Chuck Todd argues the Trump administration is in the political equivalent of a hole and can't stop digging, walking through a series of self-inflicted wounds that are damaging America's standing both at home and abroad. He reveals the administration is circulating a "trade for aid" package at the UN that would essentially privatize humanitarian assistance, a pretense to drop all foreign aid since the private sector obviously won't fill the gaps without extracting something in return — and warns that after the USAID cuts, other countries have already scaled back their own contributions, meaning America is effectively exporting heartlessness around the world and looking like assholes in the process. The administration's fight with the Pope perfectly captures this mentality: Mike Johnson is defending Trump's attacks on the pontiff by citing Catholic "just war doctrine," newly-converted JD Vance is lecturing the Pope on his own church's theology, and Chuck notes that elected Republicans know this is disastrous politics but are too afraid to say so publicly.  He closes with a reflection on hosting a panel for a new documentary about Hannah Arendt, arguing it's the perfect moment to revisit her work on totalitarianism. He notes Arendt was a Zionist who didn't want Israel to be a nationalist state, and applies that framework to the current moment: the backlash against Israel is really a backlash against Netanyahu, who has tried to manipulate every American president but only found his willing partner in Trump; October 7th galvanized Israeli society but hasn't made Bibi more popular at home; Israel now has only one major ally left in America, and Bibi is actively risking even that. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. 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.  Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 06:00 The Trump administration can’t help but “stop digging” 06:45 Outside of his base, Trump isn’t able to persuade others 07:30 Administration circulating a “trade for aid” package at the UN 09:00 Administration wants the world to privatize humanitarian aid 10:00 After USAID cuts, other countries have scaled back their aid 10:45 State Dept official says it’s a pretense to drop all aid & privatize it 11:45 Private sector won’t fill in aid gaps without getting something in return 13:15 Trump is making America look like assholes to the rest of the world 14:00 We’re exporting heartlessness around the world 15:00 This mentality is perfectly captured in administration’s fight with the pope 16:15 Mike Johnson defends Trump’s attack on Pope, citing “just war doctrine” 17:30 The pope has been saying what a pope should say 18:45 Catholic church has a specific theology on “just war” 20:00 JD Vance is newly converted and wants to lecture the pope & church 21:15 Elected Republicans know this is bad politics but are afraid to go public 22:30 Trump’s threats to fire Jay Powell make it harder to confirm his successor 25:00 Maybe a strong independent mind like Jay Powell should run for president 26:45 Prior presidents worked to help their party in 2nd term, Trump doesn’t care 27:45 Trump may be president, but he’s not a true “party leader” 28:15 Chuck hosted panel for new documentary about Hannah Arendt 29:00 Great time to take a deep dive into Arendt’s work on totalitarianism 29:45 We aren’t living in a totalitarian state, but you can see how it can happen 31:30 Arrendt was a Zionist, but didn’t want Israel to be a nationalist state 33:00 Backlash to Israel is mostly backlash against Bibi. 34:00 Bibi has tried to manipulate presidents, only Trump didn’t push back 35:30 October 7th galvanized Israelis, but Bibi isn’t more popular 37:30 Israel now only has one ally in America, Bibi risking that alliance too 38:30 The only way Israel fixes this is with a new government 39:15 Support for Israel is degraded on the American left, the right could follow 42:00 Thoughts on the NBA play-in 44:45 Ask Chuck 45:00 Would Whitmer/Slotkin be as strong as Warnock/Ossoff as a ticket? 47:45 Why didn’t Trump take credit/victory lap over the Artemis mission? 51:45 Why are preemptive pardons allowed? 53:45 Thoughts on latest polling showing Thomas Massie doing well? 57:00 Thoughts on increased calls for expulsion of members of congress? 58:45 If Iran offers Obama’s deal, could that further isolate Trump from the world?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.