance—is used to shape public debate around AI. Lough explains how deepfakes are made, why AI-driven scams are about to explode, and what lawmakers fundamentally misunderstand about regulating rapidly evolving technology. Ultimately, this conversation argues that the antidote to AI anxiety isn’t panic or denial—but transparency, literacy, and a serious public reckoning with who controls the tools reshaping human society.

Finally, Chuck weighs in on the political disaster that is unfolding for Republicans, hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to draw parallels between modern America and Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland in the 70’s and answers listeners’ question in the “Ask Chuck” segment.

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!

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

01:45 America is going through a “Great Unraveling”

04:45 January 2026 has been a horrendous month in American history

05:45 We’re watching the collapse of consent

06:15 Federal agents involved in 2 fatal shootings in 3 week in Minneapolis

07:00 Alex Pretti was shot 10 times, this was an assassination

07:30 No consequences for agent that shot Renee Good sent a message

08:15 The federal government won’t uphold the law or constitutional rights

09:30 Administration officials make fools of themselves defending this

10:15 Alex Pretti was legally carrying his firearm

10:45 January 6th protestors were also armed

11:45 The federal government is behaving like fascists

12:45 What remains of the social contract?

13:15 Trump’s leadership is destroying everything we knew about America

14:00 Canada’s PM Mark Carney describes relations with U.S. as “ruptured”

14:45 The rules based order in splintering

15:15 TikTok deal was purely favoritism & media alignment for Trump allies

16:15 CDC now discarding science, openly questioning the polio vaccine

17:00 Government shutdown is coming later this week

18:00 100 years of consensus is shattering

19:00 Alex Pretti was carrying, not brandishing his weapon

19:45 Alex Pretti was killed in cold blood  

20:30 Thank god there was video, you can’t trust the federal government

21:00 Bystander video contradicts federal government account

21:45 Patel and Noem have no credibility outside of Trump’s base

22:45 Federal agents violated half the bill of rights in one incident

24:30 Middle powers can’t assume alignment with US gives stability

25:30 Canada’s response to Trump is seismic & entirely rational

26:30 The post WW2 order was held together by trust, & that’s been shattered

28:15 Trump’s appointees are making us vulnerable to eradicated diseases

29:30 TikTok will be used by Trump allies for political alignment

30:45 Unraveling isn’t destiny… it’s process

31:30 Trump is making us weaker, more vulnerable and poorer

32:45 We’re losing our country… literally

33:30 We can’t believe anything the federal government says

40:00 Adam Bhala Lough joins the Chuck ToddCast

42:30 Tech titans know the pitchforks are coming & are building bunkers

43:15 Did you create “Deepfaking Sam Altman” assuming the worst about AI?

45:00 The phrase Artificial Intelligence is great branding, but creates fear

46:15 How did you find funding for the documentary?

46:45 AI was one of the reasons the writer’s guild was protesting

47:30 Kids who grew up learning to code won’t have a job due to AI

48:15 Coding is now a useless skill when it was THE skill to have 10 years ago

50:15 Any job done on a computer could be gone within 3 years

50:45 Teaching critical thinking skills when a machine can do it for you?

53:00 Humans won’t be ok with robots replacing, but may not have a choice

53:30 If AI destroys humanity, it wouldn’t be deliberate

54:15 There’s a theory that AI would keep us around & find a use for us

55:00 Sam Altman has a giant collection of guns & weapons, like a prepper

55:45 Wealth creates a “prepper” mentality

57:00 There’s an obsession Silicon Valley with living forever

57:45 Was trying to interview Sam Altman always the premise of the doc?

58:45 Thought getting an interview with Sam Altman would be easy

59:15 Still haven’t heard from Altman in light of the documentary

1:00:45 What made you so threatening that Altman avoided you?

1:02:30 Other tech companies were more open to talking than OpenAI

1:03:15 Altman uses AI to read and summarize his emails, he doesn’t read them

1:04:00 Tech CEO’s tend to be antisocial, created platforms to compensate?

