Chuck Todd welcomes Congressman Ritchie Torres for a wide-ranging conversation that begins with a tour of New York's 15th district and the unique challenges of representing one of America's most diverse urban areas. Torres offers candid insights on governance, highlighting how term limits disadvantage legislators compared to lobbyists. The conversation shifts to the current political landscape, with Torres expressing deep concerns about President Trump's approach to his second term, arguing that Trump is "poisoning the well" for bipartisanship despite Biden's successful record of cross-party legislation. Torres delivers a stark warning that America is "planting the seed of its own decline" and characterizes the consequences of proposed GOP Medicaid cuts as "barbaric," particularly in light of the brewing long-term care crisis.




They weigh the merits of pragmatism versus idealism in American foreign policy and scrutinize Qatar's growing financial influence in American politics. Torres argues that "Republicans would impeach Joe Biden if he had accepted a plane" while addressing whether Democrats should adopt Trump's aggressive approach to wielding power. Torres acknowledges that Democrats "should have spoken out sooner about Biden's decline" and offers his vision for how the party can project strength moving forward.




They conclude with Torres addressing his political future—including speculation about mayoral and gubernatorial ambitions—before outlining his solutions for New York's housing crisis, crime concerns, and utility costs. 

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction

00:50 Joe Biden diagnosed with aggressive form of cancer

02:00 Was Biden’s decline covered up, or just willful ignorance?

03:00 Robert Hur recording has supercharged the Biden story

06:45 Joe Biden couldn’t assure voters he was up to the job

08:30 Chris Murphy says it’s the Democrats fault that Trump was re-elected

11:45 Democrats need to do soul searching like they did with Bill Clinton

13:30 Clinton had to run against the party and its prior leadership

15:00 Democrats misread the 2020 election result

18:00 Democrats will take some blame for problems Trump causes

19:00 Democrats need to reinvent themselves

21:00 Trump released the Hur tapes as a distraction 

23:00 Democrats should be angrier about Biden than Republicans

25:00 Mike Johnson needs Trump to pressure members of congress

26:00 Ritchie Torres joins the Chuck ToddCast 

26:30 Tour of the NY-15 district 

28:30 The enormity of the New York city council 

30:00 Would he support expanding the size of the house? 

32:00 Term limits disadvantage legislators compared to lobbyists 

33:00 Can any bipartisan agreement be reached with Trump 

34:30 Biden had multiple pieces of bipartisan legislation 

35:30 Trump is poisoning the well in his second term 

37:30 America is planting the seed of its own decline 

38:00 Medicaid cuts will be devastating 

40:00 Will the Medicaid cuts be delayed where a future congress could fix it? 

41:30 Medicaid work requirements don't work 

42:45 The consequences of the GOP budget will be barbaric 

44:45 How do we address the long-term care crisis? 

47:00 Should America's foreign policy be pragmatic or idealistic? 

49:45 How should we view Qatar's infusion of money into American politics? 

51:30 Republicans would impeach Joe Biden if he had accepted a plane 

54:15 Should Democrats wield power like Trump when they're in charge? 

55:50 Democrats should have spoken out sooner about Biden's decline 

1:00:00 How can the Democrats project strength as a party? 

1:01:15 Democrats need to let the cream rise to the top 

1:02:30 Campaigning makes candidates sharper 

1:03:30 Why aren't you running for NYC mayor? 

1:05:30 Andrew Cuomo is a great "builder" 

1:07:30 Will you run for governor in 2026? 

1:08:00 How would you address the housing crisis in New York? 

