The Chuck ToddCast

Geopolitical expert and president of The Eurasia Group, Ian Bremmer joins Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging, clear-eyed look at a world entering genuinely uncharted territory—where old rules no longer apply and the United States itself has become a central source of global instability. From Venezuela and Mexico to Europe and Greenland, Bremmer explains how Trump’s transactional, coercive approach is reshaping alliances, undermining collective security, and forcing other countries to adapt fast. The conversation explores why regime change remains elusive in places like Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti; how Latin American elections are increasingly driven by domestic security; and why Europe, shaken by Trump’s unpredictability, is funding Ukraine and rethinking its own defense posture.
The discussion then turns to the Middle East and beyond: the durability of the Iranian regime, the limits of U.S. military power, Saudi Arabia’s rapid modernization, and what comes next for Israel once Netanyahu exits the stage. Bremmer also assesses Trump’s surprising effectiveness in Middle East dealmaking, the long-term damage to Israel’s global standing, Russia’s tightening economic squeeze amid continued political repression, and rising far-right momentum in Europe. The episode closes with a sobering look at China, Taiwan, and whether the next few years bring deterrence—or a historic rupture.
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the cod
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Ian Bremmer joins the Chuck ToddCast
01:15 Where we’re going… there are no roads
02:15 The middle east could be heading towards a better place
03:00 Trump gave a wake up call to Europe & others
03:45 America is the top risk to the world & center of instability
05:00 There hasn’t been regime change in Venezuela
06:15 The Venezuelan regime will behave while threatened
07:15 The Venezuelan regime has no interest in sharing power
08:45 National elections could be held in Venezuela in a year
10:15 How much will anti-Americanism affect Latin American elections?
11:30 Domestic security is the #1 voting issue in Latin America
15:00 Brazil’s election will be very close
16:30 Claudia Scheinbaum has been deft in dealing with Trump
17:30 Mexico has been cooperating effectively, negating potential strikes
18:30 Talk of strikes in Mexico has ramped up post-Venezuela
20:15 There’s been a huge number of political assassinations in Mexico
21:00 Trade relations would take a huge hit if America strikes militarily
22:00 There’s less urgency from Trump admin for regime change in Cuba
22:45 Venezuela and Mexico have been propping up the Cuban regime
25:15 Why haven’t we pushed harder for changes in Haiti?
26:30 Almost zero chance there are elections in Haiti this year
27:15 Chance of military invasion of Greenland is extremely low
28:00 A coercion campaign towards Greenland is much more likely
29:15 Denmark very open to negotiations addressing American concerns
30:30 It’d be very easy to ramp up military operation in Greenland
31:15 Trump is undermining the concept of collective security
32:00 Greenland is a legacy play for Trump
32:30 Trump is causing permanent damage to relationship with Europe
34:00 Will the Iranian regime survive the calendar year?
35:15 Iranian regime has large capacity to repress the population
36:00 Looks like the US military will target Iranian police & paramilitary
36:45 Nobody has ever targeted the Iranian judges that send people to die
37:30 Collapse of regime doesn’t feel imminent, but likely within a few years
39:00 Is the US military stretched thin right now?
39:30 What collapse of Iranian regime would mean for the region
41:00 Saudi Arabia is speed running a modernization & reform process
42:00 Any chance Bibi Netanyahu is out in Israel soon?
