The New Abnormal

Follow The New Abnormal
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Blunt truth and dark humor for a world in chaos. A Daily Beast podcast hosted by Rick Wilson and Molly Jong-Fast. Tune in every Tuesday and Friday

The Daily Beast


    • Jan 15, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 43m AVG DURATION
    • 1,035 EPISODES

    4.6 from 7,430 ratings Listeners of The New Abnormal that love the show mention: rick wilson, love molly, new abnormal, f that guy, charlie sykes, lincoln project, daily beast, jong, waiting room, ftg, tim miller, jennifer horn, preet bharara, george conway, love rick, molly s voice, phillipe, thank you molly, miles taylor, goldie.


    Ivy Insights

    The New Abnormal podcast is a breath of fresh air in the political podcasting landscape. Hosted by Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie, this show provides witty and insightful commentary on current events and politics. The chemistry between Andy and Danielle is palpable, making for engaging and entertaining discussions.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the sharpness and accuracy of Danielle Moodie's commentary. Her precision and creativity in expressing her thoughts elevates the humor to new heights. She brings a unique perspective that is both refreshing and enlightening. Additionally, the guests on the show are diverse and knowledgeable, providing different insights into various topics.

    Another positive aspect of The New Abnormal is the balance between serious analysis and lighthearted banter. While discussing important political issues, Andy and Danielle manage to inject humor into the conversation, making it more enjoyable to listen to. This blend keeps listeners engaged while still delivering valuable information.

    However, some listeners may find Danielle Moodie's use of profanity off-putting. While her passion is evident in her language, it may alienate certain audience members who prefer a more restrained approach to political discussion.

    In conclusion, The New Abnormal podcast offers an engaging and informative take on current events and politics. With its sharp commentary, diverse guest lineup, and blend of seriousness and humor, it stands out among other political podcasts. While some may find certain aspects divisive or off-putting, overall it provides a refreshing perspective worth listening to.



    More podcasts from The Daily Beast

    Search for episodes from The New Abnormal with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from The New Abnormal

    How Desperate Trump Could Kill Democracy: Toobin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2026 62:10


    Jeffrey Toobin joins Joanna Coles to explain how Donald Trump has tightened his grip on the Justice Department, why Republicans in Congress have fallen into line, and how a Supreme Court that once checked presidential power has largely enabled it. Toobin, author and New York Times Op-Ed contributor, breaks down the looming tariff case—and why even a loss at the Court wouldn't stop Trump, who would simply rewrite the policy and dare the legal system to catch up—alongside what's at stake in birthright citizenship and the broader expansion of executive authority. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    This Proves Trump Knows He's In Big Trouble: Wolff

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2026 61:30


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to trace the oddly revealing logic now driving Donald Trump's presidency: a man who knows the midterms are coming, knows the numbers are bad, knows Epstein, jobs, ICE videos, and his own health chatter are bleeding into the public consciousness—and who believes the only solution is something that “plays.” From Pam Bondi's visible strain as Trump treats the Justice Department like his personal law firm, to his lifelong conviction that nothing is ever his fault, Wolff explains why loyalty always curdles into blame. The conversation moves outward to the foreign-policy theatrics he sees as risk-free wins: Venezuela as a headline-grabbing show of force, Greenland as a performative threat designed to make Europe bend, and war as branding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    This Is How Trump Goons Exploit His Mental Decline

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2026 50:53


    David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles for a blistering, darkly funny tour through what they argue is the accelerating late stage of Donald Trump: a president who can't hold a thought, wanders off mid-meeting, and yet is being weaponized by Stephen Miller, Marco Rubio, JD Vance, and others to push extreme agendas at breakneck speed. Along the way, they unpack Democratic paralysis, early signs of Republican and corporate peeling away, the politics of immigration as it tips from winning issue to liability, and why the real fight now is about stopping the madness before the midterms—plus, because it's 2026, a detour into Doritos, Hollywood finally finding its voice again, and the Melania movie as protest art. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    This Is What Greedy Trump's Really Up To With Oil

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2026 36:41


    Anthony Scaramucci joins Joanna Coles for a frank conversation about what Donald Trump is really doing in Venezuela—and why the chaos is the point. Scaramucci argues that the Venezuela move is driven less by democracy or security than by oil, money, and self-enrichment, and is shaped by conspiracy thinking and political pressure. He also breaks down Trump's appetite for cruelty and spectacle, the warning signs in ICE's escalating violence, the quiet sidelining of allies like Marco Rubio and JD Vance, and why Republicans who know better still fall in line. The takeaway: Trump isn't unraveling—he's focused, transactional, and increasingly willing to burn institutions to stay powerful. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The One Thing That Truly Terrifies Trump: Wolff

