Podcast Episode Details
Back to Podcast Episodes
Full Episode - The End Of The Government Shutdown? + From Nixon to Trump: America’s Nonstop Modern Presidential Scandals
On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down the latest in Washington as the government shutdown nears its end—and the political fallout begins. Democrats have shown more backbone than expected, while Donald Trump’s strategy has Republicans quietly questioning his grip on power. From his push to cut SNAP benefits for his own voters to his increasingly distorted view of the economy, Trump’s disconnect from reality is starting to cost him. Chuck also looks at the Democrats’ strong showing in the recent elections, what it says about voter sentiment heading into 2026, and whether we’re witnessing the beginning of Trump’s lame duck era. Plus, the ripple effects of Trump’s policies—from affordability to the upcoming World Cup—and what Mike Johnson’s loyalty to Trump means for the GOP’s future.
Then, Chuck sits down with journalist and historian Garrett Graff, host of The Long Shadow, to unpack how America’s political scandals—from Watergate to Trump—have shaped the presidency and public trust. Graff reflects on the slow process of uncovering the truth about Nixon’s 1968 interference and how those lessons apply to Trump’s open defiance of the Presidential Records Act. The two dive into why history takes decades to judge leaders, how government secrecy really works, and why even the most shocking revelations—like Iran-Contra or January 6th—take years to fully understand.
Graff also discusses the ripple effects of past scandals, from Monica Lewinsky’s mistreatment to the rise of political figures forged during the Clinton impeachment, and how the legacy of Trump may take a generation to contextualize. The conversation ends on the future of media itself—how O.J. Simpson changed television forever, how algorithms broke the internet, and what it means for truth in an age where everyone’s chasing clicks.
Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the surrender of the Ottoman Empire after World War 1 and the lasting implications for peace in the middle east, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and breaks down the weekend in college football.
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!
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.
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!
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
00:30 End of the government shutdown seems imminent
02:15 Democrats have had a stiffer spine than expected
03:00 Surprising that Trump fought to cut SNAP, many were his voters
04:30 Trump ran on protecting benefits, has done the opposite during shutdown
05:15 Trump keeps claiming the economy is better than it is
06:00 Is Trump in an information bubble that’s not giving him reality?
07:00 Trump being out of touch is making Republicans start to distance from them
08:45 Mamdani’s election was not “the most important” result
09:45 New Jersey governor result was more revealing than Mamdani’s
10:30 Democrats win in Nov 4th election showed it was a referendum on Trump
12:00 Democrats should take the win and cut a deal to end shutdown
13:00
Published on 5 days, 13 hours ago