43:00 Normalization with Saudi Arabia is on the table once Bibi is out
44:00 The Israel/Gaza ceasefire was improbable win for Trump
44:30 Trump’s transactional negotiating works well in the middle east
46:30 Settlements expanding in west bank, that won’t be unwound
48:15 Nobody has done more damage to Israel’s reputation than Bibi
49:00 Russians giving Trump nothing in negotiations over Ukraine
49:30 Europeans are funding Ukraine after Trump cut them off
50:30 Europeans bought a veto over Trump selling out Ukraine
51:45 Still very little meaningful dissent inside Russia over the war
52:45 Russian economy is starting to take more of a hit
53:45 Giorgia Meloni is probably most secure leader in western Europe
55:00 Far right in Germany will do well in elections
55:30 Does China take Taiwan in 2027 & does Trump stand in the way?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd unpacks a moment of foreign-policy whiplash as Donald Trump appears to ease off threats against Iran while simultaneously escalating his pressure campaign on Greenland—doubling down after meetings with Danish officials and even floating the idea of holding NATO hostage to get his way. The episode examines why Trump is unlikely to move militarily against Greenland, why Greenlanders are growing more defiant, and how this approach risks a serious rupture with Europe. From there, the conversation widens to a bigger question: what is America’s role in the world now that consensus has collapsed? With China as a peer competitor, alliances under strain, free trade weaponized at home, and isolationism creating dangerous vacuums, the U.S. is operating without a coherent grand strategy even as allies quietly hedge their bets.
The second half turns inward, focusing on immigration and the politics of ICE. Drawing lessons from past messaging failures like “defund the police,” Chuck argues Democrats shouldn’t fall into the “abolish ICE” trap but instead run on reform—rethinking leadership, recruiting, and training that’s been slashed from months to weeks. The takeaway is blunt: ICE isn’t going away, the agency will remain a political wedge, and the real question for both parties is who’s in charge of it—and what kind of power they’re willing to wield at home and abroad.
Then, geopolitical expert and president of The Eurasia Group, Ian Bremmer joins Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging, clear-eyed look at a world entering genuinely uncharted territory—where old rules no longer apply and the United States itself has become a central source of global instability. From Venezuela and Mexico to Europe and Greenland, Bremmer explains how Trump’s transactional, coercive approach is reshaping alliances, undermining collective security, and forcing other countries to adapt fast. The conversation explores why regime change remains elusive in places like Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti; how Latin American elections are increasingly driven by domestic security; and why Europe, shaken by Trump’s unpredictability, is funding Ukraine and rethinking its own defense posture.
The discussion then turns to the Middle East and beyond: the durability of the Iranian regime, the limits of U.S. military power, Saudi Arabia’s rapid modernization, and what comes next for Israel once Netanyahu exits the stage. Bremmer also assesses Trump’s surprising effectiveness in Middle East dealmaking, the long-term damage to Israel’s global standing, Russia’s tightening economic squeeze amid continued political repression, and rising far-right momentum in Europe. The episode closes with a sobering look at China, Taiwan, and whether the next few years bring deterrence—or a historic rupture.
Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and gets a few sports rants off his chest.
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the cod
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
01:00 Trump seemingly backing off threats to strike Iran
02:00 Trump meets with Danish & Greenland officials, then doubles down
03:30 Trump threatens to hold NATO hostage in exchange for Greenland
05:00 Greenlanders are more defiant in the face of Trump’s threats
05:30 Trump’s threats could risk severing U.S. ties with Europe
06:15 Unlikely Trump will take Greenland militarily
06:45 Everything Trump is doing now is bad politics
08:15 Latin American exiles in south Florida create a feedback loop for Trump
09:00 What should be America’s role in the world?