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2026 59:14


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to unpack the central illusion of Trump's presidency: that someone, somewhere knows what is going on—when in fact nobody does, least of all Trump himself. From Iran's uprising to Venezuela's phantom “invasion,” Wolff explains how Trump exploits uncertainty by announcing conflicts he has no intention of prosecuting, using noise, grandiosity, and endless talking to stay at the center of attention while avoiding real risk or consequence. The conversation ranges from ICE and Minneapolis to Greenland, shoes, height, and the limits of loyalty, before landing on the most dangerous question of all: What happens when Trump's talent for manufactured crises collides with a real one—Russia, Iran, or a nuclear threat he cannot simply talk his way out of? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why Trump Can't Escape Epstein Forever: Wolff

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2026 55:03


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to unpack one of the most confounding political inversions of the Trump era: the moment when lying stopped being a liability and became a source of power. Wolff argues that while past presidents were undone by exposed falsehoods, Trump's credibility has never been weaker—and yet it has only strengthened him. Together, they examine how shamelessness, repetition, and brute insistence on an alternate reality have replaced truth as a governing tool, leaving institutions, media, and public protest strangely inert. From the collapse of shared reality to the media's inability to name what's happening in plain language, this episode digs into why transparent lies no longer undermine authority—and what it means when reality itself stops working as a check on power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why Trump Isn't Joking About Canceling Midterms

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2026 56:09


    Congressman Seth Moulton joins Joanna Coles for a no frills, clear account of the Venezuela crisis — and why he believes the administration is lying to Congress at every turn. From chaotic briefings where officials dodge questions, to Republican colleagues privately admitting they would be outraged if a Democrat did the same, Moulton argues the United States has no real plan, only escalation. He connects the timing to distractions over healthcare premiums and the Epstein files, criticizes Democratic leaders for failing to level with voters, and makes the case for generational change, age limits, and his own Senate run — while warning that a weakened Congress and normalized “crazy” are far more dangerous than most Americans realize. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    What Being Mocked Really Does to Trump: Wolff

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2026 64:46


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to examine how Nicolás Maduro's dance mocking Trump became a genuine trigger for the president — and why humiliation lands harder than policy. Wolff explains how Trump turns foreign affairs into personal vendettas, and when Maduro refuses the deals, dances, and laughs, it pierces Trump at the level of ego, not ideology. Also, the conversation widens to Trump's fixation on the MOCA test as proof of competence, the way distraction becomes a governing tactic, and how figures like Mark Kelly are pulled into the narrative to shift attention, rewrite the stakes, and keep the spotlight where Trump needs it most, namely away from Epstein. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    How Trump's Big Moment Left Him Exposed: Rothkopf

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2026 42:11


    David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to explain why Trump's move in Venezuela looks less like foreign policy and more like a heist. Rothkopf walks through the rushed effort to topple Maduro, the boastful talk about “running” Venezuela, and the alarming reality that there was no plan for what came next — who governs, who controls the oil, or how any of it ends. Together, they examine what Rothkopf calls Trump's “mafia doctrine”: kidnap the leader, seize the resources, ignore the law, and dare the world to respond. It's chaotic, risky, and deeply consequential — for Venezuela, for America, and for everyone watching what comes next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why Ailing Trump Is Paranoid About Mental Decline

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2026 53:26


    Dr. John Gartner joins Joanna Coles to explain why Donald Trump's worsening paranoia, erratic behavior, and visible health problems point to a dangerous mix of malignant narcissism and possible frontotemporal dementia. Drawing on clinical practice and the shift toward observable diagnostic criteria, Gartner argues that Trump's public performances reveal more than enough: the “25th time” fixation, the aspirin theories, the right-side weakness, and the drifting, rambling speeches. The conversation ends with a stark question: What happens when a country is governed by a man whose greatest vulnerability is his own deteriorating mind? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why Melania's Case Terrifies Team Trump: Wolff

