The Chuck ToddCast

Chuck Todd takes a deep dive into the JFK assassination conspiracy and the latest document release with Jeff Morley, founder of JFK Facts.

He opens the episode by exploring how the government’s lack of transparency and honesty has fueled public distrust—and why that environment often breeds conspiratorial thinking.

Chuck and Jeff then examine the government's decades-long effort to keep a tight lid on records related to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, and how skepticism from high-ranking officials at the time continues to cast doubt on the CIA’s official account.

They break down the most recent document releases, discuss why both Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden delayed their full release, and analyze what the timing and redactions might suggest about what the government could still be hiding.

The conversation takes a closer look at Lee Harvey Oswald, his potential ties to the CIA, and why the agency has remained evasive about those connections.

Finally, they review the key findings from the newly released documents, assess whether any revelations have truly been groundbreaking, and preview what might come next in the ongoing evolution of this historic conspiracy theory.

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Timeline:

0:00 Introduction

02:00 What led to massive distrust of the U.S. government

04:00 Chuck’s big questions about the JFK assassination

8:40 How did Jeff Morley become JFKfacts?

10:10 Oliver Stone’s movie led to congress passing the JFK records act in 1992

11:40 Released CIA records were a reporting gold mine

14:55 Until the internet, the government kept a closed fist on the records

15:55 Oswald denied the killing, case was never adjudicated 

19:10 Chuck welcoming his son to the conspiracy 

21:50 The books that informed Jeff’s thinking on the assassination

24:45 Bobby Kennedy never believed the official story

25:55 How did Oswald not end up in jail after going to Russia?

28:45 Oswald was a known quantity to CIA officials before the assassination

29:55 Robert Kennedy asked the CIA director directly about CIA involvement

32:10 CIA’s fear was their awful operations being brought to light

33:40 Lyndon Johnson didn’t believe the Warren commission

34:50 Why did the CIA cover up its affiliation with Oswald?

35:40 What did Trump hold off on releasing?

37:30 Trump and Biden both punted on releasing files

40:40 Trump got back on board after RFK Jr. joined the campaign

43:10 The timeline for redactions shows what the government prioritized protecting

45:10 Hoover sanctioned FBI agents for their handling of Oswald

45:55 Why did the FBI + CIA remove Oswald from the watch list?

47:40 Oswald clearly was a CIA asset

48:40 Oswald did 5 things that should have landed him in trouble

49:55 Oswald goes public with the Fair Play for Cuba Committee

51:50 4 people confronting Oswald in the courtroom had CIA connections

54:20 Bay of Pigs is the root of Cuban-American support for Republicans

59:00 Did we learn anything from old Soviet files?

1:01:00 Soviets surveilled Oswald while he was in Minsk 

1:03:45 Tulsi Gabbard implied new files had been found

1:05:30 CIA hasn’t produced new records that aren’t at the national archives

1:06:00 What are we missing on Jack Ruby?

1:08:10 CIA motivations for cover up?

1:10:15 What if Oswald did it and was part of a conspiracy?

1:10:40 There’s no smoking gun proof Oswald did it?

1:11:10 Compelling evidence that shots came from in front of Kennedy

1:13:10 Investigators botched the chain of possession for evidence

1:17:25 Jeff’s experience testifying in front of congress

1:18:55 Trump’s motive for declassifying the records

1:21:40 Where to find Jeff’s work

1:23:10 The CIA was a rogue agency in the 50s 

1:24:55 Chuck’s closing thoughts

Chuck Todd is joined by geopolitical expert and Eurasia Group founder Ian Bremmer to unpack the global implications of President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape the international order.

Chuck opens the episode by examining how Trump’s use of tariffs and his zero-sum approach to foreign policy are dismantling decades of established U.S. trade and diplomatic norms.

Ian then joins the conversation to assess the ripple effects of Trump’s tariffs on global trade, how key U.S. allies and rivals are likely to respond, and whether China stands to benefit in the long run.

He explains how Trump’s policies may be inadvertently strengthening Xi Jinping, why the U.S. is ill-equipped to operate in a “law of the jungle” environment, and what kind of economic damage could be on the horizon.

The discussion turns to the rise of anti-American sentiment abroad, the erosion of the rule of law at home, and why the economic fallout may disproportionately affect red states.

They then take a global tour of hotspots: debating the prospects for a renewed nuclear deal with Iran, whether Turkey has fully slipped into autocracy, and the likelihood of a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire in 2025.  