10:45 Trump is not and has never been a multilateralist
11:30 Trump doesn’t care about NATO or see Russia as a threat
12:15 Consensus on America’s role in the world has collapsed
13:15 Free trade has been weaponized domestically in America
14:15 Domestic exhaustion in America with leadership rule
15:30 America is operating without a grand foreign policy strategy
16:30 The “primacy” strategy doesn’t apply now that China is a peer competitor
17:30 The rules based order hasn’t tamed China, Russia or Iran
18:15 Isolationism creates security vacuums that rarely stay empty
19:00 Nationalism assumes you can separate from the rest of the world
19:15 Trumpism is a mix of all of the above, but up to Trump’s whims
21:15 China is a competitor & nothing the U.S. does can change that
22:15 Trump wants to remake Venezuelan, Iranian and Cuban society
23:15 U.S. still most powerful country and China couldn’t create global alliance
25:45 Free trade, security & innovation trump protectionism
27:45 The Indo-Pacific will be the theatre of great power competition
28:30 America doesn’t get to choose whether it shapes the world
29:15 U.S. allies are hedging
30:00 Presidential candidates need to lay out strategy for US role in the world
33:00 Memo argues Democrats shouldn't fall for the “Abolish ICE” messaging
34:30 ICE training has been reduced from 5 months to 6 weeks
35:15 Dems should run on plan to reform and retrain ICE
36:30 Democrats need to learn from the “defund the police” mistake
38:30 The issue isn’t ICE, it’s who’s in charge of it & their recruiting
40:00 If you get rid of ICE you’ll need a similar agency to replace it
40:45 ICE will become a wedge issue in primary elections
47:45 Ian Bremmer joins the Chuck ToddCast
49:00 Where we’re going… there are no roads
50:00 The middle east could be heading towards a better place
50:45 Trump gave a wake up call to Europe & others
51:30 America is the top risk to the world & center of instability
52:45 There hasn’t been regime change in Venezuela
54:00 The Venezuelan regime will behave while threatened
55:00 The Venezuelan regime has no interest in sharing power
56:30 National elections could be held in Venezuela in a year
58:00 How much will anti-Americanism affect Latin American elections?
59:15 Domestic security is the #1 voting issue in Latin America
1:02:45 Brazil’s election will be very close
1:04:15 Claudia Scheinbaum has been deft in dealing with Trump
1:05:15 Mexico has been cooperating effectively, negating potential strikes
1:06:15 Talk of strikes in Mexico has ramped up post-Venezuela
1:08:00 There’s been a huge number of political assassinations in Mexico
1:08:45 Trade relations would take a huge hit if America strikes militarily
1:09:45 There’s less urgency from Trump admin for regime change in Cuba
01:10:30 Venezuela and Mexico have been propping up the Cuban regime
1:13:00 Why haven’t we pushed harder for changes in Haiti?
1:14:15 Almost zero chance there are elections in Haiti this year
1:15:00 Chance of military invasion of Greenland is extremely low
1:15:45 A coercion campaign towards Greenland is much more likely
1:17:00 Denmark very open to negotiations addressing American concerns
1:18:15 It’d be very easy to ramp up military operation in Greenland
1:19:00 Trump is undermining the concept of collective security
1:19:45 Greenland is a legacy play for Trump
1:20:15 Trump is causing permanent damage to relationship with Europe
1:21:45 Will the Iranian regime survive the calendar year?
1:23:00 Iranian regime has large capacity to repress the population
1:23:45 Looks like the US military will target Iranian police & paramilitary
1:24:30 Nobody has ever targeted the Iranian judges that send people to die
1:25:15 Collapse of regime doesn’t feel imminent, but likely within a few years
1:26:45 Is the US military stretched thin right now?
1:27:15 What collapse of Iranian regime would mean for the region
1:28:45 Saudi Arabia is speed running a modernization & reform process
1:29:45 Any chance Bibi Netanyahu is out in Israel soon?
1:30:45 Normalization with Saudi Arabia is on the table once Bibi is out
1:31:45 The Israel/Gaza ceasefire was improbable win for Trump
1:32:15 Trump’s transactional negotiating works well in the middle east
1:34:15 Settlements expanding in west bank, that won’t be unwound
1:36:00 Nobody has done more damage to Israel’s reputation than Bibi
1:36:45 Russians giving Trump nothing in negotiations over Ukraine
1:37:15 Europeans are funding Ukraine after Trump cut them off
1:38:15 Europeans bought a veto over Trump selling out Ukraine
1:39:30 Still very little meaningful dissent inside Russia over the war
1:40:30 Russian economy is starting to take more of a hit
1:41:30 Giorgia Meloni is probably most secure leader in western Europe
1:42:45 Far right in Germany will do well in elections
1:43:15 Does China take Taiwan in 2027 & does Trump stand in the way?
