The Chuck ToddCast

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck examines Donald Trump’s holiday Truth Social spree as a revealing window into his worldview and leadership style. From angry, vaguely threatening posts tied to Epstein to Christmas messages laced with grievance and insults, Trump’s online behavior paints a picture of a lonely, aggrieved figure who often sounds less like a head of state and more like a mob boss issuing warnings. Chuck unpacks how Trump’s rhetoric on immigration, religion, and military force—sometimes delivered in the same breath as holiday greetings—reflects a transactional “Trump Doctrine” where identity and loyalty justify power, and sovereignty becomes negotiable. The conversation then widens to the global consequences of this approach. Chuck argues that Trump’s selective isolationism and deal-making have badly damaged America’s reputation, eroded trust with Europe, and risk pushing allies toward China in search of stability. By prioritizing short-term wins and performative toughness over alliances and norms, Trump may be trading momentary leverage for long-term strategic loss—reshaping the global order in ways that could haunt the United States for a generation. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to the date Ellis Island closed its doors for immigrant processing and traces the messy history of immigration policy in the United States. He also answers listeners’ question in the “Ask Chuck” segment and does a roundup from the world of sports. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 1:00 What to make of Trump’s Truth Social posts over the holidays? 2:15 Trump makes angry, potentially threatening post over Epstein 3:45 Trump doesn’t have any true close friends/relationships 5:00 Trump spent Xmas behaving lonely on the internet 5:45 The “Trump Doctrine” was on display on his Truth Social feed 6:30 Trump sounded more like a mob boss than head of state 7:00 Trump added immigration rant into his NORAD Santa appearance 7:45 Trump wishes Merry Xmas to “radical left scum” 8:30 Trump announces military strikes in Nigeria to protect Christians 9:15 Trump uses identity as justification for military force 9:45 Trump’s posts about Venezuela through lens of ownership 11:15 Trump strikes different tone with Ukraine, sovereignty is collateral 12:15 Trump’s worldview looks incoherent, but it’s selectively transactional 13:30 Trump has damaged the US’s reputation for a generation 14:30 Europe doesn’t trust the United States anymore 15:45 If oil seizures become precedent, any country could be next 17:15 Allies could turn to China looking for a better deal 18:00 Trump is trading short term wins for long term damage & distrust 20:00 Trump views himself as a TV style mob boss 22:15 Isolationism will cause the EU to strengthen & compete with US 23:15 Trump picks on small countries & does deals with strong ones 28:30 ToddCast Time Machine - December 31st 1954 29:30 Ellis Island closes its doors & becomes a museum 30:00 America has always argued about being a nation of immigrants 30:45 We romanticize Ellis Island, but it caused tension at the time 31:30 America has never experienced immigration surge without fear 32:15 Immigration quota with discriminatory qualifiers enacted 33:30 Ship based migration collapsed after quota 34:45 Cold war politics influenced immigration debate in 1960’s 35:45 Immigration policy was sold as modest and non-transformational 37:00 Chain migration shifted where immigrants came from 38:00 The country relied on illegal immigrant labor & didn’t enforce law 38:45 Congress left immigration policy unfinished due to political constraints 40:30 Trump admin leans on enforcement, makes immigration a cultural fight 41:30 We are a reluctant nation of immigrations 43:00 The central question is “Who gets to be an American?” 43:45 Ask Chuck 44:00 Favorite political comedy? 46:00 Should congress intervene on exorbitant live event prices? 53:30 How will midterms shape push for new congressional leaders? 