Chuck Todd at his best – unscripted, informed and focused on what really matters in politics. Join Chuck each Wednesday as he talks with top reporters from the nation’s capital, plus exclusive sit-down interviews and on-the-ground dispatches from across the campaign trail.
Amy Walter and the closing arguments: Two weeks until Election Day
With two weeks to go, Amy Walter, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report … with Amy Walter, and the host of “The Odd Years” podcast, joins Chuck to explore the map.
10/23/2024 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 49 seconds
Symone Sanders-Townsend: How campaign ‘missteps’ are framing Harris’ closing argument
Symone Sanders-Townsend, the former chief spokesperson for Kamala Harris, joins Chuck to assess the vice president’s home-stretch campaign, as she launches a media blitz and pitches her message across the aisle.
10/18/2024 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 14 seconds
That Harris answer; Plus Brad Raffensperger on Georgia's vote challenges
Chuck explores how Vice President Kamala Harris' statements about President Biden hurt her campaign message. Plus, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger talks about his state's historic early vote totals.
10/16/2024 • 51 minutes, 43 seconds
‘The Apprentice’: The origin story Trump tried to shut down, with Gabriel Sherman
Gabriel Sherman, special correspondent at Vanity Fair, joins Chuck to talk about “The Apprentice,” a new film he wrote that details Donald Trump’s early career in real estate.
10/11/2024 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 12 seconds
Mark Cuban talks Bitcoin, Donald Trump & generic drugs
Entrepreneur Mark Cuban joins Chuck Todd to talk about his new venture, the Cost Plus Drugs Company. He also shares his views on cryptocurrency, sports business, and why he got involved in the 2024 campaign.
10/9/2024 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 8 seconds
Trump & Tariffs: Why a '19th-century tool' is driving the 2024 campaign
Scott Lincicome, vice president of general economics at the Cato Institute, joins Chuck to analyze the stances of former President Trump and Vice President Harris on tariff policy, as trade and import taxes take center stage in the campaign dialogue.
10/4/2024 • 56 minutes, 14 seconds
VP Debate: Civility survives, after years of vitriol; plus Matt Grossmann talks education divide
Gov. Walz and Sen. Vance debated for the Vice Presidency. Matt Grossmann, author of “Polarized by Degrees” talks about how the Democratic and Republican parties have been reshaped by divides over education.
10/2/2024 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 54 seconds
Zelenskyy’s ‘victory plan’ hinges on the 2024 election: Amb. Kurt Volker
Kurt Volker, former U.S. special envoy for Ukraine negotiations and former NATO ambassador, joins Chuck as Presidents Zelenskyy and Biden meet in Washington.
9/27/2024 • 56 minutes, 54 seconds
Does a rising tide lift down-ballot votes? Nathan Gonzales on the Kamala Harris effect
Nathan Gonzales, the Editor & Publisher of Inside Elections, joins Chuck to talk about the long tail effects of Democrats' candidate swap.
9/25/2024 • 54 minutes, 45 seconds
How the DOJ was ‘ill-suited’ to hold Trump accountable, with David Rohde
David Rohde, NBC News senior executive editor for national security, joins Chuck to talk about the ways in which the Justice Department has been transformed by Donald Trump’s presidency — and how Merrick Garland dealt with the difficult task of investigating a former president running for re-election.
9/20/2024 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 4 seconds
The polls we're reading, and what's been overlooked: Dante Chinni
9/18/2024 • 1 hour, 10 minutes, 46 seconds
The challenge of getting ‘Trump the contrarian’ on message, from former staffer Marc Short
Marc Short, former chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, joins Chuck with his takeaways on Donald Trump’s debate performance and previews the campaign ahead.
9/13/2024 • 48 minutes, 10 seconds
Trump’s lack of control costs him, plus DOJ’s antitrust enforcement
9/11/2024 • 1 hour, 11 minutes, 13 seconds
2024 Senate draft revisited: The NBC News Political Unit looks back on a year of changes to the Senate map
In February, Mark Murray, Bridget Bowman and Ben Kamisar joined Chuck to pick their top prospects from the 2024 Senate races. Now they’re back to see which picks stand up for the general election, and which races have changed.
9/6/2024 • 1 hour, 13 minutes, 2 seconds
The race to define an incumbent, plus the politics of Gen Z
Melissa Deckman, the CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute and author of a new book, “The Politics of Gen Z,” joins Chuck to talk about young voters and their impact on the election.
9/4/2024 • 1 hour, 12 minutes, 32 seconds
The Democrats’ new playbook in the South, with Charlie Cook
Charlie Cook, founder of the Cook Political Report, joins Chuck as Vice President Harris gains ground in key states where President Biden was struggling.
8/30/2024 • 50 minutes, 49 seconds
The Harris campaign's first fumble, plus Nelson Rockefeller's place in history
Marsha E. Barrett, author of "Nelson Rockefeller's Dilemma" joins Chuck to talk about the role Rockefeller played in the evolution of the Republican Party.
8/28/2024 • 1 hour, 9 minutes, 56 seconds
Goodbye Chicago: Terry McAuliffe reflects on the most unexpected DNC in memory
Kamala Harris wrapped up a high-energy Democratic National Convention unlike any we’ve seen since the 1950s. Chuck sits down with former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who ran the Democratic National Committee and the 2000 DNC in Los Angeles, to reflect on the week that was.
8/23/2024 • 55 minutes, 15 seconds
How the second day of the DNC became the first day for Kamala Harris
Recording from Chicago, Chuck talks with Adam Green, the co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a grassroots organization that claims a million members working on economics and democracy.
8/21/2024 • 59 minutes, 47 seconds
Putin ‘is already at war with us’: Amb. John Sullivan talks about his time in Moscow
Ambassador John Sullivan was the Biden administration’s first ambassador to Russia, serving from 2020 to 2022. He was also Donald Trump’s last ambassador to Russia — he’s one of those rare people who can work in both a Republican and Democratic administration. Amb. Sullivan talks with Chuck about his new memoir, “Midnight in Moscow: A Memoir from the Front Lines of Russia's War Against the West.”
8/16/2024 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 42 seconds
Why the 2024 is '2016 in reverse': Bruce Mehlman talks about the 'massive' campaign reset
Bruce Mehlman, a Washington strategist who served in the George W. Bush administration, joins Chuck to talk about the 2024 campaign reset, Mitch McConnell’s view of Donald Trump and the race to define Kamala Harris.
8/14/2024 • 1 hour, 37 seconds
What Kamala Harris believes: Yamiche Alcindor's observations covering the VP
It only took 40 days for the 2024 presidential campaign to transform. NBC News Washington Correspondent Yamiche Alcindor joins Chuck to share her reporting about how Vice President Kamala Harris navigated the historic transition from the bottom to the top of the ticket.
8/9/2024 • 50 minutes, 32 seconds
2024 is a "totally different race": Chris Cillizza & Chuck Todd talk Walz, Harris and how the campaign has changed
After Vice President Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, Chris Cillizza, author of “So What,” joins Chuck to discuss the implications it will have on the race.
8/7/2024 • 53 minutes, 50 seconds
Meet the Republican congresswoman fighting climate change
It’s been a busy few weeks in politics — an attempted assassination, the Republican convention, President Biden’s decision to drop out of the race. But lost in all of those dramatic changes was this piece of news: Sunday, July 21st was the hottest day ever recorded on earth. It was an alarming piece of history, with heat waves sweeping across Europe, the Western United States and extreme weather around the world. It was one of those landmark moments that makes some people stop and focus on climate change. And then those very records were broken 24 hours later, when global average temperatures went even higher on Monday, July 22nd. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a Republican from Iowa and the chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus, joins Chuck to discuss.
7/26/2024 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 47 seconds
The final chapter in Biden’s saga: Mike Memoli on the president's big decision
After President Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential campaign, NBC News White House correspondent Mike Memoli and longtime Biden-reporter describes the many twists and turns that the Biden epic took.
7/24/2024 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 23 seconds
What it takes to replace a candidate: Elaine Karmack explains the rules as Democrats debate Biden’s future
Former President Trump delivered a historically long acceptance speech on Thursday night, and Chuck Todd asks if his energy shift is a sign of things to come. Plus, author and scholar Elaine Karmack explains the byzantine rules and options that a political party has for replacing a candidate, as calls for Joe Biden to step aside as the 2024 Democratic nominee grow louder.
7/19/2024 • 56 minutes, 17 seconds
What the JD Vance pick says about Trump, with Stephen Hayes
Stephen Hayes, CEO and editor of The Dispatch, joins the ToddCast from the site of the Republican National Convention as former President Trump is officially tapped as the party’s presidential nominee and picks Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) as his running mate.
7/17/2024 • 56 minutes, 35 seconds
What to watch for after Biden's press conference; plus, Trump’s VP pick, with Marc Short
President Biden answers questions at a press conference, but leaves Democrats without a clear path forward. Marc Short, former chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, joins Chuck to talk veepstakes as former President Donald Trump weighs his decision on a running mate with the start of the Republican National Convention just days away.
7/12/2024 • 59 minutes, 50 seconds
Biden’s last exit: JMart on the president’s make-or-break week
After almost two weeks of turmoil, President Biden has a chance to put concerns about his vitality to rest, with a major NATO summit and upcoming press conference. But at the same time, his performance could reignite concerns. Jonathan Martin, senior political columnist for Politico, joins Chuck to discuss.
7/10/2024 • 55 minutes, 29 seconds
Debate: Sen. Whitehouse & Sen. Cassidy try to build a better Senate through dialogue
Chuck moderates a debate between Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) as part of the fifth installment of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute and Orrin G. Hatch Foundation's joint "Senate Project." They debate climate change, how to view China, health care and more.
7/3/2024 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 23 seconds
Chuck’s debate takeaways as Democrats ‘panic,’ plus Mitch Daniels on the politics of leadership
After President Biden and former President Trump squared off in their first general election debate of 2024, Chuck talks about the consequences of President Biden’s performance. Plus, former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels discusses his experience as the president of Purdue University and why the historic path to the Senate for former governors has started to fade away.
6/28/2024 • 1 hour, 10 seconds
Two mayors deliver lessons on bipartisanship to Washington: Andrew Ginther & David Holt
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt (R) and Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther (D) join Chuck to talk about the role of elected officials closest to the people in showing the federal government how bipartisanship works, and why there's "hardly any better job in American politics" than mayor of a city.
6/26/2024 • 51 minutes, 26 seconds
'Macron's mega-gamble': Why France's president may soon share power with the far right
Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief for The Economist, joins Chuck to talk about French President Emmanuel Macron's decision to call snap legislative elections following his party's shellacking by the far right in the E.U. elections.
6/21/2024 • 48 minutes, 10 seconds
The crisis at the Washington Post, with Erik Wemple
Erik Wemple, media critic for the Washington Post, joins Chuck to talk about the scandal unfolding at his newspaper over the conduct of the Post's publisher and CEO. Plus, they analyze the downsizing of media outlets, as big tech, disinformation and a deeply divisive election put additional strain on those who report the news.
6/19/2024 • 58 minutes, 4 seconds
‘From Havana to DC’: How Cuban Americans shaped U.S. politics
Carlos Orta, author of, “From Havana to DC: The Rise of Cuban Americans in Florida Politics,” talks about his “love letter” to the Latino trailblazers who shaped U.S. politics. Plus, Chuck’s thoughts on how international affairs affect how U.S. elections on the heels of far-right gains in European elections.
6/14/2024 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 55 seconds
Hunter Biden’s guilty verdict, and the big Trump veepstakes question. Plus Split Ticket’s simplified polling
Chuck talks with Lakshya Jain and Harrison Lavelle, political scientists at Split Ticket, a new organization that presents electoral data in simple, easy-to-understand maps and graphs.
6/12/2024 • 58 minutes, 23 seconds
Rep. Jake LaTurner: Why a 36-year-old congressman is calling it quits
Rep. Jake LaTurner (R-Kansas) joins Chuck to talk about his decision not to seek a third term in Congress, and discusses the "sadness" and "burden" that lawmakers carry with them.
6/7/2024 • 53 minutes, 56 seconds
'Alternative facts' and generative A.I.: Why we're witnessing the 'Death of Truth'
Steven Brill, author of "The Death of Truth," joins Chuck to talk about the spread of misinformation and disinformation and what his company NewsGuard is trying to do to restore trust in media.
6/5/2024 • 1 hour, 12 minutes, 12 seconds
Trump found guilty, Chuck talks impact on the 2024 campaign; plus John Ellis
Former President Trump is guilty, but how will the campaigns handle it? And Chuck speaks with John Ellis, the author of a simple but elegant newsletter on Substack called Political News Items, to talk about the data that matters from across economic and political indicators, both foreign and domestic.
5/31/2024 • 59 minutes, 54 seconds
The stakes for the states: Reid Wilson looks at what 2024 means for statehouses
Reid Wilson, founder and editor of Pluribus News, focuses on statehouses across the country as local leaders reckon with AI, abortion and marijuana legalization.
5/29/2024 • 59 minutes, 45 seconds
Ted Leonsis: "I was wrong" to try to move Washington sports teams to Virginia
Washington Wizards and Capitals owner Ted Leonsis joins Chuck to talk about the intersection of sports, business and politics ... and how he miscalculated on his plan to move the teams to Virginia.
5/24/2024 • 1 hour, 17 minutes, 20 seconds
Doris Kearns Goodwin travels back and forth in time, with new book
Doris Kearns Goodwin, historian and author of "An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s" joins Chuck to talk about what she learned working on a biography of someone unusually close to her life — her husband, Dick.
5/22/2024 • 1 hour, 14 minutes, 42 seconds
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers targets Big Tech for her closing act in Congress
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, joins Chuck for an exit interview on what she’s learned during her decades in Congress, and her ongoing fight to regulate Big Tech.
5/17/2024 • 32 minutes, 53 seconds
Why Spring will make or break Biden’s campaign, plus AI’s do’s and dont’s in politics
As regulators and election workers try to catch up to a technology evolving at a break-neck speed, one group is trying to give campaigns a list of do’s and don’ts when it comes to the responsible use of AI. Chuck talks with Ben Resnick and Matt Hodges of Zinc Labs, a Democratic group at the intersection of tech and politics.
5/15/2024 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 17 seconds
Brain Worms and Normal People in Plato’s Cave: Jonah Goldberg
Jonah Goldberg, co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Dispatch, joins Chuck to talk about an extremely weird week in politics and news.
5/10/2024 • 52 minutes, 10 seconds
This legendary Democratic pollster says Biden is only on message once per week
Stan Greenberg, a Democratic pollster and strategist who’s advised candidates from former President Bill Clinton, to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, joins Chuck to talk about his firm’s latest report, which he says shows a path for a Biden victory in November.
5/8/2024 • 58 minutes, 44 seconds
‘The Wolves of K Street’: Inside the D.C. lobbying industry
How did lobbying evolve from influence peddling to a power center where “corporate lobbyists are the only ones with their thumb on the scale”? Brody and Luke Mullins join Chuck to talk about their new book, “The Wolves of K Street.”
5/3/2024 • 50 minutes, 58 seconds
How Trump trials stretch the court system: Laura Jarrett & Lawrence Hurley
With former President Trump's ongoing trial in Manhattan, last week's hearing in front of the Supreme Court on presidential immunity, plus federal cases in Florida and Washington, DC, we're getting a glimpse at the edges of how the justice system works. NBC News Senior Legal Correspondent Laura Jarrett and NBC News Supreme Court reporter Lawrence Hurley join Chuck to discuss.
5/1/2024 • 57 minutes, 22 seconds
Biden's narrow path as seen through 11 maps, with Doug Sosnik
Doug Sosnik, former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton, joins Chuck to explore how President Biden may have a narrower path to the presidency than former President Trump (edited)
4/26/2024 • 1 hour, 15 minutes, 12 seconds
Race between Biden and Trump tightens: Inside the latest NBC News poll
Senior Political Editor Mark Murray joins Chuck to talk through the findings in the April 2024 NBC News poll, as former President Trump’s hush money trial begins in Manhattan.
4/24/2024 • 58 minutes, 31 seconds
'Manhunt' revisits Abraham Lincoln's assassination and the chase after John Wilkes Booth
Layne Eskridge, executive producer of "Manhunt," joins Chuck as the Apple TV+ miniseries wraps its seven-episode run on the 12-day search for the killer behind America's first presidential assassination.
4/19/2024 • 35 minutes, 3 seconds
Steve Ballmer: The ex-Microsoft CEO's push for government transparency
Los Angeles Clippers owner and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer joins Chuck to talk about USAFacts, his civic initiative to make government data more accessible to Americans.
4/17/2024 • 59 minutes, 1 second
The Trump campaign hired a voter data expert. He debunked their claims of massive election fraud.
Ken Block, author of "Disproven," tells Chuck how he was brought on by a lawyer with former President Trump's 2020 campaign to validate claims of widespread voter fraud in the election — and instead found far fewer fraudulent votes than were needed to impact the results in any state.
4/12/2024 • 57 minutes, 25 seconds
Richard Engel: Hotspots in Israel, Ukraine and the United States
NBC News Chief International Correspondent Richard Engel talks with Chuck about the challenges facing peace in Israel, Ukraine and across the globe.
4/10/2024 • 47 minutes, 35 seconds
The unintended consequences of sportswashing
Produced in collaboration with The George Washington University, Chuck moderates a panel on the topic of sports washing, featuring Professor William Youmans, Professor Kelsey Nelson and a student and women’s soccer player named Avril Silva.
4/5/2024 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 10 seconds
Why 2024 polls may not look like 2020 or 2016: Nathan Gonzales
Chuck talks with Nathan Gonzales, the Editor & Publisher of Inside Elections, about the difficulty in using recent presidential elections as a guide for 2024.
4/3/2024 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 35 seconds
'The Octopus Murders' investigates a decades-old political murder mystery
In their new docuseries, "American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders," Christian Hansen and Zachary Treitz set out to uncover the mystery behind the 1991 death of journalist Danny Casolaro while he was investigating a shadowy conspiracy. They join Chuck to detail what they've learned
3/29/2024 • 48 minutes, 58 seconds
For All Mankind's showrunners: 'Fear and competition … drive us to achieve great things'
"For All Mankind" co-creators and showrunners Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi join Chuck to talk through an alternative history where the Soviet Union beats the United States in the space race to the moon. This episode contains spoilers through Season 4 of the show.Read the For All Mankind timeline: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Timeline/ForAllMankind
3/22/2024 • 38 minutes, 53 seconds
'Double-haters' and more: The key groups that may decide 2024
Democratic pollster Cornell Belcher and Republican strategist Brad Todd join Chuck to debate the races in the election year ahead, and discuss how much we should read into early 2024 polling.
3/20/2024 • 1 hour, 28 seconds
Sasha Issenberg: How campaigns are preparing to fight disinformation
Sasha Issenberg, author of, “The Lie Detectives: In Search of a Playbook for Winning Elections in the Disinformation Age,” talks to Chuck about the wave of artificially generated video, audio and photos that are upending how candidates campaign for office.
3/15/2024 • 50 minutes, 13 seconds
Rep. Maxwell Frost: 'Every bomb' dropped in Gaza 'is a set of voters who walk away' from Biden
Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) joins Chuck for a wide-ranging interview on his proposed reforms for Congress, talks about how young voters are approaching President Biden's handling of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and weighs in on the plan to ban TikTok in the U.S.
3/13/2024 • 43 minutes, 53 seconds
'The energy was different': Biden's ex-speechwriter dissects the State of the Union speech
Jeff Nussbaum, former Senior Speechwriter and Special Assistant to President Biden, joins Chuck to analyze his former boss's State of the Union address delivered Thursday night.
3/8/2024 • 35 minutes, 14 seconds
Amy Walter: What we know about the Biden and Trump voters after two general elections
Amy Walter, editor-in-chief and publisher of the Cook Political Report joins Chuck to talk through the Super Tuesday results and look ahead to the general election.
3/6/2024 • 42 minutes, 7 seconds
'The Primary Problem': How hyperpartisan minorities hijacked elections
Nick Troiano, author of “The Primary Solution: Rescuing our Democracy from the Fringes," joins Chuck to argue that partisan primaries have created "a broken system with broken incentives and bad outcomes," and abolishing them would make government more representative of its constituents and more accountable to them.
3/1/2024 • 47 minutes, 53 seconds
Why candidates might not matter in November + RFK looks to the Libertarians for ballot access
Chuck asks whether Republicans can win an election without finding a position on abortion.Plus, Katherine Mangu-Ward, editor-in-chief of Reason, talks about the Libertarian view on elections and why third-party candidates seeking ballot access like to embrace them.
2/28/2024 • 45 minutes, 25 seconds
Billionaire of the people: How Trump tapped into 'white rural rage'
Tom Schaller and Paul Waldman, authors of "White Rural Rage: The Threat to American Democracy," join Chuck to discuss how former President Trump became hailed as the "god-king of heartland, rural America" and wielded their anti-elite resentment despite his background as a billionaire businessman from Queens.
2/23/2024 • 54 minutes, 4 seconds
Amb. Mike McFaul + How infighting loses elections
The amount of intra-party infighting might be the most revealing metric when looking ahead to any election. Plus, Mike McFaul, former ambassador to Russia, joins Chuck to talk about the death of Alexei Navalny and what it means for the future of Vladimir Putin’s regime.
2/21/2024 • 50 minutes, 5 seconds
Senate 2024 Draft: Toss-ups, Likelys and Longshots
Chuck sits down with Mark Murray, Bridget Bowman and Ben Kamisar to talk about who has an edge among the 2024 Senate races.Plus, the new NBC News Politics newsletter goes live this week. Sign up here: https://link.nbcnews.com/join/5cj/nbc-news-politics-signup ChuckMarkBridgetBenRound 1 - Toss upsOhio GOP (picked 1st)Nevada Dem RosenMontana GOPMichigan DemRound 2 - Lean / LikelyMaryland DemNew Jersey DemWisconsin Dem Baldwin (picked 1st)Florida GOP ScottRound 3 - Lean / LikelyPennsylvania Dem CaseyPennsylvania GOPTexas DemTexas GOP Cruz (picked 1st)Round 4 - LongshotNew Mexico GOP DomeniciW Virginia GOP Justice (picked 1st)Missouri Dem KunceVermont Dem (not Sanders)TOSS UPS: Arizona, Montana, Ohio, Nevada, MichiganLEANS AND LIKELY: Pennsylvania, Florida, Maryland, Wisconsin, Texas, New JerseyLONGSHOTS / Special rules: California must pick a nameWest Virginia must pick a nameUtah must pick a name
2/16/2024 • 49 minutes, 32 seconds
Rep. Debbie Dingell + What is Biden’s 2nd term?
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) has known President Biden for years. She sits down with Chuck and shares her views on what the president needs to do to win in November, how the war in Gaza is impacting her voters, and what she thinks about special counsel Hur’s report on classified documents.
2/14/2024 • 48 minutes, 26 seconds
John Bolton: The anti-Trump front of former Trump officials
Former National Security Adviser John Bolton joins Chuck to detail the effort of officials appointed to former President Trump's first term in office who want to prevent him from being re-elected to a second. Bolton also delivers his perspective on President Biden's foreign policy as the U.S. launches retaliatory drone strikes on Iran-backed militia groups.
2/9/2024 • 41 minutes, 39 seconds
Jon Ralston: Nevada is ‘as purple as we’ve ever been’ despite preordained primary results
Jon Ralston, founder, CEO, and editor of The Nevada Independent, joins Chuck to discuss the Nevada primary/caucus divide and why the results might mislead outside observers ahead of the November election.
2/7/2024 • 51 minutes, 1 second
Sen. Michael Bennet: ‘If we can’t fund Ukraine, there’s no reason for [Congress] to be here’
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), a member of the original bipartisan “Gang of Eight” working group on immigration, joins Chuck to detail the path forward on border reform as Senate Republicans clash over a potential deal. Bennet also looks back to how the debate has changed over the past decade, as a pathway to citizenship is unlikely to be included in the final package.
2/2/2024 • 41 minutes, 45 seconds
Why the right to vote isn’t in the Constitution (and how that could change): Rick Hasen talks democracy
Chuck sits down with Rick Hasen, professor of law and political science at UCLA and the author of a new book coming out in February, “A Real Right to Vote: How a Constitutional Amendment Can Safeguard American Democracy.”
1/31/2024 • 43 minutes, 3 seconds
Jonathan Martin: 'It's not a C-SPAN election, it's a Court TV election'
Jonathan Martin, senior political columnist for Politico, joins Chuck on the heels of New Hampshire's primary elections to examine former Gov. Nikki Haley's (R-S.C.) political prospects as the Republican nominating contests continue, and discusses whether President Biden can improve his standing as the general-election campaign takes shape.
1/24/2024 • 34 minutes, 57 seconds
Nikki Haley's last stand in New Hampshire? NBC embeds weigh in from the trail
NBC News Campaign Embeds Sarah Dean, Emma Barnett and Greg Hyatt join Chuck to preview the New Hampshire primaries, as Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) shifts his resources away from the state and former Gov. Nikki Haley (R-S.C.) — fresh off a third-place finish in Iowa — seeks to portray the contest as a two-person race.
1/19/2024 • 44 minutes, 19 seconds
Dean Phillips: Democrats are having a "delusion" if they think Joe Biden is electable
Longshot Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) talks to Chuck about his campaign in New Hampshire and what the results in Iowa say about November 2024.
1/16/2024 • 39 minutes, 21 seconds
How "Trump vs. DeSantis" set the stage for Iowa
With days to go until the Iowa Caucus, Chuck talks with Matt Dixon, senior national politics reporter for NBC News, and author of a new book, "Swamp Monsters: Trump vs. DeSantis―the Greatest Show on Earth (or at Least in Florida)," about the most consequential rivalry in the 2024 campaign.
1/12/2024 • 48 minutes, 23 seconds
Ian Bremmer’s 2024 threat assessment: From China to Iran, the biggest risks facing American peace and global order
Ian Bremmer, founder and president of the Eurasia Group, discusses his organization’s 2024 “Top Risks” report, with a focus on three dominant conflicts: the U.S. versus Russia, Israel versus Hamas, and the U.S. versus … itself.Read more from the report here: https://www.eurasiagroup.net/media/eurasia-group-publishes-top-risks-predictions-for-2024-a-year-of-grave-concern
1/9/2024 • 45 minutes, 36 seconds
Can anyone stop Trump in Iowa?
Iowa Republican Strategist David Kochel joins Chuck with just over a week to go until the first GOP contest of 2024 to detail former President Trump's firm hold on the Hawkeye State — and his rivals' determination to pull an upset.
1/5/2024 • 43 minutes, 30 seconds
Alternative History: Beatles, Putin and Supreme Court
What if John Lennon survived the assassination attempt? Are we living in the worst timeline possible with Russia? What if Sandra Day O'Connor had been made Supreme Court chief justice? Chuck Todd sits down with Fordham professor (and big alt history fan!) Paul Levinson for an extravaganza of topics, on the last ToddCast of 2023.
12/26/2023 • 46 minutes, 32 seconds
Alternative History: What if Mitch McConnell voted to convict Trump?
Former Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) joins Chuck to game out what could have happened in a world where Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell voted to convict former President Trump in his second impeachment trial relating to the insurrection.
12/19/2023 • 45 minutes, 55 seconds
Alternative History: What if college sports conferences weren’t so volatile?
Chuck introduces his latest series of Alternative Histories and speaks with NCAA President Charlie Baker about paying college athletes.
12/15/2023 • 34 minutes, 6 seconds
2024 predictions: Biden, Senate races and the Super Bowl
Bringing the band back together — NBC News Chief Political Analyst Chuck Todd sits down with the political unit’s Mark Murray, Bridget Bowman and Alexandra Marquez to discuss their top predictions for each quarter of 2024.
12/12/2023 • 1 hour, 14 minutes, 50 seconds
'The progressive left is a paper tiger': How activists pushed Democrats away from their base
Ruy Texeira, author of "Where Have All the Democrats Gone? The Soul of the Party in the Age of Extremes," joins Chuck to detail the Democratic Party's recent leftward shift and argues it has abandoned its core principles.
12/8/2023 • 1 hour, 52 seconds
Nukes and music: Greg Mitchell talks about the state of anti-nuclear activism
Author and filmmaker Greg Mitchell joins Chuck to talk about his latest film, "Atomic Cover-up," and the resurgence of anti-nuclear proliferation after the summer release of "Oppenheimer."
12/5/2023 • 47 minutes, 3 seconds
Leon Panetta: 'You need a Kissinger' in Middle East peace process
Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta joins Chuck to analyze the path forward for lasting peace in the Middle East, and offers his thoughts on the legacy of former Sec. Henry Kissinger, who passed away Wednesday.
12/1/2023 • 57 minutes, 7 seconds
Andrew Yang’s fantasy draft picks for president
Self-described “rebel corporate” Andrew Yang, co-chair of the Forward Party and former Democratic presidential candidate, joins Chuck Todd for a candid conversation about the 2024 election.
11/28/2023 • 57 minutes, 54 seconds
Alternative History Thanksgiving special: What if airline deregulation never happened?
Alternative history is back with a special Thanksgiving episode. Turn the clocks back to 1978 and ask, what would air travel be like today if deregulation never took place? Ganesh Staraman, the author of a new book called “Why Flying is Miserable: And how to fix it,” joins Chuck to explain how airline deregulation rules screwed things up for air travel.
