The Chuck ToddCast

Ambassador Robert Blackwill — a towering figure in American foreign policy who served under Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush, and is the only person to have served as both U.S. Ambassador to India and Deputy National Security Advisor — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a sweeping and sobering conversation about America's position in the world. Blackwill, currently the Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of Lost Decade: The U.S. Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power, argues that the U.S. urgently needs to recapture the kind of bipartisan foreign policy consensus that defined the Cold War era. He calls China the most dangerous rival America has ever faced, warning that Beijing is actively preparing its military for a potential Taiwan invasion — a threat that has only intensified amid China's massive late-2025 military exercises around the island and growing questions about whether the Trump administration would intervene to defend Taipei.
The conversation spans the full scope of the global chessboard, from NATO's potential collapse — an especially timely concern as the Pentagon has moved to scale back U.S. participation in NATO advisory groups and Defense Secretary Hegseth skipped the latest defense ministers' meeting in Brussels — to why any Ukraine peace deal will inevitably reward Russian aggression, to Trump's puzzling warmth toward adversaries like China and Russia while publicly disparaging European allies. Blackwill warns that Trump is driving swing countries like India into China's orbit, and that the U.S. isn't headed for a multipolar world but a bipolar one, with China gaining ground across Africa, South America, and Asia. With the 2028 presidential race on the horizon, Blackwill makes a forceful case that the next generation of candidates must present a clear, durable vision for America's role in the world — before it's too late.
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!
Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Ambassador Robert Blackwill joins the Chuck ToddCast
02:00 America needs to recapture its cold war “bipartisan consensus”
02:30 Alliances contributed to American strength
04:00 Why were assumptions of China joining the world wrong?
06:00 China is the most dangerous rival America has ever had
07:15 Should we have developed an Asian security pact sooner?
09:00 Marxism tells China that for it to be safe, it must lead the world
10:30 Liberal internationalism has gotten weaker in its expression
11:30 What should we make of Xi purging his military leadership?
12:45 U.S. intelligence penetration of China has been limited
14:30 China is working very hard to prepare military for Taiwan invasion
15:45 Worse outcome: Let China invade Taiwan or fight them over it?
16:45 Biden clearly said he’d intervene on behalf of Taiwan
17:30 Trump doesn’t seem inclined to defend Taiwan
18:30 China’s military isn’t battle tested, invasion is a huge risk
19:30 How have Iraq/Afghanistan informed the debate over defending Taiwan?
20:45 A majority of Americans wouldn’t support war with China over Taiwan
22:15 What would you advise next President to do with Taiwan if no war by 2028?
23:00 Trump is unique, will take most of “Trumpism” with him when he leaves
24:30 Debate after Trump will be between nationalism & liberal internationalism
26:00 Tough to know what Democrats strategy for role in the world is
27:00 How do you rebuild alliances in a more durable way?
29:30 The American people don’t support the admins “gangster” foreign policy
31:15 If Europe is separated from the U.S., they’ll truly go on their own
31:45 Trump says nothing positive about Europe, but praises China & Russia
34:00 Hard to believe Donald Trump would abide Article 5
34:45 NATO could collapse if Trump doesn’t respond to action against Baltics
35:30 Taiwan remains greatest risk for the duration of Trump’s term
36:30 Any peace deal in Ukraine will reward Russia’s aggression
37:15 Ukraine remains determined not to lose their statehood
38:00 Putin knows he’ll never have a friendlier American president than Trump
39:00 Intelligence sharing is most valuable thing America provides Ukraine
41:00 Trump can do so much more to rupture our alliances in 3 years
42:00 Europe is more traumatized by what Trump says than what he does
43:00 What to make of Marco Rubio’s role in the administration?
