The Chuck ToddCast

Katherine Mangu-Ward, editor-in-chief of Reason and author, brings sharp libertarian perspective. She discusses executive overreach, tech and state power, cronyism and trade, and whether libertarian ideas can reshape healthcare and win elections—Arizona is one to watch. The conversation jumps from prediction markets to the politics of the safety net.

Paul Auslander, President of SeaBridge Private Wealth and longtime financial planner for high-net-worth families, shares candid views on how politics now shapes investment decisions. He discusses global capital flows, Social Security’s future, crypto’s political evolution, family offices moving money abroad, private equity’s dry powder, bonds as economic barometers, and why AI still has major disruption ahead.

Immediate takeaways from a post-State of the Union breakdown. Analysis of how spectacle and medal ceremonies overshadowed governing substance. Discussion of Trump's tone on the economy and risks of his Iran rhetoric. Praise for Abigail Spanberger's concise rebuttal. Exploration of a potential 60% populist coalition on protecting the safety net and rethinking party strategies ahead of competitive Senate races.

Paul Auslander, president of SeaBridge Private Wealth who advises high-net-worth and family offices. He talks about fiduciary planning vs sales, how politics shapes investing and hedging, Social Security fixes, family office privacy and moving assets abroad, crypto and regulation, bond market risks and Fed independence, and practical allocation advice for volatility and AI disruption.

Geeta Gandbhir, an Emmy-winning, Academy Award–nominated documentary filmmaker, discusses The Perfect Neighbor, a film built from police bodycam footage. She explains reconstructing 30 hours of footage, choosing no narration, and how the film reveals policing, race, and community impact. They also explore legal outcomes, prevention measures like red flag laws, and the film’s role in healing and advocacy.

A deep dive into the Supreme Court striking down sweeping tariff authority and the chaotic fallout for refunds, businesses, and the budget. A breakdown of the Court’s shifting alliances and sharp internal splits. Analysis of the political fallout as presidential reactions roil his own appointees. A historical warning about emergency powers and answers to listener questions on populism, markets, and recent races.

Geeta Gandbhir, Emmy-winning director and Oscar nominee known for documentary work, discusses her film The Perfect Neighbor. She recounts obtaining and weaving police bodycam footage into a tense, immersive chronology. The conversation centers on systemic failures, race and privilege in policing, stand your ground laws, and the film's impact on the victim's family and the community.

A rapid breakdown of the Supreme Court striking down presidential tariff authority and the surprising 6-3 vote. Political consequences for congressional Republicans and tense State of the Union timing. Economic fallout for farmers, consumers, markets, and the prospect of massive tariff refunds. Legal uncertainty, lawsuits, and who sided with whom on the bench.

George Conway, conservative lawyer turned Trump critic and now a Manhattan congressional candidate, discusses constitutional accountability and impeachment. They debate escalating Iran tensions and U.S. military moves. They also cover institutional reforms, pardon and enforcement fixes, and strategies to persuade voters and rebuild democratic norms.

George Conway, conservative lawyer turned Trump critic and former Lincoln Project co-founder now running for Congress, warns of an existential constitutional crisis. He argues for a third impeachment as a necessary check, critiques GOP transformation into loyalty politics, and discusses reforms from pardons and statutes to structural fixes for Congress. He urges persuasion, incrementalism, and reclaiming conservative principles.