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2026 43:01


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to probe the growing mystery around Melania Trump — the first lady who rarely appears, rarely speaks, and yet increasingly shapes the atmosphere around Donald Trump. Wolff explores why Melania's absence feels deliberate, how lawsuits and the threat of depositions have sharpened attention on her, and why Trump's team appears determined to keep her out of reach of process servers and cameras alike. Wolff examines why discovery terrifies Trumpworld more than accusation, why Melania's distance reads like leverage, and how one reluctant witness can destabilize a carefully managed narrative. If the quietest person in Trump's orbit may also be the one who knows the most, what happens when the courts — not the campaign — decide who gets to ask the questions? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    I Know Truth About Why Epstein and Trump Fell Out

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2026 60:28


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles for part two, continuing their forensic account of Donald Trump's long, combustible friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Drawing on years of interviews and firsthand reporting, Wolff argues that Trump and Epstein were not casual acquaintances but intimate allies, bonded by money, sex, models, and a shared outsider resentment of New York's elite. The episode traces how that alliance curdled into rivalry and fear—through real estate betrayals, private planes, kompromat, and the moment Epstein believed Trump turned the authorities on him. Wolff details why Epstein obsessed over Trump even after their rupture, why other powerful men fell while Trump survived, and how Epstein's arrest and death intersected with Trump's presidency. If Epstein was the man who knew Trump best, what does it mean that this is the one story that still visibly unnerves him? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Prince Andrew's Epstein Secrets Revealed

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2026 122:53


    Joanna Coles looks back at her sit downs with Andrew Lownie to uncover the full scope of Prince Andrew's scandals, from secret deals and Epstein entanglements to whispers of a royal escape. Lownie lays bare a monarchy in crisis, revealing corruption, systemic failures, and a family blindsided by decades of unexamined behavior. This episode traces Andrew's personal downfall as the spine of a much larger story about power, privilege, and protection. With shocking claims of assassination plots and palace cover-ups, nothing about this saga is as simple as it seems. The only certainty: the story is far from over. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    I Know Why Trump Made Epstein His Best Friend

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2025 45:12


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to trace the unsettling origins of Donald Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, long before public scandal or denial. Wolff begins with their bond in the late-1980s New York, where Trump was chasing Manhattan legitimacy and Epstein was emerging as a fixer fluent in money, women, and leverage. From Trump introducing Epstein as “my associate—Jeffy,” a pattern forms of shared ambition, cruelty, and secrecy. Wolff links those early dynamics to Trump's financial near-collapse in the 1990s and Epstein's claim that he helped Trump survive bankruptcy while keeping his tax returns hidden. If Epstein helped shape Trump's instincts before power, what does that say about the secrets that still follow him now? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Generals Tell Truth About How Trump Endangers U.S.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2025 110:37


    Joanna Coles dives into Trump's troubled relationship with the U.S. military, unpacking disastrous parades, loyalty tests, and pep rallies that left generals cringing. With insights from Michael Wolff, David Rothkopf, and top retired brass, we reveal how strategy was sidelined for spectacle—and what it means for the country. Retired generals and lawmakers weigh in on the risks Trump's style posed to U.S. readiness. We also get an inside look at Pete Hegseth and the chaos behind the scenes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Trump's Failing Health Can't Be Ignored: Doctors

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2025 121:48


    Joanna Coles revisits her most eye-opening conversations with Dr. John Gartner, a leading expert who says the media has ignored the most urgent question about Donald Trump: his mental and physical health. From alarming changes in Trump's language, gait, and impulse control to warnings about paranoia, narcissism, and cognitive decline, the doctor lays out why these signs matter far beyond one man. As Trump's influence endures, this episode asks whether the real danger lies in what he can no longer hide—and what the country is still refusing to confront. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Truth About Trump's Miserable Mar-a-Lago Christmas

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2025 54:44


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to peel back what Christmas looks like inside Donald Trump's carefully staged world at Mar-a-Lago — a holiday less about family and warmth than performance, attention, and control. From the bored, rope-off table at the center of the patio to Trump's late-night torrent of Truth Social posts, Wolff maps how even Christmas becomes another arena for validation. They examine Melania's rare flash of animation beside her father, the eerie surge of hyper-religious messaging from Trump-world, and the rituals that feel rehearsed rather than heartfelt. As the conversation widens, they trace how sagging TV ratings, Hollywood power plays, and proximity to Trump himself still dictate the action around him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Real Reason Trump Runs America Like a TV Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2025 69:16