45:00 Rubio has to perform an incredible balancing act
47:00 Trump is driving “swing countries” like India into China’s arms
47:30 We aren’t headed for a multipolar world, it will be bipolar
48:30 Partners want consistency from America, based on strength
51:00 2028 candidates need to present a vision for America’s role
52:30 China ahead of America in Africa, South America & Asia…not Europe
53:00 China isn’t ahead yet, but trends are bad
54:30 America’s contempt for the third world has been detrimental
56:15 Trump’s approach to the world won’t change in the next 3 years
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd explores whether the United States is on the verge of a new reform era — and argues that the signs are more promising than you might think. Starting with a constitutional amendment now circulating in Congress to nullify presidential pardons, backed by both a Maryland Democrat and Republican Don Bacon to give it bipartisan credibility, Todd makes the case that the pardon power has been so thoroughly abused — from Biden's preemptive pardons giving Trump political cover, to Trump intermediaries allegedly being paid for sold pardons — that the kind of structural corruption requiring structural repair is now undeniable.
He puts this moment in historical context, drawing parallels to the reform cascades that produced the 16th Amendment (born from rampant income inequality), the 17th Amendment (born from a corruption scandal involving the sale of Senate seats), and the 19th Amendment (born when democracy itself felt like it was slipping away), while cautioning that not every reform era gets it right — the 18th Amendment and Prohibition being a case study in moral panic and overcorrection. His broader argument is that reform eras tend to cascade once they begin, that the tools to demand a better democratic structure already exist, and that if Congress shifts from debating revenge to debating reforms, that alone represents meaningful progress.
Finally, Chuck gives his reaction the Munich Security Conference, offers up his ToddCast Top 5 “Most Absurd Awards Created To Soothe Trump’s Ego” and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!
Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
00:30 A constitutional amendment circulating to nullify presidential pardons2:00 We may be seeing a structural shift at a time that it’s needed2:45 Reform eras happen when both sides decide rules need to be tightened3:15 We’ve seen governors sell pardons, nothing like what Trump’s doing4:15 Trump intermediaries are getting paid for sold pardons5:30 Biden’s pardons basically gave Trump license for his corrupt pardons6:45 For institutional change, you need bad actors on both sides7:45 Maryland congressman introduced amendment to override pardons8:30 Don Bacon signed on to endorse amendment, makes it bipartisan9:30 Nullification threshold is set pretty high10:45 17th amendment was born out of political corruption scandal12:30 16th amendment born out of rampant income inequality13:45 19th amendment came when it felt like democracy was slipping away14:30 18th amendment came from moral panic, was later repealed15:15 Reforms can be necessary, some are an overcorrection16:15 Structural corruption requires structural repair, requires amendment17:30 Other areas of structural reform that could gain traction19:15 Reform eras don’t stop with one thing, tend to cascade21:00 We have the tools to demand a better structure for democracy22:45 If congress is debating reforms instead of revenge, that’s progress
31:15 We need a consensus on America’s role in the world
32:00 Reaction to Munich security conference
32:30 Rubio sees himself as a bridge to the rules based order & Trump
33:45 Trump will easily throw Rubio or Vance under the bus
35:00 AOC didn’t seem to have the most prepared answers in Munich
36:30 The right wants to dunk on AOC, when Trump is far more ignorant
37:45 We hold political opponents to far higher standards than our own team
38:15 ToddCast Top 5 Most Absurd Awards Created To Soothe Trump’s Ego
39:00 #5 McDonald’s french fry certification pin
39:45 #4 Undisputed Champion of Clean Coal award
40:45 #3 FIFA Peace Prize
41:45 #2 The Tim Cook Special
42:45 #1 NRSC Champion For Freedom Bowl
44:15 Giving out these awards is a terrible look
44:45 The actual Nobel Peace Prize given by Machado did not qualify for list
45:45 Trump is desperate for historic accolades
46:30 Ask Chuck
46:45 Will we live to see a Democratic elected statewide in Tennessee?
53:00 Loved history lesson on importance of 1848, could you expand on it?
56:45 What rights from the Bill of Rights has Trump NOT violated?
