Stunned Chuck Todd Interrupts House Dem Roasting Chuck Schumer: ‘Wow! Let Me Pause That’

Chuck Todd appeared taken aback Thursday when Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) openly criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) during an episode of The Chuck ToddCast.

The exchange occurred as Todd, the former NBC News political director and the longtime anchor of Meet the Press, interviewed Khanna on the podcast about his recent travels across the country, meeting with voters.

Khanna, a progressive Democrat, was reflecting on the political sentiment among voters when he unexpectedly brought up Schumer, who he said had “squandered” his reputation among his party’s voters.

“Chuck Schumer has squandered any goodwill he had,” Khanna said. “I mean, in terms of when I go around the country, people just are very upset at—”

Todd quickly interrupted, surprised by the California congressman’s candor.

“Wow! Let me pause that,” Todd said. “That was very matter-of-fact of you just now. I have sensed that myself, but you’re the one traveling a lot more than I am right now.”

Todd asked, “So Schumer’s brand is — Schumer’s trust levels have really collapsed with Democrats?”

Khanna responded by saying the backlash against Schumer has surprised even him.

“It’s shocking to me, right?” he said. “They’ll criticize Musk first, Trump second, and then Schumer more than even JD Vance.  was like, ‘Can’t we turn our fire on Vance or Rubio?’”

Much of the Democratic base and some of Schumer’s congressional colleagues have turned on Schumer this year as he has faced criticism for working with President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans on a bill to fund the government.

That March agreement, which included concessions on immigration and federal spending, angered progressive Democrats who felt the party leadership had given Trump too much ground and got nothing in return while averting a government shutdown.

A Marist poll released last month found 53 percent of New Yorkers wanted someone else to lead Democrats in the Senate.

Watch above via The Chuck ToddCast.