1:04:45 Many created products the world didn’t need just to get rich

1:06:00 Social media causes problems, but also have positives like Arab Spring

1:06:45 Totalitarian regimes found a way to weaponize social media

1:07:45 Chinese documentarian used AI to avoid government crackdown

1:09:15 Altman uses fear of China’s use of AI to avoid regulation & get investment

1:10:15 Sam Altman is a Marvel level super villain

1:10:45 Elon Musk is even more of a villain than Altman

1:11:15 Altman doesn’t have a personality, Elon has a crazy one

1:12:00 Google’s Gemini has caught up and surpassed ChatGPT

1:12:45 Altman could be a flash in the pan, or the next Steve Jobs

1:14:30 Steve Jobs and Sam Altman share a similar drive

1:15:45 Apple wouldn’t have been as successful under Wozniak, he’s too nice

1:17:00 You don’t have to be an asshole to be a successful tech CEO

1:18:30 Political leaders have given business leaders permission to be awful

1:19:00 What do you want people to take away from the documentary?

1:19:45 The best way to cure AI anxiety is to create a conversation about it

1:20:45 Concerned about legal exposure from the documentary?

1:21:15 The documentary shows how the deepfake was made

1:22:30 AI image & video generators should be forced to include a logo

1:23:15 What should politicians understand about AI regulation?

1:24:30 AI slop is getting harder than ever to identify as fake

1:26:15 AI will be an incredible tool for scamming people

1:27:00 People should have a safeword to avoid deepfake scams

1:29:15 AI will be very useful in creating archival footage

1:31:00 AI gets dystopian when you put it into weapons

1:32:30 What topics are you interested in covering next?

1:35:00 Terms & conditions that force arbitration is very coercive

1:37:15 Deepfaking Sam Altman took 18 months to create

1:41:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Adam Bhala Lough

1:43:30 Elected Republicans trying to distance from Trump’s DHS

1:45:00 Marjorie Taylor-Greene argues the small c conservative position

1:46:00 MTG uses hypothetical shooting of a MAGA by Biden’s DOJ

1:48:00 Trump’s defenders try to blame Trump’s advisors rather than Trump

1:49:00 The administration is trampling the Bill of Rights

1:50:00 Minneapolis is a political disaster for Trump

1:51:00 Conservative pundits are pitching a Minneapolis off-ramp

1:52:45 Greg Bovino is trying invoke violence in the way he dresses

1:54:00 Trump’s coalition is breaking apart

1:55:45 ToddCast Time Machine

1:56:30 January 30th, 1972 - Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland

1:57:45 British army turned into an occupying force

1:58:30 Unarmed civilians were shot by soldiers

1:59:00 Bloody Sunday ended the belief that the government could be neutral

2:00:00 When the state lies about violence, radicalism ensues

2:01:30 U2’s anthem about Bloody Sunday is expression of moral fatigue

2:02:30 Trump is the only person that can de-escalate and he refuses to

2:04:00 States tell themselves they are restoring order, consequences are permanent

2:04:45 Trust collapsed in Northern Island & happening now in Minneapolis

2:05:45 Ask Chuck

2:06:15 Agents involved in shootings weren’t new recruits?

2:11:00 How naive were we to think “it can’t happen here” How do we navigate it?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this urgent and unsettling episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck argues that America is in the midst of a historic “Great Unraveling,” marked by the collapse of trust, consent, and the basic social contract that has held the country together for generations. He examines a chilling series of events in Minneapolis—two fatal shootings by federal agents in three weeks, including the killing of Alex Pretti, who was legally carrying a firearm—raising profound questions about accountability, constitutional rights, and whether the federal government can still be trusted to tell the truth when video evidence directly contradicts official accounts. As administration officials stumble through indefensible explanations, Chuck connects the domestic breakdown to a broader global rupture: allies like Canada openly describing relations with the U.S. as “ruptured,” the post–World War II rules-based order splintering, science and public health consensus eroding, and political power being wielded through favoritism and fear. The episode paints a stark picture of a country growing weaker, more isolated, and more vulnerable—not because of fate, but because unraveling is a process, and it’s happening in real time.

Finally, Chuck weighs in on the political disaster that is unfolding for Republicans, hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to draw parallels between modern America and Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland in the 70’s and answers listeners’ question in the “Ask Chuck” segment.

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!