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to unpack the one thing that drives Donald Trump more than policy, ideology, or even power: television. From The Apprentice to Fox News, Trump has always understood that fame is a currency, and the White House is just the ultimate reality show set. Wolff details how Trump doesn't read briefings, rarely listens, and instead crafts his world based on ratings, Nielsen scores, and cable news cues. The former president treats lawyers like scripted TV characters, his cabinet as central casting, and the nation as an audience to captivate. From Roger Ailes and Rupert Murdoch to Sean Hannity and Bill Shine, Trump has manipulated media insiders to shape both his narrative and his presidency. This episode reveals why politics, for Trump, has never been about governance—it's about performance, spectacle, and keeping the cameras rolling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why Epstein's Shadow Still Haunts Trump

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2025 169:31


    Joanna Coles revisits some of The Daily Beast's most disturbing and revealing conversations about Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. Michael Wolff explains why Epstein's shadow still looms over Trump, while Stacey Williams and Cleo Glyde recount encounters that expose the brazen culture of power and silence surrounding them. Tina Brown reflects on the scandal she helped uncover and why its consequences continue to fracture Trump's world. Together, these voices reveal how wealth and influence conceal dark truths—and why the reckoning is far from over. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    How the Epstein Files Backfired on Trump: Wolff

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2025 61:07


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to unpack why the release of the Epstein files has backfired on Donald Trump, obscuring key facts while amplifying the one question that won't go away: what Trump knew, and when. Wolff explains how the chaotic document dump fits Trump's flood-the-zone instincts, while Coles probes how branding, spectacle, and confusion remain his core political defenses. They also examine the risks of sidelining institutions—from Ukraine diplomacy to ICE-as-content—and ask whether Trump's belief that chaos protects him is finally working against him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Real Reason My Uncle Trump Renamed Kennedy Center

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2025 54:46


    Mary Trump joins Joanna Coles to explain how Donald Trump's accelerating cognitive and psychological decline is rooted in a childhood defined by cruelty, fear, and the absolute ban on showing weakness. Drawing on her training as a clinical psychologist and her firsthand experience inside the Trump family, Mary argues that Trump's belligerence is routinely mistaken for strength, even as his physical health, cognitive deterioration, and untreated pathology collide. The conversation ends with a stark question: What happens when a country is governed by a man trying to fill a void that can never be filled? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Trump Mental Decline Is Accelerating: Psychologist

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2025 41:29


    Psychologist Dr. John Gartner joins Joanna Coles to dissect Donald Trump's latest White House speech and explain why its manic pace, rigid teleprompter discipline, and sheer velocity alarm mental health professionals. Drawing on decades of clinical experience, Gartner argues that Trump's hypomania, malignant narcissism, and advancing dementia are no longer abstract theories but visible patterns—accelerating, measurable, and increasingly unmanaged. They examine why repeated cognitive tests suggest monitoring decline rather than routine screening, and how sleepless nights, impulsive decisions, and compulsive posting point to a leader edging toward a cognitive cliff. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Trump Aides Are Secretly Prepping for His Downfall

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2025 57:42


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to tackle the question Washington won't confront: what happens when a president's cognitive decline is visible but systematically rationalized by those around him. Wolff describes how Trump's inner circle shields alarming behavior as “Trump being Trump,” even as voters recognize familiar warning signs from their own families. He also explains the significance of Susie Wiles' long-standing relationship with Marco Rubio, and why her influence still shows in his disciplined, professional posture as Trump spirals. As Trump's grandiosity accelerates—from galloping speeches to branding national institutions—Coles asks why no one is willing to take the keys away, and what that silence means for the country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why Melania Trump Is Hiding From Me: Wolff

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2025 59:49


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles for part two, continuing their forensic account of Donald Trump's long, combustible friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Drawing on years of interviews and firsthand reporting, Wolff argues that Trump and Epstein were not casual acquaintances but intimate allies, bonded by money, sex, models, and a shared outsider resentment of New York's elite. The episode traces how that alliance curdled into rivalry and fear—through real estate betrayals, private planes, kompromat, and the moment Epstein believed Trump turned the authorities on him. Wolff details why Epstein obsessed over Trump even after their rupture, why other powerful men fell while Trump survived, and how Epstein's arrest and death intersected with Trump's presidency. If Epstein was the man who knew Trump best, what does it mean that this is the one story that still visibly unnerves him? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Epstein Served Me Up For Trump's Sick Pleasure

