Seth Bodnar — Green Beret, former GE executive, and former University of Montana president now running for Senate as an independent — joins the Chuck ToddCast a week out. He’s assembled a genuinely strange coalition: Pete Buttigieg endorsed him over the Democratic nominee, and both sides of Montana’s 1992 governor’s race, Republican Marc Racicot and Democrat Dorothy Bradley, are backing him. Bodnar’s military background drives his sharpest material — he argues Hegseth politicizing the military would have dire consequences, and that senior officers are now resigning rather than carry out unlawful orders, facing a brutal choice between staying to mitigate harm or leaving in protest. He says he won’t organize with either party, argues half of Senate votes are procedural and an independent can force real debate, and makes the case that one-party dominance in any state is unhealthy. Plus affordability, universal coverage, and whether Montana moves up to FBS.

For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/chuck/  *Paid Partnership 

Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. 

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! 

 

Timeline:

00:00 Seth Bodnar joins the Chuck ToddCast

01:30 Regrets about running as an independent, and endorsements from both sides

04:30 Hegseth, politicizing the military, and officers resigning over unlawful orders

08:45 Should Congress subpoena senior military leaders?

12:15 What can actually be done on affordability

14:45 Corporate concentration, antitrust, and the housing crunch

19:45 Would either party talk him into caucusing?

24:30 Rural America, the Bankhead question, and where the polls stand

32:00 Reagan, Putin, and the danger of unchecked one-party rule

34:45 Universal coverage and what Medicaid means in Montana

38:30 Education, AI literacy, and critical thinking

45:30 FBS, collective bargaining, and the future of college football

Seth Bodnar &mdash; Green Beret, former GE executive, and former University of Montana president now running for Senate as an independent &mdash; joins the Chuck ToddCast a week out. He&rsquo;s assembled a genuinely strange coalition: Pete Buttigieg endorsed him over the Democratic nominee, and both sides of Montana&rsquo;s 1992 governor&rsquo;s race, Republican Marc Racicot and Democrat Dorothy Bradley, are backing him. Bodnar&rsquo;s military background drives his sharpest material &mdash; he argues Hegseth politicizing the military would have dire consequences, and that senior officers are now resigning rather than carry out unlawful orders, facing a brutal choice between staying to mitigate harm or leaving in protest. He says he won&rsquo;t organize with either party, argues half of Senate votes are procedural and an independent can force real debate, and makes the case that one-party dominance in any state is unhealthy. Plus affordability, universal coverage, and whether Montana moves up to FBS.
For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to <a href="http://askchapter.org/chuck">askchapter.org/chuck</a> <a href="http://askchapter.org/realdana">/</a>&nbsp; *Paid Partnership Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan&rsquo;s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don&rsquo;t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area.&nbsp;
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to <a href="https://quince.com/CHUCK">https://Quince.com/CHUCK</a> for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Timeline:
00:00 Seth Bodnar joins the Chuck ToddCast
01:30 Regrets about running as an independent, and endorsements from both sides
04:30 Hegseth, politicizing the military, and officers resigning over unlawful orders
08:45 Should Congress subpoena senior military leaders?
12:15 What can actually be done on affordability
14:45 Corporate concentration, antitrust, and the housing crunch
19:45 Would either party talk him into caucusing?
24:30 Rural America, the Bankhead question, and where the polls stand
32:00 Reagan, Putin, and the danger of unchecked one-party rule
34:45 Universal coverage and what Medicaid means in Montana
38:30 Education, AI literacy, and critical thinking
45:30 FBS, collective bargaining, and the future of college football

The Chuck ToddCast is back! If you're looking for smart, no-nonsense political conversation, you've come to the right place. The Chuck ToddCast goes beyond the headlines, featuring conversations with top reporters, insiders, and newsmakers from D.C. to the heartland. No scripts, no spin—just real discussions about what’s shaping our politics and why it matters.

The Chuck ToddCast

Interview Only w/ Seth Bodnar - Can An Independent Win Montana’s Senate Seat?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b19c2ff7-9789-45e5-95c4-b4f0011656c6/transcript