58:45 Why aren’t SCOTUS potential retirements getting more attention?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd explores whether the United States is on the verge of a new reform era — and argues that the signs are more promising than you might think. Starting with a constitutional amendment now circulating in Congress to nullify presidential pardons, backed by both a Maryland Democrat and Republican Don Bacon to give it bipartisan credibility, Todd makes the case that the pardon power has been so thoroughly abused — from Biden's preemptive pardons giving Trump political cover, to Trump intermediaries allegedly being paid for sold pardons — that the kind of structural corruption requiring structural repair is now undeniable. Todd puts this moment in historical context, drawing parallels to the reform cascades that produced the 16th Amendment (born from rampant income inequality), the 17th Amendment (born from a corruption scandal involving the sale of Senate seats), and the 19th Amendment (born when democracy itself felt like it was slipping away), while cautioning that not every reform era gets it right — the 18th Amendment and Prohibition being a case study in moral panic and overcorrection. His broader argument is that reform eras tend to cascade once they begin, that the tools to demand a better democratic structure already exist, and that if Congress shifts from debating revenge to debating reforms, that alone represents meaningful progress.
Then, Ambassador Robert Blackwill — a towering figure in American foreign policy who served under Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush, and is the only person to have served as both U.S. Ambassador to India and Deputy National Security Advisor — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a sweeping and sobering conversation about America's position in the world. Blackwill, currently the Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of Lost Decade: The U.S. Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power, argues that the U.S. urgently needs to recapture the kind of bipartisan foreign policy consensus that defined the Cold War era. He calls China the most dangerous rival America has ever faced, warning that Beijing is actively preparing its military for a potential Taiwan invasion — a threat that has only intensified amid China's massive late-2025 military exercises around the island and growing questions about whether the Trump administration would intervene to defend Taipei.
The conversation spans the full scope of the global chessboard, from NATO's potential collapse — an especially timely concern as the Pentagon has moved to scale back U.S. participation in NATO advisory groups and Defense Secretary Hegseth skipped the latest defense ministers' meeting in Brussels — to why any Ukraine peace deal will inevitably reward Russian aggression, to Trump's puzzling warmth toward adversaries like China and Russia while publicly disparaging European allies. Blackwill warns that Trump is driving swing countries like India into China's orbit, and that the U.S. isn't headed for a multipolar world but a bipolar one, with China gaining ground across Africa, South America, and Asia. With the 2028 presidential race on the horizon, Blackwill makes a forceful case that the next generation of candidates must present a clear, durable vision for America's role in the world — before it's too late.
Finally, Chuck gives his reaction the Munich Security Conference, offers up his ToddCast Top 5 “Most Absurd Awards Created To Soothe Trump’s Ego” and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!
Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
02:15 A constitutional amendment circulating to nullify presidential pardons
03:45 We may be seeing a structural shift at a time that it’s needed
04:30 Reform eras happen when both sides decide rules need to be tightened
05:00 We’ve seen governors sell pardons, nothing like what Trump’s doing
06:00 Trump intermediaries are getting paid for sold pardons
07:15 Biden’s pardons basically gave Trump license for his corrupt pardons
08:30 For institutional change, you need bad actors on both sides
09:30 Maryland congressman introduced amendment to override pardons
10:15 Don Bacon signed on to endorse amendment, makes it bipartisan
11:15 Nullification threshold is set pretty high
12:30 17th amendment was born out of political corruption scandal
14:15 16th amendment born out of rampant income inequality
15:30 19th amendment came when it felt like democracy was slipping away
16:15 18th amendment came from moral panic, was later repealed
17:00 Reforms can be necessary, some are an overcorrection
18:00 Structural corruption requires structural repair, requires amendment
19:15 Other areas of structural reform that could gain traction
21:00 Reform eras don’t stop with one thing, tend to cascade
22:45 We have the tools to demand a better structure for democracy
24:30 If congress is debating reforms instead of revenge, that’s progress
33:15 Ambassador Robert Blackwill joins the Chuck ToddCast
35:15 America needs to recapture its cold war “bipartisan consensus”
35:45 Alliances contributed to American strength
37:15 Why were assumptions of China joining the world wrong?
39:15 China is the most dangerous rival America has ever had
40:30 Should we have developed an Asian security pact sooner?