56:15 Sports roundupSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yaron Weitzman, author of “A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers”, joins the Chuck ToddCast to unpack the remarkable rise, impact, and legacy of LeBron James—on the court, in Los Angeles, and far beyond basketball. Drawing from his reporting and authorship, Weitzman explains how access-driven sports journalism shapes the stories we’re told, why LeBron was always more than just another superstar chasing rings, and how the Lakers–LeBron partnership became a mutually saving force for two global institutions. The conversation traces LeBron’s path from Miami to Cleveland to Los Angeles, the myths around his ambition and loyalty, and how “The Decision” reshaped the power dynamics between players and franchises. The episode also looks ahead to LeBron’s next chapter: his eventual role as an owner, the possibility of a farewell tour, how Bronny factors into his decisions, and what a post-LeBron Lakers era might look like. Weitzman and Todd explore LeBron’s business instincts, cultural influence, complicated relationship with fans and social media, and why—despite universal respect—he’s never been universally beloved. In the end, they ask the defining question of any icon: how history will remember LeBron James, and who gets to tell that story. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Yaron Weitzman joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:30 How Yaron got started as an author 04:15 Sports journalists now have to trade accountability for access 05:15 Sports journalists don’t have a Freedom of Information Act 06:30 Yaron wasn’t dependent on the Lakers for a credential 08:30 Original LeBron pitch was for the Big 3 Heat, not the Lakers 11:30 LeBron is a cultural icon, not just a basketball icon 12:45 LeBron and the Lakers are both institutions 13:45 LeBron’s brand is even bigger than the Lakers brand 14:30 LeBron’s post basketball life was always going to be in SoCal 15:45 LeBron will be involved in an ownership group eventually 17:45 The Lakers/LeBron pairing was a win-win 19:00 Jerry Buss was not as rich as he portrayed himself to be 20:30 How accurate the Lakers TV shows portray real life 21:30 LeBron was a lifeline for a struggling Lakers franchise 23:00 Lakers are the team LeBron has spent most consecutive years 24:30 LeBron wasn’t a ring chaser despite his reputations 25:00 LeBron turned down the Warriors 26:15 LeBron offended Pat Riley during his time in Miami 27:30 LeBron’s return to Cleveland 29:30 Which franchises will be putting up LeBron statues? 30:15 Lakers fans were slow to warm to LeBron due to Kobe rivalry 31:15 Not all Kobe fans are Lakers fans 32:30 LeBron lived up to his sky high expectations and with no scandals 33:45 “The Decision” was the event that made LeBron polarizing 34:45 After The Decision fans started siding with players over franchises 35:45 LeBron showed that greatness and longevity require hard work 37:00 LeBron is universally respected but not universally beloved 38:00 Is this LeBron’s last year? 39:00 Farewell tour only makes sense with Lakers or Cavs 40:30 LeBron could remain a bench player for several more years 41:00 How Bronny will factor into his decision 43:00 Bronny is beloved by other players and the organization 44:45 LeBron’s relationship with Luka Doncic 46:30 Lakers began preparing for the post-LeBron era before Luka trade 48:30 Does Magic Johnson still have a relationship with the Lakers? 51:30 LeBron has mostly stayed away from politics 53:45 LeBron lets social media get under his skin from time to time 56:30 LeBron is reactive politically, not proactive 58:15 LeBron made smart business decisions starting at 20 years old 58:45 LeBron’s legacy 1:01:45 Lakers threatened to sue over the book 1:04:45 LeBron likely won’t ever run for office 1:06:15 LeBron will be doing his own documentary version of The Last DanceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck examines Donald Trump’s holiday Truth Social spree as a revealing window into his worldview and leadership style. From angry, vaguely threatening posts tied to Epstein to Christmas messages laced with grievance and insults, Trump’s online behavior paints a picture of a lonely, aggrieved figure who often sounds less like a head of state and more like a mob boss issuing warnings. Chuck unpacks how Trump’s rhetoric on immigration, religion, and military force—sometimes delivered in the same breath as holiday greetings—reflects a transactional “Trump Doctrine” where identity and loyalty justify power, and sovereignty becomes negotiable. The conversation then widens to the global consequences of this approach. Chuck argues that Trump’s selective isolationism and deal-making have badly damaged America’s reputation, eroded trust with Europe, and risk pushing allies toward China in search of stability. By prioritizing