11/23/2023 • 48 minutes, 44 seconds
Maura Moynihan remembers the Moynihan clan: 'Dad always reached across the aisle'
Elizabeth Moynihan, who had become known for managing the Senate campaigns of her husband, the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.), passed away on Nov. 7 at age 94 — 20 years after him. Their daughter Maura joins Chuck to detail their legacy and how the family's longstanding values of fairness and bipartisanship can inform America in its time of political division.
11/21/2023 • 52 minutes, 5 seconds
America's changing political battleground
Mark Z. Barabak, political columnist for the Los Angeles Times, joins Chuck to analyze America's battleground states ahead of 2024 and details what role the West might play in swinging the election.
11/17/2023 • 56 minutes, 58 seconds
Trudeau and Biden: A tale of two wartime leaders
Canadian journalist and publisher of GZero Media, Evan Solomon, joins Chuck Todd to discuss what the future holds for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as his polling falls, what President Biden's administration can learn from him and how the two leaders differ on Israel policy.
11/14/2023 • 45 minutes, 36 seconds
Rep. Colin Allred: Running against Sen. Ted Cruz's 'outrage machine'
Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) joins Chuck to discuss his campaign to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and talks about his working relationship with new Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
11/10/2023 • 54 minutes, 46 seconds
Is Joe Biden 2024 a rerun of Hillary Clinton 2016?
Political commentator Chris Cillizza and Editor-in-Chief of the Cook Political Report Amy Walter join Chuck Todd to talk about 2024 messaging.
11/7/2023 • 41 minutes, 53 seconds
Abortion or Biden: What's on the ballot for off-year elections?
Adam Ganucheau, editor-in-chief for Mississippi Today, and Phillip M. Bailey, national political correspondent for USA Today, join Chuck to preview Tuesday's upcoming gubernatorial elections in Mississippi and Kentucky, and explain what the results in both states could tell us about the 2024 races to come.
11/3/2023 • 49 minutes, 15 seconds
Bribes, rumors & revenge: The latest in the Middle East with Martin Fletcher
Martin Fletcher, former NBC News Middle East correspondent and Tel Aviv Bureau chief, joins Chuck to talk about Israel’s ground invasion into the Gaza Strip and the politics facing Prime Minister Netanyahu.
10/31/2023 • 47 minutes
Judge Lina Hidalgo: How a rising star in politics battled clinical depression
Judge Lina Hidalgo, head of the Harris County, Texas governing body, joins Chuck to discuss her battle with depression and treatment, and talks about the evolving views around the issue of mental health.
10/27/2023 • 35 minutes, 57 seconds
‘The last temptation of Mitt’: McKay Coppins’ new Romney biography
For his new book, “Romney: A Reckoning,” McKay Coppins had access to hundreds of pages of Senator Mitt Romney’s personal notes. In this live interview with Chuck at the New-York Historical Society, Coppins talks about the reporting process and what he learned about the Republican 2012 presidential candidate.
10/24/2023 • 56 minutes, 14 seconds
The House is frozen 'by choice,' with Matt Glassman
As Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) loses a repeated vote to take up the speaker gavel, House Republicans are considering testing the limits of Rep. Patrick McHenry's (R-N.C.) powers as speaker pro tempore. Matt Glassman, senior fellow at the Government Affairs Institute, joins Chuck to analyze why Congress is paralyzed, as the House of Representatives goes 16 days and counting without an elected leader.
10/20/2023 • 38 minutes, 33 seconds
‘Band of Brothers flying into combat’: How John Glenn and Ted Williams became lifelong friends
Adam Lazarus, author of “The Wingmen: The Unlikely, Unusual, Unbreakable Friendship Between John Glenn and Ted Williams” joins Chuck to talk about how to titans of the twentieth century ended up as lifelong friends.
10/17/2023 • 57 minutes, 44 seconds
Bruce Mehlman: Are both parties trying to lose in 2024?
Democrats don't trust the Supreme Court, Republicans don't trust the FBI or mainstream media, and everyone is paranoid about deepfakes. Bruce Mehlman, partner at Mehlman Consulting, joins Chuck to discuss both parties' biggest weaknesses ahead of 2024.
10/12/2023 • 53 minutes, 16 seconds
‘I’m in the solutions business now’: Chuck Todd kicks off a new ToddCast era
Washington faces a House without a speaker, a war in Israel and a crisis at the southern border. Ryan Nobles, NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent and Paul Kane, Washington Post senior congressional correspondent, talk about a confluence of events that sound like “a ‘West Wing’ plot.”
10/9/2023 • 40 minutes, 30 seconds
Chuck's last Post Game: 'The roller coaster never stops,' with John Reiss
John Reiss, executive producer for Meet the Press during Chuck's first eight years as moderator, joins to post game a chapter of Meet the Press that brought digital expansion, a daily spin-off and a companion newsmagazine to the longest-running show in television history.
9/10/2023 • 25 minutes, 20 seconds
'They want to die in the Senate': Aging lawmakers cling onto elected office
As Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) faces growing concerns over his health, Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and his House Republicans are debating a possible impeachment inquiry against President Biden. Carl Hulse, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, and Marianna Sotomayor, congressional reporter for the Washington Post, join Chuck to detail whether either McConnell or McCarthy is likely to stay in his congressional leadership seat for much longer.
9/8/2023 • 30 minutes, 58 seconds
Post Game with Jake Sherman: Mitch McConnell 'won't be finishing his term'
A second public freeze by Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) has revived concerns over the senator's ability to carry out his term — and cast a renewed focus on the health issues of America's aging political leaders. Jake Sherman, co-founder of Punchbowl News, joins Chuck to detail the inside scoop from Capitol Hill.
9/3/2023 • 22 minutes, 57 seconds
Meet my son: A former GOP congresswoman's fight for trans acceptance
Former Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) served in the House for three decades, until 2019. In the short time since, the GOP has taken a sharp turn toward anti-trans rhetoric. Ros-Lehtinen and her son, Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, executive director of the National Center of Transgender Equality, join Chuck to analyze the Republican Party's newly developed stance on trans issues and detail their efforts to bring trans acceptance to the party.
9/1/2023 • 21 minutes, 18 seconds
A tale of two primaries: Trump's colliding legal and political calendars
On Monday, a federal judge in D.C. set March 4, 2024 as the start date for the first of former President Trump’s two federal criminal trials. The day after that is Super Tuesday. Mark Murray, Ben Kamisar, Bridget Bowman and Alexandra Marquez of the NBC News political unit join Chuck to explain how Trump's legal and political calendars may mix and combine in 2024.
8/30/2023 • 38 minutes, 40 seconds
Post Game with Stephanie Murphy: 'I'm resigned to the fact [Biden] is running'
Former Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.) joins the ToddCast to analyze how she understood President Biden's 2020 campaign pitch to signal "a promise to be a bridge to the next generation," and tells Chuck, "I took that as one term."
8/27/2023 • 22 minutes, 23 seconds
'Just make stuff up': How Vivek Ramaswamy stole the debate spotlight
Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who at times looked more like a Trump surrogate, commanded the stage during Fox News’ debate — but mostly because he bore the brunt of his rivals’ attacks on stage. Molly Ball, national political correspondent at Time magazine, and Jonah Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Dispatch, join Chuck to explain what the first presidential debate means for the GOP race.
8/25/2023 • 28 minutes, 26 seconds
'It's mostly a personality test': Iowa poll dissects the GOP race
Former President Trump might skip Wednesday night's debate, but he's ever-present in the minds of voters, according to numbers from the new partnership between NBC News, the Des Moines Register and MediaCom. J. Ann Selzer, the chief pollster behind this latest survey, joins Chuck to detail the toplines — and how most likely GOP Iowa caucusgoers are unlikely to support any candidate who "aggressively criticizes" Trump.
8/23/2023 • 27 minutes, 38 seconds
Post Game with Lanhee Chen: 'How do you break the trance' behind Trump's support?
As the first presidential debate of the cycle prepares to usher in the next phase of the 2024 campaign, the challengers to former President Trump's re-election bid have mostly still opted to not take him on, as the four-time indicted front-runner rocks the system with threats to his prosecutors. Lanhee Chen, fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, joins Chuck to analyze why Trump's supporters can't quit him.
8/20/2023 • 23 minutes, 16 seconds
Jeffrey Goldberg: The toll Trump's indictments take on democracy itself
Ninety-one felony charges across four criminal indictments: That’s one way to measure former President Trump’s impact on American politics. But what about the stress that these indictments place on our judicial system? Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the Atlantic and host of PBS' Washington Week with the Atlantic, joins Chuck to discuss how America's system of accountability could be rocked by a former president under trial.
8/18/2023 • 48 minutes, 19 seconds
How Trump could weaponize his trial in Georgia
A Georgia grand jury issued former President Trump his fourth indictment late Monday night, charging Trump and 18 of his allies with felony racketeering and numerous conspiracy counts in their attempt to overturn the 2020 election. NBC News Correspondent Blayne Alexander and Greg Bluestein, politics reporter with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, join Chuck from Georgia to discuss what District Attorney Fani Willis' charges mean for the former president.
8/16/2023 • 29 minutes, 45 seconds
Post Game with Eugene Daniels: 'No one thinks [AG Garland] is doing a good job'
As both Biden and Trump face special counsel probes in the midst of their re-election campaigns, the developing primaries seem almost secondary to the political implications of the decisions coming out of the courts. Eugene Daniels, White House correspondent for Politico, joins Chuck to analyze how many voters now feel stuck between legal fatigue and indictment confusion.
8/13/2023 • 15 minutes, 55 seconds
Chip War: 'If there's a war over Taiwan, semiconductors will be the first casualty'
Americans who waited endlessly for products to make it through the pandemic-era global supply chain crisis know all too well how disastrous a shortage of semiconductor chips can be to the global economy — but few know the extent to which a chips shortage could further exacerbate U.S.-China tensions. Chris Miller, author of “Chip War: The fight for the world’s most critical technology," joins Chuck to detail his research on the global infrastructure behind producing semiconductors.
8/11/2023 • 31 minutes, 9 seconds
'The magic elixir of youth turnout': How abortion politics are clobbering the GOP
On Tuesday, Ohio voters resoundingly shot down a constitutional amendment that would have weakened the state's protection of abortion rights, offering a preview of one the GOP's contentious issues ahead of 2024. Republican strategist Brad Todd and Democratic strategist Cornell Belcher join Chuck to debate over each party's strengths and weaknesses ahead of the next cycle.
8/9/2023 • 32 minutes, 13 seconds
Post Game with Hallie Jackson: White House or 'big house' for Trump?
With former President Trump's third indictment comes the most serious charges facing a former president — and for voters, the difficult decision to either send him back to the White House or to essentially sign off on his prison sentence or home confinement. NBC News Senior Washington Correspondent Hallie Jackson joins Chuck to break down America's unprecedented legal moment.
8/6/2023 • 25 minutes, 43 seconds
Kai Bird: What Oppenheimer and Jimmy Carter have in common
Christopher Nolan's summer blockbuster "Oppenheimer" brought renewed focus to the moral conflict faced by the father of the atomic bomb. But before there was a movie, there was a seminal biography. Kai Bird, author of "American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer," joins Chuck to detail the physicist's background — and what similarities he shared with former President Jimmy Carter.
8/2/2023 • 42 minutes, 25 seconds
Post Game: How Trump could prop up Cornel West to troll Biden, with Faiz Shakir
A health scare suffered by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and a repeated moment of public confusion for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) have returned the focus to the aging of our political leaders — with none more scrutinized than President Biden. Faiz Shakir, senior adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), joins Chuck to detail the hurdles ahead in Biden's campaign for re-election, from potential challengers to scrutiny over his mental fitness.
7/30/2023 • 23 minutes, 8 seconds
The Hill goes on recess after a doozy of a week: UFOs, impeachment inquiries and leadership questions
NBC’s Senior National Political Reporter, Sahil Kapur, and NBC News Capitol Hill Correspondent, Julie Tsirken join Chuck to talk about one of the wildest weeks on Capitol Hill.
7/28/2023 • 29 minutes, 29 seconds
DeSantis 'has a lot of power in Tallahassee, but not a lot of friends'
The problems for Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) are piling up, as he now admits he's looking to reboot his presidential campaign. NBC News Senior National Politics Reporter Matt Dixon joins Chuck to detail whether DeSantis can regain momentum as he sheds more than 40% of his campaign staff.
7/26/2023 • 34 minutes, 57 seconds
Gov. Doug Burgum: Culture war issues ‘definitely not the place’ to focus on for presidential candidates
Republican presidential candidate and Governor of North Dakota Doug Burgum joined Meet the Press in an exclusive interview to discuss his campaign for 2024, former President Donald Trump’s lead in the GOP race and federal versus states’ rights.
7/21/2023 • 48 minutes, 33 seconds
How Craigslist undermined local newspapers and redefined political coverage
Local newspapers were once a staple of every American town. But with the rise of the internet came Craigslist — and with it, the largest threat to the financial survival of newspapers: free, online classified ads. Stanford University professor and researcher Gregory Martin joins Chuck to explain the findings of his study on how Craigslist changed the local news landscape and the impact of this change on political coverage and polarization.
7/19/2023 • 26 minutes, 37 seconds
Post Game with Carol Lee: Biden rallied NATO leaders behind Ukraine. Can he rally voters?
President Biden's actions on the world stage may be judged by history as some of the most impactful decisions of his time in office — even if it may not matter to voters in November 2024. NBC News Washington Managing Editor Carol Lee joins Chuck to break down the takeaways from Biden's trip to the NATO summit.
7/16/2023 • 22 minutes, 20 seconds
Josh Rogin: Ukraine NATO membership 'a distraction, and a silly one at that'
Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin joins Chuck to talk about the NATO summit in Lithuania and why a hold on Ukraine's membership in the military alliance may turn out to be a "red herring."
7/14/2023 • 29 minutes, 49 seconds
'No, actually, the economy is good': Democrats struggle to convince voters
As he campaigns for re-election, President Biden is bringing the attention of voters to the strong parts of the U.S. economy in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic. The only problem? Americans aren't easily convinced that "Bidenomics" are making the economy healthier. Rachel Siegel, economics reporter for the Washington Post, and Brendan Pedersen, financial services reporter for Punchbowl News, join Chuck to break down the economic clash between data and sentiment.
7/12/2023 • 25 minutes, 44 seconds
Post Game with Amna Nawaz: 'We will be cleaning up this mess' sending cluster munitions to Ukraine
As the U.S. agrees to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions — a type of weapon banned in 100+ countries, but not America — critics raise concerns that President Biden might have agreed to "cede the moral authority" on the global stage. Amna Nawaz, co-anchor for PBS NewsHour, joins Chuck to analyze how the ongoing war effort reflects on Biden's standing.
7/9/2023 • 20 minutes, 49 seconds
Gov. Doug Burgum is 'spending a lot … to get that 1%'
Gov. Doug Burgum (R-N.D.) has launched a longshot bid for his party's presidential nomination, but the software-executive-turned-billionaire-governor is no stranger to dark-horse campaigns. NBC News Senior National Political Reporter Henry Gomez and New York Times Political Correspondent Jonathan Weisman join Chuck to break down the state of the GOP field.
7/7/2023 • 35 minutes, 59 seconds
Third Way slams third-party bids: 'That almost certainly will help Trump'
Faced with the apparent likelihood (for now) of a Biden-Trump rematch, the advent of a third-party run seems inevitable — but now, centrists groups are fighting over whether such a bid would end up handing the election to former President Trump. Matt Bennett, Third Way co-founder and EVP for Public Affairs, joins Chuck to argue why he says No Labels could be a "spoiler" in 2024.
6/30/2023 • 27 minutes, 2 seconds
David Ignatius: 'I don't think [Prigozhin] is long for this world' after Putin challenge
After the head of the Wagner mercenary group launched — then halted — an insurrection on Russian cities, President Vladimir Putin is still reeling from the biggest challenge to his authority in the 23 years he has governed Russia. David Ignatius, columnist for the Washington Post, joins Chuck to analyze the evolving power dynamics in the region.
6/28/2023 • 32 minutes, 55 seconds
Post Game with Cornell Belcher: 'How do we rally [young voters] one more time' for Biden?
A new NBC News poll shows further evidence that American voters are deeply dissatisfied with the direction of the country and with its leadership. Cornell Belcher, president of Brilliant Corners Research & Strategies, joins Chuck to break down President Biden's low approval numbers — and former President Trump's support holding strong despite him having "the worst couple weeks in the history of modern politics."
6/25/2023 • 20 minutes, 50 seconds
Colin Allred pitches his Senate bid: 'There's a big appetite to replace Ted Cruz'
Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) launched an early bid to challenge Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in a state that hasn't sent a Democrat to the Senate in 30 years. He joins Chuck to detail his candidacy and delivers his perspective as a former NFL linebacker on politics in sports.
6/23/2023 • 30 minutes, 53 seconds
States draw battle lines over abortion, gender-affirming care
Nationwide, rulings happening in the states are already changing the landscape on abortion and gender-affirming care. Reid Wilson, founder and editor of Pluribus News, and Emily Bazelon, staff writer for the New York Times Magazine, join Chuck to break down the constitutional battles happening stateside.
6/21/2023 • 29 minutes, 12 seconds
Post Game: Trump's legal problems 'color the entire race,' with Peter Baker
As former President Trump's legal perils escalate, his rivals might have the opportunity to boost their campaigns — but whether they're rallying for or against him, Trump continues to define the terms of the primary debate. Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, joins Chuck to break down the state of the Republican Party.
In the aftermath of the 2020 murder of George Floyd, researchers at Columbia worked to trace the roots of America's racial inequalities. The project's lead, Dean of Columbia Journalism School Jelani Cobb, joins Chuck to detail how his project aims to guide journalists in their coverage of present-day systemic racism.
6/16/2023 • 35 minutes, 55 seconds
Trump is indicted for the second time. Do his voters care?
A U.S. president being impeached — and now indicted — twice for criminal behavior is unprecedented — legally, politically and historically. Former Gov. Pat McCrory (R-N.C.) and Brendan Buck, former senior adviser to House Speakers Boehner and Ryan, join Chuck to detail whether this changes anything for the half of the country that already supports former President Trump.
6/14/2023 • 39 minutes, 10 seconds
Fmr. Gov. Scott Walker's advice to GOP presidential hopefuls
He's a former two-term Wisconsin governor, survived a recall effort, ran for president in 2016, and — in a new Wall Street Journal op-ed — is telling today's Republican primary candidates how to learn from his mistakes as they seek the presidency. Former Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wis.) joins Chuck to detail the state of the race and deliver his read on the pulse of the GOP electorate.
6/9/2023 • 25 minutes, 18 seconds
Two former Trump allies jump into the race to challenge him
As the GOP primary field expands, its latest entries this week are marked by the candidacies of former Vice President Mike Pence and former Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) — the head of the Trump White House transition team and formerly thought of as a top VP candidate. Amy Walter, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report, and Michael Kruse, senior staff writer for Politico, join Chuck to size up the developing primary.
6/7/2023 • 34 minutes, 4 seconds
Chuck Todd looks back on his Meet the Press legacy with Andrea Mitchell
Chuck announced that after close to a decade at "Meet the Press," he will stepping down from his role as moderator of the longest-running show in television. NBC News Chief Washington correspondent Andrea Mitchell joins Chuck to break down the significance of the show in the public forum.
6/4/2023 • 12 minutes, 51 seconds
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee: 'Maybe the secret of politics is to outlive your opposition'
Gov. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) is preparing to leave the governor's mansion after a decade in office. He joins Chuck to detail his 30+ years of activism — including his signature climate policies to reimagine the nation's reliance on fossil fuels over renewable energies — and the state of democracy.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), former President Trump and more presidential hopefuls are rallying in Iowa this week, ahead of the state's first-in-the-nation Republican contest early next year. GOP strategist David Kochel joins Chuck to detail what a success or a misstep in the Hawkeye State could mean for the rest of the primary campaign.
5/31/2023 • 32 minutes, 37 seconds
The mental health crisis among veterans, with Paul Rieckhoff
The Department of Veteran Affairs' report last year showing a staggering decline in suicides among military veterans seemed to bring encouraging news — still, that figure was disputed by advocates, who say the undercounting of suicides painted a rosier picture than reality offers. Paul Rieckhoff, founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, joins Chuck to detail the state of veterans' mental health as the nation nears Memorial Day.
5/26/2023 • 29 minutes, 55 seconds
The 2024 demolition derby ft. DeSantis, Trump and Scott: David Drucker and Audrey Fahlberg
It's the busiest week of the 2024 election so far: Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) ("the happy warrior") and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) (the Disney warrior) are jumping in the race ... and Donald Trump has at least one already in his crosshairs. The Dispatch's David Drucker and Audrey Fahlberg discuss DeSantis' unique planned announcement and what could be ahead.
5/24/2023 • 34 minutes, 4 seconds
Post Game with Carlos Curbelo: Is DeSantis 2024 dead on arrival?
As Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis plots a formal entry into the GOP 2024 primary, attacks from former President Trump have knocked him down from the early momentum he'd accrued after the midterms. Former Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.) joins Chuck to detail the impending political showdown between both Florida men vying for the presidency as the Republican primary ramps up in earnest.
5/21/2023 • 15 minutes, 22 seconds
Erdoğan heads to a runoff: 'It was the economy, stupid … and it was the earthquake, stupid'
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is headed for a tense election runoff which could end his 20-year rule. Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group, joins Chuck to detail the strongman's legacy as he fights to extend his legacy into a third decade.
5/19/2023 • 32 minutes, 11 seconds
'The McConnell skills but the Trump endorsement': Breaking down Tuesday's election winners
Kentucky's GOP nominee for governor fends off an ultra-wealthy opponent, Democrats hold onto the Pennsylvania state House by nationalizing the contest, and election deniers register losses across the board. ... We might be looking to '24, but Decision 2023 isn't done with us yet. NBC News Correspondent Dasha Burns and NBC News Deputy Political Editor Ben Kamisar join Chuck to analyze a packed election day.
5/17/2023 • 31 minutes, 52 seconds
Post Game: Town hall proves 'Trump has not changed,' with Kimberly Atkins Stohr
Despite some partywide polling showing that a Republican alternative to former President Trump could be popular among partisans, the hands of any would-be challengers seem tied by their need to not alienate his uber-motivated base. Kimberly Atkins Stohr, senior opinion writer for the Boston Globe, joins Chuck to break down how a recent CNN town hall shows that Trump is campaigning for 2024 the same ways he did in 2016 and 2020.
5/14/2023 • 20 minutes, 52 seconds
Confronting our 'HAL' moment: The pitch for an A.I. bill of rights
The seemingly exponential growth in artificial intelligence's ability causes concern over potential repercussions to come when the intellect of machines outmatches humans'. Jacy Reese Anthis, a sociologist and co-founder of the Sentience Institute, joins Chuck to break down whether there can be any break pedal or moderation in the advancement of A.I.
5/12/2023 • 28 minutes, 49 seconds
'This is not going to be an election where Biden is popular'
President Biden's re-election campaign is headed for a difficult summer — and that's if everything goes right for him. NBC News Political Deputy Editor Bridget Bowman and Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of Inside Elections, join Chuck to analyze how troubles related to the economy and immigration have even made Democrats comfortable with criticizing their party's leader … as Democrats themselves stare down a thorny Senate map in 2024.
5/10/2023 • 40 minutes, 38 seconds
'We're all exhausted': MTP's producer breaks down how we cover mass shootings
Another weekend has brought another horrific mass shooting, this time in Texas — and for the editorial staff at "Meet the Press," the question of how to give each its due coverage in a country where gun deaths have unfortunately become all too common. David Gelles, the show's executive producer, joins Chuck to bring the curtain back on how the longest-running show in television history gets made every week.
5/7/2023 • 20 minutes, 10 seconds
Where are the moderates? Robert Draper profiles the disappearing center
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's (I-Ariz.) divorce from the Democratic Party points to the developing tension of where the center fits in a political climate that seems to promote partisan bickering. New York Times correspondent Robert Draper joins Chuck to talk about where moderates fit in today's politics.
5/5/2023 • 34 minutes
Time is against trans Montana state Rep. Zooey Zephyr
A partisan legal battle is erupting in Montana, as House Republicans bar state Rep. Zooey Zephyr (D) from returning to the floor, in a standoff that put a national spotlight on transgender issues. She joins Chuck to talk about the latest in her state, and how this incident mirrors other examples of muffling of dissent happening in state legislatures.
5/3/2023 • 20 minutes, 48 seconds
Post Game with Claire McCaskill: Repairing the 'tattered' confidence in the Supreme Court
Justice Samuel Alito's claim that he has a '"pretty good idea" of who leaked the Dobbs decision has raised questions across the nation, as critics claim he's shifting blame for the leak to the left — and intensifying already-increasing doubts on the neutral arbitration from the highest court in the land. Former Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) joins Chuck to discuss how to restore faith in the the nation's judicial system.
4/30/2023 • 15 minutes, 38 seconds
TikTok, Twitch & more: Meet the next generation of political influencers
Tucker Carlson's apparent firing this week is an upheaval for more than just Fox News — It could also be one of the early indicators of a new type of commentator that is eschewing cable news and moving online. NBC News' Kat Tenbarge and Ben Goggin join Chuck to analyze who's leading the charge among the new guard of political influencers ... and where they're reaching the digitally native.
4/28/2023 • 22 minutes, 10 seconds
Douglas Brinkley: Biden 2024 & the echoes of past wartime presidents
He's calling it a "battle for the soul of America," but President Biden had at least a few other conflicts on his mind as he announced his re-election campaign Tuesday. Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley joins Chuck to break down how Biden sizes up against some of his predecessors, as strained relations with Russia and China — and a potential looming recession — promise to throw hurdles at whoever is chosen to head up the White House in the next term.
4/26/2023 • 27 minutes, 7 seconds
Post Game: Voters 'dissatisfied' with Biden-Trump rematch in 2024, with Eugene Robinson
A new NBC News poll gives early insight into the likelihood of a 2020 rematch in the 2024 presidential election, despite substantial majorities of Americans saying they don't want President Biden or former President Trump to run again. Eugene Robinson, columnist for the Washington Post, joins Chuck to break down the developing presidential cycle as Biden seems set to declare his run this week ... and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis struggles to maintain momentum within the Republican primary.
4/23/2023 • 18 minutes, 34 seconds
'This is not impossible': Fixing U.S. gun culture in the age of NRA dominance
As America clocks in more mass shootings than days in 2023 so far, both major political factions remain irreparably divided as to a legislative path forward to lessen gun violence. Wes Siler, columnist for “Outside," and David Yamane, professor of sociology at Wake Forest University, join Chuck to analyze how inroads might only be attained through reimagining of gun culture in the U.S.
4/21/2023 • 31 minutes, 37 seconds
DeSantis' war with Disney divides the GOP
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) fired off another volley of legislative attacks at Disney World in Orlando, in the continuation of a yearlong battle that is dividing fellow Republicans as DeSantis ponders a presidential run. NBC News Senior National Political Reporter Henry J. Gomez and NBC News Deputy Political Editor Ben Kamisar join Chuck to analyze how this feud plays into the 2024 GOP primary ... and why DeSantis can't "Let It Go."
4/19/2023 • 31 minutes, 47 seconds
Post Game with Jeh Johnson: Are too many people reading Top Secret docs?
How does a 21-year-old national guardsman, enlisted in 2019, gain access to our nation's top secrets? Former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson joins Chuck to break down whether the wake of the biggest intelligence leak in a decade will spur the U.S. to reconsider just how readily it provides top-secret clearances to officers and employees.
4/16/2023 • 21 minutes, 33 seconds
Peniel Joseph: How the South's racial tensions could signal America's third Reconstruction
The expulsion of two lawmakers in Tennessee last week is just the latest example of what critics have lambasted as the political overstepping of white lawmakers on the rights of the Black community. Peniel Joseph, author of "The Third Reconstruction: America's Struggle for Racial Justice in the Twenty-First Century," joins Chuck to argue why, after the ratification of the 13th amendment in 1865 and the Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954, the U.S. may be dealing with its third major reckoning on race relations.
4/14/2023 • 43 minutes, 25 seconds
Intel community reeling after Pentagon leak exposes military secrets
The release of purported classified documents from the Department of Defense — many of them labeled Top Secret — threw the intelligence community into chaos this week. Former CIA Director John Brennan and NBC News Pentagon Correspondent Courtney Kube join Chuck to detail what we know while as the culprit and motive of the leak remain unclear.
4/12/2023 • 31 minutes, 8 seconds
Post Game: Dueling rulings leave abortion pill in jeopardy, with Laura Jarrett
Two legal rulings by federal judges delivered conflicting guidance on the future of the abortion pill, in a week already marked by the arrest and arraignment of a former president and charges that Justice Clarence Thomas accepted luxury trips from a Republican donor. NBC News Senior Legal Correspondent Laura Jarrett joins Chuck to unpack a crazy legal week.
4/9/2023 • 17 minutes, 52 seconds
Don't call it a spoiler: 'No Labels' offers alternative to Trump/Biden rematch
Could we see Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and former Gov. Larry Hogan (R-Md.) together in a presidential ticket? Ahead of 2024, a bipartisan organization named No Labels has vowed to present a third option, should President Biden and former President Trump reprise their roles as their parties' nominees. Ryan Clancy, chief strategist for No Labels, joins Chuck to detail whether his group could weather the uphill battle third parties face in the U.S. to capitalize on the staggering unpopularity of both major party leaders.