1:46:15 Iran clears airspace, U.S. attack imminent?
1:47:45 Ask Chuck
1:48:00 Why do you think Mississippi could become politically competitive?
1:51:00 ICE’s actions in Minnesota don’t feel like training issues?
1:54:00 If Dems win both chambers what are the chances of martial law?
2:01:00 If Europe put a blockade around Greenland, would we still attack?
2:05:15 Why do Americans find the far-left more repugnant than the far-right?
2:09:45 Concerned the market shrugged at threats to Fed independence?
2:14:45 Sports update
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd unpacks a moment of foreign-policy whiplash as Donald Trump appears to ease off threats against Iran while simultaneously escalating his pressure campaign on Greenland—doubling down after meetings with Danish officials and even floating the idea of holding NATO hostage to get his way. The episode examines why Trump is unlikely to move militarily against Greenland, why Greenlanders are growing more defiant, and how this approach risks a serious rupture with Europe. From there, the conversation widens to a bigger question: what is America’s role in the world now that consensus has collapsed? With China as a peer competitor, alliances under strain, free trade weaponized at home, and isolationism creating dangerous vacuums, the U.S. is operating without a coherent grand strategy even as allies quietly hedge their bets.
The second half turns inward, focusing on immigration and the politics of ICE. Drawing lessons from past messaging failures like “defund the police,” Chuck argues Democrats shouldn’t fall into the “abolish ICE” trap but instead run on reform—rethinking leadership, recruiting, and training that’s been slashed from months to weeks. The takeaway is blunt: ICE isn’t going away, the agency will remain a political wedge, and the real question for both parties is who’s in charge of it—and what kind of power they’re willing to wield at home and abroad.
Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and gets a few sports rants off his chest.
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the cod

Timeline:
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
01:00 Trump seemingly backing off threats to strike Iran
02:00 Trump meets with Danish & Greenland officials, then doubles down
03:30 Trump threatens to hold NATO hostage in exchange for Greenland
05:00 Greenlanders are more defiant in the face of Trump’s threats
05:30 Trump’s threats could risk severing U.S. ties with Europe
06:15 Unlikely Trump will take Greenland militarily
06:45 Everything Trump is doing now is bad politics
08:15 Latin American exiles in south Florida create a feedback loop for Trump
09:00 What should be America’s role in the world?
10:45 Trump is not and has never been a multilateralist
11:30 Trump doesn’t care about NATO or see Russia as a threat
12:15 Consensus on America’s role in the world has collapsed
13:15 Free trade has been weaponized domestically in America
14:15 Domestic exhaustion in America with leadership rule
15:30 America is operating without a grand foreign policy strategy
16:30 The “primacy” strategy doesn’t apply now that China is a peer competitor
17:30 The rules based order hasn’t tamed China, Russia or Iran
18:15 Isolationism creates security vacuums that rarely stay empty
19:00 Nationalism assumes you can separate from the rest of the world
19:15 Trumpism is a mix of all of the above, but up to Trump’s whims
21:15 China is a competitor & nothing the U.S. does can change that
22:15 Trump wants to remake Venezuelan, Iranian and Cuban society
23:15 U.S. still most powerful country and China couldn’t create global alliance
25:45 Free trade, security & innovation trump protectionism
27:45 The Indo-Pacific will be the theatre of great power competition
28:30 America doesn’t get to choose whether it shapes the world
29:15 U.S. allies are hedging
30:00 Presidential candidates need to lay out strategy for US role in the world
33:00 Memo argues Democrats shouldn't fall for the “Abolish ICE” messaging
34:30 ICE training has been reduced from 5 months to 6 weeks
35:15 Dems should run on plan to reform and retrain ICE
36:30 Democrats need to learn from the “defund the police” mistake
38:30 The issue isn’t ICE, it’s who’s in charge of it & their recruiting
40:00 If you get rid of ICE you’ll need a similar agency to replace it
40:45 ICE will become a wedge issue in primary elections
46:30 Iran clears airspace, U.S. attack imminent?