short-term wins and performative toughness over alliances and norms, Trump may be trading momentary leverage for long-term strategic loss—reshaping the global order in ways that could haunt the United States for a generation. Then, Yaron Weitzman, author of “A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers”, joins Chuck to unpack the remarkable rise, impact, and legacy of LeBron James—on the court, in Los Angeles, and far beyond basketball. Drawing from his reporting and authorship, Weitzman explains how access-driven sports journalism shapes the stories we’re told, why LeBron was always more than just another superstar chasing rings, and how the Lakers–LeBron partnership became a mutually saving force for two global institutions. The conversation traces LeBron’s path from Miami to Cleveland to Los Angeles, the myths around his ambition and loyalty, and how “The Decision” reshaped the power dynamics between players and franchises. The episode also looks ahead to LeBron’s next chapter: his eventual role as an owner, the possibility of a farewell tour, how Bronny factors into his decisions, and what a post-LeBron Lakers era might look like. Weitzman and Todd explore LeBron’s business instincts, cultural influence, complicated relationship with fans and social media, and why—despite universal respect—he’s never been universally beloved. In the end, they ask the defining question of any icon: how history will remember LeBron James, and who gets to tell that story. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to the date Ellis Island closed its doors for immigrant processing and traces the messy history of immigration policy in the United States. He also answers listeners’ question in the “Ask Chuck” segment and does a roundup from the world of sports. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:00 In the 80’s many fans identified with NBA players over teams 05:00 LeBron will be one of the four most consequential millennials 08:15 What to make of Trump’s Truth Social posts over the holidays? 09:30 Trump makes angry, potentially threatening post over Epstein 11:00 Trump doesn’t have any true close friends/relationships 12:15 Trump spent Xmas behaving lonely on the internet 13:00 The “Trump Doctrine” was on display on his Truth Social feed 13:45 Trump sounded more like a mob boss than head of state 14:15 Trump added immigration rant into his NORAD Santa appearance 15:00 Trump wishes Merry Xmas to “radical left scum” 15:45 Trump announces military strikes in Nigeria to protect Christians 16:30 Trump uses identity as justification for military force 17:00 Trump’s posts about Venezuela through lens of ownership 18:30 Trump strikes different tone with Ukraine, sovereignty is collateral 19:30 Trump’s worldview looks incoherent, but it’s selectively transactional 20:45 Trump has damaged the US’s reputation for a generation 21:45 Europe doesn’t trust the United States anymore 23:00 If oil seizures become precedent, any country could be next 24:30 Allies could turn to China looking for a better deal 25:15 Trump is trading short term wins for long term damage & distrust 27:15 Trump views himself as a TV style mob boss 29:30 Isolationism will cause the EU to strengthen & compete with US 30:30 Trump picks on small countries & does deals with strong ones 37:15 Yaron Weitzman joins the Chuck ToddCast 39:45 How Yaron got started as an author 41:30 Sports journalists now have to trade accountability for access 42:30 Sports journalists don’t have a Freedom of Information Act 43:45 Yaron wasn’t dependent on the Lakers for a credential 45:45 Original LeBron pitch was for the Big 3 Heat, not the Lakers 48:45 LeBron is a cultural icon, not just a basketball icon 50:00 LeBron and the Lakers are both institutions 51:00 LeBron’s brand is even bigger than the Lakers brand 51:45 LeBron’s post basketball life was always going to be in SoCal 53:00 LeBron will be involved in an ownership group eventually 55:00 The Lakers/LeBron pairing was a win-win 56:15 Jerry Buss was not as rich as he portrayed himself to be 57:45 How accurate the Lakers TV shows portray real life 58:45 LeBron was a lifeline for a struggling Lakers franchise 01:00:15 Lakers are the team LeBron has spent most consecutive years 01:01:45 LeBron wasn’t a ring chaser despite his reputations 01:02:15 LeBron turned down the Warriors 01:03:30 LeBron offended Pat Riley during his time in Miami 01:04:45 LeBron’s return to Cleveland 01:06:45 Which franchises will be putting up LeBron statues? 