The Daily Beast Podcast

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles examine the growing cracks inside Donald Trump’s inner circle as a major national security controversy threatens to expose just how divided his administration has become. Trump was reportedly warned about Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s alleged ties to a Chinese spy, raising serious questions about what the president knew and why the information was seemingly brushed aside. Wolff reveals why the leak may have come from inside the White House itself, and how Susie Wiles’ increasingly hostile relationship with Trump could signal a much bigger revolt brewing behind closed doors. With Democrats preparing to take control of Congress, Trump faces the prospect of investigations, impeachment threats and a White House increasingly at war with itself. Plus, the telling absences at Wiles’ farewell party, the growing distance between Trump and Melania, and why some of the president’s closest allies may already be planning their escape. #Ad Try QUO for free and get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.quo.com/BEAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles speaks with Representative Jason Crow about the growing firestorm engulfing Pete Hegseth, the war in Iran, and the Trump administration’s increasingly dangerous national security failures. Crow makes clear that Democrats are not backing down from their push to impeach Hegseth, despite a humiliating failure by his own colleagues to show up for a critical vote, and vows to use their incoming House majority to cut off funding for the war in Iran. He also takes aim at Donald Trump’s threats to have him executed for treason, the explosive allegations surrounding Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and suspected Chinese intelligence operations, and Elon Musk’s extraordinary power over Ukraine’s battlefield defenses. With Republicans privately admitting that Trump’s administration is out of control, Crow warns that corruption, incompetence and unchecked corporate influence are putting American lives and national security at risk. And as calls grow for Crow to make a run for the White House, he reveals where his priorities lie as Democrats prepare to take power in January. #ad INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast  #ad Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BEAST at https://www.oneskin.co/BEAST  #oneskinpod  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles examine Donald Trump’s desperate fight to regain control after his devastating midterm defeat—and why he’s doubling down instead of changing course. With Stephen Miller elevated to a powerful new role, Wolff explains Trump’s obsession with projecting strength, even as his grip on the White House begins to look increasingly shaky. They dig into Pete Hegseth’s precarious position, Susie Wiles’ quiet power struggle, and Trump’s fixation on turning politics into a fight. Plus, Trump’s search for an exit from the Iran war, MAGA’s defense of Russell Brand, and the explosive questions surrounding NVIDIA billionaire Jensen Huang and the tech world’s ties to the administration. #ad For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping and free treats for life, when you head to https://Smalls.com/HEAD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to break down the political earthquake that has left Donald Trump reeling—and Washington bracing for a brutal new chapter. After a crushing Democratic election victory, Trump is scrambling to contain the fallout, elevating the deeply unpopular Stephen Miller, turning on Susie Wiles, and leaving JD Vance politically exposed. Rothkopf explains why Trump's grip on power is slipping, why Republicans are beginning to turn against him, and how Democrats are preparing to unleash investigations into his administration. Plus, the explosive national security questions surrounding NVIDIA's CEO and an alleged Chinese intelligence connection, Trump's increasingly cozy relationship with Vladimir Putin, and the global consequences of a weakened White House. As Trump's allies begin looking for the exits, the next two years could be his most turbulent yet. #ad INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. John Gartner returns to the Daily Beast Podcast following Donald Trump and MAGA's midterm wipeout with a stark warning about how the president could respond to defeat. Speaking to Joanna Coles, the psychologist explains why he believes Trump may try to thwart the new Democratic Congress, why he fears an attack on Iran and why he doubts the president’s inner circle will stand in his way. Gartner also shares what he sees as further signs of Trump’s cognitive decline and discusses Rep. Haley Stevens’ decision to appear alongside Republican Mike Rogers after losing her Senate primary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles examine Donald Trump’s stunning midterm humiliation and why, instead of changing course, he’s doubling down on the very forces that helped bring him down. With Susie Wiles out and Stephen Miller elevated to chief of staff, Trump is signaling an even more extreme White House, and Wolff reveals the explosive behind-the-scenes drama that led to the shake-up. Plus, Tucker Carlson’s increasingly bitter break with Trump, JD Vance’s increasingly precarious political future, and whether Ron DeSantis is positioning himself for 2028. Then, Melania Trump’s bizarre new documentary trailer raises a fresh round of uncomfortable questions as Wolff fights back against her legal threats. And as Silicon Valley billionaires and powerful law firms scramble to distance themselves from Trump, the question is whether the political landscape has shifted more dramatically than anyone in his inner circle is prepared to admit. #ad For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping and free treats for life, when you head to https://Smalls.com/HEAD. #ad INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles and Hugh Dougherty break down the political earthquake shaking Donald Trump’s White House after a devastating election defeat, as his inner circle scrambles to contain the fallout. From Melania Trump’s eyebrow-raising Amazon documentary deal to Pete Hegseth’s shaky grip on the Pentagon and Marco Rubio’s rumored escape plan, the administration is suddenly looking far less invincible. Joanna and Hugh examine the threat of congressional investigations, the growing pressure on MAGA loyalists, and the implosion of Trump allies like Lauren Boebert and Laura Loomer. Plus, they look at the latest controversy surrounding a newly elected Republican’s attacks on women journalists. With Democrats preparing to reclaim oversight, the reckoning for Trump’s inner circle may only be getting started. #ad Head to https://brodo.com/BEAST for 20% off your first subscription order and use code BEAST for an additional $10 off. #ad INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast  #ad Don’t miss NOBL’s Biggest Sale of the Year! Head to https://NOBLTravel.com for up to 67% off your entire order! #NOBL Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles go inside a White House reeling from Tuesday’s election wipeout. Wolff shares what people close to Trump are telling him about a president who insists he didn’t lose, yet appears quieter and older after the results. As JD Vance distances himself from the Iran war, Wolff names the officials he hears could be pushed out, including Pete Hegseth and Stephen Miller, and explains why Susie Wiles may survive by sacrificing others. With Trump facing a hostile new Congress, the conversation turns to how he might try to end the war on his own terms and the one person Wolff believes he may actually listen to. #ad For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping and free treats for life, when you head to https://Smalls.com/HEAD. #ad INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Terry Moran joins Joanna Coles from Texas, where Democrats have scored a stunning series of victories that could signal a seismic shift in American politics. After more than three decades without a Democrat holding statewide office, Texas has delivered a historic rebuke to Republicans, with James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa among the candidates riding a massive blue wave of voter frustration. Moran explains why Latino voters turned against Trump, how the president's own supporters are losing faith, and why the election represents something bigger than a rejection of one man: a repudiation of Trumpism itself. He and Coles look at the Democratic upsets in Maine, Iowa, and Kansas, the candidates emerging as potential 2028 contenders, and what the results mean for JD Vance's presidential ambitions. They also confront the growing Republican revolt against Trump, the fallout from the Michigan Democratic primary, and the question of whether Democrats can turn this extraordinary electoral momentum into a governing agenda. #ad If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. You can start your claim in just a click without having to leave your couch: https://ForThePeople.com/DAILYBEAST #ad Unlock your best hair & skin with @iRestorelaser and HUGE savings on iRESTORE with code DAILYBEAST at https://irestore.com/DAILYBEAST ! #irestorepod #ad INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast #ad Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BEAST at https://www.oneskin.co/BEAST #oneskinpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Joanna Coles and Michael Wolff for a special LIVE edition of Inside Trump's Head as the midterm election results start to come in. Featuring special guests, live reporting and breaking news results, this election night promises to be one that shapes America's future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf and Joanna Coles preview the midterm elections with a look at the races that could reshape the Democratic Party, from Abdul El-Sayed’s battle with Mike Rogers in Michigan to James Talarico’s challenge to Ken Paxton in Texas, while unpacking the fallout from Haley Stevens’ stunning decision to back a Republican. They also examine the issues breaking through with voters, including health care, corruption, immigration, affordability and the war, and what a Democratic surge could mean for the 2028 presidential race. Plus, they get into Elon Musk’s extraordinary influence on the election, the growing backlash against tech billionaires, Trump’s increasingly erratic behavior, his fixation on the White House renovation and the disturbing reports about his thinking on nuclear weapons. As election night approaches, Rothkopf and Coles weigh the final Senate polls and consider whether Trump is beginning to realize that his grip on power may be slipping. #ad If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. You can start your claim in just a click without having to leave your couch: https://ForThePeople.com/DAILYBEAST #ad Unlock your best hair & skin with @iRestorelaser and HUGE savings on iRESTORE with code DAILYBEAST at https://irestore.com/DAILYBEAST ! #irestorepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Meiselas, co-founder of MeidasTouch, joins Joanna Coles to explain why he thinks Trump and MAGA are headed for a crushing midterm defeat. Watching Trump’s full rallies, Meiselas says, reveals an erratic closing message that short news clips fail to capture. He points to Democratic gains in special elections, then tells the story of how a family group chat with his brothers Brett and Jordi grew into an independent media network. Drawing on their new book, WTF America, Meiselas traces the rise of right-wing media from Roger Ailes to today’s online disinformation campaigns and argues that winning an election alone will not undo their influence. He lays out what he wants Americans to do after the votes are counted. #ad Right now, buy a King mattress for the price of a Queen or a Queen mattress for the price of a Full at https://casper.com. #ad INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles head into the midterms with a look at the fights gathering around Donald