1:10:30 Addressing crime in New York 

1:13:00 New York's budget has increased, the quality of services hasn't 

1:14:45 Public ownership of utilities would lower costs for New Yorkers 

1:16:30 Progressives have overprioritized ideological purity over results

1:19:15 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Ritchie Torres 

1:20:00 If Torres faces Hochul 1 on 1 he could beat her 

1:21:00 Rumors that Kamala Harris could run for governor of California 

1:21:45 CA governor race will be tough for Harris 

1:25:15 If Harris loses governor race, her political career is over

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

Chuck Todd welcomes Congressman Ritchie Torres for a wide-ranging conversation that begins with a tour of New York's 15th district and the unique challenges of representing one of America's most diverse urban areas. Torres offers candid insights on governance, highlighting how term limits disadvantage legislators compared to lobbyists. The conversation shifts to the current political landscape, with Torres expressing deep concerns about President Trump's approach to his second term, arguing that Trump is "poisoning the well" for bipartisanship despite Biden's successful record of cross-party legislation. Torres delivers a stark warning that America is "planting the seed of its own decline" and characterizes the consequences of proposed GOP Medicaid cuts as "barbaric," particularly in light of the brewing long-term care crisis.  They weigh the merits of pragmatism versus idealism in American foreign policy and scrutinize Qatar's growing financial influence in American politics. Torres argues that "Republicans would impeach Joe Biden if he had accepted a plane" while addressing whether Democrats should adopt Trump's aggressive approach to wielding power. Torres acknowledges that Democrats "should have spoken out sooner about Biden's decline" and offers his vision for how the party can project strength moving forward.  They conclude with Torres addressing his political future—including speculation about mayoral and gubernatorial ambitions—before outlining his solutions for New York's housing crisis, crime concerns, and utility costs. Timeline:00:00 Introduction00:50 Joe Biden diagnosed with aggressive form of cancer02:00 Was Biden’s decline covered up, or just willful ignorance?03:00 Robert Hur recording has supercharged the Biden story06:45 Joe Biden couldn’t assure voters he was up to the job08:30 Chris Murphy says it’s the Democrats fault that Trump was re-elected11:45 Democrats need to do soul searching like they did with Bill Clinton13:30 Clinton had to run against the party and its prior leadership15:00 Democrats misread the 2020 election result18:00 Democrats will take some blame for problems Trump causes19:00 Democrats need to reinvent themselves21:00 Trump released the Hur tapes as a distraction 23:00 Democrats should be angrier about Biden than Republicans25:00 Mike Johnson needs Trump to pressure members of congress26:00 Ritchie Torres joins the Chuck ToddCast 26:30 Tour of the NY-15 district 28:30 The enormity of the New York city council 30:00 Would he support expanding the size of the house? 32:00 Term limits disadvantage legislators compared to lobbyists 33:00 Can any bipartisan agreement be reached with Trump 34:30 Biden had multiple pieces of bipartisan legislation 35:30 Trump is poisoning the well in his second term 37:30 America is planting the seed of its own decline 38:00 Medicaid cuts will be devastating 40:00 Will the Medicaid cuts be delayed where a future congress could fix it? 41:30 Medicaid work requirements don't work 42:45 The consequences of the GOP budget will be barbaric 44:45 How do we address the long-term care crisis? 47:00 Should America's foreign policy be pragmatic or idealistic? 49:45 How should we view Qatar's infusion of money into American politics? 51:30 Republicans would impeach Joe Biden if he had accepted a plane 54:15 Should Democrats wield power like Trump when they're in charge? 55:50 Democrats should have spoken out sooner about Biden's decline 1:00:00 How can the Democrats project strength as a party? 1:01:15 Democrats need to let the cream rise to the top 1:02:30 Campaigning makes candidates sharper 1:03:30 Why aren't you running for NYC mayor? 1:05:30 Andrew Cuomo is a great "builder" 1:07:30 Will you run for governor in 2026? 1:08:00 How would you address the housing crisis in New York? 1:10:30 Addressing crime in New York 1:13:00 New York's budget has increased, the quality of services hasn't 1:14:45 Public ownership of utilities would lower costs for New Yorkers 1:16:30 Progressives have overprioritized ideological purity over results1:19:15 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Ritchie Torres 1:20:00 If Torres faces Hochul 1 on 1 he could beat her 1:21:00 Rumors that Kamala Harris could run for governor of California 1:21:45 CA governor race will be tough for Harris 1:25:15 If Harris loses governor race, her political career is over(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

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

Chuck Todd is joined by congressman Ritchie Torres to discuss the proposed cuts to Medicaid, Trump's toxic influence on bipartisanship in Congress,  his potential run for governor in New York and more!

Trump Is "POISONING The Well" In Congress + Devastating Medicaid Cuts w/Ritchie Torres

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/75479d19-e0cf-432e-895e-b331015f4741/transcript

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