01:07:30 Lakers fans were slow to warm to LeBron due to Kobe rivalry 01:08:30 Not all Kobe fans are Lakers fans 01:09:45 LeBron lived up to his sky high expectations and with no scandals 01:11:00 “The Decision” was the event that made LeBron polarizing 01:12:00 After The Decision fans started siding with players over franchises 01:13:00 LeBron showed that greatness and longevity require hard work 01:14:15 LeBron is universally respected but not universally beloved 01:15:15 Is this LeBron’s last year? 01:16:15 Farewell tour only makes sense with Lakers or Cavs 01:17:45 LeBron could remain a bench player for several more years 01:18:15 How Bronny will factor into his decision 01:20:15 Bronny is beloved by other players and the organization 01:22:00 LeBron’s relationship with Luka Dončić 01:23:45 Lakers began preparing for the post-LeBron era before Luka trade 01:25:45 Does Magic Johnson still have a relationship with the Lakers? 01:28:45 LeBron has mostly stayed away from politics 01:31:00 LeBron lets social media get under his skin from time to time 01:33:45 LeBron is reactive politically, not proactive 01:35:30 LeBron made smart business decisions starting at 20 years old 01:36:00 LeBron’s legacy 01:39:00 Lakers threatened to sue over the book 01:42:00 LeBron likely won’t ever run for office 01:43:30 LeBron will be doing his own documentary version of The Last Dance 01:47:30 ToddCast Time Machine – December 31st, 1954 01:48:30 Ellis Island closes its doors & becomes a museum 01:49:00 America has always argued about being a nation of immigrants 01:49:45 We romanticize Ellis Island, but it caused tension at the time 01:50:30 America has never experienced immigration surge without fear 01:51:15 Immigration quota with discriminatory qualifiers enacted 01:52:30 Ship based migration collapsed after quota 01:53:45 Cold War politics influenced immigration debate in the 1960’s 01:54:45 Immigration policy was sold as modest and non-transformational 01:56:00 Chain migration shifted where immigrants came from 01:57:00 The country relied on illegal immigrant labor & didn’t enforce law 01:57:45 Congress left immigration policy unfinished due to political constraints 01:59:30 Trump admin leans on enforcement, makes immigration a cultural fight 02:00:30 We are a reluctant nation of immigrants 02:02:00 The central question is “Who gets to be an American?” 02:02:45 Ask Chuck 02:03:00 Favorite political comedy? 02:05:00 Should Congress intervene on exorbitant live event prices? 02:12:30 How will midterms shape push for new congressional leaders? 02:15:15 Sports roundupSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a replay of an interview Chuck Todd hosted during the summer, he’s joined by a rising star in the Democratic party, Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett. This interview was conducted prior to her announcement that she’ll be running for senate in Texas. She provides insights into her rapidly growing Dallas district and discusses the economic benefits of immigration that contrast sharply with current policies. Crockett, known for her viral moments in congressional hearings, offers a candid assessment of the partisan circus in the House Oversight Committee and the ideological divide within the Democratic Party. The conversation delves into factors behind Trump's victory, whether racism and misogyny impacted Kamala Harris's campaign, and the complex political landscape in Texas, including potential opportunities for Democrats if Ken Paxton defeats John Cornyn in a future primary. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:15 Crockett’s primary against Talarico will be fascinating 02:45 Democratic primaries will be a “fight vs unite” debate 04:30 A Paxton vs Crockett race would be illuminating 08:00 Dem primary in Texas is a coin flip 09:00 Texas senate race could be an all-timer 13:30 Jasmine Crockett joins the Chuck ToddCast! 13:30 Tour of TX-30 (Dallas) 17:00 TX-30 is a hub for aviation 19:50 Dallas is growing exponentially 21:45 How can St. Louis be revitalized? 25:20 Immigrants produce economic dynamism and we’re treating them horribly 27:50 How important are viral moments for political communications 31:30 The partisan circus in the oversight committee 32:45 We have people in government that don’t understand how it works 33:45 DOGE hearing became about trans people competing in fencing 35:30 Is it a generational divide or ideological divide in the Democratic party 36:30 Some members cling to the institutions while they’re burning around them 38:15 State of the Union displayed the differences of approach between members 39:30 How did Democrats end up in this situation? 