4/7/2023 • 41 minutes, 57 seconds
Breaking down the left's banner day in Wisconsin & Chicago
It's been a nightmarish start of the week for Republicans: the liberal reclaiming of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, led by Judge Janet Protasiewicz's 10-point trouncing of her opponent, came on top of former President Trump's arrest and arraignment earlier Tuesday. And in Chicago, Brandon Johnson's edging out of Paul Vallas for the city's mayorship seemed to show a breath of relief for the progressive wing's approach to the surge of crime in cities. Scott Bland and Alexandra Marquez of the NBC News Political Unit join Chuck to analyze what this Election Day tells us about the road to 2024.
4/5/2023 • 36 minutes
Post Game: Trump's lawyers caught blindsided by his indictment, with Ashley Parker
Despite his frenzied posting about an imminent arrest, news of former President Trump's indictment caught his lawyers by surprise — as some among them were even planning to take time off. Ashley Parker, senior national political correspondent for The Washington Post, joins Chuck to detail her reporting on Trumpworld's response ahead of his arraignment, and the reported fundraising haul that followed his indictment.
4/2/2023 • 17 minutes, 33 seconds
Failed judicial overhaul shakes Netanyahu's standing in Israel
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was forced to put his planned overhaul of the justice system on the backburner as protests and the backlash over his sacking of his defense minister plunged the country into turmoil — and threw a wrench in Netanyahu's agenda. Martin Fletcher spent 30+ years covering Israel for NBC News, and joins Chuck to detail Israel's current state and its evolving relationship with the United States.
3/31/2023 • 36 minutes, 20 seconds
Bans on books, abortion and TikTok: Are libertarians home in the GOP?
State legislatures in recent months have pushed several bills restricting personal freedoms, as even transpartisan coalitions emerge around measures that limit the reach of TikTok, or curtail social media's impact on minors. Katherine Mangu-Ward, editor in chief of Reason, joins Chuck to break down what has happened to the libertarian ideology, and how it weighs in our contemporary two-party system.
3/29/2023 • 48 minutes, 39 seconds
Post Game w/ Yamiche Alcindor: Can DeSantis survive a Trump scorching?
Despite the significant ramping up of his legal troubles, former President Trump again solidified his political command by lining fellow Republicans behind him in his attack on Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg. NBC News Washington Correspondent Yamiche Alcindor joins Chuck to detail the state of the 2024 race, as Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) struggles to gain momentum in a potential challenge to the former president.
3/26/2023 • 20 minutes, 45 seconds
'The most influential algorithm created': Congressman with 1+ million TikTok followers lays out the app's risks
This week, lawmakers grilled TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew as he fielded concerns — and recriminations — over his app's privacy and security risks. One member, Rep. Jeff Jackson (D-N.C.), established a commanding presence on the platform, but joins Chuck to outline what he sees as significant problems for users.
3/24/2023 • 39 minutes, 41 seconds
How George W. Bush's GOP became the party of Trump
Twenty years out from the start of the Iraq war, the Republican Party is facing a new kind of dilemma: How to define itself along — or in opposition to — the issues and political standing of former President Trump. Stephen Hayes, co-founder of The Dispatch, and Charlie Sykes, editor-in-chief of The Bulwark, join Chuck to track the GOP's shift from the party of George W. Bush to its current state.
3/22/2023 • 34 minutes, 48 seconds
Post Game: Unveiling the secret plot to ruin Jimmy Carter's re-election, with Peter Baker
A prominent Texas politician has broken his silence on a four-decade secret: How he says strategists in Ronald Reagan's orbit used the 1980s Iran hostage crisis to sabotage Jimmy Carter's re-election campaign. Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for the New York Times, joins Chuck to detail his scoop.
3/19/2023 • 23 minutes, 27 seconds
Robert Gates: The former Defense secretary's mission to fix the NCAA
The excitement March Madness routinely generates casts a shadow over a deeper fundamental problem in the NCAA — namely, that the performance of its roughly half a million young athletes earns them no salaried compensation. Former Defense Sec. Robert Gates joins Chuck to detail how he's tried to fix college basketball in his new role as the top person in charge of rewriting the association's constitution.
3/17/2023 • 33 minutes, 36 seconds
'Too medium to fail': Bank collapses turn Fed into political warzone
While Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) calls for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's recusal, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blames "woke politics" — the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank did more than just expose bank regulatory failures, it also showcased our worsening political divide. Jim Tankersley, White House correspondent for the New York Times, and Ben White, Politico’s chief economic correspondent, join Chuck to break down the politics of the Fed … and Washington's blame game.
3/15/2023 • 29 minutes, 23 seconds
Post Game: It's two Florida men vs. everybody in 2024, with Jonathan Martin
Former President Trump is plotting a visit to the key early caucus state of Iowa on the heels of Gov. Ron DeSantis's visit. Jonathan Martin, senior political columnist with Politico, joins Chuck to break down the political standing of both candidates as they are seen as early leading contenders for the GOP presidential nomination.
3/12/2023 • 32 minutes, 26 seconds
2024 White House candidate Vivek Ramaswamy: 'You only get to be an outsider once'
Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy isn't waiting to wade into the Republican presidential primary field. He brings his 2024 campaign pitch against "the secular religions" he calls "wokeism," "gender ideology," "climateism" and "Covidism" to the Toddcast, telling Chuck, "when we rallied behind the cry to Make America Great Again, we did not just hunger for a single man."
3/10/2023 • 37 minutes, 45 seconds
Who is Ron DeSantis?
In his State of the State address, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined agenda priorities around abortion, gun rights, and immigration — and a potential appetizer for a presidential platform to come. Matt Dixon, Politico's Florida bureau chief, and Patricia Mazzei, Miami bureau chief for the New York Times, bring Chuck the inside scoop on DeSantis as the GOP "invisible primary" takes off.
3/8/2023 • 31 minutes, 31 seconds
Post Game with Jeh Johnson: The DHS 'model is now outdated'
In a Sunday interview, two leaders of the House Intelligence Committee told Meet the Press that neither were satisfied with the Gang of Eight briefing on classified documents. Former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson joins Chuck after the show to detail his experience dealing with the intelligence community — plus the ways in which the department he used to head should evolve with the times.
3/5/2023 • 18 minutes, 39 seconds
Shirley Chisholm: The triumphs and challenges of the first Black woman to seek the presidency
"Unbought and Unbossed": This is how Shirley Chisholm described herself in campaign literature — but it's also a mantra that guided her as she became the first Black woman elected to Congress in 1968, and as she broke ground in her 1972 presidential bid. Anastasia Curwood, author of "Shirley Chisholm: Champion of Black Feminist Power Politics," joins Chuck to detail Chisholm's path to power and the adversity she faced along the way.
3/3/2023 • 28 minutes, 36 seconds
'The floodgates have been opened': Fox News faces lawsuit
In a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit, Dominion Voting Systems is taking aim at Fox News — and its chair Rupert Murdoch — for what they say are Fox News hosts "endorsing" claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from former President Trump. Erik Wemple, media critic for the Washington Post, joins Chuck to break down what Fox News's legal woes could mean for the future of cable news as a whole.
3/1/2023 • 35 minutes, 50 seconds
Reassessing the myths around Jimmy Carter's presidency, with Jonathan Alter
President Jimmy Carter was a "political failure, but a substantive and often visionary success as president," says biographer Jonathan Alter. He tells Chuck Todd that the former president, now a week into receiving hospice care, has had his White House accomplishments severely undervalued — and the efforts in his post-presidency overstated, as he took on a role of "freelance secretary of State" to the chagrin of his successors.
2/26/2023 • 35 minutes, 44 seconds
Putin's endgame: How he could define his own victory over Ukraine, with Michael McFaul
A full year into its launch, the war in Ukraine is a far cry from the rapid invasion Russian President Vladimir Putin had planned. Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul joins Chuck to outline Putin's possible paths forward — including the justifications the Russian president may make to save face.
2/24/2023 • 28 minutes, 22 seconds
Biden faces Putin, but struggles to rally Americans behind Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin responded with defiance after President Biden carried out surprise visit to Ukraine's embattled capital — Biden's unwavering approach now met with the breaking down of a nuclear arms control agreement between the two nations. Dan Balz, chief correspondent for the Washington Post, and Eliot Cohen, the Arleigh Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, join Chuck to plot Biden's road ahead in dealing with Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
2/22/2023 • 34 minutes, 32 seconds
Post Game with Thomas Friedman: 'We have no choice but to figure out how to live' with China
Tensions flared following Secretary of State Antony Blinken's meeting with China's top diplomat, as the U.S. accuses Chinese leaders of considering providing "lethal support" to aid Russia in its war with Ukraine. Thomas Friedman, foreign affairs columnist for the New York Times, joins Chuck to chronicle the rise of China over the past several decades, and break down the current state of U.S. relations with the country.
2/19/2023 • 16 minutes, 50 seconds
1,000+ launches a day: Balloon expert explains why we're now seeing UFOs everywhere
Flying objects recently shot down from North American airspace have left many Americans confused and anxious — yet experts caution that the U.S. is not being overrun by new UFOs, but rather coming to terms with the quantity of objects that fly overhead at all times. Paul Fetkowitz, president of a weather balloon-maker for governmental and civilian use, joins Chuck to detail just how crowded our skies are.
2/17/2023 • 29 minutes, 45 seconds
Nikki Haley's 2024 bid sets off 'invisible primary' to defy Trump
The presidential campaign of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, made official Wednesday, marks the first primary challenger to former President Trump — to date, the only other candidate in the race — but is unlikely to be the last, as the former president's recent political losses have led to his weakened stance within the Republican Party. Sara Fagen, the former White House political director for President George W. Bush, and Brendan Buck, a former top adviser to House Speakers Boehner and Ryan, join Chuck to size up the GOP's budding "invisible primary."
2/15/2023 • 34 minutes, 17 seconds
Post Game: The 'Drone Wars' have begun, with Jonah Goldberg
The U.S. downed three flying objects over North American airspace this week, marking an awakening — for many Americans — of the changing nature of global security and intelligence. Jonah Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Dispatch, joins Chuck to analyze how the White House and Pentagon have responded to the moment.
2/12/2023 • 28 minutes, 15 seconds
The glue: Football may be flawed, but it still unifies America
Americans may be more politically divided than ever disagreeing not only politically but also on what should be taught in schools to what constitutes free speech to book bans. But one place where Americans regardless of political affiliation don’t seem to diverge, however, is football, especially the Super Bowl.Chuck talks with Samuel G. Freedman, journalism professor at Columbia University and the author “Breaking the Line: The season in Black college football that transformed the sport and changed the course of civil rights.” He recently wrote a piece for the Atlantic in which he reviews a new memoir from former Giants Coach Tom Coughlin.
2/10/2023 • 27 minutes, 26 seconds
State of the Union: Republicans provided Biden with the foil he needed
In his Tuesday speech, President Biden shook hands and cracked jokes — but also traded barbs with Republicans, with verbal back-and-forths some have likened more to the U.K. House of Commons than a traditional address to Congress. Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for the New York Times, and Leigh Ann Caldwell, co-anchor of Washington Post Live, join Chuck to unpack what the president highlighted — and didn't talk about — at this year's State of the Union address.
2/8/2023 • 41 minutes, 53 seconds
Post Game: China's spy balloon exposed our partisan rift, with Amy Walter
Amy Walter, editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report, joins Chuck to analyze how the Chinese surveillance balloon — shot down by a U.S. fighter jet Saturday — reveals not only the evolving nature of our competition with China, but also the deepening partisan rift back home surrounding intelligence, homeland security and oversight. Plus, forget the Oscars: Amy and Chuck tell you their picks for the year's best films and TV shows.
2/5/2023 • 24 minutes, 26 seconds
‘The interesting stuff’: An AI optimist lays out his roadmap for the future of journalism and education
Anders Grimstad, head of Foresight and Emerging Interfaces at Schibstad, joins Chuck to explain why he’s optimistic about how artificial intelligence-powered tools could help journalists and educators … if the tools are well-regulated.
2/3/2023 • 39 minutes, 46 seconds
'Turn the Page': Most voters unenthusiastic about Biden, Trump re-elect
A brand new NBC News poll shows that two-thirds of voters are uncomfortable with President Biden and former President Trump running for the White House again — and while Biden has not yet officially announced a run for re-election, a primary seems to be rearing up in earnest on the Republican side, with reports of fmr. Amb. Nikki Haley's bid to come in the next couple weeks. Mark Murray, Bridget Bowman and Dante Chinni of the NBC News political unit join Chuck to break down the latest on Decision 2024.
2/1/2023 • 31 minutes, 33 seconds
Post Game with Amna Nawaz: Police beating of Tyre Nichols renews calls for accountability
The brutal beating of Tyre Nichols by Memphis police officers, caught on video, has renewed calls for greater accountability and oversight on law enforcement. Amna Nawaz, co-anchor of "PBS Newshour," joins Chuck to detail how Congress is once again asked to police the police — and whether they can.
1/29/2023 • 16 minutes, 18 seconds
House GOP, Biden docs … Harry & Meghan? NBC News's pollsters track America's reactions as 2023 revs up
As the new year settles in, giving us a hint of the issues that will shape our political landscape for the foreseeable future, the pollsters with NBC News are hard at work taking the temperature of voters. Mark Murray and Bridget Bowman of the NBC News political unit join Chuck to preview how their next poll will inform us of America's zeitgeist with a new election cycle now heating up.
1/27/2023 • 24 minutes, 50 seconds
Ruben Gallego's Senate bid sets up a potential battlefield in Arizona, with fmr. Rep. Ron Barber
Rep. Ruben Gallego's (D-Ariz.) Monday launch of his 2024 Senate bid could signal the first major challenge to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), who hasn't announced re-election plans, but shocked Democrats in her switch to independent, late last year. Former Rep. Ron Barber (D-Ariz.) joins Chuck to detail how the Grand Canyon state foreshadows the changing face of party politics nationally.
1/25/2023 • 34 minutes, 10 seconds
Post Game: Capitol Hill plays political football with the debt limit, with Brendan Buck
The seeds are planted for a debt-ceiling showdown, as newly empowered House Republicans aim to use the threat of a default as a tool to force budget cuts. Brendan Buck, a former adviser to House Speakers John Boehner and Paul Ryan, joins Chuck to outline how the everlasting crisis of the debt limit might reach a new high as a more extreme form of conservatism steers the GOP agenda.
1/22/2023 • 17 minutes, 13 seconds
George Shultz: How the architect of Reagan's Cold War policy rose to power and wielded it
He had been secretary of Labor, budget director and Treasury secretary, but is most famous as the nation's secretary of State at a time when the world was reeling from the Cold War: George Shultz's legacy of public service is notable not only for being only one of two to have held that many Cabinet posts, but also for his pivotal role in crafting President Reagan's foreign policy. Phil Taubman, author of "In the Nation’s Service: The Life and Times of George P. Shultz," paints the portrait of one of America's most consequential statesmen.
1/20/2023 • 26 minutes, 36 seconds
How George Santos slipped through everybody's radar ... and what it says about campaign politics
Now fully seated in Congress and committees, Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) launched his way into office thanks to a seemingly unending stream of lies. New York Times reporter Nicholas Fandos and Republican adviser Daniel Scarpinato join Chuck to explain how an unknown Republican from Long Island ended up in Capitol Hill ... and duped everyone tasked with vetting him along the way.
1/18/2023 • 40 minutes, 45 seconds
Post Game w/ Rev. Al Sharpton: How Biden weathers the docs scandal
Barely three weeks into the new year, the two likeliest candidates for 2024 — President Biden and former President Trump — now both face criminal investigations for their handling of classified documents. The Rev. Al Sharpton, host of MSNBC's "PoliticsNation" and president of the Political Action Network, joins The Chuck ToddCast to weigh in on how the next presidential cycle might ride on the special counsels appointed by the DOJ.
1/15/2023 • 10 minutes, 50 seconds
Investigating the most dangerous female spy in U.S. history, with Jim Popkin
Jim Popkin's new book "Code Name Blue Wren" documents his 15 years-long investigation of Ana Montes, a senior Pentagon analyst who spent close to two decades handing over state secrets to Cuba. He details the deadly double agent's story on the Chuck ToddCast.
1/13/2023 • 29 minutes, 53 seconds
The Republican Party 'doesn't know what it is right now': Josh Kraushaar & Leigh Ann Caldwell
The fraught House speaker drama along with the unfolding shadow campaigns to represent the GOP in the 2024 presidential election have left Republicans with the complicated task of figuring how they want to be defined. Josh Kraushaar, senior political correspondent at Axios, and Leigh Ann Caldwell, co-author of the Washington Post Early 202, join Chuck to detail the intraparty fights that have been ringing in the new year.
1/11/2023 • 37 minutes, 2 seconds
Post Game: McCarthy 'at the center of this war' to define the GOP, with Rachael Bade
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was finally elected House speaker after 14 rounds of bitter votes that exposed the Republican Party's intraparty division. Rachael Bade, co-author of Politico's "Playbook," joins Chuck to detail how Speaker McCarthy now finds himself tasked with the difficult mission of setting the legislative road ahead.
1/8/2023 • 14 minutes, 32 seconds
On immigration, 'Democrats have failed, Republicans failed': Rep.-elect Menendez
Representative-Elect Robert Menendez Jr. joins Chuck to talk about his decision to follow in his father's footsteps and run for Congress. His father, Senator Bob Menendez, once held this New Jersey 8th District seat, and they now will be the only parent-child duo in the 118th Congress.
1/6/2023 • 31 minutes, 11 seconds
What McCarthy's repeat failures mean for the House GOP
It's his personal Groundhog Day: Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) lost five consecutive speaker bids as the House continues to be deadlocked in its search for a leader — with McCarthy's Republican colleagues in charge of deciding his fate. Brendan Buck, a former top adviser to Speakers Paul Ryan and John Boehner, joins Chuck to talk about the biggest House leadership crisis in a century.
1/4/2023 • 21 minutes, 17 seconds
Alt History: What if Watergate didn’t happen?
Alternative History: What if Ed Muskie was the Democratic nominee in 1972 and Watergate never happened? David Shribman, the former executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and former Washington bureau chief at the Boston Globe joins Chuck to explore another alternative history.
12/30/2022 • 36 minutes, 56 seconds
Alt History: What if Eisenhower ran as a Democrat? Or didn’t run at all?
Dwight Eisenhower might have been the last true moderate in American politics. His terms came on the heels of wars and bridged into the cultural movements and strife of the ‘60s. How much more likely was another war if we’d had a different president? Chuck talks with William Hitchcock, professor at University of Virginia, author of “The Age of Eisenhower: America and the World in the 1950s” and the co-host of the podcast, “Democracy in Danger.”
12/28/2022 • 33 minutes, 55 seconds
Alt History: What if King Edward didn’t abdicate?
Harry and Meghan may be in the news, but one person who would’ve understood their plight best is King Edward the Eighth, Harry’s great uncle. How different would the world be if Edward hadn’t abdicated the throne in December 1936. Chuck talks with Jeff Nussbaum, a speechwriter for President Biden and author of “Undelivered: The never-heard speeches that would have rewritten history.”
12/23/2022 • 27 minutes
Alt History: What if there were no term limits for the presidency?
What if the 22nd amendment – which limits how many times a president can be elected – was never ratified?In the mid-1940s, after FDR was elected to four terms, many of those running in the midterms campaigned on the amendment idea. But where would our country be if that hadn’t happened? Would Eisenhower or Reagan have served longer terms? Would Bill Clinton be the one who dealt with 9/11?Chuck is joined by presidential historian Alexis Coe, author of “You Never Forget Your First” about George Washington. She is currently writing a book about young John F. Kennedy, spanning from 1917 to 1957.
12/21/2022 • 37 minutes, 43 seconds
Fmr. GOP Gov. Mitch Daniels hasn't 'really thought' about his political future
Former Indiana Gov. and Purdue University president Mitch Daniels says he hasn't lost hope that extreme political polarization in the U.S. can abate in the coming years.
12/16/2022 • 41 minutes, 43 seconds
GOP debates best path forward: Jonathan Martin & Blake Hounshell
Ronna McDaniel is facing re-election for RNC chair, as the longest serving Republican party leader since 1856 … despite the fact that the GOP has underperformed in every election since 2017 when she took office. McDaniels got a new challenge, from an RNC committeewoman whose firm represents Trump. And then there’s Harmeet Dhillon, who is picking up endorsements from people like Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham. Jonathan Martin, senior political columnist at POLITICO and Blake Hounshell, editor of the New York Times "On Politics" newsletter, join Chuck to discuss.
12/14/2022 • 30 minutes, 30 seconds
Post Game: Sinema’s exit upends Democrats' 2024 math, with Cornell Belcher
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's (I-Ariz.) departure from the Democratic Party has left some Democrats reeling from the ramifications this may deal to their 2024 Senate elections map. Pollster and political analyst Cornell Belcher joins Chuck to detail the state of the Democratic coalition.
12/11/2022 • 22 minutes, 3 seconds
Rep.-elect Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.): 'Now there's a meteorologist in Congress who's going to follow the science'
Former TV weatherman Eric Sorensen will pick up the seat vacated by retiring Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) come January. The first openly gay member from his state, he joins Chuck to talk about the impact the weaponizing of LGBTQ issues, classroom curricula and climate change will have on how he tackles his upcoming mandate.
12/9/2022 • 25 minutes, 46 seconds
TikTok: The national security threats posed by social media's fastest-growing platform
With a billion users worldwide, TikTok has taken the youth by storm — but as the White House delays a deal with the video app over national-security concerns, and states like Maryland move to ban the service from government-owned hardware, the opacity behind the scale of personal data TikTok collects and what it does with it has U.S. regulators mulling whether to issue a crackdown. Emily Baker-White, technology reporter at Forbes, and Kaya Yurieff, who reports on the creator economy for The Information, join Chuck to delve into what we know (and don't know) about the privacy risks associated with TikTok.
12/7/2022 • 28 minutes, 30 seconds
Post Game with Jen Psaki: Biden pushes for a 2024 primary calendar shuffle
This week, President Biden posed a new order for the presidential primaries — one that catapults South Carolina to first place, demotes New Hampshire, and boots Iowa from the early states. Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, host of the upcoming "Jen Psaki Show" on Peacock, joins Chuck to detail the advantage Democrats stand to gain from this reorganization.
12/4/2022 • 17 minutes, 47 seconds
Mark Leibovich profiles Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
Leibovich, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks to Chuck about his latest story, a profile of the “GOP’s hottest molecule.”
12/2/2022 • 35 minutes, 48 seconds
Bresnahan & Weigel: The GOP division after the red wave that wasn't
After initial hesitation, a growing number of Republicans have taken to condemning former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago dinner with a white nationalist — and the tension is stretching into Capitol Hill, where Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) faces intraparty hostility to his run for Speaker. John Bresnahan, co-founder of Punchbowl News, and David Weigel, political reporter for Semafor, join Chuck to detail the state of the GOP.
11/30/2022 • 49 minutes
Post Game: Capitol Hill's political hardening is seeping into the states, with Reid Wilson
As Washington further entrenches itself into hostile sides, state legislatures seem to be following suit — with deep partisan rancor turning up the heat in state capitols. Reid Wilson, founder and editor-in-chief of Pluribus News, brings his 50-state analysis to the Chuck ToddCast.
11/27/2022 • 24 minutes, 6 seconds
Post Game with Peter Baker: Mike Pence tries to break away from Trump
Following former Vice President Mike Pence's long-form interview on Sunday's Meet the Press, Chief White House correspondent for the New York Times Peter Baker joins Chuck to dissect Pence's precarious positioning in a political sphere where half resent him for proposing an alternative to Mr. Trump ... and the rest might only remember him as his former running mate.
11/20/2022 • 16 minutes, 3 seconds
Ruy Teixeira: The lessons Democrats must learn from 2022
Despite holding off a stronger-forecasted Republican rebuff, Democrats still emerge from these midterm elections with control over one fewer chamber of Congress, and the promise of a divided government come January. Ruy Teixeira, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, joins Chuck to break down which constituencies turned out for the Democrats, and which ones may have slipped away from the party.
11/18/2022 • 35 minutes, 12 seconds
MAGA, again? Trump '24 throws Republicans into disarray
Former President Trump's re-election bid, made official Tuesday night, comes as Republicans reel from a disappointing midterms result that many in the party say are the former president's fault. Republican strategist Doug Heye and Sarah Chamberlain, president and CEO of the Republican Main Street Partnership, join Chuck to outline the GOP's complicating roadmap to 2024.
11/16/2022 • 38 minutes
Post Game: Capitol Hill's jockeying for leadership takes off, with Jake Sherman
With Speaker Nancy Pelosi's plans unclear, Rep. Kevin McCarthy's potential slim majority imperiled by the House Freedom Caucus, and Sen. Mitch McConnell's planned leadership elections facing resistance from several of his members, the makeup of the coming congressional leadership is anything but certain. Jake Sherman, founder of Punchbowl News, joins Chuck to dissect the developing turmoil in Congress's election of its would-be leaders.
11/13/2022 • 23 minutes, 4 seconds
Where the NBC News poll got things right: 'We have really strong tools to explain' what happened
As Tuesday's first results trickled in, Republicans saw their hopes for a red wave vanish, in what was a surprise to many onlookers — but not for the pollsters we work with at NBC News. Bill McInturff, co-founder of Public Opinion Strategies, Jeff Horwitt, senior vice president at Hart Research, and Dante Chinni, director of the American Communities Project, join Chuck to detail how public opinion presaged the unique nature of this year's midterm votes.
11/11/2022 • 35 minutes, 26 seconds
Midterm roundup with the Political Unit: What happens when neither party loses by enough to look in the mirror
Chuck sits down with Mark Murray, Bridget Bowman and Ben Kamisar from the NBC News Political Unit to discuss Tuesday's midterm results and look forward to the races that haven't been called yet.
11/9/2022 • 35 minutes, 9 seconds
Meet the Press: 75 years of politics, world-leaders and history-making interviews
Chuck Todd looks back at the legacy of "Meet the Press" in a special discussion, joined by Betsy Fischer Martin, George Will, Yamiche Alcindor and Michael Beschloss.
11/6/2022 • 27 minutes
Nilay Patel: “Twitter’s not a well-run company”
A little more than a week after Elon Musk took control of Twitter, and as layoffs hit employees around the world, Chuck talks with Nilay Patel, co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Verge, about Twitter’s future.
11/4/2022 • 36 minutes, 22 seconds
Charlie Cook & Larry Sabato break down the midterm unknowns
It's looking increasingly like we won't be able to call the Senate on Election Day — less than a week from now — as the country braces for results that could contradict what the polling's been showing until then. Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics and the editor-in-chief of the Crystal Ball, and Charlie Cook, founder of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, join Chuck to preview where voters' minds might end up on November 8.
11/2/2022 • 45 minutes, 58 seconds
What #MeToo means for Gen Z
Meet the Press Reports: Five years after #MeToo, some young people ask, "so what?" A look at the #MeToo legacy and backlash. Featuring reporting from Savannah Sellers and interviews with Rosanna Arquette and Anita Hill.
10/30/2022 • 27 minutes
Heidi Heitkamp: The missed rural opportunities for Democrats
Former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) talks about the missed opportunities for Democrats in rural counties, telling Chuck Todd that they could bring innovative ideas to rural challenges but only if they engage with those constituents in the first place.
10/28/2022 • 43 minutes, 19 seconds
The sleeper races that could jolt Election Day
It's the homestretch to the elections, and strategists on both sides are still trying to redefine the midterms map in the way that will best aid their party. Brianne Pfannenstiel, chief politics reporter at the Des Moines Register, and Kyle Clark, a reporter for KUSA in Denver, join Chuck to break down how Iowa and Colorado might also end up being states to watch as the results roll in.
10/26/2022 • 41 minutes, 51 seconds
Securing the vote: The battle for election integrity
Meet the Press Reports: A once fringe claim has now become a top talking point embraced by many in the GOP — including 2022 candidates.
10/24/2022 • 27 minutes
Post Game: Biden's "pulling all the stops to help the momentum shift back," with Kristen Welker
Sixteen days to Election Day, interest for midterm elections is soaring to record highs — but so is polarization, with some 80% of Democrats and Republicans saying that the political opposition poses a threat and, if not stopped, will destroy America as we know it. NBC News Chief White House Correspondent Kristen Welker joins Chuck to give her read on the developing midterms map.
10/23/2022 • 15 minutes, 20 seconds
North Carolina: The under the radar Senate race everyone should be watching
Former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory talks about why the Senate race between Republican Congressman Ted Budd and former State Supreme Court Chief Justice, Democrat Cheri Beasley, is one of those under-the-radar races that could end up being as decisive as any other state on our watch lists.
10/21/2022 • 33 minutes, 47 seconds
Pennsylvania, Georgia and Nevada: Whichever party wins two of three will win the Senate
Lauren Mayk, reporter for NBC 10 Philadelphia, Jacob Solis, staff reporter at The Nevada Independent, and Shannon McCaffrey, politics reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution join Chuck to talk about races in the three make-or-break states for Senate races.
10/19/2022 • 43 minutes, 20 seconds
Post Game: All eyes (and dollars) on the Senate, with Amy Walter
With nearly two million Americans having already cast their vote, campaign operatives in both parties are focusing their attention — and ads funding — into the battle to control the upper chamber. Amy Walter, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report, joins Chuck examine the developing Senate map ahead of November.
10/16/2022 • 21 minutes, 59 seconds
Wisconsin: Ground zero for political polarization
Meet the Press Reports: How one state's unique political culture has changed national politics.
