Chuck’s Commentary - War With Iran Is Devouring Trump’s Presidency + Ticketmaster Settlement Proves Trump’s Populism Is A Ruse

<p>Chuck Todd surveys a political landscape where multiple crises are converging on the Trump administration simultaneously &mdash; and none of them are going well. The Iran war, which Chuck reiterates is a war of choice, appears to be devouring Trump's presidency: the administration burned through nearly $6 billion in munitions in just two days, is sending contradictory messages of reassurance and escalation that appear designed to manipulate markets, and seems to be operating entirely by the seat of its pants. He warns that asymmetric warfare has never gone well for the United States, that energy markets are in turmoil as Iran deliberately tries to inflict economic pain, that the threat of stagflation and energy shortages is very real, and that Trump's threat to use the Fed to shape oil markets has alarmed economists.&nbsp;</p> <p>He argues that if Trump could undo the war he would &mdash; but this won't be Venezuela 2.0, because there's no opposition on the ground to coordinate with, you can't change a regime without boots on the ground that Trump won't commit, and if the regime simply survives, that counts as victory for Iran. Meanwhile, Trump naively buys Putin's claim that Russia isn't helping Iran with targeting, and that new polling shows a majority of Americans oppose the war &mdash; with MAGA influencers notably against it even as older rank-and-file supporters stick with Trump. Beyond Iran, Chuck hits the Ticketmaster settlement as proof that Trump talks a big populist game but the lobbyists always win, warns that a partial DHS shutdown risks snarling air travel and punishing the flying public while ICE has already been funded, and cautions Democrats not to overplay their hand on the shutdown.</p> <p>Finally, on the day of the Mississippi primaries, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 All-Time statewide races in Mississippi and answers listeners&rsquo; questions in the &ldquo;Ask Chuck&rdquo; segment.</p> <p>Go to&nbsp; <a href="https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST">https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST</a> and use <strong>CHUCKTODDCAST </strong>at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.&rdquo;</p> <p>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.</p> <p>&nbsp;Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.&nbsp;</p> <p>Link in bio or go to <a href="https://getsoul.com/">https://getsoul.com</a> &amp; enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.</p> <p>American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334,<a href="http://nmlsconsumeraccess.org"> nmlsconsumeraccess.org</a>. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or<a href="https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast"> https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Timeline:</p> <p>00:00 Chuck Todd&rsquo;s introduction</p> <p>00:30 Despite runoff, Dems shouldn&rsquo;t get hopes up for MTG&rsquo;s district</p> <p>01:30 Bennie Thompson survives primary challenge in Mississippi</p> <p>07:15 War of choice in Iran could devour Trump&rsquo;s presidency</p> <p>08:00 Administration messaging appears to be manipulating markets</p> <p>09:30 We got both a message of reassurance and escalation on Monday</p> <p>10:30 Administration seems to be operating by the seat of their pants</p> <p>12:00 Administration has eroded trust in institutions for years</p> <p>13:00 Eventually markets will stop reacting to government statements</p> <p>13:30 Administration burned through nearly $6B in munitions in two days</p> <p>14:30 Asymmetric warfare has never gone well for the United States</p> <p>15:15 Energy markets are in turmoil, Iran wants to create economic pain</p> <p>16:00 Threat of stagflation &amp; energy shortages are very real</p> <p>16:45 Trump threatens to use the fed to shape oil markets, alarming economists</p> <p>17:30 Partial shutdown of DHS agents risks snarling air travel</p> <p>18:30 When do Dems declare victory on partial shutdown? Noem was fired</p> <p>19:45 ICE has already been funded. Shutdown punishes the flying public</p> <p>20:30 Democrats need to be careful not to overplay their hand in shutdown</p> <p>21:00 If Trump could undo the war, he would. It won&rsquo;t be Venezuela 2.0</p> <p>22:15 We&rsquo;ve always paid to rebuild countries we&rsquo;ve bombed</p> <p>23:00 If the regime survives, that&rsquo;s victory for Iran</p> <p>24:15 Can&rsquo;t change regime without boots on the ground, which Trump won&rsquo;t do</p> <p>25:15 There&rsquo;s no opposition on the ground to coordinate with</p> <p>26:00 Trump buys story from Putin that Russia isn&rsquo;t assisting Iran w/targeting</p> <p>26:45 U.S. using up munitions headed to Ukraine is best case for Russia</p> <p>28:00 DOJ agrees to incredibly friendly settlement with Ticketmaster</p> <p>28:45 Live Nation lobbyists went straight to Trump, then deal is cut</p> <p>29:15 Trump talks a big game on populism, but the lobbyists always win</p> <p>30:45 Young independents hate corporate power &amp; Trump sides with corporations</p> <p>31:30 New polling shows majority of Americans are against war with Iran</p> <p>32:15 Older voters continue to be strongest supporters of Trump &amp; war</p> <p>33:00 MAGA influencers are against war, but rank &amp; file support Trump</p> <p>37:45 Take action on April 9th to support local news</p> <p>38:15 ToddCast Top 5 All-Time Mississippi statewide campaigns</p> <p>42:45 #1 1959 gubernatorial</p> <p>44:45 #2 1978 senate race</p> <p>46:15 #3 1978 gubernatorial</p> <p>47:45 #4 1999 gubernatorial</p> <p>49:45 #5 2014 senate Republican primary</p> <p>52:15 Honorable mentions</p> <p>55:15 Ask Chuck</p> <p>55:30 Do you have a Top 5 list coming for New Jersey?</p> <p>58:45 How do we keep getting into wars without declaration from congress?</p> <p>1:02:15 What will it take for the U.S. to rebuild trust on the world stage?</p> <p>1:05:45 Will abortion become an issue in 2028 or has Dobbs taken it off the table?</p> <p>1:09:15 Should Democrats break norms to prevent authoritarianism?</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>