Trump. Wolff shares an update on his legal battle with Melania Trump, then the hosts turn to former Trump lawyer Alina Habba’s reported $50 million deal and her clash with Trump over money and influence. Wolff argues that the dispute could be an early sign of a wider scramble among people close to the president. They also size up vulnerable MAGA candidates, ask whether falling Fox News ratings signal trouble for Trump and consider what Tuesday’s results could mean for his grip on the Republican Party. #ad For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping and free treats for life, when you head to https://Smalls.com/HEAD #ad INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles and Hugh Dougherty break down a chaotic final stretch of Donald Trump’s midterm campaign, as hecklers hijack his rallies and even some of his biggest supporters turn against him. From Democrats gaining ground in deep-red states to Trump losing Joe Rogan and JD Vance’s increasingly desperate attempts to dodge questions about the economy, the cracks in MAGA are becoming harder to ignore. With Election Night approaching, Joanna and Hugh examine whether Trump’s political machine is heading for a major reckoning. #ad Right now, buy a King mattress for the price of a Queen or a Queen mattress for the price of a Full at https://casper.com. #ad INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles look inside a White House bracing for the midterms, where losing the House may be expected but losing the Senate could put nearly everyone around Trump in danger. Wolff describes how election night could unfold inside the residence, why Susie Wiles and Attorney General Todd Blanche may be especially exposed and why Natalie Harp appears to be the one aide whose job is safe. Then he and Coles make their calls on eight Senate races, including the strange contest in Alaska where two men named Dan Sullivan are on the ballot. They also consider whom Trump would blame for a defeat and why his fixation on other people’s looks reveals so much about how he sees himself. #ad For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping and free treats for life, when you head to https://Smalls.com/HEAD #ad INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jennifer Welch, author of the new book Not Today, Fascists, returns to the Daily Beast Podcast to join Joanna Coles for a fiery look at the midterms. Fresh from a nationwide book tour, Welch says the voters she’s met are furious with politicians and corporations that have enabled Trump—and have no appetite for business as usual. She takes apart Trump’s increasingly bizarre rallies, calls out the Republicans who keep standing by him and makes a bold prediction about control of Congress. Welch also explains why a Texas Senate race could strike a blow against Christian nationalism, how the Epstein files add to voters’ anger over corruption, and why Elon Musk’s campaign spending may backfire. As election day approaches, she argues that voters have a chance to deliver a verdict on Trump and the billionaires who have thrown their weight behind him. #ad For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping and free treats for life, when you head to https://Smalls.com/BEAST #ad INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles debate whether Democrats can take the Senate as the midterms approach, with Wolff predicting a sweeping defeat for Trump and Coles warning that Republican money could still make the difference. They turn to a new House Judiciary Democrats’ report on Trump’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, including allegations about their ties to the modeling industry, and ask whether the story will finally affect voters. Wolff also discusses Princes and Thieves, a new book about Jared Kushner’s dealings with Persian Gulf leaders, and says its author contacted him after Kushner threatened legal action. From Elon Musk’s election spending to the money flowing through Trump’s family, they trace what a Democratic Congress might investigate. #ad Go to https://san.com/insidetrumpshead to get the unbiased truth on the stories that matter, only on the Straight Arrow app. Let’s exit the echo chamber. Read the House Judiciary Democrats' staff report here: https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2026-10.hjc-dems-staff-report-epstein-and-trump.pdf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to expose Trump’s growing political crisis as corruption scandals, a disastrous war with Iran and a wave of global anti-authoritarian backlash threaten to blow up in his face. With the midterms looming, explosive allegations about Jared Kushner’s foreign money, a Trump family cash grab and a crumbling circle of international allies could spell trouble for the president. Plus, Melania’s latest controversy, Netanyahu’s uncertain future and why Trump’s election troubles could trigger a new wave of chaos in Washington. #ad For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping and free treats for life, when you head to https://Smalls.com/BEAST  #ad INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony Scaramucci returns to the Daily Beast Podcast to tell Joanna Coles why he thinks Trump’s handling of Putin could finally turn Republicans against him. The former White House communications director says impeachment and removal are on the table if Democrats win the House, and explains why he believes Trump’s own party may be closer to breaking with him than it appears. Scaramucci also discusses his new book, All the Wrong Moves, tracing the economic decisions he says helped propel Trump to power and warning that the next president could follow Trump’s example of profiting from the office. When Joanna presses him on whether he might run himself, Scaramucci names the only Democrat he believes could beat Trump’s would-be successors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles look at the Republicans’ desperate final stretch before the midterms, starting with a campaign ad so cruel that even members of their own party are recoiling. Why are Donald Trump and JD Vance standing by Vivek Ramaswamy as his attack on Ohio rival Amy Acton backfires? Wolff explains what the uproar reveals about Trump’s faith in a tactic that has worked for him before, while a ballot fight in Alaska raises fresh questions about how far his administration will go to contest a loss. They also turn to Melania Trump’s claim of a humanitarian breakthrough in Ukraine as her husband moves closer to Vladimir Putin, the Republicans beginning to break with Trump over Russia and new allegations involving his former lawyer Alina Habba. #ad Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/ith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles and Hugh Dougherty expose the latest chaos swirling around Donald Trump’s White House, from Melania Trump’s stunning claim that she brokered a Ukraine ceasefire—and the potential Nobel ambitions and reality-TV motives behind it—to growing questions about the president’s health as his rallies shrink and protests grow. They also examine Elon Musk’s extraordinary power over Ukraine’s military communications, the millions he’s pouring into Republican midterm races, and a potentially explosive Justice Department investigation into Trump ally Corey Lewandowski. But the biggest bombshell may involve Jared Kushner: a new book alleges Russian hackers accessed his phone and uncovered a secret billion-dollar bank account tied to powerful Middle Eastern figures. Kushner vehemently denies the claims, but with fresh questions about money, foreign influence, and Trump’s inner circle, this scandal may only be getting started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special live show edition of Inside Trump's Head, Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles take the stage in Los Angeles to ask what Trump wants from the presidency and what he might do if Democrats win the midterms. Wolff shares what a source close to Trump told him about the president’s staggering financial ambitions, then explains why he believes money drives Trump’s fixation on Vladimir Putin. He and Coles consider how Trump could react to an election defeat, whether he might return to bombing Iran and why Wolff doubts JD Vance can inherit the MAGA movement. The audience brings questions of its own, prompting Wolff to discuss his legal fight with Melania Trump and the unusual place Natalie Harp holds in the president’s inner circle. #ad Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/ith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chrystia Freeland, former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, speaks to Joanna Coles about what she learned negotiating face to face with Donald Trump and why she believes world leaders make a costly mistake when they give in to him. Trump called her “the killer,” then attacked her when Canada retaliated against his tariffs. Freeland explains how his personal charm can disarm an opponent, why Canada answered his tariffs dollar for dollar and how allies could use the same playbook now. She also weighs in on Mark Carney’s leadership, warns that Trump is siding with Vladimir Putin against Ukraine and argues that Elon Musk’s power over critical technology should alarm every democracy. Drawing on her years reporting from the Soviet Union and dealing with Trump from inside government, Freeland offers a blunt assessment of what America’s allies have learned about depending on the United States. #ad If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. You can start your claim in just a click without having to leave your couch: https://ForThePeople.com/DAILYBEAST #ad Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/beast to get personalized, affordable care for weight loss, hair loss, sex, testosterone, and more. #ad Write your own money story with Monarch. Get 50% off your first year of Monarch Core at https://monarch.com with code BEAST. #ad Go to https://san.com/dailybeast to get the unbiased truth on the stories that matter, only on the Straight Arrow app. Let’s exit the echo chamber. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles look ahead to the morning after the midterms and ask what happens if Donald Trump loses control of Congress. Wolff, who watched Trump’s inner circle confront him with the 2020 results, explains why he believes the president cannot accept a loss and how a defeat could become an excuse to blame Susie Wiles, Mike Johnson and Republicans who kept their distance from him. Coles presses Wolff on a closer, messier result: Could recounts and challenges leave the country in weeks of chaos? They also imagine who will be at Trump’s side as the returns come in, whether he could still surprise his opponents at the ballot box and why Wolff expects him to fight for the spotlight even if Democrats win. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to sound the alarm on Donald Trump’s stunning betrayal of Ukraine and America’s decades-long fight against Russia. As Trump cozies up to Vladimir Putin, lifts sanctions and blames Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Rothkopf warns that the president is actively undermining U.S. security to advance Moscow’s interests. With the midterms looming, Trump’s poll numbers tanking and Democrats eyeing a historic wave, the pair examine the growing desperation inside the White House, the Russian ties surrounding Don Jr.’s lavish wedding and the alarming implications of Trump’s foreign policy. Plus, the Democrats mounting a serious challenge to Republican power, JD Vance’s brutal encounter with a grieving military widower, and why Putin’s global network of far-right allies poses a threat to democracy far beyond America’s borders. #ad Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/beast to get personalized, affordable care for weight loss, hair loss, sex, testosterone, and more. #ad If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. You can start your claim in just a click without having to leave your couch: https://ForThePeople.com/DAILYBEAST   #ad Write your own money story with Monarch. Get 50% off your first year of Monarch Core at https://monarch.com with code BEAST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Terry Moran returns to the Daily Beast Podcast to tell Joanna Coles what he found on the ground in Maine and Iowa, where voters’ frustration could upend the midterms without giving Democrats an easy path to victory. He sizes up Susan Collins’ fight to keep her Senate seat, then explains why Trump’s increasingly coarse language may reveal more than a change in campaign style. The former ABC White House correspondent also delivers a blunt assessment of new press secretary Katie Zacharia’s first briefing and what her sudden appointment says about the operation around Trump. As questions swirl around chief of staff Susie Wiles, Moran draws on years of covering the White House to describe how the president’s habits shape everyone working for him. Finally, he turns to Ukraine and the decision he fears could change America’s place in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles go inside the chaos of Trump’s White House, where a disastrous press secretary debut, a sudden firing, and Susie Wiles’ uncertain future expose a West Wing running on ego, loyalty, and dysfunction. As Trump’s revolving door of female aides keeps spinning, Wolff explains why even his own chief of staff may be on borrowed time. Plus, Elon Musk is pouring another $300 million into the midterms, raising the stakes in a series of nail-biting Senate races and giving one billionaire extraordinary power over American democracy. With control of Congress hanging in the balance, Wolff and Coles examine the money, the power plays, and the political consequences that could reshape Trump’s presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles and Hugh Dougherty reveal the backstabbing, bruising rivalries and spectacular missteps tearing through Trump’s inner circle. As Susie Wiles fights to keep her footing and press secretary Katie Zacharia faces the music, Kristi Noem and Kimberly Guilfoyle bring fresh drama to an already chaotic Washington. With egos colliding and loyalty wearing thin, nobody in Trump’s orbit looks safe. #ad Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/DAILYBEAST ! #honeylovepod  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles ask whether Susie Wiles is running out of time as Trump reportedly calls around to ask what people think of his chief of staff. Wolff explains why that question can be the kiss of death inside Trump’s White House and predicts what could happen after the midterms. They also take on new press secretary Katie Zacharia’s rocky debut and the questions surrounding her claims to be a lawyer. Then Wolff offers a theory about Kimberly Guilfoyle’s abrupt exit as ambassador, her split from Don Jr. and what she might do next. The conversation turns to Elon Musk, Ukraine’s access to Starlink and Trump’s pursuit of a deal with Putin, before Wolff makes his case for what Trump wants from the world’s richest and most powerful men. #ad https://quo.com/beast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eric Deters reveals to Joanna Coles how his friendship with Kimberly Guilfoyle unraveled after, he says, she asked him for $100,000 to pay an American Express bill while awaiting confirmation as ambassador to Greece. The longtime Trump supporter describes the texts he released, the moment Guilfoyle warned that the dispute could cost her the job and an awkward day he spent with her and Don Jr. as their relationship was falling apart. Deters also explains why he turned to Trump’s inner circle for help on behalf of hundreds of former patients who allege they received unnecessary spine surgeries. Now he says he plans to sue Guilfoyle, seek Don Jr.’s testimony and take his account to Congress. #ad Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BEAST at https://www.oneskin.co/BEAST #oneskinpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dig into Kimberly Guilfoyle’s abrupt exit as ambassador to Greece and the leaked messages that preceded it. Why was she pushed out, and what does she know about the Trump family? Wolff argues that her fall exposes a familiar pattern in Trump’s circle: people using power to chase money, status and the next job. They also discuss new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia and why Wolff thinks Trump picked her to be the face of his administration. As the midterms approach, they consider what happens if Trump loses control of Congress but refuses to see it as a defeat. They weigh Elon Musk’s enormous spending on Republican races and what he might expect in return. Then Wolff offers his theory of Trump’s renewed interest in Vladimir Putin, from the deal over Russian diesel to the wealth and influence he believes Trump wants after the White House. #ad https://quo.com/beast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to sound the alarm on Donald Trump’s jaw-dropping betrayal of America, from pumping money into Putin’s war machine to potentially helping fund attacks on U.S. forces. As Trump’s administration embraces authoritarian tactics and threatens a televised execution, Rothkopf explains how the president is torching America’s global standing. Plus, Marco Rubio’s presidential ambitions collide with the growing scandal engulfing Kimberly Guilfoyle in Greece, while a disastrous Republican debate performance and a suddenly competitive Senate map raise the stakes for the midterms. With Trump’s own party growing nervous and a wave of damaging leaks threatening to bring down one of his most controversial appointees, the cracks in MAGA’s grip on power are getting harder to ignore. #ad Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BEAST at https://www.oneskin.co/BEAST #oneskinpod  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kurt Andersen and Joanna Coles revisit the Donald Trump that Spy magazine spotted 40 years ago: a blustering New York celebrity who claimed he could master nuclear missiles in an hour and a half. Andersen explains why Trump was a joke then but became president, and why today’s thin-skinned tech billionaires deserve the same sharp scrutiny. They consider what a midterm defeat could do to a president who craves attention, then size up JD Vance, Marco Rubio, RFK Jr. and the Republican who Andersen says would make a far more formidable candidate. The conversation turns to Pete Hegseth and the Iran war, Andersen’s increasingly plausible vision of an American breakup and the Kimberly Guilfoyle revelations that seem written for the pages of Spy. #ad Head to https://brodo.com/BEAST for 20% off your first subscription order and use code BEAST for an additional $10 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles turn their attention to Pete Hegseth, as the Secretary of Defense is facing mounting criticism over the Iran war while quietly positioning himself for a presidential run. They break down his latest State of the Force speech, which Wolff argues was designed to flatter Donald Trump and win over the MAGA base, and Joanna traces Hegseth’s tough-guy rhetoric back to his time in Iraq. As the war drains American munitions and the midterms approach, they consider whether Trump will make Hegseth the fall guy. But Wolff sees a strange possibility: the louder the calls for Hegseth’s removal become, the less likely Trump may be to fire him. And if Hegseth does lose his job, that may only accelerate his campaign for the next one. #ad Unlock your best hair & skin with @iRestorelaser and HUGE savings on iRESTORE with code BEAST at https://irestore.com/BEAST ! #irestorepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles and Hugh Dougherty dive into Trump-world’s latest chaos, from Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize humiliation to Pete Hegseth’s chilling talk of live-streaming a military execution. John Ossoff delivers a brutal debate performance as Democrats eye the midterms, while a Texas candidate vanishes from the campaign trail. Plus, Kimberly Guilfoyle is engulfed in a jaw-dropping scandal that could spell trouble for Marco Rubio. From Trump’s bruised ego to MAGA’s money trail, the week’s political drama just keeps getting uglier. #ad Head to https://brodo.com/BEAST for 20% off your first subscription order and use code BEAST for an additional $10 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles are counting down to the midterms—and the Trump world is already positioning itself for what comes next. Marco Rubio appears to be launching his 2028 presidential campaign with a grandiose pitch to save Western civilization, while Michael predicts Trump and Rubio may need a new “big thing” to distract from the Iran war, impeachment threats, and mounting investigations. Meanwhile, Kimberly Guilfoyle is engulfed in a stunning new corruption scandal involving hundreds of thousands of dollars as Trump’s political operation increasingly looks like a pay-to-play enterprise. Plus, the Senate map is suddenly tilting toward Democrats, a resurgent measles outbreak threatens RFK Jr.’s political ambitions, and Michael explains why Trump’s team—and Trump himself—may be far more vulnerable after the midterms than they appear. #ad Unlock your best hair & skin with @iRestorelaser and HUGE savings on iRESTORE with code BEAST at https://irestore.com/BEAST ! #irestorepod  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mary Trump returns to the Daily Beast Podcast to tell Joanna Coles why she believes her uncle is terrified of being seen as a loser as the midterms approach. She traces that fear to the Trump family dynamic she witnessed growing up, then weighs in on his remarks about Los Angeles and San Diego, his fixation on cognitive tests and aspirin, and his relationship with aide Natalie Harp. Mary also reveals what she wrote in the handwritten note that ended Donald Trump’s $100 million lawsuit against her. #ad Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BEAST at https://www.oneskin.co/BEAST #oneskinpod #ad If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. You can start your claim in just a click without having to leave your couch: https://ForThePeople.com/DAILYBEAST #ad Unlock your best hair & skin with @iRestorelaser and HUGE savings on iRESTORE with code DAILYBEAST at https://irestore.com/DAILYBEAST ! #irestorepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles examine Donald Trump’s increasingly self-destructive presidency, from his dwindling rally crowds and disastrous political bets to his reckless handling of the war in Iran and increasingly bizarre rhetoric. They draw a remarkable parallel between Trump and disgraced British politician and novelist Jeffrey Archer, another larger-than-life narcissist whose appetite for attention, risk and reinvention eventually brought him crashing down. As Trump doubles down on unpopular policies, loses support among Hispanic voters and inserts himself into midterm races, Wolff asks whether we are watching the beginning of Trump’s downfall—or simply another act in his extraordinary political survival story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf speaks with Joanna Coles about Trump’s increasingly chaotic presidency as the midterms loom, from his bizarre claim that he has an IQ of 1,775 to the growing threat of election interference and Elon Musk’s renewed influence. They examine Pete Hegseth’s alarming vision for the Pentagon, the rise of autonomous weapons and the billions flowing to Trump allies, before looking ahead to the Republican Party’s fierce 2028 battle between billionaire oligarchs and white Christian nationalists. And with Trump once again defending men accused of sexual abuse, David explains why the Epstein scandal could come roaring back—and become a defining story of the next election. #ad If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. You can start your claim in just a click without having to leave your couch: https://ForThePeople.com/DAILYBEAST #ad Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BEAST at https://www.oneskin.co/BEAST #oneskinpod  #ad Unlock your best hair & skin with @iRestorelaser and HUGE savings on iRESTORE with code DAILYBEAST at https://irestore.com/DAILYBEAST ! #irestorepod  