AZ Political Podcast: Chuck Todd on Iran, midterm elections, Arizona’s rising Democratic stars

The Iran conflict, the midterm elections, Arizona’s rising political stars and why our two senators would get along better if one was a Republican — we cover all that with my guest this week on the AZ Political Podcast: former “Meet The Press” moderator and “free-range political analyst” Chuck Todd. (That last title was created in the slightly-off-kilter mind of LaDona Harvey, by the way.)

The current host of The Chuck Toddcast ponders if U.S. and Israeli operations in Iran will be over in time for its economic effects to be muted enough for the GOP to stay in power post-midterms.

Chuck worries, though, that petroleum price spikes coupled with falling stocks could lead to a global recession. And that’s something that would not only be very bad for American wallets but would spell disaster for Republican politicians in November.

Chuck reveals the safest space for Democrats to occupy during the conflict: an area that doesn’t allow for a full-blown bellowing of opposition to what President Trump’s doing in the Gulf region.

Speaking of POTUS actions in the Middle East, I ask Chuck if Trump will ever receive full credit for transforming that part of the world in the way he has. He certainly had many wins for peace in his first term. Will his interactions with other countries — like our NATO allies — overshadow all the good he’s done?

We then jump into politics of the Arizona variety and Chuck tells us whom he thinks the biggest rising Democratic stars are in Arizona.

And he tells why he believes Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego would be better buds if they were from opposing parties.

We go over the U.S. House races in Arizona that could lead to Democrats retaking control of Congress’ lower chamber and why the race for governor is the most important race of all in 2026.

And, finally, we discuss who will be elected to the high-profile position of Arizona Cardinals quarterback and how little Charles Todd, a kid from Miami, ended up a Green Bay Packers fan — at a time when his hometown Dolphins were riding high.

The AZ Political Podcast is available at KTAR.com, the KTAR News app and everywhere you get your podcasts.

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