As a bonus for Chuck ToddCast listeners, we’re sharing a special preview of Kamala: Next in Line, a six-part podcast from MSNBC and Wondery that goes inside the cross-cultural journey that led Senator Kamala Harris from her humble roots to become the first African-American woman to be the Vice Presidential nominee for a major party. From Oakland to Howard University, and California to Washington DC, experience her story as it has never been told before. Hosted by MSNBC's Joy Reid, the show features exclusive interviews with those who know her best, painting a picture of a woman who has fought her way to the top at every turn. Listen to the first episode, and subscribe to the series now: https://link.chtbl.com/description-kamala

Silvio Berlusconi was a charismatic multi-millionaire real-estate mogul who upended the Italian political order and hypnotized an entire nation. He was the longest-serving prime minister of one of the world’s wealthiest countries, until he was brought down by three powerful women - and two words: “Bunga Bunga.” From Wondery, the makers of Dirty John and The Shrink Next Door, and hosted by comedian Whitney Cummings, “Bunga Bunga” is an eight part series on the incredible true story of the rise and fall of Silvio Berlusconi, told with Whitney’s signature wit and style. 

Subscribe today: Wondery.fm/BungaBunga_NBCTC

On this special “New Voices” episode of the Chuck ToddCast, political strategist Lucy Caldwell joins Chuck to reflect on her journey from running Joe Walsh’s anti-Trump Republican campaign to registering as a Democrat. She discusses the fractures within the conservative movement, the erosion of space for moderates, and why independent efforts like the Forward Party struggle to gain traction. Lucy and Chuck explore how partisan incentives discourage compromise, why the best candidates often emerge from nonpartisan races, and how her personal battle with cancer reshaped her perspective on healthcare policy. It’s a candid look at what it means to be politically homeless in today’s polarized landscape.

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Timeline:

00:00 Lucy Caldwell joins the Chuck Toddcast

00:45 Experience of running Joe Walsh’s campaign

02:00 Walsh’s campaign was meant to be a “path back” for Republicans

02:45 Trump is not a small government conservative

04:15 Feeling politically homeless on the right

06:00 There are many fractures within the Never Trump Republicans

08:00 There used to be at least some common cause across the aisle

10:00 The incentive structures don’t reward moderates or compromise

12:00 The threat of MAGA is so great Lucy registered as a Democrat

14:00 Why independent movements struggle to get off the ground

15:00 Independents struggle to build general excitement

16:00 Independent candidates can vary wildly in their politics

17:30 The Forward Party struggles to find an identity & platform

19:00 Rob Sand ran as a Democrat because it’s only viable option

20:45 Races without partisan primaries produce better candidates

21:45 Executives need different skill sets than legislators

22:30 Which past president would you clone and bring back?

23:45 Our great presidents still have complicated legacies

24:45 Any interest in running for office?

25:30 There has to be something wrong with you to run for office

27:15 The draw of running for office?

29:30 Lucy’s cancer battle informed her views on healthcare policy

31:30 MAHA embraces messaging they priorly rejected

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