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

01:45 America is going through a “Great Unraveling”

03:30 January 2026 has been a horrendous month in American history

04:30 We’re watching the collapse of consent

05:00 Federal agents involved in 2 fatal shootings in 3 week in Minneapolis

05:45 Alex Pretti was shot 10 times, this was an assassination

06:15 No consequences for agent that shot Renee Good sent a message

07:00 The federal government won’t uphold the law or constitutional rights

08:15 Administration officials make fools of themselves defending this

09:00 Alex Pretti was legally carrying his firearm

09:30 January 6th protestors were also armed

10:30 The federal government is behaving like fascists

11:30 What remains of the social contract?

12:00 Trump’s leadership is destroying everything we knew about America

12:45 Canada’s PM Mark Carney describes relations with U.S. as “ruptured”

13:30 The rules based order in splintering

14:00 TikTok deal was purely favoritism & media alignment for Trump allies

15:00 CDC now discarding science, openly questioning the polio vaccine

15:45 Government shutdown is coming later this week

16:45 100 years of consensus is shattering

17:45 Alex Pretti was carrying, not brandishing his weapon

18:30 Alex Pretti was killed in cold blood

19:15 Thank god there was video, you can’t trust the federal government

19:45 Bystander video contradicts federal government account

20:30 Patel and Noem have no credibility outside of Trump’s base

21:30 Federal agents violated half the bill of rights in one incident

23:15 Middle powers can’t assume alignment with US gives stability

24:15 Canada’s response to Trump is seismic & entirely rational

25:15 The post WW2 order was held together by trust, & that’s been shattered

27:00 Trump’s appointees are making us vulnerable to eradicated diseases

28:15 TikTok will be used by Trump allies for political alignment

29:30 Unraveling isn’t destiny… it’s process

30:15 Trump is making us weaker, more vulnerable and poorer

31:30 We’re losing our country… literally

32:15 We can’t believe anything the federal government says

36:30 Elected Republicans trying to distance from Trump’s DHS

38:00 Marjorie Taylor-Greene argues the small c conservative position

39:00 MTG uses hypothetical shooting of a MAGA by Biden’s DOJ

41:00 Trump’s defenders try to blame Trump’s advisors rather than Trump

42:00 The administration is trampling the Bill of Rights

43:00 Minneapolis is a political disaster for Trump

44:00 Conservative pundits are pitching a Minneapolis off-ramp

45:45 Greg Bovino is trying invoke violence in the way he dresses

47:00 Trump’s coalition is breaking apart

48:45 ToddCast Time Machine

49:30 January 30th, 1972 — Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland

50:45 British army turned into an occupying force

51:30 Unarmed civilians were shot by soldiers

52:00 Bloody Sunday ended the belief that the government could be neutral

53:00 When the state lies about violence, radicalism ensues

54:30 U2’s anthem about Bloody Sunday is expression of moral fatigue

55:30 Trump is the only person that can de-escalate and he refuses to

57:00 States tell themselves they are restoring order, consequences are permanent

57:45 Trust collapsed in Northern Island & happening now in Minneapolis

58:45 Ask Chuck

59:15 Agents involved in shootings weren’t new recruits?

1:05:00 How naive were we to think “it can’t happen here” How do we navigate it?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck addresses the latest fatal shooting by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, the third such incident in recent weeks amid the Trump administration’s intensified enforcement operations. A man was shot and killed by federal officers during an ICE-linked operation, reigniting outrage and controversy over the use of force by federal law enforcement and further eroding trust in the Department of Homeland Security’s narrative after Minneapolis residents and officials disputed the official account and demanded transparency.

Chuck unpacks why video and witness accounts have raised serious questions about the necessity and proportionality of deadly force, why many critics call for a neutral, third-party investigation rather than relying on the federal government’s account, and how this incident compounds public concerns about aggressive policing tactics and civil liberties in enforcement operations. He also explores how the recurring confrontations between federal agents and Minneapolis residents are fueling broader political backlash, deepening tensions between local and federal authorities, and challenging Americans’ confidence in how federal agencies conduct operations on U.S. soil.