To wrap up the episode, Chuck answers listener questions in the "Ask Chuck" segment.

Timeline

0:00 Introduction

1:00 Trump is creating a new world order

2:00 Trump has a zero-sum view of foreign policy

4:00 Could Trump break with Putin over lack of ceasefire?

6:00 Trump 2.0 and Trump 1.0 are completely different

9:00 Ian Bremmer joins the show

10:00 Has Trump broken the world economic order, or temporarily disrupted it?

11:15 Countries will begin to de-risk away from the US

13:30 Trump using emergency powers to unilaterally break international agreements

18:00 China will become dominant in the old architecture built by the U.S.

21:15 People voting for a second “Trump 1.0” and are getting something vastly different

22:30 Instability will force unity on the EU

23:30 Americans don’t understand how good we have it*

24:30 The future of power seems to lie with the autocracies and not the democracies

25:30 Is Trump throwing a lifeline to Xi Jinping?

29:30 The U.S. doesn’t have the right political system to operate in the “law of the jungle”

32:00 China’s surveillance state will check any type of middle class uprising

34:30 How different would things look if we had the TPP?

38:00 How should companies navigate the uncertainty Trump is creating?

39:30 Products from China are already becoming unavailable

41:00 Companies are all lobbying for exemptions

42:00 The hit to the US economy is going to be massive

44:20 The rise of anti-American sentiment

45:45 The first amendment only applies to citizens now?

46:45 The hit to American tourism will be substantial

48:00 Economic damage will hit red states the hardest

49:30 Mexican government has been willing to cooperate

51:45 Trump wants to cut a deal with Iran, even if it makes Israel unhappy

54:20 Will Erdogan get away with smashing democracy in Turkey?

56:15 What to make of the political turmoil in South Korea?

58:00 Will Bolsanaro/Le Pen have their charges stick, or could they win office in the future?

1:00:30 Biggest risks to the world? Is Trump at the top of that list?

1:02:30 Will the Ukraine/Russia war achieve a ceasefire this year?

1:06:20 Ask Chuck

1:06:40 What books do you assign your class to best understand this political moment?

1:12:00 Are we in a competitive autocracy similar to Erdogan’s Turkey?

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First, Chuck reacts to President Trump’s announcement that smartphones, computers, and other electronics will be exempt from tariffs. He also previews what we can expect this week in political news, and breaks down what all these developments mean for our democracy as a whole.

Then, Chuck is joined by The Atlantic staff writer McKay Coppins to discuss his latest story, “Growing Up Murdoch,” which delves into the Succession-style drama surrounding Rupert Murdoch, his children, and the future of their media empire.

They examine Fox News’ enormous influence on American politics, how the network evolved during the Trump era, and how it could undergo major changes once Murdoch’s children take the reins.

The conversation explores striking parallels between the Murdoch family and the Roys from HBO’s Succession, including a looming legal battle over the family trust and what it could mean for the company’s direction.

McKay explains how Fox News shifted after the departure of longtime CEO Roger Ailes, while Chuck highlights how the potential loss of NFL broadcasting rights could pose an existential threat to the network.

Finally, they turn to the Trump family and discuss why its own brewing succession drama might ultimately eclipse that of the Murdochs.

Timeline:

00:00 Intro

02:58 Reaction to Trump’s tariff exemption of smartphones and computers

07:45 Are we entering a kleptocracy?

14:05 McKay Coppins joins Chuck

16:47 Any discussion about making Mckay’s Murdoch article into a book?

18:17 Fate of the Murdoch empire impacts the fate of American politics

19:32 Murdoch outlets impacted Trumpism, Brexit and other major events

22:47 Murdoch used to make the weather, now Trump does

26:32 It’s easier to pick a side in media rather than be a neutral observer

29:02 Did Succession have an insider account or were the Murdochs that predictable?

30:47 The Murdochs are a normal, wealthy dysfunctional family

32:17 Status of the Murdoch lawsuit?

34:47 Was Rupert Murdoch “honeypotted” by the Chinese government?

36:32 Will James and Lachlan reconcile after Rupert dies?

38:17 Rupert has pitted his kids against each other

39:32 Without Brexit and Trump, would James and Lachlan have worked better together?