10/15/2022 • 27 minutes, 5 seconds
Early voting crosses the 1 million-mark, a month out from Election Day: Prof. Michael McDonald
This midterm election is the first so-called “normal” election since the pandemic … and there’s a lot we really don’t know about what the election will look like. And elections haven’t just changed because of Covid — the contested 2020 election and the January 6th riot have made us question basic assumptions about how much Americans really trust elections. Chuck speaks with Michael McDonald, the author of “From Pandemic to Insurrection: Voting in the 2020 US Presidential Election” and a professor of political science at the University of Florida. LINKS:https://www.electproject.org/
10/14/2022 • 28 minutes, 34 seconds
Fetterman preps for debate, Walker doubles down, with Stephen Hayes and Adrienne Elrod
Less than one month out from Election Day, Georgia's Herschel Walker is in the midst of a scandal amid allegations he paid for an ex-girlfriend's abortion, and Pennsylvania's John Fetterman speaks to NBC News in an interview that does little to assuage health concerns as he recovers from a stroke. Democratic strategist Adrienne Elrod and Stephen Hayes, co-founder and editor of the Dispatch, join Chuck to give their read on the latest midterm developments.
10/12/2022 • 28 minutes, 36 seconds
Cleveland Mayor: Democrats 'forgot to talk about wealth creation' and 'economic freedom'
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb was sworn into office in January 2022. Chuck talks with the mayor about crime, economics, and the role that sports can play in supporting the city.
10/7/2022 • 25 minutes, 22 seconds
GOP cuts into Democrats’ lead among Latino voters, new poll shows
Less than six weeks before November’s midterm elections, Democrats lead Republicans by more than 20 points among Latino voters, but that Democratic advantage has declined from previous election cycles, according to a new national NBC News/Telemundo poll of the Latino electorate. Aileen Cardona-Arroyo, vice president at Hart Research, one of the polling partners for this survey, and Natasha Korecki, senior national political reporter for NBC News, join Chuck to discuss the results. LINK: https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/first-read/gop-cuts-democrats-lead-latino-voters-new-poll-shows-rcna50189
10/5/2022 • 29 minutes, 30 seconds
American oligarchs: Money in politics
Meet the Press Reports: In 2014, only 3 people donated at least 10 million dollars to House and Senate races. In 2022, that number is up to 18 – a six-fold increase.
10/2/2022 • 30 minutes, 5 seconds
What happens after Ian: Craig Fugate explains how disaster recovery has evolved
Former FEMA Director Craig Fugate, one of the most experienced disaster recovery experts in the world, talks about Hurricane Ian and how state and federal agencies should view future storm preparation.
9/30/2022 • 29 minutes, 47 seconds
Fmr. Amb. Michael McFaul: Inside Putin's Ukraine endgame
Young Russian men are fleeing their country, as Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a surprise announcement drafting additional troops into his invasion of Ukraine. Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul joins Chuck to analyze Putin's fluctuating strategy, as his originally planned swift incursion meets the stronger-than-expected shield of the Ukrainian defense.
9/28/2022 • 31 minutes, 30 seconds
American oligarchs: Money in politics
As the list of individuals donating millions and billions of dollars grows, so do concerns that political campaigns are being controlled by this rich donor class, made up of individuals who have an outsized influence on who wins elections and who runs the country.
9/25/2022 • 27 minutes, 4 seconds
Russ Feingold: The movement to “completely change the Constitution”
Chuck is joined by Russ Feingold, former Democratic senator from Wisconsin and co-author of a new book, “The Constitution in Jeopardy: An unprecedented effort to rewrite our fundamental law and what we can do about it.”
9/23/2022 • 34 minutes, 17 seconds
Breaking down the Senate battlegrounds, with Mark Murray and Jessica Taylor
The generic ballot is dead even at 46-46 between Democrats and Republicans, according to the latest NBC News poll, with Senate candidates on either side duking it out on on a diverse set of priorities from one state to the next. NBC News Senior Political Editor Mark Murray and Jessica Taylor, the Senate and Governors editor for the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, join Chuck to break down the races to watch, just about six weeks out from the midterms.
9/21/2022 • 47 minutes, 31 seconds
Christian Nationalism on the rise: Meet the Press Reports
An Idaho town grapples with questions about the role that religion should play in the public square.
9/18/2022 • 27 minutes, 4 seconds
What happened to Rudy Giuliani? Andrew Kirtzman
Long gone his days of public-opinion highs, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is nowadays best known as a fixer for former president President Trump's alleged crimes. Andrew Kirztman, author of “Giuliani: The Rise and Tragic Fall of America’s Mayor," joins Chuck to detail the fall from grace of Trump's highest-profile attorney.
9/16/2022 • 28 minutes, 31 seconds
Nate Cohn explains how to fix political polling
It's full throttle onto November with all primaries now in the rearview mirror, which means pollsters are putting out their data in early hints of where both parties will stand at the outcome of the elections. Nate Cohn, chief political analyst for the New York Times, joins Chuck to detail the science behind the tracking of public opinion... and why not all polls are created equal.
9/14/2022 • 23 minutes, 38 seconds
Post Game: Independent voters get stuck in the middle, with Matt Gorman
As both parties seem to entrench themselves deeper into their respective sides, some independent voters tell "Meet the Press" they feel disenfranchised by a political offer that does not reflect their views. Matt Gorman, former NRCC communications director, joins Chuck to zoom in the American center. Plus, what effect will Queen Elizabeth's passing have on the UK royal family's mystique viewed from abroad?
9/11/2022 • 10 minutes, 32 seconds
“I just I don't recognize that party anymore”: Independent voters in Arizona sour on GOP ticket
What stands out about Arizona this cycle – beyond all of its competitive statewide contests and its status as a presidential battleground – is that the entire slate of GOP candidates are 2020 election-deniers.Chuck speaks with Al Bell, a Navy veteran who was a registered Republican for 52 years until he recently switched to an independent. He’s joined by Amy Jensen, a speech pathologist who was a Republican until 2020 when she switched to an independent. And Karilyn Van Oosten, who has registered as an independent since she was 21 but voted Democratic in recent elections.
9/9/2022 • 29 minutes
"Battleground Arizona" with Jim Sharpe
As the last few primaries make way for general elections to come, Republican voters in Arizona will find an entire slate of 2020 election deniers. Jim Sharpe, host of Arizona's Morning News on KTAR, joins Chuck with his insight on the Copper State's politics in 2022.
9/7/2022 • 36 minutes, 2 seconds
College football preview with Jane Coaston
Jane Coaston, host of “The Argument” from the New York Times, joins Chuck to preview the fall college football season and to wonder why they can't quit watching the sport.
9/2/2022 • 48 minutes, 32 seconds
How to tell if Democrats held the House in 2022? Watch these six races
Have the Democrats turned things around this midterm cycle — thanks to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and former President Donald Trump’s constant presence in the news. Josh Kraushaar, Senior political correspondent at Axios, and Ally Mutnick, Politico reporter covering House campaigns and redistricting, join Chuck to talk about the House races.
8/31/2022 • 46 minutes, 37 seconds
Post Game: The future of Trumpism post-Trump, with Rich Lowry
A shadow primary seems to be taking place over who will succeed Trump at the head of the GOP, as the FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago shuffles public opinion on the former president. Rich Lowry, editor of the National Review, joins Chuck to analyze the Republican road ahead.
8/28/2022 • 16 minutes, 34 seconds
Frost & Davis: Two former House campaign chairs explain how they beat the midterm curse
For most of the year, we’ve been repeating the conventional wisdom that a president’s party usually loses seats during a midterm election.But there are two recent exceptions to that rule: 1998 and 2002.Former Republican Congressman Tom Davis, from Virginia — the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee during the 2002 midterms —and former Democratic Congressman Martin Frost, from Texas — the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during the 1998 midterms — join Chuck to talk about what works and doesn’t for congressional campaigns.
8/26/2022 • 30 minutes, 16 seconds
Red wave or red ripple? Steve Kornacki breaks down New York and Florida primary results
Primary season is nearing a close after Tuesday's contests in Florida and New York. Now, the big picture for the midterms environment seems to be that the GOP's hope for a red wave may at least come with a blue undertone. Steve Kornacki, NBC News national political correspondent, joins Chuck to bring his insight on the developing 2022 terrain.
8/24/2022 • 32 minutes, 18 seconds
Inside the August NBC News Poll: Democrats have caught up to Republicans on election interest
Mark Murray, senior political editor at NBC News and co-author of First Read, joins Chuck to look into the latest numbers from the NBC News poll.
8/21/2022 • 34 minutes, 17 seconds
Help Wanted: America wrestles with nationwide teacher shortage, with Dan Domenech
This back-to-school season, schools across the country are reckoning with a lack of available teachers, with several districts lowering standards for hiring educators and others reducing school days to four a week. Dan Domenech, executive director of the American Association of School Administrators, joins Chuck to analyze the problem and talk through potential solutions.
8/19/2022 • 29 minutes, 53 seconds
In Florida, DeSantis and Democrats square off over abortion, education and Trump
With only seven primary states to go until the midterms, all eyes are trained on the Sunshine State, with Democrats mounting fierce challenges to unseat Senator Marco Rubio and Governor Ron DeSantis. Marc Caputo, NBC News national political reporter, and Emily Mahoney, political editor for the Tampa Bay Times, join Chuck to break down how abortion, a raid on Mar-a-Lago, and other major issues may sway the Floridian electorate on November 8.
8/17/2022 • 36 minutes, 7 seconds
Ruy Teixeira: 'Democrats are whistling past the graveyard''
Progressive writer and scholar, Ruy Teixera, focuses on the American electorate. He’s also the co-author of a seminal 2004 book, The Emerging Democratic Majority. In July he left the Center for American Progress and joined AEI as a senior fellow.
8/12/2022 • 31 minutes, 54 seconds
GOP rallies behind Trump while DOJ silent after FBI search, with fmr. AG Alberto Gonzales and Brendan Buck
The FBI's search of former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate has created an information vacuum. While the Department of Justice has remained silent on the reason for the investigation, Trump and a growing number of Republicans have been quick to politicize the incident and speculate corruption. Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Republican strategist Brendan Buck join Chuck to discuss the search's implications and what's to come.
8/10/2022 • 48 minutes, 4 seconds
Sen. Danforth: The Republican supporting an Independent to defeat a Republican
Former Sen. John Danforth (R) represented Missouri in the Senate for three terms until 1995. Before that he was the state attorney general but today he is bankrolling a Super PAC that's helping prop up independent senate candidate John Wood. Chuck talks to Danforth about his motivation and how politics have changed.
8/5/2022 • 23 minutes, 39 seconds
Abortion results in Kansas could signal a reversal of midterm expectations
Josh Kraushaar, senior political correspondent at Axios, and Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of Inside Elections, join Chuck to talk about the primary results.
8/3/2022 • 31 minutes, 45 seconds
Post Game: Trump's "Big Lie will continue," with Jonathan Lemire
As the weight of Trumpism prepares for another test in Tuesday's midterms, Jonathan Lemire, Politico's White House Bureau Chief and host of MSNBC's "Way Too Early," joins Chuck to detail the rise of former President Trump's false stolen election claims, and why that movement — far from dwindling — is taking root in the GOP for the long term.
7/31/2022 • 14 minutes, 37 seconds
In Pete we trust: NBC News Justice Correspondent Pete Williams retires after 29 years on the beat
NBC News Justice correspondent Pete Williams joins Chuck for a tell-all interview on his last week on the job. Revealed: His future plans for a jazz podcast, his longstanding relationship with the Cheneys, and his old aspirations for a congressional run.
7/29/2022 • 36 minutes, 30 seconds
Fed hikes interest rate, Americans brace for recession, with Ben White
The Federal Reserve's Wednesday decision to raise interest rates by 0.75 percentage point — the second hike this summer — marks another historic move in the central bank's effort to avoid a deep recession in America. Ben White, Politico's chief economic correspondent, joins Chuck to analyze Washington's continued moves to avoid a national economic meltdown.
7/27/2022 • 31 minutes, 14 seconds
Post Game: White House battles recession fears, with Jake Sherman
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, while acknowledging a slowing US economy, downplayed distress over the US potential road to a recession in her Meet the Press interview Sunday. Jake Sherman, founder of Punchbowl News and NBC News contributor, joins Chuck to analyze the Biden administration's handling of the country's economic woes. Plus, Chuck and Jake talk through their emotional breakup with the Washington Nationals.
7/24/2022 • 21 minutes, 5 seconds
Independent Missouri Senate candidate: "I'm a common-sense conservative, but I also believe in democracy"
Sen. Roy Blunt's (R-Mo.) retirement next term triggered a crowded Republican field to replace him. Embroiled former Gov. Eric Greitens leads the pack, but candidacies like John Wood's seem to present a middle ground on the right, away from the extremes of election denialism. He joins Chuck to pitch his candidacy and to discuss the strength of the institutions surrounding voting and lawmaking.
7/22/2022 • 27 minutes, 44 seconds
Trump revs up Jan. 6 counterprogramming, with Betsy Woodruff Swan and Reid Epstein
The outpouring of revelations coming from ongoing Jan. 6 hearings seem to have spurred former President Trump to feed into the rumors of his potential redux presidential bid — a shiny metal object to distract from the committee's damning allegations. Betsy Woodruff Swan, national correspondent at Politico, and Reid Epstein, politics reporter at the New York Times, join Chuck to discuss lessons learned from the past in covering Trump's tactics.
7/20/2022 • 37 minutes, 51 seconds
Post Game: Democrats push Biden to meet the moment, with Hallie Jackson
As Presidents Biden and Trump both inch toward reprising their role as their respective party nominees, challengers are testing the waters on either side in potential forecasts of 2024 primaries to come. NBC News Senior Washington Correspondent Hallie Jackson joins Chuck to dive deep into the changing political landscape.
7/10/2022 • 13 minutes, 22 seconds
Evan McMullin: "I don’t want to affiliate with a party"
Independent challenger Evan McMullin thinks Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) should be fired. If elected, McMullin would join the small group of senators who are not affiliated with either political party. He joins Chuck to pitch his candidacy to represent the Utahns in the U.S. Senate.
7/6/2022 • 34 minutes, 29 seconds
An Independent on Independence Day: "I was told to not say that"
Denver Riggleman was a Republican Congressman from Virginia until 2020 when he lost his seat in a primary challenge. Today he calls himself an independent, saying the Republican party has moved away from him and turned into a cult of personality. Riggleman also served on the January 6th committee as a “senior technical adviser” — working with the committee’s team to sift through data that the committee uncovered as part of its investigation. He left that position at the end of April.
7/1/2022 • 28 minutes, 48 seconds
How the Justice Department views the January 6th hearings
Katie Benner, Justice Department reporter at the New York Times, and Peter Nicholas, national politics reporter for NBC News join Chuck to talk about the January 6th Investigation.The hearings continue to pose questions such as:Will the Justice Department pursue Trump supporters for witness tampering?What about allegations of fraud — both in fundraising and in creating a slate of alternate electors?And are the hearings really designed to build a legal case for prosecution, after all?
6/29/2022 • 30 minutes, 7 seconds
Post Game: Roe reversal upends the midterms math, with Garrett Haake
The Supreme Court's Friday reversal of the constitutional right to abortion has thrown lawmakers and those vying for office into a political reality unrecognizable moments prior. NBC News Senior Capitol Hill correspondent Garrett Haake joins Chuck to break down the state of politics in a post-Roe America.
6/26/2022 • 14 minutes, 50 seconds
The legal and political fallout after Roe
We finally have the decision in Roe v. Wade. and as we expected from the leaked opinion in May, the Court has overturned Roe and Casey v. Planned Parenthood, striking down a woman’s right to abortion. This case, known as Dobbs versus Jackson Women’s Health, will functionally remove a right for more than half of the population … something unheard of in American history. Mary Ziegler, a professor at the University of California - Davis School of law and the author of several books about reproductive rights and politics, including her most recent book Dollars for Life.
6/24/2022 • 37 minutes, 15 seconds
Trump's endorsement braves election tests, but shows signs of weakness, with Marc Caputo and Brendan Buck
Trump-endorsed candidates are soaring through primary elections, but a string of losses in competitive races puts into question whether — two years since leaving office — former President Trump's influence on his party is finally waning. NBC News National Political Reporter Marc Caputo and Brendan Buck, a former advisor to Republican House Speakers, join Chuck to discuss the GOP's complicated relationship with its former flagbearer.
6/22/2022 • 37 minutes, 30 seconds
Post Game: Biden weathers an economic storm, with Peter Alexander
As gas prices spike and the Dow Jones tumbles, President Biden struggles with plummeting approvals on inflation and economic concerns. NBC News Chief White House Correspondent Peter Alexander joins Chuck to break down the administration's response to a worsening domestic crisis.
6/19/2022 • 14 minutes, 32 seconds
Doug Jones: Trump’s true legal exposure from the January 6th investigation
Former Alabama Senator Doug Jones (D) talks to Chuck about Joe Biden and Democrats' prospects in 2024. A former U.S. Attorney, Jones also explains the challenges of pursuing a criminal case against former President Trump and his allies. Jones says the fraud allegations are “the email version of a telemarketing scheme.”
6/17/2022 • 36 minutes, 41 seconds
Election denialism makes a stand in Nevada, with Jon Ralston and Bridget Bowman
Primary results last night in South Carolina, Nevada and across the country seem to show — once more — Trump's undying influence over the Republican Party. Jon Ralston, CEO of the Nevada Independent, and Bridget Bowman, NBC News political deputy editor, join Chuck to preview some of the midterm's marquee general elections — now just taking shape.
6/15/2022 • 32 minutes, 23 seconds
Post Game: Biden's 2024 vision, with Amy Walter
Amy Walter, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, joins Chuck to talk about President Biden's 2024 plans, the House January 6th committee hearings ... and Star Wars.
6/12/2022 • 23 minutes, 2 seconds
Sen. Chris Van Hollen returns to the Hill: 'it is not a functional body'
A minor stroke hospitalized Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) for just over a week. Now cleared — though still in recovery — he breaks down the problems he sees with Congress and the Supreme Court, and outlines the institutional reforms he wishes to see.
6/10/2022 • 26 minutes, 47 seconds
The establishment strikes back, with Dave Wasserman & Melanie Mason
Tuesday's elections in California and across the country saw the prevailing of more moderate politicians over their farther-left and farther-right opponents. Dave Wasserman, House editor of the Cook Political Report, and Melanie Mason, national political correspondent for the LA Times, join Chuck to break down the establishment candidates' cruise to victory.
6/8/2022 • 31 minutes, 27 seconds
A geopolitical recession? Ian Bremmer goes around the world
The European Union blocks Russian oil. The United States pledges to support Taiwan. And elections from Australia to Colombia could shift the balance of power in key countries.Chuck talks with Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group and the author of a new book, “The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats – and Our Response – Will Change the World”
6/3/2022 • 33 minutes, 23 seconds
Will 2022 be the year of “the angry mom”?
From inflation to the baby formula shortage, the Biden White House can’t seem to catch a break. And it’s all helping to drive down the poll numbers for the president and his party ahead of the midterms.Instead of constantly playing defense on crises after crises, why isn’t the White House going on offense?Chuck talks with Cornell Belcher, president of Brilliant Corners Research and Strategies, and Faiz Shakir, Bernie Sanders's 2020 campaign manager and he runs “More Perfect Union” — a progressive media startup.
6/1/2022 • 34 minutes, 22 seconds
Post Game with Pat McCrory: “I never thought Republicans would hide from debate”
Pat McCrory (R), former Governor of North Carolina, talks to Chuck about the Republican Senate primary that he recently lost and changes within the Republican party.
5/29/2022 • 16 minutes
An ‘apocalypse’ for Southern Baptists: Investigation reveals years of sexual abuse cover ups
A bombshell investigation of sexual abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention has revealed that SBC leaders kept a secret list of more than 700 abuse cases, stonewalled investigations, and covered up allegations of sexual abuse and sexual violence. Russell Moore, public theologian for “Christianity Today,” joins Chuck to discuss the fallout.
5/27/2022 • 26 minutes, 5 seconds
Politics fail to stop massacres, fight over guns pervades primaries
Greg Bluestein, political reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Mark Murray, NBC News Political Unit senior editor and co-author of First Read, join Chuck to talk about the results from Tuesday night’s primaries and the killing of schoolchildren in Texas.
5/25/2022 • 29 minutes, 38 seconds
‘Absolutely’ the Senate is broken: Sen. Pat Toomey’s Exit Interview
Sen. Pat Toomey’s (R-Pa.) announcement that he was retiring from the Senate after two terms created an opening for one of the most hotly contested seats in the 2022 primaries. But his choice to leave comes down to a mix of personal decisions.Sen. Toomey joins Chuck for an exit interview to talk about how the Senate functions today, his defunct push for background checks for guns and what he sees as the next big challenge for legislators in Washington. This interview was recorded before Tuesday's primary contest in Pennsylvania.
5/20/2022 • 38 minutes, 52 seconds
Mixed results across five states after Tuesday's wild night
When 75 percent of Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction, as our recent NBC News poll found, strange things happen on election night.Nathan Gonzales, Editor and Publisher of Inside Elections, and Jessica Taylor, the Senate and Governors Editor for The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, join Chuck to talk through Tuesday's primary results.
5/18/2022 • 39 minutes, 10 seconds
War Game in Taiwan: A “home game” for China, an “away game” for the U.S.
The year is 2027 and China has decided to attack Taiwan and bring the island nation under direct control. Now the U-S has to answer: do we fight for Taiwan’s freedom? How far are we willing to go? And will allies support us?Those are the questions we ask in this week’s season finale of “Meet the Press Reports.” We staged a full-day war game to help envision what a battle for Taiwan might look like … and what it would mean for both sides to win or lose.Ed McGrady and Becca Wasser from the Center for New American Security join Chuck to talk about our war game, pitting China and the U.S. in a war over Taiwan. Ed is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the CNAS Defense Program and Becca is a fellow in the defense program and co-lead of the Gaming Lab at CNAS.
5/13/2022 • 27 minutes, 8 seconds
Mikhail Khodorkovsky: Putin may be losing the war, but ‘he doesnt realize it yet’
Chuck speaks with Mikhail Khodorkovsky, an exiled Russian oil tycoon who was once the richest man in Russia. In the early 2000’s — during Vladimir Putin’s first years as president — Kodorkovsky supported one of Putin’s political rivals and was punished for it.He was arrested on charges of tax fraud and later also charged with embezzlement and money laundering. He spent more than a decade behind bars before being released in 2013 and then expelled from the country.
5/12/2022 • 20 minutes
Post Game: Republican senators duck questions over Roe, after years of fighting to overturn
NBC News Capitol Hill Correspondent Ali Vitali joins Chuck to discuss the leaked Roe decision and the position Senate Republicans find themselves in after years of campaigning for its overturn.
5/8/2022 • 14 minutes, 2 seconds
“If you never have a test, you’ll never have a testimony”: Joshua Johnson on the Black church and the Democratic party
In 2020, Black voters turned out in large numbers for Joe Biden, giving him a nearly 30-point win over Bernie Sanders — proving, once again, the power of the Democrats’ most loyal constituency.That influence is rooted in the work of politically active black pastors who get souls to the polls, crown winners with endorsements … and even run for office themselves. But is that power waning in a party that’s considered secular and elite?Joshua Johnson, host of NOW Tonight with Joshua Johnson, talks about the role that the Black Chuck plays in Democratic politics, the subject of this week’s “Meet the Press Reports.”
5/6/2022 • 28 minutes, 18 seconds
The midterms just got Ctrl+Alt+Delete’d by abortion leak
Leaked documents show that the Supreme Court is poised to overturn abortion rights — leaving each state to decide regulations on its own terms. For some, this means even in cases of rape or incest, abortion could be illegal. Democratic political strategist and former Emily’s List President, Stephanie Schriock, and Republican strategist Matt Gorman, Vice President for Targeted Victory, join Chuck to talk about the impact that the abortion ruling could have on the midterms.
5/4/2022 • 31 minutes, 22 seconds
Garrett Haake: “All five flavors of MAGA" on display in upcoming primaries
NBC News Senior Congressional Correspondent Garrett Haake joins Chuck to discuss the building fight over immigration, President Biden's request for additional money to assist Ukraine, and whether whiskey and tequila have replaced beer and wine as cultural stand-ins.
5/1/2022 • 17 minutes, 38 seconds
Robert Gibbs: To fix Democrats' rural problem, 'the first rule ... is showing up'
This week on Meet the Press Reports, how Democrats lost rural America. In the latest NBC News poll from March, the Democratic Party’s net favorability is a negative 41 in rural areas. Former Obama White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs joins Chuck to talk about Obama’s strategy to raise turnout among young people and minorities in large cities, while also winning majorities in postindustrial towns.
4/29/2022 • 32 minutes, 40 seconds
Matthew Continetti: Republicans are ‘enforcing an attitudinal line’ and not a policy line
Matthew Continetti, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the author of “The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism,” joins Chuck to talk about the Republican party’s coalition and the historical roots of conservativism.
4/27/2022 • 21 minutes, 5 seconds
The labor problem with climate change
Three words: Buy heat pumps. Wired Reporter Matt Simon joins Chuck Todd to discuss the strengths, and the limits, of technology when it comes to tackling climate change.
4/22/2022 • 22 minutes, 44 seconds
The kingmakers of Ohio
National Political Reporter at NBC News, Henry Gomez, and The Washington Post’s Josh Dawsey join the ToddCast to discuss President Trump’s endorsement gambles and Bidenism ahead of the midterm elections.
4/20/2022 • 31 minutes, 26 seconds
Post Game: Ruth Marcus on the ‘inability’ for immigration to be seen as a positive story
Ruth Marcus, deputy editorial page editor for the Washington Post, joins Chuck to talk about President Biden’s economic challenges and the upcoming Title 42 backlash.
4/17/2022 • 16 minutes, 27 seconds
Jane Coaston: Football’s race problem, ‘nothing is ever just about sports’
After former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores, one of only two black coaches in the NFL, was fired this year — and then sued the league for discrimination — football’s race problem, once again, burst into the open. This week on “Meet the Press Reports,” we look at how America’s most popular sport got to this point, why past attempts at reform have failed and how other sports have successfully tackled inequality.Jane Coaston, the host of “The Argument,” the New York Times podcast about politics and culture, joins Chuck to talk about football’s race problem.
4/15/2022 • 29 minutes, 38 seconds
Ron Klain: "The calendar only has so many months left in this year"
White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain talks about U.S. support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia, telling Chuck Todd that “Evil exists. But we certainly can punish it. And we certainly can help those who are fighting back against it do that.” Klain also discussed immigration, the Biden agenda, how the White House views Vladimir Putin and reports of a rift with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
4/13/2022 • 29 minutes, 35 seconds
Post Game: Europeans are ' not convinced that the NATO umbrella' will protect them
NBC News Correspondent Josh Lederman joins Chuck to discuss interviews with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
4/10/2022 • 9 minutes, 48 seconds
How disinformation campaigns work, from Russia to Latin America
From vaccine skepticism to conspiracy theories about politics, misinformation has knocked American society back and forth during an already rocky period. Chuck speaks with Ben Dubow, the co-founder and president of Omelas, a firm that looks at how governments manipulate the internet and run online influence campaigns.
4/8/2022 • 26 minutes, 39 seconds
Demolition derby primaries: Senate races start to heat up
Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of Inside Elections and Bridget Bowman, deputy editor at the NBC News Political Unit, join Chuck to talk about primary races across the country, from Pennsylvania and Ohio to Georgia … even Oklahoma.
4/6/2022 • 37 minutes, 11 seconds
Post Game: Congress debates Putin’s endgame with Leigh Ann Caldwell
As Russia enters a new phase in its invasion of Ukraine, NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Chuck to break down the Congressional battle lines forming over what shape America’s response should take.
4/3/2022 • 14 minutes, 39 seconds
Crypto billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried isn’t the digital currency evangelist you might expect
According to Forbes, Sam Bankman-Fried tops the list of wealthiest crypto billionaires, calling him the world’s richest 29-year old. Chuck talks with Sam for this week’s “Meet the Press Reports” about how he made his money and what form he expects government regulation to take.
4/1/2022 • 28 minutes, 58 seconds
With narrow margins, Democrats debate best path to overcome headwinds
Democratic policy analysts Bill Galston and Elaine Kamarck join Chuck to discuss their latest report, “The New Politics of Evasion: How Ignoring Swing Voters Could Reopen the Door for Donald Trump and Threaten American Democracy.”Read the report here: https://www.progressivepolicy.org/publication/the-new-politics-of-evasion%20%5Bprogressivepolicy-org%5D/
3/30/2022 • 35 minutes, 55 seconds
Behind the scenes of the NBC News poll with Chuck and Mark
Mark Murray, senior editor for the NBC News Political Unit, joins Chuck to discuss the process of creating the NBC News poll and the insights we learned from the latest numbers.
3/27/2022 • 35 minutes, 34 seconds
Emily Knox: Schools and libraries exist to "serve everyone in the community"
Emily Knox, an associate professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the author of “Book Banning in 21st Century America,” joins Chuck to talk about the rise of school board polarization.
3/25/2022 • 33 minutes, 26 seconds
Wasserman, Weigel & Martin: Midterm races keeping us busy
The war in Ukraine has — rightly — taken virtually every other story off of the front page. But that doesn’t mean that political news has frozen in place. Dave Wasserman, House editor at the Cook Political Report, Jonathan Martin, national political correspondent for The New York Times and Dave Weigel, national political correspondent at the Washington Post, join Chuck to talk about the latest in midterms developments, from Ohio’s tense Republican primary, to debates over Democratic messaging.