42:15 Marxism tells China that for it to be safe, it must lead the world
43:45 Liberal internationalism has gotten weaker in its expression
44:45 What should we make of Xi purging his military leadership?
46:00 U.S. intelligence penetration of China has been limited
47:45 China is working very hard to prepare military for Taiwan invasion
49:00 Worse outcome: Let China invade Taiwan or fight them over it?
50:00 Biden clearly said he’d intervene on behalf of Taiwan
50:45 Trump doesn’t seem inclined to defend Taiwan
51:45 China’s military isn’t battle tested, invasion is a huge risk
52:45 How have Iraq/Afghanistan informed the debate over defending Taiwan?
54:00 A majority of Americans wouldn’t support war with China over Taiwan
55:30 What would you advise next President to do with Taiwan if no war by 2028?
56:15 Trump is unique, will take most of “Trumpism” with him when he leaves
57:45 Debate after Trump will be between nationalism & liberal internationalism
59:15 Tough to know what Democrats strategy for role in the world is
1:00:15 How do you rebuild alliances in a more durable way?
1:02:45 The American people don’t support the admins “gangster” foreign policy
1:04:30 If Europe is separated from the U.S., they’ll truly go on their own
1:05:00 Trump says nothing positive about Europe, but praises China & Russia
1:07:15 Hard to believe Donald Trump would abide Article 5
1:08:00 NATO could collapse if Trump doesn’t respond to action against Baltics
1:08:45 Taiwan remains greatest risk for the duration of Trump’s term
1:09:45 Any peace deal in Ukraine will reward Russia’s aggression
1:10:30 Ukraine remains determined not to lose their statehood
1:11:15 Putin knows he’ll never have a friendlier American president than Trump
1:12:15 Intelligence sharing is most valuable thing America provides Ukraine
1:14:15 Trump can do so much more to rupture our alliances in 3 years
1:15:15 Europe is more traumatized by what Trump says than what he does
1:16:15 What to make of Marco Rubio’s role in the administration?
1:18:15 Rubio has to perform an incredible balancing act
1:20:15 Trump is driving “swing countries” like India into China’s arms
1:20:45 We aren’t headed for a multipolar world, it will be bipolar
1:21:45 Partners want consistency from America, based on strength
1:24:15 2028 candidates need to present a vision for America’s role
1:25:45 China ahead of America in Africa, South America & Asia…not Europe
1:26:15 China isn’t ahead yet, but trends are bad
1:27:45 America’s contempt for the third world has been detrimental
1:29:30 Trump’s approach to the world won’t change in the next 3 years
1:31:15 We need a consensus on America’s role in the world
1:32:00 Reaction to Munich security conference
1:32:30 Rubio sees himself as a bridge to the rules based order & Trump
1:33:45 Trump will easily throw Rubio or Vance under the bus
1:35:00 AOC didn’t seem to have the most prepared answers in Munich
1:36:30 The right wants to dunk on AOC, when Trump is far more ignorant
1:37:45 We hold political opponents to far higher standards than our own team
1:38:15 ToddCast Top 5 Most Absurd Awards Created To Soothe Trump’s Ego
1:39:00 #5 McDonald’s french fry certification pin
1:39:45 #4 Undisputed Champion of Clean Coal award
1:40:45 #3 FIFA Peace Prize
1:41:45 #2 The Tim Cook Special
1:42:45 #1 NRSC Champion For Freedom Bowl
1:44:15 Giving out these awards is a terrible look
1:44:45 The actual Nobel Peace Prize given by Machado did not qualify for list
1:45:45 Trump is desperate for historic accolades
1:46:30 Ask Chuck
1:46:45 Will we live to see a Democratic elected statewide in Tennessee?
1:53:00 Loved history lesson on importance of 1848, could you expand on it?
1:56:45 What rights from the Bill of Rights has Trump NOT violated?