Timeline:

00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction

00:30 Another Minneapolis resident shot dead by federal agents

01:15 Video is disturbing. Man looked to be subdued before being shot

01:45 DHS says man was armed, didn’t say he was brandishing it

02:15 Conceal carry & open carry are allowed in Minnesota with permit

03:15 DHS has very low credibility with the press & the public

04:30 Why did agents back away and shoot rather than cuff the suspect

05:15 We need a neutral investigation into the shooting

06:00 We can’t trust the story from the federal government

07:00 The grotesque policing by ICE is incredibly unpopular

07:30 DHS used bloodthirsty rhetoric in recruiting videos

09:00 The administration has deliberately put Minneapolis in harm’s way

10:30 ICE are untrained thugs attacking Americans

11:30 Trump donors that employ undocumented workers aren’t targeted

12:30 It feels like ICE is looking for a fight

13:45 American wants law enforcement to follow the law

14:30 The federal government & their agents are on a power trip

16:00 How DHS words their statements is very telling

16:45 Need a third party investigation since DHS can’t be trusted

18:00 The reputation of every law enforcement agency has been tarnished

18:45 Kristi Noem is the obvious scapegoat if Trump wants an offramp

19:30 Where are all the libertarians and small government conservatives?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this “TACO Trump Thursday” episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down how market pressure forced Donald Trump to abruptly back off his Greenland threats and announce a face-saving deal—one that looks suspiciously like what already existed—underscoring how easily Trump can be manipulated and how desperate he is to cement a sense of historical relevance. Even as Republicans in Congress continue to appease him, the damage to America’s relationships with Canada and Europe is already done, and Trump’s indifference to NATO and unilateral approach ensures lasting consequences well beyond any short-term retreat. The conversation then turns to the political fallout at home: the perilous midterm landscape for Democrats, a messy Minnesota Senate race, why conventional Republicans still can’t win blue-leaning states without a net-positive environment, and how figures like Bill Cassidy may have no path forward inside today’s GOP. Chuck also digs into the Democratic Party’s looming 2028 calendar fight, arguing the DNC should rethink its early-state strategy by looking hard at Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska—and remembering that winning rural America, not just big cities, is the only way to build a durable majority.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss the unprecedented federal immigration enforcement crisis unfolding in his city as masked ICE and DHS agents have effectively occupied Minneapolis in what appears to be an operation designed more for political retribution than public safety. Frey explains the complex dynamics between city, state, and federal authority, noting that Minneapolis maintains a policy of not coordinating with federal immigration enforcement because police officers should focus on keeping communities safe rather than targeting immigrants. He reveals alarming constitutional violations, including non-white off-duty Minneapolis police officers being racially profiled and harassed by ICE agents and residents being stopped and asked for ID based on their accents. With Minneapolis already critically understaffed on police officers per capita, the massive imbalance between local law enforcement and ICE agents has created a tenuous situation where police are forced to respond to citizens being harassed while protesters exercise their First Amendment rights.

The crisis has been compounded by what Frey describes as a weaponized Department of Justice that can't be trusted, evidenced by his office receiving a subpoena.The mayor emphasizes that much of the federal action stems from a fraud issue that had nothing to do with illegal immigration, yet racist attacks on the Somali community followed—despite the fact that Somalis in Minneapolis came legally as refugees and most are U.S. citizens. Frey has held discussions with Governor Tim Walz about potentially deploying the Minnesota National Guard and worries about his ability to conduct a real investigation into the shooting of Renee Good by ICE. Frey contends the operation is designed to whip the public into a frenzy rather than address genuine immigration concerns.

Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions and explains a gripe he has with the baseball Hall of Fame.

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!

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 - Welcome to TACO Thursday

00:30 Trump backs off Greenland threats & announces deal after markets tank

02:30 Mark Carney’s speech to Davos resonated & he won’t back off it

04:00 Trump is an easy mark, and a frustrating mark

04:30 They’re likely copy+pasting the same deal we had, but Trump signs it

05:30 Republicans in congress know they have to appease Trump

06:30 Trump is desperate to be historically relevant & will be

07:15 Trump did terrible damage to American relationship with Canada & Europe

08:15 Trump doesn’t care if NATO survives or will abide by the treaty

10:00 Trump backing down won’t change the trajectory of how other countries act

12:30 Trump’s unilateral actions will have consequences

14:00 Feels like a time the out party wins everything, but it’s a tough path for Dems

15:15 Democrats need to be careful with candidate selection to win midterms

16:00 Michelle Tafoya announces senate bid in Minnesota

16:45 Tafoya hasn’t announced much policy, mostly just anti-woke rhetoric

18:15 The Democratic senate primary in Minnesota has been messy

20:00 Conventional conservative Republican doesn’t win in Minnesota

21:15 Republicans would need to be in a net-positive environment to win Minnesota

23:00 If Susan Collins doesn’t run, Maine is off the board for Republicans

24:00 Julia Letlow announces race, promises to be rubber stamp for Trump

25:30 GOP establishment won’t get involved in helping Bill Cassidy

26:15 Cassidy’s only path to winning seat is to run as Independent

28:30 Paul Finnebaum will struggle to run in Alabama after Trump endorsement

30:15 Twelve states applied to be first in the nation for Democrats in 2028

31:15 Iowa should be the first in the nation Dem state

32:30 Iowa has been good to the Democratic party, just not the Clintons

34:30 Just winning Des Moines isn’t enough, you have to win rural areas

36:15 Big Super PAC money can overwhelm in the bigger states

39:00 DNC should look at Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska

47:15 Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joins the Chuck ToddCast

47:45 Structure of Minneapolis law enforcement & the mayor’s powers

49:00 What is the line between city & state, and federal vs. state/city authority?

49:45 Minneapolis officials don’t coordinate with feds on immigration

50:45 Police officers should keep community safe, not target immigrants

51:45 Would you release a proven criminal into ICE custody?

53:15 Escalation with ICE & DHS went from 0-100 in Minneapolis

54:00 OMB sent a letter threatening to cut all fed funds over DEI

55:00 DHS seems intent on political retribution, not safety or immigration

56:45 There was a real issue with fraud, & racist attacks on Somalis followed

57:30 Somalis in Minneapolis came legally as refugees, most are citizens

58:15 Fraud issue had nothing to do with illegal immigrants

59:30 Is ICE responsible for longer 911 wait times?

1:00:00 Minneapolis is very low on police officers per capita

1:00:30 There’s a massive imbalance between police officers & ICE agents

1:01:00 What are the police supposed to do if citizens are harassed by ICE?

1:02:15 Police are forced into a difficult & tenuous situation dealing with ICE

1:03:15 Do you believe the ICE operations are designed to provoke a response?

1:03:45 ICE are trying to whip the public into a frenzy

1:04:30 Is there a legal avenue for you to push back against DHS/ICE?

1:05:30 There have been unimaginable constitutional violations by ICE

1:06:30 Non-white off duty Minneapolis officers have been harassed by ICE

1:07:45 People are being racially profiled and asked for their ID

1:08:45 ICE needs to be better trained and have a moral compass

1:09:30 Police received a call from a 5 year old whose parents were taken

1:10:15 Worried that residents could take matters into their own hands?

1:11:15 Has the “No ICE on city property” policy worked?

1:12:15 There have been talks with Tim Walz over deploying MN national guard

1:13:30 What’s behind the subpoena received by the mayor’s office?

1:14:00 DOJ is being weaponized to target leaders that disagree with Trump

1:15:00 The current Department of Justice can’t be trusted

1:16:30 There’s so much value to having career civil servants over political loyalists

1:18:30 There’s been a failure to believe that Trump will do what he says he’ll do

1:19:15 Any end in sight to the ICE occupation of Minneapolis?

1:20:00 Will you be able to do a real investigation into the shooting of Renee Good?

1:22:00 Ask Chuck

1:22:45 Why are so many senators unwilling to challenge Trump on foreign policy?

1:28:15 Do political teams consult psychologists when dealing with Trump?

1:32:30 Why hasn’t Trump’s lack of student loan repayment program gotten attention?

1:35:45 Is it crazy to think that California could become a swing state?

1:39:45 Chances of Mike Johnson refusing to certify and seat a Democratic congress?

1:44:30 Baseball Hall of Fame has made itself irrelevant

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