3/23/2022 • 35 minutes, 36 seconds
“Orthodoxy, Autocracy and Nationality” — How Russia’s history molded Putin ’s worldview
Michael Hirsh, a senior correspondent at Foreign Policy has gotten us all thinking with his column, “Putin’s thousand-year war.” Read more here: https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/03/12/putins-thousand-year-war/
3/18/2022 • 29 minutes, 13 seconds
How Russian sanctions changed the equation for the Fed's economic toolkit
Jeanne Whalen, global business reporter for the Washington Post and Amara Omeoke, economics reporter at the Wall Street Journal, join Chuck to talk about the Fed's plans to rein in inflation without tipping the economy into a recession.
3/16/2022 • 25 minutes, 40 seconds
Post Game: Peter Baker retraces Putin's origins and rise to power
Russian forces are closing in on Kyiv and Putin’s threats of escalating the conflict to chemical warfare have put the world on notice. Peter Baker, Chief White House correspondent for the New York Times, joins Chuck to shed some light on the Russian president's rise to power.
3/13/2022 • 15 minutes, 46 seconds
Baseball showdown shows ‘there’s no neutral arbiter’ fighting for the game
Major league baseball and the players association have a deal. Baseball is coming back — with opening day is scheduled for April 7th. But how did we get here?Chelsea Janes, national baseball reporter for the Washington Post, walks Chuck through the backstory of major league baseball’s lockout and what a new deal means for the future of the game.
3/11/2022 • 23 minutes, 16 seconds
Amb. McFaul: The invasion of Ukraine is "the beginning of the end of Putinism"
Mike McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia and professor of international studies at Stanford, joins Chuck to talk about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s future.
3/9/2022 • 34 minutes, 1 second
Post Game: "Putin will not stop"
Russian attacks on Ukraine reached a new high point this week, with an ever-increasing number of shellings on civilians and children in major Ukrainian cities. The New Yorker’s Robin Wright joins Chuck to get a first draft of how this moment will go down in Russian history.
3/6/2022 • 13 minutes, 48 seconds
Fmr. Sec. Ernest Moniz: From Putin’s nuclear threat to the possibility of clean energy
Former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz joins Chuck to talk about the state of nuclear weapons and how far deterrence can take us when there’s a war underway.From 2013 to 2017, Sec. Moniz worked on nuclear security and stability as former president Obama’s energy secretary. He is the co-chair and CEO of the Nuclear Threat Initiative and a professor emeritus at MIT.
3/4/2022 • 29 minutes, 39 seconds
‘This speech has been updated’: Biden’s first State of the Union
3/2/2022 • 28 minutes, 20 seconds
Post Game: Dany Pletka talks perspective in Washington and why sanctions aren't easy
Dany Pletka, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, joins Chuck to talk about the Russian attack on Ukraine and why she believes everyone in Washington has "a perspective."
2/27/2022 • 10 minutes, 47 seconds
Adm. Stavridis: How NATO could still defeat Putin now that Russia has invaded Ukraine
Retired Admiral James Stavridis, former NATO supreme allied commander, Europe, talks to Chuck Todd about the tools NATO has to fight back against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
2/25/2022 • 27 minutes, 16 seconds
Bill Taylor: Putin rewrites centuries of history in questioning Ukraine’s sovereignty
William Taylor, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine and Vice President, Russia & Europe at the U.S. Institute of Peace, talks to Chuck about Ukraine’s history and why Russian President Vladimir Putin’s push to control Ukraine could backfire.
2/23/2022 • 32 minutes, 48 seconds
Post Game: Putin headed for a ‘large-scale invasion’ of Ukraine
As Russian aggression at its Western border reaches a newfound high this weekend, NBC News Pentagon Correspondent Courtney Kube joins Chuck to detail the possible looming timeline of a 190,000-troop march up to Kyiv.
2/20/2022 • 10 minutes, 15 seconds
Escaping Afghanistan: Matthieu Aikins chronicles the fall of Kabul & the long road for Afghan refugees
Matthieu Aikins, journalist and author of the new book, “The Naked Don't Fear the Water: An Underground Journey with Afghan Refugees,” talks to Chuck about what he saw during the fall of Kabul. In his new book, we tells the story of Omar, a friend and translator, who Aitkins accompanied in 2016 as he tried to escape to Europe, first through Turkey and then Greece.
2/18/2022 • 27 minutes, 27 seconds
Chuck Klosterman: ‘The end of the future’ and the 1990’s
Chuck Klosterman, cultural critic and author of “The Nineties” talks to Chuck Todd about how life was different in the last decade before the internet was everywhere, and why Gen X might be, in his words, “the least annoying” of the generations that are still alive.
2/16/2022 • 31 minutes, 33 seconds
How the “urgency” of Gen Z will change the face of American politics
John Della Volpe, author of, “Fight: How Gen Z is channeling their fear and passion to save America” talks to Chuck about how Gen Z differs from generations that preceded them and what campaigns need to understand about the newest voters.
2/11/2022 • 33 minutes, 38 seconds
Statecraft and saber-rattling around the world: John Hudson & Abigail Williams
Russia is now poised for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine if they want one, with diplomacy talks taking place this week between Russia and France, Russia and the U-K, and of course, Russia and NATO. Meanwhile, the U-S diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics looks like a non-issue. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Australia, negotiations continue with Iran over a nuclear agreement.Chuck talks with John Hudson, National Security Reporter at the Washington Post and Abigail Williams, producer and off-air reporter for NBC News at the State Department.
2/9/2022 • 24 minutes, 25 seconds
Post Game: In standoff with Russia, ‘the new warfare is information’
Helene Cooper, New York Times Pentagon correspondent, joins Chuck to discuss an interview with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, the rising military tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and the American diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.
2/6/2022 • 13 minutes, 55 seconds
David Remnick: Putin would ‘love to see us fail’
Tensions between Russia and the West remain high but what happens next is something of a mystery — in part because Vladimir Putin’s playbook is designed to be unpredictable.David Remnick, the editor of the New Yorker, author and former Moscow correspondent, talks to Chuck about what might be motivating the Russian president.
2/4/2022 • 28 minutes, 23 seconds
Leon Panetta on threats & resets: How a White House reacts to challenges, domestic and abroad
Leon Panetta, former Secretary of Defense and Director of the CIA during the Obama administration and White House Chief of Staff to Bill Clinton, talks to Chuck Todd about “the shadow of the New Deal” and what Vladimir Putin really wants.
2/2/2022 • 28 minutes, 7 seconds
Post Game: Does Durbin speak for the White House on Ukraine?
As Russian troops remain at the Ukrainian border, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) talks about a possible diplomatic resolution. NBC News correspondent Carol Lee joins Chuck to talk about the latest.
1/30/2022 • 15 minutes, 56 seconds
Jacob Ward: Tech companies are ‘trying to reprogram your brain’
Jacob Ward, technology correspondent for NBC News and the author of a new book, “The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back,” joins Chuck to talk about artificial intelligence and the push to regulate tech companies.
1/28/2022 • 32 minutes, 47 seconds
Jim Messina: Breyer resignation gives White House a chance to reset
Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff and campaign manager for the 2012 Obama re-election campaign, Jim Messina, joins Chuck to talk about news of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer’s resignation and the Biden administration’s attempt to reset the political climate ahead of the midterms.
1/26/2022 • 27 minutes, 16 seconds
Post Game: Latest NBC News poll shows ‘a profound distrust’ in both parties
Chuck speaks with Bill McInturff, from Public Opinion Strategies, and Jeff Horwitt, from Hart Research, the pollsters behind the latest NBC News poll.
1/23/2022 • 24 minutes, 38 seconds
Meet the Midterms: At the center of the 2022 vote, live in Atlanta
Last week, President Biden and Vice President Harris came to Atlanta to remember Martin Luther King Jr. and call for voting rights. This week, Chuck went down to Atlanta to speak with voters and reporters about the state of play in Georgia.Chuck talks with Greg Bluestein, political reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution to set the stage for why Atlanta deserves our focus. We’ll also hear from so-called “New Biden Voters” — people who either came off the sidelines to vote in 2020, or who switched sides and voted for the Democrat. Finally, Jill Savitt, the CEO of the Civil Rights Museum, joins the podcast to talk about the history of voting rights.
1/21/2022 • 44 minutes, 36 seconds
Douglas Brinkley: Biden, at the 1-year mark, faces off against historic trends
At the end of his first year in office, President Biden suffers low poll numbers and widespread frustration over Covid. Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley talks to Chuck Todd about Americans’ decades-long dissatisfaction with their elected leaders.
1/19/2022 • 23 minutes, 18 seconds
Post Game with Andrea Mitchell: Joe Biden can't stop being Joe Biden
NBC News Chief Washington Correspondent Andrea Mitchell joins Chuck for a post-broadcast discussion about the Russian troop buildup and President Biden’s attempt to push voting rights through the Senate.
1/16/2022 • 16 minutes, 50 seconds
Enes Kanter Freedom: ‘The Chinese Communist Party does not represent Olympic core values’
Enes Kanter Freedom, a center for the Boston Celtics and an outspoken critic of the leaders of Turkey and China, joins Chuck to talk about how he became focused on human rights and the Beijing Winter Olympics.
1/14/2022 • 26 minutes, 49 seconds
Max Baucus: Filibusters, China and a more partisan Senate
Former Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and former ambassador to China talks to Chuck about why he believes the filibuster should be preserved ... but could be reformed.
1/12/2022 • 28 minutes, 41 seconds
Post Game: White House is ‘not thrilled’ with messaging from the CDC
NBC News Chief White House correspondent Peter Alexander joins Chuck to talk about the muddled Covid message coming from the White House and CDC.
1/9/2022 • 16 minutes, 20 seconds
Democracy vs. the price of beef: Where do the Democrats go from here?
As Senate Democrats gear up to take on voting rights, President Biden kicked off the week with a focus on the meatpacking industry as prices soar. So what will it be? Kitchen table issues or the progressive agenda? Covid or “saving the democracy.”Guy Cecil, chairman of the super PAC, Priorities USA, joins Chuck to talk about how Democrats view the upcoming elections and where the campaigns are putting their priorities.
1/7/2022 • 35 minutes, 28 seconds
Is the solution to gerrymandering … more gerrymandering?
Every ten years, states redraw their political lines and so far, about two-thirds of states have adopted their new congressional district maps. But there’s one thing we know already — the biggest loss won’t be among districts with solid red or solid blue voters. It will among be the competitive districts.Chuck talks with Michael Li, senior counsel at the Brennan Center, and Dante Chinni, founder of the American Communities Project and the brain behind Data Download.
1/5/2022 • 34 minutes, 9 seconds
What if Scalia hadn’t died in 2016? With David French
Meet the Alternative History: Chuck takes a dive into alternate timelines to see how history would have evolved if one thing had changed.Episode 4: What if Scalia hadn’t died in 2016? With David French
12/31/2021 • 29 minutes, 10 seconds
What if JFK had survived? With Michael Beschloss
Meet the Alternative History: Chuck takes a dive into alternate timelines to see how history would have evolved if one thing had changed.Episode 3: What if JFK had survived? With historian Michael Beschloss
12/29/2021 • 25 minutes, 24 seconds
What if Hillary Clinton ran for president in 2004? With Curtis Sittenfeld
Author Curtis Sittenfeld joins Meet the Alternative History. Chuck takes a dive into alternate timelines to see how history would have evolved if one thing had changed.Episode 2: What if Hillary Clinton ran for president in 2004?
12/24/2021 • 29 minutes, 41 seconds
What if Bill Clinton had resigned in 1998? With Jeff Greenfield
Meet the Alternative History: Chuck takes a dive into alternate timelines to see how history would have evolved if one thing had changed.Episode 1: What if Bill Clinton had resigned in 1998? With Jeff Greenfield
12/22/2021 • 26 minutes, 23 seconds
After setbacks, Democrats look for a reset ahead of 2022 votes
2021 was a year of big accomplishments — and big disappointments — for the Biden administration. Mark Murray, Ben Kamisar and Bridget Bowman from the NBC News Political Unit join Chuck to look ahead to 2022.
12/17/2021 • 36 minutes, 21 seconds
Congress may appear functional, but the Biden agenda isn't benefitting
As of today, Wednesday, Congress has mostly finished its work for the year - with the debt limit, government funding and defense authorization all in hand. But there are still a few notable blank spots.John Bresnahan, co-founder of Punchbowl News, joins Chuck to talk about the unusually efficient December Congress is experiencing.
12/15/2021 • 26 minutes, 1 second
Post Game: "Living in different realities"
Marianna Sotomayor, Washington Post Congressional Reporter, joins Chuck to talk about the devastation caused by tornado damage across six states, and Sen. Roger Marshall's (R-Kan.) views on the 2020 election result.
12/12/2021 • 14 minutes, 8 seconds
What’s “baked-in” for Democrats in 2022?
Pollster Brian Stryker talks about the lessons Democrats from their loss in Virginia, and what the polling data shows about their prospects for 2022.
12/10/2021 • 34 minutes, 36 seconds
All the ways that Georgia is ground zero for the next two election cycles
With upcoming primaries, elections and runoffs for both the Governor's mansion and the U.S. Senate, , Georgia is about to be the most important state in the 2022 midterms. Republican strategist Brendan Buck and WXIA anchor Jeff Hullinger join Chuck to talk about the many races for voters in the Peach State
12/8/2021 • 23 minutes, 43 seconds
Post Game: Renewed abortion fight ‘changes the entire political landscape’
Washington Post White House Bureau Chief Ashley Parker joins Chuck to talk about the unintended consequences of a new fight over abortion.
12/5/2021 • 13 minutes, 56 seconds
We left Afghanistan, but not Guantanamo
After 9/11, the CIA began detaining people who they believed had information about the next attack. In custody, they used a brutal and ineffective method of questioning, euphemistically known as “Enhanced Interrogation Techniques” — which outside groups later called, “torture.” Chuck speaks with filmmaker Alex Gibney talks about his latest documentary, “The Forever Prisoner.”
12/3/2021 • 25 minutes, 28 seconds
A post-Roe world? How would politics change
For nearly the last 50 years, Roe has provided stability to an uncomfortable and controversial issue. But if you get rid of Roe, every single state will need a position on fetus viability, weeks when you can/can’t have an abortion, parental notification, sonograms and possible exceptions. Chuck talks with Democratic strategist Adrienne Elrod and Republican strategist Susan del Percio.
12/1/2021 • 31 minutes, 24 seconds
Post Game: Mississippi's abortion law heads to Supreme Court
Chuck unpacks his interviews with Dr. Anthony Fauci about the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and with Gov. Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) ahead of the Supreme Court case focused on Mississippi's restrictive abortion law.
11/28/2021 • 9 minutes, 16 seconds
Remembering Cokie Roberts: A labor of love, a labor of grief
Steven Roberts remembers his wife, Cokie. He sits down with Chuck to talk about their shared career in journalism and Washington politics.
11/24/2021 • 34 minutes, 48 seconds
Post Game: Why the missing Chinese tennis player story could 'boil over'
NBC News Senior White House Correspondent Kelly O'Donnell joins Chuck to talk about exclusive interviews with Sens. Tester and Cramer ... and the story that could dominate the holiday week.
11/21/2021 • 13 minutes, 50 seconds
Bannon faces contempt of Congress: Abbe Lowell explains
11/19/2021 • 29 minutes, 40 seconds
Texas, Florida and New York: Three 2022 states to watch
Marc Caputo, national political reporter for Politico, Leah Askarinam, editor of the Hotline, and Ben Kamisar, staff writer with the NBC News Political Unit, join Chuck to look at the key governors' races of 2022.
11/17/2021 • 25 minutes, 21 seconds
Post Game: The guest who got away and the Senate run that wasn't
Chuck gets off the set and sits down with NBC News Congressional correspondent Leigh Ann Caldwell to talk about their takeaways from interviews with Gov. Chris Sununu (R-N.H.), Brian Deese, and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.)
11/14/2021 • 11 minutes, 11 seconds
China’s Xi consolidates power, targets Taiwan
Ian Bremmer, founder of the Eurasia Group, joins Chuck to talk about Xi Jinping’s internal political challenges and China's increasing hostility towards Taiwan.
11/12/2021 • 27 minutes, 59 seconds
Remembering ‘Brother’ Max Cleland and his fellow veterans
Paul Rieckhoff, the founder of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, joins Chuck to talk about the memory of Max Cleland and the challenges facing veterans today.
11/11/2021 • 29 minutes, 3 seconds
Post Game: Rick Scott and the Republican message for 2022
After exclusive interviews with White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, and Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida, Chuck sits down with John Reiss and Carrie Budoff Brown to discuss how the show was put together.
11/7/2021 • 16 minutes, 57 seconds
Steve Kornacki: Why Democrats should worry about their win in New Jersey
Steve Kornacki, NBC News National Political Correspondent and the man at the big board, talks to Chuck about the revealing numbers from Tuesday's races in New Jersey and Virginia.
11/5/2021 • 29 minutes, 12 seconds
Post election: "Environment matters most of all"
Amy Walter, Editor in Chief of the Cook Political Report and Mark Murray, Senior Politics Editor with the NBC News political Unit sit down after getting off the air to discuss close races in Virginia and New Jersey.
11/3/2021 • 21 minutes, 19 seconds
Post Game: Kristen Welker on Democrats latest vote delay
NBC News Chief White House Correspondent Kristen Welker joins Chuck to break down the biggest news from exclusive interviews on Meet the Press with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
10/31/2021 • 13 minutes, 10 seconds
These key counties tell the story of America's shifting political landscape
Dante Chinni, the director of the American Communities Project and the brain behind Data Download, joins Chuck to talk about County to County and the 2022 midterms.
10/29/2021 • 30 minutes, 12 seconds
Virginia race gives midterm messaging a test run
Larry Sabato, the Director of the UVA Center for Politics and the Editor in Chief of the Crystal Ball, plus Nathan Gonzales, the editor and publisher off Inside Elections, talk with Chuck about the tight race in Virginia.
10/27/2021 • 32 minutes, 12 seconds
Texas principal fights for his job as race roils school district
James Whitfield is one of the most prominent casualties in a national war over race, history and diversity. The principal at Colleyville Heritage High School, Whitfield was put under administrative leave after he was attacked by protestors who accused him of teaching critical race theory at his high school.
10/22/2021 • 30 minutes, 25 seconds
‘Existential threats’ multiply as voting & climate legislation come to an end
Why are so many “do-or-die” issues ending the same way? Is it the media’s fault for focusing on the wrong thing? Should Trump be allowed back on social media so we can actually see the crazy things he’s saying? Or is this just a sign of broken politics. Jackie Calmes, columnist at the Los Angeles Times and Olivier Knox, Washington Post reporter and author of the Daily 202 newsletter, join Chuck to talk about the balance between urgency and emergency.
10/20/2021 • 30 minutes, 5 seconds
Post Game: Climate axed from reconciliation bill
NBC News Senior Capitol Hill Correspondent Garrett Haake joins Chuck after Meet the Press wraps to discuss news that climate change provisions are likely getting dropped from the Democrats’ spending plan. Plus, how serious is Matthew McConaughey about running for Texas governor?
10/17/2021 • 19 minutes, 26 seconds
"We aren’t really talking about theology": Evangelical voters in America
Kristen Du Mez, historian and author of "Jesus & John Wayne" talks to Chuck about the evolution of American evangelicism.
10/15/2021 • 26 minutes, 34 seconds
Virginia governors race previews 2022 messaging war
Chuck talks with OnMessage Co-Founder Brad Todd and President of Brilliant Corners Research and Strategies Cornell Belcher about competing messages heading into 2022.
10/13/2021 • 27 minutes, 43 seconds
The next golden era of space exploration
The new space race doesn’t just pit nation-states against one another, it’s also a fight between private companies looking to cash in. Chuck talks with Michio Kaku, theoretical physicist and professor at the City University of New York and the author of “The God Equation: The Quest for a Theory of Everything.”
10/11/2021 • 30 minutes, 44 seconds
Post Game: A fragile democracy
Chuck talks with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and former White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham about the former president's final weeks in office. He also sits down with Nick Clegg, Facebook’s VP of Global Affairs, on the reform needed on the platform.
10/10/2021 • 5 minutes, 1 second
A very Washington crisis: Debt limit debate
Steven Dennis, Congressional reporter at Bloomberg and Siobhan Hughes, Capitol Hill reporter for the Wall Street Journal, talk about the debate over the debt limit.
10/6/2021 • 27 minutes, 6 seconds
Post Game: ‘This could take months’
Chuck talks about his interviews with Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and White House Senior Adviser Cedric Richmond, plus his discussion about Facebook’s troubles. Sarah Blackwill, senior broadcast producer at Meet the Press.
10/3/2021 • 10 minutes, 5 seconds
Biden’s agenda is ‘an arrow in mid-flight’
On Capitol Hill, moderate and progressive Democrats continue to negotiate over their massive domestic spending bill, the timing on a vote for infrastructure, government funding and the debt. But with all the back and forth over what Democrats want, there’s one voice that seems to be missing from the conversation: and that’s the president of the United States.
9/29/2021 • 24 minutes, 38 seconds
Post Game: For Democrats, the number is moving
Sen. Cory Booker talks to Chuck Todd about negotiations between centrist and progressive Democrats. DHS Sec. Mayorkas defends efforts to send migrants back to Haiti. Allie Sandza talks to Chuck about what went into this week’s broadcast of Meet the Press.
9/26/2021 • 12 minutes, 58 seconds
How marriage equality quickly became the law of the land
Twenty-five years ago, a Democratic president — Bill Clinton — signed the Defense of Marriage Act, a law that prohibited the federal government from recognizing same-sex unions. Today, marriage equality is the law of the land. Chuck talks to Sasha Issenberg, author of “The Engagement: America's Quarter-Century Struggle Over Same-Sex Marriage.”
9/24/2021 • 30 minutes, 48 seconds
Biden tries to get Democrats rowing in the same direction
Biden’s agenda on the line as Democrats jockey over government funding and the debt limit. Garrett Haake, newly minted Senior Capitol Hill correspondent, with NBC News correspondents Leigh Ann Caldwell and Ali Vitali.
9/22/2021 • 31 minutes, 33 seconds
Post Game: Biden’s credibility
After the messy Afghanistan withdrawal, mixed-messaging on Covid booster shots and a rising migration problem at the southern border, Chuck talks with Executive Producer John Reiss about what made it on-air and what we learned on Sunday.
9/19/2021 • 12 minutes, 47 seconds
George Will: Where conservatives go now
Chuck talks with George Will, syndicated columnist and the author of a new book, “American Happiness and Discontents,” in which he writes about Afghanistan, social-distancing and of course, American history.
9/17/2021 • 32 minutes, 19 seconds
What Newsom's win means for the midterms
California Governor Gavin Newsom easily beat back a recall effort this week, thanks to trends inside the state’s Democratic electorate … and thanks to the ongoing shifts inside the Republican party in the wake of former President Trump. Chuck talks with Christina Bellantoni, Director of the Annenberg Media Center at the University of Southern California and Tim Miller, political strategist and writer at the Bulwark.
9/15/2021 • 32 minutes, 52 seconds
‘There’s no quick fix to this’: Sen. Ben Nelson talks about repairing the Senate
Ben Nelson, former Democratic senator from Nebraska, built a reputation from 2000 to 2013 pushing for bipartisanship and bucking his party. He joins Chuck to talk about his new book, “Death of the Senate.”
9/10/2021 • 24 minutes, 31 seconds
Abortion and the 2022 midterms: Cornell Belcher & Kristen Soltis Anderson
With a little more than a year to go before the midterms, the terms of the campaign are still in flux. Kristen Soltis Anderson, Republican pollster and co-founder of Echelon Insights joins Cornell Belcher, Democratic pollster and president of Brilliant Corners Research and Strategies, talk to Chuck about the political impact of the Texas abortion law.
9/8/2021 • 30 minutes, 26 seconds
Mark Sanford: The fight against polarization
If you take a close look at almost every political issue today — whether it’s Covid, voting, policing or climate — you will find one problem at the root of it: Polarization. Mark Sanford, former South Carolina governor (R) and former congressman talks to Chuck about partisanship in politics and his new book, “Two Roads Diverged.”
9/3/2021 • 24 minutes, 28 seconds
Richard Engel: 'Consequences' in Afghanistan will be felt across the world
President Biden spoke from the White House to defend his decision to pull forces out of the country, but his legacy may be more about the “how” than the “why” ... And that’s assuming that Afghanistan doesn’t once again become a haven for terrorist attacks. NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel talks about his firsthand reporting from Kabul as the U.S. mission came to an end.
9/1/2021 • 27 minutes, 46 seconds
Would cloned college could solve higher education’s problems?
For years, top universities have been overwhelmed by potentially qualified student candidates, but unable to fit them on campus … leading to a race to the top that no student can ever really win, often leaving students from diverse backgrounds struggling for a chance to get ahead. Professor David Kirp proposes a radical idea to expand the world of higher education.
8/27/2021 • 34 minutes, 1 second
The Honeymoon Is Over for Biden and Democrats: Susan Page and Mark Barabak
Afghanistan? A pandemic and misinformation campaign? A congressional showdown coming in late September? Washington Bureau Chief for USA Today Susan Page and LA Times Columnist Mark Barabak predict what's next as President Biden fight battles at home and abroad.
8/25/2021 • 32 minutes, 40 seconds
John Brennan: After Afghanistan, U.S. has “fewer levers to deal with” terrorism
How bad is it going to get in Afghanistan and what happens to our intelligence as the U.S. withdraws. Former CIA Director John Brennan talks to Chuck about what was lost in Afghanistan.
8/20/2021 • 27 minutes, 59 seconds
A self-fulfilling-worst-case-scenario in Afghanistan
Jim Steinberg, Deputy Secretary of State for President Obama and Bill Clinton’s deputy national security adviser, plus Bruce Jentleson, professor of public policy at Duke University and the author of “The Peacemakers: Leadership Lessons from 20th Century Statesmanship“ join Chuck to talk about the worldwide implications of the Taliban’s return.
8/18/2021 • 27 minutes, 9 seconds
America's two major political parties are simply too big
Lee Drutman, Senior Fellow at New America and author of "Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop" plus Nick Troiano, executive director of Unite America, talk about the future of nonpartisan primaries and ranked choice voting general election.
8/13/2021 • 27 minutes, 53 seconds
That's how the sausage get's made: Senate moves ahead
On Tuesday, the Senate passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill and sent it to the House. Then they immediately celebrated by starting the process of passing a 3.5 trillion dollar spending package with a record-breaking vote-a-rama that wrapped up a little before 4 AM.
8/11/2021 • 31 minutes, 11 seconds
Fmr. Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown: What philosophy teaches us about politics
The former governor of California, Jerry Brown, talks to Chuck about what he sees as the real threats facing the United States.
8/6/2021 • 27 minutes, 49 seconds
Meet the next: Ohio gets two new congressmen and Cuomo's possible successor
Chuck Todd sits down with two downballot election gurus — Inside Elections' Nathan Gonzales and Cook Political Report's Jessica Taylor — to discuss everything from special elections in Ohio and California, Virginia's governor race ... and Gov. Cuomo's lieutenant governor who might take the reins as he faces multiple criminal investigations.
8/4/2021 • 39 minutes, 13 seconds
Chris Matthews: Trump's real power isn't what the GOP thinks
Chris Matthews, former host of Hardball and author of “This Country: My life in Politics and History," joins Chuck to talk about whether former President Trump is a real or imagined power-center in the Republican Party.
7/30/2021 • 25 minutes, 56 seconds
What the NBC/WSJ poll got wrong in 2020 and what we’re doing to fix it
Pollsters Bill McInturff, co-founder of Public Opinion Strategies and Jeff Horwitt, Senior Vice President at Hart Research join Chuck to discuss what they learned when they went back and examined the 2020 polling.
7/28/2021 • 34 minutes, 34 seconds
Democrats conduct 2020 autopsy: "Twitter isn’t even representative of Democratic primary voters"
Lanae Erickson, Senior Vice President for the social policy & politics program at Third Way joins Chuck to talk about a post-election report that shows where Democrats fell short in 2020.
7/23/2021 • 33 minutes, 19 seconds
"Political science" is broken and the fix isn't found in schools: Michael D. Cohen
Michael D. Cohen, author of “Modern Political Campaigns: How Professionalism, Technology, and Speed Have Revolutionized Elections” and the CEO of the public affairs firm Cohen Research Group joins Chuck to talk about the disconnect between education and execution.
7/16/2021 • 32 minutes
In post-Covid poll, Americans say they are "thriving"
As troops leave Afghanistan, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) talks about what the end to America’s longest war may mean for our influence on the world stage. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) discusses the influence of far-right extremism in the GOP.Carrie Dann’s final number of the week looks at Americans’ optimistic feelings about the future.
7/11/2021 • 9 minutes, 15 seconds
Just how broken is campaign finance law enforcement with Shane Goldmacher
The FEC is responsible for enforcing federal finance laws and it’s led by an equal number of Republicans and Democrats — in theory that should create a spirit of cooperation. But in today’s environment, that divide creates more “deadlock” than “bipartisan enforcement.” Shane Goldmacher, national political reporter for the New York Times, joins Chuck to talk about the failures at the FEC and what it means for campaign finance law.
7/9/2021 • 31 minutes, 53 seconds
Rating stuff: It’s human nature. So where does Trump rank?
Chuck Todd recaps a special Covid-focused episode of Meet the Press. Carrie Dann looks at new rankings of all presidents from C-SPAN.