1:58:45 Why aren’t SCOTUS potential retirements getting more attention?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd takes a hard look at the state of American governance and institutional trust — or the lack of it. He starts by reflecting on the historical significance of three consecutive one-term presidents, ranking his top five most underrated commanders-in-chief and arguing that both Biden and Trump are unlikely to be viewed as consequential a century from now. From there, Todd pivots to a searing indictment of the current moment: from the Epstein reckoning exposing the government's inability to tell the truth, to DHS being treated as a political plaything by Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski, to the DOD endangering lives in the El Paso FAA incident with zero accountability, to Moderna alleging that HHS refused to even review an mRNA flu vaccine under RFK Jr.'s watch. He connects the dots across a pattern of institutional dishonesty — a Justice Department focused on narrative management, masked ICE agents no one can justify, a fired antitrust chief clearing the way for powerful interests, and a "hostage system" style of governing that holds federal paychecks as leverage — making the case that when the government lies this often, it forfeits the benefit of the doubt on everything, and that the Epstein scandal isn't just a story about one man, but a mirror reflecting a system designed to protect the powerful.
Then, Gene Sperling — the only person to serve as Director of the National Economic Council under two presidents (Clinton and Obama), a senior advisor to President Biden who oversaw the American Rescue Plan, and a consultant and co-writer on NBC's The West Wing — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation. Sperling shares the wild story of how he ended up in Santa Monica, his brush with Aaron Sorkin's legal troubles, and his insider take on how real Washington compares to its fictional portrayals. The conversation then turns to Sperling's deep expertise on the economy, from his defense of the Biden administration's "soft landing" amid global post-Covid inflation to the political lessons of how rising prices have sunk presidencies on both sides of the aisle — including Biden's own re-election bid.
The back half of the episode looks squarely at the future. Sperling, who says he's unlikely to serve in another Democratic administration, offers a forceful argument about what comes next: the rising threat of unchecked corporate and tech power, the urgent need for AI policy that puts working people first, and the lessons of globalization that policymakers can't afford to repeat. Drawing on themes from his book Economic Dignity, he makes the case that Americans are hungry for leaders who pair optimism with a real confrontation of economic injustice — and warns that a handful of AI and crypto companies, flush with lobbying dollars, could end up shaping the structure of the economy if left unchallenged.
Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the publishing of the Communist Manifesto and argues that while its critiques of the excesses of capitalism were correct… it’s revolutionary prescriptions led to the worst authoritarian states in modern history. He also 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!
Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
03:30 We’ve had 3 straight one term presidents, deem them all failures
04:45 Inability to win reelection will always be seen as an asterisk
05:45 Top 5 most underrated presidents
06:00 James Polk was the only voluntary one term president
06:45 James Garfield was a fierce advocate for civil rights
07:30 George H.W. Bush was accomplished, but not a good politician
08:30 John Quincy Adams laid out modern American infrastructure
09:00 Jimmy Carter did many things that have aged well
10:15 In 100 years, Biden & Trump likely won’t be viewed as consequential
11:45 Biden & Trump can’t be evaluated fairly for many years
12:30 What does a real reckoning look like in the Trump era?
13:45 The institution least capable of reckoning with Epstein is the government
14:15 The private sector is forcing accountability, the government isn’t
15:15 Trust is the currency of government, and Trump’s doesn’t have it
16:15 The Justice Department is only worried about narrative management
17:30 The system looks like a club, designed to protect the powerful
18:45 Epstein is a test of whether the government can tell the truth
20:00 DHS shutting down, politicians using paychecks as leverage
20:30 We a governing via a “hostage system”
21:45 There isn’t a single good argument for masking ICE agents
22:15 The Democrats’ demands are not extreme, they’re common sense
23:15 Noem & Lewandowski treating DHS like their personal plaything
24:00 Pattern of government saying one thing, facts saying another
25:15 Whatever Noem says first, you can’t believe it. She gaslights the public
26:00 The government has lied too many times, gets no benefit of the doubt
26:45 El Paso FAA incident is case study for public distrusting institutions
27:45 DoD was lying to the FAA, FAA pulled the emergency brakes
29:00 DoD put lives in danger with no accountability
29:30 Moderna says HHS refused to review MRNA flu vaccine
30:15 The U.S. is not a stable country to develop & release products
31:00 Kennedy only offers crackpot theories & totally unfit for office
32:00 We can’t trust the government to tell us the truth about anything
32:30 DOJ fired antitrust chief, powerful interests get what they want
34:00 Epstein isn’t just a scandal, it’s a mirror
43:30 Gene Sperling joins the Chuck Toddcast
45:30 The wild story of how Gene ended up in Santa Monica
46:45 Aaron Sorkin couldn’t meet with Gene due to legal trouble
49:45 Real politics/news look nothing like “West Wing” or “The Newsroom”
51:00 The one truism about the West Wing is good people trying to do good
52:45 Politics is NOT like House of Cards
54:15 West Wing still remains viable, any chance of a reboot?
