Episode Details

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck explores the frustrations of the “mainstream middle” in red states and why Democrats can’t seem to reach them, even as discontent with the country grows. From the poisonous information ecosystem that radicalizes voters to the outsized influence of social media and big tech money in Washington, the conversation digs into how extremism thrives while moderation is punished. Chuck also examines the rise of independents, the possibility of a third-party shake-up, and how redistricting battles in California, Missouri, and Georgia could reshape the political map. With major races in New Jersey and Virginia looming, and Democrats struggling to find the right message, the episode highlights both the dangers and the opportunities in an increasingly unsettled political landscape.

Then, Chuck sits down with Brian Bengs, who challenged John Thune in South Dakota and is running for senate as an independent, and Todd Achilles, an independent from Idaho, to explore what it really means to run outside the two-party system. They open up about why they chose independence, the challenges of campaigning in red states where the word “Democrat” is a nonstarter, and the dysfunction they see as the product of both parties. From tariffs hurting farmers to the growing cost of attention in politics, the conversation highlights how America’s political and economic systems reward division and extremism over pragmatism and compromise.

The discussion also tackles the bigger picture: whether the Republican Party could split between MAGA and traditional conservatives, why democracy no longer serves as a pressure release valve, and how corporate power and money in politics further erode trust. Bengs and Achilles share lessons from Ross Perot’s run, their views on immigration reform, and the importance of building bipartisan relationships in an age where the middle is punished. For them, independence isn’t just about rejecting partisanship—it’s about offering voters an alternative path forward in a system that too often feels broken.

Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 states that could elect an independent candidate to the U.S. Senate and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.

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Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Introduction

02:00 There is a mainstream middle in red states, but Dems can’t reach them

03:00 Feeling terrible about the state of the country, don’t see a path out

04:30 We have a poisonous information ecosystem that radicalizes people

05:15 Social media is poisoning the well, but big tech doesn’t shoulder blame

06:30 When algorithms curate content, it makes the platform a publisher 

08:00 Public schools finally starting to ban phones in classrooms

09:00 The phones are toxic for adults too, not just kids

11:00 Big tech companies have saturated D.C. with money to avoid regulation

13:00 The administration is speaking in the language of the red scare

13:45 Bipartisanship hasn’t been good for Donald Trump

14:30 The fastest growing political party is “no party”

15:45 The two major parties need a time out in order to course correct

16:45 Spencer Cox can’t succeed in MAGA, but would be a great leader

18:00 A third party scare could sober up the two major parties

19:45 The one commonality between the parties is internet radicalization

21:30 We need a moderate temperament to lead the country

22:45 Our information ecosystem punishes moderation

25:00 It could be a tough year for incumbents