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#ad See if your SSN is for sale right now. My sponsor Cloaked will tell you for free in 2 seconds here: https://cloaked.com/dailybeast ✅ Keisha Lance Bottoms joins Joanna Coles on The Daily Beast Podcast to take on the billionaire she calls a Donald Trump wannabe—and explain why his $100 million investment in Georgia’s governor’s race hasn’t put her behind in the polls. The former Atlanta mayor sounds the alarm over potential election disruptions, takes aim at rival Rick Jackson’s business dealings, and reveals why she would welcome another Trump campaign visit. Coles presses her on the collapse of the Fani Willis case, whether Democrats have an actual plan to end the Iran war, and what she witnessed inside Joe Biden’s White House. #ad Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/DAILYBEAST ! #honeylovepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles reveal the fears they believe drive Donald Trump—from being exposed as unintelligent and unable to absorb information to his dread of rejection, ridicule, loneliness, and losing the spotlight. Wolff recounts the extraordinary efforts allegedly made to keep Trump’s academic records hidden, explains why ordinary conversation can leave him vulnerable, and describes a president who needs an audience but recoils from genuine human contact. As they trace how these insecurities shape his attacks, obsessions, and refusal to accept defeat, Wolff offers a chilling prediction of how Trump could preserve his power after leaving office—and why his hunger for attention may never let him disappear. #ad Download Saily's app and use code beast at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For further details go to https://saily.com/beast #ad For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping and free treats for life, when you head to https://Smalls.com/HEAD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#ad See if your SSN is for sale right now. My sponsor Cloaked will tell you for free in 2 seconds here: https://cloaked.com/dailybeast ✅ Joanna Coles and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty take on a week of Trump-fueled chaos, from the president fawning over White House aide Margo Martin in front of Natalie Harp to his motorcade roaring through Texas at nearly 100 mph. They reveal why Trump’s rally crowds are shrinking, how his attacks on scandal-plagued Senate candidate Ken Paxton could help Democrat James Talarico, and what his explosive Time Magazine interview exposed about his obsession with the press and his demand for loyalty from Supreme Court justices. Plus, they break down Pete Hegseth’s purge of military leaders, Trump’s faltering war with Iran, the alarming role Grok AI may be playing in his foreign policy decisions, and why his increasingly strange appearance offers a revealing look at an 80-year-old president failing in plain sight. #ad Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/DAILYBEAST ! #honeylovepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles take a revealing look inside Donald Trump’s world of flunkies, fear and humiliation, where cabinet officials, billionaires and tech titans learn how far they have to bend to stay in his good graces. They examine why figures like Marco Rubio, J.D. Vance and Pete Hegseth have accepted radically different versions of the same bargain, and how Trump’s unpredictable mix of praise and fury keeps those around him off balance. They also explore his treatment of women, including the leaked images of Trump berating Natalie Harp, before Wolff explains why, in Trump’s second term, almost nobody around him can afford to believe they are his equal. #ad For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping and free treats for life, when you head to https://Smalls.com/HEAD. #ad Download SAILY's app and use code beast at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For further details go to https://saily.com/beast   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adam Mockler joins Joanna Coles on the Daily Beast Podcast to break down the chaos consuming Donald Trump’s Republican Party, from Ken Paxton blaming Trump for wrecking his Senate campaign to the spectacular Jack Smith hearing blunder that left GOP senators scrambling. Mockler reveals what really happened before and after his explosive CNN clash with Scott Jennings, explains why Trump’s costly war with Iran has failed to deliver a single meaningful concession, and argues that Democrats need more than an anti-Trump message to win back disillusioned voters. He and Joanna also take aim at Trump’s bizarre attempt to rebrand artificial intelligence while tech titans line up behind him and stay dissect new photos of a furious Trump berating Natalie Harp. #ad For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping and free treats for life, when you head to https://Smalls.com/BEAST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dig into what Donald Trump’s political future looks like as the midterms approach, from Republicans increasingly distancing themselves from Trump to his apparent determination to double down rather than retreat. They examine Trump’s taxpayer-funded campaign ad, the Texas Senate race, and the growing fight over AI data centers before turning to the darker story of Jeffrey Epstein—and Wolff’s firsthand account of Epstein’s fear of Trump becoming president, the collapse of their friendship, and the extraordinary events surrounding Epstein’s arrest and death. As Wolff revisits what Epstein told him about Trump and why he believed his old friend was capable of anything, the conversation opens up a much darker side of Trump’s history that is impossible to ignore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Daily Beast's Chief Global Affairs Columnist predicts what is about to happen to Donald Trump: A bubble-bursting moment when he gets confronted with reality. He tells Joanna Coles about what we can all learn from the moment Trump got heckled on a golf course on Sunday, and what to take out of what the president betrayed on a hot mic at the same event. #ad For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping and free treats for life, when you head to https://Smalls.com/BEAST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anand Giridharadas returns to the Daily Beast Podcast to discuss his new book, Man in the Mirror, and the three years he spent reporting on the fatal subway encounter between Jordan Neely and Daniel Penny. Giridharadas takes Joanna Coles inside a story that became a national Rorschach test, exploring race, homelessness, mental illness, public safety, fear, dehumanization, and the difficulty of making sense of a morally complicated event in an era of simple slogans. He also reveals what he learned from following the people at the center of the case, including Daniel Penny’s Marine Corps training, the NYPD detectives who questioned him, and the outreach workers trying to help people living on the streets. Then the conversation takes an unexpected turn toward the Epstein files, as Giridharadas connects the sense of abandonment he found on that subway car to what he sees as a defining political emotion in America today. #ad Save 20% off Honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/DAILYBEAST! #honeylovepod #ad Start a free trial and get 50% off your first year of Monarch Core at https://monarch.com with code BEAST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles take a closer look at Donald Trump’s encounter with Xi Jinping and what China may have learned from a president they see as unusually susceptible to flattery, especially when it comes to the delicate question of Taiwan. They also dissect Melania Trump’s new women’s network, the growing role of billionaires around the White House, and the extraordinary rise of Kimberly Guilfoyle from Fox News to ambassador to Greece, including the business and personal relationships now surrounding her diplomatic role. Then, the conversation turns to Trump’s escalating fight with the press and the uncertain future of CNN as its ownership changes hands, before Wolff and Coles weigh in on the memoirs of Bob Chapek and Ari Emanuel and what they reveal about a rapidly changing media and entertainment industry. #ad INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast 🛡️ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles and Hugh Dougherty dig into Donald Trump’s extraordinary welcome for Chinese President Xi Jinping, from the red-carpet spectacle and lavish state dinner to the tensions over Taiwan, Iran, and China’s support for Tehran. They examine what Xi’s carefully chosen language of the “Thucydides Trap” reveals about the increasingly complicated U.S.-China relationship, and why the White House’s embrace of Chinese power looks so striking alongside Trump’s attacks on Beijing. Then, with the midterms looming, Hugh breaks down the Republican panic showing up in key races across the country, where money is shifting and some GOP candidates appear eager to keep Trump at arm’s length. Plus, the escalating fight between Trump and the press, the White House’s attempt to restrict CNN’s access, the media’s decision to stand together, and Trump’s launch of his own 24/7 “Trump TV”—before Joanna and Hugh get into the bizarre resemblance between Ivanka Trump and Natalie Harp that had everyone doing a double take. #ad Save 20% off Honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/DAILYBEAST! #honeylovepod #ad Start a free trial and get 50% off your first year of Monarch Core at https://monarch.com with code BEAST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles unpack Trump’s latest threats to “annihilate” Iran, including the bizarre White House effort to find him a new word after “obliterate” apparently lost its punch. They discuss Trump’s UN week showdown with world leaders, Xi Jinping’s visit to the White House, Melania Trump’s new women’s initiative, and RFK Jr.’s extraordinary $4 million book deal. They also examine the devastating testimony from families affected by ICE shootings in Minneapolis and what it could mean as the midterms approach, before turning to the widening Republican Senate map and the chaos surrounding Trump’s proposed White House ballroom. With Trump declaring “I am the code” as questions swirl around the building’s safety regulations, Michael and Joanna trace the larger pattern behind a president who refuses to accept limits, rules or anyone telling him what he can and cannot do. #ad INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast 🛡️ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Luke Harding, author of the new book Betrayal: Trump, Putin and The New Age of Conquest, speaks with Joanna Coles about the decades-long relationship between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, and the Russian intelligence operation that Harding argues helped cultivate Trump as a potential target for influence. Harding traces Trump’s early connections to Moscow, the murky financial dealings that followed, and the compromising information that may give Putin leverage over the president, including what could have been captured during Trump’s visits to Russia. He also explains why Russia viewed Trump’s 2016 victory as a historic intelligence triumph, how Trump’s approach to Ukraine has benefited Putin, and why Russia and China see an opportunity to reshape the global order. Harding reveals what he experienced firsthand while reporting in Moscow, including the surveillance and intimidation campaign that ultimately led to his expulsion, before turning to the startling possibility that Russian state television has used Melania Trump as a warning to her husband. #ad If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. You can start your claim in just a click without having to leave your couch: https://ForThePeople.com/DAILYBEAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles return to dissect Donald Trump’s latest battle with the press, his launch of Trump TV, and the high-stakes arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House. They examine why Trump keeps turning the media into his enemy, what his escalating wars and increasingly precarious relationship with China could mean for the United States, and how a meeting with Xi could reshape the balance of power around Taiwan and beyond. They also look at Trump’s claims about military installations, his reliance on spectacle and conflict to dominate the news cycle, and the looming midterms, where Democrats may be tempted to read too much into Trump’s current political troubles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to explore the latest chaos inside Trump’s White House, from the unprecedented standoff between the president and the White House press corps to the growing influence of Natalie Harp and Trump’s obsession with controlling his media coverage. They also dig into Trump’s looming UN appearance, his delicate balancing act with Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, and the bizarre FBI controversy over bestiality rules that has become a symbol of the administration’s increasingly unconventional approach to government. Plus, Rothkopf takes aim at Pete Hegseth’s vision for a hyper-masculine military, Trump’s proposed national-security projects—including a bizarre triumphal arch—and the deeper frustration he says is building among America’s national-security professionals. As Trump heads into a week of high-stakes meetings and global diplomacy, Rothkopf explains why the spectacle surrounding the president may be funny one moment and dangerously consequential the next. #ad Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BEAST at https://www.oneskin.co/BEAST   #oneskinpod #ad If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. You can start your claim in just a click without having to leave your couch: https://ForThePeople.com/DAILYBEAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Terry Moran joins Joanna Coles on the Daily Beast Podcast to discuss his recent trip to Iowa, where voters are growing increasingly frustrated with Donald Trump over the rising cost of living, soaring energy prices, and a shrinking sense of possibility. Moran reveals what he learned from farmers and young people in a state that once embraced Trump, and why their dissatisfaction may not translate into renewed faith in the Democratic Party. He also opens up about his departure from ABC News, the pressures facing legacy media, and why fear and corporate interests are shaping coverage of the White House. Moran and Coles examine the questions surrounding Trump's health, the influence of Natalie Harp, and Melania Trump's conspicuous absence from public life before turning to the chaos inside the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth's future, and the growing role of social media in the administration. As the conversation looks ahead to 2028, Moran weighs the potential of figures like Gavin Newsom, JB Pritzker, and Jon Ossoff, and explains why the next generation of political leaders may need to restore something Americans are increasingly missing: a sense of seriousness and possibility. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dig into what may be the most revealing signs yet of a White House struggling to manage Donald Trump, as his own advisers begin publicly pushing back on his dismissal of AI concerns and his refusal to confront Republican vulnerability ahead of the midterms. They examine Trump’s increasingly personal battle with the Kennedy Center, including his reported plans to demolish it, before turning to his fixation on 1950s battleships, the Supreme Court, and the idea that everyone in government ultimately works for him. They also discuss the Epstein files, soaring gas prices, the fallout from the Iran war, Trump’s claims about Greenland, and the looming constitutional questions surrounding the next Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty discuss Mitch McConnell’s mysterious return to the Senate after 92 days away, the disturbing questions surrounding his health, and the obscure Senate rules that may be keeping his condition out of public view. They examine the growing cracks in the Republican Party as longtime conservatives turn against Donald Trump, from Karl Rove’s decision to back a Democrat in Texas to the political backlash over immigration enforcement in Florida and beyond. Plus, ICE’s leadership chaos, the fallout from Pete Hegseth’s tumultuous tenure at the Pentagon, and the growing influence of his wife, Jennifer, who has earned some very revealing nicknames inside the department. And as questions mount about Trump’s own health and the strange bulge spotted beneath his jacket, Joanna and Hugh take a closer look at the White House’s refusal to provide answers, the administration’s attacks on The Daily Beast, and what may be happening behind the scenes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles examine Donald Trump's growing political troubles as rising prices, escalating tensions in the Middle East, and his own economic policies threaten to make affordability his biggest liability ahead of the midterms. They discuss Trump's pressure on the Federal Reserve, the consequences of his tariffs and war policies, and why his administration's approach may be fueling the very problems he claims he wants to solve. Plus, Melania Trump's surprising enthusiasm for AI, the latest turmoil at the Kennedy Center, and the court's refusal to let Trump put his name on the building. They also take a closer look at Kash Patel's purge of senior FBI agents, the changing standards for joining the bureau, and Lee Greenwood's wife's nomination as ambassador to Barbados. As Trump surrounds himself with loyalists and pushes aside voices that might challenge him, Michael and Joanna consider whether his own decision-making is setting the stage for a political reckoning. #ad Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/ith to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. #ad Try QUO for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.quo.com/BEAST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steve Schmidt returns to the Daily Beast Podcast to discuss the mounting political and ethical scandals surrounding Donald Trump, JD Vance, and the president’s inner circle as the midterm elections approach. Speaking with Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty, Schmidt takes aim at the alleged corruption surrounding Donald Trump Jr.’s Russian-linked wedding, the kidnapping of Ukrainian children, and the Trump administration’s handling of the war in Iran. He lays out his vision for how Democrats should use congressional power to restore checks and balances, hold officials like Pete Hegseth accountable, and investigate the administration’s actions. Schmidt also weighs in on the Democratic candidates to watch, the growing backlash against MAGA, and the economic pressures threatening to reshape the political landscape. #ad Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/beast to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. #ad INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast 🛡️ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles look at Donald Trump’s escalating battles with the Supreme Court, the collapse of the Kennedy Center under his control, and his increasingly aggressive response to the AI debate, where Trump has declared that “whoever wins AI wins” while threatening critics and accusing them of conspiracy. They also examine Trump’s rollback of climate protections, his approach to conflict as a political strategy, and the extraordinary allegations surrounding Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding and its Russian connections. Plus, Trump’s threat against Oman, the consequences of burning through missile supplies in Iran, Jared Kushner’s transformation of American diplomacy into a business operation, and what a post-Trump administration could look like if Democrats make major gains in the midterms. #ad Unlock your best hair & skin with @iRestorelaser and HUGE savings on iRESTORE with code BEAST  at https://irestore.com/BEAST! #irestorepod  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles and David Rothkopf dive into Donald Trump’s bizarre trip to Ireland, from his increasingly public reliance on aide Natalie Harp to his stunning comments about a united Ireland, before turning to the explosive new revelations surrounding Don Jr.’s Kremlin-linked wedding. Rothkopf traces the Trump family’s decades-long connections to Russian money, boxing, oligarchs, and corruption, arguing that the same forces shaping the president today have been there all along. They also take a look at Trump’s enormous new White House ballroom, the latest battle over the Kennedy Center, and his embrace of what Rothkopf calls a “Doomsday President” agenda—from AI and climate change to pandemics and nuclear weapons. But as the midterms approach, there may finally be a reason for optimism, with a new generation of Democrats—including Georgia Senate candidate Jon Ossoff—offering a potential path out of the Trump era. #ad Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BEAST at https://www.oneskin.co/BEAST   #oneskinpod  #ad Unlock your best hair & skin with @iRestorelaser and HUGE savings on iRESTORE with code DAILYBEAST  at https://irestore.com/DAILYBEAST ! #irestorepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jacob Weisberg, author of the new book Profiles in Cowardice, speaks with Joanna Coles about the powerful Americans and institutions that once stood up to Donald Trump and what changed when he returned to office. Weisberg explains why Jeff Bezos went from resisting Trump to accommodating him, how Chief Justice John Roberts helped expand presidential power, and why Mitch McConnell may have had the clearest opportunity to prevent Trump’s second term. They also discuss Megyn Kelly’s transformation from a journalist who confronted Trump into a major MAGA voice, the pressures driving business leaders, universities and law firms to capitulate, and the dangerous short-term thinking behind those choices. But Weisberg argues that the story is bigger than eight individuals: courage and cowardice are contagious, and the willingness of institutions to stand together may determine whether they can withstand an increasingly coercive presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles unpack Donald Trump’s trip to Ireland, his apparent struggle to stay awake at a 9/11 memorial, and the increasingly conspicuous signs that the president’s hold on his party may be starting to weaken. They dig into JD Vance’s careful balancing act between loyalty to Trump and positioning himself as his successor, including the growing machinery behind a potential 2028 campaign, before turning to RFK Jr.’s surprisingly commanding performance at the Republican mini-convention and the extraordinary political path that brought him into Trump’s orbit. Ted Cruz also makes his inevitable return, while Trump’s own reaction to the prospect of a Republican successor looms over the entire discussion. Finally, Michael and Joanna take a close look at the new E. Jean Carroll documentary, her decision to come forward, the consequences she faced, and why her story takes on an even more powerful dimension when told in her own words. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles and Hugh Dougherty take apart Trump’s bizarre week of self-glorification and political humiliation  — from the half-empty “Trump-a-palooza” where his supporters were urged to “cheat like hell,” to the Republican candidate he publicly belittled and the disturbing threats of political violence echoing through the crowd. Then comes the confrontation with ABC’s Rachel Scott, when Trump lunges into an angry tirade over his $5,000 checks, exposing a startling flash of the rage and intimidation that increasingly seems to be bubbling just beneath the surface. As Trump’s war in Iran worsens and his social media outbursts grow increasingly unhinged, Hugh and Joanna ask whether we are watching a president unravel in real time. And on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Trump’s strangely low-energy appearance at the Pentagon—and his apparent struggle to engage with a day that isn’t about him—provides an unsettling ending to one of the most revealing weeks yet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast 🛡️ #ad  Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dissect Donald Trump’s latest spectacle, from his bizarre claim that he was a hero at Ground Zero following 9/11 to the half-empty Republican convention in Dallas that Trump insists was packed. They look at why Trump is dragging himself into the midterm elections despite his deeply unpopular standing, and Wolff argues that the bigger strategy is to make sure the Republican Party never imagines life without him. They also examine Trump’s escalating war with Iran, his efforts to sow confusion around mail-in voting, and his habit of announcing major policies and promises in the moment, including $5,000 checks for every American adult if Republicans win. Then comes the strangest mystery of all: why Trump handed out tens of thousands of dollars in cash to members of his inner circle, including a $45,000 payment to Natalie Harp, and Wolff offers his theory about what those payments may have bought. The episode also gets into Jimmy Kimmel’s fight with the Trump administration, the growing power of YouTube over traditional television, and why the media business itself may be undergoing a transformation that Trump is accelerating. #ad For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping and free treats for life, when you head to https://Smalls.com/HEAD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf joins Hugh Dougherty to confront Donald Trump’s latest attempt to make America’s darkest moments all about himself, from his grotesque rewriting of 9/11 to a Republican Party increasingly willing to lie, grovel, and look the other way to keep Trump in power. They take apart Trump’s bizarre “Trump-a-palooza,” the dysfunction and sycophancy consuming the White House, and the powerful forces already positioning themselves for the next chapter of the MAGA movement. Rothkopf connects Trump’s politics to the surging far right across Europe, Putin’s ambitions in Ukraine, and the possibility of another Russian intervention before the midterms. Meanwhile, Mark Carney’s rise as a symbol of resistance to Trump offers a striking glimpse at what American leadership used to look like. As the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, Rothkopf delivers a sobering warning: the danger isn’t simply Trump himself, but the movement, money, and ideology waiting to carry his legacy forward. #ad For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping and free treats for life, when you head to https://Smalls.com/BEAST. #ad Go to https://san.com/dailybeast to get the unbiased truth on the stories that matter, only on the Straight Arrow app. Let’s exit the echo chamber. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dissect Donald Trump’s latest transformation, from his dramatically darker hair and increasingly bizarre AI images to the social-media strategy that has turned political spectacle into a powerful weapon. They look at Trump’s influence on the surging far right across Europe, why Wolff believes Trump may be the cause rather than merely the symptom of the global populist wave, and whether a Russia-Ukraine peace deal could give Trump the ultimate midterm “October surprise.” They also examine the growing pressure on Pete Hegseth, the extraordinary purge of military leaders, and the leak-hunting campaign inside the Pentagon before turning to Mitch McConnell's continued absence, John Fetterman, and a new breed of politician who treats convention, competence, and even showing up for the job as optional. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles take on Donald Trump’s increasingly bizarre relationship with Vladimir Putin as Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff head to Moscow, asking what Trump’s Russia fixation is really about and why Putin seems so comfortable dealing directly with Trump’s inner circle. They also dissect Trump’s obsession with the Qatari plane, his plans to leave a permanent physical mark on the White House, and the latest battle over his triumphal arch. Then, Maria Bartiromo’s sudden departure from Fox News opens a revealing discussion about her long relationship with Trump and the network’s transformation under the Murdoch family, before Melania Trump’s conspicuous absence from the GOP’s midterm gathering raises fresh questions about the state of the Trump marriage. Finally, Wolff and Coles turn to the chaos at the Pentagon, where dozens of officials are being subjected to lie-detector tests as Pete Hegseth faces mounting questions about his leadership and the military’s ability to function. #ad Free trial at https://shopify.com/dailybeast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special episode of the Daily Beast Podcast, Joanna Coles brings together a revealing collection of conversations about the forces reshaping America, from the psychology and behavior of strongmen to the increasingly visible signs of political and institutional upheaval. Dr. Ruth Ben-Ghiat explains why authoritarian leaders become more paranoid and dangerous as they accumulate power, how corruption and humiliation become tools of control, and why she believes Donald Trump may be on a trajectory toward failure. Kurt Andersen discusses his new novel The Breakup, his vision of an America fractured by political violence, and why the country may be living through an American tragedy. Plus, Farrah Tomazin reports from Washington on Trump's physical transformation of the capital, the troubled Reflecting Pool project, and the surprisingly empty Great American State Fair. #ad Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BEAST at https://www.oneskin.co/BEAST #oneskinpod #ad Download the Kalshi app and use code TDB to get $20 when you trade $20. https://kalshi.com/r/tdb Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jennifer Welch, Nell Scovell and Joanna Coles take a sharp, often hilarious look at the women who have managed to get under Donald Trump’s skin—from Taylor Swift and Rosie O’Donnell to E. Jean Carroll, Caitlin Collins and Marjorie Taylor Greene. They explore why Trump seems unable to tolerate women who reject him, challenge him or simply refuse to play along, and how his fixation on female approval exposes something deeper about his ego. Jennifer Welch also takes aim at the women and men surrounding Trump, from Melania and Ivanka to Susie Wiles, JD Vance and Marco Rubio, arguing that dysfunction, submission and entitlement are central to the Trump orbit. Nell revisits her bizarre connection to the E. Jean Carroll case, Trump’s obsession with his own sex appeal, and the extraordinary history of women who have refused to flatter him—and paid a price for it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah Ewall-Wice joins Hugh Dougherty for a jaw-dropping tour through the latest scandals engulfing Trump’s Washington, from Fox News star Maria Bartiromo’s sudden firing after allegedly sharing internal network communications with the White House, to the extraordinary leaks exposing a growing revolt against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth inside the Pentagon. They reveal Hegseth’s brutal new nickname, the military brass openly pushing back against his orders, and why the chaos could spell trouble for one of Trump’s most controversial Cabinet picks. Then comes Trump’s very own “Trumpapalooza” midterm spectacle, where vulnerable Republicans are scrambling to stay away—and Melania Trump’ snub to said event. Sarah also brings the latest on Mitch McConnell’s mysterious absence, the growing questions surrounding Susan Collins and John Fetterman, and the revelations about Fetterman blowing off veterans and a children’s hospital while making time for Fox News. And just when the scandals seem impossible to top, Hugh and Sarah turn to the Inspector General’s explosive findings about former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, involving a strip club, taxpayer-funded security, alleged drinking on the job, and an alleged affair that takes Trump-era Cabinet chaos to an entirely new level. #ad Go to https://leesa.com and use promo code DAILYBEAST for 30% off select mattresses plus an extra $50 off, exclusive for The Daily Beast Podcast listeners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles look at Donald Trump’s long-standing appetite for power, from his determination to get around courts and regulations to the possibility that he could use his enormous political war chest to maintain influence long after leaving office. They examine the growing crisis around Pete Hegseth, why Trump appears threatened by competence, and how the war with Iran is exposing deeper failures in American leadership. They also trace the economic risks tied to tariffs, interest rates and the massive AI boom, before turning to the increasingly volatile 2026 midterms, dark money, mail-in voting and the presence of U.S. Marshals at polling places. #ad Download SAILY's app and use code beast at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For further details go to https://saily.com/beast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Carville returns to the Daily Beast Podcast with a blunt prediction for the midterms, arguing that Donald Trump’s grip on Republicans could become their biggest liability as voters head to the polls. Carville weighs in on Republicans trying to distance themselves from Trump, the spectacle and price tag of Trump’s upcoming Dallas convention, and why he believes Democrats should cover it relentlessly. He also delivers a stark warning about Pete Hegseth’s impact on the military, argues that Trump could walk away from the presidency when Republicans turn on him, and makes a striking prediction about who will control the Senate in January. #ad Go to https://ro.co/dailybeast to see if you qualify and get started on Ro. For side effects of GLP-1 medications, including Boxed Warning, go to https://ro.co/safety Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Description Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles look at the extraordinary power dynamics surrounding Donald Trump, beginning with Melania Trump’s increasingly independent role—and how she has managed to monetize the position of First Lady while largely avoiding its traditional obligations. They also examine Trump’s White House ballroom and a Supreme Court decision that may allow construction to continue, the president’s attacks on NBC’s Kristen Welker and the growing fear his administration inspires across the media, and Pete Hegseth’s purge of experienced military leaders at a moment of heightened global danger. Then the conversation turns to an unlikely political flashpoint: data centers, as growing public opposition to their enormous demands for power and water collides with Trump’s fierce support for the AI industry—and his own financial interests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to expose the dark side of Donald Trump’s Venezuela oil deal, which Rothkopf says is nothing less than a criminal shakedown disguised as a victory. They dig into Trump’s bid to take control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, the shady businessman and Rudy Giuliani connection at the center of the arrangement, and the billions of dollars whose ultimate destination remains a mystery. Rothkopf argues that Trump is turning the presidency into a personal money-making machine as his Iran war collapses, his poll numbers crater, and his political future grows increasingly precarious. And as the midterms approach, the question isn’t just whether Trump can survive politically—it’s what investigators may uncover if he loses. #ad Head to Superpower.com and use code DAILYBEAST at checkout for $20 off your membership. Unlock your new health intelligence. 100+ biomarkers. Every year. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles and Nell Scovell in their third installment of Inside Trump’s Women for a revealing and often hilarious look at the women orbiting Donald Trump and the strange power dynamics inside his White House. From Natalie Harp’s extraordinary devotion and Margo Martin’s constant presence at Trump’s side to Karoline Leavitt, Laura Loomer, and the formidable Susie Wiles, the trio traces the history of presidential “work wives” from JFK and Bill Clinton to the present day, asking what happens when professional loyalty, personal access, and raw power begin to blur. Rothkopf brings his own White House experience to the conversation, exposing the loneliness, paranoia, favoritism, and need for constant affirmation that can thrive inside the presidential bubble—and why the women closest to Trump may reveal more about his inner circle than anyone else. #ad Use code BEAST at the link below to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan: https://incogni.com/beast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles look ahead to the midterms and ask whether Donald Trump’s political dominance is finally starting to crack—or whether Democrats are getting ahead of themselves. They break down the unreliable polling, Trump’s unusual ability to bring hesitant voters back to his side at the last moment, the races that could determine control of the House and Senate, and the surprising Republican confidence that they can hold key states including Texas. They also examine Trump’s record of backing risky candidates like Ken Paxton, the enormous sums being poured into competitive races, and how Trump is already trying to shape the rules of the election through mail voting restrictions, redistricting and polling-place monitoring. But the most consequential question comes at the end: if Trump loses and declares the election rigged, will the people around him finally distance themselves—or once again follow him beyond the bounds of what is politically acceptable? #ad Head to https://Superpower.com and use code BEAST at checkout for $20 off your membership. Unlock your new health intelligence. 100+ biomarkers. Every year. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpod  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah Ewall-Wice joins Joanna Coles to analyze the growing panic inside Trump’s Washington as Republicans head toward the midterms with the President’s brand increasingly looking like political poison. They dig into Karoline Leavitt’s sudden White House exit, Trump’s obsession with being his own best spokesperson, the mystery surrounding Barron Trump amid security threats, and the very different ways his children are handling life in the presidential spotlight. They also examine why Trump plans to skip the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 memorial, the questions surrounding his stamina and health, and the Republican candidates quietly scrubbing Trump from their campaigns. As affordability, inflation, the Iran war, and the Canada trade fight threaten to overwhelm the GOP, Sarah reveals why Republicans on the ground are increasingly distancing themselves from the President—and why Trump’s bizarre distractions, from renaming lakes to remodeling Washington, may be a sign of just how desperate things have become. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles look at the latest signs of chaos inside Trump’s White House, from the administration’s fixation on interest rates and the tensions surrounding the Federal Reserve to the startling questions raised by the CIA chief’s trip to Moscow and the Pentagon’s increasingly strange leadership. They also turn to the extraordinary bubble surrounding Trump, including Natalie Harp’s role in feeding him the information he wants to see, before considering what it all could mean as the 2026 midterms rapidly approach. #ad Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/ith to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nico Hines and Daily Beast political correspondent Farrah Tomazin discuss Donald Trump’s increasingly risky strategy for the 2026 midterms, as the president looks to make himself the centerpiece of Republican campaigns despite growing concerns about his approval ratings, the economy, and his party’s chances in key races. They break down Trump’s control of a $400 million super PAC, his controversial intervention in Republican primaries, and the warning signs emerging from candidates he has backed—including a South Carolina race where Republican voters openly booed his name. They also examine the mystery surrounding Trump’s massive political war chest and Karoline Leavitt’s move from the White House to MAGA Inc., raising fresh questions about what Trump is building beyond the midterms. The episode then turns to Trump’s health, his weight, stamina, and growing public references to his own mortality, with his age becoming an increasingly important factor as he prepares to put himself at the center of another election campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles take on Donald Trump’s latest fixation with image, power, and excess, from his apparent weight gain and the extraordinary Mar-a-Lago golf club buffet to the increasingly curious role of Natalie Harp and her place in Trump’s orbit. They explore why Trump’s celebrity, sexual bravado, and ability to attract devoted followers remain central to his political appeal, before turning to the explosive meeting between Jared Kushner and Hakeem Jeffries that has White House staffers furious and raises an awkward possibility for Trump’s party heading into the midterms. They also look at Trump’s ballroom project, the hidden military machinery beneath the White House, the fate of America’s wild mustangs, and the larger cultural reckoning over football and brain injuries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles for a blistering tour through Trump’s increasingly chaotic presidency, from the icy public display between Donald and Melania Trump to the White House’s seemingly endless staff exodus and the growing sense that the president’s power is slipping away. They cover Trump’s disastrous Iran war, the shifting alliances reshaping the Middle East, and Mark Carney’s emergence as a formidable counterweight to Trump after Canada refuses to bend to his demands. Rothkopf also reveals why Jared Kushner’s secret meetings with Democrats could signal panic inside Trumpworld, what Pete Hegseth’s trip to Iowa says about his presidential ambitions, and why Trump’s cabinet may be the most disastrous collection of officials in American history. As more countries, businesses and political opponents begin standing up to Trump, Rothkopf argues that the president’s bullying tactics are finally backfiring—and that his transformation into a lame duck may already be underway. #ad Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/beast to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. #ad NOBL gives you real travel peace of mind — security, design, and convenience all in one. Head to https://NOBLTravel.com for 46% off your entire order! #NOBL #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kurt Andersen and Joanna Coles take a wild ride through the strange characters, political fantasies, and very plausible futures shaping America right now. Andersen sizes up Natalie Harp as a figure so bizarre she could have stepped out of Dickens, Orwell, or The Simpsons, before revisiting his new novel’s startling vision of Donald Trump’s death and an America fractured beyond recognition. They debate whether the country’s divisions could really lead to disunion, why fiction may be better equipped than nonfiction to capture this political moment, and whether Jon Ossoff has emerged as the Democrat to watch. Then, the conversation takes an even stranger turn as Andersen reviews his former coke dealer RFK Jr.’s unlikely new food podcast and what it might reveal about life after Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles go inside a White House where Melania Trump’s rare appearances, her increasingly lucrative personal brand, and her complicated relationship with Natalie Harp are raising fresh questions about who is really closest to the president. Wolff explains why the press took so long to catch up to the Harp story, why Trump’s legal threats may be doing exactly what they’re designed to do, and how his massive White House ballroom could become a permanent monument to his presidency before the courts ever make a final decision. Then, as Canada’s Mark Carney walks away from Trump’s demands, Wolff reveals why the president may be facing something he hates most: a world that is finally learning how to call his bluff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) speaks with Joanna Coles about the ongoing war with Iran, warning that the Trump administration risks repeating the mistakes that sent him to Iraq as a young Marine—and could drag thousands more Americans into a conflict with no clear exit. Gallego takes aim at Donald Trump’s handling of the military, Pete Hegseth’s leadership at the Pentagon, the president’s health and judgment, and the security concerns surrounding his inner circle. He also lays out why he believes Democrats could win back voters by focusing on the cost of living, corruption, and the concerns of Latino men who supported Trump but are now turning against his immigration policies. Plus, Gallego makes the case for giving parents more control over their children’s social media use, reveals what he’s hearing from Republicans about the Pentagon, and gives his most candid answer yet on whether a 2028 presidential run could be in his future. #ad Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/DAILYBEAST! #honeylovepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles go inside the increasingly bizarre inner workings of Donald Trump’s presidency, beginning with Wolff’s extraordinary account of Natalie Harp’s deeply personal letters to Trump and the alarm they sparked among campaign staff and the Secret Service. They explore how Harp became one of the president’s closest gatekeepers, what her influence says about the people surrounding him, and why Trump’s White House remains driven by loyalty, proximity, and personal obsession. Then, as the war with Iran drags on without a clear endgame, Wolff and Coles turn to Pete Hegseth, his ever-present wife, and the mounting signs of dysfunction at the Pentagon before asking whether a presidency once defined by raw power is now slipping into something far more chaotic: outright farce. #ad If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. You can start your claim in just a click without having to leave your couch: https://ForThePeople.com/ITH #ad Try QUO for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.quo.com/BEAST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty dig into the growing mystery around Natalie Harp, Donald Trump’s increasingly powerful gatekeeper, and what her extraordinary access to the president reveals about his increasingly isolated White House. They examine Melania Trump’s conspicuous absence, the strange dynamics inside Trump’s family, and the questions surrounding Darlene Graham’s Senate race as Trump’s grip on Republican politics shows signs of weakening. They also get into the increasingly brutal competition to replace Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary, including Scott Jennings’ very public audition for the job and his secret meetings with Susie Wiles. #ad Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/DAILYBEAST! #honeylovepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles devote a special episode to Natalie Harp, the Trump loyalist who has risen from campaign aide to one of the most powerful people in the president’s orbit. Wolff traces Harp’s extraordinary rise, from following Trump around the golf course with a portable printer to controlling the information he sees, shaping his social media and becoming a gatekeeper for members of Congress, the media and even people inside the White House. They examine the intensely personal relationship that has made Harp seemingly indispensable to Trump, the concerns she has sparked among his closest advisers and family, and the growing tension between Harp and Melania Trump. As Melania becomes increasingly absent from the White House, Wolff reveals why some insiders believe Harp has deliberately positioned herself as the woman closest to Trump - and why the battle for influence inside the White House may be far more consequential than it appears. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles and David Rothkopf dive into Donald Trump’s escalating foreign policy chaos, from his shifting stance on North Korea and threats against Oman to the ongoing war in Iran and the mounting strain on U.S. military forces. They discuss the troubling conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, America’s dwindling weapons stockpiles, Pete Hegseth’s leadership at the Pentagon, and what Rothkopf calls a new era of “mafia government” driven by loyalty and corruption. Plus, they unpack Trump’s growing financial ties to crypto, the controversial White House ballroom, the strange mystery surrounding the bulky object spotted under Trump’s clothes, and why Democratic Sen. John Ossoff could be one of the party’s most compelling new voices heading into the midterms. #Ad Use code BEAST at the link below to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan: https://incogni.com/beast #Ad Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BEAST at https://www.oneskin.co/BEAST #oneskinpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former Trump staffer Anthony Scaramucci and Nell Scovell join Joanna Coles on a special edition episode of the Daily Beast Podcast. Scaramucci offers a revealing look at how Donald Trump behaves around women, arguing that he wants loyalty above all else and explaining why women who work for him quickly learn that everything is ultimately about the president. Joanna and Nell then turn to the women competing to fill the vacuum around Trump, from Lara Trump and Tiffany Trump to Bettina Anderson and his granddaughter Kai, exploring their ambitions, their carefully curated social media lives, and their very different relationships with the Trump patriarch. Along the way, they examine why Trump's children seem to keep their distance, what his absence from Don Jr.'s wedding really says about the family, and the increasingly strange competition for Trump's attention and approval. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles explore Donald Trump’s increasingly intense fixations, from his relentless campaign to put his name on the Kennedy Center to his insistence that the Navy return to outdated technology, and what these obsessions reveal about how the president operates. They also examine Trump’s unusual ability to turn defeat and humiliation into fuel, his growing reliance on Truth Social to communicate and make money, the damage his administration is doing to institutions like Harvard and the Kennedy Center, and the looming political stakes of a surprisingly competitive Texas Senate race. #ad Start your free trial today at https://shopify.com/dailybeast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty break down the growing turmoil inside the Trump White House, starting with Karoline Leavitt’s sudden departure and what it reveals about the pressures facing the administration as the midterms approach. They discuss who could replace Leavitt, why Trump’s most loyal spokespeople may have limited options outside conservative media, and the increasingly bitter fight over who actually has control inside the West Wing. They also look at the departures of other senior officials, Susie Wiles’ slipping grip on the administration, and the extraordinary backdoor maneuver that put a new ICE chief in position while she was away at her daughter’s wedding. As more senior figures head for the exits and subpoenas loom, Joanna and Hugh consider what the accelerating West Wing exodus says about the future of Trump’s presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dig into Karoline Leavitt’s departure from the White House, the scramble to replace her, and what her exit reveals about the brutal demands of working directly for Donald Trump. They also confront the bizarre obsession with Trump’s health and ponder whether the 80-year-old president wears diapers, dissect the elaborate decoy-plane operation as another example of Trump’s need to dominate the news cycle, and examine his determination to remake the White House into a monument to himself. Wolff and Coles also look at Jeanine Pirro’s increasingly creative efforts to satisfy Trump through a special grand jury, the growing pressure around the midterms, and the increasingly valuable business of being close to Trump while his power is at its peak. #ad Use code BEAST at the link below to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan: https://incogni.com/beast #ad If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. You can start your claim in just a click without having to leave your couch: https://ForThePeople.com/ITH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah Ewall-Wice, political reporter for the Daily Beast, speaks with Joanna Coles as Dr. Jonathan Reiner challenges the White House about the growing questions surrounding Donald Trump’s health, from his visible bruising and swollen legs to his repeated episodes of falling asleep in public and the mystery surrounding his medical tests and treatment. They dig into the White House’s increasingly combative response to questions about the president’s condition, the unusual number of specialists involved in his latest physical, and what his erratic sleep schedule could reveal. Then, Sarah breaks down the bizarre decoy-plane operation that secretly whisked Trump away from NATO while leaving senior officials and reporters behind, raising fresh questions about security and who knew what. The conversation also turns to Trump’s increasingly difficult Iran war and the growing problems it creates for his administration, before Sarah reports from a battered National Mall where a botched renovation has become another symbol of government incompetence. #ad Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/DAILYBEAST! #honeylovepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles mark one year of Inside Trump’s Head by dissecting the bizarre story of Donald Trump secretly switching planes while the White House press corps unknowingly flew aboard a decoy Air Force One—and why Wolff believes Trump himself may have leaked the story to fuel his favorite narrative: that he is the world’s biggest target. They also reveal that Trump has used the decoy-plane strategy before, explore his increasingly desperate search for distractions as the Iran war leaves him boxed in, and turn to his fixation on AOC after she revealed she is freezing her eggs. Wolff explains what Trump’s obsession with AOC says about his political instincts, why Truth Social is becoming a social network of one, and what Trump may actually be planning for his post-presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles get inside Donald Trump’s fixation with the White House ballroom, and why a court ruling stopping the project may only make him more determined to build it. They also look at the growing tension around Markwayne Mullin, Trump’s fury when people in his administration appear to stray from his message, and why Anthony Fauci has become such a powerful target for MAGA despite Trump’s own history with him. From Trump’s refusal to let go of birthright citizenship to the carefully staged confirmation fight over Todd Blanche, Michael and Joanna explore the obsessions, grudges and political theater driving the administration. And in a revealing look at Trump’s relationship with Melania, they consider what happens when the woman who once embodied his public image begins to build a life increasingly separate from him. Go to https://san.com/insidetrumpshead to get the unbiased truth on the stories that matter, only on the Straight Arrow app. Let’s exit the echo chamber. #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to discuss Trump presidency’s increasingly chaotic—and potentially dangerous—spiral. As Trump retreats further into a bubble of flatterers, key figures around him appear to be pulling away, raising new questions about who is really running the White House. Rothkopf unloads on Trump’s disastrous Iran strategy, arguing that the president has burned through critical U.S. weapons stockpiles and left America dangerously weakened, while Iran now holds the leverage. They also dig into Trump’s escalating attacks on Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, the Republican Party’s increasingly desperate turn toward racism, and the legal battle threatening Trump’s lavish White House ballroom. And as Trump grows more isolated and appears increasingly disengaged, Rothkopf raises a chilling possibility: America could be heading toward another moment in which people behind the scenes—not the president himself—are effectively making the decisions. #ad Get 15% off OneSkin with code BEAST at https://www.oneskin.co/BEAST #oneskinpod  #ad Real movement. Real muscle activation. Get $20 OFF the Waver Vibration Plate and Free Shipping at https://Lifeprofitness.com with code DAILYBEAST at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony Scaramucci and Nell Scovell join Joanna Coles on a special edition episode of the Daily Beast Podcast. In the first installment of a four-part series on the women around Donald Trump, they ask the question that's hanging over Washington: where are Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump? Drawing on Scaramucci's firsthand experience inside Trump's orbit, the conversation explores why the first lady has become so absent from public life, what her disappearance could reveal about her marriage, whether Ivanka's decision to leave politics has changed the balance inside Trump's White House, and why the women closest to him may have once acted as the only people capable of tempering his instincts. Coles and Scovell unpack Melania's rare public interventions, Ivanka's dramatic transformation from political insider to private citizen, and the complicated family dynamics shaping Trump's second presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hugh Dougherty joins Joanna Coles to break down the stunning court ruling that could bring Donald Trump’s controversial White House ballroom project to a halt—and why legal experts believe the decision leaves even the Supreme Court with few easy options. They also dive into Todd Blanche’s path to attorney general despite fierce opposition from Epstein survivors, the political fallout for Senate Republicans, Trump’s own admission that Republicans could be headed for a brutal midterm defeat, and alarming new economic data that threatens his political standing. Along the way, they discuss White House leaks, growing unrest inside Trump’s orbit, and why the administration’s biggest battles may be just beginning in what could become one of the most consequential weeks of Trump’s presidency. Presented in partnership with PMI U.S., US Businesses of Philip Morris International. #ad  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dive into another astonishing week inside Donald Trump’s head, analyzing the president’s fixation on image—from his infamous hair to a controversial White House helipad—as they reveal how performance continues to shape his presidency. They examine why Trump refuses to abandon embattled allies, how blame for the Iran crisis is already shifting inside his administration, and why Pete Hegseth may be heading toward the same fate as past loyalists. The conversation also explores RFK Jr.’s surreal new cooking show, the politics of conspiracy and wellness, the scramble among cabinet members already positioning themselves for 2028, and what a pivotal Democratic primary could signal about the future of political campaigning. Wolff offers fresh insight into Trump’s mindset, his obsession with control, and the growing sense that fear of him is giving way to ridicule in ways that could reshape the political landscape. Try QUO for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.quo.com/BEAST. #ad  Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/ith to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. #ad  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices