As a bonus for Chuck ToddCast listeners, we’re sharing a special preview of Kamala: Next in Line, a six-part podcast from MSNBC and Wondery that goes inside the cross-cultural journey that led Senator Kamala Harris from her humble roots to become the first African-American woman to be the Vice Presidential nominee for a major party. From Oakland to Howard University, and California to Washington DC, experience her story as it has never been told before. Hosted by MSNBC's Joy Reid, the show features exclusive interviews with those who know her best, painting a picture of a woman who has fought her way to the top at every turn. Listen to the first episode, and subscribe to the series now: https://link.chtbl.com/description-kamala

Silvio Berlusconi was a charismatic multi-millionaire real-estate mogul who upended the Italian political order and hypnotized an entire nation. He was the longest-serving prime minister of one of the world’s wealthiest countries, until he was brought down by three powerful women - and two words: “Bunga Bunga.” From Wondery, the makers of Dirty John and The Shrink Next Door, and hosted by comedian Whitney Cummings, “Bunga Bunga” is an eight part series on the incredible true story of the rise and fall of Silvio Berlusconi, told with Whitney’s signature wit and style. 

Subscribe today: Wondery.fm/BungaBunga_NBCTC

Chuck Todd starts with new polling showing Trump’s damaging down ballot effect on the Republican party and highlights some key races for the upcoming midterm elections.

Then, he sits down with New York Times reporters Michael Schwirtz and Jane Bradley to discuss their explosive investigation into Russia's sophisticated "spy factory" operation in Brazil. The reporters reveal how they uncovered a years-long Russian intelligence program that used Brazil as the perfect cover to create false identities for spies who would then be deployed around the world. The discussion explores how the Ukraine war may have intensified efforts to uncover these operations, and details the meticulous process Russian operatives used to obtain authentic Brazilian birth certificates and build elaborate backstories for their agents.

The conversation delves into the remarkable scope of this espionage network, including how one spy successfully infiltrated Johns Hopkins University as a student, before being caught by Brazilian authorities. Schwirtz and Bradley discuss the similarities between their real-world investigation and the plot of "The Americans," the complaints from captured spies about their Russian handlers, and how this program's roots trace back to Cold War tactics. The interview also touches on broader questions about American engagement in Latin America, Brazil's surprisingly robust rule of law, and the ongoing challenges facing international journalism, including reporting in conflict zones like Ukraine and the risks of travel to Russia.

Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the Ask Chuck segment regarding small state primaries, whether an atheist could ever be elected president and Democratic messaging.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction

01:30 Trump is putting the Republican party in a precarious position for midterms

03:30 Trump’s only big win is the border

04:00 Swing voters wanted lower prices and aren’t getting them

04:30 Every election is now a “change” election

06:30 Trump has become the party

08:00 Republicans won’t have anything that’s easy to sell to the public

09:30 New Texas poll shows Trump’s growing unpopularity

12:00 Shrinking the size of government is popular with voters

13:15 Bad economic approval is a warning for Republicans

16:00 Incumbency may be a big problem for John Cornyn

18:00 New Michigan poll released on senate race

19:30 Michigan poll shows anti-incumbent bias in voters

20:30 Lindsay Graham in a closer than expected race

22:15 Michael Schwirtz & Jane Bradley join the Chuck ToddCast!

23:55 What is the origin story of their story on Brazil's "Spy Factory"

24:45 Did the Ukraine war cause countries to double efforts to uncover spies?

27:15 Were the feds in Brazil aware of this spy operation?

30:25 Brazil was the perfect place to create cover identities for spies

31:45 The spy operation was years in the making

32:45 Investigations into spies' birth certificates showed they weren't doctored

34:45 Other Latin American countries are investigating as well

35:45 Was the spy ring uncovered in America in 2010 related to this program?

37:15 The goal wasn't to infiltrate Brazil specifically, but move spies abroad

38:15 The most "successful" spy was arrested by Brazilian authorities

39:30 One spy infiltrated John Hopkins university posing as a student

41:30 Has Putin punished any of the spies that were caught?

43:15 It feels like this story was a plot ripped straight from "The Americans"

44:30 The spies that talked complained about their bosses

45:30 Does America run similar "spy factories?"

48:15 Western agencies don't have the same spy budgets as the Russians

50:15 The seeds of the spy program go back to the Cold War

52:30 Are Brazilian authorities extra motivated to get to the bottom of this?

53:45 Brazil's rule of law is stronger than we give it credit for

55:15 Is this a failure of American engagement in Latin America?

58:00 What other threads are they pulling in their investigation?

1:00:00 When was Michael last in Ukraine?

1:01:30 Does the Times still have reporters in Russia?

1:02:45 Should Americans avoid travel to Russia?

1:05:00 Does the espionage reporting beat make spy TV shows less watchable?

1:05:40 Chuck’s thoughts on interview

1:06:10 Ask Chuck

1:06:55 Why is America stuck with a first, single small state primary format?

1:09:00Will America ever elect a president that’s atheist or agnostic?

1:16:15 Why are Democrats so clueless at messaging?

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

Chuck Todd opens with two issues he calls “dead rail” issues; issues that voters care about but don’t vote on… campaign finance reform and the national debt. He explains why both parties aren’t incentivized to address either issue, and provides a brief update on the latest developments for the upcoming midterm and presidential elections.

Then, he sits down with acclaimed television writer and producer Debora Cahn, the creative force behind both "The West Wing" and Netflix's hit series "The Diplomat." Cahn shares behind-the-scenes insights from her time in Aaron Sorkin's writers' room, revealing how the team worked to make "The West Wing" realistic and even infused elements of musical theater into the show. She discusses the origins and development of "The Diplomat," explaining how her experience working on "Homeland" prepared her for tackling international diplomacy, and how COVID-19 unexpectedly helped with the show's early development process.

They delve into how real-world events have shaped "The Diplomat's" narrative, particularly Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which completely changed the show's plot trajectory. Cahn explores the challenges of creating "news adjacent" content in today's rapidly changing political landscape, where she notes that satire feels off-limits for this decade. She also discusses her approach to writing strong but complex female characters, the differences between working with Shonda Rhimes versus Aaron Sorkin, and how she uses storytelling to give voice to government workers. The interview touches on everything from using real UK embassy locations for filming to incorporating recent political events and the casting of Michael McKean in a Biden-inspired role.

Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the Ask Chuck segment, addressing topics like the best path to learning journalism, whether Kamala Harris could lose the California gubernatorial race and how to maximize black voter turnout in the south.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction

00:30 The “third-rail” issues in American politics that are untouchable

01:45 Medicaid is a lifeline for more than just poor people

02:20 Dead rail issues are issues that you can ignore and voters don’t care

03:10 Voters agree on need for campaign finance reform, but don’t vote on it

05:00 Both parties only care about the national debt when they’re out of power

07:00 Voters don’t care about campaign finance or the debt until it affects them

09:00 The Republicans are more fiscally irresponsible than Democrats

10:30 New campaign ad rolls out with purely AI generated people

11:30 Senator Jeff Merkeley may step down

12:30 Senator Ed Markey may face primary challenge

13:00 Rahm Emmanuel attending Iowa event, could it regain 1st primary status?

14:30 Debora Cahn joins the Chuck ToddCast!

15:45 How did she create "The Diplomat" and "West Wing"?

17:00 How important was it to make the West Wing realistic?

19:00 How did you infuse musical theater into West Wing?

20:15 What was the writers' room like?

22:30 How long has she been working on The Diplomat?

25:15 How did working on Homeland prepare her for The Diplomat?

28:30 The origin of The Diplomat

30:00 Covid actually HELPED with early development

31:00 Were the characters modeled off real people?

33:45 Using a real embassy for the set

36:30 Has the narrative arc changed from the original vision?

38:45 Russia's invasion of Ukraine changed the show's entire plot

40:45 Using the PM of the UK character to caricature Trump

42:15 Satire is off the table for this decade

43:30 Giving voice to government workers via storytelling

47:00 Has the UK foreshadowed trends in US politics?

48:15 The downside to being "news adjacent"?

49:45 Writing about strong women but making it messy

51:15 Working with Shonda Rhimes vs Aaron Sorkin

53:30 Whose story would she like to tell?

56:00 Traditional journalism vs. influencer culture

56:45 The Newsroom wasn't an accurate portrayal of TV journalism

58:00 What events from the past few months does she want to incorporate?

59:45 Michael McKean is great as the Biden character

57:50 Chuck's thoughts on the interview with Debora Cahn

58:20 Ask Chuck

58:40 Is college or an apprenticeship better for learning journalism?

1:02:30 Could Kamala Harris lose in the primary for CA governor?

1:06:05 What can Democrats do to maximize the black vote in the south?

1:11:50 NBA playoffs reaction

Chuck Todd begins by examining whether Democrats have lost by enough to force meaningful change or if they're simply tinkering around the edges. He covers Trump's recent controversial moves, including hosting dinners for his memecoin buyers and politicizing his West Point commencement speech, while exploring how "whataboutism" and Trump creating a culture of fear have become pervasive in our political discourse. Chuck analyzes new polling data on potential Democratic matchups and discusses why being an incumbent may be a liability in upcoming elections.

Then, he’s joined by political analyst and author of “Where Have All The Democrats Gone”, Ruy Texeira, who provides insights into America's ongoing political realignment and the challenges facing both major parties. They explore whether Democrats need to move toward the center to win back working-class voters, discuss the possibility of party collapse similar to what happened with the UK's Tories, and examine why neither party seems capable of forming a truly dominant coalition. The conversation covers everything from the Democrats' branding problems and communication failures to Trump's enduring influence on American politics and the potential for viable independent candidates in 2028.

Chuck concludes with upcoming Republican primary dynamics, including Senator John Cornyn's hiring of Trump's campaign manager and why it could be an UGLY campaign.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction

02:00 Have Democrats lost by enough to force them to change?

04:30 Democrats seem intent on tinkering rather than an overhaul

05:45 Trump hosts dinner for buyers of his memecoin

06:45 Mike Johnson defends corruption if it’s “done in the open” * (14:30)

08:30 Trump politicizes his West Point commencement speech

10:30 “Whataboustism” is plaguing our politics

12:00 Neither party has a monopoly on crazy or violence

12:45 Trump has created a culture of fear which mutes criticism

14:30 The public has become numb to Trump’s bad behavior

15:45 Corruption will eat away the credibility of the MAGA movement*

16:30 New poll released on AOC vs Schumer and Torres vs Hochul

18:30 Being an incumbent will be a negative in 2026 and 2028

22:10 Ruy Texeira joins the Chuck Toddcast

23:40 What is the current state of America's political realignment?

26:25 Do Democrats need to move to the center to win working class voters?

28:10 Lower turnout benefits Democrats

29:55 Democrats have only changed rhetoric, not their positions

31:40 Neither party can form a dominant coalition

32:40 Despite the chaos, Trump's approval rating isn't that bad

34:25 Could we see one party collapse like the Tories in the UK?

36:10 Could a third party replace one of our two parties

37:55 Voters in the western world feel the system is broken

38:40 Democrats are viewed as the status quo party

41:10 What are some lessons Democrats can take from the early 90's?

43:10 Neither party loses by enough to change

46:40 The DNC doesn't grasp how bad the brand has become

47:40 The problem is bigger than communications

49:40 Trump is the towering figure of 21st century American politics

51:10 What to make of Gavin Newsom's political maneuvering?

52:30 Who could be the Democrats next Bill Clinton?

54:40 What states should Democrats be targeting for future elections?

57:10 Democrats made a mistake not having Iowa first in their primary calendar

58:10 Why has Wisconsin stayed so competitive?

1:00:10 What to make of the red shift in blue states where they didn't campaign?

1:02:40 Party strategists are too out of step with the voters

1:04:25 What will we learn from statewide elections in 2025?

1:07:25 Will Joe Biden become a pariah like Jimmy Carter for the Democratic party?

1:09:10 Being a cabinet member for Biden will tank Pete Buttigieg's presidential hopes

1:10:10 The cover up of Biden's decline will haunt the Democrats for years

1:11:25 Any positives for the Democrats?

1:12:25 There could be a viable independent candidate in 2028

1:16:00 Chuck’s thoughts on the interview with Ruy Texeira

1:17:30 Senator John Cornyn has hired Trump’s campaign manager

1:19:00 We’re about to see new level of negativity in a Republican primary

1:20:45 The new traffic patterns out of Nationals games are annoying

Chuck begins with house Republicans struggling to pass their “Big Beautiful Bill” and reflecting on the president’s ability to influence the culture versus imposing on the culture.

Then, Chuck welcomes Spencer Kornhaber, staff writer at The Atlantic to discuss his piece on contemporary pop culture and its perceived decline in quality. They dive into the impact of streaming algorithms impacting music discovery, revealing that old music now earns three times the streams of new releases as algorithms trigger nostalgia rather than innovation. The conversation explores how the music industry has lost its traditional gatekeepers, leading to a landscape where new music often sounds "rehashed and doesn't move the ball forward," while examining whether rock music has stopped evolving and how country music is experiencing a resurgence. They also tackle the growing influence of AI on music production and debate whether algorithms, despite their flaws, are actually helping people discover music in different languages and cultures.

The discussion expands to examine whether television represents the one area where pop culture is genuinely "better than ever," with prestige TV becoming the cultural center and episodic storytelling reshaping moviemaking. They explore the "Barbenheimer summer" phenomenon as evidence that theatrical experiences still matter, before diving into literature's current state amid declining readership among younger generations. They debate whether high-resolution photography and AI are diminishing visual arts, speculate about experiences becoming the next major art form for Gen Z, and examine how competition with AI might actually make human artists more innovative. They conclude by discussing the enduring popularity of live elements in sports and music—with Bad Bunny and Taylor Swift reigning as pop royalty—while questioning who truly rules Hollywood and acknowledging the surprising innovations happening in live theater.

Finally he addresses listeners’ questions in the Ask Chuck segment, weighing in on Europe’s race to rearm itself, his preferred voting method to incentivize legislative compromise and whether the questions surrounding Joe Biden’s decline will loom over the 2028 presidential race.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction

00:30 Republicans struggling to pass the “Big Beautiful Bill”

02:00 Partisan governance is bad governance

03:30 The bill will pass, it’s just a matter of when

05:45 We’re in a “culture cold war”

08:00 Should political leaders impose culture, or influence it?

09:45 Who we elect as president is reflective of the culture

11:45 If a president imposes on culture, they impose on speech

14:45 The public will want a president who doesn’t impose on culture

17:40 Spencer Kornhaber joins the Chuck ToddCast

18:40 What inspired his piece on current pop culture being terrible?

22:25 Algorithms are terrible at introducing new music

23:10 Old music earns 3x the streams of new music

24:40 Algorithms use music to trigger nostalgia

26:10 New music sounds rehashed and doesn't move the ball forward

28:10 The music industry lost its gatekeepers

29:55 Algorithms help people discover music in a different language

32:10 Has rock music stopped evolving?

33:20 Country music is having a resurgence

34:00 The impact of AI on music production

35:40 Is television the one area of pop culture that's better than ever?

36:55 Prestige TV has become the center of the culture

38:25 How has episodic tv impacted moviemaking?

40:40 "Barbenheimer summer" wasn't a fluke

42:40 Are we also in a golden age of literature?

45:25 Younger generations are reading less

46:10 Do high resolution pictures + AI diminish the visual arts?

48:55 Will experiences become the next big artform for Gen Z

50:25 How well will his piece age?

51:55 Will competition with AI make human artists more innovative?

54:25 Will society decide to reinvest in the arts?

55:25 Gaming and sports are more popular than ever

57:10 Is the live element of sports and music driving popularity?

58:10 Bad Bunny and Taylor Swift are the king and queen of pop

59:10 Who rules Hollywood?

1:02:25 We've seen major innovation in live theater

1:04:45 Chuck's thoughts on the interview with Spencer Kornhaber

1:05:00 Algorithms suck at making culture, humans are good at it

1:05:15 Ask Chuck - Should we be concerned about Europe rearming?

1:07:55 What is your preferred voting method to incentivize compromise?

1:13:45 Will the Biden cognitive question loom over the 2028 election?

Chuck Todd begins the episode with an examination of the election landscape starting with the California gubernatorial race and a demographic breakdown that indicates Democrats could perform very well in both 2025 and 2026.

Then, is joined by businessman Stephen Cloobeck, who discusses his candidacy for California governor as the "only non-traditional candidate" in the race. Cloobeck offers sharp criticism of the Harris/Walz presidential campaign, which he characterizes as "tone deaf," while proposing concrete solutions for California's most pressing issues.

Cloobeck outlines his vision for a new department of "performance and results" to increase government accountability and presents his approach to addressing California's homelessness crisis. Drawing on lessons learned from his adopted father, former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Cloobeck positions himself as a Democrat who understands business concerns, directly addressing why corporate leaders are "tempted" to leave California while asserting that "you can't buy an election" and pledging not to self-fund his campaign.

Chuck presses Cloobeck on whether Democrats need their own version of "Donald Trump," and what the party should learn from Trump's political approach. He also offers insight into his success in the timeshare industry, explaining how Marriott ultimately copied his business model and addressing whether AirBnB has undermined the traditional timeshare market. Chuck challenges Cloobeck about potential competition from other business figures like Rick Caruso and former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, with Chuck speculating that by 2026, voters might be "burned out on bravado" after Trump's presidency.

Finally, Chuck digs into the mailbag of listeners’ questions in Ask Chuck and responds to questions about six year presidential terms, quirky personal preferences that lead to political preferences and whether it’s harder for him to land interviews with Republicans.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction

00:30 The importance of the California gubernatorial race

01:15 Kloobeck intro

02:30 Kamala Harris preparing to run for governor in California?

03:45 Younger and infrequent voters were Trump’s “secret sauce”

05:00 Can a Democratic woman win the presidency?

06:30 Higher turnout is better for Republicans

08:15 Trends favor Democrats in non-presidential elections

09:30 Democrats became the “rules” party

11:15 Jared Golden not running for must-win Maine senate seat

12:30 Republicans are already writing off Virginia

13:30 Could New Jersey become a swing state?

14:30 Can the Trump coalition succeed without Trump on the ballot?

15:45 Could Senator Bill Cassidy retire for LSU chancellor job?

17:15 Stephen Cloobeck joins the Chuck ToddCast!

18:30 Why is he the only non-traditional candidate running for CA governor?

23:05 Are California's issues a governor issue or does it run deeper?

26:05 What should Gavin Newsom have done differently?

29:00 The Harris/Walz campaign was tone deaf

30:25 What did Gray Davis get right as governor?

31:55 Creating a department of "performance and results"

33:30 Solution to California's homelessness problem

35:00 Schwarzenegger was an outsider that ran into the bureaucracy

39:30 What makes him a democrat and not an independent?

41:55 Why are business leaders "tempted" to leave California?

44:35 What he learned from his adopted father, Harry Reid

46:15 Do we need a "Donald Trump" in the democratic party?

48:00 What should the democratic party learn from Trump?

48:45 You can't buy an election. Won't self fund his campaign.

51:00 Why couldn't Trump start a casino in Nevada?

53:20 Should people be skeptical of the timeshare industry?

54:35 Has AirBnB killed the timeshare industry?

58:00 Marriott copied his timeshare model

58:45 What would you say to Harris if she wanted help with the governor race?

1:02:00 Are you ready for the arrows coming your way

1:04:25 Did you have high expectations for Joe Biden?

1:07:15 If Rick Caruso jumps in, will you cannibalize each other's candidacies

1:10:35 Would Arnold Schwarzenegger be the front-runner if he ran?

1:11:35 By 2026 could voters be burned out on bravado by Trump

1:13:30 Chuck's thoughts on Stephen Kloobeck interview

1:14:45 Check out Chuck's interviews on Noosphere!

1:16:20 Ask Chuck

1:16:45 If congress was expanded, should the president get one 6 year term?

1:19:50 What odd voter personal preferences indicate their political preferences?

1:24:00 Do you find it harder to get interviews with Republicans?

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

Chuck Todd welcomes Congressman Ritchie Torres for a wide-ranging conversation that begins with a tour of New York's 15th district and the unique challenges of representing one of America's most diverse urban areas. Torres offers candid insights on governance, highlighting how term limits disadvantage legislators compared to lobbyists. The conversation shifts to the current political landscape, with Torres expressing deep concerns about President Trump's approach to his second term, arguing that Trump is "poisoning the well" for bipartisanship despite Biden's successful record of cross-party legislation. Torres delivers a stark warning that America is "planting the seed of its own decline" and characterizes the consequences of proposed GOP Medicaid cuts as "barbaric," particularly in light of the brewing long-term care crisis.

They weigh the merits of pragmatism versus idealism in American foreign policy and scrutinize Qatar's growing financial influence in American politics. Torres argues that "Republicans would impeach Joe Biden if he had accepted a plane" while addressing whether Democrats should adopt Trump's aggressive approach to wielding power. Torres acknowledges that Democrats "should have spoken out sooner about Biden's decline" and offers his vision for how the party can project strength moving forward.

They conclude with Torres addressing his political future—including speculation about mayoral and gubernatorial ambitions—before outlining his solutions for New York's housing crisis, crime concerns, and utility costs.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction

00:50 Joe Biden diagnosed with aggressive form of cancer

02:00 Was Biden’s decline covered up, or just willful ignorance?

03:00 Robert Hur recording has supercharged the Biden story

06:45 Joe Biden couldn’t assure voters he was up to the job

08:30 Chris Murphy says it’s the Democrats fault that Trump was re-elected

11:45 Democrats need to do soul searching like they did with Bill Clinton

13:30 Clinton had to run against the party and its prior leadership

15:00 Democrats misread the 2020 election result

18:00 Democrats will take some blame for problems Trump causes

19:00 Democrats need to reinvent themselves

21:00 Trump released the Hur tapes as a distraction

23:00 Democrats should be angrier about Biden than Republicans

25:00 Mike Johnson needs Trump to pressure members of congress

26:00 Ritchie Torres joins the Chuck ToddCast

26:30 Tour of the NY-15 district

28:30 The enormity of the New York city council

30:00 Would he support expanding the size of the house?

32:00 Term limits disadvantage legislators compared to lobbyists

33:00 Can any bipartisan agreement be reached with Trump

34:30 Biden had multiple pieces of bipartisan legislation

35:30 Trump is poisoning the well in his second term

37:30 America is planting the seed of its own decline

38:00 Medicaid cuts will be devastating

40:00 Will the Medicaid cuts be delayed where a future congress could fix it?

41:30 Medicaid work requirements don't work

42:45 The consequences of the GOP budget will be barbaric

44:45 How do we address the long-term care crisis?

47:00 Should America's foreign policy be pragmatic or idealistic?

49:45 How should we view Qatar's infusion of money into American politics?

51:30 Republicans would impeach Joe Biden if he had accepted a plane

54:15 Should Democrats wield power like Trump when they're in charge?

55:50 Democrats should have spoken out sooner about Biden's decline

1:00:00 How can the Democrats project strength as a party?

1:01:15 Democrats need to let the cream rise to the top

1:02:30 Campaigning makes candidates sharper

1:03:30 Why aren't you running for NYC mayor?

1:05:30 Andrew Cuomo is a great "builder"

1:07:30 Will you run for governor in 2026?

1:08:00 How would you address the housing crisis in New York?

1:10:30 Addressing crime in New York

1:13:00 New York's budget has increased, the quality of services hasn't

1:14:45 Public ownership of utilities would lower costs for New Yorkers

1:16:30 Progressives have overprioritized ideological purity over results

1:19:15 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Ritchie Torres

1:20:00 If Torres faces Hochul 1 on 1 he could beat her

1:21:00 Rumors that Kamala Harris could run for governor of California

1:21:45 CA governor race will be tough for Harris

1:25:15 If Harris loses governor race, her political career is over

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)