48:00 Ask Chuck
48:15 Why do you think Mississippi could become politically competitive?
51:45 ICE’s actions in Minnesota don’t feel like training issues?
54:15 If Dems win both chambers what are the chances of martial law?
1:01:15 If Europe put a blockade around Greenland, would we still attack?
1:05:30 Why do Americans find the far-left more repugnant than the far-right?
1:10:00 Concerned the market shrugged at threats to Fed independence?
1:15:00 Sports update
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the country hurtles toward the 2026 midterms, Chuck Todd breaks down why winning in this moment may be more about margins than movements—and why messaging is about to get brutally hard. With a fragmented, exhausted electorate and a president acting emboldened despite weak political standing, Democrats face a defining choice: run as resistance to Donald Trump or position themselves as problem-solvers ready to turn the page. History suggests forward-looking messages work best, especially with independents who vote in self-interest and are tired of constant political warfare, even as Trump continues to dominate GOP primaries and sideline Congress.
The conversation also looks at why Republicans’ razor-thin majority leaves them unable to govern, how Trump’s grip on the party could backfire in a general election, and why Democrats are increasingly optimistic about putting the Senate in play—with strong recruiting wins and favorable midterm math. New polling on the Renee Good shooting and ICE shows Trump-aligned tactics playing poorly outside the MAGA base, particularly with independents and women, underscoring just how volatile—and opportunity-rich—the political landscape could be heading into 2026.
Then, Jon Slavet, a tech entrepreneur and Republican candidate for California governor, joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss why he's entering one of the nation's most challenging political races. Slavet argues that while national politics dominates headlines, state and local governance has far more impact on people's daily lives—yet California's local politics receives inadequate attention despite intense interest from outsiders. He advocates for radical transparency in government, criticizing the use of NDAs in taxpayer-funded projects and calling out the influence of union spending. Addressing his controversial pursuit of Trump's endorsement despite never voting for him, Slavet positions himself as someone who sees Trump as an effective disrupter but not a builder, and he aligns with the administration on housing policy, particularly prioritizing temporary shelter over California's $1 million-per-unit permanent housing approach.
Running as a Republican in deep-blue California, Slavet believes the state's pleasant weather has masked serious problems affecting middle and lower-income residents while the wealthy thrive. He proposes declaring an "affordability emergency" on day one, scrapping the high-speed rail project, and using AI to root out the billions lost to waste and fraud in California's healthcare system. Slavet defends his decision to run as a Republican rather than an independent, arguing that party identification remains essential for effectiveness despite his moderate positions on social issues like same-sex marriage and abortion. He contends that polls show half of Californians would support the "right kind" of Republican, and he's betting his business success and willingness to challenge both parties' orthodoxies will resonate with voters frustrated by the state's affordability crisis and regulatory burdens on small businesses.
Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 championship winning Miami Hurricanes football teams & answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
03:45 Messaging will be incredibly difficult in this political environment
04:15 If Dems only win house, it will be considered a partial rebuke of Trump
05:15 Trump is weak politically but acting like he has a ton of capital
06:00 Trump feels emboldened to play “Risk” with the world
06:45 Administration will likely back off investigation into Jay Powell
08:00 Talking to a fragmented and exhausted electorate will be tough
09:15 Elections are always won on the margins, not just by the base
10:30 Analysts project their preferences onto the electorate & swing voters
11:30 What is the most effective way to win elections in 2026?