55:30 What’s the state of the economy? What do you look for?
56:15 Biden economy was strong growth, but high inflation
57:00 Biden achieved the “soft landing” they were trying for
58:15 Inflation was global and mostly due to Covid supply chain shocks
59:45 The American Rescue Plan had many positive effects
1:00:45 Every head of state poured money into economies during Covid
1:01:45 Covid was going to result in either inflation or recession
1:03:30 Obama couldn’t pass enough stimulus during Great Recession
1:04:30 A little extra stimulus can help offset future unknowns
1:05:15 Millennials’ future was permanently damaged by Great Recession
1:06:30 A generation had never seen high inflation until Covid
1:07:30 Anger over inflation sunk Biden’s re-election
1:08:30 Inflation is bipartisan, took down 3 different presidents
1:09:30 Inflation affects everyone, jobs & unemployment don’t
1:10:45 Every head of state suffered politically post pandemic
1:12:45 Will Biden baggage sink Pete Buttigieg, or is that overstated?
1:14:30 Biden’s conflict was empathy for suffering vs touting achievements
1:16:45 Biden had the tiniest of margins to pass major legislation
1:18:00 Gene is unlikely to work in a future Democratic administration
1:18:45 Pitchforks are being sharpened for corporations and big tech
1:19:30 Will worker rage fuel the next election?
1:20:30 Presidents that do well offer optimism, but confront economic injustice
1:22:00 People don’t want to feel like they are being extracted for profits
1:24:00 AI growth can’t come at the expense of working people
1:25:30 AI policy should be shaped around improving conditions for people
1:26:45 What lessons from globalization can be used to alleviate AI disruption?
1:28:30 Clinton believed in robust response to globalization
1:29:30 Clinton couldn’t implement strong safety net after losing congress
1:31:15 You have to have policies where people don’t feel left behind
1:33:00 We need to create and fund jobs that create dignity
1:33:45 We need to create an economic dignity floor for all Americans
1:35:45 When is a company too big to regulate?
1:38:00 If companies are disproportionately determining policies, they’re too big
1:38:45 Crypto & AI are getting what they want from huge lobbying money
1:39:30 A handful of AI companies could determine structure of the economy
1:41:45 The Trump White House has invited corporate influence
1:49:45 What if Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie ran on “accountability” ticket
1:51:00 A bipartisan ticket of “pox on both their houses” could be powerful
1:51:45 ToddCast Time Machine February 21st, 1848
1:52:00 Marx & Engels publish the communist manifesto
1:52:45 Monarchies were colliding with modern economic forces
1:54:15 Marx argued that capitalism is destabilizing if left unchecked
1:55:15 If the manifesto was called something else, how would we view it?
1:55:45 Marx doesn’t argue reform, says that capitalism will destroy itself
1:56:30 Communist states didn’t emerge until decades after manifesto
1:57:15 Manifesto gave dictators arguments to grab power
1:58:00 Marx talked in economics, dictators exploited his language
1:59:30 Communism took hold in places where industrialization fell behind
2:00:15 Manifesto gets invoked badly by both sides in American politics
2:01:00 Marx’s diagnosis was spot on, his solutions were questionable
2:02:30 Lack of regulation for AI will push people to radicalism
2:03:00 Ask Chuck
2:03:15 Does something seem off with the administration’s economic numbers?