41:20 Why did Trump win? 43:30 How much did racism and misogyny factor into Kamala Harris losing? 44:45 Did Harris’s background as a prosecutor help or hurt her? 47:15 Trump’s name being on buildings sold the public on his business acumen 49:10 Should Harris take another shot at the presidency? 50:30 Democratic voters don’t want “establishment” candidates 52:15 Democrats are fighting an uphill battle 53:15 Is Texas a 3 party state with two Republican wings? 54:15 If Ken Paxton beats John Cornyn, the Texas senate seat will be in play 56:45 Did Democrats miss the moment in Texas? 58:30 Will the Luka trade leave a lasting mark on Dallas? 59:15 Is she running for oversight chair? 59:40 Her advice for Hakeem JeffriesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd digs into the growing crisis of trust in American media and politics, sparked by CBS News pulling a 60 Minutes episode amid controversy and perceptions of corporate and political pressure. He examines how Bari Weiss’s handling of the situation exposed a lack of understanding of television news culture, why 60 Minutes has become the ultimate measure of CBS’s credibility, and how ownership, mergers, and appeasing power have once again put business interests ahead of journalism. The episode also explores troubling signals from the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein-related releases and what they reveal about political favoritism and eroding institutional independence. Chuck then widens the lens to the political fallout, arguing that Donald Trump squandered his political capital and failed to build a durable coalition, and lays out how cracks in Trump’s coalition are becoming chasms. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and breaks down the biggest stories in the world of sports. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:30 CBS News embroiled with controversy after pulling 60 Minutes episode 03:00 Bari Weiss’s inexperience in TV news is on full display 04:00 Weiss’s made incorrect assumption that everyone saw NYT story 05:15 The perception is the administration leaned on Weiss to kill story 06:30 Too many news executives don’t understand the process 08:00 Trump has complained publicly about 60 Minutes 08:45 Ellison willing to appease Trump in order to get merger approval 09:30 CBS News will be judged entirely on 60 Minutes 11:00 Weiss has lost the trust of the journalists at CBS 11:45 Corporate owned media has once again let the public down 12:30 WaPo’s editorial board completely changed after Bezos bought it 13:30 This event will further erode the public trust in media 14:45 Journalism that’s tethered to popularity will be compromised 15:45 Trust is more important than popularity for journalists 17:15 Corporations won’t let their news divisions interfere with business 18:00 DOJ frontloaded Clinton/Epstein releases & Trump releases later 19:15 DOJ releases statement that sounds like they’re Trump’s defense attorney 21:15 It’s notable that DOJ only singled out Trump for a defensive statement 23:15 Trump blew his “honeymoon” period in less than a year 24:00 Both Biden & Trump burned their political capitol early 26:45 Trump blew the chance to build a GOP that outlasts him 28:00 Trump didn’t win the 2024 election - Biden/Harris lost it 29:45 Voters don’t like party in power, 2008 was last “Vote for” election 31:30 Biden misinterpreted 2022 results, lots of bad GOP candidates 32:30 Liberation Day destroyed Trump’s goodwill with the public 34:45 The cracks in Trump’s coalition are turning into chasms 36:30 The GOP has been too concerned with appeasing the online right 37:45 Democrats could be having their own “Tea Party” moment 45:15 Trump floats leaving the presidency for “hosting” in social post 46:15 Is Trump soft launching stepping down from the presidency? 47:30 Ask Chuck 48:15 What wing of the party will the GOP lean towards in 2028? 54:30 What are the classes you teach like? 1:01:45 How would things be different if H.W. Bush won a second term? 1:06:30 How do we address the erosion of historical education? 1:11:15 Was the country really that united over Garfield’s death? 1:16:45 Sports roundupSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.