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2025 45:32


    Stacey Williams joins Joanna Coles as the anticipated release of the Epstein files throws fresh scrutiny on Donald Trump's long-denied proximity to Jeffrey Epstein. Williams recounts how a dinner invitation led to a relationship with Epstein—and, she says, to being deliberately walked into Trump Tower where Trump groped her while Epstein stood by, a moment she now believes was staged. Does her account expose how power, silence, and sexual coercion were normalized at the highest levels—and why Trump remains untouched as others in Epstein's orbit fall? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Trump's Staff Are Questioning His Mental Stability

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 47:26


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to break down the Vanity Fair profile that may have pushed Trump chief of staff Susie Wiles into dangerous territory, and the newly surfaced Epstein diaries that reveal fixation more than revelation. But the episode turns darker with Trump's grotesque response to the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife—a moment that shocked even his own insiders. Wolff argues this wasn't calculation or cruelty, but something giving way. And it leaves an unavoidable question hanging in the air: how long can a presidency survive when self-destruction is no longer strategic, but instinctive? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why Susie Wiles Can't Deny Spilling Trump Secrets

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 40:59


    Chris Whipple joins Joanna Coles as his explosive Susie Wiles profile sends shockwaves through Trump's White House. After 11 months of on-the-record access, for Vanity Fair, to Susie Wiles, Whipple explains why the facts can't be denied—and why her description of Trump's “alcoholic personality” has triggered cabinet-wide panic and presidential pushback. Does this unprecedented candor reveal how Trump 2.0 actually functions, or mark the moment the West Wing turns on its most powerful gatekeeper? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    This Is How We Know Trump Is A Sociopath: Author

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 42:43


    David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to unpack a presidency stripped of empathy after Trump's disturbing Truth Social post responding to the murder of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife. Rothkopf, the founder of Deep State Radio and former editor of Foreign Policy magazine, argues that this moment exposes Trump's defining pathology: an inability to respond to tragedy without cruelty, self-obsession, and grievance. From mass shootings to corruption, donors, and a cabinet quietly hedging its bets, they trace how Trump's personal brokenness has become national policy—and ask the defining question: How long can a political system function when it's built around one man's pathology? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Real Reason Trump's Lost His Mojo: Don Lemon

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2025 48:50


    Don Lemon joins Joanna Coles to diagnose why Trump's lost his charismatic touch. Lemon, Founder of The Don Lemon Show, describes a former president whose influence is fading as voters grow disillusioned with MAGA, economic distortions, and rising healthcare costs. From Trump's credibility and health to Republican lawmakers misreading the electorate, Lemon explores the consequences of a movement built on lies and distractions—and presses a defining question: How long can the GOP survive a leader losing his grip? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Truth Behind New Trump Epstein Photos: Wolff

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2025 60:16


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to reveal stories behind newly released Epstein photos. Together they sift through the blacked-out faces, the Mar-a-Lago-style party shots, and a younger Steve Bannon seated in Epstein's ornate study—the man he once admitted was the only figure in 2016 who truly scared him. Wolff explains why these images are surfacing now, how both parties are weaponizing them, and why they revive long-buried questions about Trump's ties to Epstein. Coles ends on the unavoidable question: Are there more Epstein and Trump revelations still waiting to be discovered? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    What Trump Really Thinks of Women on His Team

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2025 48:14


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to unpack Kristi Noem's “Ice Barbie” theatrics at Homeland Security to Pam Bondi's loyal remaking of the Justice Department. They explore how, for the people in Trump's political orbit, loyalty and spectacle outweigh competence. Wolff and Coles dive into Corey Lewandowski's influence, Alina Haber's rocky rise, Jared Kushner's allies, and the fractures forming among Trump's women acolytes. Behind the headlines, they reveal a presidency driven by personal power, loyalty tests, and showmanship—where the inner workings are as unpredictable as the public drama. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    How Trump, 79, Is Being Exploited By His 'Friend'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 23:55


    Ambassador John Bolton joins Hugh Dougherty to chart the growing dangers of Trump's foreign policy, driven by impulse rather than strategy. Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser, describes a president who ignores formal briefings, takes cues from Mar-a-Lago guests, and makes decisions by “neuron flash,” leaving Venezuela, Europe, and Ukraine trapped in contradiction and drift. As Trump chases a Nobel Prize and treats strongmen like personal allies, Bolton presses a defining question: How long can America's security withstand a leader who refuses to plan? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why Sleepy Trump, 79, Is Really Panicking Aides