41:17 James can’t stomach what Fox News became in the Trump era

42:17 Fox News went off the rails after Roger Ailes left

43:47 Ailes ruled Fox News with an iron fist

44:32 The inmates are running the asylum at Fox

46:02 If James gets his way after Rupert dies, Fox will change drastically

47:17 Fox can never go as far as Newsmax or OAN

48:32 The Fox empire was built on its current audience

50:32 James is building his own empire

52:02 Sisters are embarrassed by Fox News

52:17 NFL rights are existential for Fox and big tech can outspend them

54:17 Murdoch kids have shielded their kids from the press

55:47 WSJ + NY Post will still needle Trump

57:32 James has more interest in the media business than Lachlan

58:02 The Murdochs and Trumps have similar dynamics

59:17 Don Jr. understood the Trump base better than his father

1:00:17 Succession style drama is coming for the Trump family

On this episode of The Chuck ToddCast, Chuck Todd is joined by Marc Caputo, Senior White House Reporter for Axios.

Chuck begins by breaking down how the personnel guardrails that existed during Donald Trump’s first term are now gone—and why a potential second Trump administration would look dramatically different from the first.

He and Marc then explore which Trump official is most likely to take the blame for the administration’s disastrous tariff rollout, and outline three key factors that led Trump to temporarily reverse course with a 90-day delay.

They also explain why Trump can no longer credibly pin economic challenges on President Biden, and why his plan to boost domestic manufacturing may fall short. The conversation turns to Trump’s use of executive orders to target whistleblowers and critics, and who might be managing his so-called “enemies list.”

Finally, they assess which members of Trump’s inner circle are gaining or losing favor with the president, and preview a looming controversy that could shake up the Florida governor’s race.

Timeline:

0:00 Introduction

2:00 Trump 1.0 was NOT a blueprint for Trump 2.0

4:40 This is a brand new style of governing

6:22 Was there insider trading based on Trump’s tweet?

8:28 The market and rich people are serving as a guardrail

10:00 Anti-american sentiment will affect American businesses

11:30 Marc Caputo joins the show

12:55 The “dear leader” quality to the administration

17:37 Howard Lutnick the likely fall guy for tariffs?

18:36 Three factors caused Trump to change course on tariffs

23:07 Trump 1.0 was completely different compared to Trump 2.0

27:50 Does the administration regret that they didn’t pass the tax cut first?

29:22 Trump gave up the ability to blame Biden for the economy

30:00 Manufacturing plants take years to build

31:15 Trump working through an “enemies list”?

35:05 Revenge agenda is a slippery slope

37:00 Is RJK Jr. being reeled in by the White House?

39:56 Trump changes his mind constantly

43:31 What is Elon Musk’s current standing within the administration?

45:46 Is Rubio’s stock rising or falling?

48:09 The administration is using AI to monitor social media feeds

50:30 Scandal looming over the Florida governor’s race

52:55 Chuck’s final thoughts

On this episode of The Chuck ToddCast, Chuck reacts to President Donald Trump’s decision to pause his sweeping tariff regime — and explains why it reveals his continued responsiveness to the wealthy political donor class.

He also reflects on how the O.J. Simpson trial forever changed the news media landscape, incentivizing networks to prioritize profits and ratings over journalistic value.

Finally, Chuck answers listener questions in another edition of Ask Chuck.

0:00 Trump rescinds the tariffs

0:45 Trump blinked 

2:15 First term personnel guardrails are gone

4:00 Congress feeling heat from donor class

6:15 Trump still cares what rich people think

8:45 Trump should have passed tax cuts before tariffs 

10:15 If tariffs come back, they’ll be more methodical

11:30 Business leaders are preparing for worst case scenarios

12:45 The OJ trial changed the media

15:00 CNN chased ratings and changed TV journalism

19:30 Trump tariffs could fracture GOP

20:00 Colin Allred could beat Ken Paxton in Texas, Senate in play?

22:12 Ask Chuck

22:45 What can news consumers do to be the solution to partisanship?

25:40 Did Obama not going after banks in 2008 lead to Trump?

27:40 Do you think Bernie would have beaten Trump?

30:30 Have voters shown they won’t elect a woman for president?

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On this episode of The Chuck ToddCast, Chuck dives into the new waters he’s swimming in—the world of independent media and journalism.

He shares his concerns about attacks on the free press by the Donald Trump administration and the lack of a unified pushback from the media. He explains how the erosion of local news sowed the seeds of public distrust, and he expresses his goal to help rebuild media from the ground up.

Later, he’s joined by independent journalist Tara Palmeri to dissect the new media landscape.