7/4/2021 • 7 minutes, 5 seconds
Does the Supreme Court split 3-3-3? Pete Williams reviews the Court’s latest term
NBC News Justice correspondent Pete Williams looks back at the Supreme Court term to see what we learned about power and alliances on the Court.
7/2/2021 • 30 minutes, 40 seconds
The summer of infrastructure with Benjy Sarlin & Tara Palmeri
Washington is emptying out ahead of the July fourth weekend … with the Senate in recess and the House leaving town for two weeks on Thursday afternoon. Before they go, Congressional Democrats will vote to create a select committee on January 6th. Still on the table — how will Washington move forward on infrastructure.
6/30/2021 • 25 minutes, 33 seconds
Infrastructure talks, condo collapse and national unity: Sen. Cassidy & Rep. Ocasio-Cortez
Chuck recaps his exclusive interviews with Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Carrie’s number of the week looks into declining national unity around the world.
6/27/2021 • 5 minutes, 45 seconds
George Packer: How four Americas changed during the lockdown year
Award-winning author and staff writer at the Atlantic, George Packer joins the ToddCast to talk about his new book, written during the Covid lockdown and the 2020 election.
6/25/2021 • 33 minutes, 52 seconds
Did Democrats’ score an own-goal with voting rights? Susan Page & Kasie Hunt
Washington bureau chief for USA TODAY and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power, Susan Page, and NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent and the host of Way Too Early on MSNBC, Kasie Hunt, join Chuck to talk about Democrats’ strategy in advancing their agenda.
6/23/2021 • 31 minutes, 51 seconds
The Next War: How the U.S. Armed Forces are evolving
Meet the Press Reports: As the United States looks beyond war in Afghanistan and Iraq, the military is preparing for conflict in new domains, from outer space to cyberspace.
6/22/2021 • 27 minutes, 4 seconds
Policy debates break out across Washington; public opinion on insurrection still evolving
Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) discuss the future of bipartisanship and President Biden’s infrastructure plan. Fiona Hill breaks down the Biden-Putin summit. Carrie Dann looks at the numbers to see where consensus is emerging on the January 6th insurrection.
6/20/2021 • 6 minutes, 8 seconds
Behind the scenes at Biden’s inauguration & the virtual DNC: Ricky Kirschner & Stephanie Cutter
Democratic political consultant Stephanie Cutter and Emmy-winning TV producer Ricky Kirshner joined up together in the midst of the pandemic to produce “Celebrating America,” the first virtual Democratic National Convention last August … and then again for “America United,” Joe Biden’s inauguration.
6/18/2021 • 33 minutes, 29 seconds
Biden's European adventure: Anne Gearan & Courtney Kube
President Biden ends his first overseas trip meeting Russian President Putin at a summit in Geneva. The Putin summit is the capstone to a complex series of meetings that the president attended during this overseas trip — including meetings with the G-7, NATO and the EU.
6/16/2021 • 27 minutes, 15 seconds
One step forward, two steps back? Senate outlook with Jake Sherman & Alayna Treene
Punchbowl News co-founder Jake Sherman and Axios Congressional reporter Alayna Treene join Chuck to talk about the shifting infrastructure talks, police reform and Sen. Joe Manchin’s ability to stay in the center of the news. Plus WRC NBC4 Investigative reporter Scott MacFarlane joins the show to discuss the long road ahead for convicting people who attacked the Capitol on January 6th.
6/9/2021 • 34 minutes, 50 seconds
Athletes & Activism: How sports and politics intersect
Meet the Press Reports: Athletes have long been involved in activism, but today's protests are different.
6/8/2021 • 27 minutes, 4 seconds
Intel members signal it might be time for crypto rules
After another week of cyberattacks, Chuck talks with Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. Plus, Carrie Dann looks at the push underway by Republican state houses to limit access to voting.
6/6/2021 • 7 minutes, 28 seconds
Power serves: Democrats in New Mexico and the evolution of athletic activism
New Mexico's special election signals an environment that favors Democrats ahead of 2022, while Biden fights a cybersecurity war ahead of his summit with Putin. NBC's Shannon Pettypiece and Ben Kamisar join. Later, Washington Post Sports Columnist Jerry Brewer weighs in on Naomi Osaka and the sometimes "toxic environment" between sports players and the press.
6/2/2021 • 44 minutes, 29 seconds
January 6 and the future of bipartisanship, Covid-19 origins and 15 percent
Barbara Comstock and Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) discuss the failure to form a bipartisan Jan. 6 commission. Matthew Pottinger and Dr. Peter Hotez explain why the Covid-19 lab leak theory is gaining legitimacy from the Biden administration. Carrie Dann looks at latest polling which shows that a rising number of Americans believe in QAnon.
5/30/2021 • 7 minutes, 48 seconds
Trump grand jury: Huge … but significant? Plus, John Glenn’s legacy
Jacqueline Alemany, author of the Washington Post’s early morning newsletter, PowerUp and Edward-Isaac Dovere, staff writer at the Atlantic and author of the new book, “Battle for the Soul: Inside the Democrats’ campaign to defeat Trump,” join Chuck to talk about a New York grand jury that’s looking into the Trump organization.Jeff Shesol, author of “Mercury Rising: John Glenn, John Kennedy, and the New Battleground of the Cold War,” talks about one presidential campaign that never got off the launchpad.
5/26/2021 • 58 minutes, 58 seconds
‘Freedom’: Sebastian Junger talks Appalachia, Afghanistan and the meaning of rights
Author and filmmaker Sebastian Junger talks to Chuck Todd about his new book and about the future of the military.
5/19/2021 • 30 minutes, 45 seconds
The Millennials are coming (to Washington)
The most educated generation in history is without a political home. These young adults have come of age through war, recessions and shootings, all during their most productive years. Will they coalesce behind a party or rip the institutions completely apart?
5/18/2021 • 27 minutes, 4 seconds
CDC mask guidance, GOP purge, and surprising social media numbers
Dr. Rochelle Walensky explains why the CDC’s masking guidance changed. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) discuss what Liz Cheney’s ousting from GOP leadership means for the future of the Republican Party. Carrie Dann looks at the polling on social media.
5/16/2021 • 6 minutes, 36 seconds
Cheney is out from GOP leadership; Plus Millennials come into their own
Washington Post congressional reporter Paul Kane, and Sahil Kapur, National Political Reporter for NBC News discuss Rep. Liz Cheney’s purge from House GOP leadership. Neil Howe talks about how millennials will change politics.
5/12/2021 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 50 seconds
Meet the Press Reports: A Party Divided: The GOP & Immigration
The crisis at the U.S./Mexico border started long before the Trump Administration’s zero tolerance policy. How a nation founded by immigrants continuously demonizes those who cross our borders, and why the immigration reform impasse in Washington leaves refugees and mixed-status families in fear.
5/11/2021 • 28 minutes, 6 seconds
Republicans turn on each other; Plus Americans define ‘Americanism’
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Gov. Larry Hogan (R-Md.) discuss the potential ousting of Liz Cheney from Republican leadership. Dr. Anthony Fauci explains what the state of vaccinations means for the return to normalcy. Carrie Dann learns a new language.
5/9/2021 • 8 minutes, 47 seconds
Republicans feud over Trump, Cheney and immigration; Plus Facebook upholds Trump ban
The internal feud between House Republicans broke out into the open once again this week, as Liz Cheney, the number three Republican, faces calls for her ouster from leadership because she continues to disagree with former President Trump. Chuck is joined by deputy editorial page editor for the Washington Post, Ruth Marcus and Lachlan Markay, politics reporter at Axios.Plus, former GOP congressman Reid Ribble discusses the GOP’s changes on immigration.
5/5/2021 • 53 minutes, 49 seconds
Coming to America: The human toll of Washington’s immigration impasse
A deep-dive into the influx of migrants at the U.S./Mexico border and how Washington’s failure to tackle immigration reform leaves mixed status families and new arrivals seeking asylum in a precarious position.
5/4/2021 • 27 minutes, 7 seconds
Taxes and spending negotiations get underway; Plus census reveals voter turnout broke records
Chuck talks about his exclusive interviews with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Carrie Dann looks at the new numbers inside the 2020 census.
5/2/2021 • 8 minutes, 13 seconds
The 100 day week: Peter Baker & Anne Gearan; Plus former DHS Sec. Jeh Johnson
4/29/2021 • 55 minutes, 46 seconds
Water security: Climate, health and infrastructure
Meet the Press Reports: Water is a vital and precious resource. How do we keep it secure and make sure all Americans have access to clean and usable water?
4/27/2021 • 22 minutes, 8 seconds
A 'Selma moment' on policing? Plus, school satisfaction high despite pandemic woes
Chuck Todd talks about the top moments from Sunday's "Meet the Press" including a discussion about police reform. Carrie Dann reports on the latest polling from parents with school-age children.
4/25/2021 • 9 minutes, 13 seconds
Police reform in Congress; Plus water wars — Alex Moe, John Bresnahan and Bettina Boxall
The question of what happens next really moves from Minneapolis to Washington, where the issue of police reform is now in the hands of President Biden and Congress. Chuck is joined by co-founder of Punchbowl News, John Bresnahan and NBC News Capitol Hill producer and reporter, Alex Moe. Plus Bettina Boxall, staff writer at the LA Times covering water and the environment talks about water security.
4/21/2021 • 49 minutes, 13 seconds
America’s cyberwar: Zero days, espionage & vulnerabilities
Meet the Press Reports: As the most powerful nation in the world pours money into offense, private companies and taxpayers are mostly left to defend themselves.
4/20/2021 • 27 minutes, 2 seconds
Unedited Boehner interview, plus polls move on transgender rights
Chuck Todd sits down for an extended interview with former Speaker of the House, John Boehner. Carrie Dann reports on big moves in polling for transgender rights.
4/18/2021 • 25 minutes, 42 seconds
Digital espionage, cyber war and a the end of American troops in Afghanistan: Nicole Perlroth & Rep. Barbara Lee
Nicole Perlroth, New York Times reporter covering digital espionage and author of “This Is How They Tell Me The World Ends,” joins Chuck to uncover what's really happening with America's cyberwar. Twenty years after her lone vote to oppose a broad use of force authorization following September 11th, and on the same day that President Biden announced his plan to withdraw from Afghanistan, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) talks to Chuck about America's longest war.
4/14/2021 • 57 minutes, 35 seconds
Domestic Extremism: ‘They aren’t wearing hoods, but slacks’
The dotted line from before the Oklahoma City bombing to the anti-mask protests and the Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot to the Jan. 6th Capitol attack. Why does America have an apparent inclination toward violent extremism? How are populism, grievance politics and nationalism playing into that inclination across the political spectrum? And what can law enforcement, national security experts and elected officials do to turn down the temperature? Or, is it too late?
4/13/2021 • 27 minutes, 21 seconds
Biden's China strategy begins to be come clear, Republicans caught in GOP culture war
Chuck recaps his exclusive interview with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R). Carrie Dann’s Number of the Week looks at the gap between people who identify as Republicans and those who identify as Democrats.
4/11/2021 • 10 minutes, 7 seconds
The party's over: Mark Z. Barabak, Emily Cochrane, plus Jim Cavanaugh on extremism
LA Times columnist Mark Z. Barabak and New York Times congressional reporter Emily Cochrane join Chuck to talk about the Republican Party. Jim Cavanaugh, former special agent in charge at the ATF, talks about the uptick in extremism — a topic we’re going to focus on this week with our new season of Meet the Press Reports.
4/7/2021 • 59 minutes, 56 seconds
MTP Reports: Changing Electorate
The American electorate is changing. From where people live to how they vote, political parties are trying to keep up.
4/6/2021 • 24 minutes, 53 seconds
Chuck Todd recaps this week's Meet the Press. Carrie Dann looks into a new poll that shows a majority of GOP voters support same-sex marriage for the first time.
Chuck Todd recaps this week's Meet the Press. Carrie Dann looks into a new poll that shows a majority of GOP voters support same-sex marriage for the first time.
4/4/2021 • 11 minutes, 20 seconds
Biden's infrastructure plan shows his focus on the popular
Yamiche Alcindor, White House correspondent for PBS NewsHour, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Capitol Hill Correspondent for NBC News and Sarah Isgur, staff writer for the Dispatch join Chuck to talk about the next steps for the Biden White House. Plus, Andrew Maraniss, author of Singled Out, a biography of Glenn Burke, the first openly gay major league baseball player and the inventor of the “High Five.”
3/31/2021 • 50 minutes, 30 seconds
MTP Reports: The war for the court
The fight to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was only the latest skirmish in a decades-long fight over the Judiciary.
3/30/2021 • 26 minutes, 28 seconds
Clarity emerges on gun reform debate; Shaken faith among Georgia voters
Chuck recaps this week's special edition of Meet the Press and Carrie Dann shares her number of the week: In November's election, 10 percent of Trump voters in Georgia said that they were not confident that the state's votes would be counted accurately.
3/28/2021 • 11 minutes, 24 seconds
"Chaos" over China: Josh Rogin talks foreign policy, trade and Trump
Josh Rogin, author of "Chaos Under Heaven" and columnist for the Washington Post, joins Chuck to talk about how U.S.-China relations changed during the last four years, driven by former President Trump's personality.
3/24/2021 • 27 minutes, 48 seconds
MTP Reports: Oct. 7, 2016
An "October Surprise," one day in 2016 set off political rip currents that have yet to be settled.
3/23/2021 • 25 minutes, 4 seconds
The deepest of county-data deep-dives
Chuck talks about his interview with DHS Sec. Mayorkas and Carrie Dann looks into the numbers of all 3,143 counties in the United States.
3/21/2021 • 11 minutes, 33 seconds
For Biden, the easy part is over: Infrastructure and the immigration stalemate
NBC News Capitol Hill Correspondent Kasie Hunt and NBC News White House Correspondent Mike Memoli sit down with Chuck to talk about Biden’s next steps in Washington. And the immigration stalemate To talk about the migrant crisis, Chuck is joined by the president of Voto Latino, Maria Teresa Kumar and former Republican Congressman Carlos Curbelo.
3/17/2021 • 52 minutes, 7 seconds
MTP Reports: The rise of QAnon
In this episode of Meet the Press Reports, Chuck takes a look at the rise of QAnon. Conspiracy theories are nothing new in American politics, but QAnon presents unique problems.
3/16/2021 • 25 minutes, 30 seconds
For GOP hopefuls, Trump remade Reagan's 11th commandment
Carrie Dann explains how former President Trump turned former President Reagan's maxim about inter-party criticism on its head.
3/14/2021 • 8 minutes, 27 seconds
Blunt out: Senate GOP retirements; Plus former GE CEO
Nathan Gonzales, Editor & Publisher of Inside Elections, and Carrie Dann discuss the stampede towards the door for a certain kind of Republican senator. And former GE CEO, Jeff Immelt, talks to Chuck about his new book "Hot Seat" and what it was like to run one of the most storied American companies.
3/10/2021 • 59 minutes, 45 seconds
One year of Covid & the special election in Texas
Chuck talks about the top news from his interviews with Jeffrey Zients, Michael Osterholm, Sen. Manchin & Sen. Barrasso. Carrie Dann looks at the many candidates running in a Texas special election.
3/7/2021 • 10 minutes, 53 seconds
Texas fallout & Puerto Rico statehood: Gov. Pierluisi, with Leigh Ann Caldwell and Abby Livingston
Gov. Pedro Pierluisi explains why the time has come for statehood for Puerto Rico. NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Leigh Ann Caldwell and Washington Bureau Chief for the Texas Tribune, Abby Livingston, discuss Covid relief and Texas recovery.
3/3/2021 • 58 minutes, 24 seconds
Shame and politics: "The Argentine Firecracker" and the Chairman
Chuck checks in from the set of Meet the Press and Carrie Dann looks past Cancun to tell the story of Fanne Fox, a dancer who became involved with Congressman Wilbur Mills, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
2/28/2021 • 13 minutes, 8 seconds
The Biden agenda: Eli Stokols & Shannon Pettypiece, Plus Mike Isaac and Elizabeth Dwoskin
Shannon Pettypiece Senior White House Reporter for NBC News Digital and Eli Stokols White House reporter for the LA Times join Chuck to talk about how Republicans are reckoning with Biden's Washington. Plus, Facebook and Australia have come to an agreement to allow news links to be shared on the social media platform after Australia tried to give news organizations more leverage. Mike Isaac, technology correspondent at the New York Times, and Elizabeth Dwoskin, Silicon Valley Correspondent of the Washington Post, explain.
2/24/2021 • 49 minutes, 35 seconds
135 candidates: What happened the last time California recalled a governor
As the recall campaign against California Governor Gavin Newsom takes a step closer, Carrie Dann looks at what happened in 2003 when a recall election replaced Gray Davis with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
2/22/2021 • 7 minutes, 38 seconds
The Republican Civil War & the Man With a Plan: Evan McMullin, Annie Karni and Jake Sherman
"I already have a family and a religion and so I've never looked at my political party to replace either," 2016 presidential candidate Evan McMullin says. He tells Chuck Todd about his explorations into a new faction of the GOP ... and possibly a third party. NYT's Annie Karni and Punchbowl's Jake Sherman join to discuss President Biden's To-Do list.
2/17/2021 • 46 minutes, 19 seconds
One way the Trump's presidency was predictable? His polls never changed much
With the first approval ratings for the Biden presidency starting to come together, Carrie Dann looks back at how past support for past administrations changed over time.
2/15/2021 • 9 minutes, 24 seconds
The issue is trust: Bruce Mehlman, plus Kiersten Todt on cybersecurity
Chuck talks with Bruce Mehlman about his latest analysis on trends in populism and GOP priorities. Mehlman is a Republican adviser and founding partner at Mehlman, Castagnetti, Rosen and Thomas. Plus, Kiersten Todt, managing director at the Cyber Readiness Institute, discusses a hack that could have poisoned municipal water in Florida. To read Bruce's presentation: https://mehlmancastagnetti.com/wp-content/uploads/Crossroads-2021-Mehlman.pdf
2/10/2021 • 49 minutes, 6 seconds
Poll shows Republicans divide evenly over support for Trump
Carrie Dann looks back over polling since 2019 to see how Republican voters view President Trump, and where those splits differ from elected Republicans.
2/8/2021 • 8 minutes, 50 seconds
Where will the GOP be in a year?
Anna Palmer, co-founder of Punchbowl News and Sahil Kapur, national political reporter for NBC News join Chuck to talk about the future of the Republican Party. Plus, Jeff Bezos is stepping down as the CEO of Amazon after 27 years. NBC News Senior Media Correspondent Dylan Byers shares the latest.
2/3/2021 • 53 minutes, 47 seconds
Why a presidential censure would be more historic than you think
Carrie Dann looks at the story of the one and only presidential censure, a rebuke of President Andrew Jackson which was quickly removed by Jackson's supporters.
2/1/2021 • 10 minutes, 22 seconds
The filibuster and the GOP: Kasie Hunt, Nathan Gonzales and Adam Jentleson
NBC News Capitol Hill Correspondent Kasie Hunt and Nathan Gonzales, Editor & Publisher of Inside Elections, join Chuck to talk about the future of the Republican Party. Plus, Adam Jentleson, author of "Kill Switch: The Rise of the Modern Senate and the Crippling of American Democracy" talks about the history of the filibuster and why it might be reformed.
1/28/2021 • 58 minutes, 4 seconds
Filibuster Fight: The Senate rule that keeps changing over time
Carrie Dann looks at how the filibuster has evolved, from an unwritten rule to a blocking tactic that has been used at historically high rates.
1/25/2021 • 11 minutes, 47 seconds
"No power but what voters give you:" Joshua Johnson, Michael Kruse and Marc Ambinder
Michael Kruse, senior staff writer at Politico, and Joshua Johnson, host of “The Week with Joshua Johnson” on MSNBC, join Chuck to talk about former President Trump's exit from Washington. Plus, national security reporter Marc Ambinder looks at how the Biden presidency will react to the insurgent attack on the Capitol.
1/21/2021 • 50 minutes, 2 seconds
President Biden's full inaugural address: 'Democracy has prevailed'
President Joe Biden delivers his inaugural address after being sworn in as the 46th president.
1/20/2021 • 24 minutes, 32 seconds
First Ladies: How falling spousal approval ratings reveal partisanship
In the latest NBC News poll, Jill Biden's favorability falls as partisanship rises. Carrie Dann reports.
1/18/2021 • 5 minutes, 6 seconds
McConnell's calculus: Paul Kane & Carrie Dann on the next steps, plus Chuck looks to the Biden administration
Washington Post Senior Congressional correspondent Paul Kane joins Carrie Dann to talk about the politics of impeachment. Chuck and Carrie discuss the Biden team's plans for the first six months.
1/15/2021 • 45 minutes, 32 seconds
President Trump's second impeachment goes forward
Chuck shares a quick note about the House's second impeachment of President Trump.
1/15/2021 • 3 minutes, 5 seconds
One precedent Trump is (kind of) upholding? Skipping the inauguration of his successor
Carrie Dann looks back in time to see why some previous presidents skipped the inaugurations of their successors.
1/15/2021 • 7 minutes, 45 seconds
The aftermath: Dan Balz, Amy Walter and Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Dan Balz, Washington Post Chief Correspondent, Amy Walter, National Editor for the Cook Political Report, and Eddie Glaude, Jr. Princeton professor, talk to Chuck Todd about the attack on the Capitol and the president's role in stoking violence.
1/7/2021 • 41 minutes, 32 seconds
Georgia results realign Southern politics and Republican party calculus
Chuck Todd returns with a recap from the Georgia Senate runoffs, which could have wide-reaching impacts on politics and campaigns for years to come.
1/6/2021 • 3 minutes, 38 seconds
Georgia Senate runoff costs more than a Da Vinci's worth of TV ads
Back with a big number for the week, Carrie Dann tracks the historic ad spending underway in the two Georgia Senate runoffs.
1/4/2021 • 6 minutes, 1 second
If it's December, Congress has a long to-do list: Carl Hulse & Leigh Ann Caldwell
Carl Hulse, Chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times and Leigh Ann Caldwell, NBC News correspondent covering Congress, join Chuck to talk about negotiations over a Covid relief bill.
12/16/2020 • 37 minutes, 4 seconds
Sen. Lamar Alexander: "It's fair to allow candidates to contest elections"
In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press, retiring Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) talks to Chuck Todd about President Trump's efforts to overturn the election and the upcoming electoral college vote.
12/13/2020 • 33 minutes, 30 seconds
How Trump's attempts to undo the election give Biden room for his cabinet unveil
Annie Linskey, National Political Reporter for the Washington and Alex Thompson, reporter for Politico and co-author of the Transition Playbook join Chuck to talk about the Biden transition. And Sarah Isgur, senior writer for The Dispatch, discusses a new poll from the Knight Foundation on how Americans view the election.
12/10/2020 • 48 minutes, 15 seconds
Little fires, everywhere: Trump Administration returns to form
Some time in the future, if you want to remind yourself what life was like during the Trump administration, you could think back to today and you’d have a good sense of how Washington operated. Reid Epstein, Politics reporter at the New York Times, and Janet Hook, National Political Reporter at the Los Angeles Times join Chuck.
12/2/2020 • 33 minutes, 7 seconds
Trump stonewalls democracy: Dan Balz & Katie Glueck, plus Democratic polling expert David Shor
Chief Correspondent for the Washington Post, Dan Balz, and Katie Glueck, national politics reporter for the New York Times, join Chuck to talk about the Biden transition effort and Republican resistance. Democratic polling expert David Shor talks through lessons learned from the 2020 vote.
11/18/2020 • 53 minutes, 24 seconds
We're in the middle of a realignment: Carrie Dann, Mark Murray & Dante Chinni
As the vote continues to come in, Chuck is joined by the NBC News Political Unit to sift through what we've learned so far about the picture captured by the 2020 election.
11/12/2020 • 42 minutes, 29 seconds
What we've learned: 2016 wasn't an outlier
As we wait for the final numbers, Chuck is joined by Kasie Hunt to discuss the early lessons from the 2020 election.
11/6/2020 • 40 minutes, 40 seconds
Welcome to election week: Update from the NBC News Political Unit
As we wait for more results, Carrie Dann shares an episode of the Lid. The ToddCast will be back later this week.
11/4/2020 • 4 minutes, 27 seconds
The Final Countdown: Amy Walter & Larry Sabato
National Editor for the Cook Political Report, Amy Walter, and Larry Sabato, Director of Politics at the University of Virginia, talk to Chuck about the race for the White House and the down-ballot contests to watch on election night.
10/28/2020 • 37 minutes, 51 seconds
Congressional GOP feel the pressure as Trump poll numbers remain low
Kasie Hunt and Brendan Buck discuss the chances for a Covid relief bill in the House. Glenn Plaskin recalls his 1990 interview with Donald Trump.
10/21/2020 • 48 minutes, 33 seconds
The 2020 fight for Florida: Marc Caputo, Beth Reinhard & filmmaker Billy Corben
In the final installment of Florida Florida Florida, the Chuck ToddCast returns with a 2020 Florida-centric panel. Politico correspondent Marc Caputo and Washington Post reporter Beth Reinhard talk about their years covering politics in the sunshine state. Documentary filmmaker Billy Corben talks to Chuck about his new film, "537 Votes."
10/16/2020 • 49 minutes, 39 seconds
Episode 5: Nightmare scenarios and the long reach of the 2000 recount
Florida Florida Floirda: Episode 5. Two decades after the 2000 recount, the results can still be felt today in the way campaigns are staffed, media messages are created and how courts view elections. Susan Glasser, Barton Gellman and Nathan Persily join the discussion.
10/15/2020 • 35 minutes, 8 seconds
Episode 4: How Bush v. Gore could come back in 2020
Florida Florida Florida Episode 4: When the recount began, it wasn't a foregone conclusion that the result would be decided by the Supreme Court. But now that the Court has gotten involved in elections, its effect can still be felt today. Featuring interviews with Laurence Tribe, Pete Williams, Ben Ginsburg and others.
10/14/2020 • 46 minutes, 56 seconds
Episode 3: The Brooks Brothers Riot; or Republicans embrace civil disobedience
Florida Florida Florida, Episode 3: The Bush team deployed a 4-pronged strategy during the recount, including something very new for Republicans: public protest. Featuring interviews with Ted Cruz, John Bolton, Al Cardenas and Matt Schlapp.
10/13/2020 • 38 minutes, 41 seconds
Episode 2: Election Night Chaos & The Messaging Battle
Lesson 3: Work the refs. Election night showed the importance of pushing back against the news media when the story wasn't going the way the campaigns expected.Lesson 4: Stay on message.After election night, the team with the tightest control over messaging would gain an advantage.Featuring interviews with Joe Lieberman, Tom Brokaw, Lester Holt, Betsy Fischer Martin and others.
Meet the Press introduces: Florida Florida Florida. In this new five-part series, Chuck Todd looks back at the enduring political lessons of the 2000 presidential recount. Lesson 1: Every election is the most important election of our lifetimes.Lesson 2: Candidates Matter.Featuring interviews with Stuart Stevens, Tad Devine, "Mac" Stipanovich, Lucy Morgan and archival recordings from NBC News.
10/11/2020 • 34 minutes, 30 seconds
Trump passes on stimulus with weeks before election: Anna Palmer & Jake Sherman
Anna Palmer & Jake Sherman, co-authors of Politico's Playbook, join Chuck to talk about the frozen negotiations over a covid relief bill.
10/8/2020 • 28 minutes, 43 seconds
The "train wreck" debate: Jennifer Palmieri & Al Cardenas
Al Cardenas, the former chair of the Florida GOP and worked on President George W. Bush’s campaign, and Obama’s White House Communications Director, Jennifer Palmieri, join Chuck to talk about the first Trump-Biden debate.
9/30/2020 • 33 minutes, 19 seconds
How the fight to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will deepen divisions
NBC News Correspondent Leigh Ann Caldwell talks to Chuck about the steps the Senate is taking to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. David French, senior editor at the Dispatch, discusses the long-term implications of Republicans' flip-flop on late-term court fights.
9/23/2020 • 33 minutes, 59 seconds
Peter Strzok defends Trump investigation; SciAm defends Biden endorsement
A peak at Russia's cards during the next election with former FBI Counterintelligence Officer Peter Strzok and Scientific American Editor in Chief Laura Helmuth discusses the publication's decision to endorse a candidate for the first time in 175 years.
9/17/2020 • 57 minutes, 42 seconds
Election 'Super Bowl' kickoff with Charlie Cook, Larry Sabato and Maria Teresa Kumar
Chuck talks with polling heavyweights Charlie Cook and Larry Sabato to talk about the election now that we are eight weeks out. Maria Teresa Kumar updates Chuck on Latino outreach from both campaigns.
9/10/2020 • 41 minutes
Qanon, Russian Trolls & Facebook: Will Sommer and Ben Collins; Plus "Hoax" author Brian Stelter
Brian Stelter, chief media correspondent at CNN and author of "Hoax" joins Chuck to talk about Fox News. Will Sommer from the Daily Beast and Ben Collins from NBC News explain what's really going on with Qanon.
9/2/2020 • 44 minutes, 31 seconds
"What does it mean to be a Republican?" With Tim Alberta, Sarah Flores & Denver Riggleman
Chuck talks with Politico Magazine's chief political correspondent, Tim Alberta, and staff writer at the Dispatch, Sarah Flores. Plus, a conversation with Congressman Denver Riggleman about the ways his party has changed.
8/27/2020 • 1 hour, 24 seconds
Inside the Trump campaign reboot, with Olivia Nuzzi. Plus Ben Kamisar and Steve Kornacki
Olivia Nuzzi reported a must-read look inside the Trump campaign, for New York Magazine. NBC News Political Unit reporter Ben Kamisar updates on ad-spending and Steve Kornacki reacts to the first nights of the DNC.
8/19/2020 • 44 minutes, 23 seconds
Frontrunner picks frontrunner: Andrea Mitchell & Deepa Shivaram talk Kamala Harris; Plus, Sally Jenkins on the postponed college football seasons
NBC News Senior Washington Correspondent Andrea Mitchell and NBC News Political Embed Deepa Shivaram join Chuck to talk about Sen. Kamala Harris. Washington Post Sports Columnist Sally Jenkins discusses the changes to the fall college sports season.
8/12/2020 • 42 minutes, 43 seconds
Democrats dominate the map right now, but here’s how the race could tighten
Dave Wasserman, House editor for the Cook Political Report, and Abby Livingston, Washington Bureau Chief for the Texas Tribune, join Chuck. The Knight Foundation's Sam Gill and former Missouri University professor, Barbara Cochran talk about a new report on trust in the media.
8/6/2020 • 54 minutes, 55 seconds
Biden & his grudges with Mike Memoli and Marianna Sotomayor
In one week, one of the decisions that could have the most impact on the race is reportedly set to be announced: Biden’s VP pick.
7/29/2020 • 35 minutes, 34 seconds
The battle for the post-Trump Republican Party: Jonah Goldberg, Josh Kraushaar; plus Fred Frommer on the return of baseball
Josh Kraushaar, columnist for National Review, and Jonah Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief of the Dispatch, join Chuck to talk about the battles playing out to control the Republican Party after President Trump. Fred Frommer, author of "You Gotta Have Heart: Washington baseball from Walter Johnson to the 2019 World Series Champion Nationals,” talks about the start of the abbreviated baseball season.
7/22/2020 • 56 minutes, 25 seconds
"Wrong track" Why so many people think the country is headed in the wrong direction: Carol Leonnig, Katherine Gehl, Michael Porter
Chuck is joined by Washington Post staff writer Carol Leonnig to talk about the president's re-election prospects. Katherine Gehl and Michael Porter talk about their new book, The Politics Industry: How Political Innovation Can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save Our Democracy.
7/15/2020 • 44 minutes, 13 seconds
Trump reboots his re-election reboot: Michael Bender & Annie Karni
Wall Street Journal White House reporter Michael Bender and New York Times White House correspondent Annie Karni join Chuck to talk about fallout from President Trump's attempt to kickstart his campaign.
6/24/2020 • 31 minutes, 48 seconds
Mark Cuban: 'Very difficult for white people to discuss race'
Marc Cuban, entrepreneur and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, joins the Meet the Press: College Roundtable to talk about race and economics with Ghael Fobes, rising junior at Syracuse University, Parker Jensen, a rising senior at The George Washington University, and Chan'cellore Makanjuola, a student at UC Berkley's graduate school of journalism.
6/19/2020 • 23 minutes, 26 seconds
Police reform gets serious and Primaries churn; with Dave Weigel and Anna Palmer
Dave Weigel, Washington Post national political reporter, and Anna Palmer, Politico senior Washington correspondent and co-author of Politico Playbook join Chuck to talk about Senate Republicans unveil their police reform plan.
6/17/2020 • 28 minutes, 34 seconds
'There is no going back' on police reform, Mayor of Pittsburgh tells college journalists
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto (D) joins the Meet the Press: College Roundtable to take questions from Sarah Beth Guevara, a graduate journalism student from the University of Oklahoma, Avalon Pernell, a rising sophomore at Washington and Lee University, and David Bender, a rising freshman at Indiana University.
6/12/2020 • 18 minutes, 2 seconds
What's inside the new NBC News/WSJ Poll? Plus translating new economic numbers. With Dante Chinni, Carrie Dann and Nell Henderson
Dante Chinni, the director of the American Communities project and Data Download is joined by Nell Henderson, Wall Street Journal Economics Editor. Plus, Carrie Dann goes inside the latest NBC News/WSJ Poll
6/10/2020 • 31 minutes, 37 seconds
NAACP President tells college students: 'We will not survive' if Trump is reelected
On Meet the Press: College Roundtable, Anna Salvatore, an incoming freshman at Princeton University, Tamia Fowlkes, a rising junior at the University of Wisconsin - Madison and Camille Respess, a rising senior at the University of Florida, interview NAACP President Derrick Johnson as protests continue across the country following the death of George Floyd.
6/5/2020 • 19 minutes
Protests against police abuse don't look the same in 2020 as they used to
Eugene Scott, political reporter for The Washington Post, and MSNBC's Joshua Johnson join Chuck Todd to talk about the widespread protests against police abuse.
6/3/2020 • 29 minutes, 10 seconds
'Will we be safe?' Meet the Press: College Roundtable
Chuck Todd moderates Meet the Press: College Roundtable as students from Florida A&M University, University of Texas-Austin and Georgetown interview University of Arizona President Dr. Robert Robbins and Howard University President Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick.
5/28/2020 • 23 minutes, 28 seconds
Veepstakes Deep-Dive with EMILY's List president, Stephanie Schriock
While Joe Biden may not be on the campaign trail, his team is busy vetting vice presidential candidates. Stephanie Schricok, president of EMILY's List, talks to Chuck Todd about what each of the potential running mates has to offer.
5/27/2020 • 46 minutes
Bob Costas, Charles Benson and Alexa Ura: Vote by mail, opening states and Opening Day (modified)
Legendary sportscaster and broadcaster Bob Costas talks to Chuck about what a modified sports season might look like. TMJ4's Charles Benson and the Texas Tribune's Alexa Ura share their latest reporting on vote-by-mail changes.
5/20/2020 • 48 minutes, 45 seconds
Amy Walter, Steve Kornacki and Howard Univ. President Dr. Wayne Frederick
Ok, let's talk politics. Amy Walter, National Editor of the Cook Political Report, and Steve Kornacki, National Political correspondent for NBC News, join Chuck for a virus-free discussion of the 2020 political landscape. Plus, Howard University president Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick to discuss the future of college reopenings.
5/13/2020 • 57 minutes, 24 seconds
Shifting White House coronavirus plans, plus Biden Veep-stakes: Marc Caputo & Juana Summers
Politico's Marc Caputo and NPR's Juana Summers join Chuck Todd to talk about the impact of shifting COVID response plans, and Joe Biden's vice presidential options.
5/6/2020 • 26 minutes, 24 seconds
Molly Ball on "Pelosi" & Ron Fournier with Megan Messerly dispatches from Michigan and Nevada
Molly Ball, TIME Magazine National Political correspondent and author of the new book "Pelosi" joins the ToddCast. Ron Fournier calls in from Michigan and Megan Messerly checks in from Nevada with scenes of a financial collapse in the early stages.
4/29/2020 • 42 minutes, 25 seconds
Chuck Klosterman, Olivia Nuzzi & Dan Balz: How covid has changed Washington and may upend the 2020 election
Washington Post Chief correspondent Dan Balz and New York Magazine Washington correspondent Olivia Nuzzi try to remember what happened in Washington before covid-19. Author and essayist Chuck Klosterman talks about the long-term impact of the pandemic on millennials' futures.
4/24/2020 • 1 hour, 3 seconds
Tim Alberta & Ashley Parker: Fear and the White House response
Chief political correspondent for Politico, Tim Alberta, and White House Reporter for the Washington Post, Ashley Parker, join Chuck to talk about the president's handling of the coronavirus. Plus, the NBC News Political Unit gets together to share their picks for best political (and non-political) movies.
4/15/2020 • 45 minutes, 41 seconds
Are Trump press conferences really political rallies in disguise? Phil Rucker, Shannon Pettypiece and Ian Bremmer
Phil Rucker, Washington Post White House Bureau Chief, joins Shannon Pettypiece, Senior Reporter for NBC News join Chuck to talk about the White House coronavirus response. Plus, Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group, talks about the pandemic's impact across the world.
4/8/2020 • 44 minutes, 44 seconds
Jon Karl & Chuck Todd talk about covering President Trump from the front row
Jon Karl, ABC News Chief White House correspondent and author of the new book "Front Row at the Trump Show" talks to Chuck Todd about their experiences in the White House briefing room and covering President Trump.
4/1/2020 • 43 minutes, 14 seconds
Convention 'date is not going to move': Stephanie Cutter and Brad Todd on how the coronavirus impacts campaigning
Stephanie Cutter and Brad Todd join Chuck Todd for a "work from home" edition of the Chuck ToddCast.
3/25/2020 • 38 minutes, 47 seconds
Politics in the time of coronavirus
Chuck Todd answers viewers' #PrimaryQuestions and shares his major predictions for how COVID-19 will change the future of America.
3/18/2020 • 28 minutes, 13 seconds
Michigan moves nomination further away from Bernie Sanders's reach on Big Tuesday
After another round of primary losses for Bernie Sanders, Carrie Dann is joined by Yamiche Alcindor and Alex Seitz-Wald to talk about the next steps for his campaign and what Joe Biden has to do in order to cinch the nomination.
3/11/2020 • 25 minutes, 5 seconds
Biden grabs the delegate lead with Carrie Dann and Mark Murray
Chuck Todd sits down with the First Read team for a late night recap (or is it early morning?) of everything we learned on Super Tuesday.
3/4/2020 • 25 minutes, 55 seconds
Bernin' through Super Tuesday: Kasie Hunt, Leah Askarinam with Stu Rothenberg
For some unknown number of candidates, Tuesday night — the tenth Democratic debate — was probably their last time on the stage. NBC's Kasie Hunt, Hotline Editor Leah Askarinam and Inside Elections' Stu Rothenberg join Chuck Todd to analyze Bernie Sanders' staying power at the top of the pile and how Super Tuesday will shake out for everyone else.
2/26/2020 • 43 minutes, 59 seconds
What Happened in Vegas - With Jon Ralston and Megan Messerly
Chuck Todd goes backstage after NBC News hosted a heated Democratic debate with fellow moderator, Nevada Independent’s Editor Jon Ralston and 2020 reporter for the Nevada Independent, Megan Messerly
2/20/2020 • 26 minutes, 14 seconds
The New Hampshire Primary and Beyond: Betsy Woodruff Swan and Carl Cannon plus McKay Coppins
Betsy Woodruff Swan and Carl Cannon join Chuck Todd to discuss what the results from the New Hampshire primary and what they mean for the 2020 race overall. Plus, McKay Coppins talk all things Mitt Romney and the impact his impeachment vote has had on the Republican Party.
2/12/2020 • 52 minutes, 51 seconds
Last Stand in New Hampshire? Bonus Episode with James Pindell and Dante Scala
James Pindell, Political Reporter for the Boston Globe, and Dante Scala, Professor of Political Science at the University of New Hampshire, join Chuck for a special edition of the ToddCast to preview the New Hampshire primary.
2/9/2020 • 33 minutes, 46 seconds
Iowa Caucus "App-ocalypse" kicks off chaotic month: Jonathan Martin and Eugene Scott
Days after the Iowa caucuses, results are still ambiguous. But one thing is clear: the fallout will scramble the field of Democratic candidates as the New Hampshire primary approaches.
2/5/2020 • 43 minutes, 18 seconds
The BIG primary preview: Carrie Dann and Edward-Isaac Dovere
NBC News Political Reporter Carrie Dann and The Atlantic's Edward-Isaac Dovere discuss predictions, what to watch for and possible scenarios of the upcoming primaries.
1/29/2020 • 36 minutes, 15 seconds
Meanwhile in Iowa ... Plus: 'A Very Stable Genius' with Phil Rucker & Carol Leonnig
Iowa Democratic strategist Jeff Link joins Chuck to talk about the state of the Iowa race. Plus Washington Post White House Bureau Chief Phil Rucker and National Investigative Reporter Carol Leonnig talk about their new book "A Very Stable Genius"
1/22/2020 • 50 minutes, 8 seconds
Impeachment moves to Senate: Leigh Ann Caldwell, Paul Kane and Steve Inskeep
As the House sends articles of impeachment to the Senate, NBC News Correspondent Leigh Ann Caldwell and Washington Post Senior Correspondent Paul Kane. NPR's Steve Inskeep discusses his book "Imperfect Union," about the political power couple he argues helped contribute to the start of the Civil War.
1/15/2020 • 53 minutes, 30 seconds
Iran update plus a deep dive in Senate races: Courtney Kube, Brad Todd & JB Poersch
NBC News' Courtney Kube gives the latest Iran update. Later, Republican ad-maker Brad Todd and Democratic strategist JB Poersch discuss how impeachment will affect the 2020 Senate map.
1/8/2020 • 45 minutes, 53 seconds
9 things we think we know about 2020: Mark Murray and Carrie Dann
Mark Murray and Carrie Dann join Chuck Todd to discuss his theories on the only blue state President Trump has a chance of winning and a senator who faces the toughest race of his career.
1/2/2020 • 34 minutes, 38 seconds
Weaponizing Disinformation: Kara Swisher and Joshua Johnson
"Alternative facts," "fake news," gaslighting," "conspiracy theory," are all terms that get thrown around a lot in our politics nowadays. How do we determine what's real versus what is really fake and how can the press and tech companies fix the problem?
12/26/2019 • 24 minutes, 44 seconds
County to County, Kent County edition: Dante Chinni and Allison Sandza
Do moderate Republicans hold the key to Trump's impeachment and re-election? To gauge that, Meet The Press assembled a group of six conflicted Republicans in Kent County, Michigan.
12/19/2019 • 22 minutes, 23 seconds
Articles of impeachment: Beth Fouhy, John Podhoretz and Christine Pelosi
House Democrats have announced their charges against President Trump, the inspector general report is out and Elizabeth Warren's front-runner status is questionable. Plus, Speaker Pelosi's daughter Christine Pelosi joins Chuck Todd to discuss her book on the leader.
12/12/2019 • 45 minutes, 10 seconds
The war of corrosive ideologies: James Hohmann, Julia Ioffe and David Brody
As the House Judiciary holds its first impeachment hearing, partisanship takes center stage. Meanwhile, the 2020 Democrats have lost a few players. How will the latest billionaire wildcard shake up the race?
12/4/2019 • 33 minutes, 8 seconds
Thank you, America: Malcolm Gladwell, Maria Teresa Kumar, Jonah Goldberg and Stephen Hayes
As America celebrates a holiday rooted in the relationships of its diverse people, Chuck Todd shares some of his favorite interviews with four experts to discuss the future of a nation with a rapidly changing political landscape.
11/27/2019 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 35 seconds
Dems look to move impeachment, debate needle: Heidi Przybyla and Ben Kamisar
NBC's Heidi Przybyla and Ben Kamisar join Chuck Todd to discuss Adam Schiff's closing arguments in Thursday's impeachment inquiry hearing and Wednesday's 2020 debate.
11/22/2019 • 34 minutes, 58 seconds
What the elections in Virginia, Kentucky and Mississippi mean for 2020: Josh Kraushaar, Chelsea Janes, and María Teresa Kumar
National Journal’s Political Editor Josh Kraushaar and The Washington Post’s National Reporter Chelsea Janes talk with Chuck about what the elections in Kentucky, Virginia and Mississippi mean for the 2020 landscape, and a little baseball talk at the end. Plus, María Teresa Kumar joins the pod to talk about her path into politics and how her organization, Voto Latino, is preparing for future elections.
11/6/2019 • 58 minutes, 2 seconds
Jonah Goldberg, Stephen Hayes and Monica Alba: The "boos" heard around the world
Chuck talks with Jonah Goldberg and Stephen Hayes about their new conservative media company called "The Dispatch" and how they want to slow down the news cycle. Plus, NBC News Road Warrior Monica Alba talks about Pres. Trump being booed at Nationals Park on Sunday.
10/30/2019 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 4 seconds
Pierre Delecto's impeachment dilemma: McKay Coppins, Jake Sherman and Leigh Ann Caldwell
The Atlantic's McKay Coppins, Politico's Playbook Co-Author Jake Sherman and NBC News Correspondent Leigh Ann Caldwell discuss President Trump's speech on Syria and the latest developments in the impeachment saga with Chuck Todd, moderator of Meet the Press.
10/23/2019 • 45 minutes, 8 seconds
Political Theater: Katy Tur & Anita Kumar Plus Peter Marks
Katy Tur and Politico's Anita Kumar join Chuck Todd to talk about the fourth Democratic debate and the impeachment inquiry. Washington Post theater critic Peter Marks provides fresh perspective on the debate performance.
10/16/2019 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 57 seconds
Jeff Mason & Kailani Koenig Plus Christopher Wylie: The building with no fire exits
Reuters' Jeff Mason and NBC News producer Kailani Koenig join Chuck Todd, moderator of Meet the Press, to talk about the president's next moves in the impeachment challenge. And Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie talks to Chuck about his new book, Mindf*ck.
10/8/2019 • 50 minutes
Ukraine net snags Pompeo & Sanders health news could change 2020 race
NBC's Carol Lee and author of "American Carnage" Tim Alberta talks to Chuck Todd, moderator of "Meet the Press," about the latest in the Trump/Ukraine scandal and how it affects the 2020 race. Plus, Sen. Bernie Sanders cancels campaign events until further notice due to a heart issue. And finally, Chuck's full interview with Foreign Affairs Minister of Iran Javad Zarif.
10/2/2019 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 26 seconds
Trump, Ukraine & Impeachment: Anna Palmer, Evelyn Farkas, George Will and Carrie Dann
It's been a busy 24 hours in Washington. Chuck Todd, moderator of Meet the Press, is joined by Anna Palmer, Evelyn Farkas, George Will and Carrie Dann to talk about the notes from President Trump's call with the Ukrainian president, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's call for a formal impeachment inquiry.
9/25/2019 • 54 minutes, 41 seconds
Warren and Biden surge in our new poll, plus Garrett Graff
Ruth Marcus and Michael Steel join Chuck to talk about the latest NBC/WSJ poll; plus Garrett Graff talks about his new book "The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of September 11, 2001"
9/18/2019 • 1 hour, 22 seconds
Malcolm Gladwell Plus: Talking to voters with Jacqueline Alemany, Kyle Trygstad
Washington Post's Jacqueline Alemany and National Journal's Kyle Trygstad talk races and give a Democratic debate preview, while author Malcolm Gladwell asks the question: Why are there so many failures of communication between strangers?
9/11/2019 • 1 hour, 18 minutes, 30 seconds
Democracy fights back
As protests pop up all over the world, Emily Ngo and Jonathan Lemire sit down to discuss what's next for the America and its voters. Plus, the two New York journalists discuss the Democratic Party in their state.
9/4/2019 • 44 minutes, 43 seconds
The Senate is now in play
Mike Memoli and Shannon Pettypiece talk polls and Trump fatigue plus Guy Cecil swings by to discuss the latest Senate news.
8/28/2019 • 58 minutes, 13 seconds
Something's wrong with Washington
In a week where the president cancelled a trip to Denmark because of a spat over Greenland, considered letting Russia off the hook for invading Crimea and sided with Israel in a fight with two American congresswomen, Chuck Todd asks what is wrong with Washington. This week's guests, author and columnist Matt Bai, Politico White House reporter Gabby Orr. Plus an interview with the Wall Street Journal's Chief Economics reporter, Nick Timiraos.
8/21/2019 • 48 minutes, 31 seconds
The field of 2020 Democrats is about to winnow: Shawna Thomas, Sahil Kapur and Charlie Cook
Chuck Todd, moderator of "Meet the Press," sits down with Shawna Thomas, bureau chief at Vice News, and Sahil Kapur, national politics reporter at Bloomberg News, talk about the winnowing 2020 Democratic field. Plus, founder of Cook Political Report and co-author of the 2019 Almanac of American Politics Charlie Cook talks the latest version of the Almanac.
8/14/2019 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 6 seconds
The "White Elephant in the room" and the dark corners of the internet
NBC News Capitol Hill Correspondent Kasie Hunt and Republican Strategist Matt Gorman join Chuck to talk about the Republican reaction to mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton. Ben Collins scares Chuck with his latest reporting from the worst corners of the internet.
8/7/2019 • 59 minutes, 37 seconds
After Detroit Debates, it’s now hand-to-hand combat for Democrats
New York Times White House Correspondent Annie Karni and Democratic strategist Doug Thornell assess the battlefield with Chuck Todd after the Tuesday and Wednesday Democratic debates.
8/1/2019 • 39 minutes, 30 seconds
Andrew McCabe: Robert Mueller reveals a counter-intelligence investigation could still exist
Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe talks to Chuck Todd to reflect on Robert Mueller's testimony in front of the House Intelligence and House Judiciary committees.
7/24/2019 • 33 minutes, 19 seconds
Take a peak into 2020 Democrats' wallets with new fundraising numbers
Manna from the political heavens, we have new fundraising numbers. Carrie Dann fills in for Chuck Todd in a conversation with NBC News Senior Political Editor Mark Murray and NBC News political reporter Ben Kamisar.
7/17/2019 • 28 minutes, 30 seconds
Betsy Woodruff & Alex Seitz-Wald, Plus Josh Holmes talks Mitch McConnell
As Democratic candidates continue to enter the race, The Daily Beast's Betsy Woodruff and NBC News Political Reporter Alex Seitz-Wald joins the podcast to ask whether Joe Biden is a vulnerable frontrunner.
Plus, Josh Holmes, one of Sen. McConnell's longtime political advisers, talk about the Senate Majority Leader's 2020 race against Amy McGrath.
7/10/2019 • 58 minutes, 3 seconds
Late-Night Post-Debate with Carrie Dann and Mark Murray
The first Democratic Debate is in the books and Chuck sits down with Mark Murray and Carrie Dann to discuss what we learned.
6/28/2019 • 39 minutes, 55 seconds
Debate night in Miami with Marc Caputo, Al Cárdenas & Ana Cárdenas-Navarro
Chuck prepares for the first Democratic Debate by sitting down with Politico's Marc Caputo. Plus, a sit down with Republican strategists Al Cárdenas & Ana Navarro-Cárdenas.
6/26/2019 • 39 minutes, 44 seconds
Ben Smith and Beth Fouhy: Trump kicks off 2020 and the Democratic debate stage is set
Buzzfeed Editor in Chief Ben Smith and NBC News Senior Politics Editor Beth Fouhy join Chuck to talk about the president's re-election campaign, Elizabeth Warren's rise in the polls and claims by big fundraising predictions by Pete Buttigieg.
6/19/2019 • 46 minutes, 23 seconds
Steve Cochran and Kim Geiger: Why Chicago might not be ready for the socialism question
Bernie Sanders sticks to his playbook with a speech explaining what he means by "democratic socialism" and President Trump trades barbs with former Vice President Joe Biden. Chuck is in Chicago today to talk with Steve Cochran from WGN Radio and Kim Geiger from the Chicago Tribune.
6/12/2019 • 38 minutes, 39 seconds
Carl Hulse and Carrie Dann: Sloppy Joe, Beto's hope and the most consequential event of the 2016 election
Carl Hulse, New York Times Chief Washington Correspondent and author of the upcoming book "Confirmation Bias" joins Chuck Todd and Carrie Dann from the NBC News Political Unit to discuss allegations of plagiarizing in a Biden policy paper.
6/5/2019 • 51 minutes, 30 seconds
Mueller speaks! And Chuck talks with Adm. McRaven
In a surprise public statement, Robert Mueller outlines the principal conclusions of the Special Counsel investigation. NBC News correspondent Carol Lee and Washington Post Senior Congressional Correspondent Paul Kane talk about the next steps for Congress. Plus, Chuck is joined by Retired Admiral WIlliam McRaven to talk about his career leading the Navy SEALS and his role in the raid to kill Osama bin Laden.
5/29/2019 • 1 hour, 19 minutes, 16 seconds
"The 'I word.' Can you imagine?" with Leigh Ann Caldwell and Kimberly Atkins
In a dramatic appearance at the White House Rose Garden, President Trump attacked Democrats over Congressional investigations. Plus, the cultural wars return, and Joe Biden sets the pace.
5/22/2019 • 44 minutes, 32 seconds
Trump's 2020 strategy comes into focus, with Peter Baker and Alexi McCammond
As cultural issues return to the top of the political conversation, Chuck Todd asks Peter Baker, Chief White House Correspondent for the New York Times, and Alexi McCammond, political reporter for Axios, what it means for President Trump's re-election strategy. Plus, is Biden's lead the "revenge of the center" in Democratic politics?
5/15/2019 • 40 minutes, 4 seconds
High crimes and misdemeanors: Eliana Johnson, Sahil Kapur talk Trump impeachment, Robert Caro explores LBJ's 1948 stolen election
Eliana Johnson, Sahil Kapur lay down some reality checks about Trump's financial prowess, the 2020 field and the Senate Republicans. Plus, Robert Caro sits down with Chuck in front of a live audience to discuss political power and how he solved the crime of President Lyndon Johnson's stolen election.
5/8/2019 • 1 hour, 10 minutes, 24 seconds
Barr testifies, Biden leads the 2020 polls, and Democrats decline Senate runs - with Mark Murray and Carrie Dann
Joe Biden is the Democratic front-runner, but how long will that last? NBC's Mark Murray and Carrie Dann join Chuck to discuss where the 2020 primary race stands. Also, why are top Democratic recruits for Senate seats turning down the chance to run? Caution: this episode contains "Game of Thrones" spoilers.
5/1/2019 • 42 minutes, 16 seconds
Harry Reid & John Boehner in Las Vegas, Plus Steve Kornacki runs through Biden by the numbers, and the real cost of impeachment
Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and former Speaker of the House John Boehner sit down with Chuck to talk about their time in Washington, President Trump's challenges and whether Democrats should pursue impeachment hearings. Plus, Steve Kornacki breaks down the numbers for former Vice President Joe Biden and looks back at the real costs of impeachment in the 1990s.
4/24/2019 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 14 seconds
Mayor Pete surges, Bernie talks to Fox - Kasie Hunt & Phil Rucker plus Stuart Stevens and Trump's primary challenge
Why is Mayor Pete surging while female candidates are stuck in the middle of the pack? NBC's Kasie Hunt and the Washington Post's Phil Rucker discuss Buttigieg, Bernie and everyone else. Plus, Stuart Stevens, campaign adviser to Republican presidential candidate Bill Weld, joins Chuck to talk about launching a primary challenge.
4/17/2019 • 54 minutes, 27 seconds
It's Bernie vs. Everybody in the Democratic Game of Thrones with Robert Costa and Abby Livingston
Robert Costa and Abby Livingston join Chuck to talk about the Frontrunner in the Democratic field, who isn't a Democrat. Plus, is President Trump's border crisis good politics for 2020? And what else can we name after George Washington?
4/10/2019 • 50 minutes
Welcome to the Chuck ToddCast from Meet the Press: 2020 Democrats, Fundraising and Biden with Shawna Thomas & Mark Leibovich
In the first episode of the Chuck ToddCast from Meet the Press, Chuck is joined by Shawna Thomas, Washington Bureau Chief for Vice News, and Mark Leibovich, Chief National Correspondent for the New York Times Magazine, to talk about the Democrats who haven't jumped into the race yet, including one former Vice President.
4/3/2019 • 33 minutes, 58 seconds
Coming Soon: The Chuck ToddCast from Meet the Press
Chuck is back with the Chuck ToddCast, NBC News’ latest podcast tackling all things politics and 2020. The mid-week, in-the-know podcast is Chuck at his best – unscripted, informed and focused on what really matters in the 2020 presidential race. Join Chuck each Wednesday as he talks with by top reporters from the nation’s capital, plus exclusive sit-down interviews and on-the-ground dispatches from across the campaign trail.
3/31/2019 • 1 minute, 17 seconds
Midterm Election Special with the NBC News Political Unit
It's after 2AM Eastern, but Chuck, Mark Murray, Carrie Dann and Ben Kamisar are still going strong with the first takeaways from the 2018 Midterms.
11/7/2018 • 22 minutes, 30 seconds
Matt Bai & Jason Reitman: "We're at a point where politics are entertainment"
Matt Bai, author of "All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid" & Jason Reitman, director of "The Front Runner" sit down with Chuck to discuss the story of Gary Hart's embattled 1988 presidential campaign.
10/12/2018 • 23 minutes, 25 seconds
Steve Kornacki: "The magic ingredient was frustrating Gingrich"
Chuck talks to NBC News national political correspondent Steve Kornacki about his new book, "The Red and the Blue: The 1990s and the Birth of Political Tribalism"
10/4/2018 • 23 minutes, 55 seconds
Doris Kearns Goodwin: President's ambition must be "for the country," not themselves
Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin talks to Chuck about her latest book "Leadership in Turbulent Times" and how the "family tree" of presidential history influenced Oval Office successors.
9/20/2018 • 23 minutes, 49 seconds
Martin Fletcher: Trump is borrowing from Netanyahu's playbook on media attacks
Former NBC Tel Aviv Bureau Chief Martin Fletcher joins to discuss his new novel "Promised Land," which tells the story of two brothers and a refugee during Israel's first years after World War II.
9/13/2018 • 28 minutes, 53 seconds
Mark Leibovich: "You can't fire" NFL owners
Chief national correspondent for The New York Times Magazine, Mark Leibovich sits down with Chuck to discuss his new book, 'Big Game: The NFL in Dangerous Times,' examining the era of Trump through the lens of the NFL.
9/6/2018 • 30 minutes, 8 seconds
Julian Castro on possible 2020 run: "The American people respond to a vision for the future"
Chuck sits down with former HUD Secretary Julian Castro to talk about his possible presidential run in 2020.
8/30/2018 • 39 minutes, 47 seconds
Daily 202's James Hohmann top election trends to watch
James Hohmann, author of the Washington Post's Daily 202 newsletter, joins Chuck to talk about how news coverage is changing, what to look for in the midterms, and why Minnesota hasn't gone red yet.
8/23/2018 • 30 minutes, 36 seconds
John Kasich: "I'm not a moderate, politically"
Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) joins Chuck Todd to talk about the state of the Republican party, Rep. Jim Jordan's bid for House Speaker, and why winning is all that matters in politics.
8/9/2018 • 28 minutes, 14 seconds
Andrea Mitchell: Fidel Castro wasn't as threatening as Don Regan
Celebrating 40 years at NBC News, Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell joins Chuck to look back on highlights from her career, including the time she called out Castro for skipping an interview.
8/2/2018 • 23 minutes, 31 seconds
Ro Khanna takes Silicon Valley to West Virginia
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) sits down with Chuck Todd to talk about the “Internet Bill of Rights” his trip to rural America, and why he sometimes has a kind word for President Trump.
7/27/2018 • 32 minutes, 50 seconds
Al Roker raises alarm on deadly flood: ‘Potential for another’
When the South Fork Dam broke in 1889, the 20 million tons of water it released destroyed Johnstown, a bustling industrial town in Southwest Pennsylvania.
7/12/2018 • 20 minutes, 43 seconds
Republicans face 'Dark Money' campaign attacks in Montana
Filmmaker Kimberly Reed talks about her new documentary, "Dark Money," in which she shows how the Citizens United decision impacts Republicans in Montana.
6/28/2018 • 32 minutes, 58 seconds
The messy history of America's asylum policy
From the SS St. Louis in World War II, to President Trump's detention policies, America has a messy history when it comes to granting asylum. Professor Carl Bon Tempo explains.
6/21/2018 • 29 minutes, 35 seconds
Seymour Hersh: High confidence means we "don’t know squat”
Pulitzer Prize-Winning investigative journalist Seymour Hersh talked about his career, lessons he’s learned, and his new memoir, “Reporter.”
6/14/2018 • 32 minutes, 43 seconds
James Clapper: Fired Trump adviser Flynn ‘became an angry man’
Fmr. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper talked about the 2016 election, Michael Flynn, and his new book about life in intelligence.
6/7/2018 • 34 minutes, 11 seconds
Jake Tapper talks McCarthyism, Trump, and the Media
Jake Tapper, host of CNN's "State of the Union" and "The Lead with Jake Tapper" joins Chuck to talk about his new thriller "The Hellfire Club" - a novel about Washington during the era of McCarthy, and why history might be repeating itself.
5/24/2018 • 43 minutes, 30 seconds
James & Deborah Fallows: "The country is better than its national government is right now."
After four years, 31 cities and about 100,000 miles in a small private plane, Deborah and James Fallows are back home with a reassured outlook on America’s future.
5/17/2018 • 28 minutes, 42 seconds
Fmr. Def. Sec. William Cohen talks Russia, China and Asteroids
In his new book, Final Strike, Former Defense Secretary William Cohen writes about what would happen if an asteroid threatened mankind.
5/10/2018 • 23 minutes, 52 seconds
Ian Bremmer: Global disorder isn't slowing down
Ian Bremmer, President and Founder of the Eurasia Group, talks about his new book "Us Vs. Them" and explains why populism is on the rise.
5/3/2018 • 23 minutes, 48 seconds
Could GOP hold the House? Corry Bliss says 'Yes'
Corry Bliss, Executive Director of the Congressional Leadership Fund, joins Chuck to talk about how Republicans are fighting to hold the House.
4/26/2018 • 23 minutes, 11 seconds
Jonah Goldberg: Defending "Conservatism" in the Trump Era
Chuck Todd sits down with conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg to talk about the effect that the Trump Presidency will have on what it means to be a Conservative Republican.
4/19/2018 • 34 minutes, 37 seconds
Trump v. Hawaii - The White House's travel ban heads to the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is about to hear arguments on President Trump's travel ban. Josh Geltzer, a former Senior Director on the National Security Council, sits down with Chuck to explain what's at stake.
4/12/2018 • 23 minutes, 55 seconds
Is Blockchain a fad, or the future?
Paul Vigna, Wall Street Journal reporter and co-author of "The Truth Machine" joins Chuck to talk about Blockchain, bitcoin, and the future of cryptocurrency.
4/5/2018 • 24 minutes, 16 seconds
What makes a bad Chief of Staff? Chris Whipple ranks the best and worst
Chris Whipple, author of "The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency" joins Chuck to talk about his interviews with 18 former Presidential Chiefs of Staff, and why John Kelly might be in trouble.
3/29/2018 • 27 minutes, 54 seconds
NBC News Chairman Andy Lack: MLK and the Media
Andy Lack joins 1947 for a special discussion about a new documentary "Hope and Fury: MLK, The Movement and The Media" - a film that traces how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other leaders in the civil rights movement used the media to advance their message.
3/22/2018 • 20 minutes, 58 seconds
Bonus: Jay Bilas on March Madness & NCAA's Student-Athlete problem
ESPN's Jay Bilas talks to Chuck about college basketball, the problem with the NCAA's student-athlete rules, and why the bracket ranking was so problematic in 2018.
3/16/2018 • 34 minutes, 13 seconds
Democrats plot their 2018 Strategy: DCCC’s Dan Sena
Dan Sena, Executive Director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, joins Chuck to talk about Conor Lamb’s win in PA-18, and what Democrats have to do if they want to win back the House in the 2018 midterms.
3/15/2018 • 31 minutes, 43 seconds
Author Brad Meltzer: Can political thrillers survive in the age of Donald Trump?
Brad Meltzer is known for his conspiratorial political thrillers, but with a new series of historical profiles for kids, he's finding a rich new way to tell stories. Brad sits down to talk with Chuck about how he finds his stories, and what really scares him about Washington.
3/15/2018 • 20 minutes, 27 seconds
Why conspiracy theories might be right: The algorithms behind everything
Cathy O'Neil, author of "Weapons of Math Destruction", talks to Chuck about the bias behind mathematical algorithms and asks whether it's time for a digital Bill of Rights.
3/1/2018 • 31 minutes, 48 seconds
Jeff Daniels & Peter Sarsgaard talk Woody Allen, 9/11 and #MeToo in Hollywood
Actors Jeff Daniels and Peter Sarsgaard join Chuck to talk about their roles in the new Hulu series "The Looming Tower." They also discuss how art and culture have changed, and how they can respond to crisis.
2/26/2018 • 23 minutes, 22 seconds
Maureen Orth: Versace's killer might have found other outlets today
Maureen Orth’s 1999 book, Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History, is now the backdrop of FX’s nine-part series, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”. But while the TV show may shine the spotlight on Versace, Orth’s book dug deeper into the complex mind of Cunanan -- why he killed, how he hid in plain sight and why he targeted Versace.
2/8/2018 • 27 minutes, 46 seconds
Dave Wasserman: Gerrymandering & 2018 House predictions
Dave Wasserman, House Editor for the Cook Political Report, joins Chuck Todd to handicap the biggest House races in the 2018 midterm, and to discuss the future of district reapportionment.
2/1/2018 • 31 minutes, 5 seconds
Fmr. Def. Sec. Bob Gates talks Vladimir Putin, Spies in America, and College Sports
In a special, extended interview, Former Defense Secretary Bob Gates talks about his advice to President Trump, what Vladimir Putin really wants, and his reaction to the president's speech in front of the Boy Scouts.
1/28/2018 • 23 minutes, 51 seconds
How Jordan Klepper's "Trump Diet" brought him to "the fringe"
Jordan Klepper, comedian and host of Comedy Central's "The Opposition," joins Chuck to talk about the blessing, and curse, of having a news cycle defined so clearly by President Trump.
1/25/2018 • 19 minutes, 29 seconds
2018 Predictions: Democratic Pollster Paul Maslin on Doug Jones and the road ahead
In 2017, Democratic pollster Paul Maslin teamed up with Joe Trippi to work on the longshot Doug Jones campaign in Alabama - and they believe they had a shot to win the state even before reports of sexual assault allegations were made against Roy Moore.
1/18/2018 • 28 minutes, 51 seconds
Samantha Power, Ben Rhodes and Filmmaker Greg Barker talk "The Final Year"
Filmmaker Greg Barker was granted unprecedented access to President Obama's foreign policy and national security teams in 2016, a story captured in a new documentary "The Final Year." Chuck sits down with Barker and former UN Ambassador Samantha Power and former Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes.
1/11/2018 • 25 minutes, 29 seconds
Should data hacks be treated like toxic spills?
Julia Angwin, senior reporter at ProPublica, tells Chuck about how she discovered flaws in Facebook's advertising tool, and why data leaks should have a cost.
12/21/2017 • 27 minutes, 53 seconds
Russian Journalist Masha Gessen Talks Putin and Trump
Russian-American Journalist and winner of the National Book Award, Masha Gessen shares her perspective on Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump and the societies they lead, including the sexual harassment moment in the United States. She discusses her new book, The Future is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia, now a National Book Award Winner.
12/14/2017 • 23 minutes, 54 seconds
Seth Moulton and the future of the Democratic Party
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) has a resume that seems custom built for higher office. The young congressman sat down with Chuck and talked about what Moulton, a Marine Corps veteran, had learned about leadership while serving overseas.
12/5/2017 • 21 minutes, 53 seconds
"Darkest Hour" Gary Oldham, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Rep. Joe Crowley & Filmmaker Joe Wright
The filmmakers behind the new Winston Churchill film "Darkest Hour" and two self-proclaimed Churchill aficionados - House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Democratic Caucus Chair Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) - join Chuck for a discussion about the impact of events depicted in the film.
11/30/2017 • 26 minutes, 30 seconds
Meet the Filmmakers: Meet the Press Film Festival with AFI
Missed the Meet the Press Film Festival with AFI? Meet three of the filmmakers behind the inaugural event, and watch a special digital showcase at nbcnews.com/mtpfilm, download the NBC News app on Roku or Apple TV, or search the on-demand player in your set top cable box.
11/16/2017 • 31 minutes, 23 seconds
Election Day 2017: What Happened & What Does it Mean?
NBC News Senior Political Editor Mark Murray joins Chuck to talk about the aftermath of the 2017 election, and what to look out for in 2018.
11/8/2017 • 27 minutes, 7 seconds
Woody Harrelson & Rob Reiner: The Restoration of LBJ
In their new movie, LBJ, actor Woody Harrelson and director Rob Reiner focus on the period of time immediately after the assassination of President Kennedy.
11/3/2017 • 20 minutes, 47 seconds
Inside a Bellwether: Virginia Governor's Race Tightens
Former Virginia Governor Doug Wilder (D) explains to Chuck Todd why he is withholding his endorsement in the tightening race for governor.
11/1/2017 • 27 minutes, 22 seconds
Ken Burns: To Understand Vietnam, Forget Everything
Award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns joins Chuck Todd to talk about "The Vietnam War," his latest film produced with Lynn Novick. He talks about shedding pre-conceived notions, and about the reverberations of the war today.
Chadwick Boseman plays Thurgood Marshall in "Marshall" - a new biopic directed by Reginald Hudlin that tells the story of an early chapter in the famous justice's career.
10/11/2017 • 28 minutes, 6 seconds
The World's Hotspots: Live at 92Y with Adm. Stavridis, Amb. McFaul, Amb. Sherman & Jeremy Bash
When it comes to Russia, Iran and North Korea, the world's hotspots do not lend themselves to easy solutions. Veterans of the Obama administration join Chuck Todd live on stage at the 92Y to discuss the prospects for the Trump White House. Featuring insights from Adm. James Stavridis (Ret.), Former Amb. Mike McFaul, Former Amb. Wendy Sherman & Jeremy Bash, this audio recording has been lightly edited for clarity and pacing.
10/4/2017 • 1 hour, 16 minutes, 48 seconds
Mueller Investigation Progress Report with Matt Apuzzo
New York Times Investigative Reporter Matt Apuzzo joins Chuck to talk about where the Mueller investigation is going, and what to expect in the coming months from the Special Counsel.
9/21/2017 • 22 minutes, 25 seconds
Katy Tur Live at 92Y
Katy Tur, NBC News Correspondent and author of a new book about "Unbelievable," joins Chuck on stage at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan to talk Donald Trump and the 2016 election. This podcast was part of the 92Y Talks program and has been edited for pacing.
9/14/2017 • 46 minutes, 22 seconds
Mike Rowe: America's Workforce is Becoming "Lopsided"
Mike Rowe, the former host of "Dirty Jobs" joins Chuck to talk about the state of the American worker, and his new Facebook show, "Returning the Favor"
9/7/2017 • 11 minutes, 12 seconds
Should Houston Have Been Evacuated Before Harvey?
Bill King, former mayor of Kemah, Texas, and the head of a study that investigated the fallout from Hurricane Rita, joins Chuck Todd to talk about the decision to shelter in place in the face of heavy flooding from Hurricane Harvey.
8/29/2017 • 20 minutes, 34 seconds
Jacob Soboroff Looks at Fentanyl's Deadly Reach
MSNBC's Jacob Soboroff says that he didn't grasp the true scope of the opioid crisis until he began traveling across the nation and talking to people on the ground.
8/24/2017 • 25 minutes, 38 seconds
Is Voyager Mission Mankind's Greatest Accomplishment?
Emer Reynolds’ latest film project, The Farthest, tells the story of the Voyager spacecraft, the first man-made objects to leave the solar system.
8/17/2017 • 19 minutes, 40 seconds
Chemically Polluted Water in West Virginia Becomes Flashpoint
When director Cullen Hoback began work on his latest documentary, "What Lies Upstream," he hoped to find out why it took months for local officials in West Virginia to investigate chemically contaminated tap water. But his initial investigation into chemically polluted drinking water in West Virginia soon expanded into a far-reaching analysis of local regulators’ inability, and in some cases unwillingness, to safeguard the people and resources they were entrusted to protect.
8/10/2017 • 23 minutes, 46 seconds
Russia & Doping: Filmmaker Befriends Lead Russian Doping Scientist
Bryan Fogel, the director and star of "Icarus," a new documentary about doping in sports, joins Chuck to explain how he stumbled onto Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, Russia's lead scientist for the country's doping program.
8/5/2017 • 28 minutes, 10 seconds
Is the President Ever Above the Law? Ari Melber Weighs In
Ari Melber, MSNBC's Chief Legal Correspondent and the host of The Beat with Ari Melber, joins Chuck Todd to talk about why he became a lawyer, and what comes next for the president's legal team.
7/27/2017 • 36 minutes, 44 seconds
The Russia Tick-Tock: Clint Watts Explains the Timeline
Former FBI Special Agent Clint Watts joins Chuck to walk through the timeline of events around June 2016, beginning with Donald Trump, Jr. meeting with a Russian lawyer and ending with then-candidate Donald Trump asking for Russia to release Hillary Clinton's emails.
7/13/2017 • 27 minutes, 13 seconds
The Jason Chaffetz Exit Interview
With 48 hours left in office, then-Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) sat down with Chuck Todd to talk about his time in Congress, the cost that his family paid for his tenure in Washington, and why he was leaving when his party was in power.
7/3/2017 • 19 minutes, 11 seconds
Malcolm Gladwell: American Individualism May Have Its Limits
Malcolm Gladwell, bestselling author and host of the "Revisionist History" podcast joins Chuck to talk about the differences between American and Canadian health care policies, and why good Samaritans sometimes act badly.
7/2/2017 • 19 minutes, 59 seconds
Gerrymandering Vs. Geometry: Math Takes On Partisan Districts
If mathematician Moon Duchin has her way, gerrymandered congressional districts could soon be a thing of the past.
6/29/2017 • 25 minutes, 9 seconds
New Numbers! Chuck & Mark Geek Out Over Latest NBC/WSJ Poll
It's Polling Day! Chuck Todd & Mark Murray take a deep dive inside the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll to discuss healthcare, the president and polarization among voters.
6/22/2017 • 30 minutes
Healthcare What Ifs: Ezekiel Emanuel Reimagines Obamacare
An architect of Obamacare, Ezekiel Emanuel, tells Chuck Todd how he would have changed the legislation if he had known that the Obama White House would be followed by the Trump White House.
6/20/2017 • 40 minutes, 25 seconds
Former Cyber ‘Czar' Talks Russia, Nukes, and Noisy Iranian Teenagers
Michael Daniel, President of the Cyber Threat Alliance and former Special Adviser to President Obama joins Chuck to talk about the state of cyber defense. Along the way he describes how internet security is like disaster response, and why your Amazon Echo might not be so bad after all.
6/15/2017 • 30 minutes, 17 seconds
It's Time to Talk About Nixon
John Farrell, author of "Richard Nixon: The Life" talks about what made the the 37th President so unique, and how his presidency parallels that of the Trump administration.
6/9/2017 • 32 minutes, 53 seconds
Alan Alda: Why Empathy Can Save Science, Politics and Diplomacy
In an interview with Chuck Todd for 1947: The Meet the Press Podcast, Alan Alda explains how he built a second career for himself as a communications expert, and why MAS*H shouldn't be remade for the modern era.
6/1/2017 • 24 minutes, 46 seconds
ESPN's Bob Ley Talks Roger Goodell, Lebron James, and why Soccer is the future of sports
Bob Ley, host of ESPN's "Outside the Lines" and "E:60" joins Chuck to talk about the differences between covering sports and politics, and why it can sometimes be easier to cover people inside of government than outside.
5/25/2017 • 33 minutes, 5 seconds
The Government's Top Secret Doomsday Plans Revealed in New Tell All
Garrett Graff, author of the new book "Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government's Secret Plan to Save Itself While the Rest of Us Die" joins Chuck Todd on the latest edition of "1947."
5/14/2017 • 26 minutes, 41 seconds
Meet a Moderator: Marvin Kalb on Why MTP Is The ‘Place To Be’
He knows the history of Meet the Press perhaps better than anyone alive: Former moderator Marvin Kalb, who was 17 years old when the broadcast first launched in 1947, joins Chuck Todd to celebrate the show’s 70th anniversary.
5/10/2017 • 28 minutes, 12 seconds
Garry Kasparov: Putin, Deep Blue and the Future of AI
Garry Kasparov, chess-champion, Putin-critic and author of the new book Deep Thinking, talks to Chuck about the future of artificial intelligence and what to expect from Putin's Russia.
5/4/2017 • 29 minutes, 15 seconds
The Evolution of the Presidential Foundation, with Reagan Exec. Dir. John Heubusch
John Heubusch, author of "The Shroud Conspiracy" and the Executive Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute, talks to Chuck about his book, and about how Presidential Libraries and are evolving.
5/2/2017 • 31 minutes, 16 seconds
"The Americans" Showrunners talk Russia, Reagan and the perils of period TV
Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields, the creative duo behind the hit FX TV show "The Americans" discuss how their show came about, and why it's harder to tell a tale about Russian spying, now that the story is in the news.
4/27/2017 • 24 minutes, 25 seconds
Mandy Patinkin Talks Homeland, Syrian Refugees, and Anne Frank
The actor behind Homeland's Saul Berenson joins Chuck to talk about the inspiration behind the character, and his work advocating on behalf of Syrian refugees.
4/19/2017 • 29 minutes, 41 seconds
Roger Stone: "What Matters is Proof"
In this full, unedited interview from MTPDaily, Chuck spoke with Donald Trump adviser Roger Stone about allegations that he was involved in Russian meddling in the 2016 election, Steve Bannon's current standing in the White House, and why the president's latest shifts in policy positions aren't flip-flops.
4/13/2017 • 28 minutes, 55 seconds
Why North Korea's nuclear program is so difficult to stop: Fmr. Amb. Chris Hill
Chris Hill, Former Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and Dean of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver, joins Chuck to talk about the history behind North Korea nuclear program, and why pressuring China is the only way to solve the problem.
4/6/2017 • 28 minutes, 16 seconds
Opening Day Preview with Jayson Stark
ESPN's Jayson Stark tells Chuck which teams could upset the National League elite, why the World Baseball Classic could be the future of baseball, and why politics remains outside of the MLB locker room.
3/31/2017 • 22 minutes, 22 seconds
Mike Viqueira: Covering Congress Both Real & Fictional
Former White House and Congressional Correspondent Mike Viqueria's new book "You Didn't Get This From Me" tells a fictionalized story of how Congress works, and how ambition can lead to betrayel.
3/23/2017 • 28 minutes, 38 seconds
Coach Mack Brown - Live from SXSW Part 2
Former head coach of the University of Texas Longhorns, Mack Brown joins Chuck in Austin to talk about football's future, and how the college football playoff could be reformed.
3/16/2017 • 24 minutes, 6 seconds
Wendy Davis - Live from SXSW Part 1
Former Democratic candidate for Texas Governor, Wendy Davis joined Chuck at SXSW in Austin to talk about her party's future in the Lone Star State, and about her political future.
3/15/2017 • 16 minutes, 48 seconds
Madame President: Helene Cooper Tells the Story of Africa's First Female Head of State
Helene Cooper, Pentagon Correspondent for the New York Times and author of a new book, "Madame President: The Extraordinary Journey of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf" joins Chuck Todd to talk about how Sirleaf became the first woman to lead an African country, and why Liberia has been left behind by the United States despite a deep history connecting the countries.
3/9/2017 • 22 minutes, 40 seconds
Mayor Tubbs: The 26 Year-Old Trying to Steer Stockton
In November 2016, Mayor Michael Tubbs was elected to lead Stockton, Califronia by a 70% margin. The mayoral wunderkind joined Chuck Todd to talk about his ambitions for the city, and what he'd like to see from the state's governor.
3/2/2017 • 27 minutes, 35 seconds
Tom Brokaw...Richard Nixon's Press Secretary?
Tom Brokaw, NBC News Special Correspondent and former moderator of Meet the Press, joins Chuck to talk about a little-known story from his past in which President Nixon tried to hire Brokaw to work as the White House Press Secretary.
2/22/2017 • 27 minutes
The Lobbyist Who Flew Too Close to the Sun: WSJ's Brody Mullins
Brody Mullins, Investigative Reporter at the Wall Street Journal, tells Chuck the story of Evan Morris, a high-flying pharmaceutical lobbyist in Washington who offers a dark lesson for D.C. power-brokers.
2/16/2017 • 27 minutes, 16 seconds
Mike Pesca & The Venn Diagram of America: How Sports Bridges Politics
Chuck talks with Mike Pesca, host of Slate's The Gist podcast, to discuss politics, the future of major league sports, and why warm weather cities will never be home to a winning football team.
2/9/2017 • 30 minutes, 20 seconds
Mike Murphy: A Never-Trumper Offers Advice for Democrats
GOP Consultant Mike Murphy joins Chuck to talk about the lessons of the 2016 election, why obstruction may not be a winning strategy for Democrats, and how data analysis hurts political consensus-building.
2/3/2017 • 27 minutes, 49 seconds
Rich Eisen: How to 'Light Up' Bill Belichick on Super Bowl Week
NFL Network's Rich Eisen joins Chuck to talk about how covering the Super Bowl has changed, how pre-game commentary can be fun, and why talking about football history is the best way to get Patriots General Manager Bill Belichick to talk.
2/1/2017 • 28 minutes, 17 seconds
Ari Fleischer: Media May Be Biased, But Don't Tell the Press to Shut Up
President George W. Bush's former Press Secretary Ari Fleischer talks with Chuck Todd responds to a recent statement from Presidential Counselor Steve Bannon in which Bannon called the media, "the opposition." Fleischer also talks about why he believes the media is biased, and what it means for the new White House.
1/26/2017 • 36 minutes, 58 seconds
Tom Barrack Explains What Makes President Trump Tick
Tom Barrack, President Trump's friend, confidante, and chairman of his inaugural committee, joins Chuck Todd to talk about what the new president is like behind the scenes.
1/25/2017 • 19 minutes, 20 seconds
Putin's Blindspots: Inside Russia with Susan Glasser
Susan Glasser, former editor of Politico, joins Chuck to talk about how relations with Russia got to where they are, what Putin hopes to get from the United States, and whether Russia is primed for a revolution. Glasser also discusses Buzzfeed's decision to release an unverified memo about the President-elect.
1/12/2017 • 32 minutes, 47 seconds
Before Obama's Farewell, Looking Back at his Speeches with E.J. Dionne & Joy-Ann Reid
Joy-Ann Reid and E.J. Dionne, co-editors of "We Are the Change We Seek: The Speeches of Barack Obama" sat down with Chuck Todd to talk about the impact of Barack Obama's speeches. With a week to go before Obama's farewell address, they look back on Obama's speeches on race, his eulogies, and what to expect from Donald Trump's speeches.
1/5/2017 • 27 minutes, 1 second
Doris Kearns Goodwin: Will Trump be Jackson, T.R. or Nixon?
Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin talks with Chuck Todd about Trump's election, and looks back at Hillary Clinton's legacy to imagine how she will be viewed by history.
12/29/2016 • 22 minutes, 15 seconds
How to Save the Space Program with Jay Barbree
NBC News Space Correspondent Jay Barbree talks with Chuck about the future of NASA and What "The Right Stuff" got wrong.
12/22/2016 • 24 minutes, 18 seconds
Keepin' it 1947: Jon Favreau & Dan Pfeiffer On What Went Wrong for Democrats
The co-hosts of The Ringer's hit podcast, "Keepin' It 1600" join Chuck for a special co-pod to talk about the continuing aftershocks of the 2016 election and what it means for Democrats in the future.
12/15/2016 • 37 minutes, 37 seconds
Chris Fowler Decodes the College Football Playoffs
ESPN Sportscaster Chris Fowler talks with Chuck Todd about the BCS and the College Football National Championship, and considers what would happen if the Bowls began moving to the pre-season.
12/8/2016 • 28 minutes, 35 seconds
Fidel Castro's Death with Jackie Nespral
Jackie Nespral has been covering Miami for NBC6 since the early '90s, but when news broke that Fidel Castro had died - a story that the city had been anticipating for decades - it almost felt "anti-climactic."
12/1/2016 • 20 minutes, 15 seconds
Walt Mossberg on Drones, Bubbles and Donald Trump
Walt Mossberg, Executive Editor and Columnist at the Verge and Recode, talks to Chuck Todd about how he switched from covering foreign affairs during the end of the Cold War, to consumer technology at the start of the tech boom.
11/23/2016 • 33 minutes, 5 seconds
"Rural Voters Roar" with Chris Clayton
Chris Clayton, Agriculture Policy Reporter for DTN, tells Chuck Todd that many voters felt threatened by change during the Obama Administration.
11/16/2016 • 20 minutes, 11 seconds
Is Polling Dead? Inside the Data with Dante Chinni
Dante Chinni, Director of the American Communities Project, sits down with Chuck Todd to wade through voter data from the election. Going county by county, they try to understand what happened, why the polls got it wrong, and what 2016 means for future data models.
11/10/2016 • 22 minutes, 30 seconds
Alex Gibney talks Documentaries, Stuxnet & Scientology
Documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney has been called the "most important documentarian of our time." After his Oscar winning 2007 movie "Taxi to the Dark Side" Gibney has tackled topics from cyber warfare to Scientology.
11/2/2016 • 31 minutes, 36 seconds
James Fallows: Why Interior America is the Next Big Story
James Fallows, National Correspondent for the Atlantic, talks with Chuck Todd about the 2016 election, how the parties might realign, and why the non-coastal United States is as interesting to him as emerging economies like China.
10/26/2016 • 25 minutes, 9 seconds
Post-Debate Special: First Read
From 'Rigged Elections' to Wikileaks, the final presidential debate is over. In a special crossover episode of 1947 and First Read, Meet the Press Moderator Chuck Todd joins with NBC News Senior Editor Mark Murray and Politics Reporter Leigh Ann Caldwell to discuss the third debate.
10/20/2016 • 16 minutes, 24 seconds
Jeff Roe Geeks Out, Talks "Full Blown Calamities"
Known as a data-guru, former Ted Cruz Campaign Manager Jeff Roe does a deep-dive over downballot races, Trump's effect on the party, and discusses how Missouri could become a swing state.
10/19/2016 • 31 minutes, 21 seconds
Dean Baquet on Diversity, Local News, and Calling Trump a Liar
New York Times Executive Editor Dean Baquet joins Chuck Todd to talk about how difficult it can be covering politicians like Donald Trump, and why the biggest threat facing journalism is on the local level.
10/12/2016 • 25 minutes, 46 seconds
Andrew Sullivan Talks Trump, Democracy and Digital Detox
Before he was a Contributing Editor at New York Magazine, Andrew Sullivan was one of the most prolific and well-known voices among the early bloggers. Andrew talks with Chuck Todd about how he now tries to limit his digital consumption, and why a renewed emphasis on religion might be the solution.
10/5/2016 • 29 minutes, 20 seconds
Astronaut Kate Rubins: Voting From Space
Kate Rubins is an astronaut and biologist on board the International Space Station. During her time on the ISS, Rubins became the first person to sequence DNA microgravity - but she's also had to help maintain the space station, and even repair the toilet plumbing. She talks with Chuck about how NASA helps her cast her ballot if she doesn't make it back to Earth before the election.
9/28/2016 • 18 minutes, 41 seconds
Maureen Dowd: The Importance of Bumfuzzle
In the first episode of 1947: The Meet the Press Podcast, Chuck Todd sits down with Maureen Dowd, New York Times columnist and author of the new book, The Year of Voting Dangerously.