12:30 Democrats will have to balance accountability vs. forward facing
14:15 “Would you work with Donald Trump?” a defining question for Dems
16:15 Dems have to decide whether they are resistance or problem solvers
18:00 History suggests forward looking messages are more effective
19:00 Most voters vote in self-interest, not for the greater good
19:45 After 10 years of Trump, the public is exhausted by politics
20:45 "Turn the page” messaging may appeal to independents
22:30 GOP primaries will be all about Trump, but cause problem in general
24:00 Trump can break ideological rules other Republicans can’t
25:00 GOP majority is so narrow they can’t really govern
25:45 Trump is increasingly uninterested in working with congress
27:15 “Vote GOP to stop impeachment” isn’t enough to woo swing voters
28:00 Growing number of R’s uncomfortable with Trump’s actions
28:45 Dems got a huge recruiting victory in Alaska with Mary Peltola
30:30 Peltola puts Alaska in play, making senate control more possible
31:45 Sherrod Brown has won in midterm years in Ohio
33:15 Democrats much further along in putting senate in play
34:30 Historically the party out of power picks up 4 seats, Dems need 4
36:30 Majority of Americans say Renee Good shooting not justified
37:15 Majority of independents & women say it was unjustified
38:15 82% of respondents were aware of the Renee Good shooting
39:15 57% disapprove of ICE
40:30 ICE + Minneapolis not playing well outside MAGA base
41:30 Kristi Noem is an easy scapegoat, could get dumped
49:00 Jon Slavet joins the Chuck ToddCast
50:45 Why enter politics and run for governor of California?
52:30 It’s fraught & dangerous to run for office in this political climate
53:15 National politics get attention, state & local more impactful
54:45 Serious lack of attention to local politics in California
56:00 There’s a ton of interest in California from people outside it
57:15 NDA’s should not be allowed in taxpayer funded projects
58:45 Major government discussions need more transparency in CA
59:15 Unions raise $1B in CA and spend $300 on political donations
1:00:00 Why seek Trump’s endorsement after not voting for him 3x?
1:01:15 Trump is good as a disrupter but not as a builder
1:02:00 Where do you agree with Trump on policy?
1:02:30 HUD’s new policy prioritizes temporary, not permanent housing
1:03:30 Permanent housing for homeless costs $1M per unit in CA
1:05:00 The priority should be getting homeless into temp housing ASAP
1:06:00 Could you have been as successful in a state other than CA?
1:07:15 California’s great weather masks many of its problems
1:08:30 Tech doesn’t suffer from regulatory issues like other industries
1:09:15 Middle & lower income Californians are suffering, rich doing great
1:11:30 Half of California’s work for small businesses that are overtaxed
1:14:00 Where will you find the money to fund your proposals?
1:14:30 California should scrap the high speed rail to nowhere
1:15:30 Jon would declare an affordability emergency on day 1
1:17:00 California’s healthcare costs $160B, Medicare fraud is 10–15%
1:18:30 AI can be used to root out waste, fraud and abuse in state budget
1:20:00 Californians pay huge taxes on fuel & energy
1:21:30 Why run as a Republican and not an independent?
1:23:00 We should be way beyond the same-sex marriage debate
1:24:00 Abortion is settled law in California
1:25:30 Why Jon was against Prop 50 in California
1:26:30 Gerrymandering is terrible for democracy
1:28:15 Running as independent isn’t effective, people identify w/ parties
1:29:45 The race will be a Trump referendum, how does a Republican win?
1:31:30 Polls show half of CA will vote for the “right kind” of Republican
1:32:45 CA has had plenty of billionaires run & fail to win elections
1:35:00 Has Silicon Valley been regulated enough?
1:36:15 AI boom has been critical for San Francisco’s comeback
1:37:45 Would you ban social media for kids under 16?
1:39:30 Would you ban phones in schools?
1:40:15 How do you convince CA voters the wealth tax is a bad idea?
1:42:15 How would you work in a bipartisan manner with Dem state house?
1:45:00 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Jon Slavet
1:45:30 There’s a lack of star power in CA governor race
1:46:15 ToddCast Top 5 Miami Hurricanes football teams if ’25 team wins title
1:49:00 #1 2001
1:51:00 #2 1987
1:52:30 #3 1993
1:54:00 #4 1983
1:55:00 #5 2025
1:58:30 Ask Chuck
1:58:45 In today’s climate would it benefit a candidate to avoid negative ads?
2:02:15 Are traditional Republicans missing a chance to push back on Trump?
2:09:15 Did Biden cater too much to the far left & hurt appeal with swing voters?
2:11:15 How is public media likely to continue on?
2:13:45 Can Democrats make Mississippi competitive?
2:19:30 Are we still capable of recognizing normalization of democratic collapse?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jon Slavet, a tech entrepreneur and Republican candidate for California governor, joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss why he's entering one of the nation's most challenging political races. Slavet argues that while national politics dominates headlines, state and local governance has far more impact on people's daily lives—yet California's local politics receives inadequate attention despite intense interest from outsiders. He advocates for radical transparency in government, criticizing the use of NDAs in taxpayer-funded projects and calling out the influence of union spending. Addressing his controversial pursuit of Trump's endorsement despite never voting for him, Slavet positions himself as someone who sees Trump as an effective disrupter but not a builder, and he aligns with the administration on housing policy, particularly prioritizing temporary shelter over California's $1 million-per-unit permanent housing approach.
Running as a Republican in deep-blue California, Slavet believes the state's pleasant weather has masked serious problems affecting middle and lower-income residents while the wealthy thrive. He proposes declaring an "affordability emergency" on day one, scrapping the high-speed rail project, and using AI to root out the billions lost to waste and fraud in California's healthcare system. Slavet defends his decision to run as a Republican rather than an independent, arguing that party identification remains essential for effectiveness despite his moderate positions on social issues like same-sex marriage and abortion. He contends that polls show half of Californians would support the "right kind" of Republican, and he's betting his business success and willingness to challenge both parties' orthodoxies will resonate with voters frustrated by the state's affordability crisis and regulatory burdens on small businesses.
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Jon Slavet joins the Chuck ToddCast
01:45 Why enter politics and run for governor of California?
03:30 It’s fraught & dangerous to run for office in this political climate
04:15 National politics get attention, state & local more impactful
05:45 Serious lack of attention to local politics in California
07:00 There’s a ton of interest in California from people outside it
08:15 NDA’s should not be allowed in taxpayer funded projects
09:45 Major government discussions need more transparency in CA
10:15 Unions raise $1B in CA and spend $300 on political donations
11:00 Why seek Trump’s endorsement after not voting for him 3x?
12:15 Trump is good as a disrupter but not as a builder
13:00 Where do you agree with Trump on policy?
13:30 HUD’s new policy prioritizes temporary, not permanent housing
14:30 Permanent housing for homeless costs $1M per unit in CA
16:00 The priority should be getting homeless into temp housing ASAP
17:00 Could you have been as successful in a state other than CA?
18:15 California’s great weather masks many of its problems
19:30 Tech doesn’t suffer from regulatory issues like other industries
20:15 Middle & lower income California’s are suffering, rich doing great
22:30 Half of California’s work for small businesses that are overtaxed
25:00 Where will you find the money to fund your proposals?
25:30 California should scrap the high speed rail to nowhere
26:30 Jon would declare an affordability emergency on day 1
28:00 California’s healthcare costs $160B, Medicare fraud is 10-15%
29:30 AI can be used to root out waste, fraud and abuse in state budget
31:00 Californians pay huge taxes on fuel & energy
32:30 Why run as a Republican and not an independent?
34:00 We should be way beyond the same-sex marriage debate
35:00 Abortion is settled law in California
36:30 Why Jon was against Prop 50 in California
37:30 Gerrymandering is terrible for democracy
39:15 Running as independent isn’t effective, people identify w/parties
40:45 The race will be a Trump referendum, how does a Republican win?
42:30 Polls show half of CA will vote for the “right kind” of Republican
43:45 CA has had plenty of billionaires run & fail to win elections
46:00 Has Silicon Valley been regulated enough?
47:15 AI boom has been critical for San Francisco’s comeback
48:45 Would you ban social media for kids under 16?
50:30 Would you ban phones in schools?
51:15 How do you convince CA voters the wealth tax is a bad idea?
53:15 How would you work in a bipartisan manner with Dem state house?
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