Tara describes her journey into independent media and why authenticity resonates more than polish with digital news consumers. They discuss bias in journalism, why the WHCA made a mistake in selecting comedian Amber Ruffin to host the Correspondents’ Dinner, and why the Trump administration’s adversarial stance toward the media is a façade.

Finally, Chuck explains his theories behind the “SignalGate” scandal, asks Tara how her relatives in Poland are processing the threat of the Ukraine war on their border, and discusses why both of them find the American right's embrace of Russia deeply disturbing.

Timeline:

0:00 Introduction

1:45 Kicking AP out of press briefings is unconstitutional

4:00 Traditional media has capitulated, lost trust

7:00 Appeal of independent media

11:00 OJ trial + Craigslist changed everything

12:00 Loss of local news broke trust

16:15 Local media was a character reference for national media

19:00 Need to rebuild local media

21:57 Tara Palmeri joins the show

22:57 Going independent as a journalist

27:56 Lack of trust in mainstream media

30:52 Authenticity resonates on social media

34:32 All journalism is affected by bias

37:17 Is mainstream media pulling punches?

41:36 Mistake picking Amber Ruffin for WH correspondents dinner

45:26 Trump administration officials court the media

50:07 Anchors were drinking before reporting Bin Laden was killed

52:15 Where Tara gets her news

57:11 Is there more to “SignalGate”

59:25 Trump DOESN’T like to fire people

1:02:41 Tara’s Polish citizenship/How are Poles feeling about the Ukraine war?

1:08:30 American right’s embrace of Russia

1:10:47 Where to find Tara’s work

1:13:16 Chuck’s closing thoughts

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On this episode of The Chuck ToddCast, Chuck explores why America is undergoing a major political realignment, and why President Donald Trump’s approval rating may never recover following the disastrous rollout of sweeping tariffs.

Later, Republican Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) joins the show to discuss the impact of those tariffs on his constituents in Omaha and whether Congress could move to limit the president’s tariff powers. They also talk about the need for moral clarity from the U.S. in the Russia-Ukraine war and why abandoning the global order that has benefited America for the past 80 years is a mistake.

Rep. Bacon shares his deep concerns about the recent firing of top military and intelligence officials, and they debate whether one—or both—of America's political parties could be headed for a split.

Finally, in the “Ask Chuck” segment, Chuck responds to a listener question about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez outpolling Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in New York—and whether Democrats should rethink their strategy as a result.

Timeline:

0:00 Introduction

3:15 We’re in the middle of a political realignment

6:00 What if America was a 4 party system?

10:30 Tariffs are Trump’s Afghanistan withdrawal - He won’t recover from it*

16:15 Could the turbulence from the tariff destruction fracture the R party? 

17:04 Rep. Don Bacon joins the show!

19:42 How will tariffs negatively impact 

21:38 Did the White House notify congress before imposing the tariffs?

22:45 What is the goal of the tariffs?

26:11 Will congress take its tariff power back from Trump?

31:42 We need moral clarity in the Russia/Ukraine war

34:11 Does Trump have a mobster mentality when it comes to geopolitics?

36:27 The last 80 years have been great for America. Why do people think otherwise?

38:30 Lack of official US government response to the crisis of democracy in Turkey

41:28 Does Rep. Bacon consult with his wealthiest constituent, Warren Buffet?

44:02 Concern about firing top military leaders and Laura Loomer’s influence 

48:59 Could we see a fracture in one or both political parties?

55:00 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Rep. Bacon and potential cracks in both of America’s political parties

57:30 “Ask Chuck” - Does the latest poll showing AOC beating Chuck Schumer by 19 points could cause a change in direction or strategy for the Democrats?

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Chuck Todd analyzes the sweeping tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, discussing their historic impact. He argues that free trade has made America safer and more prosperous and predicts significant political backlash for Trump and Republicans. He outlines key political developments to watch in the coming months, highlighting an opportunity for Democrats to regain control in Washington. He also examines how Trump’s promised tax cuts are now at risk, and why his presidency will be even more challenging.

Timeline:

0:00 Introduction

3:20 America has benefitted massively from global trade 

4:20 The last time we had a similar tariff regime, it led to WW2

5:48 What political fallout will come from the tariffs?

6:32 Could congress take tariff authority back?

8:25 What to watch for the next 3-6 months

9:18 Trump faces huge blowback from older voters

10:18 The tariffs will tank Trump’s approval rating

11:52 Elected Republicans will be vulnerable

13:36 Trump has no guardrails

15:13 Alienating allies and partners will be incredibly damaging

16:39 The Republican party is courting disaster

19:46 Trump’s tax cuts are in jeopardy

21:05 Getting rid of the tariffs won’t solve the problem

21:50 If Democrats win the house, congress will take the tariffs keys away from the mad king

On episode 2 of the brand-new Chuck Toddcast, Chuck is joined by Jake Sherman, founder of Punchbowl News and one of the most well-connected reporters on Capitol Hill.

But first, Chuck reflects on the results of the special elections in Florida and the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, which showed that the base of the out-of-power party is fired up. He explains why this suggests voters are more inclined to vote against a party rather than for one. He also discusses why the party in question is in desperate need of soul-searching and possible realignment to build a winning coalition.

Then, Jake Sherman joins the conversation to discuss the latest from D.C. They begin by examining Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to send the House home for the week after a dispute over proxy voting for members of Congress—and why Johnson’s power is tied directly to President Donald Trump. They also explore the revenge-driven mindset that has shaped decision-making on Capitol Hill and the lack of Republican pushback against Trump’s sweeping tariffs.

They dive into how the dynamics of the current Congress differ from those of years past and why some Republicans might view their loss in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race through rose-colored glasses—thanks in part to Elon Musk.

They wrap up by discussing whether Democrats could see a shake-up in leadership and the timeline for passing a tax cut and a debt ceiling extension.

Finally, Chuck wraps up with a listener question in the “Ask Chuck” segment by giving his take on whether the debate around a Trump third term was a smokescreen to knock “Signalgate” out of the news cycle.

Timeline:

0:00 Introduction

2:00 Voters are telling us what they DON’T like

5:00 Democrats need to do some soul searching

9:45 Democrats can’t just be “anti-Trump”

11:17 Jake Sherman joins the show

15:50 Mike Johnson sends the house home

20:30 Is Johnson powerless without Trump?

23:10 Revenge is the mindset of Republicans

25:50 Any appetite in Congress to take back authority from the executive branch?

28:15 Will economic downturn/tariffs scare elected Republicans

31:20 Lack of experience in Trump’s cabinet

38:00 Could we see a deluge of Republican retirements from Congress

41:25 Members of Congress are different now

43:28 Republicans secretly happy they can blame Elon Musk for the Wisconsin loss?

46:28 Would Chuck Schumer win a leadership vote in the Senate?

49:05 Timeline for passing tax cuts/debt ceiling extension?

56:05 Ask Chuck: Was the “Trump third term” debate a smokescreen to knock “Signalgate” out of the news”

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On the debut episode of the newly relaunched Chuck ToddCast, Chuck sits down with Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman.

But first, Chuck reacts to the special election results for US Congress in Florida that saw Republicans Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine beat out Democrats Gay Valimont and Josh Weil for the seats vacated by Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz. He also discusses the hotly contested Wisconsin Supreme Court race, where liberal judge Susan Crawford won her race against Brad Schimel, who had millions of dollars of support from Elon Musk.

Then, he and Sen. Fetterman discuss a wide range of important issues, beginning with his message to Democrats who are alarmed by the actions of Donald Trump’s administration. He shares his reaction to the “Signalgate” scandal and his assessment of what went wrong for Democrats in the 2024 election. Fetterman gives his take on Elon Musk and Doge performing massive cuts across the federal government, as well as the looming tariffs that President Trump is threatening to impose on America’s top trading partners. They also try to make sense of the administration’s 180-degree turn on longstanding U.S. foreign policy and the president’s fixation on Greenland. Finally, they discuss the current lack of a true leader for the Democratic Party, the role of billionaires in politics, and whether Senator Fetterman is considering a run for president in 2028.

Timeline:

0:00 Introduction

2:30 Special elections in Florida

8:42 Wisconsin Supreme Court race

14:48 Start of John Fetterman interview

18:00 Aaron Rodgers to the Steelers?

19:00 Message to Democrats that are freaking out

23:44 Reaction to “Signalgate”

27:10 What happened in 2024?

30:44 Elon Musk and DOGE

35:22 America’s 180-degree turn on foreign policy

40:38 President Trump’s fixation on Greenland

44:28 Fetterman’s Mar-A-Lago visit

46:45 Who’s the leader of the Democratic party?

51:04 Influence of billionaires in politics

54:08 Will Fetterman run for president in 2028?

56:09 Do Democrats need to move to the center?

1:01:09 Chuck’s final thoughts on the interview with John Fetterman