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2025 50:05


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to dissect a president increasingly disengaged, dozing through televised cabinet meetings while aides scramble to manage both optics and reality. They probe the murky Hegseth video controversy, Trump's self-awarded FIFA Peace Prize, and his meddling in Hollywood mergers, showing how delay, spectacle, and loyalty dominate decision-making. Wolff charts the frustration, chaos, and quiet panic inside Trumpworld. The two ask: What happens when no one can keep up with—or contain—Trump's mercurial whims? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    These Are All the Signs Trump's Grip is Slipping

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 39:56


    David Rothkopf joins Hugh Dougherty to discuss the acceleration of Trump losing his grip on power. Rothkopf, a veteran foreign-policy analyst, details how key Republicans—from Marjorie Taylor Greene to Marco Rubio—are quietly defying Trump, exposing fractures in a party long held in thrall. They trace the personal and political signs that the former president is obsessed with legacy and self-aggrandizement—from renaming institutions to fixating on minor details—revealing a man increasingly out of step with reality. Together, they lay bare a central question: Can Trump's inner circle survive a leader whose past is eclipsing any vision of the future? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why Troops Are Blowing Whistle on Trump: Senator

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2025 55:58


    Senator Elissa Slotkin and Retired Major General Paul Eaton join the Daily Beast's Executive Editor Hugh Dougherty to chart the growing alarm inside the national-security world over Trump's increasingly cult-like demands for loyalty. Slotkin, a former CIA officer and Pentagon veteran, lays out how flattery, grievance, and improvisation have replaced strategy in Trump's orbit—leaving the military to navigate chaos, not command. Eaton, one of the Army's most outspoken former generals, explains why Trump's impulses and misinformation pose what he bluntly calls a threat to U.S. readiness. From battlefield myths to political pressure on the ranks, Hugh presses both guests: What happens if Trump once again tries to run the military like it's his personal force? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why Trump Is Using a Moron to Run His 'War': Wolff

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2025 55:35


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to dissect a president who never asks the hard questions, leaving aides scrambling to explain what he refuses to understand. They dig into the Venezuela-bombed boats debacle and Pete Hegseth's role, tracing how the story spiraled into Hegseth's emerging SignalGate scandal. Wolff charts the frustration, chaos, and quiet panic inside Trumpworld, while Joanna presses on the larger pattern: a leader whose curiosity stops at the surface, imperiling both policy and loyalty. The two ask: What happens when those closest to Trump can't keep up with—or contain—his blind spots? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    How Trump Secretly Knifes Cabinet Suck-Ups: Wolff

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 46:42


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to discuss a president oscillating between boredom and sudden, theatrical fury; a man who now demands ever-greater flattery from aides who are running out of new ways to praise him. Joanna presses into the Hegseth Venezuela debacle that Trump is suddenly trying to disown, the strange Kushner–Witkoff Moscow overture supposed to “solve” Ukraine, and the inner-circle panic over Trump's fixation with who is—and isn't—sufficiently servile. Along the way, they track the “moronocracy” shaping U.S. policy and ask: if flattery no longer works, what happens next? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why Andrew's Epstein Shame Will Never End: Author

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 31:48


    Andrew Lownie joins Joanna Coles with a bracing account of a royal family in complete public meltdown. Lownie, an author and British historian, lays out why Prince Andrew's downfall is no longer a contained scandal but a widening corruption crisis—one that now stretches from sex-trafficking allegations to financial misconduct, secret meetings with Bahrain, and the Queen and Prince Philip's decades-long blind spot for their “favorite” son. As King Charles battles cancer and Prince William quietly takes the reins, Joanna presses Lownie on whether Andrew will flee Britain, what Sarah Ferguson might reveal, and whether this is the most perilous moment for the monarchy since the abdication. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Epstein's Warning About Trump is Coming True: Wolff

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2025 52:50


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to unpack the widening sense inside Trumpworld that the operation is slipping into pure incompetence. From Pete Hegseth's troubling battlefield lore to Keystone Kash Patel's chaos, Wolff charts a mood shift that even Murdoch-world can't quite hide. Wolff outlines how Jeffrey Epstein once warned that Trump would misuse his pardon power, as evinced by Trump's pardon of Honduran ex-president and cocaine trafficker Juan Orlando Hernández. Joanna presses the central question of the hour: Is this the moment when Trump's own allies decide the circus has finally become a liability? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why Trump's Presidency is All But Over: Carville

