Chuck’s Commentary - TACO Trump Backs Down From Greenland Threats + Democrats Need To Be Smart About Candidate Selection For Midterms

On this “TACO Trump Thursday” episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down how market pressure forced Donald Trump to abruptly back off his Greenland threats and announce a face-saving deal—one that looks suspiciously like what already existed—underscoring how easily Trump can be manipulated and how desperate he is to cement a sense of historical relevance. Even as Republicans in Congress continue to appease him, the damage to America’s relationships with Canada and Europe is already done, and Trump’s indifference to NATO and unilateral approach ensures lasting consequences well beyond any short-term retreat. The conversation then turns to the political fallout at home: the perilous midterm landscape for Democrats, a messy Minnesota Senate race, why conventional Republicans still can’t win blue-leaning states without a net-positive environment, and how figures like Bill Cassidy may have no path forward inside today’s GOP. Chuck also digs into the Democratic Party’s looming 2028 calendar fight, arguing the DNC should rethink its early-state strategy by looking hard at Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska—and remembering that winning rural America, not just big cities, is the only way to build a durable majority. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions and explains a gripe he has with the baseball Hall of Fame. 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! 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. 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! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction - Welcome to TACO Thursday 00:30 Trump backs off Greenland threats & announces deal after markets tank 02:30 Mark Carney’s speech to Davos resonated & he won’t back off it 04:00 Trump is an easy mark, and a frustrating mark 04:30 They’re likely copy+pasting the same deal we had, but Trump signs it 05:30 Republicans in congress know they have to appease Trump 06:30 Trump is desperate to be historically relevant & will be 07:15 Trump did terrible damage to American relationship with Canada & Europe 08:15 Trump doesn’t care if NATO survives or will abide by the treaty 10:00 Trump backing down won’t change the trajectory of how other countries act 10:45 Trump’s unilateral actions will have consequences 12:15 Feels like a time the out party wins everything, but it’s a tough path for Dems 13:30 Democrats need to be careful with candidate selection to win midterms 14:15 Michelle Tafoya announces senate bid in Minnesota 15:00 Tafoya hasn’t announced much policy, mostly just anti-woke rhetoric 16:30 The Democratic senate primary in Minnesota has been messy 18:15 Conventional conservative Republican doesn’t win in Minnesota 19:30 Republicans would need to be in a net-positive environment to win Minnesota 21:15 If Susan Collins doesn’t run, Maine is off the board for Republicans 22:15 Julia Letlow announces race, promises to be rubber stamp for Trump 23:45 GOP establishment won’t get involved in helping Bill Cassidy 24:30 Cassidy’s only path to winning seat is to run as Independent 26:45 Paul Finnebaum will struggle to run in Alabama after Trump endorsement 28:30 Twelve states applied to be first in the nation for Democrats in 2028 29:30 Iowa should be the first in the nation Dem state 30:45 Iowa has been good to the Democratic party, just not the Clintons 32:45 Just winning Des Moines isn’t enough, you have to win rural areas 34:30 Big Super PAC money can overwhelm in the bigger states 37:15 DNC should look at Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska 45:00 Ask Chuck 45:45 Why are so many senators unwilling to challenge Trump on foreign policy? 51:15 Do political teams consult psychologists when dealing with Trump? 55:30 Why hasn’t Trump’s lack of student loan repayment program gotten attention? 58:45 Is it crazy to think that California could become a swing state? 1:02:45 Chances of Mike Johnson refusing to certify and seat a Democratic congress? 1:07:30 Baseball Hall of Fame has made itself irrelevantSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.