Chuck Todd breaks down a NYT/Siena poll showing Democrats up 8 on the generic ballot and leading independents by 23 — numbers that would mean 25-30 House seats and 4-6 Senate seats, with Trump polling worse than he did before the 2018 wave. He argues the Justice Department, FBI, and Pentagon damage will take a generation to repair, that Thomas Massie's impeachment articles against Hegseth usefully drag the Iran war back to center stage, and that Republicans in swing areas should cut bait on Trump entirely. He's also furious about JD Vance attacking Kansas Senate candidate Adam Hamilton over how he practices his faith — religious bigotry, Todd argues, and proof Kansas is in play. Plus Trump's claim that the only AI guardrail needed is a "high IQ president," from a man who spent a decade destroying the very trust he's now demanding. 

Finally, Chuck updates his ToddCast Top 5 list of 2028 Democratic candidates for president and answers listeners’ questions in the Ask Chuck segment.

Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction

04:00 The politicization of DOJ and the damage to federal institutions

12:30 The Kennedy Center tantrum and Trump's messaging problem

15:45 Massie's impeachment articles put the Iran war front and center

22:00 Inside the NYT/Siena poll: +8 generic, +23 with independents

32:30 Why voters under 45 decide wave vs. tsunami

36:30 JD Vance's religious attack on Adam Hamilton

42:45 Trump's AI "high IQ president" guardrail — and why trust is the whole problem

52:45 What social media taught us that we ignored 

1:04:30 Gavin Newsom says he won’t run if Kamala Harris does

1:07:30 Newsom is a savvy politician

1:09:15 Newsom will struggle to overcome California image

1:09:30 ToddCast Top 5 Democratic candidates for president in 2028

1:16:00 Ask Chuck

1:16:15 Could Democrats make solidly red states competitive in this environment?

1:18:30 Thoughts onJames Franklin’s first two outings at Virginia Tech?

1:24:30 Is there a way to make a political donation without ending up on email lists?

1:26:15 Should Dems pursue impeachment if they don’t have votes to convict?

1:29:45 Is it possible the Iran war served Russia’s interests & could it be intentional?