2:07:30 Do we need a punchier title than “Gate” for political scandals?
2:10:00 Do we need to withhold congressional salaries during shutdowns?
2:14:00 Missing intellectuals like Rahm Emmanuel leading the country
2:16:00 What is the criteria for impeachment of cabinet members?
2:18:45 Favorite football/baseball players as a kid?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gene Sperling — the only person to serve as Director of the National Economic Council under two presidents (Clinton and Obama), a senior advisor to President Biden who oversaw the American Rescue Plan, and a consultant and co-writer on NBC's The West Wing — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation. Sperling shares the wild story of how he ended up in Santa Monica, his brush with Aaron Sorkin's legal troubles, and his insider take on how real Washington compares to its fictional portrayals. The conversation then turns to Sperling's deep expertise on the economy, from his defense of the Biden administration's "soft landing" amid global post-Covid inflation to the political lessons of how rising prices have sunk presidencies on both sides of the aisle — including Biden's own re-election bid.
The back half of the episode looks squarely at the future. Sperling, who says he's unlikely to serve in another Democratic administration, offers a forceful argument about what comes next: the rising threat of unchecked corporate and tech power, the urgent need for AI policy that puts working people first, and the lessons of globalization that policymakers can't afford to repeat. Drawing on themes from his book Economic Dignity, he makes the case that Americans are hungry for leaders who pair optimism with a real confrontation of economic injustice — and warns that a handful of AI and crypto companies, flush with lobbying dollars, could end up shaping the structure of the economy if left unchallenged.
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!
Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Gene Sperling joins the Chuck Toddcast
02:00 The wild story of how Gene ended up in Santa Monica
03:15 Aaron Sorkin couldn’t meet with Gene due to legal trouble
06:15 Real politics/news look nothing like “West Wing” or “The Newsroom”
07:30 The one truism about the West Wing is good people trying to do good
09:15 Politics is NOT like House of Cards
10:45 West Wing still remains viable, any chance of a reboot?
12:00 What’s the state of the economy? What do you look for?
12:45 Biden economy was strong growth, but high inflation
13:30 Biden achieved the “soft landing” they were trying for
14:45 Inflation was global and mostly due to Covid supply chain shocks
16:15 The American Rescue Plan had many positive effects
17:15 Every head of state poured money into economies during Covid
18:15 Covid was going to result in either inflation or recession
20:00 Obama couldn’t pass enough stimulus during Great Recession
21:00 A little extra stimulus can help offset future unknowns
21:45 Millennials’ future was permanently damaged by Great Recession
23:00 A generation had never seen high inflation until Covid
24:00 Anger over inflation sunk Biden’s re-election
25:00 Inflation is bipartisan, took down 3 different presidents
26:00 Inflation affects everyone, jobs & unemployment don’t
27:15 Every head of state suffered politically post pandemic
29:15 Will Biden baggage sink Pete Buttigieg, or is that overstated?
31:00 Biden’s conflict was empathy for suffering vs touting achievements
33:15 Biden had the tiniest of margins to pass major legislation
34:30 Gene is unlikely to work in a future Democratic administration
35:15 Pitchforks are being sharpened for corporations and big tech
36:00 Will worker rage fuel the next election?
37:00 Presidents that do well offer optimism, but confront economic injustice
38:30 People don’t want to feel like they are being extracted for profits
40:30 AI growth can’t come at the expense of working people
42:00 AI policy should be shaped around improving conditions for people
43:15 What lessons from globalization can be used to alleviate AI disruption?
45:00 Clinton believed in robust response to globalization
46:00 Clinton couldn’t implement strong safety net after losing congress
47:45 You have to have policies where people don’t feel left behind
49:30 We need to create and fund jobs that create dignity
50:15 We need to create an economic dignity floor for all Americans
52:15 When is a company too big to regulate?
54:30 If companies are disproportionately determining policies, they’re too big
55:15 Crypto & AI are getting what they want from huge lobbying money
56:00 A handful of AI companies could determine structure of the economy
58:15 The Trump White House has invited corporate influence
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