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2025 33:39


    James Carville joins Joanna Coles to explain why he smells “a whiff of the French Revolution” rising in American politics as young voters buckle under soaring costs and a system rigged for the already-powerful. Carville, a veteran political strategist, argues that Trump—on the heels of his losses in the off-year election—stands on politically hollow ground, with collapsing polls and no governing path forward. The Ragin' Cajun urges Democrats to center on affordability and economic inequality rather than “woke” identity fights. And with economic fury building, Joanna asks: Is this the moment Democrats finally take the advantage Carville believes is already theirs? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why Trump's No Laughing Matter—Even for Me: Comic

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 28:57


    Comedian Zarna Garg joins Joanna Coles to explore why she avoids political comedy, the pressures of Indian-American family expectations, and the surprising ways the Indian community relates to figures like Trump and Modi. Along with her daughter Zoya, Zarna traces the intersection of heritage, ambition, and representation, from Bollywood-inspired bravado to the delicate balance of supporting daughters marrying across faiths. Along the way, Garg reflects on mentorship, collaboration with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and the lessons that have shaped her career. It's a conversation that's at once personal, political, and profoundly revealing—how does heritage shape ambition in America? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Weak Trump Losing Physical and Mental Grip: Wolff

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2025 38:28


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to probe Donald Trump's newest — and perhaps most perilous — level of weakness. From a fraying inner circle to the small, telling humiliations Trump tries to hide, Wolff traces how the former president's aura of dominance is thinning just as legal threats, foreign crises, and a faltering presidency converge. Wolff walks through how Trump's allies are suddenly keeping their distance and how MAGA power brokers are beginning to hedge. It all leads to the question that hangs over this episode: has Trump finally reached the point where weakness, not strength, defines his movement? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Trump's Disgusting Bedroom Habit Exposed: Wolff

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2025 42:17


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to take a deep dive into Donald Trump's relationship with food. From his legendary buffets at Mar-a-Lago and his fast-food devotion to McDonald's, Jimmy John's, and oversized desserts, Wolff maps out the culinary habits that reflect Trump's personality and comfort zones. They discuss the White House dining struggles, state dinners he barely touches, and the unusual quirks—from eating in his bedroom to a Diet Coke button at his desk. Along the way, Wolff unpacks how Trump's palate, fears, and routines give a window into his larger-than-life persona. Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago has never been more telling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    I've Seen Trump Up Close. Why I Know He's Failing

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2025 60:27


    Katy Tur joins Joanna Coles to parse how a once forceful Trump, who called her “little Katy,” is now plagued by health concerns, prosecutorial incompetence, and an ever-growing Epstein scandal. Tur, Host of MS NOW's ‘Katy Tur Reports' digs into the deep fissures in Trump's public persona: slowing energy, slurred speech, and shifting routines that raise questions about his health and stamina. Tur also breaks down the ongoing implications of the Epstein files, Trump's handling of journalists, and the political fallout from rising healthcare costs. From the personal to the political, this conversation captures a president—and a country—under intense scrutiny Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why Trump Aide Is Thinking 25th Amendment: Wolff

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2025 47:20


    Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to take a deep dive into Donald Trump's relationship with food. From his legendary buffets at Mar-a-Lago and his fast-food devotion to McDonald's, Jimmy John's, and oversized desserts, Wolff maps out the culinary habits that reflect Trump's personality and comfort zones. They discuss the White House dining struggles, state dinners he barely touches, and the unusual quirks—from eating in his bedroom to a Diet Coke button at his desk. Along the way, Wolff unpacks how Trump's palate, fears, and routines give a window into his larger-than-life persona. Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago has never been more telling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    RFK Jr.'s Sex Poetry Is Sophomoric Cringe: Author

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2025 53:40


    Kurt Andersen joins Joanna Coles to unpack the life and controversies of RFK Jr. From college cocaine escapades to audacious poetry and family scandals, Andersen, the author, radio veteran, and co-founder of Spy magazine, traces how recklessness and legacy collide in shaping the polarizing figure. He shares insights on RFK Jr.'s rise in politics, the chaos behind his public persona, and why his choices continue to reverberate through American culture. Along the way, Joanna reflects on how charisma and controversy intertwine, and they explore what RFK Jr.'s story reveals about ambition, legacy, and the Kennedy mystique. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Claim The New Abnormal

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel